A "Something Different" Blog Hop

Hello! Today I have something a little different for you. A couple of weeks back Ashli asked me to participate to a hop where you get tagged and then tag forward. The idea is to pass inspiration and introduce new interesting, inspiring blogs and crafters. I'm really honored she wanted to tag me! Ashli is such a huge talent and she makes the creating look so effortless and playful! I love the joy you can find in her pages and creations! If you aren't already familiar with the "Puple Mailbox" -blog, you can visit it here (link).

But let's move on - this hop post itself has a preset format: to acknowledge the person who tagged you, share answers to certain questions and then in turn tag three inspirational blogs so that the tour can continue. As I have the first point covered, let's get to the second: the questions.

1. What am I working on right now?

The best way to see what's currently on my craft table is to follow either my Instagram or Twitter account as I share sneaks of the future projects there. I usually try to work a month ahead so currently I'm finishing the DT projects for September, most of which are done. I also have some surprise GDT style things coming with a shorter notice so some of the projects I have on my "to-do" list have deadlines in August.

During the weekend I finished typing the texts for September Mixed Media Place projects and sent those in. I also drafted my Epiphany Crafts GDT posts and also created a card for an upcoming Craft Stamper challenge. 

2. How long does it take me to create a project?

Depends on the project really. My friend Marsha Valk has renamed me as Speedy Gonzales and when it comes to scrapbooking that might be accurate. It takes me about an hour to create a page, including drying. If I'm on a swing it can be less, also. But the mixed media projects require more time. If I have the possibility, I start them previous night and then let them dry over night. 

My cards are really quick makes, those take usually less than 30 minutes to make. ATCs require a bit more or rather less - one card takes maybe 20 minutes but as I always do a set so I guess it's the 20 minutes times the amount of cards. And for art journaling I really can't say anything, it totally depends on my mood and what I'm experimenting.  

3. What are my favorite things to create with at the moment?

It seems that I fall in love a paint product and then use it all the time for a while before the situation calms a bit. My long term loves are gesso, mists and pencil. Currently I'm trying out the Dina Wakley acrylic paints and new Wow! Embossing Powders and enjoying them tremendously! I've also kept adding to my PITT pen collection.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

I don't think too much ahead. When I start, I choose a photo and a story to go with it and then work from there. I start by thinking the color scheme and then pull some papers to match that. Then I take out the media, create the background, layer the patterned papers and embellish the page. I guess the best way to see the actual process is to take a look at some of my videos (link). 

But maybe this question also speaks about the process we crafters have even before we choose the supplies we are going to use? About inspiration and how that original idea transforms into something concrete. As a matter of fact, that subject intrigues me really much! How the creative process of different people vary and is there some things that are in common? I guess as we humans are individuals so are the processes to create. Oh how I would love to chat about this process with different creative mind! 

I actually tweeted a question about this not too long ago. The songwriter of one of my favorite bands tweeted about how he needs peace in order to create. Because I'm quite the opposite, I was wondering if we're divided equally in two groups - those who need that extra room for the creative spark and those who have to keep the spark going by constantly creating.

5. How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

This is a hard question as the answer is really broad one. I'm inspired constantly and about everything. Knock on wood but to this day there hasn't been a time when I couldn't find the inspiration for a project. I always have multiple creative processes going on in my head. Some of them are on hold, in search of a good assignment to realize them, some of them are "work in progress" like most of the times with the "Inspired by" posts and some of them just about to become reality. For an inside view of my head, so to speak, you could also try out this previous post - 12 hours of inspiration (link).

6. What is my signature style?

I guess other people could define my style better than myself! But making the mixed media style background is what I always go for. And most of my projects have black or dark grey splashes in them. I also like to add penciled details and usually use analogous color schemes. 

And now for the three "tag-ees" I invited to join! These crafters all have their own, strong style and they differ hugely from each other style-wise. What they all have in common is their huge talent and their inspirational creations, brought to perfection. So let's meet them (in alphabetical order)!

