Skansen was one of my favorite places to visit in Stockholm. It is a living history museum with the dreamiest bakery, darling grass-roofed houses, moody cafes with peeling wallpaper and candles, arts + crafts studios and farms (with reindeer!). I am so completely charmed by it. More photos here.
P.S. I really struggled with trying to capture Skansen on camera. I refer you to Laura Normandin's post for a more accurate view.
P.P.S. I will stop talking about Sweden now!
Here are a few snapshots of the wee little house I've been staying at in Sweden. It's just under 400 square feet and pretty much has everything I need. I've totally fallen in love with the cottage life! It has all the coziness of a house without the hassle that a large space brings.
Oh dear. Next week I leave + return to reality!!
I've met so many kind + lovely people here in Sweden. Today, I went to tea at a neighbor's home (I met her on the bus!:). Her name is Helena Molund and she's an amazing landscape designer. I was totally smitten with the interiors of her home. Turns out, it's been featured in a million magazines. It's in the current issue of Lantliv (a gorgeous Swedish home magazine!).
These photos were taken by Mark Scott and are from here, where you can see more photos + details. Thanks for tea, Helena!
Today our city bus stopped for a moose! It made me smile. Moose are such tall, almost elegant animals. I loved watching it prance across the road!
Photo from tschoppi on Flickr.
I was reading through a Country Living UK magazine today (Sept.09 issue) and they had the coolest article about how you can live in a peasant cottage on an English estate like Chatsworth or Lanhydrock. The cottages looked darling and some even had orchards and gardens. The prices sounded so reasonable (one was 575 Pounds a month with a one year lease.) Doesn't that sound dreamy?
Photo via ugardener on Flickr.
When I was in Greece, I jumped at the chance to put together a super simple wedding/elopement story for Project Wedding. I love the idea of spending your dollars on a pretty location, finding an inexpensive dress (My friend Amber and I bargained for this dress and it ended up costing just 20 Euros!), and just celebrating with only your closest friends and family. This could definitely be done on the cheap!
For the past two weeks, I've been in Crete with four friends (Jenny, Lizzy + Amber). I feel like we didn't quite discover the real Crete until the last day or so but it was lovely all around (despite getting almost all of my clothes locked up forever at a laundromat!) Here are a few favorites:
-Our apartment. Lovely. Charming. Cheap. I already miss opening up the windows, "Room with a View" style every morning.
-Eating lots and lots of yogurt + honey + also dolmas made by my friend Jenny.
-Road trips through scary cliffs and stunning views in our rented Fiat.
- Rummaging through antique textiles at this shop + viewing more at the Folklore Museum.
-Discovering a secret garden.
-Swimming at Elafonisis. Pink sand. Aqua, clear water. A heavenly beach!-Encountering herds of goats and sheep in the road.
-Having an entire village run out of their houses to give us directions!
-Sneaking into an orange grove and eating fresh picked oranges!
Goodbye, Crete! I miss you already!
Photo of my friend Amber. She is wearing a traditional Cretan apron! Also the bag is Eliza Gran. More photos on my Flickr.
I love this idea from Laura Normandin. Her husband took photos of bicycles on a trip to Scandinavia and then made a flip book of them through an Apple program. Such a great take on vacation photos!
I am staying in Crete for a few weeks with some friends. The other day my friend Amber and I happened upon this amazing courtyard near a Catholic church in Chania.We couldn't resist returning for a little fun photoshooting. Amber always comes up with the cutest outfits!
See more photos of the garden and the Venetian neighborhood in Chania on my Flickr. Oh, and please have a happy, happy Friday!!
xo Chelsea
Scarf: Brass Plum. Dress: H & M. Sandals: Leather market in Chania. Styled + modeled by Amber Johnstun.
