STEDSANS IN THE WOODS

LUXURIOUS DINNER AND OVERNIGHT STAY IN THE SWEDISH FOREST

It's been a really long time from my last blog post (too many new things going on) I've missed blogging but I wanted to come back with super interesting story and now I have it! (actually two)

First one is about our visit to Stedsans in the Woods in July. Charming project by Mette Helbæk and Flemming Hansen. They came from Denmark and started this huge project in Swedish forest. They sold their house and closed their restaurants in Copenhagen. Who has that kind of courage? And they managed to get the rest of the money with Kickstarter. I can already say it's worth it and love to support it.

We had our ten year anniversary and we decided to celebrate it by coming to Stedsans and have a beautiful dinner in the forest and stay overnight in one of their big cosy tents and I mean they were cosy. A huge soft double bed with beautiful linen.

This course was our starter. A medicinal plant salad with mushrooms and berries from the forest.

When we arrived we were shown our tent and all the important things concerning our stay on a hand drawn printed map. Restaurant, toilets, shower, boat house, floating sauna, garden and pigs with chickens ;)

The dinner was delicious even though I have quite strict diet. There were things I could not eat but I was well taken care of.

My husband can eat anything ( not envy at all) and his favorite was Peas francaise with horsebeans and lemon thyme. I don't drink alcohol so I had to skip wines but they offered lovely non alcohol drinks like Aronia-apple juice. It was very good with main course Brisket with grilled leek and flowers (flowers! love to eat flowers!) and we enjoyed a lot being there. Their charming style, atmosphere with cosyness and good service. 

Mom and daughter Kodak moment. Picking flowers together for us.

This is Peas française with horsebeans and lemon thyme. Mette styled the dish quite gracefully but in very relaxed way. I felt I had to go and shoot it in the forest and lucky me - forest was just few meters away from our dinner table.

During our six course dinner we had a lovely discussions with a couple sitting next to us Maria and Thomas. We all took few pics of the food ;) they were looking so delicious.

I found Mette's and Flemming's Stedsans in the Woods because I've been following Mette in IG. First I wanted to visit her restaurant in Copenhagen but then I read about her interesting plans. So in spring it was quite clear that I wanted to visit their place in Sweden. Do you ever feel that somehow all the things are connected ? Because same time when I was thinking about Stedsans I got an assignment - to make a speech about trends in food photography. Of course I mentioned Stedsans as one example of the trending things in the world of food.

So I gave a speech in Helsinki in April. Event was called What's cooking Helsinki - food carnival. I spoke to food bloggers about trends in food photography and why storytelling is even more important now than before. I have my own opinions about trending things (actually I don't like the word trend at all, haha. For me trend is equal to consumption which is not a good thing but the word is very easy to understand so I use it) but I decided to ask opinions from talented food and lifestyle bloggers. I wanted to hear their ideas about food photography at the moment. I combined their thoughts with mine and I got surprisingly coherent content. We shared pretty same ideas of going more natural and authentic content - less styled - simple and natural and some of us saw building community very important. We are all creative so we all have a bit different style and opinions in the end of the day but I felt a feeling of collective mind if I may say so.

I want to thank you all lovely ladies who helped me with the trend speech task in April: Aran Goyaga from Cannelle & Vannille, Nina Olsson from Nourish Atelier, Holly Becker from Decor8, Beth Kirby from Local Milk, Adelaster Food Textures, Tami Hardeman from Running with Tweezers, Sif Orrellana and Nicoline Olsen.

Here above you can see a pic from our atmospheric tent. Why I told about Stedsans in the Woods to my audience - food bloggers? I think my main point was that trends are less important. Going back to the roots and sustainable way of living with no waste is one of the directions we are heading to. Simple life with healthy and delicious local food. Using plants and flowers from the nature that is surrounding us but still eating delicious food. Luxury in the forest.

This we found from our breakfast table. Who can say no to this?

Mette made an omelette for everyone in the morning. We sat and drank our coffee and ate as much as we could, haha. After breakfast we decided to test a floating sauna. It was different compared to our own sauna. A lot of light and possibility to go swimming. The lake water was clean and very refreshing. I mean cold. But this summer has been quite cold here in Scandinavia so what can you say. Maybe next summer is warmer. I hope.

The floating sauna was made by an architect and carpenter. It was lovely.

