Anja Jane giveaway

I love the work of Anja Jane, a London-based designer and I'm thrilled that she's giving away one of her screen-printed pillows (or cushions as the Brits say). Her folk-like designs are inspired by her Norwegian and Polish heritage. This is a limited-print run, so if you're interested in purchasing, get them now while they're hot! The winner of the giveaway will get to choose the color of your choice: yellow, blue, red, grey.

TO ENTER:
1. Check out Anja Jane's collection and follow The House That Lars Built on Instagram (@houselarsbuilt). 
2. Leave a comment here on the blog telling me that you've entered.
3. Bonus votes if you share this giveaway.

The giveaway will end Wednesday, June 26th.

Good luck!

And while I'm at it, congrats to the winner of the Josef Frank giveaway, Kim. Hooray for Josef Frank!

Floral swimsuits

And florals continue to shine! I'm so glad they're still in and getting better and better with each passing day. I haven't been in a swimsuit in years--not even out of choice, just haven't been in warm weather in awhile--so I don't own a suit anymore. HOWEVER, I'd best be getting these floral swimsuits for myself and boarshorts for Paul. Aren't they lovely? Would Paul go for them? That might take some convincing.

1. Zimmerman floral suit   2.  Zimmer floral suit  3.  Zimmerman floral boardshort  4. Zimmerman floral boardshort

Color Theory

As more of a personal challenge, I'm starting a new series about color theory. I want to figure out the specific reasons why I like certain rooms, and not just because of the style. Color plays an important part in my aesthetic and I'm sure it does for many of you. This new series will explore why certain rooms work through the study of color. I won't go through a major history of color theory in this first post, but I will in upcoming posts.

This first interior is a favorite room of mine from years back. I think I scanned it in from the magazine even. I recently discovered it again on Pinterest and had to show it here. Why do I like it so much? Well, aside from the great cohesive style and furniture selection, I love the colors choices. I took a color wheel on the left and then identified the colors in the middle color wheel. You spread them out and it turns out to be a basic primary scheme: yellow, blue, red. Of course, it's not in primary shades, but in different values and shades of these basic hues. Fun, huh? 

Can you explain why you like the rooms you do? Go ahead and give it a shot.

Interior image

Gunillaberg part 3

I'm finally finishing off the Gunillaberg trip (see part one of the entrance, and two of the interiors). If you're just joining in, my mom visited us in Copenhagen last September and we took a day trip to the summer home of floral artist/sculptor, Tage Andersen, in Sweden. The palace is the former home of the first Swedish representative to America and Mr. Andersen has turned it into his home and playground. It's open to the public as an indoor/outdoor museum. He's just opened up a brand new orangerie and I'm dying to go back to see it. Today I'm showing the more remote parts of the property: the gazebo, bathroom, cafe, and reflecting pool. Now, pick your chin from off the ground and let's do this.

This gazebo is where Liesel and Rolph should have chosen for their 16 going on 17 number. Isn't it subtly gorgeous with the monochromatic painting along the frieze? This is the site of my next paper flower workshop...I wish.

The pathway leading up to the palace and a close-up of the handmade twig table inside the gazebo. Plus, a little lake. You know.

This might be one of the most magical elements of the whole property: the reflecting pool and topiaries. This is when I really wish I knew how to take a photo. I saw a much better version on pinterest awhile back and can't seem to find it again. Rats. 

Now, this is what I would DIE to see. Mr. Andersen planted 1,000 lilies (as described in the sign, below) on the outskirts of his property. Can you imagine? I die. Sadly, we visited in September so, no lilies to be seen, only a funky monkey wanna be that's super crazy. Here's somebody's photo of the 1000 lilies in bloom

Before the trip, I talked to Monz, Mr. Andersen's assistant, in the Copenhagen studio, and he told me to watch out for the bathroom. Why, you ask? Because THIS is it:

 Covered in hay.

The cafe is a tent-like structure...

...complete with a bird cage. I DIE.

Guys! Are you dying here with me? I mean, have you seen such beauty? Come on! In my dreams, I'm back again exploring the new orangerie and soaking in the wildflowers.

ALSO, did you know that there's a tradition in Sweden for May Day that all the girls collect wildflowers, put them under their pillow, and then they supposedly dream about their husband? CRAZY! Swedes, is this for real? I read it somewhere on the web. Someone please confirm!

