PinkBabySocks

 

I designed and knit tiny FairIsle style woollen socks for my GrandDaughter. I used Novita's Natural Collection Merino 4 ply yarn (100% merino wool) (50g = 230m).

Actually, the finished pair was just exactly her size. So, I opened the toe parts and knit one FairIsle decoration stripes for each sock and ta-dah, the socks turn out bigger. This is, by the way, excellent idea to make socks for babies and toddlers. They don't walk so much yet or at all, when wearing the woollen socks. But they grow fast. If you need to save your time (and yarn) this is an excellent way to make bigger socks.

For the baby and mom. These are already in use. AAW Mittens No6 I knit earlier. I am not a pink person but these pink shades I like. The shades are rather sugar dust covered candy pink than bright, pastel or neon pink.

MyTime

One of my dearest hobbies is making jigsaw puzzles. It has been almost two years since I had time for puzzles for the last time.

I received this turtle puzzle as a gift from my dear friend far too many months ago. It has been waiting in its bag on my desk since that. I started January 2023 with this.

I love the smart cut pieces of it. Finding the right piece is always a pleasure. When you realize it has a very special shape it brings extra joy!

In January I started -and was able to complete- another jigsaw puzzle. This one has 1000 pieces. There are several things that enchants me in making jigsaw puzzles. 

The first charming thing in jigsaw puzzles are the details. They say the devil lives in the details. But I love the details. At museum you would never investigate a piece of art as long as you spent with it when making a puzzle that represents it. You find all the wonderful details you would miss when just walking by or admiring it for a moment.

The second charming thing is mindfulness. I always make puzzles in silent. My mind just rests in it. It makes so good on my mental health. It is like mindfulness and meditation.

The third charming reason is to make something absolutely vain, unnecessary and useless. In this world we must always be so damn productive and efficient. It feels so good to take the finished jigsaw puzzle back to 1000 pieces and just wipe away the hours you spent on it. It is like a secret of lazy unproductive moments you sneaked to do and could not care less. Of  course it makes good to your mind, heart and soul in this busy busy world.

This Polish Trefl's puzzle is good quality. It is Winter Landscape by Dominic Davison. The sky is always a bit challenging but still very satisfying. 

I already picked up another jigsaw puzzle to work with. I started this set of two with YoungLady in spring 2021. The pack includes Czes Pachela`s Christmas Village and Macneil's Ice Skating on The Pond.

We just started Christmas Village but had to stop quite soon. It has been in the box like this since that. Now I will finish it.

At the end, the true reason for me making jigsaw puzzles is to make TheCat sit on them! Every now and then we have a strict conversations about it can She do so or not. The best ever solution for the cat tail wipe problems, playful paws and fast & sudden runs over it all is the storage box set Santa Claus brought me on Yule 2022! It is so easy to work with the puzzle (and TheCat) now when I have these puzzle boxes! I used to use all kind of kitchenware plastic boxes but these are absolutely the most practical ones!

Felt Mittens No1

I designed and knit felt mittens. I used Schachenmayr's special edition Wash+Filz-it! Fine Multicolor yarn (100% virgin wool) (100g = 200m). I felt them in washing machine (40  Celsius degrees, 1200 rpm).

Isn't it just beautiful yarn! The mittens are not to meant look the same. Very simple design for a special yarn.

AAW Mittens No6

 

I designed and knit simple plain mittens of AAW (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool and 10% nylon) (100g = 238m). I made two pairs in two different size. They both have similar amount of stitches. I just used knitting needles size 2,5 mm for one and size 2,75 mm for the other. Such a small difference in the needle size create even visible difference in the practical and actual size.

Baby Luuhka

On 2022 I was asked to make a baby luuhka. Luuhka is a part of Sámi clothing. There are no baby size luuhka patterns available. According to old pictures I drawn the pattern and graded it to be suitable for babies, toddlers and small children. 

Old fashion Forest Sámi luuhka doesn't include the hood. In modern times people wish it to have one so I made it also to the baby luuhka. When it is in the pattern, it is easy just to include or exclude it.

