Leaving Helsinki commission

I was recently commissioned by a group of friends to paint something to remember Helsinki by, for friends of theirs leaving Finland. I loved working on this and reminded me of my own time living in the city, just over a year ago. This is the perfect travel-sized solution, and will hopefully remind them of happy times spent in Helsinki too!

A fresh slate

I'm rather embarrassed to be wishing you a happy new year on the 30th January...you can just about forgive me I hope! We won't talk about Christmas, that's long gone (but is was a good one, and thank you so much if you bought something from me/chatted at stalls/ followed me online and all the rest!) 

 One of the events I did over Christmas, Newark Park

And another at Berry Farm, Gloucestershire. This guy was rather good but I don't recall his name. Home is so beautiful.

I'm back in Finland and spent the first half of the month preparing myself mentally for the year ahead...visiting galleries to get inspired, knitting, cooking and making a dress (which I haven't tried since school!) Of course, this was all pure self-indulgent procrastination, but I'm absolutely sure that by doing other creative things really gears you up to finally get going again. It's funny, a new year shouldn't mean too much, but each time after the busiest time of the year I seem to awkwardly stumble into the new one! 

We've been here a year now (!) and there's snow on the ground, though bitterly not half as much as the amount we arrived to a year back (made getting about and organizing ourselves a slightly traumatic experience for me!) I feel a lot better and settled this time around. I guess I know what to expect and have a decent insulated coat this time around, it's been around -18C for a while now.

Some catch up photos...

Back to Helsinki- a couple of weekends ago the sea froze over again...I will still never be able to get over walking on it across islands and harbours (followed by mandatory hot chocolate)

At Birger Kaipianen's exhitbition at the Weegee Museum here...massive love for this mans' ceramic work. Following images are his too.

Just beautiful, I think you'll agree. I love ceramics, and have an even bigger respect for anyone that can work with clay after I took an evening class in it a couple of years ago...!

This blog post may seem a little thrown together and erratic, but my brain is currently running this way. Yesterday, I started my now annual '20 day Postcard Project'. When we got here last year, I cured some serious artist block by painting on blank post cards each day for 20 (because that's how many came in the pack I had, in case you were wondering). A sketchbook was far to empty and daunting right then. I'd rack my brains for something to paint on the postcards and post them onto Facebook each day so I kept disciplined and got some really positive feedback, as well as getting me through a sticky patch. Perfect! I'm doing it again. Today is day 2 and I will of course be getting around to putting them on here at some point, but you will see them first on my Facebook page here...look forward to having you hopefully. Wish me luck! X 

(Last years offerings)

Of recent.

I've been totally into my work still since my postcard project, really enjoying (long may it last!) I've been able to get so much inspiration from just 20 days of work, and have been busy since tweaking and dreaming up what to turn these into...my favourite part. It was a great way to work- sometimes I feel like my brain is so far ahead of things materializing, it was the perfect kick start. 

Here are some photos from recently...I'm trying to keep up posting on here more regularly!

We had a super busy but really nice Easter with two lots of visitors, so I found myself doing my Helsinki tour which is pretty perfect by now (If you're wondering what the heck I'm doing in Finland, see here and keep up!) It was also the perfect excuse to do some of the museums & galleries we haven't mooched around yet, so I'm feeling pretty cultured...

We also saw the sea for the 1st time since being here. Until now, it's been frozen solid enough to walk all over, which has been fun to stomp across the lots of tiny islands and take a gazillion photos! I've never properly lived by the sea before (except for at uni). It's pretty breath-taking and makes you feel quite small. Missing the little seaside villages and towns of the UK though- no fish n' chips to be found here...unless you want some slimy salmon. Not quite the same!

Anyway, I was thinking I should do my own version of my Helsinki tour on here, with all the design finds and good eateries I've discovered for you to share if you fancy a visit to Finland...I will when I have a mo...

Here's some worky bits...

Back soon with new product news and Stephanie Cole tours! X

Monday confessions...

I confess, after swearing to write more often, quite the opposite has happened, and now 3ish months later I don't even know where to start. Those that follow me on facebook will be fully aware of my gallivanting, as is a little easier to keep on top of regularly I find. But for those of you who don't, I'm sorry to keep you in the lurch. Here it is: 

I moved to Finland on December 28th with my lovely animating fella who landed a job here, and I decided to come along too. We had about 2 weeks to decide, pack and get on the plane, and aside from having to give up my job and say a brave goodbye to friends and family, it was a fairly easy decision- I love to travel and with Helsinki earning it's World Design Capital last year, how exactly could I not??

Good news is, my Etsy shop is still open for business & shipping hasn't changed as is still posted from the UK, hurrah! I really look forwards to trying out some new work too- it's the perfect opportunity to do exactly what I'd like to do now, and scratch up on things I would've done differently the 1st time around. Lucky me!

It hasn't all been plain sailing, I miss home a lot and am so impatient with being able to get on with my work here. With two suitcases of belongings each to bring, I made the hard decision of what exactly I couldn't live without for now...strangely cleansing really! Another obvious change is the temperature- we've had it as cold as -28C, a little nippy to say the least! It was funny to watch facebook's reaction as the snow settled in back at home last month...! We are looking forwards to the midnight sun come the summer, see below. We will certainly deserve it!

Finland - Land of the Midnight Sun from Flatlight Films on Vimeo.

Here's some of my photos from so far...

Here's me in my two coats walking across the sea (will never get over being able to walk on the frozen Baltic!)

Days like these are so good for the soul, the light is incredible

No, I haven't done this yet! Nutters.

Such an amazing, different place to exist. We have a tiny but perfect studio flat looking out across snowy pine trees, I could watch them sway all day...

Will write with news soon, promise! X