Anna Ruohonen has good news

First one: her crowdfunding campaign in Mesenaatti.me was a success.

Second one: so she was able to start her Anna Ruohonen – AR Blue line, a new timeless clothing line for women and men, made in Orivesi and Hattula in Finland.

Third one: her new shop Anna Ruohonen Paris Concept Store is now open in Annankatu 13, 00120 Helsinki.

In the new shop you find her trademark made to measure collection and these new prêt-à-porter clothes, and realize what ecology and ethics, quality and versatility in fashion really mean.

And do not forget to try on her magical ”10 seconds of miracle” dress!

http://annaruohonen.com/

Photo© Paula Hietaranta

In the main role: the champagne

This May is the month of champagne on Viking Line ships, and there is a lot to choose from.

Our dear Master of Wine Essi Avellan is an amazing lady who probably knows more about champagne than about her own relatives. Now she has selected a new, super fine collection of champagnes to be enjoyed and bought on board.

During the bubbling weeks there are also two champagne menus by the chef Michael Björklund with the wine selection by Essi.

And the icing of the cake – if you are REALLY interested in champagne – is a special Viking Grace cruise on 9th May with food and joy, Essi Avellan giving a Master Class lectures about this fascinating subject. The guest of honour at festive dinner is Mister Clovis Taittinger from the famous champagne house.

www.vikingline.fi
www.essiavellan.com

Photos © Paula Hietaranta

Charming designs to adult children

Do you think you have everything you need?

How wrong you are.

By visiting the gallery-café Lokal´s new exhibition in Helsinki you will be  transformed into a ”must-have that immediately” brat again.

The name of the exhibition is Neverland (MIKÄ MIKÄ), and there you find works by young Finnish artists and designers. Lovely, playful pieces with a sense of humour! Unfortunately the prices are mostly suitable to adult use only...

Cat cups by Sofie Hägerström, 24 euros a piece. 

A dollhouse by Janine Rewell, edition 1/7, 1250 euros.

Cards, an alphabet poster and a soft figure by Etana Editions.

Wooden blocks at windowsill are by Hanna Konola, 34 euros. You can order them also from Lokal´s website.

Lokal Katja Hagelstam, Annankatu 19, 00120 Helsinki.

MIKÄ MIKÄ –exhibition is open until 28.2. Tu-Fr from noon till 6 pm, Sat from noon until 4 pm.

http://lokalhelsinki.com/

Photos © Paula Hietaranta.

Laura Laine: a star of glass is born

Finland has some amazing glass artists known all over the world. For example Kerttu Nurminen, Markku Salo and Oiva Toikka.

Now you can add a new name to that list: Laura Laine.

Until now Laura, Young Designer of the Year in 2011, has been well-known as a fashion and commercial illustrator for the Finnish magazines and international clients like Vogue, Sephora, Elle, Zara, H&M, GAP, The New York Times, The New Yorker and The Guardian.

The Wet Collection, Laura´s first unique adventure in the deep sea life translated into the world of glass, is now open at the Design Museum Helsinki. 

Go there and have a swim in the sea of fantasy and surreal beauty only a real artist can create.

Laura Laine: Mollusc.

White Baby.

Laura Laine: The Wet Collection is open until March 15th 2015 at Design Museum Gallery, Korkeavuorenkatu 23, 00130 Helsinki. Open Tue 11am-8pm, Wed-Sun 11am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.

http://www.designmuseum.fi/fi/exhibitions/laura-laine/

Photos © Paula Hietaranta

New fire to your interior decoration

This is not a pipe but a tea light holder.

Photo©Sami Repo

Fashion designer Samu-Jussi Koski has now also a homeware collection of his own and a brand new tiny shop in Helsinki.

The selection of Samuji KOTI offers to you for example the most beautiful vases, textiles, red clay ceramics, candles and lovely soaps made in Helsinki.

Samuji KOTI

Mikonkatu 1, Helsinki.

Christmas à la chef Mannerström

The easiest way to enjoy Scandinavian Christmas delicacies this December is to book a Viking Line ship voyage – the famous Swedish chef Leif Mannerström has once again given his best traditional recipes to delight the taste buds of the hungry passengers.

Ah – all those wonderful marinated herrings, hot smoked salmon fins, Skagen delicacies, smoked turkey, Christmas ham, Sandefjord butter sauce, Jansson´s temptation, Mannerström´s strong  mustard... And then the desserts... 
Try for example almond cookies with berry jam and whipped cream. And gingerbread mousse with plums...

Sumptuous Christmas buffet is set on all Viking Line ships untilDecember 26th.

If you would like to try all those recipes at home you can buy there also Mannerströms Julkokbok, the lavishly illustrated Christmas Cookbook by the chef.

Photos ©Paula Hietaranta

www.vikingline.com

Shop macabre in Helsinki

The most weird shop you can imagine is Götan maailma – Omituista antiikkia (Göta´s world – weird antiques).

The owner Thomas Hamberg is an artist-actor and a passionate collector of weird things. When his home became too crowded, he opened this shop in May 2011.

Now the shop is also crowded and getting more and more crowded with old things, medical objects and death masks, skeletons and skulls, dioramas and animals from Victorian era, fossils, all kind of death memorablia and religious antiques.

There are also workshops, for example how to make a bit different Christmas decorations or how to stuff animals.

Here a stuffed rabbit means something else you normally think. It is not a meal.

Götan maailma, Tarkkampujankatu 9, Helsinki. Open Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 10 am to 2pm. Check the news of the shop also in FB/Götan Maailma.

Photos©Paula Hietaranta