Despite it was me who created the pattern, graded the pattern and sew the first two luuhkas in two different sizes, this was a community project of our siida. Someones had the idea, one included some left over fabric. Few others helped with the decoration style investigation. The others participated in many other ways doing the community work for our siida.  

Pics below are prototypes of Forest Sámi baby luuhka that I made at the end of the summer 2022. They are gifts for a new Forest Sámi baby from our siida. They have been in use and tested. The pattern will face a small change in the future but here it is how it looks.

They both are made of wool fabric. The base color is dark marine. All the seams expect the neckline include forest green piping. See how adorable and cute they are! The decoration style can be chosen according to the location and family but it can't be anything that just pops into your mind. The base color can vary but rather to stay in traditional shades, which is always highly recommended in folk costumes. 

Yule 2022

Past years have been hard. I wish it would have been just covid, but so much more have happened. Most of the happenings have been unexpected and unwanted. I am, like you are, just a human. Still, there has been blinks of the sunshine and starlight, the moments I will cherish in my heart for the rest of my life. 

I always would love to continue Yuletide all the way 'til the 13th of January, like it used to be on the old times. Unfortunately it is not possible as the world in this modern society wakes up and work is calling. This last official week I have been enjoying about the Yuletide on my own, only the animals here with me. This is it what I really have been longing for but also needed for recovery, rehabilitation and charging my batteries. To be empowered for the 2023.

On the begin of 2022 I decided to bring the culture back into my life. Covid took it away from me. In 2022 I was able to reach my aim. It was not difficult as even one participation on any cultural activity outside the house would be more than I had on 2021! The 2022 was full of cultural connected actions. I am very happy about it all that 2022 brought me in the cultural field.

This year, 2023, I want to bring the art, crafts and textile art back into my life. Lot of lonely hours in my ateljé are hopefully expected, put into operation and accomplished. Hopefully, somewhere in the future you will see new OnTour to happen. When? No date for that. We'll see. But all you need to know is that I have already started to work for it all on 2022 (designing). This year I will start the practical work for it. Somewhere in the future there will be an art exhibition, hopefully a tour. 

The 2023 Reading Challenge No1

The Reading Challenge 2023 is here!

On 2023 I encourage you to read books from different places. No other rules but geographical location. You can choose the genre! 

January 2023 theme is Africa!

If it is hard to figure out which book to choose for the challenge you can see the label Reading Challenge and investigate what books I've read on previous years that are connected to Africa in some way.

The 2022 Reading Challenge

The Reading Challenge 2022 

1. Book from your childhood. The one that mattered you the most.
2. Book you would never pick up. You can choose the reason why.
3. Science book.
4. Art book.
5. Cook book.
6. Comic/cartoon book.
7. Book about your own culture/traditions.
8. Book about a culture/tradition that you know a bit.
9. Book about a culture/tradition that is strange to you.
10. In a language you have never read a book before. (Notice, children books are easy.)
11. The one you have desired to read for a long time.
12. Read aloud to someone who listens. (Notice, no need to be a human.)

PS. Keep a book about your reading.

 The Reading Challenge 2022 which I released on 1.1.2022 turn out quite interesting. Especially I am warmly and thankfully surprised about the book I would never pick up! I have always read a lot but experience these reading challenges have provided a lot to my beloved reading hobby. I have pick up books and genres I otherwise never would have done. I feel enriched by the reading challenges and hopefully you have been able to enjoy them with me.

That is why I have designed even more exiting reading challenge for the coming year. This time I will publish the topic of it once in a month. Stay online, the 1st one will be here soon as January 2023 has already started!

I read all these book to match the challenge:

