Preparation day

How lucky !

to meet a talented florist in Tokyo. Ikuyo Takahashi .

We wanted some natural cottage garden flowers in a metro pol.

Would it be possible ? I am quite anal about how i like the flowers to be. Because i just can't stand the regular green house flowers from Holland, such as tulips and high stem roses in some ridiculous unnatural shades.

Pay attention the handpicked Anemone nemorosa or Wood anemone (Vitsippa in Swedish.) So pretty and so feminine. With an incredible strength to pass all the mulch in the forest, for being such a delicate little one.

This photo is here by mistake and it remains, because i do not know how to delete it with out cancelling all my work. And it is 12.30 in the morning. I hope you understand. Anyway it is worth seeing it again.

It could not be prettier and more cottage garden. Amazing ........

Takahashi san has the most exquisite flower shop in a converted garage. It takes a lot of research and patients to find the amount of different natural , wild flowers and vintage flowerpots. If you are passing by in Tokyo, do make a visit to see her at Le Vèsuve

Preparation day, the day i like the most. To see your idea and imagination come true. It is also very fortunate to be around energetic and talented Tomorrowland staff.

They are waiting for me and my rehearsal speech. It must not be longer than 15 minutes including the translating and i am now at 17 minutes. So we have to do it again......... I am not a natural speaker nor a natural writer, but a very patient listener.

But i will do my best ,

Gunn

Tomorrowland

At tomorrow with Tomorrowland !

I am so happy to announce that my organic skincare line " nara heltnaturligt " will be launched

with a press presentation for two days and a pressparty on the first of April.

It will be fantastic. We are going into our first 56 stores on the 15th.

If you like a preview go into naraorganics.com

and i will let you know as we go,

Gunn

Japanese breakfast

Are they smarter than us ?

Yes, i think so. We stuff our selves with a bread and cheese, all though we all know where it goes.

This s an example of what my first meal look like when i get to Narita airport.

Belive me, i planned for it during the last 15 hours , saying no to the airplane food.

It doesn't look much, but to me it's heaven. A bottle of warm green tea and an Onigiri.

I think the Japanese Onigiri is the smartest sandwich on earth. Tasty, healthy and practical.

And in the most clever packaging there is. You just unzip in the middle ( kind of a fly front )

and the fresh Nori seaweed sheet comes out and automatically wraps the rice pad filled with something tasty. Mine is umeboshi or kombu.

Love it,

Gunn

Food for puppies

Food for all !

Feeding 8 hungry puppies at the same time is not an easy task.

It is a big race who gets to the finishing line first. I tried with two large bowls and it was a giant fight, pushing into the bowl and trying to get most of it.

But then i read in my Natural Dog guide that each puppy should have their own little dish.

The row is to wide to fit into the photo........

So now it is still a competition on who licks their dish clean first and then can move on to the next .

And they leave a big mess behind, happily content with a full belly.

I am enjoying this moment,

Gunn

Tussilago

Is Spring finally here ?

I passed by some tiny sweet Tussilago farfara flowers yesterday during my morning walk with the dogs.

Or Coldfoot as they are called in English.

I am not the nostalgic type but Tussilago makes me nostalgic. It brings me back to my childhood collecting the first flowers for my mother.

To me this is a fantastic sign of the first days of Spring and some good days to come.

Did you know that the flower is used in cough medicine and that tussis means cough ?

In China this herb is called Warming herb.

It warms my heart !

Foreward and onwards ......

Gunn

Valentino

Valentino !

Born on this special day of celebrating lovers, i think the best name for him is just Valentino.

He was the first of the total 8 and is now a month and a day. His weight is not more than a bowl of pasta.

Valentino's teeth are slowly showing up and he has an insisting bark, when asking for food.

Our favorite dog whisperer Cesar Millan is keeping me advised and helping me stay calm and assertive,

G

Puppies

Puppies !

Our labrador bitch TATI had 8 wonderful healthy puppies on the 14th of February. It is also the birthday of a dear friend, so i could not give her a better present.

Here they are ! happy, content, always hungry and starting to make some funny barks, playing and growing fast right before your eyes. Tati is a chocolate brown labrador of 5 years and the proud father OLMO is half labrador and his dad a German shepard from somewhere around the neighbouring hills. All the puppies turned out black.

It is a pleasure to watch these creatures grow every day.

I call it my meditation time,

G

Hats

Chapeau !

To Pierangelo and his colleagues for making a difference at the traditional hat factory in Sagliano Micca, Biella.

Pierangelo's passion for hats started many years ago and he has been collaborating with Barbisio for the last 3 years. It really was an unnoticed company until he started to revolutionize the archives and move forward with hats for young trendsetters.

We can only admire a company that is still in development and continues to create a modern style based on tradition. He has been very supportive helping the last local handmade hat maker in the area. In the last century there used to be hundreds of manufacturers producing hats in the nearby Cervo valley.

Keep it up,

G

Huller om buller

Huller om buller !

This is a very funny expression in Swedish, saying it's all mixed up and perhaps a bit messy. By now i should be thinking, dreaming and speaking italian every day as this has become my main language. But i have an American colleague who does not speak a word of Italian in my office and i have international mails and calls to answer everyday. And on top of it i now have two ( imported ) Swedish colleagues as well.

I am telling you this to ask you for your understanding when my text is backwards and all messed up. The grammar is a potpourri of all the 3 languages i talk daily. If i could i would add some french and make it even messier.

Have patience with me,

G

Ann Wahlstrom

Madras glass !

I did not see all the shows i had on my list but i made it to Galleri Martenson & Persson.

Ann Wahlstrom's latest glass exhibition in a colourful parade. Ann was inspired by watercolours and managed to create a very unusual mix of powerful pieces.

The photographs i am showing you, can not give the emotions i felt looking at them. But click on them to see them in a bigger size.

They are BIG and incredibly beautiful. Just like frozen paintings, as the Gallery explained.

Ann created these important pieces in Seattle, where the technical skill made it possible to create such unusual technique and size.

Thank you Ann and Congratulations !