Since Helsinki is the design capital 2012, I thought it would be extra fitting to shine the light on a few Finnish brands this year, and first out is one of the largest jewels in the Finnish design crown: Marimekko.

I have always loved Marimekko, and growing up in Sweden in the 60s and 70s, you saw their patterns all over the place. My Mom had a fabulous dress that sadly got lost (or, gasp!, was thrown out!) in one of our many moves, which irks me to no end!

The Beginning

Marimekko, today one of the most well-known Finnish brands, was founded in 1951 by Armi Ratia. Armi was born in 1912 and in her early twenties, studied textile design at what is now the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. After graduation, she started a small workshop and hired weavers to produce her designs.

By the time WW II ended, Armi was married and worked in Helsinki as a copywriter. Her husband, Viljo, who had just left the military went into business with a friend. Their company, Printex, produced oilcloth fabric, and did quite well, but at the end of the 40s, the business was struggling. Armi, who had been helping out as a consultant all along, suggested that they switch their focus from oilcloth to

Unikko

modern fabrics. They hired their first designer, Maija Isola, creator of over 500 patterns, among them the famous Unikko (interestingly, Armi had dismissed all flower patterns, saying she did not like them and that they were not in line with what Marimekko was all about, but Maija designed Unikko anyway. Armi liked it, and it went on to become one of the most iconic of Marimekko’s patterns), and Printex started producing fabrics with her designs.

At first, sales were slow; it seemed the public was not interested in the bold, graphic patterns. Then Armi had what turned out to be a brilliant idea: she teamed up with designer Riitta Immonen and put on a fashion show (called “the Marimekko project”) with dresses made from the fabrics, to stir up business and showcase what people could make themselves with the Printex fabrics.

The show was a success, BUT it wasn’t the fabrics people were talking about – it was the dresses. Armi realized this was a great business opportunity and in 1951, together with Riitta Immonen, she started her own company, Marimekko Oy (Oy is the Finnish equivalent of “company”). More (young) designers were hired and given free hands to create, which resulted in many more unique, bold patterns in vivid colors. Business was picking up, and the company opened its first store (in Helsinki) in 1953.

Going International

Marimekko started gaining popularity in other parts of Europe as well, and their first store abroad opened in Stockholm in 1960. Their big international break however, came when Jacqueline Kennedy started wearing their dresses, and the 60s was the company’s heydays. Armi Ratia was a very charismatic person and became a favorite of the press, resulting in lots of free PR.

The Good Life

Things were going well, and business was booming for the next couple of decades. Armi enjoyed every minute of the success; there were rumors of wild parties, where visiting artists and designers were entertained lavishly for days on end, and everyone would come away with new ideas and inspiration (and presumably hangovers!). Her plans for Marimekko, which she described as a “cultural phenomenon guiding the quality of living” included the ambitious project “Mari village” (Marikylä), which was going to be a small village consisting of a Marimekko office building, lab and factory, as well as housing for the company’s employees. Only parts of that plan came to fruition, and the project was eventually abandoned.

Marihouse, revealed 1966

By now, the company was growing at an incredible pace, but there was little control over the cash flow. In 1966, Printex merged with Marimekko to make bookkeeping a bit easier, but by the late 60s, it was clear that changes had to be made. And not only on a business level; Armi and Viljo divorced, Viljo left the company and Armi spent even more time working and developing grand plans for Marimekko.

The Difficult 80s

The successes continued in the early 70s, then, Armi became ill and after a short battle passed away in 1979. She had been the face of the brand, as well as the force behind it, and her death was a big blow for Marimekko. The 80s was not a good decade for the company, and her heirs ended up selling their shares to Amer Group. It turned out to be a bad decision, and by 1991, Marimekko was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Back On Top Again

Kirsti Paakkanen

Luckily, Kirsti Paakkanen, who after a long and successful career in PR had retired to the French Riviera, felt the urge to return to Finland and the business world. She bought Marimekko and in just a few years, turned it completely around, back to its old glory days (and better – five years after she took over, the shares were selling at record prices).