Lena Holmström 

I have had the pleasure to have Lena in my class and partly see how her style has grown. I think her textural pieces are just sublime! It's always a true joy to see an artist to find her style!

Mariusz Gierszewski

If you aren't yet familiar this huge talent, I promise you'll be hearing from him soon! Prima Marketing just announced their new Educators and ever so rightly Mariusz is one of them! He's a true master of the chic style! 

Veera Saarivuo

Something I can't do is to go clean and simple, but this lady here surely can that. Veera's pages are luminous in many ways - the color schemes she uses but also the way they shine in design and composition!

Thank you so much for your visit today! So much texts and so little photos! I hope you managed through it all! Please check out all the four blogs tagged here and return to the last three in a week to find out who they tagged! 

And if you feel like you've read something similar in the past, you might be thinking about this post (link). Then I was challenged by Karita and answered some similar questions there. 

Wishing you an inspirational Monday!

Challenged by Karita

Hi there! A few weeks back, I got a challenge from Karita Vainio. She invited me to a blog hop sort of thing. The key is to answer a few questions and then challenge some fellow crafters along. Her own post can be found here (link) and at the bottom of this post are three incredible creative geniuses that will answer the same questions next monday, the July 7th! Hopefully you'll join them then!

Thank you for the challenge, Karita! And here we go...

 

1) What am I working on?

I usually try to work at least a month ahead so currently I'm doing projects for August deadlines. Some of them are DT work and some of them are for publications. I have a little over 20 projects for August on my "to do" list.

This morning I did three layouts and a card and taped three videos while working on them. I'm currently paint to dry to continue working on a fourth layout and then I'm thinking of doing an art journal spread.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Oh, this is a hard one! I don't think it really differs that much for other mixed media influenced scrapbookers. I usually work the background first, using different paints and other mediums and then layer the patterned papers on top. Of course if you compare my work for example to that of Veera's, there's a huge difference but mostly because our styles are so different!

Somebody has sometimes said that my work can be recognized by the splashes and the pencil lines. So I guess they are key elements in my layouts. What also comes to my minds is the colors I use - I rarely do brown or neutral pages but like to work with more color. And I tend to use neighboring colors in my works, avoiding putting contrasting colors to same page.

  

3) Why do I create what I do?

I create because I must. And I don't mean deadlines or DT work but the urge to do something with my hands. To use my imagination and combine different elements to create something my own. It's a kind of therapy. If I haven't been able to create for a while, the need actually comes almost physical and I get grumpy.

I've always crafted one way or the other, but since I started scrapbooking and especially when I found my style, I've pretty much abandoned all other crafts. It's a form of self expression to me and keeps me going. It's my own time and my thing.

4) How does your creating process work?

I guess an answer to this question is to watch some of my start to finish videos (link), but I guess this question also speaks about the process I have even before I pull out the photo and the paper. As a matter of fact, this subject intrigues me really much! How the creative process of different people vary and is there some things that are in common? I guess as we humans are individuals so are the processes to create. Oh how I would love to chat about this process with different creative people - like musicians! As my creative process is highly visual, I really can't put myself in the shoes of a creative mind working with notes, not images.

What triggers my process is usually a photo, a story or then just the assignment I'm given. An example: I find a photo of my daughter's dentist appointment and want to record that story. Or my other daughter tells me how she wants to be a Micky Mouse when she grows up and I want that memory to preserve for her. Or then I just read from my "to do" list that the new challenge is connected to stamping. So it differs from time to time. The next step, though, is to choose the photo (if it wasn't the first) and then the background paper and the color scheme. From then on I just go with the flow - I want to use a certain technique, I just grab the first media available in my reach or I want to break my own comfort zone. But what guides my process are the colors and the over all design plan I have in my head. The design, however, is flexible and can change in course of the creative process, but the colors stay from the moment when I start to the end.

