Old stuff, new year..

I guess what I've been feeling today could be called 'being sentimental'.. You remember those warm summer pictures I posted earlier this year..? The ones taken from my living room window, all sunny, blue sky and green trees and all that.. Well, this is what the view looks like now..

Almost as if this would be totally different place.. But I got sentimental otherwise as well. I found a new interesting blog yesterday and there was text and pictures about old and useful things. The writer of that blog mentioned in her texts that she had found a book by Eeva Haavisto, Tyttöjen käsityöt (Handicraft for girls, from year 1945) from the flee market. Well, I have that same book here at home. I found it from my mum's storage room. There was an accident some time back, a water pipe had failed and a lot of stuff was lost. My old story books and old magazines, stuff like that.. Not necessarily that useful but something to bring up memories from childhood etc. Anyway, this fall I was going through what there was left, things that weren't ruined by the water and there was this book in perfect condition. Today I realized that even though I do a lot handicraft, this is the only book I own about the subject. I have books about music, how to draw -books, calligraphy -books but nothing about making clothes, nothing about fashion, knitting, making your own jewellery etc..

In that same blog was pictures about some old boxes, cans and jars of all kinds. She wrote how she still uses those boxes and cans to store all kinds of small things. I remembered right then and there that I have couple old jars as well. I can't even remember how long I've had them. They've been waiting for me to come up with something to store in them. Well, I still don't know what I could put in them but I took them down from the top shelf in the kitchen, took off the dust and took some pictures of them, together with the book.. Maybe I'll come up with something now, when those jars are constantly in sight reminding me of their existence..

The white and blue jar on the right is meant for coffee. I used it for that when I was still studying but I think it gave a bit funny taste to the coffee even though I kept the coffee in it's own package and put it like that to the jar.. maybe it was just my imagination.. The other jar I remember I've found somewhere, maybe from my grandmother's attic..?! Anyway, I like it very much, it's Japanese style. And I think it doesn't matter at all that the jar has some rust on it, it only gives character to it. I remember I washed it after finding and that took most of the rust and dust off of it, and what was left only shows that it's not from today, that it's older, maybe even older than.. well, I guess not, but who knows really.. Not only old stuff in those pictures though. The table cloth I bought from sale with 4, 90 euros. I even got one similar with lime green colour. The black one goes during the autumn-winter season and the lime I thought would be perfect for spring and summer season. I even bought matching seat covers for my chairs..

With the last picture with some candles, bowl filled with fruit and a glass of some real good wine I want to wish all of you a happier new year.

Bite me

So, that was the Christmas this year. Most of the presents have been given forward and I even got some for myself. I came home yesterday and my sister went back to Sweden. Christmas was quite fun. Not too much fuzz over things, we spent lots of time together and especially with nephew. Little man had a flu but despite of it he kept on smiling and laughing. And kissing. The little charmer has learned to give wet kisses spiced with a little tongue.. :) I got so many kisses from him and you can probably guess the end result.. I have the flu now. I think the little cutie had decided to make sure that at least one of his aunts get the flu from him and so he even bit me.. You know little kids.. they have that phase when everything must be tested with mouth and when they get their first teeth they keep on biting everything. My nephew has already 6 teeth, small, white and beautiful. And hard!! I was lying on my side on the floor one evening and he was climbing all around me, trying to get up on his feet and then again sitting, climbing again and... you get the point. I've had already earlier the talk with the little man that he's not supposed to eat aunts clothes or put aunts fingers in his mouth.. And what does that little man do.. bit me next to my shoulder. Through two shirts he left his toothmark on his aunt. And yes, it did hurt pretty much.. But no bigger harm done, I guess he just wanted to mark me as his aunt so that nobody steals me. :D

Today was the first day of sale after Christmas. For me it was also the last day of sale. Bought so much textiles that I don't have to worry about decorating my appartment at least for a year. Got some cushions to my chairs, sheets to my bed, table cloths for both spring-summer and fall-winter seasons and some towels. I also found four shirts and one board game. Spent a lot of money but now I don't have to buy anything for quite some time.

