trendey

The trend theme of the AW 2010 Formex Fair and Exhibition is now realeased: it’s HAPPY!  Next professional meeting for nordic design will take place August 12-15, 2010.  It will be gathered around “togetherness”;  to bake together, make things together, cook, go out, work, relax and share our experiences via facebook, blog and tweets – conversation and interaction between people is what makes life worth living. The theme encourage us to come up with new traditions, give friends and family unexpected compliments and lower our guards. To feel the optimism in the changing times and have an elegant glass of bubbly on Tuesday and a slow-cooked meal on Thursday. Sounds jolly fun to me!

As for home decor trends the upcoming season, trend theme states:

Simple furnishings, no showing off. Go with what you like in a delightfully personal, slightly crazy mix. Get rid of any burdens. We furnish our homes to match our way of life; loves, impulse purchases, faithful companions and old memories combined with brand new and home-made items. Country accessories mix with urban influences. Handicrafts and a studio feel are still super-current. For colours, look for 1950s pastels and bolder colours. Delicate patterns, checks, stripes and flowers, with shades of grey as a base.

Formex, by virtue of its size and impact, usually have a nose for trends. To not say, set trends. I am *happy* with the direction mapped out in the autumn theme. It’s a spin on what is trendy right now, adding an extra scoop of freedom, friendliness and optimism.

Some time ago, I told you about the lovely collection Bracelets of Uttran by Swedish designer and blogger Ida Överby. Since then, she has expended the range in her web-shop Creme de la creme with lovely leveled cake dishes of old china, nice bibs, rag rug-pillows and – what took my breath away – a new collection of ‘aunt fur’-pillows. I bought the prime edition, it’s called Naijma.

The style is the very definition of trendy today: structures and surfaces in new combinations, unexpected colour matches and old classics that meet the very latest. ‘Aunt fur’ (Sw. tantpäls) refers to the old fur your aunt (or aunt’s aunt) used to wear, extremely soft and cozy but hopelessly outdated. Secluded at the back corner of the attic – it may be a controversial piece of fabric – but once there, it’s an asset to use and reuse.

In Naijma, the softest mink is intermingled with white cotton velvet. Piping and corner flaps are of lime-coloured Chinese silk and the fur-area is lined with a nice flowery patterned fabric. The opening is fastened with Velcro and at the back of the cushion sits a brass eyelet, which holds an old Sami leather cord. The present meets the traditional in an utterly (Uttran-ly! :)) well-composed and well-sewn cushion.

Slightly forked – I want them myself! – I urge you to look out for upcoming pillows in this collection. They are made from time to time, and sold through Creme de la creme. (Don’t look! ;))

Maybe this is the most beautiful pillow I have ever owned.

The creator is Cecilia Wendin a.k.a Wendinskan. She makes the most wonderful pillows from old fabrics and scraps that she has passionately accumulated through the years. Many of the patterns she uses are from her great grandmother’s embroidery books. Wendinskan weaves in music, culture and everything else inspiring into the old motifs and thereby continues a fine old crafts tradition by renewing its expression. Her work can be purchased through her blog, where also special requests on colours, text, etc can be made, and at this coming site, where you can see current dealers.

Lay your head on my pillow. Can you imagine a more beautiful and appropraiate pillow to keep in the guest bed? This lovely mix of fabrics, beneath an ocean-blue wall? I can’t..! It’s so right it can ever be. My new pillow makes me happy. :)