NYC flagship store

Today, they are coming out with new designs and products on a regular basis, and are constantly expanding, opening new stores all over the world (a new flagship store just opened in New York City in the fall). But aside from a few people, the company’s board is all Finnish, and all fabrics, clothing and accessories are still made in Finland. Kirsti Paakkanen thinks that that, along with the fact that good, unique design is the most important part of the company, is the key to their success.

I just recently discovered paper cutting (how did I not know about this before?!?) and was blown away by the things that these skilled artists are creating with just paper and scissors (or knives). I also realized I have done lots of paper cutting myself without knowing that that’s what it technically was, and I’m sure you have too. In grade school, we used to make paper snowflake garlands to decorate the classroom with around Christmas. You folded a piece of paper several times and cut a bunch of little pieces out of it; then when you unfolded it, it had magically turned into an artful snowflake (well, artful might be pushing it, but anyway). It was fun and I loved it, but had totally forgotten about it. I have to give it a try again! (Note: I did try it and here is the result as displayed as part of our “Christmas card mobile”. I think I’ll stick to writing and only cut paper as a hobby. )

A (brief) History of Paper Cutting

The art of paper cutting originated in China (where paper itself was first invented) sometime in the 5th or 6th century (the oldest surviving paper cut is from the 6th century), and really took off as a serious art form in the seventh to tenth century.

The technique spread across the globe and arrived in Europe in the 15th century, where it first became popular in Germany and Switzerland (it is called Scherenschnitte in German, meaning “scissor cuts”). It was used for creating stencils, patterns and greeting cards, among other things. Paper cutting in general, and silhouette cutting in particular, soon became a favorite pastime among the upper class in Europe, but was quickly adopted by “the common man” as well, and is today considered a “folk art”. Paper cutting techniques vary throughout the world: some artists use scissors on flat sheets of paper, others use knives, some fold the paper once, others several times.

Here are five outstanding artists and a few examples of their art:

Su Blackwell

I came across Su when I was reading the very inspiring book “Playing with Books” and could not believe the work she does (my husband, who is an author and normally does not enjoy seeing books “maimed”, was equally impressed). With a background in textiles, she took up paper cutting after buying a second-hand book in Thailand from which she carved “The Quiet American”. She creates amazing landscapes, scenes and sculptures from books, as well as does installations and commercial work (for clients such as Fairmont Resorts, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Cartier, Harrods, etc.).

Photos: Su Blackwell

Sarah Morpeth

Sara Morpeth worked as attorney in London for many years before completely changing course. She went back to school (Manchester Metropolitan University), got a degree in embroidery, and started her new career as an artist. She works in paper and fabric and has a fascination with British movies from the 1940s, especially Powell & Pressburger’s “I Know Where I’m Going”, which has inspired many of her works (the photo in the middle below is a gallery installation containing every word from that movie!).

Photos: Sarah Morpeth

Emma van Leest

The intricacy in the cuttings by Melbourne (Australia) artist Emma van Leest is just astonishing. Ranging from smallish images to large installations (one was 65 feet!), the scenes are inspired by folk art, fairy tales, nature, saints and Hindu literature (many actually remind me of Chinoiserie wallpaper). Emma taught herself the art of paper cutting while studying painting at RMIT Melbourne, and she says the pieces can take anywhere from half an hour to several months to complete. Her work is in many private collections and has been featured in tons of group and solo exhibitions.

Photos: Emma van Leest

Ingrid Siliakus

Dutch paper architect and artist Ingrid Siliakus creates paper buildings that take ones breath away. She studied the works of Professor Masahiro Chatani (who invented this artform) for years before giving it a go herself. Today, she is a famous, award winning and widely exhibited and published artist (including solo exhibits and the cover of The New York Times Key Magazine) in her own right. Amazingly, each of her pieces are cut from one single piece of paper, and she usually goes through at least 25 prototypes before the final product is created. Ingrid has also published a book (The Paper Architect: Fold-It-Yourself Buildings and Structures) with instructions for how to create these masterpieces yourself.

Photos: Ingrid Siliakus

Bovey Lee

Pittsburg artist Bovey Lee cuts scenes and stories out of Chinese rice paper with silk backing. She has an MFA in Fine as well as Digital Arts, and she draws from both when creating these pieces. She starts with a drawing, then creates a digital template, and finally cuts the entire thing with an x-acto knife. Her works have been included in many books, and can be found in private as well as museum collections.