It's good to be home again.. Resting for a while before getting busy again. Hopefully new year will bring me a new job and all other good things. And to you, too, all the best.

White Christmas

I've been in Finland now for three whole days. We arrived on Saturday evening with my sister, our father came to pick us up. The trip was ok, we got snow in Sweden too while I was visiting there. We went out on Wednesday evening with couple of my sister's friends and had some fun dancing and drinking. The only disappointment on my journey was that I didn't find anything to buy for myself. I was hoping I'd find something unique that can't be found from Finland but didn't really find anything that interesting. But luckily I found pretty good Christmas presents from Sweden so at least that is taken care of. We were planning to take a walk around in the city to see those light installations but it never took place. It got so cold and since my sister had been sick just before I went there so I guess it wouldn't have been a good idea to go out to the cold weather. Although in some way it's a pity that we didn't, I didn't really get any pictures taken from the city.

Now we've been spending time here, my brother visited us on Sunday with nephew. The poor little thing is having a cold but still he was up to play and socialize with us. That little cutie!! I sent most of the Christmas presents with my brother to their place, so we don't have to carry that much when we go there. We are going to spend Christmas there. My younger brother had already opened his presents and seemed to be happy of them. He is spending Christmas alone, probably working so we allow him to open his presents earlier.. it wasn't the meaning but what is done is done. :) Yesterday I spent some time outside shoveling snow and later in the evening headed to the sauna. It's so nice to get into the warm sauna when it's -15 degrees outside.

Last night we watched the Swedish movie "Men who hate women" (Män som hatar kvinnor). It was pretty good movie. During the movie I knitted a wrist warmer to my father. Getting old doesn't work for his benefit. Cold weather brings all kind of aches.. But anyway, the evening was alright. I still need to do one more wrist warmer for him, for the other hand. I'll do it after I've finished a couple of Christmas projects I have left to do.

Today me and my sister probably head to our brother. They are all having a flu with fever and help could be used over there. We'll get there and bake some ginger bread cookies, hope it helps to the flu a bit.. ;) Everything good usually does. At the moment I am sitting alone here. My father, his wife and my sister went downtown. Father and sister are going to visit the graveyard while father's wife takes care of other things. They'll visit my grandfather's and step-sister's grave, maybe leave a candle or something there. I haven't visited the graveyard since last Christmas. I believe that one can remember those people otherwise as well.. I believe they live in our hearts instead of the graveyard. Don't get me wrong, I actually like graveyards, they have that soothing, calming feeling but I think those people buried there would appreciate more if we remember the happy times in our hearts, remember them as they were while they were living. In the graveyard is only headstones, their spirit lives on in other places.

Anyway, before getting too deep into the subject, I'll end this writing by wishing you all MERRY CHRISTMAS! May you all enjoy of it with your nearest and dearest and find yourself some peace of body, mind and soul.

Linköping, Sweden

So, I've been at my sister's place two days. Yesterday sister was at school the morning and when she came home we ordered some pizza via internet. That was so good!! :) Then later in the evening we took a little walk in the city. We met a friend of hers and sat in McDonalds for a while. Today we went Christmas shopping to Tornby. Found pretty nice stuff from there. Now we've been sitting inside and packed those presents we bought. We ate in a taco place, sister chose taco buffet and I took chicken sticks with fries. It was all good. With full stomaches it was good to go buy some food.. ;)

It's been snowing all day long here and it looks so nice outside. Hopefully the snow stays on the ground. We were talking about taking a walk some evening around in the city, they have put up a light show some sort of we're going to go see. Hopefully I'll remember to take my camera with me then. And hopefully I get some good photos too. Tomorrow we are going out with my sister's ex and their friend who we saw yesterday. It should be fun as well.

