DIY summer bag

Summer arrived early in Finland this year. April was sunny, May was a bit sunny....but now the end of June is all cloudy and gloomy. But don't loose hope, summer will come back soon.

Until then, we all need some splash of  color and summer fun. 

What's more summery than watermelons?!

Here is a super easy and super cute tote bag for all the picnics and trips to the lake. 

Here you can see Dimitra's cute video:

Materials:

Cotton fabric tote bag

fabric paints
potato stamp
paint brush
toothpick


- Put a newspaper inside the bag. You don't want to paint to go through and color the other side. You also prevent getting your table dirty.
- Cut the potato in a half-moon shape. Apply red color and stamp the fabric with it.
- With a thin brush paint the green line for the peel of the watermelon.
- Use a toothpick to add the black seeds.
- Let it dry. After ~30mins check that the newspaper is not stuck to the painted side of the fabric.
- In 1-2 hours remove the newspaper. Let the bag dry overnight.
- Iron it in high temperature (the setting of 3 dots on your iron) or according to the fabric's instructions.

Follow Dimitra on instagram and have a look at her blog.

Introducing handmade home décor and housewares made in Finland - pt 2

In continuation of Part 1, here is another 4 wonderful shops featuring handmade home décor and housewares.

Aika Felt Works
If you are looking for amazing felt work for your home, you should have a look at some of the wonderful items from this shop. Felt gives an amazing warm and cozy feeling to your home.

Beanie On Helena
Wonderfully simple yet up-lifitng items are on sale in this shop which is great to keep with the minimalist look while adding a bit of casual home loving fun!

Namia Design 

If you are looking for bright and vibrant lovely things for your home, Namia Design won't disappoint! Here there are also items for children.

Valona Design

Beautiful light and airy, hung decor is the speciality at this shop. Some are made with wire and crystals and some with birch wood. Excellent for festive decor.

Items of the month

Amigurumi doll from The Sun and The Turtle

Flower buttons earrings from InkaFinland

Sunbather necklace from Pinkkis

Decorative pillow from Mairea

POP UP shop

Welcome to Finland Handcrafters Team's 2nd POP UP SHOP in Yobot Frozen Yogurt (Runeberginkatu 54A, 00260 Helsinki)

We dedicate this pop up to our mothers and your mothers!

Participating designers:

Inka Finland
Kotona
Looney Dimitra Crafts
Mrs Bertin's Jewelry Box
Namia Design
The Sun and the Turtle Amigurumi page

All our items are designed and handmade by Finnish & international artisants living in Finland. 
Our creations are inspired by the finnish nature & lifestyle.A big variety of beautifully handmade jewelry, accessories, toys, decorations and housewares will be for sale in Yobot for two days.

We will be open from 11am to 2pm, Saturday & Sunday 3-4 of May. See you all there!

Top 3 Home décor trends for 2014

2014 is well on its way as we move into month 2 of the year! After weeks of reading up on what will be the top home décor trends in 2014, here is a concise, condensed version of the top 3 trends gathered from different sites and blogs around the web. We’ve picked out only those which are echoed by over and over by the many content sources out there!

     Hues of Blue

Yes I know Pantone colour of the year is Radiant Orchid, but strangely I found that blue is more spoke about as an overall colour trend for home décor. Even some online home décor retailers has offered something blue or uses blue as an overall theme colour of their what’s new section. In this article – Ask a Designer: 2014 decor trends (link: http://www.philly.com/philly/home/Ask_a_Designer_2014_decor_trends_.html)  the designer Brian Patrick Flynn, has subtlety repeated the recommendation to use blue.

     Agate

Agate is mentioned in Elle Décor, Better Homes and Gardens and several other blogs around. Used as coasters or even as an entire kitchen top, agates were chosen as the top mineral trend for 2014. For more inspiration on using this beautiful semiprecious stone as a home décor, have a look at this – #trending: 10 must-have decor items using agate

(http://carlaaston.com/designed/decor-trends-using-agate)

     Brass or mixed metals

      Metals are making it back this year. May it be brass, silver or gold it is making its way into retailers’ cataloques and blog pictures in forms of lighting, side tables and frames. Even metallic printed fabrics are becoming a hit!

In picture

1.  Vintage Brass Table Arc Lamp by VintagethatsMintage 

2.   Chenille Teal Cushion Cover by CoupleHome 

3.   Glam Brass Gold Cantilever Side Tables by GallivantingGirls

4.   Agate Slab Coasters by SaraReynoldsJewelry

Christmas Card Swap

Cards created by Jenn, Simone and Kaisa. Plus a detail from Jenn's envelope.

This Christmas we decided to arrange a card swap. We had nine creative participants and all addressees were randomly picked. Everybody sent and received a handmade holiday card.

Cards made by Niina, Carey and Raisa.

