SECRETS OF WIND AND RAIN

The first autumn storm is singing as a melody of rain and wind. Bringing many warm colors from their journeys. Long walks to welcome all those yellows, oranges, reds and purples. If a few coins in a pocket, a rendezvous in a café is guaranteed. Some of the baristas come and wrap blankets around if sitting outdoors. In some other places people look inside, me outside. Some hide behind their newspapers. Some behind windows. Some behind their cups.

What kind of secrets there might be to hide. To put into a tea cup, or get forgotten inside a newspaper. Or just mention to a stranger.

A small yellow birch leaf, it did not hide anything. It was in the middle of a street next to an apple tree which had dropped all its fruits down.

So I feel the autumn being, everything is revealed and secrets are told. Then it is time to rest, hide the colors and blush away.

Just the beginning of an autumn, where it will still take me.

Melodies of raindrops to you.

WAITING FOR RAIN

Friday afternoon is for jazz, rhubarb pie and planting an avocado with small leaves into a pot. It is also going through photos of old times, winter and letters received. It is funny how "other" things feel comfortable in this kind of moment. Sun in the rain, rain in the sun. Now as waiting for the rain, it is like in-between everything. Wise man in the radio said this morning that it is not good to long for the past, but it is good to long for the future because of the beautiful memories in the past. It is good to have eaten a piece of rhubarb pie in the past to know that it was good and maybe I can have a small piece more now...? Wishing to share it with you.

There are two new prints in my shop:

In Meadow, Wood sorrel, Forget-Me-Not, Twinflower, Harebell and Meadow Pea are the scent of this small meadow. A few birch tree leaves, a handful of clovers and a gentle summer wind are here.

Bike Caravan, This small house is cleaned from winter´s dust, windows of it have been washed and polished and new carpets put on the floor. Some oil on the gears and chains and the trip with spring can start. Which curvy forest roads will we head to? Smoke from the chimney and laundry drying on the roof, those will be the only signs we leave behind. Every evening a new landscape to fall asleep with.

Both prints are on recycled 300 grams silk matte paper and will be signed by hand. In Meadow is a painting I did just a few weeks ago as an assignment, more about that soon. Bike Caravan is a painting from 2009 for an American clothing store. Hopefully you like them.

Will the rain come? I think to have seen a few drops, and the birds have stopped to fly above the lake.

Have a calm weekend.

THE WIND BROUGHT WARMTH

The wind has changed. Dropping all the snow down from tree branches. Warming the air. I am afraid, but I think to have smelled the spring yesterday even though it snowed all the day heavily. This early. But that is how the spring comes, in steps. In storms. Backwards and forwards with the winter. I think that the winter still wins for some months.

There are two new prints in my shop. Rainy Day in A Nearby Forest and Stollinn:

— Drip drop sounds through leaves as raindrops are landing. Fresh scents of pine, cherries and birch tree leaves. Soft wet grass under bare toes. Gentle summer rain is here.

— Mountain called Stollinn is like a chair for a giant. It frames a small fishing village in North Iceland and holds a small glacier tightly behind its back. Weather keeps Stollinn playing hide and seek game. Sunshine makes it golden, mist and rain makes it to disappear.

How are you?

Here it is nap time of a Saturday evening. Then a long walk to see if the streets are already cleaned after the storm of yesterday. A bit of chocolate. A lot of tea. Lots of love.

WINTER BITES, A GIVEAWAY

Dear dark November,

It is dark and wet. Mostly a very dark month here. The snow is melting. But I am very well, got soaked on my bicycle trip, but now again I am warm inside and brightened with watercolors and your words.

A parcel arrived with a smile and doorbell ringing, full of postcards that I made with a winter theme. Not the one above, I cannot show the picture as it would not be anymore a surprise for my friends then anymore. But the first batch of the postcards had some beauty mistakes. Still they are very fine, I am the only one to see the mistake I think. Still I don´t want to throw those winter postcards away. Maybe you might want some of them. A giveaway. Fifteen small piles of six postcards will be sent to some of you. Please, if you like to play, just leave a comment here with your email address. Sunday the 21st of this dark November is the last day to participate.

When the rain falls, I imagine the drops being small clover leaves. Fresh and soft touching on their way. In a big crossroad, where all the traffic lights are always red, there are street lamps higher than anywhere else. There in the light I can see the rain and how huge it is. Still very soft those invisible clover leaves. A hint of summer in dark November. I am not good in using an umbrella. But it usually rains only on my way back home. Where woolen socks are waiting. Lucky.

And now, cups of tea!

P.s. The Apple Blossom Meadow -print is back in the shop!

Edit: P.p.s. Yes, anyone anywhere can participate :)

LAUANTAINA, ON SATURDAY, Á LAUGARDAGINN II

Pouring this morning. Like curtains hanging all over outside. Curtains of cold invisible pearls.

Sewing, organizing files, bookkeeping, sketching. Landscape is visible on some glances, disappeared on the next ones. On Saturday I was sitting on a bench in the arboretum for a long time, talking with a new friend (carrying a typewriter). Soundtrack for our conversations was a circus on the other side of the lake Pyhäjärvi, trumpets and drums echoing sometimes from very close, sometimes from another worlds. Yellow leaves covering more and more the paths to walk.

Found old work hiding, called "Lauantaina". It was a project about emotion of Saturday in autumn 2006 in LHÍ. A cardboard box filled with soft crocheted woolen socks, a brochure about small exercises to increase the feeling of relaxation and postcards with stamps and envelopes to make friends happy. You can see my presentation about the progress here.

Monday, I wish that it is treating you well.

Hearts,

Anna Emilia

MR FOX, TUMMY FILLED WITH PILLOWS

Hello dear rainy Friday,

Here I write for you and wish that you are well.

The week here has been a soft one, with three new paintings and many many cups of tea. Sewing a little and bicycling far. Dreaming of adventures, stretching and reading. Learning, giving more space for thoughts.

Mr Fox appeared early this week on the yard. I bicycled home under a sunset after taking a friend to his train. Mr Fox ate something under the lilac bushes, I was surprised and he just very calm. Beautiful your suit, Mr Fox!

Perhaps an afternoon walk now, to fetch some balcony flowers. Would you like to join me under an umbrella?

Happy weekend dear all of you!

REMEMBERING THE FIRST RAIN SHOWER OF SPRING

For many days I have been thinking of rain. Then last night someone reminded me of it again. It is difficult to remember how it sounds. How it sounds over a roof when sleeping or on window sills. Or on a lake or a sea against water. Or through leaves of trees. I think it is the gentlest sound if I just remember right.

Very much I feel the spring even though it is so much snow in here and more floating all the time. This morning in the allotment garden I had the snow up to my tights on my walk. I laughed a bit there for that moment. Still, the feeling of spring is stronger than the snow outside. Being very restless. Waking up very early what I like a lot. Please send me a bit of tape or a string that I can tie myself in one place. Or I stay still, but I think it is the blood inside me wanting to go to every place in the world the same time.

Rosemary potatoes and carrots in the oven. Better to make some tahini sauce and salad to go with them.

Have a silent and slow weekend filled with warmth!

Love,

Anna Emilia