I work very fast and usually don't think much when I'm creating. Or perhaps I should say that I don't ponder much, when I'm creating. Of course I'm thinking about the design and which embellishments to use, how I place my title and such, but it all works in an instant. I can try a certain embellishment to two different places, but decide which to use in seconds. I usually get a page done under an hour, some times it takes a little longer if I need to dry it a lot or can't find the "final pieze of the puzzle" from my embellishments.

Have my answers triggered more questions or ideas? Please share them here! Just leave a comment or mail me, if there's something you want to know!

Thank you for stopping by today! And here's some super inspirational ladies joining the hop next Monday! 

DeeDee Catron: "I am a 26 year old mom and wifey who gets to do what she loves EVERY.DAY. I'm the Marketing and Artistic Director (+stamp designer) for Viva Las VegaStamps!, Owner/Creative Director for UmWowStudio and Product Designer for 7 Dots Studio. I love all sorts of crafty projects and design based stuffs including cards, mixed media, layouts, art journaling, altered bits and more."

I just love DeeDee's style! Her pages and crafts are always perfectly balanced and they have lovely little details and surprises in them! I adore her way to work with white space and her product designs give wings to my imagination! Be sure to check out her UmWowStudio brand! 

Misty Russell: "Hi! I'm a mom to a wonderful son and daughter who I love dearly. I’ve also been blessed with an amazing husband who is my biggest supporter and encourager. 

I started scrapping in October of 2010 after stumbling upon one of the big online galleries. I was instantly hooked! They were unlike any scrapbook pages I’d seen before…pure ART! So while most people scrap for the memories...I started doing it purely for the art therapy. Archiving memories was just an added bonus!

My style has evolved over the last couple of years but I do believe I fit more into the artsy/grungy category. I’m addicted to texture and love to use modeling paste and gesso on just about every project! 

The thing I love most about this “hobby” is the many friends that I have made. I’m amazed how this art form and the community that surrounds it are so supportive and encouraging with each other. It really makes this planet we live on seem like such a small little world!"

I'm so fortunate to belong the same team as Misty and to see her creations sometimes before they hit her blog! She's unbelievably creative and artistic! She's also a wizard with paint media and creates the most awesome effects with them! If you haven't seen her videos, you should. Like now.

Tusia Lech: "I love all kinds of media – if I would have to define my style, I would say that media are the only constant thing. My favourite colours are fresh, bold greens, blues and pinks, but at the same time I just love delicate, pale hues of beige, rose and white. 

However there is something in my projects, what can be found always – a positive, feminine style. Scrapbooking fills my whole life – it is all around me – in my private life and in my job career. I love the process of creation – I have created things since early childhood – all kinds of handmade things always attracted me. I cannot imagine my life without making some art. Even if I leave for a weekend, I always take my small “art-bag”, filled with art-journal supplies. I am lucky enough to be a designer in a few very creative places. I love drinking coffee, reading books, walking through the forest, watching flowers on the meadow, basking in the autumn sun and being deep in my inner world. I can say that I am happy person and wouldn't change a single thing in my life."

I absolutely adore this woman! She's so positive, happy and encouraging! And on top of being such an amazing person, she's an amazing artist, too. Her creations are always full of joy and happiness, they leave you with a good mood and inspire to excel yourself everyday. I'm beyond words honored that I was chosen to her brand's, 7 Dots Studio's design team.

Thank you so much ladies for joining the hop! I can't wait to read your answers, especially to that last question! 

11 Facts About Me

I was challenged by Minna to share 11 random facts about myself, answer to 11 given questions and pass the challenge forward. I thought this would make a fun May Day thing so here we go!

