Pretty Things You Don't Need But Want: Nordic Glass Birds

It's not secret that I love everything Scandinavian and I mostly shop at Ikea. In Singapore Ikea used to be the only place for scandinavian style, but now there's a more expensive range from Style Nordic which is now open a Delfi Orchard (isn't that a flood prone place?) to tempt us. These glass birds at their website were so beautiful, they need to be blogged. Sadly they are priced out of my budget, from $149 - $999! I hope that's in Singapore dollars.

Singapore's Etsy Girls

I wasn't aware that the Etsy store had sellers from this tiny island as well. It was quite refreshing to stumble upon them. I first came across the delightful Paper Exploits run by Kelly, a Literature undergraduate at the National University of Singapore (she must be a book lover too). I adore her monster bookmarks.




Then there's saplanet by Lis, with handcrafted products you can make yourself. This crochet doll craftwork is called Amigurumi and looks fun to do. I was attracted by this see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil set. She sells both the dolls and the doll making kits if you're into exploring your artistic side.

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals or dolls. The Japanese words ami, means crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, means stuffed doll.




I also came across Lily at Lily Pang, who does lovely paintings of owls which she sells as laptop stickers as well. It's just nice to see Singaporeans exploring their artistic side.

More Nordic Design Inspiration

If it's possible to fall in love with a room, then this room and me are soul mates. The red silver wallpaper and the full wall book case make me swoon. I love Swedish Design and I wish I could understand the language so that I can read their design magazines. The breathtakingly beautiful images that I long to replicate, are from Skona Hem.



I want that painting in Chartreuse and the hot pink lamp. I think this would only work in an all white room for the lovely contrast.

Nordic Design Inspiration

Here are some pictures that inspired me today. I just like looking at beautiful things, but who doesn't. What struck me about this bedroom is the gorgeous iron wrought floor lamp. All the decor images originate from Skona Hem, a swedish design magazine.



The red ikea clock looks so striking in this mostly white room. I love the red and white print rugs as well.

Pink is a Tricky Hue

How to make pink walls work and not make the room appear too garish. There is a fine line between tasteful and tacky. If your bedroom is pink and tacky, learn how to make it sophisticated at Style at Home.



{Images: Style at Home}

I liked this tip from Decorator Anne of Cincinnato Interiors:

A modern look for pink is to balance it with chromes and brushed nickels. Soft pink paired with accents of whites and creams gives a room a fresh look -- as long as the pink isn't overdone.

Enchanted Dolls

These captivating porcelain dolls are by its creator Marina Bychkova (Russian origins) who aspires to:

....create dolls with so much love that they enchant people at first sight with their compelling, delicate, life-like beauty.

This beautiful creation with henna work on it is named Lavanya. All her dolls seem to have haunting limpid far apart eyes and bruised lips.



The peacock tattoo on this doll's back took my breath away with its intricate detail.



Is it just me or does this last doll look a little like Singapore's famously doll-faced local blogger Dawn Yang?





Update: Well maybe this one looks a fraction more like her, because her lips are not that bee stung?



Look at more of The Enchanted dolls here. They have an erotic quality and are definitely more a work of Art that you would find in a museum, than for a child to play with.  It seems they cost a whopping $5000 each.

Thinking Pink

Beautiful print called Emma Armchair by Etsy seller, Emmakisstina. Boy would I love to have that hanging over my bed. What a lovely focal point that would be.



I love the candy striped furniture and the opulent shocking pink carpet in Amanda Peet's Living Room featured on the now discontinued Design magazine, Domino.



Zooey Deschanel on the cover of this wonderful little magazine in 2009. Bubblegum pink and blue-toned red add lovely contrast to the cool blues on the cover page.