Before leaving we went to see pigs and chickens. We walked by the garden and I was feeling happy and calm and ready for the next destination: Göteborg and botanical garden.

I hope you enjoyed my blog post! Next time I will tell you about my 1:1 flower class with amazing The Blue Carrot.

xoxo

Kreetta

Is It Vintage - Vineta

It's time to tell you a vintage story. This is a jug by Rörstrand. Design is called Vineta. I totally love it's decoration. I photographed it in August that now I can give you some summer feelings in the middle of November. We all need it, don't we. You know, at the moment the wind is blowing heavily and you can hear how it whistles in the corners of the house. Sounds familiar?

I found this jug from one big antik shop/ flea market in Sweden few years ago. We made a trip by car here and there in Swedish countryside. There were so many beautiful landscapes. The antik shop was huge and full of vintage treasures. Because the jug is a little bit broken I got it very cheap.

Vineta was produced between 1887-1925 by Rörstrand. I tried to find it's designer but I couldn't. Do you know the designer of Vineta? It would be great to hear.

I think Vineta is very romantic and sophisticated. It is like a jewellery on the table with bunch of flowers. 

I collect vintage treasures and this post is part of my Is It Vintage post series. You can find all of them here. I'm a photographer and I always need beautiful props and things in my work.

Have a lovely Sunday and I hope the week will begin with great energy and inspiration!

xo

Kreetta

Is It Vintage - Swedish Green

These plates are designed by Arthur Percy, Sweden (1886-1976) Arthur Percy was a Swedish artist and ceramist. 1923 he was chosen to be  art director of Gefle porcelain factory. The factory existed 1910-1979 in Gävle.

As I'm on gluten free and dairy free diet and I love to eat Pavlova and I'm not the only one as you can see and you might find a recipe from here also. It's very simple. Sweet merinque and fresh berries with touch of melissa and sugar water. As you know you need only sugar and eggs to get the best merinque. Some almonds or pistachios goes well together with merinque. They roast nicely on top of the merinque. Heavenly taste.

I found these beautiful plates from Sweden. We made a one week long flea market and antique trip to Sweden two years ago. It was great fun and I have to admit I loved it! Beautiful country with many treasures. I guess these plates are quite common in Sweden but to me they are still treasures.

xo

Kreetta

Food photography workshop by Aran Goyoaga in Sweden

I say wow.

assignment

Not many often you feel that you are finally in right spot. Not very often you feel overwhelming happiness of being alive and connected to other special people. You are afraid of that you might never ever gonna get this feeling again. Can you fall in love with the feeling of togetherness? I guess you can.

 

aran in action

I just say wow - what an experience. Totally unreal and super wonderful. It was arranged by Angela Ritchie Ace Camps. We stayed in Beckershofs Herrgård. We were taught by Aran Goyoaga. She is behind the blog Cannelle and Vanille. Four days of working with amazing cook, photographer Aran and wonderful people. Eating delicious food made by Nadia, Aran, Fredrik and Ola Rudin. Thank you all lovely people.

that cheese!

stylised

There I managed to do two editorials and now I first have to decide what to do with them. One is photographed about picnic and another one is about trip to sheep farm. But here are some moments for you to see. 

wild edibles with ola

Have you ever been in workshop? If you have did you have fun? Can you recommend workshop? I can! It's so much fun and inspiration!

xo

Kreetta

Enjoy the feast - food photography workshop

I made a little window for you. You get an idea of how I have spent my days here in Sweden, Katrineholm. I've met great people and enjoyed so much this food photography workshop. I will blog more of this wonderful course next week when I get back home. Have you heard about this?  Ace Camp by Angela Ritchie and talented food photographer Aran Goyoaga.

xo

Kreetta

Recycling respect ! Kierrätys kunniaan!

