Dashing through Dalarna
We are getting towards the end of our trip, but wanted to visit a couple of places in Dalarna so in our rented car we drove through forests and valleys and little farms until we got to Sundborn…
Where we visited the home of Carl and Karin Larsson and their family!
It is such a beautiful home, inside and out, and preserved very much as it was when Carl Larsson’s paintings were made there in the early 1900’s.
This is the window from the outside that is in the famous painting showing one of the girls watering geraniums. We were only allowed to enter the house by pre-paying for a tour with a guide, and no photos were permitted inside, but…
…it was like being inside a living painting for the morning!
The weather has been slowly changing to fall! Arianell and Coriander were glad we packed their cardigans!
We were in the car for long drives but took a few rest stops. Then it started pouring rain! It rained all the way to Mora and our next stop…
…which was at the Dalahäst carving workshop and shop!
We watched a woman painting them!
…and of course the girls each got a Swedish horse to bring home !
Quimper Hittys 
The Larsen home looks so pretty! And the little horses are gorgeous. You will be building a Hitty stable soon!
There are quite a few Swedish Horses in the Hitty Stable already, but Arianell and Coriander persuaded me that these would fit in … they are very small!
Your Hitty’s are either quite good at getting their own way or a brilliant excuse for you to make and buy things! I love them!
Oh glory! What a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for you to see Carl and Karin Larsson’s home! I was introduced to him about 4+ decades ago with the publication of those books about him-A Farm, A Home…..those are some of my prized possessions (although I have no Swedish roots). I am so very glad for you that you were able to be there, share it with us. I’ve so enjoyed going along with you on this once in a lifetime journey. Thank you so much once again for sharing your enchanting journey with us.
You are very welcome… it was a dream of mine to see the home and garden, and the reality was every thing I imagined. I am so glad we made the extra effort to get there!
How exciting! I’m a fan of Karin Larsson’s textiles.
Me too! As the guide pointed out, Carl Larsson’s painting became famous because he painted the home and ambience that Karin created!
This has been such a wonderful trip. I have enjoyed each and every photo and caption. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. I may have gasped right out loud when I saw those tiny Swedish horses. What a perfect souvenir!
The girls certainly thought that the little horses were perfect! We are happy that we got to see them being made!
I confess that everyone of my little wooden girls are quite envious over those tiny Swedish horses…I so enjoyed your photos of the Larsson house . Every photo you have taken during your journey has been a delight. Thank you.
The tiny horses are their pride and joy! They had a hard time picking them out because it meant leaving so many behind!
Thank you for taking me to the Larsson home, and to the horse “factory”. I wonder what it’s like to be a horse painter – it looks like there’s not much room for originality, but still it must be satisfying to create such a beautiful product.
The workshops were busy making hundreds of horses at a time! The painting was done by hand but as you say, the horsey decorations are standardized.
Such a lovely spot to visit! I love the photo of the ladies standing among the hand carved horses.
That was one of the two very wet days that we had in our almost five week trip! We were glad to be able to duck into the carved horse workshop and watch people making this iconic Swedish folk art!