BunnyCard

This BunnyCard's bunny picture is recycled. Originally it was on a calendar. Now I used it to decorate a little bunny girl's birthday card. Also the background picture of a rag rug is from another calendar.

ThankYou -card

This time -for card making- I used a book written and illustrated by Veronica Leo which bases on a traditional Norwegian folk tale Karin Spjälkjol narrated by Peter Asbjörnsen and Jörgen Moen. I bought it at our local library's clearance sale just by 0,20€.

The book has many beautiful pictures for many different kind of cards. Using old and abandoned books for card making is an excellent recycling idea.

How charming spirit Veronica Leo has been able to chain into the pics!

SvalbardSnuggle (part5)

Svalbard is full of adventures. There is Longyearbyen Camping right next to the airport. There are hostels and apartments. There are hotels. There are even a grocery store and few souvenir shops. When you arrange your own trip to Svalbard you can save a lot of money and spend longer time there enjoying the arctic. But before going READ THIS.

What rises up the costs of your holiday in Svalbard is the fact that in practical you need a professional guide when going out of the village. VisitSvalbard gives you a proper amount of information. You can even book activities via the site. It is important to notice that VisitSvalbard is not all that is available. It is like a travel agency which charges the companies from listing their tours. If your company doesn't pay, it is not listed. Thinking about the business; that is fair. That's how it goes. They all do it, all the agencies around the world,  because they neither are put up for the charity.

(C) Esa Sillanpää

We booked few trips. Better Momets was one of those we used. We participated on their Walrus Safari.

(C) Esa Sillanpää

At Better Moments' site is an excellent Practical Information about their activity but it gives you also general information about the needed insurances.

(c) Esa Sillanpää

(c) Esa Sillanpää

We used also Spitzbergen Adventures. We are used to outdoor a lot; even in arctic. There was two hunters in our group when travelling there. That's why we understood we need  a professional guide in there. First of all to secure the safety, but also to show and tell us all about the beautiful nature. By professional guides it was secured that our holiday was succeed.

(C) Esa Sillanpää

I can also recommend you Svalbard Trekking and an independent Finnish professional guide Raine Kallio. You can find him on Instagram and Facebook. He speaks English and he is only happy if you contact him to get your adventure on Svalbard.

SvalbardSnuggle (part4)

Bjørndalen is a beautiful valley near Longyearbyen in Svalbard. It offers you challenges but is accessible also for the ones who are not in such a good fit and don't want to hike far. Proper place to bring your children with you!

A professional guide is the right and safe choice to lead you through Bjørndalen's flora and fauna.

Stunning views that take control of the whole scene...

...and tiny spots of beauty in colors!

That's of what the adventures on Svalbard are made of. It is not all about just the polar bears despite they are glorious and endangered animals.

SvalbardSnuggle (part3)

If you've been following MyBlog for a bit longer you know I love churches. In Longyearbyen there is one. Of course I had to visit it. Svalbard church is open for 24 hours but please notice it is not allowed to stay over the night or accommodate yourself in there. The church has also its own Norwegian website Svalbard Kirke.

I was amazed by the color world of this church that provide shelter every hour on each day in its extremely demanding climate. It's filled with pastel shades. Usually you meet deep and strong shades in the churches. The shades have been chosen for pastel because in that way there will be an impression of light during the long & cold Polar Night season that lasts in Longyearbyen from October the 26th to February the 15th.

In the church there are plenty of room to sit and rest and warm yourself up. I just can't stop admiring the shades and decoration they have used!

It is a very beautiful and quiet place. I really really really would like to see it on the winter time!

SvalbardSnuggle (part2)

Svalbard is not as isolated as you would think. It is not as primitive as you would think. We stayed in Radisson Blu Polar -hotel. Someone of our group has a bad back so we decided to make sure everything will be fine after outdoor adventures. We also needed to make sure I won't be starving because of my strict gluten free diet. Restaurant Nansen serves breakfast for the hotel but also the dinner starting from 6 pm (remember to make a reservation). The staff at Nansen is extremely friendly and professional. I had no troubles with my diet. If you are staying somewhere else you can still try the restaurant.

