I’m a Finnish woman, first born, Aquarius, married with my soul mate, mother of two adults and eager to learn new interesting things that comes my way…and there is so much!Read more »
weekend #30 photos
A couple of weeks ago we visited Marimekko factory outlet.
This fabric looks good on a big table…
SIIRTOLAPUUTARHA pattern design Maija Louekari
Marimekko is famous of intriguing combinations, bold colors and b&w patterns…
sale, sale, sale…
summertime…
One of my favorite patterns!
KUISKAUS pattern design Fujiwo Ishimoto
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weekend #24 photos
Last weekend I posted about Peter Dahl’s paintings in Gallen-Kallela Museum.
This post is about the museum.
It was at Tarvaspää that Gallen-Kallela was able to realize the dream of his youth:
“Out in the wilds I would like to own a crenellated castle,
with a tower of grey stone and timbers of pine and oak.
There I would brood on my own, spend a few hours in my laboratory,
a few in my library, and the rest of the day forging metal, painting and sculpting.”
read more here
Let’s go!
cycling to Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s Museum Photos by BLOGitse
Do you like the views? I do! 
Let’s leave our bikes and walk behind the Tarvaspää Café and Restaurant…
walking behind Tarvaspää Café and Restaurant Photos by BLOGitse
Somebody’s painting Akseli’s landscape…
and the smoke sauna looks so charming…
Now a few steps up and we’re in the courtyard…
up to the Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s Museum’s courtyard Photos by BLOGitse
Down right is the museum…
When you’re standing in front of the museum you see the café/restaurant…
Tarvaspää Cafe and Restaurant Photos by BLOGitse
Top picture is a shot behind the building.
There are places to sit outside too.
And now we go in to the museum…
Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s studio at Tarvaspää Photos by BLOGitse
I’d love to have a window like this…
Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s bathroom and suitcase at Tarvaspää Photos by BLOGitse
Akseli traveled a lot.
Downstairs is the bathroom…
Floor mosaic designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela Photos by BLOGitse
Left: a plan for the floor mosaic designed by Gallen-Kallela – with his footprints
Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s tools at his studio Photos by BLOGitse
Akseli’s tools at his studio…
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931), Finland’s national artist,
designed and built his studio and home at Tarvaspää near Helsinki in 1911–1913.
Tarvaspää was opened to the public as the Gallen-Kallela Museum in 1961.
Akseli Gallen-Kallela Self-portrait on a Green Background 1908 Photo by BLOGitse
Akseli Gallen-Kallela Self-portrait on a Green Background
1908
Akseli Gallen-Kallela Self-portrait for the Uffizi Gallery, Florence 1916 Photo by BLOGitse
Akseli Gallen-Kallela Self-portrait for Uffizi Gallery, Florence
1916
Boy with a Crow from 1884 is one of my favorites.
Rustic Life, 1867 was sold for 400.000 euros in 2010.
Virtual tour in Gallen-Kallela Museum here
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This is my Shadow Shot Sunday2entry
Shadow Shot Sunday2 Photo by BLOGitse
I participate with this post also to
Have a relaxing weekend!
Next couple of weeks I’ll post from SPAIN!
weekend #11 photos
These strong paintings are made by a Finnish artist
Ville Löppönen
His solo exhibition I KILLED MY GOD
in
Gallery Kalhama & Piippo, Helsinki, Finland
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These fragile pics are made by BLOGitse.
Tulip art
Have a relaxing weekend!
ps.
On Monday again / maanantaina taas uusi haaste
photos of the weekend #49
I’m trying to learn how to draw eyes.
I cut these eyes from a magazine and tried to copy them with a soft pencil.
Huh, not easy but I’m not giving up.
More coming later!
It’s dark outside.
In Helsinki we have daylight from 9:15 am till 3:15 pm.
At the end of the month from 9:25 am till 3:30 pm.
31st of December is the first longer day – 9:24 am till 15:22 pm.
Extra light needed.
We have LED candles on day and night!
Nice shadows, right?!
Starting this year 8th of December was a Flag Day to honor
birthday (8.12.1865) of composer Jean Sibelius and the Day of Finnish Music.
I loooove Sibelius’s music.
Finlandia is long (about 8 minutes) but worth every second.
Hope you like it too!
Have a relaxing weekend!
Purge (Puhdistus) directed by Zishan Ugurlu
February 10 – February 20, 2011
First Floor Theather, New York
La MaMa’s First Floor Theatre is located at 74A East 4th Street.