Here are the rules: 1) You need to tell 11 facts about yourself 2) You need to answer to the 11 questions given to you 3) You need to think 11 new questions  4) You need to challenge 11 bloggers that have under 200 readers 5) You need to state who you have challenged
I'm going to tell you up front that I'm going to break the rule number 4 and make the challenge free for grabs. 
Minna haastoi minut kertomaan 11 asiaa itsestäni, vastaamaan 11 kysymykseen ja laittamaan haaste eteenpäin. Ajattelin, että tästä tulisi hauska vappujuttu, joten näin sitä mennään!
Tässä haasteen säännöt:  1) Haastetun pitää kertoa 11 asiaa itsestään  2) Haastetun pitää vastata haastajan 11 kysymykseen 3) Haastetun pitää keksiä 11 uutta kysymystä   4) Haastetun pitää haastaa 11 bloggaajaa, joilla on alle 200 lukijaa 5) Sinun tulee kertoa kenet olet haastanut
Kerron suoraan, että tulen rikkomaan sääntöä 4 ja laittamaan haasteen vapaasti napattavaksi.

Random facts:

1) I took on archery in my teens and even won one competition. I still have a bow tucked away in our summer house, but I guess my technique has gone so poor over the years that I even couldn't get it drawn. When I started practicing my hypermobile joint kept giving me a hard time and I had a bruise size of a man's palm in my elbow for the string constantly hitting it. I still have three scars there.
2) I'm turning out into a complete night owl. The longer days and more light means that I'm staying up until about 1 am... Not good on work days! I need more sleep during winter time when it's dark here in Finland but summer means a lot less sleep - and more time to craft!
3) I hated math in the lower grades (age 7 to 12) but fell in love with it in the junior high school (age 13 to 15). I ended up reading long math in high school (age 16 to 19) and loved every equation! I wish I'd stored my math books as it would be lovely to take on a few puzzles every now and then!
4) I wrote my thesis about 18th century fashion powered by sandwiches. I started typing in the morning and after some hours I got hungry but was too wrapped up in the writing process so I made quickly a few sandwiches and continued writing. After a while I got hungry again and... well, you get the picture. 
5) My wardrobe is almost 100 percent black. Every now and then I get an urge to wear color but have learned that if I buy something like yellow or turquoise it just hangs in the closet and I never wear it. So I just stuck to black. At least everything goes together!
6) After my matriculation examination I thought hard to what to do. My grandfather urged me to go to university, but after I went there for a brief about the studies it came pretty clear that it wasn't the place for me. I've always enjoyed studying, making papers and looking into things, but I'm also a crafter by heart. I couldn't imagine myself just attending classes, doing paper after paper and no real handicrafts of what so ever. So I went to a polytechnic. Even though I haven't worked in the exact occupation I have schooling for a day, I don't regret taking that path for a moment. 
7) I'm terrible with deadlines. Well, maybe not in the way you first would think. I usually want projects to be ready a few weeks prior to the deadline and work really hard to stay on top of things. I'm happiest and most stress-free when I have things ready a month before they are due. 
8) I'm trying to use my BigShot more. I've bought a few new dies and have now the machine on top of a table constantly that I would use it. I mean there's no point of me owning such a cool tool if it just sits there. Lately I've been drawn to die cut the shapes out of white cardstock. 
9) Being a daughter and a granddaughter to carpenters we have several pieces of family history in our home. Our lobby has a bench made by my father in his youth and also a custom made shoe rack, the living room has a bureau my grandfather made me when I turned 16 and kid's room have a toy bench made by my father. Except the bench in the lobby they all are painted white.
10) One of my favorite things I've seen on TV and since then got as a DVD is a miniseries by Stephen Poliakoff called "Shooting the Past". I love how the story is woven and how gorgeous all the pictures in the series are. They are presented so well that it sends shivers down my spine. If you are not familiar with that piece, I highly recommend. 
11) In my youth I was fascinated about ancient Egypt and dreamed of becoming an Egyptologist. I used to read every piece of information and all the articles I could find on the subject. After a while my interest on purely all things ancient Egyptian disappeared but I continued to be interested in history so I wanted to become a conservator instead. I even found out what kind of schooling I would need to become one.