If you decide to stay in a camping area, hostel or apartment in Svalbard I am happy to tell there is no need to carry your own food from home all the way with you. There is a very good grocery shop Coop Svalbard. Just remember to leave your guns before going in. (Contact staff to leave your guns.)

Fruene cafe proves Longyearbyen is not out of civilization. They have also their own website but it is in Norwegian. They are also at FaceBook. The cafe has a great atmosphere and you are welcomed no matter are you a local or a tourist. It is an excellent place to have lunch or delicate (not gluten free).

Unfortunately they can't serve 100% gluten free products because they bake gluten stuff in the cafe. So, also their chocolate may contain traces of gluten. If you don't need to be so strict about it; go for it and try! It all looks very fascinating and they say it tastes great!

SvalbardSnuggle (part 1)

I've been very far and very away. 

I've been in Longyearbyen,Svalbard in Norway. It is a place where many people go twice at the same time; for the 1st and the last time both on the same visit. We obviously belong to the other group of visitors. We need to go back! It is a beautiful little village in the arms of deep arctic heart where you really can snuggle up or hike outside whenever you desire.

It all calls out for an adventure BUT it is a place were human is not the head of the food chain. Polar bears are a serious threat and they do can eat you just like in the books and movies.

The climate itself places another threat. Going alone out there is not smart because the weather can change in a minute and push you into the trouble where it is up to the life and death.

In a blink of an eye fog -or snow storm- can hide it all what you just saw. It really can happen in a minute.

The nature is so alive in there despite no tree grows this north.

The nature creates for you the best alive breathtaking scenes.

In Longyearbyen there is a harbor by the fjord.

It is deep enough also for big cruisers. But if you ever dream to go there I truly recommend you to take a plane and stay longer that just for 12 hours with the cruiser. Most of tourists spend just few days there. Our journey was longer and we are very satisfied because of that. Now we had a change to see it all without crowds of tourists.

Only Flora

This floral bookmark reminds us about the summer gardens during the arctic winters we spend only dreaming about the colorful world.

The ribbon and button are from Karnaluks craft shop Tallinn, Estonia. The ribbon is quite thin so I used bias tape behind it to make it more thicker.

Heraldic Flora

This heraldic flora themed bookmark is made by -again- the ribbon and button I bought from Karnaluks craft shop in Tallinn, Estonia.

The button is beautiful and matches well with the ribbon. I didn't make the buttons and ribbons match to each others at the craft shop. I just collected everything I liked and trusted in it that they all will find their special places.

Owls

Isn't this WoodlandOwl themed bookmark fascinating! I bought the ribbon and button from Karnaluks craft shop in Tallinn, Estonia.

The OwlRibbon is a bit thin so I made it thicker by a fabric ribbon I've saved from ChocolateGiftBox. They match together very well despite no chocolate was left anymore.

Matryoshka BookMark

 Do you know Russian nesting doll Matryoshka? On My last visit to Tallinn, Estonia I bought this Matryoshka themed ribbon -like many others- from Karnaluks.

This is a gift for someone who lives very far away and collects Matryoshka dolls. This is much more easier to send out than a fat nesting doll wit many baby dolls inside.

Soap & Water

Past few days have been warm so it was time to wash some HomeMadeRugs. Does this RagRug seem familiar to you? I designed and made it on the last summer.

In the village nearby ours is a special place for washing your own carpets. It is quite new and modern. It has drain system to take care of no chemicals end up to BalticSea. Remember to protect our all seas where ever you are and what ever you do!

In the sun the rugs dry well without any electricity. SunPowerRules!

BookBag No12

In BookBag No2 I used the same thick felt as I did in BookBag No9. This time I used different kind of sewing machine functions to decorate it.