IN SHADOWS OF TREES

Under tree shadows, on forest paths, on city streets with Canadian jugglers, swimming and reading.

Helmenkantaja by Marja-Leena Mikkola is a sweet but adventurous story about a girl and her journey under summery shiny waters. Cover illustration by me, design by Päivi Puustinen, published by Otava in Finnish. So grateful to illustrate this cover for my own childhood favourite author.

Tickling sun beams!

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Heippa!

"Klassikko tekijän suloinen mutta jännittävä saturomaani ammentaa taitavasti vanhasta suomalaisesta tarinaperinteestä.

Eräänä aamuna Reetta näkee kesäpaikan rannassa suuren pyrstön välähdyksen vedessä. Hän saa viimein varmistuksen sille minkä on aavistanut aina: veden pinnan alla on kokonainen toinen todellisuus salaisuuksineen, aarteineen ja vaaroineen.

Veden väki on ahdingossa. Joku on vienyt Veden emännän kauniin pienokaisen. Reetan on aika täyttää oma osuutensa ikivanhasta ennustuksesta."  Otava

Oman lapsuudensuosikkini Marja-Leena Mikkolan Helmenkantaja-kirja kuvittamallani kannella on ilmestynyt! Design: Päivi Puustinen, julkaisija: Otava.

Leppoisia hellepäiviä!

AND THEN THE WINTER CAME

Winter finally arrived. Frost sharply biting nose and cheeks, colouring them red. After snow the sun came. So orange, shining still so low. The sky so blue. 

The snow making a new melody and rhythm. Balcony windows frozen, today I drew a small window to the frozen garden.

A small book published last year with poems by Anna-Mari Kaskinen and my illustrations.

Moonshines, starry nights!

——

Heippa! Vuoden lopulla julkaistiin Anna-Mari Kaskisen runokirja kuvituksillani, Lohdutuksen polulla.

Kuutamoita ja tähtösiä!

L'OURS ET LE SOLEIL, A BOOK ABOUT A WINTER ADVENTURE

Hello December! Winter is here and the landscape is covered in whiteness, softness and silence. Children play and here and there snowmen appear. Snowmen or snow animals. Small lights appear on windows early afternoon as the darkness arrives. Chimneys on the roofs of houses blow narrow breaths of smoke from warming and glowing bonfires.

It is my pleasure to show you my second illustrated book. L'Ours et Le Soleil is a book about siblings Sigrid and Peter and their winter adventure through forests and mountains. The story is an adapted version of L'ours qui avait pris le soleil by Paul-Jacques Bonzon. The book includes also a cd with the story as a musical fairy tale performed by Domitille and Amaury de Crayencour. Published together by naïve and Jacadi in French.

Secrets of forests in the snow.

A long journey with new friends.

The wintery landscape and the sun shining so low, until it disappears completely. A few festive dresses by Jacadi.

A story for the small and a bit older too. The book is available through Amazon and here too. Hopefully you enjoy it!

What a lovely weekend it has been with friends. Takk ♥ to everyone around! Last night a winter storm was knocking on the windows and this morning many trees seemed to be fallen. Wishing that the weather freezes the ground quickly so the trees with their roots can manage through the strong winter winds.

Happy December playing in the snow, stay warm!


(The design of the book cover by Jacadi & naïve, the 4th and 5th photo by Jacadi & naïve.)

CASA DI FIABA, HOUSE OF FABLE

Home is where your heart is. Or your heart is where your home is. Fire burns where your home is, so your home is also where the fire burns. Home is filled with dreams and magic. Home is where it is nice to leave from, but even better to get back to. Sometimes a home is carried with you. A home on wheels.

It is my pleasure to show the first children's book that I illustrated: a poem about homes and different kinds of houses by Giovanna Zopoli, published by lovely Topipittori.

Home, hem, hjem, heim, Haus, casa, kodu, koti, domicile. All so different, but protecting and comforting. Such a big sorrow to loose a home. Such a force to build a new one. All the history of one house and its tenants. Our nests.

Maybe not such a big surprise anymore which kind is my dream home. Friends know it best: "You indeed would be a high and narrow, wooden one!" What kind of house you would like to be?

Thank you, grazie, Giovanna and Paolo for this wonderful journey through homes! 

The book, in Italian, is available here. Hopefully you enjoy!

Sunday, jazz playing in my radio. Sunny rain shower caressing windows. Candles burning, no hurry anywhere. Autumn favourite, pea soup boiling. Home is today filled with a light that has the hues of autumn. Brush strokes with the colour of warm orange and book reading moments on the sofa, wrapped in wool.

Calm autumn coloured Sunday wishes!

P.s. Almost one year ago.