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Showing posts with label Gunilla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gunilla. Show all posts

21 August 2011

Visiting Hvitträsk


Yesterday we visited Hvitträsk in Kirkkonummi.


Hvitträsk was built  between 1901–1903 by architects
Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen. 


The main building, designed in National Romantic style, 
built of logs and natural stone, was both a common studio 
and a home for Eliel Saarinen and Armas Lindgren 
for some years after it was completed.



During that time, Gesellius lived in the 
courtyard building and later moved 
into the north-wing of the main building after 
Lindgren relocated in Helsinki.



This is where the plans were drawn up for 
the Helsinki Railway Station and 
the National Museum of Finland.


Hvitträsk is also the boyhood home for world famous 
architect Eero Saarinen, who made his reputation 
primarily in the United States designing buildings 
and monuments such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.


The Saarinen home is a museum today, 
and within the courtyard building are a restaurant and a café.


The North Wing has been renovated for 
seminar and conference use.



Today Hvitträsk is owned by the Finnish State and
the National Board of Antiquities.


Hvitträsk and its lovely English style garden 
are surrounded by beautiful nature.



More pics from Hvitträsk here.



Lake Vitträsk.


We had an excellent dinner at Restaurant Hvitträsk to
celebrate Ronja's 12th birthday (yesterday) and
our 13th anniversary (tomorrow).



This is a necklace I made from an old necklace.
A few years ago I bought a necklace made of African acacia beads.
It was strung on plastic cord and had small wooden 
beads at the back and in between the bigger beads.
I restrung it on beading wire and replaced the small
beads at the back with brass chain.
The lampwork beads are from Julsbeads.
I like it a lot!

24 July 2011

Happy Birthday to me!


I went to Linnanmäki with four girls. 
Two of them disappeared right away. 
The other two were a little easier to keep up with.
We were at the amusement park all day and they still didn't want to go home...
What a fun day!


Yesterday was my birthday.
Hubby made a fantastic dinner and we had a bottle of red wine.
Sacher cake and madeira wine for dessert.
Ronja made the card above,
Mirja the card below.
Mirja also made the cute bug.




These were my birthday gift to myself:
handmade sterling silver jewelry

23 February 2011

Awesome Blog Award!


I can't believe I got another award! I got the Awesome Blog Award from the amazing Nellie over at The Cat From Hell. I love reading about her adventures with Kozmo and her Hairy Slobbery Sisters!



I'm supposed to post 7 things about myself. Some of you may have read the 12 random facts about me in January, so here goes:

  1. I love chocolate and ice cream.
  2. I probably own more books than I should (at least that's what my hubby thinks).
  3. The above is most likely true about beads too...
  4. I love to bake even if I don't do it that often anymore.
  5. I love Calvin & Hobbes and Mutts.
  6. I love mythology, especially Egyptian, Greek and Roman mythology.
  7. I love watching nature documentaries on TV.


I’m also supposed to pass this on to 15 awesome bloggers, link to them, and let them know I have given them an award. Here are some of my favorite blogs:


06 January 2011

12 random facts about me

  1. When I was younger I was so sure I would never get married or have kids and now we've been married for 12 years and we have two girls, 11 and 8 years old.
  2. I used to always wear all black (I was a huge Metallica fan) , but luckily I have learned to love other colors too.
  3. When I took my hubby home to meet my family for the first time, my granny was expecting a heavy kind of guy (my walls were covered in Iron Maiden & Metallica posters) and she was pleasantly surprised that he was quite normal...
  4. I have a degree in International Accounting from the Hanken School of Economics although all my friends studied science and technology. It gave me an opportunity to study languages even if I've forgotten most of the German and French I read.
  5. I enjoy belly dancing and playing darbuka even if I haven't done it regularly for a while. I was a part of my teacher's dance group and we used to perform.
  6. I love listening to music: pop, rock, heavy, Arabic, jazz, almost anything goes.
  7. I sing in the car when I drive and believe me, I really shouldn't!
  8. I love to read: some romance, mysteries, fantasy, suspense, science fiction, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, horror, a little of everything. I really hate these labels they have to put on everything!
  9. I'm an only child, but I kind of got a brother later on when we moved in with mom's boyfriend and his son.
  10. I was a couch potato for a long time before I got bitten by the exercise bug. I've never been more fit in my life than right now!
  11. I love knitting, beading and doing jigsaw puzzles.
  12. I enjoy being home alone.

27 August 2010

Suomenlinna part 2

Because Suomenlinna is an old fortress, there are several old cannons to climb on. I think Ronja and Mirja tried them all! There are also lots of tunnels to explore, which was quite an adventure since some of the tunnels are completely dark and of course we forgot to take our flashlight... We had a lot of fun!




The King's Gate is the symbol of Suomenlinna.

Several artisans have studios in Suomenlinna and they sell their work in their shop.






The Market Square and the Helsinki Cathedral from the boat.

You can find more info about Suomenlinna here.

24 July 2010

Celebrating my birthday

I don't have many pictures of myself. I'm usually the one behind the camera. These were taken at the Botanic Garden.


The view across Kaisaniemenlahti.

Linnunlaulu across Töölönlahti.


The Helsinki Cathedral and the Senate Square in the evening.



The Opera in the morning sun.