1. Book from your childhood. The one that mattered you the most. Koola de la taïga by Marcelle Vérité (in Finnish, mine). This wonderful book is illustrated by Romain Simon. This is one of the few books that have followed me through all my life. When I was just a little girl my granny bought this for me and since that one little tiger has been growing in my heart. If I could give only one book to a person, this would be it. No matter is the person adult or a child.
2. Book you would never pick up. Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (in Finnish, item of my daughter) I have read only few books from Japanese authors/novelists. This book is not my genre. It would not rise my interest, not to mention attention at library or book shop shelf. YoungLady brought this item to me, insisted me to read this book despite me claiming I have  no time to read it. She didn't leave me alone with her demanding inquiries until I had time to pick it up and read it. I started to cry on the page 279 and cried all the way to the end. She knew it and kindly left me handkerchiefs when she noticed I had read 200 pages and asked if I was going to finish it on that night when she went to work. And yes, she is a smart YoungLady, there was enough handkerchiefs. And oh boy, that made me so good. Sometimes you just need to cry!
3. Science book: The Secret Network of  Nature by Peter Wohlleben (in English, mine). Not the first or last book from him which I read. His stories are always fascinating for the ones who love the nature and all the stories of it. He writes science books based on facts but in a fascinating way. He points out you to keep your eyes open and notice things around you.
4. Art book: Suomen saamelaispuvut by Sámi Duodji ry (in Finnish, library item). This is a textile art book that presents Finnish Sámi costumes in 3 Sámi languages and in Finnish. It is a very comprehensive book of the costumes it represents. At the same time its biggest deficiency is that it claims there are only 5 regional Sámi costumes in Finland. That is not true. Forest Sámi costumes are not represented. That's why, despite of the achievements in showing these 5 costumes, the books tumbles on its own neglect towards Forest Sámi culture and costumes. Sámi Duodji ry doesn't recognize Forest Sámi people and that causes the failure of the success of this textile art book. Especially when it claims there are only 5 costumes. 
5. Cook book: Kotilieden joulu by Päivi Heininen and Kaija Ruokolainen (in Finnish, mine). This is a book to which I return by every Yuletide. It is a collection of few articles and craft instructions but also many recipes of all kind of Yuletide food (main menu, desserts, eatable gifts etc.). It includes also game ideas for having fun during the holidays. Everything has been published in famous and traditional Finnish Kotiliesi-magazine during the ages. 
6. Comic/cartoon book: Kivet kannot tähdet kuuta by Mitja Mikael Malin (in Finnish, library item). A beautiful blue-white comic book about Finnish mythology / folklore in a bit - not too much- modern spices and good taste. New and young Finnish author/artist to me, definitely worth of following. Hope we will hear more about Mitja in the future as this is his first publication.
7. Book about your own culture/traditions: Sompion saamelaiset - Tunturien päiväpuolen kansa by Heli Saarinen (in Finnish, introduced by a friend who borrowed the item to me, found out it is excellent so I decided to have a copy of my own for later use). Heli Saarinen gathers and connects together a great piece of investigations about my own Forest Sámi culture from many different origins. Starting from it when the first trees and animals started to arrive to my cultural heritage region. It is a science book following Peter Wohlleben's style. Like Wohlleben, Saarinen proves, you can write pure fact and science without being boring or too statistic. I love Saarinen's style as she -like Wohlleben- shows where she refers in her arguments. Saarinen manages to write about a sensitive topic without accusing, insulting, blaming or being hot blooded. She tells the facts and you can go to check it all out on your own. Unfortunately the books is not available in other languages.  
8. Book about a culture/tradition that you know a bit: Desert Flower by Waris Dirie (in Finnish, mine). A true story everyone should read. It was published already on 1998 in English and 1999 in Finnish. I am happy to tell we already can see changes even there is still a lot of work to do. This books holds a lot of information for everyone's general education and knowledge. It tells a lot about all kind of abuse but also a lot about the hope and surviving. I bought this at library sale and pass forward after reading to raise awareness.
9. Book about a culture/tradition that is strange to you: The Empire's New Clothes -A history of the Russian fashion industry 1700-1917 by Christine Ruane (in English, library item). Despite I've studied 4½ years of textile and clothing, including the history of it, Russian fashion history has remained quite distant despite it tells about our neighbor country. The reason rises up from this book: it is rarely represented or investigated. But here it is, in a complete book! Wow!
10. In a language you have never read a book before: Colonels Wife by Rosa Liksom (in Tornedalian Finnish, bought at second hand for this). This is the most ugliest book I've ever read and I've read many books. This time I read two books at the same time: my 1st ever and the last ever book written by Rosa Liksom. The cover doesn't tell it all. All the introductions of the book, also both the cover and publisher's adds, lockers this to be rather a story of the war times especially in Lapland region and a monologue. There are mentions about difficult relationships but none of them mentions the fact that it is a non-survival story about all kind of abuse: physical, mental and sexual at any age, domestic or at familiar surroundings. This book may launch post-traumatic reactions/stress because there is no hope, no healing, nor light at the end of the tunnel. The main character turns out abuser too in all kind of forms and the chain keeps going on. That is realistic but Rosa Liksom seems to want to slam at those people's face who have experienced any kind of violence in their lives and are still struggling about surviving when unluckily pick up this book. This is the 1st book Rosa Liksom writes in her 1st language: Tornedalian Finnish. It is unfortunate she uses her 1st language in brutal way and wants to describe bad things in it. Especially because Tornedalian Finnish was born in pain and force but still at 1970's if children mistaken to speak it at school, they might get beaten/spanked at by teachers. Tornedalian Finnish is a language that struggles and all the time needs to prove its right to exist. It is very sad Liksom wanted to spite it out in this way. The language has faced so much discrimination and ugly things that I wished she had something beautiful and personal to say in it. Now this book seems to be just written at any language and only translated in Tornedalian Finnish. Especially when all the things considering the language and characters doesn't feel real. Tornedalian Finnish is my 2nd language, a language I learnt at home, so I know it what I am talking about. I chose this book because I wanted to read a book -1st time ever- written 100% and originally in Tornedalian Finnish. This was absolutely immemorial experience I would love to wash away, so ugly she used the language that still faces shame when spoken, is so vulnerable, needs to be preserved and cherished in all its beauty.
11. The one you have desired to read for a long time. Sompio by Samuli Paulaharju (in Finnish, mine). Paulaharju has preserved a lot of culture history of geographical Finland's area. He traveled around and experienced it all. He made excellent notes and his heritage is incredible valuable and respected, so precise he was. Sompio tells a part of my Forest Sámi culture history from Sompio region. Nowadays there is Sompio Strict Nature Reserve to save at least the whisper of it all. I read this book because I have desired to do so for a long time. But I read it also to find reliable information of our Forest Sámi costume and textile history which I can refer in my essay.
12. Read aloud to someone who listens. (Notice, no need to be a human.) This year, 2022, I became a granny and I've read aloud to my 1st grandchild in Finnish. It has been a great pleasure to return to the reality of children stories and it how children experience the reading aloud already as new born babies. They understand a lot especially about the emotions and atmosphere connected to reading aloud and holding them in your arms. I just love it! One book I can recommend to all kids from newborn babies to toddlers The Very Hungry Catepillar by Eric Carle. It is a perfect book to educate a child to healthy eating habits and miracles of the nature.

