Snowy in the summer kitchen

We've finally made a decision. It has taken couple of years, and this is now the perfect compromise - we both get what we want. This is about our summerhouse - he will get to add another layer of insulation, which will mean covering the beautiful logs from the outside, and I will get to paint the logs white from the inside. And oil the floor grey.

Don't know what to do with the yellowish (majorly ugly) pine doors, but it'll come.

Don't you agree that white and grey together with small black details are the perfect colors for a summer house? With a bit of wood? Because then you can just add whatever color, when you feel like it, without any investments.

I stuck today some cones into the little plates that hang in our summer kitchen - isn't it pretty ;)? My new favorite thing -  to take photos with clean (and untouched here in the wilderness) snow as background - never really quite understood how white snow can be...

Recycling flowers

DIY recycled flower arrangement

My husband turned 40 (goodness...) just before Christmas. And with that, he got a fair amount of BEAUTIFUL flower arrangements. One of them came with the sponge thingy, you know the one where you stick the flowers into when you make the arrangements?

It was made of red and white tulips, and green leaves, and was stunning until the tulips got tired. The sponge thingy had to be reused, OF COURSE, and the green leaves were also still in perfect shape. We also had some ivy in the garage, only half of the branches dead (I saved the pots from under the snow, and they didn't crack this year!!!). And from previous years - some small cones and dried mandarin slices in the Christmas decoration box. Some white flowers from the grocery store - and 15 minutes later I was quite happy with the result.  What do you think?

DIY recycled flower arrangement

I've had this hobby for some years, and I absolutely have no talent in it, but I just enjoy the end result at the dinner table :), as I don't enjoy peeking to the other side of the table through high flower bushes. Some photos of previous projects you can find here:

http://werannas.blogspot.fi/2012/07/birch-tree-wreath-turned-crayfish-party.html

http://werannas.blogspot.fi/2011/06/flower-garlands.html

DIY recycled flower arrangement

***
kukka-asetelma, matala kukka-asetelma

Christmas traditions

Idea for these ginger bread decorations from http://madebymaryblogg.blogg.se/2012/december/att-dekorera-pepparkakor-med-kristyr-decoration-ginger-bread-with-icing-2.html

I promised last weekend to write a little more about the Finnish Christmas tradition - and then started to think about it. What is it really? What would be something that everyone more or less agrees with?

There is the meal, for example (seems to be very controversial now-a-days among the city folks ;)). The very traditional foods like carrot and sweet potato casseroles. The ham (actually deliciously salted ham, which I'm watching right now in the oven as I write ;)). The plum pastries. So many feel the food is too heavy, it is too much and too, I don't know, rustic, I guess would be the word to use. So they choose something from the Russian kitchen, or Italian, or French.

Idea for these ginger bread decorations from http://madebymaryblogg.blogg.se/2012/december/att-dekorera-pepparkakor-med-kristyr-decoration-ginger-bread-with-icing-2.html

We are done with the necessary preparations in this house - making and decorating the ginger bread cookies with the children being one of the first things. I am really bad at getting into any kind of Christmas frenzy - what doesn't get done just doesn't get done (that would very often be the Christmas cleaning ;), as people coming and going, it just gets dirty again anyway).

Idea for these ginger bread decorations from http://madebymaryblogg.blogg.se/2012/december/att-dekorera-pepparkakor-med-kristyr-decoration-ginger-bread-with-icing-2.html

It is still quiet in the house at 6 am, mommy enjoying her moment alone, like usual. Soon the house starts to wake up, and we start preparing breakfast - tasting the first slices of the ham with home made bread and mustard.

Then someone goes and buys Christmas presents (of course not on the last minute :), like never) and continues with the wrapping with the necessary hello about the missing scissors and tape and how on earth do you wrap anything shaped like this?? Ahh. Can't wait. But at noon we are done and watch the declaration of Christmas peace aired from Turku, Finland. Enjoy a glass of Gluhwein, followed by a traditional lunch - Christmas porridge made of rice. The one who gets the almond gets a small present to open already after lunch.

