HusqvarnaZigZag

Just take a look what a beauty I found at work! The Ladies had saved it from the devastation and lock it up in the chancery. When I saw the small luggage-looking box on the floor in the corner, under a shelf, my curiosity woke up. I asked what's in. When I heard there will possibly be an old sewing machine I had to open it. It was heavy but I never even dared to image I could find a treasure! But there it was. Silent as a mouse. I called to the repairman who sorted out my troubles with Marilla. 

And now I understand I never blogged about Marilla. Perhaps I never dared to believe she'll be just fine and then forgot I never wrote about her. Marilla is like a modern version of Anne of Green Gables. And so is this Husqvarna Zig-Zag I found at work.

Back to the point, I called to this excellent repairman who promised to take care of this one and seek the missing parts for her. When she'll be just fine I know she will tell her name to me and my students will adore and love her!

SpringSpinning

What a wonderful wool my dogs Nuka and Pii have given me again. Nukas hair is a bit shorter here and there, but still long enough for spinning with attention.

It is going to be warm and beautiful hand spun dog wool yarn. I am working with Liinu to spin the wool. 

By the way, earlier in May, at work we had open doors day with expo and pop up arts and crafts. Liinu was there with me and we had a lots of fun. 

AirConditioner

Today we took one more step to more sustainable lifestyle, but also to healthier direction. Our air conditioner was installed today. It is in the house to produce low cost and more energy efficient warmth during the cold season. But it is here also because we, cold climate people, suffer quite a lot about the climate warming. The climate warms up faster and more in northern regions and people in there are not used to survive with heat. We are living in an old traditional wooden house. Which means in the winter time it's chilly and in the summer hot. We can cope with the chilly indoor temperature. But when it gets hotter than +24 Celsius degrees we start to face troubles. (I can hear you laughing.) We are not getting any younger and heat stresses out our hearts. So, the air conditioner is here to warm up but also to cool down.

More energy saving instructions are available here and here.

LittleLeather

I designed and did some more small sample works. These piece of leather are decorated by pyrography which in this case means leather burning.

I made some cord holders and key rings. 

Beeswax is an excellent material for finishing.

BookmarkCorner

I designed and made a page corner bookmark of left over leather I found at work. This is one of the sample works I need to make for the present and coming courses. First I ironed the piece of leather because it was so wrinkled. Then I wet it and stamped the surface and let it dry. Now it looks more like a fish skin instead of bull. 

PlantPress

This year I received PlantPress as a Mother's Day gift. I have desired it all my life and been pressing plants between book pages. Now I find it reasonable to have a proper plant press because of my new job. I need to make sample works for the next autumn term start. If I use pressed plants it will be unfair not to press extra plants because it will be autumn when the lessons will begin and all the plants faded. This summer I am going to press extra plants for the students just in case. Using a plant press is more reasonable for bigger projects than doing it in the old fashion way: spread the books all around the house.

It is Rico Design Plant Press size S with extra pack of blotting paper. It is made of brown MDF and comes without decoration. I used decoupage to decorate it and make it to be one sample work for the coming courses. First I painted the base by white and only once the make it to look a bit old. Then I used special stickers I've received from a dear friend to decorate the surface. These decoration stickers have glue on the back side but to secure their permanent position I used decoupage glue over them.

I needed several hours and sleep over the night to arrange the flowers over the base. I am very satisfied with the result. I need to sew a storage pack for this so that I can carry it with me in the nature when seeking plants to be pressed. They stay better if I can place them in the press right away instead of carrying them home and do it later. 

If you don't have the plant press you can carry a small book with you and place the plants immediately between the book pages and make sure the book stays tight closed in your bag.

Lost Flowers

In May 2023 I encourage you to read a book that tells about Australia. For the challenge I chose an audio book (in Finnish, library item) that I listened in the car driving to my new working place and back home. It is The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland. I wanted to read something that is connected to the Australian nature and this for sure was it. I loved all the descriptions about the flowers and nature. The book tells also about the domestic violence so it can be a bit stress awaking and bring up post trauma reactions. Ringland speaks about the domestic violence in a very traditional way seeing only men as active parts and women small and weak. It is important to notice also women can commit domestic violence, it is not a gender related thing. It actually happens in the book too but is not considered as violence. Still today it is very difficult to see and accept also women, especially mothers, can be cruel and violent. It is also important to notice there are so many types of domestic violence than only the physical. If you experience any forms of it you should not doubt to tell about it and ask for help. Violence is not acceptable in any forms.

The 2023 Reading Challenge No5

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! 

May 2023 theme is Australia!

Again, a place that locates so far away from me, but this time: deep in my heart. I know only few Australians but they really are very special persons in my life. Known them for years and always cherish them in my heart. Now I noticed, that despite of that, I have not read any books that tells about Australia. Loved McLeod's Daughters TV-series, seen few more series and several movies that tell about Australia, also always pick up an article if finding one. I am aware of Australian history and some politics etc. But really no, never read a book that tells about Australia! Now is the time for that! Australia, here I come!