EDIT: My lovely Scandnavian commenters have told me that it's for Midsummer, NOT May Day. But glad to see it's confirmed. Thank you!

Take a look at part 1 and part 2

A cliche tie for Father's Day

We all do it. The cliche tie for dad for Father's Day. How can we help ourselves? It's the only accessory we have to work with! This year I decided to make one rather than buy it--pointed bow tie to be exact. I haven't yet made a normal straight tie before but it seems a lot harder. Anyone know?

Well, I don't have a template for the tie I made just this very second--maybe in a few weeks--but I thought there might be more people out there who also got their dad a tie and would like a fun way to give it to him so I came up with this 3D tie poster/card. I'm thinking, ideally it's set on the kitchen table on Father's Day as a sweet surprise. Of himself. Don't dads love pictures of themselves? No? I didn't even ask permission from my dad, so, ummm, he has not choice.

Supplies: cardboard for the backing, picture of your dad (ideally in a suit so the bow tie works), craft knife, glue stick, tie (again, I'll include a template here in a few weeks)

Step 1: Print off the picture of your dad. I used a picture from my wedding and just blew it up on an 11x17" piece of paper. And no, I have no idea what he's doing here with his hand.
Step 2: Glue the picture to your cardboard.
Step 3: With your kraft knife, make two incisions on either side of his neck. Because he was already wearing a bow tie I make them on either side of the bow tie in the middle.
Step 4: Bring the tie through each hole.
Step 5: This is the hardest part. Tie a bow tie. Now, I even looked at various step-by-step tutorials on how to do this and to NO avail. Guys, how do you live?! So, I ended up just tying it like a shoelace. Whatevs.

Happy Father's Day all you dads (are there any who read???)

And while we're on a dad kick, check out yesterdays wrapping idea for Father's Day.

Father's Day gift wrap

My dad works in finance and says that the best gift we can give him is no gift at all. I'm ALL about that--I'm totally cheap. But, I'm guessing there are some fathers out there who love a good gift and this gift wrap idea takes the form of a card too, so consider it part of the gift. My dad's really good at putting up scanned photos of us as kiddies on Facebook, so I just collected them and printed them off in black and white. Bada bing, bada boom.

Supplies: box, kraft paper, pictures of your dad (make sure you shrink them down to a small size that will fit the size of the hole you create--I made mine 2x2"), scissors, x-acto, circle template, tape

Step 1: Cut the kraft paper to the size of the box and wrap it to find out where you should put your holes. You don't have to wrap it all the way.
Step 2: Using your circle template (I used the cap of a Mod Podge bottle), trace onto the kraft paper and repeat for all the photos you want to use.
Step 3: Cut out half of your circle with an x-acto knife and crease the circle over so it opens half way.
Step 4: On the back side, select a photo and affix it into the frame of the half circle.
Step 5: Secure it with tape.
Step 6: Repeat for all the circles.
Step 7: Finish it off with a ribbon.

Donzo.

Isn't it so fun?! It's like a trip down memory lane AND a gift all in one. I'm a big fan of this pop-up method and I can envision it for so many things. Remember the Valentine's hearts? The fun never ends.

Happy Father's day to all you dads! And a special early Father's day to the original Lars.

This girl

Pure class.

This girl  |  enters  |  hides out 

My birthday and birthdays past

Not posing at all.

When I went to go water my flower pots this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon gobs and gobs of garlands outside the door. Dear Paul has magical powers I tell you! He somehow got a hold of these felt garlands from Land Of Nod that I was going to use for another project along with my own flowers. He used my own ammunition on me! They're perfect! Surprise garlands at your door can only mean one thing...

It's my birthday! And because I'm a blogger, I can talk all about myself even more! Lucky you. I have a little tradition of recounting birthdays past because I have a pattern of being in a new city every year. Not on purpose. I wish I could say I was more deliberate in my plans, but it all seems to be on accident. And yes, of course, in my wildest dreams I'm spending Birthday 2013 in Provence, but until I earn my millions and build my vila, Provo, Utah it is.

June 11, 2012: Roskilde, Denmark
June 11, 2011: Namje, Nepal
June 11, 2010: Copenhagen, Denmark
June 11, 2009: Berlin, Germany
June 11, 2008: NY, NY
June 11, 2007: Washington, DC.
June 11, 2006: Kensington, MD.
June 11, 2005: San Clemente, CA.
June 11, 2004: Curitiba, Brazil.
June 11, 2003: Dana Point, CA.
June 11, 2002: Venice, Italy.

and finally...