Ja sama suomeksi - faktoja:

1) Harrastin jousiammuntaa teininä ja jopa voitin yhden kisankin. Minulla on edelleen jouseni mökillä säilössä, mutta epäilen että tekniikkani on heikentynyt niin että en saisi sitä edes jännitettyä enää. Kun aloin harjoitella ammuntaa, yliliikkuva kyynärniveleni haittasi toimintaa. Minulla olikin usein miehen kämmenen kokoinen mustelma nivelen kohdalla ja vieläkin kolme arpea jäljellä lukuisista jänteen iskuista. 
2) Olen muuttumassa varsinaiseksi yöeläjäksi. Pidemmän, valoisammat päivät tarkoittavat sitä että valvon pidempään ja menen nukkumaan vasta joskus 1 aamuyöllä... ei hyvä työpäivinä! Talvella tarvitsen enemmän unta, mutta kun kesä tulee niin unentarve vähenee - enemmän aikaa askartelulle! 
3) Inhosin matikkaa ala-asteella, mutta ihastuin siihen täysin yläasteella. Luin lukiossa pitkän matikan ja yhtälönratkaisu oli minusta hurmaavaa! Välillä toivon, että olisin säilyttänyt osan matikankirjoistani jotta voisin silloin tällöin laskea joitain yhtälöitä. 
4) Kirjoitin opinnäytetyöni 1700-luvun muodista voileipien voimalla. Aloitin naputtelun aamulla ja joidenkin tuntien kuluttua minulle tuli nälkä. Olin siinä vaiheessa niin kirjoituksen lumoissa, että tein vain nopeasti pari voileipää ja jatkoin. Taas jonkun ajan kuluttua tuli nälkä ja... no arvaatte varmaan.  
5) Vaatekaappini sisältö on lähes 100-prosenttisesti mustaa. Välillä minulla on innostus hommata värejä pukeutumiseeni, mutta ne tahtovat jäädä vain kaappiin roikkumaan. Niimpä pysyttelen mustassa. Ainakin kaikki sopii yhteen! 
6) Ylioppilaskirjoitusten jälkeen mietin ankarasti mitä tehdä. Isoisäni olisi halunnut minun menevän yliopistoon, mutta avointen ovien päivänä tajusin, ettei se ole ollenkaan minun juttuni. Olen aina pitänyt opiskelusta, tutkielmien teosta ja asioihin paneutumisesta, mutta olen sydämeltäni käsityöläinen. En voinut kuvitella vain käyväni luennoilla, kirjoittamaan tutkielmia ilman jotain käsityötä tai luovuutta. Niimpä menin ammattikorkeaan. Vaikka en olekaan ollut täysin koulutukseni mukaisessa ammatissa päivääkään en kadu valitsemaani polkua hetkeäkään. 
7) Olen huono määräaikojen kanssa. En ehkä tavalla mikä ensimmäisenä tulee mieleen. Haluan näet yleensä olla valmis viikkoja ennen takarajaa ja pyrin työskentelemään jatkuvasti tämän päämäärän saavuttamiseksi. Olen kaikkein onnellisin ja stressittömin kun projektit ovat valmiina kuukautta ennen takarajaa. 
8) Yritän opetella käyttämään BigShot-leikkuria enemmän. Olen ostanut muutamia kuusia stansseja ja nostanut koneen työpöydälle. Eihän siinä nimittäin ole järkeä, että minulla on moinen hieno laite vain keräämässä pölyä. Viimeaikoina olen innostunut leikkaamaan kuviot valkoisesta kartongista.
9) Koska olen puusepän tytär ja tyttären tytär meillä on kotona jonkin verran "perhehistoriaa" huonekalujen muodossa. Eteisessä on isäni nuoruudessa tekemä puhelinpöytä sekä joitakin vuosia sitten tehty kenkätaso, olohuoneessa isoisäni 16-vuotislahjaksi tekemä klaffikaappi ja lastenhuoneessa isäni tekemä lelusenkki. Puhelinpöytää lukuunottamatta kaikki nämä kalusteet ovat valkoisia. 
10) Yksi lempiohjelmistani, jonka olen nähnyt telkkarista ja sittemmin hommannut DVDllä on Stephen Poliakoffin minisarja nimeltään "Shooting the Past", suomennettuna muistaakseni "Valokuvien vangit". Tarina on kudottu ihanasti ja kaikki huikeat valokuvat on lisätty tarinaan mahtavasti ja inspiroivasti. Jos et ole aiemmin tutustunut tähän ohjelmaan, suosittelen!  
11) Lapsuudessani olin todella kiinnostunut muinaisesta Egyptistä ja unelmoin tulevani egyptologiksi. Luin ja haalin jokaisen tiedonmurusen kirjastosta ja artikkeleista. Ajanmittaan kiinnostukseni tätä yhtä aikakautta kohtaan lieveni, mutta historia kiinnosti edelleen, joten unelma-ammatiksi nousi konservaattori. Otin jopa selvää millaisen koulutuksen konservaattori tarvitsisi. 

