The best things in life are free

Midsummer is just around the corner, and June is turning into its last week soon, amazing! The great weather we had in May and beginning of June has disappeared, and rain has been if not constant, a regular visitor at least, but now it is promised just might be getting better. Tomorrow and Saturday are full of the traditional Midsummer celebrations here, and I wish some sunshine for those days as most of the activities are planned to happen outdoors. And just in case sun will not shine, I have stacked some new yarn (in sale, yippee) and great magazines.

Business-wise last weeks have been pretty slow, and Finnish Post is trying to make it even more slower by increasing the shipping fees (which are pretty high already). They actually applied the new rates in beginning of June already, and justified the increase by saying that "everything is more expensive these days" and also "people keep sending less and less mail" - blimey! Do they really think adding the cost of sending increases the volume? I would be stunned (and annoyed, really) by their logic if this wasn't the way everything is reasoned around here these days, and I just can't be bothered anymore. All this said I must say that Finnish Post makes the most wonderful stamps each year, and those Moomins are just too cute. 

Two last pictures: verkkokauppa.posti.fi

And also as I think whining is never not a great option, I am offering the FREE SHIPPING on my etsy shop for ALL ITEMS ANYWHERE 20.6. - 24.6.2013 not only to get my hands on those cute Moomin-stamps but also to create that mail the Finnish Post is so desperately asking us Finns to send! So if there's something you've been eyeing in my shop, now it's time to have it completely shipping-free! Happy browsing!

Lovely Midsummer Eve's Eve!

Yours,

Mia

Flowers are food for the soul

We have the most wonderful summer here still, and some flowers, like the white midsummer-roses, are already blooming. But oh, I'm not complaining, the scent from roses and lilacs is divine. I really think flowers are food for the soul, and have used my days creating some too...

Here are my latest flora-bags, there is a blue...

...one I could call ochre...

...and one pretty green:

All the pretty flowers above can be found in my shop. I wish your days have been as flower-filled and sunny as mine, and your June has started beautifully. We had a first good summer-storm last night, and after it I saw this rare yet amazing double rainbow, and with it I wish you...

... a lovely new week!

Yours,

Mia

Strongly summery

Oh my, oh my, oh my - it's June already, and so so so so wonderful weather! It was almost seven o'clock in the evening when I took this picture, and just take a look at the thermometer:

And just in case you can't see it clearly because of all that dust *ahem* it says inside +26,7C and outside +26,8C! For you, my dear friends, who use the Fahrenheit's this is really, really, really warm. Really. And what have I done to celebrate this wonderfulness? I have parked quite permanently outside, I have my studio in the garden, and under a new, big umbrella it's just a bliss. Nature around me is beautiful and green, and I have had some cute visitors too...

...just take a look at that rabbit (I think it is an European hare, actually), it was clearly too hot for him (he looks like a guy to me), and he rested quite a while almost next to me, and didn't care me poking the wool while he napped. And just what have I been poking?

Pillowcases! Cushion covers! With flowers and strawberries - just perfect for the season, I think.

I found that beautiful blue flowered fabric while thrifting some weeks ago, and it took some courage to cut it as I think it is one of my favorite finds for a long, long time. But now I'm happy I did it, the fabric turned into a a pretty pillow case with some blue needle felted flowers. And soon they were followed by more flowers...

...and a summer wouldn't be summer without strawberries, right?

Happy, happy happy I am, and off to make some more. I wish you all the loveliest first week of June!

Yours,

Mia

P.S. The pillowcases can be seen more closely here.

Summer stay with me

May is almost over, and wow! what a month it has been! It's been hot, sunny and summery, just like in best days of June or even July. I am a bit worried for the rest of the summer as it's started this great but hey, even if there were not a single sunny day more this summer, it would still 100% better than last year.

I have had quite a few things to do, but when there's been a minute to spare I've run outside and barefoot if possible... Fantastic! And all this green has inspired me to make some traditional summer things that usually have appeared here in July, but I just couldn't resist...  So here we go: Strawberries!

Strawberry clutch! Oh and how I love that lining-fabric...

Strawberry phone cozy, starring the same cute lining. And last but not least...

Some new strawberry pins! With little birdies, naturally. Welcome summer!

These all can be found in my shop here, and I think more of these ever-so-summer things will appear there soon - I love this kind of inspiration!

Happy last days of May!

Yours,
Mia

May inspiration

This beautiful May Thursday I have been inspired by

 

*flowers, pink, leaves, green, sunny skies, yellow, nature, brown, blue skies, blue*

 I think it's all all there and some more. What inspires you today?

***

Lovely Thursday, everyone!

Yours,

Mia

P.S. The May-inspired cozies can be seen more closely here.

Half May

May is in half already, how and when did this happen? It's been pretty busy here, and a great deal of things have been done and even more to be done still. No pretty pictures to show the new corners yet, but good things come to those who wait years, I think? Sarcasm doesn't get things done, though (tried and failed), and what really helps is to look the other way every now and then. Away from things unfinished, unpacked and undone. It's good to get back to basics then, and to do something you enjoy, can really manage and oh yes, something that once finished, makes you smile:

Hello happy keyrings! Done little by little here and there, and suddenly I realized I've ended up with a set of ten! There are needle felted little birdies, a happy cat with a new set of pearls, even a little mouse! Smiles guaranteed, I wish? They'll be moving (moving is the flavor of the month around here?) into my shop any minute now; you can hop in to take a closer look.

Raindrops are falling as I type, but it's getting green and pretty here, and we're waiting a heatwave to hit us by end of the week. I wish your days are full of blooming flowers and warming rays of sunshine...

Happy May!

Yours,
Mia

Meeting Clara

Oh my, what a week! I had so much in my to-do-list, and most of them (as always) were to accomplish at the same time... So hectic it was but great! And to make my days brighter and happier I had a long waited visitor to stay for almost whole week... Please meet Clara:

Clara is a happy traveling owl and she travels all around world, and visits many creative people, and now it was my turn! And what a lovely time we had! As I was busy getting a big order ready and shipped, Clara was more than happy to help! She tried needle felting...

... participated posed for a photoshoot...

"I've never been in Japan, do you think they would notice if I went with these birdies?"

Our days were full of activities, and in the evenings we just fell in sleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. Clara slept greatly in her busy-bee bed:

...and after a well-deserved beauty-sleep she was ready for some more action...

She helped me to sort and pack a few things, and we also wrote a card to Clara's best friend, Hans the Hedgehog! We wish Hand gets his card soon. Clara misses Hans a lot even she has the best time visiting wonderful, new people, and I wanted to ease that a little. So I made Clara...

A hedgehog-hat! Fits her perfectly too! Clara travels with her precious journal, where every one who meets her can write a note, draw a picture or capture some memories any way they wish. I scribbled down a few pages too...

 ...just before it was time to get Clara safely packed for her travel to the next destination, Sweden! Thank you so much for your visit, sweet Clara, and happy and safe travels! 

I wish you all the Happiest and sunniest May Eve! Hoot hoot!

Yours,
Mia

P.S. You can find out more about Clara&her travels by clicking the sidebar button in my blog "Follow Clara's Travels" or you can read about it here, and oh please go visit Susi, the wonderful lady behind Clara here - all this will make you smile, I promise!