With all these handcrafted greetings, Finland Handcrafters Team wishes happy holidays to all of you as well! Hyvää Joulua ja Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!

Cards sent by Ruusu, Nelli and Branko.

DIY Christmas Silk Painted Card

Here is an idea how to create an unique Christmas Card!

You are going to need: 

✓Silk wire frame pannel or just some silk material

       ✓ Pencil,paper,Silver Gutta for silk, silk paints

       ✓ Cardboard, scissors, glue

First sketch your idea on a paper. It is important to have a clear image of the thing you are going to paint on the silk pannel.

After you have cleared your idea you can transfer it on the silk pannel using the Silver Gutta. After you put the Gutta- leave it todry.

Once the Gutta has dried you can start painting the image.In my case: this is a Happy Deer! Free your imagination- mix different colors! I am sure your card will turn out colorful and beautiful too!

After your painting has dried you can glue it on a cardboard. It is always good idea to use recycled paper!

Apart from a beautiful hand painted Silk Card- this unique gift can be an original painting as well!  

╰⊰⊹✿ ✿⊹⊱╮╰⊰⊹✿ ✿⊹⊱╮╰⊰⊹✿ ✿⊹⊱╮╰⊰⊹✿ ✿⊹⊱╮╰⊰⊹✿ ✿⊹⊱╮

This is a great DIY gift idea, not only for the Christmas Holidays but for all kind of Celebrations!
If you like this card but you prefer to buy it rather than to make it yourself, you can click here.

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Season of Ice and Fire

Blue Rhinestone Earrings by Arx Rosarum (Jyväskylä); Sapphire Engagement Ring and Diamond Snowflake Pendant by CaiSanni (Rauma); Blue Kanzashi Flower Crown by Norda Brilo (Helsinki); Blue Fabric Christmas Ornaments by hennihennidesign (Turku). For the other elements, see the original collage in Polyvore.

Snow... It actually started to snow just when I began writing this post, if you can believe it. Finally! So beautiful. Clearly, the above tribute to Snow Queen must have played a part on it. I have assembled here some some seasonal items from the artisans of our team. Approaching December, we are stepping into winter. It is a time of intertwining extremes. It is going to be dark, silent and freezing, yet warm, social and cheerful. Enjoy the season!

Reindeer Leather Shoes by Reindeer Arts (Kuusankoski); Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament by My Needle's Song (Eura); Felted Wine Cozy by EKODEKOFI; Red Chunky Cowl by Sofia Sobeide (Turku). For the other elements, see the original collage in Polyvore.

Fall Gift-Guide

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

It's getting cold outside, but the sun is still shining and the nature is full of beautiful colors. It's the perfect time to start preparing for winter with some gorgeous handmade items inspired by the beauty of this season. Keep your hands and ears warm with asymmetrical striped mittens from Mairea and a stylish pom-pom beanie by The Sun and the Turtle. Compliment it with cozy cowls from Anna Matilainen Design and Sofia Sobeide. Create gorgeous outfits with vintage-inspired dresses by Cherise Design available is various fall colors and style them with victorian-style amber earrings by Arx Rosarum or add more modern touch with copper disk earrings by Solsken Design. Add a cute fall-inspired touch to any outfit with a playful fox necklace by Nellin Shoppi. Don't forget about fall decor for your apartment by adding candles in fused-glass candle holders by Branko Brelih and cozying up your sofa with house-cushions by Beanie on Helina.

Treat yourself or surprise your loved ones with a gift carefully handcrafted by talented designers from Finland!

6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10

Breast Cancer Awareness

Our bodies are made up of living cells. Normal body cells grow, divide into new cells and die in an orderly way. Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start growing uncontrollably and divide, thus creating more abnormal cells.

Cells become cancer cells because of damage to the DNA. A normal cell would repair the damage or die. In cancer cells the DNA is not repaired and the cell doesn't die. Instead it starts reproducing, creating cells the body does not need. The new cells are all abnormal because they contain the damaged DNA.

People can inherit damaged DNA, but mostly those damages happen by accident during the reproduction of the cells, or by something in our environment.

To reduce risk, it is advised that women maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, reduce alcohol consumption and breastfeed their children.

There is a self breast exam, where a women can feel the breast for lumps or abnormalities. Click and zoom in the instruction sheet.

October is the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness. A pink ribbon is the symbol of breast cancer awareness.
The pink ribbon is associated with individual generosity, faith in scientific progress and optimistic attitude.
                      <3 <3 <3                       <3 <3 <3                             <3 <3 <3

Two of our team's crafters are supporting the pink ribbon effort and are dedicated to raise awareness.
How? They will donate percentage of their "October pink sales" to charity foundations for women with breast cancer. The donations will be made in early November.
Help these crafters make a big donation by buying beautiful handmade jewelry for you or your friends!
Visit their shops to find more beautiful creations and support her effort!