 

The questions I got from Minna: 

1. What are you working on right now? Two articles, one GDT post and an item for the next "Inspired by" post. 

2. What are you waiting for? I'm not sure if I anxiously wait for anything... Let's see what life and future brings! 

3. Where would you like to travel? I fell in love with Kyoto when we visited there five years ago, so I would love to go again. But right now I'd love to travel to US to check the craft scene there and also follow my favorite band Turisas while they tour in the States. 

4. Who's your inspiration? My family - my husband and my two sweet daughters. If I need to pick someone from the crafting industry I would say Finnabair, Nadia Cannizzo, Mixed Media Place team, Shirel, Heather Jacob and Sandra Przybylska - just stating a few. In Paris we also visited a little art gallery and I was swept of my feet with the works of Sophie Costa. 

5. What's the best thing about blogging? Connecting. I loooove finding new people in the blog word and love sharing and connecting. 

6. And what's the most challenging? To get the post actually written. Sometimes it's a matter of lacking the words but usually it's an time issue. 

7. What is your favorite technique when it comes to crafting? Going really general I would say mixed media - I just love to layer and add different mediums to my pages and cards. If I need to be more precise I guess that my first "go-to" background would go nicely - layering masking tape, gesso and mists. 

8. What are you other hobbies (besides crafting)? Um. What do you mean other hobbies? 

9. What are you proud of? My family. I love seeing my husband reach to his dream. I love our daughters bloom and grow and learn. 

10. Describe yourself with three words. Oh, this is so hard. Maybe I use same as I did with the Stockholm Scrap Class teachers - one color, one tool and a word. So turquoise, gesso and positive. 

11. Best about your blog? Maybe you can answer better to this one? 

Kysymykset, jotka sain Minnalta: 

1. Mitä on työn alla juuri nyt? Kaksi artikkelia, yksi GDT postaus ja juttu uusimpaan "Inspired by" -haasteeseen. 

2. Mitä odotat? En taida odottaa aktiivisesti mitään... Katsotaan mitä elämä ja tulevaisuus tuo tullessaan! 

3. Minne haluaist matkustaa? Ihastuin Tokioon käydessämme siellä viitisen vuotta sitten, joten joskus vielä haluaisin palata tuohon kaupunkiin. Mutta juuri nyt haluaisin kyllä päästä Amerikkoihin askartelurintamaa katsastamaan sekä myöskin seuraamaan lempiyhtyeeni Turisaksen kiertuetta. 

4. Kuka sinua inspiroi? Perheeni - mieheni ja kaksi tyttöäni. Jos pitää valita joku askartelurintamalta niin sanoisin Finnabair, Nadia Cannizzo, Mixed Media Placen tiimi, Shirel, Heather Jacob ja Sandra Przybylska - vain muutamia sanoakseni. Pariisissa kävimme pienessä galleriassa ja Sophie Costan työt innostivat minua kovin. 

