Squirreling about - Stockholm

Museum weekend!
The Modern Museum in Stockholm is really one of my favourite museums. It is beautifully located on a small island called Skeppsholmen with lovely wives over the city. The permanent collection is excellent and you really can't see it too many times. Right now there is two very interesting temporary shows as well and I couldn't resist a visit. They have a really good retrospective exhibition on the Swedish female artist Hilma af Klint which I really enjoyed. They are also showing Le Corbusier that includes rarely shown sculptures and paintings as well as models and drawings.

Both exhibitions are well worth a visit! Remember to dress warm because winter is back in Stockholm! Burr.

Acorn

If you find yourself in Chiang Mai during early December and love shopping for cute, locally hand-crafted things, don't miss the Nimmanhaemin Arts and Crafts Fair (NAP) which is held on Nimmanhaemin Soi 1.  This year it is held between 5-10 December and these are the adorable things I found when I browsed the stalls last night.

Squirreling about- far far away

I always take time to visit bacc (Bangkok Art & Culture Centre) when I am in Bangkok. I really like this place and it is a prefect mix of interesting exhibitions, great independent designer shops and book shops and also great "fika". The centre is located in the middle of Bangkok close to the gigantic shopping mall MBK. This time I skipped MBK and just relaxed at one of my favourite spots in Bangkok.

On the ground floor of bacc you can also find a wonderful coffee shop where you can get drop coffe! One of my preferred choices when it comes to java. Delicious and well worth a visit!

Squirreling about - Stockholm

The other day I took a trip to a new art centre situated on Värmdö outside Stockholm called Artipelag.
The building is created by the late Swedish architect Johan Nyrén and comprises 10,000 square meters. So quite big! It is also set in a beautiful landscape and also host some really good art exhibitions. Here you can also find a really good café, design shop and also a restaurant.

I really liked my visit here but it is really huge, so be sure to have plenty of time and money because it is quite expensive here. But the nature is stunning and the house sits really well in the surroundings. Dont forget to go up on the rooftop to enjoy the love views over the water!

You can go there by car, bus or even by boat!

Squirreling about - far far away

Earlier this summer a took a trip together with friends to the lovely Sundborn in Dalarna where you can find the artist couple Karin and Carl Larssons home from early 1900s. I just love this place and I also treated myself to some pot holders with a pattern made by Karin Larsson.

Acorn

I never tire of blue and white ceramics, they feel classic somehow!  These decorative pieces are made from shards of old pots and bowls found at the bottom of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok.  They're beautiful hanging on the wall or just as they are! 

Squirreling about - Stockholm

If you've been to Stockholm or even if you live there, chances are that you may never have come across this little guy.  He's tucked away in a small yard behind the Finnish Church in Gamla Stan, the old part of town.  The sculpture is only 15 cm tall and called Järnpojken, which means "Iron Boy", though sometimes it is also called "Boy who looks at the moon".  Although I don't know the history, I assume it must be good luck to leave money and touch his head because it has been rubbed completely shiny!    

Squirreling about - Stockholm

We visited Marabouparken in Sundbyberg the other day. Marabouparken was originally a sculpture park for the workers at Marabou chocolate factory. Now it is open for public and there also is an art centre there. As always when looking at art you get hungry and fortunately there is also a nice restaurant with absolutely adorable leopard trays (and good food too). My absolutely favourite thing though was the park and the wonderful tulips! They deserve an entire post for them selves so keep the look out!

Squirreling About - far far away

More photos from Korea for gloomy days!  If you ever go to Seoul I can highly recommend a visit to Leeum Samsung museum of art where you among other lovely things can see this sculpture by Yoshimoto Nara.

Or why not visit these guys sitting in the lobby of R Hotel?

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Dreaming of Hanoi!  Each time I see this picture on my desk it reminds me of my trip there.  It's been nearly six years since I first visited and I completely fell in love with the place.  I promised myself I would go back soon - and not just because of all the fantastic lacquerware and art!  Fingers crossed I'll make it back there before the end of 2012!

Acorn

I came across these wonderful pieces of art by Vorakorn Metmanorom at the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai over ten years ago but unfortunately they're still lying under my bed in a plastic bag because I have nowhere to hang them!  Now though, my living room is being renovated and these are going straight up on the wall as soon as I get them framed!

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

If you're interested in Terra cotta and happen to visit Chiang Mai, don't miss a visit to Ban Phor Liang Meun's!  I had almost forgotten about this fantastic place until work took me there this morning. 

Ban Phor Liang Meun's make terra cotta artefacts in all shapes and sizes in styles from all over Asia but predominantly Thai and Khmer.  I love wandering through their garden where the terra cotta statues lie artfully jumbled and the sprinklers create a fine mist.  There are treasures to be discovered in every nook and cranny!

For directions and more information, check out Ban Phor Liang Meun's website.

Squirreling About - Stockholm

This weekend I went to Färgfabriken in Liljeholmen here in Stockholm. It is an art space located in an old industry building.  It also has an amazing café / restaurant. This time we were not there to see art, but to have their lovely brunch. This was the first time I tried it and all of us really enjoyed it! I had crêpes with mushroom and coffee and a raspberry cookie for desert! I usually really like their exhibitions too so next time I go there I'll combine the brunch with some art as-well!

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

There's always something happening in or around Chiang Mai - the other day I visited an exhibition called 'Brilliantly Tai Shan: Trends for Contemporary Taste'.  Plenty of inspiration for interior decorating if only I had a place to decorate!

Acorn

I have so many nice pieces of art just waiting to be framed.  Found this in a cute little shop close to the Grassmarket in Edinburgh (can't remember the name of the shop unfortunately but it also sells lovely bags and jewelry).  Now all I need is more wall space!

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

The Chiang Mai iBerry is such a delight to visit!  Situated in the shade of two giant trees, the garden cafe feels lush and cool even during hot afternoons.  There is a mister as well, which does its job effectively.  I love just walking around and looking at the amazing lamps hanging from the tree branches or sitting on the terrace enjoying a latte and sorbet.  iBerry is known for the exotic flavours of its ice-creams, sorbets and smoothies.  I had a tough choice between longan, spicy mango and passion-fruit, try and guess from the photo which one I chose!

How to get there - You will find iBerry on soi Sainampueng either by following the signs from Sirimangkalajarn Road soi 13 or Nimmanhaemin Road soi 19.  If you visit on a week-end, note that it can get very busy in the afternoons.