Photography Concept and Styling - CONNECTIONS

I went out this time. Nature. Connections. I got this wonderful word from Happy red fish! She is a wonderful artist. Thank you Hagar!

This post is the third one in Photography Concept and Styling post series. If you are interested from previous ones you can find the first one about Triangle here. And the second one about Process from here.

Couldn't resist the beginning of the summer. 


Happy and creative weekend for you my lovely reader!


xo
Kreetta

ps. "Happy red fish" is a creative studio operated by the artist and designer Hagar Vardimon-van Heummen based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

3 blog posts I like - Slow down blogger

What kind of blog post you love? When you are surfing in blogosphere aren't you quite happy when you find a post or someone you totally agree and feel sympathy and companionship.

I decided to pick three blog posts that I want to share with you today. I was very happy to find these and love to share them because I think there are something good and respectable in every one of them. I give you a tip. This post is long, so first crab a cup of coffee. This is the longest post I've ever written.

The first blogger is Erin Loechner and her blog is Design For Mankind. She wrote a post about slowing down blogging. What happens in blogosphere? A need to blog 5 times a week, keep up the speed and trying to find more and more new things first to blog about, tweet and make facebook status etc. It's not only blogging that is in its speed. Yesterday I read from newspaper that nowadays we even walk more faster than before. That was somehow funny but it tells also something about us and our daily life. There are many reasons why I like the idea to slow down. What do you think? I never have blogged 5 times a week but I'm not a pro anyway. Erin wrote about The rebirth of slow blogging. Go and read it and tell me what you think about it!

"there is more noise, and my ears are tired." writes erin

I love pictures - their silence but in the same time I want to hear their voice. Strong voice. A very good photo or picture is not so easy to make.

But still there are so many good pictures and photos. Maybe even too many if we look our Pinterest account. But I enjoy of them. It's great to see what other people are doing around the glope. The amount of ideas - you might get lost in there somewhere, I admit. Suddenly you notice that somebody has already done your super idea...or did you see it in Pinterest and after awhile you invented it and don't even remember that you did see it in Pinterest. This is not about copy cats. This is about our mind that just works mysterious ways.

As we all know ideas goes circles and we process them in our own way. What makes picture interesting to you? I think to me it is about composition, the feeling and rich content. There are many other words that could describe pictures but this time I use these words. As a photographer I might look pics a little bit different way and more precise...and sometimes I wish I had an on/off button on my head.

her styling has beautiful rythms

So the second post and the blogger or maker or actually I would call her artist is Dietlind Wolf. She is a wonder woman of styling and making ceramics and props. She is also a photographer. What a talent. What a skilled woman. Her work speaks to you without my words. I just wish I could have a piece of her talent. I chose one of her picture posts(you see above) but if you go and visit her blog, you'll learn that she has many strong posts. You can also see it demands a lot of work and time. Please go and see her work - it makes your day.

Both these women has been in Hive this weekend so as you see this was a very good example of how your subconscious works. I've read about Hive quite many times from different sources and now I'm writing about 2 of their speakers. Hm.

Let's move on. 

Third one but not the least one is one blog post I found just by google search words: slow blogging movement. It's written by Anthony K. Tjan and the title is It's Time for a "Slow Conversation" Movement.

sometimes it is just better to call

We, communication and media. Images, stories, quotes, likes, tweets, pins, e-mails, subscriptions, links, search, tips, news, updates, followings, smart phones, facebook, instagram, feed, blogs, portfolios, online workshops, growing the number of readers, youtube, vimeo, e-mags, iPads, communities...you name it. 

The list of what we do and make is endless....sounds familiar? No? Maybe? Yes? 
I've noticed how much time I can spend with my mac. Too much - time to time. I don't have iPad or smart phone. But even without them I just wonder how we can keep up the speed? Is the speed part of our daily life in the future too? There are so many new medias and we are just learning to live with them in harmony. We have possibilities to be all the time connected and we can share so many things straight away and we get instant feedback - why do we have to? And why we need to? What it gives to us? Do we survive without it anymore? Do you feel suddenly lonely when you are not connected? Who likes when you make a dinner or take the dog out? Actually nobody knew that you are making the dinner and taking your dog out before facebook...or your family knew.

I liked a lot Mr. Tjan's writing. Expecially the first subheader Focus on being present in the moment, not recording it. It is so true. There are quite many good points he brings up. I can tell you my experience of my godchild's dance performance. Instead of making a video of it I could have just watched it and felt the presence of young dancers making their best. Of course now I have a recording of it but it won't be the same. I missed the feeling. Please read his post even though you wouldn't be interested about Harward Business Reviews. Sometimes it is good to change habits.