One week ago I made a comment in one Finnish blog called Suvi sur le vif and the answer to me was - kierrätys kunniaan! It means recycling respect! ...well, I admit that is very free translation of it. But it was a very good reminder to me what my blog is all about. You may not know it because I really haven't clearly pointed it out. I will tell you now.

making candles from used tallow

Kirjoitin Suvi sur le vif blogiin kommentin ja hänen vastauksensa Kierrätys kunniaan! kitetytti hyvin oman toimintani ytimen, jonka olin itsekin jo hassusti unohtanut, koska se on minulle itsestäänselvyys. Samalla tajusin, että tuskinpa sinä, joka luet blogiani tiedät minulle tärkeistä asioista, jos en niistä kerro.(...jatkuu suomeksi postauksen lopussa)

earrings from old paper clips

The main rule in my handmade products is that I use vintage, old and used materials as much as possible. Of course sometimes I can't find everything used or old so I have to buy some new materials and combine them together. Secondly I also love old fashioned things - they just look prettier than new ones usually...and often they are made more carefully and they even might be handmade. 

lovely old ribbons and easter cards found in Ronneby, Sweden

And let's not forget that I love handmade. I have used so many hours to find all these wonderful materials and things that it is better not to count the time I've used. Of course it is my hobby so I enjoy it. I attend auctions and for example in summer 2011 we went to Sweden by car with my husband and we drove around and visited in so many flea markets and antique shops. It was so wonderful. Swedish countryside is very beautiful and in Sweden they have a little bit more interesting things in general than here in Finland, sorry to say but that's the way it goes. Actually we had backseat full of this and that when we came back. 

on Sundays they have flea market here in Brunnsparken - it was a good place to find treasures!

So I'm a kind of treasure hunter I would say. Sometimes I feel a little bit annoyed that I have so much different kind of this and that but it doesn't last long and actually I can always say that it is also one part of my profession: I'm a photographer so I need also props in my photography. And believe me it's so much easier to just open a cupboard and take one plate out than run through the city trying to find the right one.

You can find Cafe Mandeltårtan i Brunnsparken. You can get organic products here. It was wonderful place. There is als bed and breakfast place where you can stay over night. Really nicely decorated rooms in old wooden house.

...and finally I try to recycle as you have read and that is also very important to me like our precious Planet Earth.

Oops, it was a long writing this time. If you managed to get even here, thank you and if you like vintage, handmade and you are blogging or not, leave  me a comment so I can come to see your blog or just hear about you! 

I have two of these - red and yellow.

Neljä juttua minusta lyhyesti. Käytän tekemiini tuotteisiini pääasiassa vanhaa ja käytettyä jopa vintagea jos vain raaskin mutta toki välillä pitää ostaa uuttakin, että pystyn toteuttamaan haluamani asian. 

Toiseksi rakastan vanhaa ja kulunutta, Minusta monet vanhat tavarat, käsityömateriaalit, kankaat vaan näyttävät ja tuntuvat houkuttelevimmilta kuin uudet. Monet printit esimerkiksi vanhoissa kankaissa ovat todella viehättäviä. Olen kuluttanut lukemattoman määrän tunteja ja päiviä metsästäessäni kaikkea kivaa, vanhaa ja hyvää käytettävää materiaalia töihini. Mutta se onkin harrastukseni.  

I found nice flower vase.

Ja eipä unohdeta sitä tosiasiaa, että rakastan käsintehtyjä asioita. Niissä on ihan oma henkensä. Ja miksi oi miksi minun kaappini pursuavat kaikenlaista ihme roinaa, joka välillä vähän ahdistaakin, mutta onneksi vain hyvin vähän aikaa. Voin aina syyttää ammattiani ja todeta - olen valokuvaaja. Arvatkaapa kumpi on helpompaa...ottaa lautanen kaapista ja kuvata se kuin että juoksen kaupungin halki etsien juuri sitä tiettyä tyyliä. Tapahtuu sitäkin vielä mutta aina, kun löydän jonkun todella hyvän, ostan sen ja laitan kaappiin jos vain lompakossa on riittävästi euroja. Näin säästän aikaa, jalkoja ja luontoa. Ja edellä mainitut asiat ovat minulle siis kierrätystä ja se on tärkeää minulle niin kuin on meidän rakas maapallommekin. On kuitenkin hyvin vaikeaa olla aina ekologinen, senhän me jokainen tiedämme. Toivottavasti seuraavat sukupolvet ovat viisaampia kuin me ja ovathan he.

Tulipa pitkä rimpsu tekstiä. Jos jaksoit tänne asti - olen iloinen! Jos tykkäät vintagesta, kirppareista, vanhasta, käytetystä ja satut vielä bloggailemaan tai et niin kommentoi, jotta pääsen lukaisemaan blogiasi tai vain kuulemaan mitä kuuluu tai mieltä olet!