InkaFinland is offering 10% of the sales of her pink jewelry to the Finnish Roosa Nauha foundation.
Click here for more pink jewelry!

0,65€ will be donated for this light pink buttons

0,90€ will be donated for the sale of this cute set

0,80€ will be donated if you buy this elegant earrings

LooneyDimitraCrafts will donate 15% of the sales of pink treasures found in her shop to the Greek Foundation for Women with Breast Cancer.
Click here for more pink treasures!

1.5€ will be donated for each pair of roses that you buy

2,60€ will be donated for each pair of pinky kitties

2€ will be donated for those playful pinwheels 

FHT 1st meet up

Three years after the creation of the Finland Handcrafters Team and we just had our first meet up!!

It was great meeting some team members in person and spending hours talking about our crafting passion!

We had a great time discussing about our work process. We exchanged stories on how we started exploring our materials and what inspires us. 

We met at Sello Library in Leppävaara. 

We brought our best mood and we were ready to have a cool meet up.

Check out the delicious homemade muffins, provided by our captain. 

September was a month dedicated to improving our Etsy shops. We worked in groups and helped each other. 

Yesterday was time to celebrate and treat ourselves now that the Mentor Month has ended.

We gave feedback to each other's shop and exchange tips and ideas on photography.

Our team is now stronger and ready for a creative winter in Finland.

We’re looking forward for our next gathering! 

Finland Handcrafters Team Giveaway Summer 2013

Finland Handcrafters Team Giveaway

Click the button under the image to participate in the Giveaway.

Rules of the Giveaway


1. Like the FHT page on facebook
2. Like all participating shops pages
3. Share the giveaway on your wall


Enter the Giveaway

Finland, known for its deep clean forests and waters, midight sun and crisp winters has been an inspiration for many wholesome brands over the decennia. Marimekko, Arabia, Iittala, Pentik and Artek have all sprung from here and they have all drawn inspiration from the same source, nature.
Finland Handcrafters Team is a growing group of Artisans that live in Finland and sell on Etsy. We too have felt the same presence in our creative process and with this giveaway we wish to show how it has manifested itself in our work. Participate in this giveaway and get a chance to receive a part of Finland, handmade for you from 11 different upcoming Finnish talents. The value of the giveaway is approx. 230 euros.

Yarn Creations from Sofia Sobeide

This is NOT your grandmother's crochet! Sofia from Sofia Sobeide has a fresh approach to her yarn creations. This young designer from Turku breathes fresh air into every piece she works on through her choice of yarns, colors, and patterns. She works hard to make wearable, fun products of a high quality that still have a cute twist to them.

She can keep you warm and cozy with soft, cuddly snoods, cowls, gloves and scarves. Yes, it is spring but the days are still cool here in Finland and scarves are worn pretty much year round. This lovely lacy scarf can be worn in different ways, and will definitely chase out the chill in the air and your heart.

Lacy Purple Scarf from Sofia Sobeide

Maybe you want something more whimsical or spring like? This lovely skinny scarf with its bright crocheted flowers just might do the trick and it will take you well into summer.

Skinny Scarflette with Flowers from Sofia Sobeide

How about something fun and bright? Sofia has this delightful big red bow on a soft cowl. She has thoughtfully attached vintage buttons to it so that you can adjust the length and wear it as a cowl or a headband.

Sofia Sobeide's Bright Red Bow Headband/Cowl

Sofia also has a knack for those fun amigurumi (think small animals in crocheted yarn) creatures. She has a growing collection of bears, birds, dragons and more. Some have been made into soft baby toys or rattles. Others are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. What baby would not enjoy this colorful snake? She also has patterns for sale.

Amigurumi Snake by Sofia Sobeide

She will help you decorate your home with pretty garlands, practical items for your kitchen, and a whole separate store of jewelry. All in all, this is one busy, talented artisan that you will want to visit again and again. We do hope you will enjoy her works.

Shop: Sofia Sobeide
Jewelry Shop: Sofia Sobeide Jewelry
Blog
Facebook

'Tis a Season with a Reason

Spring is slowly coming to Finland, and our thoughts are turning to flowers, Spring, and oh yes, EASTER! This is the season of rebirth, of freshness, and for many of reflection.

It's time put alway the drab old clothes and step out in beautiful new colors and accessories. We have a new member to our team that really understands what we all love at this time of year. Anna Matilainen paints her generously large silk scarves with the prettiest spring colors. Though she has custom knit cowls and scarves, it is her silk scarves that seem to satisfy the need for brightness the most.

Great for Spring!

Shop: AnnaMatilainenDesign

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Anna's lovely scarves need pretty earrings to set them off, and Marina from Marina's Wishes has several delightful choices. These lovely iridescent white mother of pearl earrings will go with so many spring outfits without being a distraction. Not only are they gorgeous, but they are also free of nickel,lead, mercury and cadmium.