Photos: Bovey Lee

After what has been a record warm fall and beginning of winter here in the northeastern US, the chill has started to set in and I finally feel like cozying up inside (it wasn’t until the second half of December I changed to winter curtains – it just didn’t feel right when it was in the 60s).

To me, few things say cozy like lots of lit candles (my favorites are beeswax candles from Big Dipper Waxworks), and while I probably have more candle holders than the average person already, I keep finding new ones that I just can’t resist. Here are some recent favorites:

1. Gorgeous metal tealight chandelier with clear beads and 5 candle holders in the center. From Elizabeth’s Embellishments.

2. I love these ceramic tealight holders that look like they are knitted. By Annette Bugansky Design

3. Adorable metal candle holders with a pattern inspired by traditional polish papercuts. By British designer Niki Jones (check out her shop, it is fantastic!).

4. So simple and yet so pretty and rustic. They look like they would be pretty easy to make yourself too, just get a little clear glass candle holder and wrap a piece of burlap around it. From one of my favorite shops, Frøken Klara.

5. I’ve seen many house-shaped candle holders before, but none quite like this one by Swedish artist Eva Strömberg. Love it!

6. How cute would this castle be in a little girl’s room? From Gårdsromantik.se

7. Gorgeous handmade metal hanging tealight candle holders from Zazazu. These are definitely on the shopping list for the next trip home.

8. Beautiful round zinc lantern by Danish Walther & Co. When lit, it creates a wonderful shadow pattern on the wall (I also love the cityscape candle holders on the table, also from W&Co.). From Carlsson Interior.

9. The snowball. This candle holder is such a classic; it was designed by Ann Wärff in 1973, and growing up, I remember seeing them in all of my friends’ homes. My parents had a few too, and I still have them. From Kosta Boda.

10. The shapes and colors of these glass tealight candle holders are so pretty, and I love the shiny iridescence. By Two’s Company.

Collage by Decoration Decoration

I recently discovered the fabulous Danish company Walther & Co and instantly fell in love with their understated, monochrome and rustic aesthetic. Very Scandinavian country shabby chic. It’s the sort of stuff that makes me wish I had an old renovated farmhouse somewhere in the Swedish countryside (decorated like this) where I would gather all my family and friends for weeklong celebrations.

Love the staging in their pictures too, there are some great Christmas decorating ideas here. And unique: how often do you see a hamsa tree ornament?

This wonderful contrast between warm and cold colors is a running theme in their pictures (and products) – subtly striking and so beautiful

All photos: Walther & Co.

Gorgeous, isn’t it?

I’m very excited about today’s post which features an interview with the awesome artist Amber Alexander.

I first discovered Amber through her Etsy store where she sells her original paintings, cards, fine art and limited edition prints, and immediately fell in love with her work. It’s one of those shops where you can’t stop browsing, you just have to click on one more thumbnail to see the whole image (and read her adorable “mini-stories” about the animals), and then one more, and one more…

I’m always interested to hear how artists get their ideas, how they work and how they view their own art. I asked Amber if she would consider being featured and interviewed here on DD, and she kindly agreed. No surprise, Amber is as funny and witty as the little stories that go with the paintings, so enjoy the interview (to see a larger version of the paintings, just click on them), and then head over to her shop – I know you’ll be as enthralled as I am.

Amber, how long have you been an artist?
Informally, my whole life… but with purpose, about 5 years

How did you get started?
From a young age I wanted to draw and paint and kept doing it, but between about 12 and 24, didn’t really do much with it. Then I worked for a Teddy Bear company, where I was in a creative role, writing copy for ads and catalogs, illustrating teddy bears, and helping to design catalogs. That was a bit of a push, but I truly didn’t settle into my own until much later.

Are you self-taught or formally trained?
Self taught! I went to a liberal arts college, with a major in “studio art”, but in that particular college, that was little more than a high school art focus… anything I ever really learned of real value was by reading, practicing, and studying art through the ages.