Finally I want to cherise the slow blogging movement. In spring I wrote on my About page that I will blog 1-2 times a week. I prefere quality. That is amount I can live without too much pressure. I enjoy blogging. I love to see new things happening. I like to "meet" new people and read blogs and e-mags. I want to improve my blog. I like the atmosphere. I admit that I have to be a little bit careful not to be too much connected. I have to also be careful not to overdo things. It happens so undetected. Something to learn. I think we live very interesting time because we have so many great new things around us. We just have to learn to live with them.

What do you think about slow blogging? Does it sound too trendy to you? Or is it already done and forgotten? I think it is one part of slow living and I feel it makes us more free. But somehow it maybe also makes a demand of better content.

If you read the whole post - I want to thank you. I'm very happy and I hope I could give you some challenging thoughts. This is a challenge to me also.

xo
Kreetta

ps. Did you like my green underlines? Did it help you to read or was it disruptive? I thought that if you are on hurry you can scan the text quite fast...if you want to.
 

Tillandsia giveaway winners

Hello my lovely ones!

I made a draw and two lucky winners are: 

3 plants - Gudy Herder from Eclectic Trends blog
2 plants - Ingrid Henningsson from Of Spring and Summer blog

Congratulations!

I will send the plants to you. If you please send me your address sendtogretchen@gmail.com 

Thank you all for commenting and I wish you all lovely spring and summer!

xo

Kreetta

Slow living - Natural dyeing vol. 1 My pastel colors

here's my project

I thought Slow living can be my new post series. I hope I can fulfill the promise. I've been reading India Flint's book Eco Colour - botanical dyes for beautiful textiles and I'm so excited about my new found! I didn't find it by myself actually it was Fi Hocking from the blog livingcloth who told me about India - so thanks goes to her.

So let's begin. Following text is based on Flint's book but do remember that I'm making my interpretations of her writings. 

light green and light brown

When you are starting a new thing I think you have to start from very basic and with things that might even get there otherwise you might get frustrated and give up. This next test is fun and very easy to start with but before it I give you some useful tips by India Flint about natural dyeing.

Picking plants and flowers for your dyeing material:

Think locally - begin your backyard and garden. Remember "non-exploitive harvesting". You don't have to go very far to get plants, bark, leaves even your garbage can be your dye material. Yes, your garbage.

what you don't eat but you can use as natural dye material?

How to find dye material and what tells you the plant is good dye material?
 

1. smell

2. species name: tinctorum or tinctoria (the plant has traditionally used in dyeing) or officinale (medicine, contains aromatic, acid or alkaloid chemicals)

3. Remember the rule "no identification - no picking"

4. garbage and windfalls like onion skins, beetroot leaves, carrot tops, wilted spinach, red gabbage etc.

5. Rubbing a leaf between your finger and thumb - what happens? Remember also that plant can be a good dye material even though it doesn't show any visisble sign.

Ok, if you are still interested about natural dyeing - here is very simple and fun test that I made with few plants from our yard to see how they react to test. 

India Flint's tea-test method

Crumble the material with boiling water into old white cup or glass. In ten minutes(maybe more) you see if liquid turns colored and how colored? If it does, there you have a potentional dye material. Simple isn't it. Try this method with fresh or dry leaves shredded bark,crushed seeds and squashed berries.

What colours you got?

I got pastel colors.

I recommend you to get to know India's writings here about natural dyeing if you are inspired!

Ooh, what a lovely pastel pink. Yummy! Have you ever tried natural dyeing? Have you ever thought of it? Do you think we even might have a trend here?  This week also Lotta Helleberg blogged about natural dye. Great work!


xo
Kreetta 

ps. I made a blog page in Facebook - now you can like me there and tomorrow is the last day to take part in my beautiful plant GIVEAWAY. I CAN SEND THESE PLANTS ONLY IN EU COUNTRIES. Good luck and have a wonderful day!

Link Love Creative - Shape and Form

9 is my number today. Have you ever thought how many different kind of shapes you see even before you have had your morning coffee? World of shapes and forms is just unbelievable. Mother nature has infinite imagination. I surely like to have a piece of it. Hand picked links for your eyes only. Have a creative week!

