Walking in Paris

Love.

Timeless walking at Montmartre.

Art. History.

In front of Musee d'Orsay. It was too long line. We decided to go there next morning before it opens. That was a good call - much faster one. Saw beautiful work of art.

 Louvre.

We used metro a lot. Saw many neighbourhoods.

Shape of house.

Atmosphere.

Small shops.

Artisan bread.

Fresh green. Sunlight.

This was my tour in Paris for you. We spent our Easter there. I have decided that next time when I go there I can speak French. It's lovely language but need practising before I can order my dinner in French, haha. 

What is your favorite place in Paris? I can't name only one. But I loved to stay in Saint Germain des Prés area. Musée d'Orsay was wonderful. Sacré Coeur and Montmartre has lovely atmosphere. There are so many great places. So many places unseen. This city won't let you down.

Have a lovely week!

xo

Kreetta

Vintage love Paris

If you love vintage, antique - old things, this is the place to be in Paris. Marché aux puces de Paris/ Saint Ouen is a place where you can find anything!

Metal. Font.

Design. Circus. Black and white.

Color. Raw. Garden.

Surface. Pattern. Table.

Wooden cutting board. Country. Copper.

Ceramic. Old glass.

Sea shell. Decoration. Prop.

Striped underskirt. Vintage clothing. Adorable! 7 and 9 rue Jules Vallès, Marché Jules Vallès you can find a diamond. A vintage shop where you can find a lot of old ribbons, buttons, lace, threads, fabric, clothing.

Wow, what a place. So much to see and touch! We didn't have time to look everywhere. One more reason to go back to Paris! Totally loved the place. Next post will be about streets and places in Paris, where we enjoyed the spring. 

Have a lovely Saturday evening!

xo

Kreetta

Frayed and Crackled - Kreetta's Ceramics

Oh, I'm so back from Paris. Wow, that's a place. About my trip to Paris later this week. Some vintage finds of course. Now - ceramics.

I love old and frayed. So when I make ceramics - I like to make things look like they are old and not perfect. I've also noticed that somehow I work in certain period with same way of seeing and when I put things together they might even play well together. Of course not always but this time yes. Do you remember my circus theme ceramics? You can find them here. I decided to move on to different level - still circus but more delicate shades and colors.

 

I've used a lot of raku clay this year because it felt nice to work with. I'm also taking one raku clay course in May. It will be fun! This year I've also worked with paperclay and it's totally different  comparing to raku clay. It's soft and very flexible. Of course I've made paperclay bowl in a rough way and it surprisingly worked quite well.

To make structure I leave my bowls without finishing them too carefully. I paint the glaze and combine different colors.

I have to admit that it's been a little bit difficult process to move on from real rough colors to these light and pastel shades. Of course I use some darker colors to get more drama if you know what I mean. I love crackle!

It's very rewarding when you get something done the way you wanted. I've done a lot of testing before I made bowls that I like. This project needed rethinking and patience. Yes, patience... I've never done one thing so long time. Clay isn't very easy material so many things can make the result not the one you've wished for. But I love to work with clay because you can always start all over again and it feels good - working with hands.

Have you ever tried playing with clay? I think I want to try clay pottery wheel. The course will begin in autumn. I have so so many plans already for autumn. I'm so excited. I promise you hear about them during this spring and summer. 

Have a lovely week!

xo

Kreetta

Feeling Easter

Happy Easter! Spring is giving it's best at the moment. We have light, birds are singing, little by little the green is growing and we are starting to get warm days with bright sunlight. Hooray the winter is gone! I have been working the whole autumn and winter with my project "frayed and crackled" in ceramics. I'm so happy to say that finally I've got something to show to you. But before that I wish you enjoy my Easter feeling photos! Yes, they are dark. I followed the idea of traditional still life painting. I made them two weeks ago when I was working with air plants. Those photos you can find here.

What kind of Easter you are going to have? I'm off to Paris with my husband! It's my birthday present...I've waited this so much. It's good to get older I guess, haha...and enjoy the spring in the beautiful city.

xo

Kreetta

Art

Sunday. Raining. Photographing. Walking. Talking. I think today I made a first pic of my art project. Double exposure. Poetry. I'm an esthetician - there's no denying it. Are you?

xo

Kreetta

Air Plant Inspiration

I haven't count how many Tillandsia post I have done. Many. They are so adorable and still they are quite modern and raw. I bought these creatures and few more to photoshooting I did at my work. Those pics aren't published yet so I can't show them to you. Those pics will land to my portfolio in this spring. 

But I made these ones for your eyes only. I was playing quite a long time in our living room - changing it to one big mess. Luckily we just cleaned up yesterday so...of course I do this today, haha. But I cleaned it up.

You might have also noticed that I love old things. Vintage - it is so trendy word now. I'm afraid it will meet the same destiny as retro word. Retro was used so much that nowadays nobody wants to use it anymore. But what comes after vintage? Well, I don't know but that I know I'll be in Paris in Easter and yes, I want to go to see and even buy beautiful old things. So if you know a good place to buy vintage treasures like letterpress woodblock letters in Paris, please tell me. Brocantes à Paris...sounds already too good to be true!

I ordered these plants from Till Herba Caeli and made a trade one for one. My photo and their air plant. I wish I can keep these creatures alive more than one or two years like my first ones. You need to give them a good bath 1-2 times (some needs 2-3 bath)a month and it's good to have a plant light during the winter time. Expecially in country like Finland. We have so few hours of light during November to January. But summers are beutiful and full of light! 

xo

Kreetta

Easy DIY Easter Egg - Dyed With Turmeric

This method is so much faster than my avocado natural dyed eggs. I made this DIY while I was waiting my avocado dyed eggs...This is so simple that you can make these on Easter day and you won't be late with your Easter decoration for your dinner party. All you need is cooked eggs, vinegar, masking tape, pencil, utility knife, cutting board, measuring tape, turmeric and a kettle with warm water....ok, you need more than one or two things, haha. But very basic ones!

Measure the egg's circumference. Use that measurement with masking tape on the cutting board. Draw the pattern. Cut it with the utility knife. Attach the patterns to the egg carefully. Then warm water and add turmeric, 1-2 tablespoons and a bit vinegar. Put eggs to turmeric water. Leave them there for 5-15 minutes. Move eggs time to time. Longer the egg is in the water more the masking tape leaks. The time depends on how deep yellow you want and how sharp pattern. 

Masking tape takes a lot of color too. Take it off.

This is easy way to make quite lovely Easter eggs. You can make these with kids too. I'm sure the kids will enjoy of making them! They don't have to be too perfect, I think...and I just love the yellow I got with turmeric. 

Here you can find a bunch of different kind of Easter egg natural dyeings.

Have a lovely weekend!

xo
Kreetta

ps. I can't wait to get my fingers on my air plants! You'll see!