You work in several mediums – do you have a favorite?
Watercolor is the most natural for me, but I do like the boldness of acrylics.

You obviously have a very strong connection with nature – do you prefer to paint indoors or out?
Indoors. Bugs, wind and allergies are drawbacks of outdoor painting : )

Have you always focused on animals and nature?
Yes, without a doubt. I can’t imagine painting anything that didn’t involve some aspect of our natural world. When I was little, I painted kitties and mice in elaborate gowns and headpieces.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process usually starts with an idea about an animal doing something… like baking cookies.. then I paint the face and general body gesture… if I don’t have the face and gesture right, there is no point in putting any more time into it. If I get those right, I can spend quite a bit of time on the details. I just let it unfold…

Some of your paintings are traditional-style images from the natural world where the animals are “just” animals, and some are anthropomorphized. What is it about an animal that makes you choose one style over the other in a particular painting? Or is it not the animal that is the deciding factor?
That is a good question. I think it has more to do with my mood than the animal in my head. Sometimes I just want to see an animal just the way it is… other times, I get such a kick out of the silliness of making them do things… I can’t resist… by the way, my husband and myself make up stories about our dogs all the time… they keep us in stitches. So I guess it’s a desire to laugh and have fun that might make me paint anthropomorphic instead of “natural”

How does a painting come together for you? Do you finish them in one sitting or are they work in progress for a while?
Some of them are finished from beginning to end in one sitting, others need to be put away and revisited.

Do you find yourself working with one theme at a time, for example cat paintings for one period, feathers for the next, etc. or do you mix it all up?
Yes, I tend to go through phases, and then changing it up helps my creative process. It’s nice to have a variety to paint.

Is there a message you are trying to convey with your art?
I’m not really out to convey anything, but if anything is communicated, I hope it’s that “animals are people too” or some such thing. I love animals and nature and just wish the world had more respect for both.

I totally agree with that message! I think it’s obvious in your paintings that you not only love, but really “get” animals. Do you spend a lot of time around them?
I spend a lot of time around our two dogs – standard poodles Olin and Izzy. They are fun and a handful. Aside from them, I’m always on the lookout for squirrels, chipmunks, deer, owls, bears foxes , etc. on our land.

What else inspires you?
Nature. haha, broken record here… animals, trees, plants, wind, weather, music.

Do you have any favorite artists?
Beatrix Potter, Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Klimt, Van Gogh, Maurice Sendak, Winslow Homer.

This is your full time job, right?
Yes!

That can add a bit of pressure to the creative process. Do you ever have to push yourself to be productive?
Yes, sometimes it just won’t work and I have to force myself … but those times just end up being a waste of paper, paint and time… as you really can’t force it. Either it is there for the taking or it is not.

So, like most of us, you also struggle with the occasional case of “artist’s block”?
Oh, haha! yes – see above. Many many times I ‘ve been BLOCKED… and it’s not only frustrating, but scary. I feel like all of the creatures and scenes in my head can leave me at any time and I’ll be stuck in reality with nothing fun to paint.

How do you get out of it?
I try to not stress about it too much, sometimes, successfully… try to do other things, like run – exercise is great for creativity… watching great movies and visiting with children…. all these things help.

One of the things I love in your Etsy shop is the little “blurb” that goes with each painting. They always make me smile (and read them out loud to whomever happens to be around) – how do you come up with them?
That’s a very interesting question. Sometimes they just tell me what to write… (figuratively speaking of course, haha), other times, I have to think on them for a few days. I think since I love the animals so much, I put my own emotions and experiences on them… hence, they lead lives much like ours. I know the day I painted “A hard day”… that cat truly represented how my day had been… HARD. And I felt like that cat… so it flowed so well. I never thought I could paint after a very hard day, but I did that day and therefore… the cat was me

All your paintings are fabulous, but my favorites are “Sweet tooth Charlie”, “Math Kitty”, “Secret Santa” and “Sneaky Corgi”. Do you have a favorite piece or character from your own art?
I love them all, seriously… but maybe “A hard day”, “Eat your peas”, “Donald”…. oh, who am I kidding? I love them all so much… the characters – not the paintings… they are like little moving pictures to me… they take on a life of their own. Donald is his own man (squirrel) now… he’s more than a painting to me now

So it sounds like we can expect to see more of the same characters in your art?
Yes, you can expect to see more of the same characters, but also more landscapes and nature studies too!