My guess for the afternoon is that some go running, some go out with the kids, followed by sauna. If we were in Finland, it would be church instead, but we decided to skip it this year. As we have 6 eager ones waiting for Santa, we hope he will drop off something here already when we are outside, so we get to prepare and eat the dinner without any too-eager children peeking out of the windows every 10 seconds.

Afterwards we lay on the couch beside our full tummies (and eat some more).

It has gone more or less the same way for 40 years, when spending the Christmas with my side of the family. And I absolutely love it.

My children just came downstairs and it is time to close this laptop now for some days. I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful Christmas. May also your days be merry and bright :).

Beautiful Christmas wreaths

Some magnificent Christmas wreaths in Ulriksdals trädgård...every year I decide to participate their wreath course, and every year I somehow miss it! But aren't these just magnificent?

My very favorites with the felt bow...

And the couple of wreaths indoors with fresh apples (like the sign above says). Wanted to post these even though the photo quality is really poor - my arm isn't healed yet, and when lifting my arm my hand really shakes...sorry about that :)!

***

kranssi, joulukranssi, kranssi ideoita, itsetehty kranssi

Christmas at the Cottage

How do you spend your Christmas? We have very specific (very FINNISH ;), more about that later during the week) traditions, but they take place a bit here and there. My favorite? At the summer house.

You know how it is so busy at the cottage during the summer with all the possible renovation projects and guests and this and that that you are almost thinking that it is good to get back to every-day life and rest ;)? Well, during winter it is not like that at all, at least not at our summer house.

We just basically lazy around all day - the biggest event being an occasional trip to the grocery store 10 km away. Or down-the-hill-with-whatever-equipment with the kids. Followed by hot cholocate, of course. Or starting the sauna (yes, will be posting some photos of the Finnish smoke sauna craziness in the middle of the snow when the time comes) - it takes quite a few rounds to get it from -10C (or less) to the needed +90C. Otherwise - we just ARE, eat too much chocolate - and wonder 1 week after why the favorite jeans are now so much tighter than before.

Today is officially the last day to take in orders for before-the-holidays deliveries...and I am actually quite excited. I haven't taken a whole week off since last Christmas, only a few days here and there, and I so look forward to winding down with the family and just BE.  You'll be hearing from me, for sure, but probably more photos of the Christmas-home-of-the-christmas-maniac-woman than anything else...

Really enjoy the last days, all of you :). For once, I can say I am almost done with everything already (thanks to my shoulder which kept me from working on the computer ;)), and that feels just wonderful.

Now or never

Are you a now-person, or when-person? Or perhaps a never-person ;)?

I am a now-person, 100%. It just took me 30-something years to realize it (I will be using the 30-something still for many months to come...) A very good friend, with whom there has been excellent discussions lately, has helped me realize this. For me - when going gets tough, it really feels tough. And when life is good, it is really good. Heaven on earth.

Many, in my mind fortunate, people are able to think 'soon it is weekend..', 'then, during the holidays...', 'next summer I will...' and then they live through some boring or more difficult period or days or whatever thinking of the positive ahead. I completely lack that ability. I just don't have it. Never had. I live now, not tomorrow or next month. Or next SUMMER, goodness. That is like forever away.

My now-curse (or blessing?) has it's very positive sides, as well - I really, completely, can thoroughly enjoy THIS moment and get loads of positive energy from it. Any moment, and it don't need to be anything special. It can be a silly laugh with a 2-year-old when I have absolutely no idea what he is tryng to say (LAMA LAYTTI is for example Lightning McQueen...), a starry night, or a car ride with a warm cup of coffee. Sitting opposite the fire-place and crocheting (the moment I take as frequently as I can). 

A message from a friend I haven't really talked to for years, a call back, and after a couple of sentences she feels like my big sister  again (I have 1 real one, and many who feel like one). Having a lively discussion at the dinner table with the kids. Looking out the window at the snow, and seeing a waxwing (they somehow belong to the snowy scenery, don't they?) sitting in a nearby tree. 

And THESE would be the examples from yesterday only ;)

Also - I tend to forget negative things (too) quickly. Like arguments (all too often I need to ask 'why are you silent? Is something wrong? AAAAA, that....'). Or that kids have been sick. Or that there was something I was (supposed) to worry about ;).