5. Mikä bloggaamisessa on parasta? Yhteyksien luominen. Minusta on ihanaa löytää uusia seurattavia blogeja, jakaa ja luoda verkostoa. 

6. Entä haastavinta? Se, että saa postaukset kirjoitettua. Joskus kyseessä on sanottavan puute, mutta yleensä se on aikakysymys. 

7. Mikä on lempitekniikkasi askartelussa? Jos vastaan ihan yleisesti niin sekatekniikka ylipäätään - minusta on ihanaa liittää erilaisia kerroksia ja väriaineita askarteluihini. Jos pitää olla tarkempi niin luulen, että ensimmäinen "go-to" tekniikkani voisi sopia nätisti tähän - maalarinteipin, gesson ja mistien kerrostaminen taustaksi. 

8. Mitä muuta harrastat (askartelun lisäksi?) Mitä tarkoitat "askartelun lisäksi"? 

9. Mistä olet ylpeä? Perheestäni. Minusta on ihana katsoa, miten mieheni tavoittelee unelmaansa. On myös ihana seurata tyttöjen kukoistusta, kasvua ja oppimista. 

10. Kuvaile itseäsi kolmella sanalla. Voi, tämä on vaikea! Ehkä teen saman, mitä itse käytin Stockholm Scrap Class opettajien kanssa - yksi väri, yksi työväline ja yksi sana. Joten turkoosi, gesso ja positiivisuus. 

11. Parasta blogissasi? Ehkä te osaatte vastata tähän paremmin?

So you are free to challenge yourself if you'd like! Please leave me a link if you have done a similar post and I can come over and learn something new about you! 

Here's my questions for those who want to join in: 1. The best purchase you've made 2. Who do you look up to? 3. What would you say to someone just starting to scrap/craft? 4. The most inspiring book you've read 5. What makes you happy? 6. What's your least favorite color and why? 7. Do you have a motto or a phrase that sums you up? 8. Your "go-to" blog 9. What would be your dream team to join? 10. Your (secret) vice? 11. What do you do to relax?

Lastly the word is free! Ask freely if there's something you'd like to know!  Thank you for your attention - congratulations if you read the whole post! Wishing you once again happy May Day!

Nyt on aika haastaa itsenne niin halutessanne! Jos innostutte tästä, niin jättäkää linkki niin tulen mielelläni kurkkaamaan ja oppimaan uutta! 

Tässä kysymykseni niille, jotka haluavat osallistua: 1. Paras ostos ikinä 2. Ketä arvostat? 3. Mitä sanoisit ihmiselle, joka on juuri aloittamassa skräppäämisen / askartelun? 4. Inspiroivin kirja, jonka olet lukenut 5. Mikä tekee sinut iloiseksi? 6. Mikä on inhokkivärisi ja miksi? 7. Onko sinulla motto tai lausahdus, joka sopii itseesi? 8. Lempiblogisi 9. Mikä olisi unelmatiimisi? 10. (Salainen) paheesi? 11. Mitä teet rentoutuaksesi? 

Viimeisenä sana on vapaa! Jos jokin askarruttaa mieltä, kysy pois! Kiitos lukemisesta ja onnittelut jos jaksoit kahlata koko postauksen läpi! Toivotan jälleen iloista vappua! 

What do you want to know?

Hello there! Agnieszka wanted to do an interview with me concerning the workshops in Warsaw. You can find the whole interview in English and Polish here (link), but I thought to blog a few anwers here, too. If you are interested in the workshops, you have until the 10th to enroll to info@rekodzielnik.com.pl. More details here (link).

I also thought that this would be a perfect time to ask if you have any questions I could answer. Please either leave them here, in this post or then mail them to me. I'll do another "interview" post with them later this month!

