Saturday, December 13, 2014

Pick your favorite X-mas DIY by Anu Harkki

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com

Today I will take you to the home of Anu Harkki. She is full of ideas and talent so you will find out few good ecological gift ideas and wrapping tips. I also photographed her animal family. She has horses, sheeps, dogs, cats, chickens, rooster and of course so adorable mini pig Bruno. Well, I don't know how mini he really is...haha. I photographed this story to Finnish ecological lifestyle magazine Huili but here you can see something that you didn't see in the magazine, so come along!

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com

To me the best thing in X-mas is the time befre it. Why? I love the feeling of excited waiting. I use to buy a lot of things and planned my presents well but nowadays I don't do it so much any more. I think we have already too much things at our homes. When I buy something it have to be something that can be used or enjoyed or something that the person have hoped for and I prefere handmade and design by talented people. I try to avoid random somethings for X-mas present. That is not my thing anymore. Ok, two thing is what I can't resist. Vintage and handmade. 

Let's get back to DIYs. I will show you first candle present by Anu.

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
She has used the original box of candles - without package plastic - and made it pretty with washitape. Then she used thin natural colored silk paper and some cotton string, brown cardboard and old key with crystal. Voilá. Looks quite nice, doesn't it! And everybody use candles. 


Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
You can decorate your windows by drawing what ever you feel like it! Snow flakes are always a good idea. I used same kind of pen in my own DIY and the idea came from this very moment together with the next Anu's idea. Anu made X-mas glogg. I made granola and used glass jar with handwritten labels on the jar.
 
Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
Let's have a quick look at what happens on the chicken yard. Well, we know who is the boss...

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
Beautiful gifts are always great to get and give. Even though I try to be ecological I can't resist the magic of gifts even if I try ;) But you can buy or make them so many different ways. Like you can see Anu has used very simple, recyclable materials. She even used the box of cerials and old magazines to decorate the X-mas bag you can see above. So be creative!

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
X-mas can be a simple moment of relaxing with your friends and family. 

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
And if you have forgotten to buy somebody's X-mas gift think out of the box what you could make from those things you already have at your home. I think it's not about price tag when you are giving presents. It's more about the thought. If you can make the gift for free it's not less valuable. You give something very important - your thought with very personal way. If you feel that you just can't do handmade things - there are so many well talented makers around you and expecially before X-mas there are many market places where these makers sell their works. Like at Kaapeli in Helsinki the whole time before X-mas. I think it is also important to support small business makers who sell handmade treasures.

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com

Anu Harkki photo by Kreetta Järvenpää for Huili magazine www.gretchengretchen.com
Phew. Huge way to come down here ;) I just love LOVE this pic of pig and Anu. This is what the X-mas is. Having beloved ones around you. Happiness with love. 

Have a wonderful and creative weekend!
 
xo
Kreetta

PS. I have one DIY post before X-mas coming up. It's once again easy. Great last minute tip, I think.



8 comments:

  1. I H A N A T kuvat <3
    Todella kauniit.

    Se oli hauska päivä. Leppoinen tunnelma. Ja oli kiva tavata sut:)

    Rentoa sunnuntaita!

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  2. beautiful images and atmosphere. I have to admit though, the pig is what I have fallen for the most!

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  3. @Laura
    Kiitos! Mullakin oli kivaa! Tälläiset kuavuspäivät on ihan parasta! Ja tutustuu kivoihin ihmisiin, se on bonus.

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  4. @Annton
    You are right! Bruno - the pig is so so sweet. It was almost too cold for him to be out :) Lovely experience it was. Thank you Annton!

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  5. Beautiful pictures Kreetta! So very down to earth and simple (in a good way!). And I totally agree with your idea that xmas isn't about the gifts & price tags. It's about love <3

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  6. @Judith
    Thank you Judith! Simple is beautiful ;) I hope you have a wonderful X-mas time!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I adore this last photo of the pig and Anu. So beautiful!

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  8. @Jaclyn Thank you!
    The pig is called Bruno :) They are great friends - Anu and Bruno :)

    ReplyDelete

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