I don't know, why I am like this. Perhaps too many plans changed or destroyed. Too many disappointments. Too many very difficult periods when you just sit down and remind yourself 'I really love life, all of it. I will get through this. What don't kill me, makes me stronger'. And - many many opposite moments - Long dinner with your best friends. Wonderful shopping trips with the best big sister ever. Seeing your son write his name for the first time. Having a glass of champagne in a luxury resort when the sun is going down. 

It all balances in the end, is my belief. Fortunately and unfortunately.

To you, all my dear readers, from under the blanket - I wish you many many small positive moments for today :)!

Let it snow...

We sure have got our share of snow during the past week...beautiful, just beautiful...

Even right now, looking out the window from the corner of our couch (where I am spending the day with a little one who is sick, the winter season has REALLY started ;) ), it is snowing. It really looks like we are getting the always wished white Christmas...<3

These photos I took in Skogsbo gård last week - I really can recommend ANYONE wanting a moment away from the busy every day life to drop by and enjoy a cup of tea...the atmosphere in this place is amazingly calm. LOVE the place.

Christmas wrapping paper project - part II

Some more images of our wrapping paper project, as promised - the printing blocks available from the store. 

Christmas wrapping paper project - part I

My shoulder is infected. Or some nerves and muscles around the shoulder, to be precise. And it is hurting like...well.  Tried working a little on the computer yesterday, and couldn't. So I thought: I'll just take the day off (being self-employed it was kinda quiet and fast discussion ;))! As running a webshop without being able to use your computer is kinda like a weekend without electricity and water. Or something. Can't do much, is my point.

Took some pain-killers (for the pain), laid on the couch (for the pain) and took a hot bath (for the pain). After a couple of hours I was kinda bored with my day off, and started working again. And while doing plans for next year I thought - well, we actually haven't tried the printing blocks (you find them HERE) with the kids yet!

We had home already some white wrapping paper (I think the IKEA drawing paper roll for kids would be perfect for this, as well) and the printing blocks, of course, so after picking up the kids we dropped by a paint store and got us some red, light grey and dark grey paint and a fine paint roller. With these we arrived home and started our project - It was so simple and fast! I thought we wouldn't be able to do it proper, but the end result is really nice! Especially our 6-year-old son thought this is the best thing - printing sea star and sting-ray skeletons on paper :D (no, their imagination doesn't have any limits).

Just a few hints:

1. Make sure to buy water-soluble paint (especially if you wish to try this with the kids)
2. Pour a small amount of paint on a plate (we used paper plates) and get the paint evenly on the roller from the plate.
3. Place some tissue paper under the paper you wish to have the prints on - this way the block subsides a little and the end-result is more even and precise
4. Wash the printing blocks promptly after use just using a brush, water and soap

The detailed photos in the next post - bye for now :)!

***
paperinpainanta, paperin painatus, joulupaperi, itse tehty joulupaperi

Hand-made Christmas cards from Mahaguthi

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

It's starting to be time...every year we have a project with the kids to make Christmas cards, MANY of them. This year we'll take it easy and use partly these beauties made of the world-famous Nepalese paper.

The Cottonhut cards are designed in Finland by Nina Perkiö, and hand-made in Nepal by Mahaguthi, Craft with conscience.

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

Have I told you before the story of Mahaguthi? It was established by the late Tulsi Mehar Shrestha, a Nepali Gandhian, in 1984 (pls. read the whole story here). Mahaguthi is dedicated to the betterment and upliftment of widowed and destitute women in Nepal, and Weranna's is very happy to support the organization in our moderate, but hopefully growing, way.

In 1977, Tulsi Mehar received the Nehru Award as recognition for his social service, and donated the whole amount to establish a residential type training and rehabilitation center for the betterment and upliftment of widowed and destitute women of the society. The center has living quarters, a small hospital, production workshops and facilities for children. The Ashram offers a 2 year program free of charge with training in weaving, sewing, knitting and literacy classes to destitute women as well as education for their children. Today, the center is financed by 40% of Mahaguthi's annual profit and has approximately 80 women each year in its training program.

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

These cards made by Mahaguthi ladies are so pretty, aren't they?