I also read these books:

Kuka on saamelainen ja mitä on saamelaisuus -identiteetin juurilla edited by Erika Sarivaara, Kaarina Määttä and Satu Uusiautti (in Finnish, library item). A collection of essays by scientists and specialists about it who is Sámi and what means (being) Sámi. The collection of essays seeks the roots of identity. It represents the non-status Sámi dilemma in Finland.

A lot of craft books about weaving and loom. They all are in Finnish and either mine or library items. To brush up my detailed memory about the issue.

A lot of craft books about folk costumes and costume history.They all are in Finnish or in English and either mine or library items. To brush up my detailed memory about the issue and to learn more.

Kuolajärvi - Karpalo

I designed and knit another set including mittens and woollen socks to respect my family history and connection to Kuolajärvi region and rise awareness of Forest Sámi people.  Karpalo (= cranberry) is the 2nd released design of Kuolajärvi collection. 

Later on, somewhere in the future, when the time is right, there will be proper pictures and instructions/patterns available also for this design. The collection will be suitable for all who want to respect Forest Sámi people, their cultural heritage and surviving. Kuolajärvi collection will be the one everyone can wear no matter the ethnicity. It is made for the respect and rise awareness.

PS. My mother-in-law received these on Yule 2022 as a gift. 

Kuolajärvi - Ensilumi 2

I designed and knit Kuolajärvi Ensilumi mittens and woollen socks in April 2022. Finally today you can see the pic of the whole set. YoungLady received them as her Yule gift and they are in use now. I have not finished the tutorial yet but here's how they look. Very pretty indeed!