syko

Updating....

Why, oh why do I not blog more often! More and more things pile up that I should blog about, which makes me procrastinate even more. So this is an update post to let you know what I have been up to lately. The Dad is picking up the kids today so there is no rush, I am going into town for an Etsy meet-up later, I am so excited! It was so fun last year. I love when people arrange these things that makes me get out to meet some wonderful creative people!

 

This is what I have been up to:

♥ I got seven new cards printed as always with a positive attitude! They are in the shop!

♥ I went to see the team at Gummerus, my Finnish publisher. The atmosphere was very welcoming and they are happy to have me so I am very glad that I teamed up with them! I blushed when I saw this huge picture of me in their Fall catalogue :) 

♥ The brooches are nearly ready, trying to finish them along side custom and wholesale orders.

 ♥ I have been interviewed at the Petite Purls blog as part of their renaissance Mom series. I talk about being a mother and about running a craft business, I hope you enjoy it!

Phew, I made it! More updates coming soon! Now I'm off to meet the local etsyans AND Matt, founder of Etsy.

Help I'm in the evening paper!

Who's that geek in the evening paper (Ilta-sanomat) today? Oh my, it's me looking goofy! I had nearly forgotten about this thing, a freelance journalist contacted me some 6 months ago and told me she was doing an article on female craft businesses on the Internet and asked me if she could do an interview  with me. Sure thing, I said and had no idea that it was going to be sold to one of the evening papers,this fact made me a bit nervous about the result, but it does look alright, except for that expression on my face :) And look at all those cards getting all this exposion!

What else is going on in Sykoland? Well, I started making tomte stuffies yesterday, just a little bit later than last year. I quite like spending my evenings in the sofa stuffing tomte legs and bodies. I will make enough to have some to add to my shop later this month. We've had some wonderful warm autumn weather here the last weeks and the colours outside are wonderful, we are happy to live surrounded by big old maple trees.

 

 

Angst and joy

It feels a bit unreal that I will have my book in my hands soon, but the lovely write-up today on the stashbooks blog proves that the day will come very soon.

It's more than 1½ years ago since I got the first mail from Susanne who wanted me to be one of the first authors in C&T Publishing's new book concept stash books. If i remember correctly I thought the first e-mail from Susanne was some kind of spam and I hit the delete button quite fast (sorry about that!).  Well, she didn't give up and was very convinced that I should go for it whereas I was seeing all the obstacles in the way, the loss of income during the writing period, the kids home on holiday and me writing a book, disbelief and yada yada... And I had a hard time imagining the process as far as to the finished product. But, then I thought, what the heck, if I could finish half a PhD thesis (that's another story...) it can't be that hard to write a decent craft book! After all it was only going to be my first book, not necessarily my best book (the thought comforted me at the time :). So I went for it. It wasn't fun all the time, I still suffered from serious writer's angst from my previous life at the univeristy, but I did it and I'm proud! And I know it will look awesome because Kristy did such a great job with the layout!

And for those of you who have been thinking that you could as well make one of those tomte stuffies all by yourself (much cheaper) I can pop the news that the pattern will be in the book for you! There he sits on the stove enjoying Christmas (I know I promised not to talk about Christmas in my last post, but I admit it was a mistake so can you forgive me, please?). If you'd rather just look at the pretty pictures in the book I will also be listing some tomtar in the shop soon for those of you who are patiently waiting. I've got some really yummy vintage Christmas fabric waiting in my stash. The lovely picture was taken by my very talented friend and photographer Sanna Peurakoski.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I have promised myself to sort out my craft corner today, what are you up to?

Sew hip!

 

Today I dropped this bunny off at Kindergarten, they are having an Easter party today, I would love to be a fly on the wall! He refused to eat anything but a carrot for breakfast... Big E (7 y) made the tail for him yesterday night, such patience, I must say! Here's my little bunny in 2008 and 2009!

Look what the mailman brought today! My first issue of British magazine Sew hip! And look! That cushion looks familiar! Which reminds me, I have some small geranium babies that I need to get into new pots today... What about you? Have you got anything growing yet?

See you soon again!

 

Tadadaaa!

 

And the winner is Maryse, commentator nr 28, drawn by magical Mister Random, she  said... so adorable! my favorite is house #7572 with the leaves on the roof. So that concrete box will fly to your ranch house very soon Maryse!