Hand-made Christmas card, made by Mahaguthi

***
joulukortti, nepalilainen paperi

O Christmas tree

Modern Christmas tree

Looking for some new ideas for a Christmas tree? Here you go :).

I had this picture in my mind (those are a bit scary, they NEVER leave voluntarily) of a white Christmas tree, and was really keen on spraying a real spruce/fir, but was told it doesn't work out at all with the natural oil on the needles. So lovely lovely Paulina Arcklin came up with this idea.

As I received the idea among many others, I realized - we are taking down the old birch trees on the yard as we speak. Even material is available there on the spot!

It required 6 quite large nails and some fishing line and a bit of measuring (AND my father-in-law). But unlike the usual projects (you know after saying 'please come, it will only take 30 minutes' we are still going strong after 8 hours...) this actually took only about 30 minutes.

Grey Chrismas

All hand-made (or soon-to-be-hand-made ;)) products seen are available in the store (the basket made of banana tree, the felt slippers, the door mat made of pompoms, the chip baskets, grey xmas balls, the simple Knit Hit Kit cushion cover and the Knit Hit Kit chunky knit cushion cover, as well as the washi tapes) for your feel-good grey Christmas.

PS. I have to have the real Christmas tree, as well. If we are at home and then at the summer place, we have it in both places. Cause I love Christmas. Love. Love.

Wish upon a star

 

Weranna's blog has been quiet for almost a month! I didn't even realize. For those following
regularly, I do apologize. Sometimes life just gives a bit too much to handle, and the past month
has been really a struggle. Nothing to do with me really, but let's say some negative things around
us have been trying to take over this overly sensitive soul of mine ;), and there just has been a
lack of energy to do anything extra.

This blog has always been more my dear hobby rather than anything else, and place to share
good things, inspirational things, funny things - when your eyes fail to see such for a while, then...
well...couldn't think anything to write about really.

Today...my plan was to add these wonderful hand-made and hand-decorated glass xmas balls
to the store (have you already visited our Christmas corner?). But - as it turned out - the
software decided not to accept any photos, so be it. Later. Will be raking the leaves from
the summer house yard instead :).

Before the ground is fully frozen, make sure to get a few branches (5 in this case) and tie
together a beautiful star! So easy and fast to make, 0 cost, and can be used for many things -
more about that later ;).

Yesterday we had a great clear night here at our summer place, the moon lighting up the forest
and the sky filled with shiny stars. I sent a small wish up high - let me be happy again.

Weranna's showroom

We've had our showroom, located in a renovated 1950's house, open for the past 2 days for the Finnish press to come and FEEL our products. Such wonderful personalities, such good discussions! I was so happy to see so many showed up - to those of you out there - thank you <3.

Not so easy to decorate with many products and 3 color schemes to choose from, but I think we managed quite okay with our garden veggies/pebblestones fusion theme ;).

Basically all the furniture you see in the photos is either second hand or upcycled or self-made or some strange FUSION version of the above ;), and it turned out nice.  And you know what? Looking around me here really makes me SMILE. There's a story behind every piece, and that makes me very comfortable.

Yes, I could very well live in this house. And be very happy.

***

kierrätysidea, tuunaus

Home Spa mys

Getting a bit chilly already, isn't it? This morning, when taking the kids to school and daycare, you really wanted to have something warm on.

I don't know about you, but when it starts to get chilly, I start thinking of warm baths and candlelight rather than taking a quick shower. In Swedish there is a perfect word 'mys'. I think the word itself is related to hugging or something, but is used more as an atmosphere. For example, every Friday evening we have 'Fredagmys' with the kids. We cuddle on the sofa, eat pop corn, watch a family movie and drink Coke. Perfectly, absolutely 'mysigt'. And an ABSOLUTE catastrophe, if for some reason we can't have it.

Isn't a warm, quiet bath a perfect 'mys' then? I think so. In Weranna's Home Spa section you find mys to all parts of your body - wonderful, soft bathroom mats, sponges, bamboo towels. Even the room scent (so delicious you can't even imagine) adds to the 'mys'.

Mysigt shopping, my friends <3!