The picture below I took few days before I came here. It seems it's been cold in Finland since I left there. Been reading from Facebook friends updating their status saying that it's minus 15 celcius there. It hasn't been that cold here even though it has been pretty cold here as well but some glogg (mulled wine) warms nicely both body and soul. We're still going to go shop to the city some presents this week because I'm still short of two presents and I promised for my father to look if I'd find something for my nephew that they could then pay back for me. All in all, it's been very nice so far.

Burn money burn..

Went Christmas shopping today... Found two presents, one to my sister and one to my brother.. Bought myself something too. New shoes. They were on sale, minus 70 percent. The original price was 99,90 euros, I paid only 29,95.. I'm pretty proud of myself for making such a good deal!!! :D

I also bought a back bag for my laptop. I would've wanted a black one but they didn't have any and only red ones were left. But I guess it's alright, my closet is mainly black and red, so no big harm done there.. Tomorrow I'll go to post office because I forgot to do it today (and I had so much stuff to carry that it would have been almost impossible to take one more bag along). So tomorrow I'll get my new sports/outwear from H&M, those I told you about earlier..

I am waiting for the weekend so much. On Friday I'll get a new hair-do. Anxious to see what Olli has come up with. On Saturday I'll get my first Christmas present when me and my friend Eija are going to Sebastian "Skid Row" Bach concert. Eija bought me the ticket, so the concert is my first Christmas present. :) And then finally on Sunday.. I'll start my boat trip from Finland and I will end up to my sister's place in Sweden. Going to stay there almost a week. It will be so much fun!! I'm also hoping to find some Christmas presents from there, something special for some special people. :)

Sunny winter

As promised here is the picture of the two fabrics I bought yesterday. I think the yellow still isn't bright enough in this picture but, oh well.. I like the picture otherwise.

Today I planned to have a cleaning day. But it is way too beautiful weather so I think that I am first going to take a walk outside and I came also up with an idea that I'll stop by at the flee market here near by. I've been reading one new blog (new to me) Villapata kiehuu and from there came the idea to this excursion to flee market. I'm hoping to find old handicraft magazines. :) And if I don't, I know there will be huge piles of old LP-records which are always welcome if we talk about good music..

Have a nice day, I'm out for now.

Shop 'til you drop

I went to downtown today, Christmas shopping in my mind. I didn't actually buy that much but I did gather a lot of ideas. So when I get my tax return I'm ready. I bought one present today though. Couldn't just walk by. It is for my nephew, it was for sale, so I had to. It is actually funny, I found today at least ten different things I could have bought for him. :) I also visited Eurokangas (fabric store) and I had a plan to buy a couple of zippers.. Well.. I didn't buy any zippers from there. But I bought two different fabrics. I'll add a picture of them in the morning when there is natural light. I already tried to take a photo of them but the one with yellow wasn't as bright in the picture as it really is. I just fell in love with it. And usually I'm not a huge fan of yellow in clothing, accessories maybe.. but this fabric just caught my eye. Bright yellow fabric with big, black stars on it. And the other fabric was almost as awesome. Don't know yet what I'll do of those fabrics but I'm sure I will come up with something.

Even though I didn't buy that much I spent almost four hours wandering around in stores. Day well spent?! Could have probably done something more useful but there's always tomorrow, right.. :) Soon it is time for me to go to bed and get some sleep. I've been sleeping almost to noon for a couple of days now and stayed up almost 'til 4 am, need to change the daily rhytm back to normal again..

Those of you who still haven't left a comment to my project blog but are following it (or this), now would be the best time to leave a comment or two to that project blog. As I wrote earlier, I started a Christmas calendar there and decided to have a lottery between those people who leave in a comment before Christmas. The price will be woolen socks made by me, delivery probably some time during January. So hurry up, you might be the lucky one!!! And to clarify, they don't have to have skulls on them if it isn't your thing, I can do something else if you so wish.