Happy Midsummer's Eve!

A little late perhaps, seeing how it's already evening, but I wouldn't want to forget wishing you all a lovely Midsummer's Eve (Midsommarafton), whether you're Swedish and celebrating it or not. It's pretty much typical windy and cold midsummer weather so you'll have to make due with these flower photos, which are a couple of weeks old by now.

The pickled herring is eaten --without any alcohol -- and so are the strawberries and cream. I'm not going out so I'll just sit here and celebrate the holiday in the company of the cats, eating chocolate and peanut cake (that's not traditional midsummer food, no -- but delicious). Perhaps see if the magic of the midsummer can inspire a new bead/jewellery project. I could use some midsummer magic to stir my inspiration right now. 

The midsummer night is actually not a bad theme. With folklore, legends, fairy tales and traditions like the seven flowers under the pillow, love spells, foretellings, Näcken and all the other supernatural beings from the folklore (which are said to be the most powerful on special nights like this one -- though of cause it orginally referred to the solstice night, not the night of Midsummer's eve, which is fixed to a Friday each year since 1953). And then there's Shakespeare with his Midsummer night's dream, if looking past the Swedish tradtion and Scanian folklore. Nothing is more inspirational than the romantic blend of magic, fairy tales and the beauty of the blossoming gardens and forests right now.

Glad midsommar!