Do you do custom work (i.e. if someone would like a painting of their pet skiing or something)?
I have in the past, but am gradually not doing that as much… it seems to be really hard to capture the way the customer expects it to turn out in their minds..

What is the hardest part of your job?
All of the office-related, money-related, finance-related stuff. I hate it. It’s just not where my head is at. Unpacking boxes, supplies, ordering supplies… all of that.

And the best part?
The best part is painting creatures that I end up loving for life… and of course, the freedom to do it when I feel I can do it.

Do you do any other creative “things”?
I have done many. Needle felting, sculpting with clay, knitting, gardening…

And you also wrote a book, “It’s me, Teddy” – how did you come up with that idea?
I worked at a Teddy Bear Company and they needed a book about teddy bears… so it was pretty much going to be about teddy bears!

And now there is a new children’s book out – “Ninny Nu’s Organic Farm” – with your illustrations. How did you get involved with that?
They found me on Etsy and asked me to illustrate the book. They were looking for Vermont artists and illustrators…

Final question – what’s next?
Good question! More of the same, and maybe some bigger projects. I would love to some day write and illustrate my own book. But most importantly, I’d like to be happy and healthy.

All images © Amber Alexander

I would like to say a big Thank You to Amber for agreeing to be featured here. I can’t wait to see what my favorite characters are up to next, and I will keep my eyes out for that book (featuring Donald, perhaps?).

It’s always a treat when Swedish fabric company Himla releases a new catalog, and the Fall/Winter 2011 edition, shot on Iceland, is no exception. They always choose stark Scandinavian landscapes with neutral colors as the backdrop for their product photos, and not only does this create a fairy-tale feeling, it really makes their products stand out.

The company was founded in 1990 and their main line of business is fabrics in beautiful natural materials like wool, silk, linen and cotton. Linen is often thought of as a high maintenance fabric, but Himla’s is sort of “rough around the edges”, which I love. It looks fragile, but is not. You can wash it (no need to iron), and the colors are so pretty – natural and often muted, but still colorful.

The fabrics come both by the meter and as finished products: linen tablecloths, napkins, kitchen towels, table runners, curtains, lamp shades, pillow covers, sheets, cotton towels (some with bamboo mixed in), lambswool throws, and silk pillow covers, etc.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from their last few catalogs – aren’t they totally enchanting?

From the Spring 2010 catalog, shot on the Swedish island of Gotland (this one is my favorite to date, and I’m not saying that just because I grew up there!):

Fall 2010, shot at the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden:

The Spring 2011 edition was also shot on Gotland, in one of the many old church ruins:

Fall/Winter 2011, Iceland:

The Christmas collection is so pretty – gray, white, beige and muted reds – some checkered, with stripes, or little embroidered snowflakes. And who can resist those adorable Icelandic horses?

Collages by Decoration Decoration
Photos: Himla

I have lived in the US now for over 20 years, but I am originally from Sweden, and for the past 10 years or so, I’ve had a dream of one day being able to split my time between both countries. It’s still only a dream, but I can’t help looking at home listings ever so often, trying my best to work a purchase (and upkeep!) into the budget.

Growing up, I didn’t really pay much attention to how Swedish homes were decorated, but when I first came to the US, it struck me how different both the building and decorating styles are (generally speaking, of course). I immediately fell in love with all the vibrant colors and dark wood used so often here here – very different from the white, minimalistic, light wood and untreated natural materials I was used to at home. These days, I adore both these decorating approaches, and if my dream above comes through, I’ll have my colorful US home and a Swedish home decor-style apartment in Stockholm (which by the way is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I’m not just saying that because I’m Swedish, it really is true. Go see for yourself!)

While I was apartment “online window shopping” the other day, I came across this gorgeously decorated (staged?) attic apartment on Östermalm (one of the ritziest neighborhoods in inner-city Stockholm). I love everything about it – those white wood floors, the all white rooms with little splashes of color (the best way to decorate a white room in my opinion), that terrace, the fireplace, how bright and airy it is… Fabulous!

