Stockholm

This visit to Stockholm was all about the books! Stadsbiblioteket, Stockholm City Library, was a priority to visit since they are closing this summer for renovations until 2027. Next door to the city library is Svenska barnboksinstitutet, The Swedish Institute for Children's Books, which holds a collection of contemporary children's literature (their work is similar to the CCBC in Madison, Wisconsin). I got to look at Angår det det kanske and Vanjopp by Ingrid Sjöstrand, which I have been translating this spring. I also visited Kungliga biblioteket, the National Library of Sweden. Just around the corner from where I stayed in Södermalm is a wonderful bookshop called Bokslukaren (the book swallower or devourer), which specialises in children's books. And also in Södermalm, Bysis Book & Papper. In addition to a number of Akademibokhandeln locations, Pocket, and Adlibris, I had some great book finds at an antique store and a Myrorna thrift store—then managed to get all the books packed in my luggage back to the UK (within my weight limit!). Therefore, most of my photos are of books (haha), but I did also capture some of these sights.

View from the ferry

Djurgården ferry

Vasabron

Stadsbiblioteket

Stadsbiblioteket

Svenska barnboksinstitutet

Angår det dej kanske

Vanjopp

Kungliga biblioteket

Stockholms stad

Bokslukaren

At Bokslukaren

At Bokslukaren

At Bokslukaren

Myrorna

STHLM Knit Company

The Tea Centre of Stockholm

Korv med bröd

Astrid Lindgren's statue at Junibacken

Sandvargen by Åsa Lind (I'm also translating this!)

Bysis Bok & Papper

Glad Midsommar!

Midsommar at Skansen

Sheep at Skansen

View from Skansen

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Falun and Sundborn

After over 10 years, I was finally able to visit Sweden again this June. What a beautiful time to see the country! I got by using Swedish most of the time, but by no means having lengthy conversations. I still have a lot to learn! I believe you really have to get thrown in to make any progress, though, so I am glad for what I did accomplish. 

Even if you have no idea where Sundborn is, you've probably seen artwork by Carl Larsson. Within those paintings, you're also seeing Karin Larsson's textile and furniture design. I was inspired by this amazing documentary on SVT to visit Lilla Hyttnäs, the home of Karin and Carl Larsson. Photos of the interior of the house come from the book Ett hem: Carl och Karin Larssons värld by Ulrika Ewerman, Maja Sten, and Mira Wickman.

Lilla Hyttnäs

Carl Larsson-gården

Karin and Carl Larsson's house in Sundborn

By the shore

View from the house

Front door

Front entrance

Verkstad (Workroom)

Pillow made by Karin

Matsalen (Dining room)

Guds Fred (God's Peace)

Vet du vad: var god och glad (You know what: be good and happy)

Förmakten (the Atrium)

Blomsterfönstret (Flowers on the Windowsill)

Övre hallen (the Upper hall)

Brevskrivning (Correspondence)

Garden

Frukost under store björken (Breakfast under the big birch)

Rambling couple in historic landscape

The sweet little library in Sundborn was open. There was also a nice exhibit on at Konsthallen Kvarnen. And I walked to the church.

River Sundborn

Sundborn's library

The dream

Upstairs reading room

Library view

Sundborn

Sundborn

Sundborn's Church

I stayed in Falun, about a 20 minute drive from Sundborn. Carl Larsson also had a house in Falun, which was just up the street from my Airbnb place. The author Selma Lagerlöf lived in Falun for a number of years, too!

Kristine Church

Book store

Street in Falun

View from my loft Airbnb

Breakfast smörgås

Selma Lagerlöf's statue

Carl Larsson's house on Blindgatan

Thanks for reading! Next up, Stockholm!

Bibblan Swedish Library

Earlier in June, I took part in a training course offered through UEA Student Enterprise to develop my business idea. I've been working with Student Enterprise since the autumn semester and the advisors there have been very supportive. I definitely would not have progressed this far without their encouragement and the incentive of grant funding that's available to UEA students. My business idea is a membership-based lending library of contemporary Swedish literature in the Swedish language with an emphasis on children's books. It's aimed at families who are raising children bilingually in the UK and will also be available for any Swedish language learners to access books in Swedish. I've seen how this model works from a company called Kinder Books based in the US that provides German language children's books to subscribers. I'm inspired to set up something similar with Swedish language books in the UK. Other students on the course had business ideas as diverse as health food, clothing design, and tutoring services. Most of the group was made up of international students. At the end of the week when we pitched to the judges, my business idea received an honourable mention! 

A few books from Bibblan's collection

Startup Accelerator group, photo by Chiara Tacchio

 Honourable mention! photo by Chiara Tacchio

The months of May and June are a good time to walk the UEA Broads trails. The meadow can be a peaceful place and it reminds me of summer in Nebraska (but not so hot!).

Strawberry Field at UEA

Strawberry Field at UEA

Broads at UEA