Collection No. 1
Following a Tove Jansson thread, Copenhagen getting whimsical, and the best product for dry hair.
The first two weeks of August are like molasses: languid and malleable, all softened and syrupy, seemingly everlasting.
We’ve been back on the pickleball courts, followed by jumps off the dock into the lake and swirl cones from the local creamery. Afternoons are usually spent on the patio, reading under the umbrella, or walking through the trees by the water. I always get a bit melancholic around this time of year, especially being back in the lake town where my brother and I grew up. August makes the past feel closer.
Maybe that’s why I’ve been susceptible to little obsessions lately. My first Collection has a few of them: Tove Jansson, Copenhagen fashion week, a new hair product, and other things that made the past few weeks particularly sweet. First up, a song by The Marías:
Following a Tove Jansson Thread
I like noticing when a person, place, or idea keeps knocking at my door. Subtle noticings here and there that begin to form a pattern. I read my first Tove Jansson novel, Fair Play, while we were in Sweden, and she’s shown up in fun little ways ever since.
I came across an article in the latest Kinfolk on Tove Jansson’s home and atelier in Helsinki. I’ve always loved seeing the spaces where creative people live and work, so I was bummed the article was paywalled. Since this particular house museum isn’t open to the public, getting my hands on a copy of the magazine was my best shot at getting through the front door. Pine-panelled walls, high ceilings, soft Nordic light, books and artwork everywhere—it was a treat to see where she dreamed up her worlds.
Of course her most popular novel, The Summer Book, is now on my TBR list. I didn’t realize it was adapted into a film in 2024—I’ll be saving that little treasure for a rainy day!
A couple weeks later, on the morning of my birthday, my daily page in How To Live an Artful Life happened to be a quote from Tove Jansson—about islands, no less. Having lived on islands all my life, and finding myself drawn to her work lately, the timing felt kismet.
I started reading about the islet in the Gulf of Finland where she spent her summers, living in a small wooden cottage without electricity. Can you image the creative freedom? Of course she had an island.
And after all that, Marketplace bestowed upon me a very special collector’s item. Jansson is best known for creating the Moomins—troll characters she began sketching in the 1930s. Moomins are cute and all, but Moomins making art are perfect. I had no intention of sourcing an original Finnish mug while scrolling through local trinkets, but it turns out this edition, the “#2 Blue—Painting Moomins”, is the most sought-after mug in the collection (rarely surfacing on eBay)! The woman I bought it from was mortified when I told her I was going to use it for my morning matcha rather than lock it in a glass case for the rest of my days.
All that to say, who knows what these little synchronicities mean. Maybe nothing at all. For now, I’m just happy to keep following this little Tove Jansson thread.
Copenhagen Fashion Week
My screen time numbers spiked last week—but for good reason. Tuning into the footage from Denmark had my full attention. I’m really into the sheer dresses and layers overtop full outfits, the lace apron skirts, bandanas, and flip-flops with jeans.
One of my biggest takeaways from our recent trip through Scandinavia was how much these countries seem to love and support women. Reading this note about fashion week made me really happy…
My favourite show to browse via Instagram highlights was Skall Studio. So whimsical and girly—even the baskets had baskets.
Lauren’s List Vol. 34
The cutest storybook cottage to holiday in.
Love this playful bathroom + laundry room transformation.
My most worn button-down…might need it in navy for autumn!
Along with these clogs.
Welcome to the age of decadence without pleasure.
Bon Appétit’s pantry awards for all the snacks.
Lol.
Stunning floral sculptures.
Espresso pickleball paddles—so chic.
Chickpeas al limone with burrata.
My impossibly thin and dry hair is loving this.
And the Moomin obsession continues: these Moomin Cloud gummy candies are so good. Also love the Wild Strawberry Swedish Fish.
Recent Reads
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (2019).
I had a lot of things on my August reading list, and somehow I ended up reading volumes 1–3 of this little series instead. Set in 1883 London and told through the journal entries of twenty-year-old Emma, the books follow a return to her eccentric family home and the curious cast of characters that surround it. Cute, clever, and cosy sums them up. The stories are charming and filled with dry British humour, but a tad slow and slight. There wasn’t a whole lot to chew on here, but sometimes that’s rather nice. Despite being set during the summer months, I couldn’t help thinking they would make particularly lovely company during fall and winter.
Art I’ve Been Loving
Scott and I had dinner at Unsworth Vineyards last week. I love coming here around my birthday for something a little fancy and a glass of sparkling rosé. I called him after work and asked him to meet me—the sun was golden, the food was perfect, and the views were endless. One of those spontaneous date nights that turned out better than the ones we plan.
Here’s to letting the last two weeks of August move like molasses—no expectations, no guilt about making them count, just accepting them as lazy and sticky as they come.
Thank you so much for being here. I never take it for granted that you spend a little part of your day with me. Enjoy your weekend and, as always, I’d love to hear from you! Tell me…
What does your dream island look like? Where in the world is it? What season are you in?
I absolutely adore Tove and the Moomins- this inspired me to set a FB Marketplace alert!
Hi Lauren! I have The Winter Book to loan if you’d like to read it. I read The Summer book, the library has it! I think you’ll enjoy it.