Sami culture and designs – The Sami National Day mark the day of the first Sami conference 1917 in Trondheim, Norway. The Sami People lives in four countries  with a population of around 80 000 (20 000 in Sweden).  http://www.thelocal.se/38956/20120206/

Great Sami Designs for colder days, see Karin Vasara’s Designs http://www.karinvasara.com/27.html

The London Olympics coincide with the Stockholm Anniversary – 100 year since  The 1912  “Sunshine Olympics” .

The Calender is packed with interesting activities, both sport and other cultural events in the Capital of Sweden!

See Link http://arenastockholm2012.se/om-aret-1912/aren-kring-os-blev-stockholm-en-storstad/#translate

 

 Picture: The beautiful chalk cliffs of Seven Sisters, East Sussex, http://www.sevensisters.org.uk/

 Amanda, Greta, Kajsa-Lisa, Marianne, Moira, Victoria and Zizzi - Seven Smart Reusable Shopping Bags in Canvas!

 

“We are family” Listen to Sister Sledge famous on  YouTube video from 1979  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8lEhb9Hotk&feature=related

More sculptural art by Carl Eldh (1873 – 1954), A bust of the socialist politician and agitator Fabian Månsson from Belkinge, south of Sweden.

Famous for his exclamation :

”Jag skulle bli slaf! Nej, så djäflar anamma!” [Would I be a slave? Never, damn it!] wrote Fabian Månsson in his famous poem ”Stridssång” 1903 [Song of battle].

 

Read more on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_M%C3%A5nsson

Welcome to Stockholm! 100 billboard pictures of famous faces greet you when arriving at Arlanda Airport; ABBA, Bjorn Borg, The King & Queen of Sweden, Greta Garbo etc. Maybe a good idea for other International Airports  or  Central Train Stations?

“The Stockholm Hall of Fame was established in 2005 as part of an effort to make Stockholm Arlanda Airport more welcoming. Stockholm Arlanda is the gateway to Stockholm and Sweden and therefore the first impression many of the approximately six million travellers from abroad, who land here annually, get of our country. By letting celebrities, future stars and everyday heroes from the Stockholm Region wish them welcome, foreign visitors get a positive beginning to their stay in the city, and returning Swedes hopefully feel just a little bit proud of their capital city.

Here, the Royal Family and the first Swedish astronaut in space hang side by side with the guy from the Valhalla grill.” [Swedavia Swedish Airports]

Carl Eldh’s Art Musuem on the top of the Bellevue Park, Stockholm, a  great wooden house with  a huge collection of sculptural art by Carl Eldh (1873 – 1954). The museum has a beautiful garden with a stunning view over Brunnsviken. What a great location! Outside the garden, on the highest top stands one of Carl Eldhs creations, a high statue ‘The Young Strindberg’.

Walk up there and feel the lovely scent of the tarred wooden plank and house, especially strong on a warm, sunny day!

Read more about Carl Eldh and his  life & art on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Eldh

At last, approaching the end of January. Discover some light in the end of the tunnel of the Winter Gloom.

What could be better than some new craft ideas, like knitting a Pale Pink Beret for the approaching Spring. And to weave floral plans for the garden with new fresh plants & pots. A great plant is the  Swedish Geranium “Mårbacka” with pretty pink pale flowers. Named after the home of the Swedish author & Nobelprize winner Selma Lagerlöf, born in Sunne, Värmland (west of Sweden).  Please read more about her: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma_Lagerl%C3%B6f

“London has Beatles tours, New York has Sex and the City tours, and now the Stockholm City Museum is proud to present ABBA City Walk, a walk through the city where Abba lived and worked!”

 

The Salmon Pink as in Gravad Lax *Swedish Cured Salmon is a great dish and easy to make. See link to recipie and video how to make Gravad Lax. http://video.about.com/scandinavianfood/How-to-Make-Gravlax.htm

Gravlax or gravad lax (Swedish), gravad laks (Danish), gravlaks (Norwegian, Danish), graavilohi (Finnish), graavilõhe (Estonian), graflax (Icelandic) is a Nordic dish consisting of raw salmon, cured in salt, sugar, and dill. Gravlax is usually served as an appetizer, sliced thinly and accompanied by hovmästarsås (also known as gravlaxsås), a dill and mustard sauce, either on bread of some kind, or with boiled potatoes.

The Pink Poodle Rubbish Bin, Stockholm City Museum. See link: Rose, The Pink Poodle who once was stolen but retrieved.  http://www.stadsmuseum.stockholm.se/ommuseet.php?kategori=10&sprak=english Stockholm City Museum, near Slussen Tube Station is a great museum with fantastic exhibitions and guided City Walks like Abba & Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium”.