ICE FULL OF LEAVES

After the noon news, I lay my brushes and pens, papers and scissors away, hop into my boots and go outside to check if the postman was busy for me today. Yesterday he was, with a book Vieläkö kukkivat omenapuut? (Are the apple trees still blooming?) which cover I illustrated last spring. It is a book about the history of North Ingria by Helena Miettinen. It is filled with images of old houses and people, their memories about leaving home and finding a new one where ever they were allowed to stay. Written in Finnish. Where old homes used to be, there are now dense forests, but there might still be old apple trees, blooming during springs and dropping apples on the ground during autumns.

A small plate for my cat that I did maybe 15 years ago, or even longer. For Kisse Karvinen. A cat that slept in an onion basket and middle of the lilacs bushes, the warmest and best scented places.

A small ice rink just next to my home. If there was a machine to move a huge brush, I would try to paint that ice full of leaves. And those winter trees wearing white, I would melt small dots of dark wood with fingers.

♡

P.s. Thank you so much for your orders, they surprised me! Thank you so much! Also for your comments and emails, once again!

BLANKETS AND WINTER´S SEA

Dear Thursday,

Some snow and snow clouds that I collected from my older journeys for you. Feel soft inside them! I keep my hands busy, did not have the time to go to buy a Name Day flower today. But tomorrow. Stepping from the arctic weather inside a flower shop feels like entering a rain forest. Tomorrow I can imagine the wild animals laughing up in the trees of colors.

Evening greetings of soft piano tunes and lullabying snow covers,

Anna Emilia

(The painting is for a poem called Alda Aldanna, by S. The photos are taken in Iceland the year 2004

and 2005 while climbing Upsafjall in Dalvík and from airplane while flying over Vatnajökull.)

FLOWERS OF THREE KINDS

A perfect spot to hide, to sketch, to read and to listen. A perfect spot also in the tree to have a small icicle as a companion. Packing orders and bicycling a new snowy way to the town (orders made during next week should reach you before Christmas). In the new home I don´t yet always remember where I have put everything. Treasures are found on the way of searching something else. Small sauna has been warming me. Also your comments and emails, thank you, thank you!

Warm thoughts to your Sunday from by a small lake.

FROZEN GARDEN

Hello dear new home,

Frost is around you, but you stay warm. There is a tree with needles on my balcony and a lake behind it. Morning people ski on the frozen lake, the only sign of the sun is a light pink line in the horizon.

Balcony blooms of frozen flowers, I wish I could pick them up into a vase like in my book Proof of Winter.

Thank you so much for your wishes and greetings. Soon there is a world map on my wall to gaze from which all places your greetings arrive from.

Have a very warm December!

Hearts and cinnamon tastes,

Anna Emilia

P.s. The new address is Palvaanniemenkatu 14 b 5, 33700 Tampere, Finland ♡

MEADOW HOUSE

A winter storm. Cold and sharp wind and snow on the way to the postoffice. Lady there asked if I really have so many friends all around the world, she remembers all my packages. I wish I do. A long queue behind me, but she continued talking and asking and in the end she wanted to see my work. Maybe there is something we can do for you. I wish they can, or maybe I can do something for them.

At home waited a letter from sweet Anthea. Spoonful zine, issue 3, has a small painting by me, Meadow House, in it. There is, for example, also sweet Melissa with her beautiful fragile flowers. So happy about it. Many winter woolen warm greetings to Australia and thank you Anthea!

Dried strawberries, nuts, dark chocolate and Finn crisps after an early sunset. Always Finn crisps and tea for me please. Cupboards start to be empty, end of this week I will move. Packing huge piles of cotton watercolor paper and house plants mainly.

A lot of wool around me, the wind dances through the windows. I wonder from how far it comes from this time. How many times around the Earth.

Have a good evening!

GREETINGS, A BOAT

Dear Monday,

At home, the secret message is scribbled with a very secret language by my brother´s handwriting. Boat, games, hamburger, Greetings: Boat. Turquoise slipper friends met other childhood friends. White snow reflected the light of a full moon at midnight, and the yard birch tree crossed the whole yard with its shadow. The next day a wolf was seen on our fields. Just that the wolf turned to become a dog with a closer look. Birds, they flew around an oak tree catching a seed or three and enjoying them on branches of bare neighboring birch trees. Not cross-country skiing yet, but hopefully soon.

Just a moment ago, I have emailed to the ones receiving some winter postcards (or made a comment on your blog if you did not leave your email address): Tanja, Carolina, Sarah, Heather, Susan, Darcy, Rotaeffchenundich, Pamela, Yelena B., Barbara B., Polly, Gise, Alexa, Millie and Jennifer. Hopefully you will like the cards!

White snow blanket covering all around. Busy hands painting and packing, new tea is soon brewed.

Have a warm week!

HELLO, IT IS WINTER

Hello dear all of you,

This bear hugs the winter for good-bye. Here, I hug the winter for welcome. It has been snowing the whole morning and noon, sounds are becoming soft and distant, everything still. Blinking lights of small trucks pushing darker squares on the snow for passengers. Many times they need to push the same area today. Emptying an area and making frames on the sides of streets with those heaps of snow.

The bear cub smiles because something is tickling it. Maybe that he gets to eat soon fresh leaves and berries, honey and spring fresh water. Or that there is still a little while to sleep a bit longer. "Winter Is Ending" -print is added to my shop.

Today, watercolor brushes are tickling the soft cotton paper and a small train trip tomorrow is tickling me. Hopefully the giveaway is tickling you, it is open till Sunday the 21st of November. Thank you to everyone who already participated, you are many there, happy to hear from you!

Tastes of lime green tea to your Thursday,

Anna Emilia