Yhdeksäntoista

I should never listen to Helen when it comes to buses. In the past 2 days, we have gotten on 2 wrong ones! Yesterday, we took the 19 from Neulamäki to 'keskusta' (town centre)...but it did not take us there! However, the driver was nice enough to re-route his bus and drop us off :D I don't regret the 19 journey one bit. It took us around the suburban housing areas so we got to see things other than flats. Some of the houses were amazing. The route also took us a long stretch of lake which was beautiful!

Using Reeds

This week we have started to use Reeds grown in the lakes in Finland within our work.  In Raili's class we use the reeds (after soaking for 1 hour) to do basketry work.  The first sample we did was a spiral technique that when done well, looks really effective.  Unfortunately, I'm not so sure my sample does the technique any justice!

To inspire my work, I have decided to look at the repetative pattern within the chosen fir cone form, as well as the shape of the cone itself.  This next sample takes this idea and concetrates on repetition due to the process of continually overlapping the reeds whilst making the piece and the pattern created once the form has taken shape. 

The next sample looks at both the pattern and the form and uses a simple weaving technique wrapped around a styrofoam egg shape.  I think that this is the most interesting and successful sample, even if it is a little obvious.

Twin Peaks

Rachael and Amy left Kuopio to head back home today, unfortunately their flights in Helsinki got cancelled! But, they got to stay in a fancy-ish hotel overnight for free :)

So far, I have yet to mention one of the weekly activities we have started to do...TWIN PEAKS CLUB! Aleksi, our student tutor, and Yvonne his girlfriend host this every monday night and the Dutch guys and Maarit come too! We eat cherry pie (Yvonne makes THE BEST cherry pie I've ever tasted!), drink coffee and watch David Lynch's epic series! I live for monday nights now!

Kuopion Retkeilijat

After a teary goodbye with AG, I met Rachael, Amy and Helen in town. We then walked to Turo where we met other students and went to 'Kuopion Retkeilijat', a cottage for hire in the middle of the lake! The University had arranged a party for all students.  The house consisted of 3 bedrooms with 3/4 beds in each, an outdoor long drop toilet, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, outside BBQ area and sauna.  Students could also stay over night if they wished to.

This cottage was one of the nicest buildings I have been in since arriving in Finland! There was even a moose skin on the wall, which i regret not taking a photograph of!





Natural Forms

So we were given the theme of 'natural forms'.  I can't say I find this to be the most inspirational theme so I have decided to narrow this down and concentrate on fir cones and pine cones, looking at their shape and the repetative patterns within their form.  A few examples of drawing/cutwork are shown below:

Andy's Going Home

GUTTED.

Puijon Torni, Round 2

Rachael and Amy arrived in Finland last night!  AG goes home tomorrow :( So i decided to take Rachael and Andy up Puijon Torni (mainly so I'd only have to climb that hill once instead of twice).  They loved the views as much as I did, and even a second time round, they were pretty impressive!

Andy's Visit to Finland

So far during AG's visit to Finland i have taken him to see the town centre and the Lake at Neulalahti. I also used him as a dot-to-dot :) Happy times :D

Cloque

A few days ago we did some devore and cloque - which I haven't done before.  Cloque creates a gathering effect but is a lengthy and toxic process.  After stitching a polyester blend fabric to linen (which will shrink),  the fabric is placed into two chemicals, an alkali then an acid.  Next, it is washed.  Whilst doing this, you have to put on shoulder length rubber gloves, an apron and a safety mask.  It's fair to say I looked a bit silly!!!

Elina is not too keen on cloque, due to the amount of time, danger and the fact it is harmful for the environment.  Plus it has an effect that could be achieved using a running stitch.

Valkeinen and AG

This afternoon we visited another lake, this time a smaller contained one just next to Turo, named 'Valkeinen'. It is surrounded by park area. The weather got out nice again, after a week or so of rain and cloudiness.

Then, this evening, ANDY ARRIVED IN KUOPIO!!!! I'm SO happy to see him :) I've missed him so much!! Plus, on Monday, Amy and Rachael arrive :) Party on Wayne!

Architecture in Helsinki

Our first trip outside of Kuopio was to Helsinki on Thursday. We went by coach with our Textile class and stayed over night. After arriving in Helsinki at around 12 noon (6 hours after leaving kuopio), we were taken to our Hostel to drop off our things. The receptionist was very rude, but the hostel itself is clean and for 20€, I can't complain.

Next, we were taken to Habitare. Before going in, the tutors told us that Finnish design is very form follows function - boy were they right. Most of the designs in the funishing and interior halls were very plain and uninspiring. However, a few designers stood out from the rest, Including Kaisi Design Studio:

In another of the halls, textile artists from around the world displayed their work, a few that caught my eye are shown below (The first two are woven :| amazing):

After 5 hours in Habitare (about 3 hours too long), we were taken back to the city centre and left to explore. I had expected to find grand buildings and very european styles of architecture, but unfortunately this did not happen. Without trying to sound ignorant, i found Helsinki reminded me very much of Manchester. However, on the outskirts some very nice second hand shops were found.

That night, after passing the Hostel by about 2 miles and getting lost, we settled into our bunks in the 12 bed dorm. I slept suprisingly well, even if getting up and down to the top bunk in the middle of the night was very ungraceful!

The next day we went to Kiasma, a Modern Art gallery in the centre of Helsinki. There were some interesting peices of work, but the two below were my favourite:

Waiting for Tomorrow on the other hand...was a waste of time:

Felting

Raili teaches us both basketry and felting.  So far we have only done felting but two different techniques.  The first creates paper like felt, whereas the second has a much softer texture.  I think I like the softer textures best!