Photos: Per Jansson Fastighetsförmedling

First of all, I would like to announce the opening of the new Decoration Decoration Shop. At the moment, it features some of my favorite craft, decor and inspirational books (which I plan on reviewing eventually), and I will keep adding to it on a continuous basis. I have also been toying with the idea of selling unique decorating items on this site, but that is still in the very rough first planning stages, so stay tuned!

Now, the post: In part three of this series where I go back and look at my bookmarked favorites from the same season a specific number of years ago, I decided to feature another defunct magazine: Blueprint. Martha Stewart Media released the first issue in May of 2006 and the Jan/Feb 2008 issue was the last. The magazine became totally web-based with occasional appearances on the Martha Stewart website, which to me is such a shame. I love sitting down with a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine) and a new, fresh magazine to read. And I really liked Blueprint.

Well, at least I have a few issues left, and here are four of my favorites from the Fall 2006 issue:

1. I love things that do double duty, and this budget-friendly DIY folding screen (made from old doors) is such a great idea, with one panel a blackboard, one a bulletin board, one a magnetic board (thanks to magnetic primer), etc.

2. Two gorgeous pages from “The World Of Ornament” by London rare book dealer David Batterham. This book is a fantastically inspiring encyclopedia with over 5000 patterns and ornaments from ancient Egyptian times to 19th century Europe. It’s not cheap, and quite heavy, but it makes a fabulous coffee table book, AND when you buy it, you get access to an online library of prints you can download and use for anything you want (some versions come with a DVD with the patterns).

3. This is such a pretty, minimalistic arrangement of dwarf papyrus in acrylic sea glass, a bit of greenery and art all in one.

4. These espresso makers have always been among my favorites when it comes to stylish kitchen gadgets, but what I really saved this for is the color scheme – the celery green napkin, the brown coffee, the silver colored Bialetti, and the creamy white of the Torrone pieces create such a wonderful, calm and harmonious color palette. (And that coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in each glass – yum!)

Collage by Decoration Decoration
Photos: Blueprint Magazine

For previous posts in this series, see Decoration Inspiration Part 1 and Home Decorating Ideas – Looking Back, Part 2

I have completely fallen in love with the Grand Tour Osborne and Little wallpaper collection. They were released this past spring, but the colors and patterns work year round. The company says the collection was inspired by “the artistic and architectural treasures of Italy, especially those of Venice, as discovered by aristocratic young Englishmen on the Grand Tour of Europe”.

My favorites are the Laguna, the Kikko Trellis (where the pattern is created by minute pearlized beads), the Nizam and the Colleoni, and I think the Loggia would be fabulous as a focal wall, or even as a large framed piece. They’re all available in a great variety of colorways, so if you don’t like bold patterns in vivid colors, you can still get the pattern, but in more discreet hues. Or if you want your walls to make more of an impact and add a wow-factor to the room, go for the bolder colors.

Some of the patterns are also available as fabrics, great for coordinating the entire room. My favorite here is the chocolate brown Laguna – imagine a modern chaise upholstered in it – gorgeous!

Collage: Decoration Decoration
Photos: Osborne & Little

For more, also see my earlier “New wallpaper from Osborne & Little” post.

As I mentioned in an earlier post (Decoration Inspiration Part 1), as much as I love wall decor in every way, shape and form, after blogging exclusively about that for 1 1/2 years, the field started to feel a bit too narrow. I adore all aspects of decorating and rather than starting a second blog (and spreading myself way too thin), I decided it was time for WDS to expand. So starting today (actually, I cheated and started straying from wall decor a few posts ago…), Wall Decor Source has a new name – Decoration Decoration – and a new logo. I will probably change the overall look of the blog eventually, but to the honest, I couldn’t wait any longer to get started! The old posts will still be here, and I will still write about wall decor, but also about a whole bunch of other things: decorating advice, ideas, crafts, products, design, reviews, interviews, tips, news – anything cool, useful, and interesting that I come across.

I’m really excited about the new direction of this blog and can’t wait to get started. I hope you will like it too! Let me know what you think – I love to hear from everybody.