This is what Maryse says about her house: I live in a small ranch house built in 1961 35 miles outside of boston. it's not a bad house but i miss my 1920's apartment in boston with the high ceilings and sunset views. The rest of the concrete boxes are going in the shop!

Our house is build in the same period as Maryse's, but it's a four storey house, we rent a flat on the third floor. There are many similar houses in the area (Haaga in Helsinki). We only moved here last Summer, the flat is actually too small for us, but we like how it's situated, close to public transport and schools, but in a quiet area with narrow streets and big maple trees outside our windows. I also appreciated the fact that all walls had fresh white paint and the new laminate floors (I would prefer wood of course, but I'm not picky). We also have a balcony where you can enjoy the evening sun during Summer.

 

I so much enjoyed reading about where and how everyone lives, it stroke me that what is "just a regular house" for someone, might be very exotic for someone else. And that you all live in unique, special buildings, I think that of 85 people there was only one person that lived in a house that sounded similar to mine! It warms my heart that the "McDonaldization" that makes the main shopping streets in most western cities look the same has not effected the significant architecture in different countries. I wish I could travel around the world to see your places! I know it makes sense, but I still find it funny to imagine that someone sitting in a chopstick house in Japan or in a former home for plantation workers in Hawaii have found their way to my blog and read my words written on a laptop sitting on a worn-out pine table in a small apartment in a 4 story concrete house with red brick details in Helsinki, Finland. I also want to tell you that the sun is shining on the snow covered branches on the big maple outside my window today.

The picture has nothing to do with all this :) It's from a magazine that I just arrived in the mail. It is a Finnish parenting mag called Kaksplus (2+) and that pretty girl is playing with a bunting I've made. If any local folks are reading this, you can buy them at Pulu. 

Have a cosy day in your lovely home!

 

Happy Valentine's day!

Today I am sharing some craft fair tips over at the Craft Friendly blog, so please head over there if you're curious about what I have to say!

 

The sun is shining and we are going ice-skating with my sister, it will be fun, but I have to say that I am still so ready for Spring and Summer so I'm leaving you with this little strawberry pouch and hope that you will have a great day in the company of good friends.

 

Live on-line and in the air

Tomorrow night May 28 at 7pm EST Marichelle from Heart Handmade will be hosting a "Shop Live" event at Etsy's Virtual Labs. She has chosen to feature one of my products together with a range of goodies from other Etsy sellers that you can spot above. All shops featured have special sales tomorrow. I will offer free shipping during the whole day and -20% off all prints and cards. Join in and get the code to get -20% off one handmade item too! It will be 2 a.m. here when it starts, but I look forward to staying up late and seeing you there! Read everything about how this works over at Heart Handmade!

A reporter from the local radio station paid me a visit on Monday to interview me about my work, the interview is on-line, if anyone of you happen to speak Swedish and is curious to hear what I had to say! Nadine from the radio took this photo of me :) The last pic of me in my old glasses I hope, I just ordered a pair of new ones, yay!

And the winner is...

I should give away stuff more often! 183 comments, wow! I used my friend, the random number generator at random.org to help me find a winner and the lucky number is 80! That is pikku-kettu, who happens to be a fellow Finn, she is also a talented quilter! There is still a chance to win the book if you hop over to Victoria's blog (you need to check out her new dolls anyway, they are just awesome)! AND I am offering you all a -20% disount on one purchase (can be several items) from my shop. Shipping is not included in the discount.  Just enter the code 183 in the message to seller! Offer valid until Sunday night May 24th.

There will be another little sale in my shop soon! Marichelle from Heart Handmade will be hosting a "Shop Live" event at Etsy's Virtual Labs on May 28 7pm EST and she will feature one of my products! I will need a lot of coffee this day because that is 2 a.m. Finnish time... I have been wanting to check out one of these events so I am looking forward to it! Hope to see you there too! I will let you know the details next Friday!

This lovely picture was a nice surprise in the latest issue of home decorating magazine Koti ja Keittiö (Home and garden). There is my road cushion and a little soft house + a set of cupcake coasters on the table that you can't really see :) I owe the people at this mag, they are being so kind to my things! I will be making more of those road cushions as soon as my linen delivery arrives, I have been waiting for it over a month now!