Iridescent White Mother of Pearl Earrings from Marina's Wishes

Shop: Marina's Wishes

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This is also the season to muse or sketch. Sasha Kretova from Paper Plane Stationery has made a sweet floral book from 100% recycled materials and then hand-bound this book with a vintage floral fabric along the spine. What a perfect place to write your spring memories or even press flowers! It's a perfect size for your creative needs and yet still fits into a medium-sized bag.

Floral Bound Journal from Paper Plane Stationery

Shop: Paper Plane Stationery

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Elina Mäntylä of ValonaDesign has a whole different perspective on Easter and has crafted this unique and powerful Crown of Thorns candle holder. Her listing tells the story, "I came up with the idea of crown of thorns -candle holder years ago when I first got interested in rusty barbed wire at my grandparents farm. It shocked me to realize that something that strong came out in my hands so lightly. This happened on Easter time. I felt that I understood little more of the Easter because of the process. It seems that by creating things I sometimes get more understanding."

Crown of Thorns Candleholder from ValonaDesign

While there is a deeply religious meaning to this candle holder, there is also a wonderful rustic air. It would be as much at home gracing your Easter dining room walls as it would in any casual western-themed room anywhere.

Shop: ValonaDesign

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These are but a few of the spring and Easter items available from the Finland Handcrafters Team. We are a growing group of over 100 artisans based in Finland. Drop by and visit, shop, and enjoy!

Beanie on Helina - A Touch of Whimsy

Beanie on Helina is proof positive that well-crafted, sustainable lifestyle products don't have to be dull and boring. Kaisa Erkkilä works hard to combine good quality craftsmanship with great design and usability and adds just a touch of whimsy. She uses a lot of linen in her work. If you know this fabric, you also know that it just gets softer and more supple with every use. Her colors are a gorgeous range of neutrals with just enough color thrown in to keep things lively.

Delicious handcrafted turquoise linen pillowcover

This roomy, practical tote bag will certainly brighten your day as well as help you lug those groceries home. Who says functional has to be dull and boring?

A whimsical tote bag featuring a Couple of Pears

The pictures of each of her items are great. You can really see the detail and quality of each of her products right along with the passion and attention to detail. 
One more touch of whimsy - the name! Kaisa says, "My shop name derives from a story from my childhood. When I was little girl I had a lovely pink beanie crocheted by my mom. I was quite a temperamental child and according to my dad, you could tell the mood I was in by the position of my beanie (if I was moody it was tilted, if I was happy it was on the back of my head...etc.) Also, my middle name is Helina." From her elegant designs and solid craftsmanship, her beanie is on the back of her head these days. 

Kaisa has a regular website with beautiful pictures of her work along with a blog, written in both Finnish and English. Both are relaxing ventures into soft tones and just a bit of fun. 

Beanie on Helina Website
Blog
Etsy shop

Humor by embroidery: Featured seller Susitaika

 An emboidery hand drawn and designed by Laura.

Mom’s old curtains. Sometimes that's all it takes to spark a crafting career. This is how it happened for Laura, the creator of Susitaika. Out of the curtains she made her first skirt. “It was a simple rectangular piece with a zipper and so ugly, but I felt like a great designer sewing with my moms singer at the age of twelve.”

Today Laura makes embroidered stuff - clothing, bags and adornments for her Etsy shop Susitaika. “My style often borderlines gothic and usually has humor to it.” The hands-on crafter gets the best inspiration by making. She feels inspired when her embroidery machine starts doing a new design and the outcome is still a mystery. Excitement is in the questions: “What will it look like in real life? Have I succeeded in choosing the best stitches? Will it embroider out with no problems?”

Embroidery machine at work - this time embroidering onto organza.

The table where Laura makes all the patterns is surrounded by inspiring objects.

Laura has also successfully tried other web stores besides Etsy. At first she came to Etsy as a buyer. Later on Laura decided to open her own shop. She feels the best thing in Etsy is the community. It’s amazing to get in touch with people from numerous countries. “Just the other week I helped a girl with an Etsy shop to find a local embroiderer. Since she was from Australia there wasn't much sense to order from me because of the postage. For a normal customer that wouldn't much matter, but she wanted embroideries on the clothes she sells herself, so her customers would end up paying a larger amount of money for the final product if she bought the embroideries from me.”

 Laura gets inspiration and designs also from Urban Threads.

A purse made of a book and embroidered by using Urban Threads-design

A necktie for Laura's robot designing dad. The embroidery is based on an photo.

A band logo for a friends band. 

Under the mustaches is 3D material which makes figures fluffy.

Susitaika

Etsy shop

Web page

Story by Kaisa / Beanie on Helina

Pics by Laura / Susitaika