1. Brett Freund ceramics

photo © Brett Freund

 
2. Wearable art post by Trend Tablet
 

Right : Delight of Light Yuru Ma & Mengyue Wu, Donghua University Shanghai, ChinaLeft: Second skin Haley May & Fiona Christie, Wellington, NZ. Photo © Trend Tablet

3. Illustration of Lisa Leierth

© Lisa Leierth

ps. Last week I made a photo essey of Tillandsia and you find it here. You can win a Tillandsias that I can send you where ever you live here in our Planet Earth. They are easy to take care of and you know they don't need soil. They travel light. Good luck!


xo
Kreetta

Magnificent Tillandsia Air Plant - Air Plant Giveaways

© kreetta järvenpää

© kreetta järvenpää

© kreetta järvenpää

Today I have so many great things to tell you.

I adore these little creatures and made a photo essey of them because they are just so lovely. I blogged about finding them last summer at Handemade Supermarket in Berlin. I bought 2 of them from lovely ladies of Till Herba Caeli and travelled with them by train back to home Finland. Last October I told you some DIY tips to make home for them. Now I just want to show you Tillandsia's beauty with hint of a great DIY made of bottle stopper wire.

Today I'm also guest posting the DIY on blog called Monsterscircus. Monsterscircus is a wonderful DIY blog. I was so happy when Mette asked me if I could make one DIY for her blog - I made a very easy plant hanger to Tillandsia. You can see it in one of the pictures. She has so many great little treasures in her blog. Go and see!

The last but not the least I want to celebrate spring with my very very first wonderful 2 GIVEAWAYS: WIN 3 OR 2 TILL Herba Caeli's AIR PLANTS! Maybe you can have it all. First win air plants and then make a home for them - oh, so adorable DIY plant hangers to gorgeus creatures. All you need to do is LEAVE A COMMENT - tell me your favorite plant/flower or whatever you want to tell me or ask...Last day to take part in is 24.5. I'll draw the winner after that date. Sooo Good Luck My Friend!!!

ATTENTION!!! LEARNING BY DOING PART 1. I CAN ONLY SEND THESE PLANTS IN EU. SORRY FOR WRONG INFORMATION. BUT IF YOU ARE ALREADY LEFT COMMENT AND YOU WIN - I WILL FIND YOU SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS COOL AND NICE.


xo
Kreetta 

Tulips in the garden - color inspiration

Yesterday summer came to Finland. I don't say that it will stay yet but we had a very good beginning! I took few photos in the garden. Love the colors. Hope you do too!

ps. My next post is number 100! I can't believe it...I will celebrate it with a photographic essey.Oops, nope. Haha, I did count wrong - it is 85 at the moment I counted my drafts also...yup. Whatever, there is always a reason to celebrate spring and life!

xo
Kreetta

Link Love Creative - Creative Blogger

This is number 8. I admire talents who I've chosen today to introduce to you. I think in their work you can find magic and poetry. This is a good start to week and monday morning with cup of coffee. Maybe a little bit cardamom? This week I'm going to work with seedlings and in the garden with my mom. Yay! Hand picked links for your eyes only. I wish you a sunny and beautiful week!

1. Mister Finch and his magical animals

photo © Mister Finch

2. Canelle et Vanille is food for the eye and the soul - food blog by photographer Aran Goyoga 
 

photo © aran goyoaga

3. A view to is a door to Imke Klee's world

photo © imke klee

ps. This week I'm also making one photo essee of some gorgeus plants and there might be one DIY also there but we'll see...


xo
Kreetta

Is It Vintage - Kupittaan Savi vase designed by Linnea Lehtonen

This time I introduce you Kupittaan Savi and a beautiful vase designed by Linnea Lehtonen. Kupittaan Savi produced tiles, bricks and ceramic dishes and decorative items. The factory was in Turku. You can find several their products here in Finnish online shop Dishwareheaven. You can also find many Kupittaan Savi products just with simple google search. Kupittaan Savi products were awarded including the Paris World's Fair 1937. Unfortunately Kupittaan Savi were bankrupt in the year 1969.

I found this vase from auction. I love it's very simple decoration and form. Very trendy triangle shapes combined with black and white scandinavian style. There's handwritten singnature at the bottom. It was designed in 1950's. It represents the tradition of functionalism. Turku was important place of funtionalism in Finland. You might have heard about Alvar Aalto and Aino Aalto, talented well-known Finnish designers. This vase is a quite rare find. Quite many of these are already owned by collectors from different countries. For example Japanese are very interested of Finnish design.

I think this vase brings my mind African style. Simple figure repeats itself. I wonder where has designer Linnea Lehtonen got her inspiration to make such a pretty vase? Do you like it?

xo
Kreetta