June 11, 2013.....PROVO, UT. Ha! This year's birthday helps balance out my in-America tally.

Land of Nod was kind enough to provide all the garlands. Thank you! They come in a ton of colors in triangles and circles.

Lars in DC

'

Last week I recapped the paper flower workshop held at Kollabora in NYC and this week it's DC, my favorite city. I lived in DC for about four years so it was definitely like going home. I just love that place--ESPECIALLY in the spring time when the flowers are going crazy. I caught the azaleas, dogwoods, tulips, almost the daffodils and more important, I got to see a lot of friends who I love and cherish.

I was most thrilled to teach not one, but TWO workshops while I was there, but I only got photos from this one held at Kathryn Zaremba's awesome studio. She was so kind to host all of us and snap these photos from my iphone. Thank you everyone for coming! It was so wonderful to meet some Lars readers and see old friends. I hope to do it again soon! And I wish I would have taken note of everyone's blogs-doh!

pics taken by Kathryn Zaremba on my iphone. Bottom collage photos from my instagram @houselarsbuilt

This Girl: Donut edition

It's today! Happy National Donut Day! Did you go out and get your free donut? Go to the National Donut Day site to see who's participating (sorry foreigners). As a former non-sugar eater, I'm sure my friends from like 5 years ago are shocked that I'm the self-imposed poster child for this holiday. I'm just much classier now. Here's proof. (scroll to last picture).

Don't forget! There's a hashtag for today! #ndd13

Here are some more posts about donuts to feed your mind, in addition to your belly:
Did you see my donut garland from yesterday? Just print it off!
SF Girl by the Bay and her collection of beautiful donuts
Lulu the Baker's Sugar donuts look so good
Studio DIY's collection of Donuts on her Pinterest
Waffle. Donuts. Waffle donuts.
Fancy Donut party

Girl  |  Consumes  |  Joy

Moment for me: National doughnut day

A trip to the local bakery this week told me that National Doughnut day is TOMORROW! And because doughnuts are the new cupcake (right?!) now is the time to celebrate (look at Jordan's fancy donut party. You can be sure that we are not that fancy round these parts). I always took doughnuts for granted until I married a foreigner who taught me that doughnuts are "so" American. Now, I see them as they should be: a delightful American treat. I'm all about that. Because Paul is also training for the upcoming Tour de Donut, basically a bike race combined with donuts (each donut eaten shaves off 3 minutes from your time), I decided to surprise him with some "donut training" this morning. Of course, I had to make some decorations too. 

If you've been following along, you'll have noticed that I'm doing a collab with Haagen Dazs where they provide me with a box of goodies each month (including a box of GELATO) to treat me to certain "moments". This past month they gifted me some items for summer entertaining like fun plates, napkins, and placemats so of course, I had to use them for our moment. 

A proper doughnut (donut?) celebration includes a donut garland, of course. I made you a free printable for the occasion.

Supplies: scissors, template, baker's twine or string, needle, glue stick, hole punch (1/16") this one by Martha Stewart will change your life

Step 1: Cut out the template (print off from here. I printed mine from a heavier laser paper). I made two of each, one is the reflection of the other for front and back purposes. 

Step 2: Cut out the middles.

Step 3: Glue stick around the middle. 

Step 4: Fold over.

Step 5: Cut around the donut.

Step 6: Punch two holes in the top of the donut.

Step 7: Thread a needle and pull the twine through the holes.

Step 8: Add on all the donuts

Voila! 

DONUT TOWER FLAGS

Supplies: Scissors, template, skewers, glue

Step 1: Cut out the flags (download the template here)

Step 2: Add glue onto the edge of the flag.

Step 3: Roll it around the top of the skewer. 

 Stick 'em in your tower. Donzo!

To make it a surprise, cut out some extra doughnuts and lead them from the bedroom into the dining room. Who doesn't want a trail of donuts? The modern day Hansel and Gretel.

Ladies and gentlemen, How to eat a donut, by Brittany Watson Jepsen:

Because I'm classy like that.

This post was made from a true love of doughnuts, but sponsored by Haagen Dazs. Don't let me have the only donut party, create your own moments! When you do, tag them with #hdmoment on your social networks. Haagen Dazs will share their favorites on their Moments for Me page. 

photography by Mandy Phillips from Thimble n Thistle