Heippa! Agnieszka halusi tehdä pienen haastattelun kanssani Varsovan kurssien takia. Koko haastattelu löytyy täältä englanniksi ja puolaksi (linkki) ja alta löytyy osa kysymyksistä ja vastauksistani englanniksi. Googlen kääntäjä (linkki) näytti tekevän suhteellisen järkevää käännöstä ainakin ensimmäisestä kysymyksestä.

Ajattelin, että tämä olisi myös hyvä aika kysyä, josko teillä on jotain kysymyksiä, joihin voisin vastata. Voit jättää kysymyksesi joko tähän kommentteihin taikka lähettää sen sähköpostilla. Kokoan näistä kysymyksistä toisen "haastattelun", jonka julkaisen myöhemmin tässä kuussa täällä blogissani!

"Hello Riikka

A: In March you are supposed to teach in Poland during Rękodzielnik vol.7 and I would like that people who so far had no opportunity to meet you or get to know you, could read a little bit about you. So I have couple of questions to you :) I would like to thank you very much, that you accepted our invitation and you will come to Poland. Do you know our country? Have you ever been here? What are your associations with Poland?

R: Thank you for inviting me! It's a dream come true, really! 

I haven't visited Poland earlier, but the country has been on my mind for long now. So it's a great to have the opportunity to both teach the workshops and to visit Poland at the same time. Poland seems to have something special in the water as it's home to so many amazing artists. I feel really enthusiastic about learning more about the country and its people! I associate Poland with art, Copernicus and white/red flag.

A:You live in Finland - could you tell us a little more about your daily life, your job, family...?

R: I live in Helsinki, the capital of Finland with my husband and our two girls. My older one turns five during the spring and my younger one just turned three. I have a full time job as a sales person, but as I work in shifts I tend to have a little bit of creative time every week. I love the creating part, but I could really use a secretary to do all the writing bits. It's not that I don't enjoy it, but it steels time away from the most fun part, creating!

A: Scrapbooking is your passion, isn't it? When it came into your life? How long do you scrapbook?

R: You have that right, scrapbooking is my passion! I've done all sorts of crafts my whole life, but scrapbooking really hit me like a ton of bricks. I started doing pages about four years ago, even though I've made sort of minialbums from all of my vacations. My first pages were about my first born and then after my younger girl was born I of course started doing pages about her, too. Nowadays I try to scrap about my husband and myself also.

My style has evolved much since the beginning and I think I really starting to find my style two years ago when I suddenly realized the base of the layout is "just paper" meaning that if I didn't like how adding different mediums to the background looked like, I just could throw the paper away and start again. The photo could be reprinted and the memories would be safe in my mind regardless what happened to the paper.

A: On your website there are information about companies, you worked for and where you were published. So many of them! But I feel that you are very modest. Such cooperation must be a great opportunity for meeting new people and your artistic development. Could you tell us some more?

R: I've been really fortunate to get published and to get to work with a number of different companies. I treasure every opportunity I've been given. I'm always jumping up and down with joy when I get accepted to a DT or when a page gets published!

I love meeting people who share the same passion! I also love how every assignment gives me a challenge whether it being a page for a publication or for a design team. Every team gives so much - inspiration, friends and guidance. One can only feel blessed!

I've dreamt about being in a manufacturer team and during 2013 my dreams became reality. It still feels a bit unreal! So at the moment my design teams include manufacturers 7 Dots Studio and 3rd Eye, online shop Mixed Media Place, publications paperHaus, Craft Stamper and Scrap365 together with challenge sites CSI, Scrap Around The Word.

A: What are your challenges and goals for 2014?

R: I got back to work last autumn after being a home mom for over four years. So I guess the challenge continues to be combining my artistic goals and aspirations to work and family life. As I said the shift work allows me to create on weekly basis but on the other hand the evening shifts are time away from my family. It's a tight rope walking every mother knows.

Interview: Agnieszka Arnold and Riikka Kovasin, translation: Patrycja Lech"