Purge (Puhdistus)
A manifestation of women’s resistance and survival in the face of violence,
Sofi Oksanen merges
the historical Soviet occupation of Estonia with human trafficking,
tying the political to personal.
History and love collide in this darkly poetic rhythmic elaboration.
Sofi Oksanen
picture Wikipedia
Sofi Oksanen’s first play Puhdistus (‘Purge’)
was staged at Finland’s National Theatre in 2007.
WIKIPEDIA:
Sofi Oksanen was born and raised in Jyväskylä located in Central Finland.
Her father is a Finnish electrician, her mother an Estonian engineer
who grew up in Estonia during the Soviet period and immigrated
to Finland in the 1970s.
Oksanen studied literature at the Universities
of Jyväskylä and Helsinki and later drama at the Finnish Theatre Academy in Helsinki.
Oksanen is actively involved in public debate in Finland and
comments on current issues in her columns and various talk shows.
She is a self-identified bisexual and has suffered from eating disorders.
In 2009 she received an award from the organizers of Helsinki Pride for her
activism on behalf of LGBT people in the
Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Russia.
Read more about Sofi Oksanen in WIKIPEDIA
Greetings from Casablanca, Morocco!
I had a great time in Helsinki but it’s nice to be back with my husband…
Espa, Helsinki 1.10.2010 – still green…
You could sit outside and have a drink…
It was a beautiful and warm day…
Sun was shining and people were smiling…
I had about 17 kilos (37 lbs) food goodies in my suitcase!!! like this Finnish speciality vendace loaf
“Fish rooster” – “muikkukukko” in Finnish.
You know a phrase
Say cheese!
We have a similar phrase
Say MUIKKU!
which literally means ‘Say vendace!’
Here’s a picture how it looks when you pronounce MUIKKU!
‘Traditional loaf-shaped fish and pork pie of the Savo region in eastern Finland.
The filling consists of layers of fish and pork fat,
which are wrapped inside a smooth rye crust and slowly baked in oven.
The dome-shaped pie is eaten by cutting out pieces of the crust,
topping them with the succulent filling. Kalakukko can be filled with whole small fish
(vendace) or fish fillets (eg vendace, perch, rainbow trout) or vegetables (eg rutabaga), alternating them with layers of pork fat and salt.’
A little bit butter (real butter!), heating in microwave oven – voilà! ready to eat – yummy!
Say ‘MUIKKU’!
Learn to speak Finnish in 3 minutes!
Important phrases like:
Moi! = Hi! / Bye!
Iso tuoppi! = Could I have a pint of beer, please!
Kippis! = Cheers!
Kiitos! = Thank you!
Sinulla on kauniit siniset silmät. = You have beautiful blue eyes.
All those phrases and more
you can listen
here
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Yesterday Mary asked in her comment about walking sticks. They are not sticks, they are POLES. Sorry!
Background of Nordic Walking
Nordic Walking uses specifically designed poles to engage the upper body during fitness walking. Nordic Walking was first used as a summer training method by cross-country skiers.
It was then developed into a fitness exercise with specific training equipment in co-operation with the Finnish sports equipment manufacturer Exel Oyj, researchers in sports medicine, and other fitness professionals. Nordic Walking was first launched in Finland in 1997. It has rapidly increased in popularity and today Nordic Walking is well-known fitness sports.
Here’s a very good video but it’s quite long, 4 min 12 sec. BUT if you’re interested it’s worth the time to watch.
Health facts In Nordic Walking
Heart rate is 5-17 beats per minute higher (for example in normal walking heart rate is 130 beats/minute and in Nordic Walking 147 beats per minute i.e. increase is 13%)
Energy consumption increases when using poles by an average of 20% compared with ordinary walking without poles
Up to a 46% increase in energy consumption (Cooper Institute research, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports 2002 publication)
Releases pain and muscle tension in the neck/shoulder region
The lateral mobility of the neck and spine increases significantly
The muscles most actively involved are the forearm extensor and flexor muscles, the rear part of the shoulder muscles, the large pectoral muscles and the broad back muscles
Does not aggravate joints and knees
Reduces the load on knees and other joints
Consumes approximately 400 calories per hour!!!
(compared with 280 calories per hour for normal walking)
Nordic Walking should be practiced for relatively long periods, i.e. between half an hour and two hours at a time. The pace should be steady and the heart rate should rise to between 120 and 150 beats per minute.
If you’re in a hurry
Original Nordic walking on uphill by Original Nordic walker Marko Kantaneva only 15 seconds!!!
If you’re still interested here’s a link to basic technique.
Imagine this:
