MON HERBIER

Leaves flying in the wind, the first rain drops drizzling after many sunny autumn days. Frost appearing on some mornings, Northern lights dancing on some nights.

Mon herbier, a botanical guide and a herbarium available now from Rustica éditions. Text by Michel Luchesi, illustrations by me, edited by Julie Parpaillon and design by Caroline Soulères. A box with all the tools to make your own herbarium: a botanical guide and a notebook to collect your leaves. The nomadic botanical guide explains many things about the trees and the forest life: the shape of their leaves, their host animals, the fruit and flowers, and gives interesting hints about activities and discoveries. A spiral notebook allows you to paste all the leaves from your walks. Text in French.

Hopefully you enjoy collecting and learning about leaves!

GOLDEN, SILVER

Everything has been golden lately. Raking yellow leaves at the summerhouse.

Night storm and sound of waves rising the stones. Morning so calm, like mirror the lake. Hello clouds!

Scent of fire and chimneys with smoke. Squirrel on the roof. Swans in the sky and swimming in the lake.

Frost layers. Swimming under a starry sky in the evening. Running back to the warmth of sauna.

Patchwork of trees.

In different patterns. 

Ant paths, pulling frozen mushrooms from soft moss pillows.

Gold on silver layer.

Bagfuls of gold.

Today everything turned to silver. Floating gentle snow. Then real snowing. A light cover of snow here and there. 

Hello winter!

PINE NEEDLES UNDER YOUR SHOE

Wind singing in a chimney in the East Finland. Small early winter storm. Heaps of melting snow here and there, the ground has the same colours as the wool on my knitting needles, small earthy dots on natural white. Fire crackling.

Beavers are trying to build their home to one of the creeks close to the surrounding forests and fields. Such delicate work of branches, moss and clay.

Thank you to Design*Sponge for featuring my new items in my small online shop!

Thank you also to everyone of you for writing to me, for your orders and kind words! So happy.

The two pictures above are small details of a painting that I painted not that long ago of a sweet couple. Smiling greetings to London!

Happy new week, calm moments and first scents of hot apple juice with cinnamon!

BY BRUSHES, BY WEATHER

A painting by me, a painting by the nature. The first one is a book cover illustration, the second one was laying in the bottom of my father´s rowing boat as we lifted it higher on the shore yesterday at the summer house. The summer house has started to snore under a slight layer of snow. Have a good winter´s sleep summerhouse!

The radio host said good night a long time ago.

Stay warm, good night!

EARLY EVENING GREETINGS

Mornings start this week with a new layer of snow and its disappearance before the noon. Evenings are full of fog and rain drops, mellow soundscapes, vanished colors. March is tricking.

Between discarded cotton paper piles patterns are hiding. Between patterns hide treasures. Between a gift, an old book, hide big leaves which someone has picked up from gigantic trees in Germany decades ago. I wonder if those trees are still breathing and making pure air for us.

It smells jasmine here, tea is brewing. A cup of tea to you too and then a bicycle trip to the town!

LAUANTAINA, Á LAUGARDAGINN, ON SATURDAY

Hello Saturday,

How are you?

It is sunny, but very windy here. I put all the blankets and pillows to the balcony to get a fresh scent, now the wind does not allow me to take them back. I cannot open the door as the wind pushes it back. Feels like strong wind storms of Iceland.

Saturday is laugardagur in Icelandic and it means a laundry day. The washing machine is humming. Iceland I will think a bit more as this girl walking towards the Vattarnes lighthouse comes for a visit to the town today.

Layers to hide from the coldness. The cherry branches are growing lime green leaves. Storms are signs of spring. Green tea with sage.

Have a warm weekend!