***
kotikylpylä, kylpylätarvikkeet, bambupyyhe, kylpyhuoneenmatto, kylpyhuoneen sisustus

Heather hues

Are you one of those who always eats the best part of the cake first, or leaves it last? Or perhaps don't even think at all which part is the best or the least best ;)?

Well, I always leave it last...like now this 3rd color trend palette for this fall. Don't you just LOVE these colors?? Different hues of pink, purple and violet...they are such energizing colors on a Tuesday morning when you've been woken not-so-voluntarily at 4 a.m...

I am also quite impressed by the photo I've named 'accident' - probably a thousand mistakes when a professional looks at it, but I think it is the best photo I've ever taken ;).

We have lots of products in the shop fitting this color palette - I will be making collages this week so you get the idea what one has in her head when doing the purchases... ;)

***
syksyn värit, väritrendit, syksy 2012, kanerva

DIY dishcloth

We spent yesterday evening with my sister, and the total 6 children of ours, while the hubbies were running the DN half marathon in Stockholm (go, boys!!!). And my sister said at some point - when I was sitting and crocheting some baby booties for a Xmas something  - 'Riikka, I really envy you for having the time to knit and crochet'. And I thought hmmm....how DO I have the time? Well, I am quite fast after doing it for 30 years or so, for one. That doesn't count in this discussion, as she is probably even faster than me. I don't watch TV (and if I once a month do, I knit while watching). I don't read books (I should, the 'to read' list is getting too long...) and most of all - I knit EVERYWHERE. Perfect when visiting friends, sitting in the train, at the airports, in the plane...

Oh  - and if you see someone crocheting on the Norwegian flight 06:40 am from Stockholm to Helsinki, come and say hi - that would be me :).

Why on earth a dish cloth?? Well, they are pretty!! And when living in the States, I loved the way my family used the wash cloths, as they were called. You use it once, and you stick it into the washing machine. You don't have it there in the sink and on the tap and where EVER for days and weeks like common in Scandinavia.

As promised, below you find the simplest instruction of all time for a dish cloth. If you've done at least some crocheting, you'll finish one in less than 1 hour. If a little more, in 30 minutes. If you wish to purchase the needed Novita Hanko yarn with 50% recycled cotton and the bamboo crochet hook 6,0 mm used, you can get them from the shop. We'll send you the Knit Hit Kit knitting bag together with your purchase :).

For 2 dish cloths you need 1 roll of Novita Hanko yarn and a crochet hook size 6,0 mm.

***
virkkaus, virkkausohje, tiskirätti ohje

Paris blues

Feeling blue ;)? Well, to be honest, a little. I've mentioned some time ago that one of our children isn't well, and sometimes, as the symptoms are worse, the little darlings mommy feels VERY blue. But luckily she has her feel-good little business which always brings a smile to her face :).

Last week in Paris - really wasn't feeling the least bit of blue, just saw it everywhere around me! The doors and the store displays...it truly is here, isn't it?

And - visiting the Maison&Objet fair - I was so very proud of the fellow Finnish entrepreneurs displaying their wonderful businesses. Such positivity splash! Such blue and white female energy! You know brands like
Balmuir, Kotonadesign, Iittala...Ahh. Had the best fair ever. Did some Christmas shopping, as well...found a new Dutch supplier. Why always Dutch, I wonder?

As you may guess - it will be lots of blue things this week - thought to have, perhaps, a blue give away (just need to figure out a reason first..;)...) and also give you instructions for a simple simple BLUE crochet work. One of those 40-minutes-and-done projects.

They sky is blue today, and I'm wearing blue, and now need to start preparing for my trip to Finland....byeee my friends....

***
sininen, sininen, sininen sisustus

Carrot soup action

It all starts with pouring a glass of white wine...well, it does. After you've self-picked the organic carrots in the pouring rain and gone absolutely bonkers in the 'pumpkin tunnel'...carefully you've, of course, chosen to wear white tennis shoes...

Somehow I find it strange that I every now and then blog about food - I am really no cook. I am merely a food maker. But this carrot soup is something the whole family loves. It is based on a Turkish lentil soup recipe, just without lentils...guess why? With lentils the color turns kinda greenish I-am-not-mentioning-what-it-looks-like-soup. The lentil soup is really delicious, as well, but not for blogging...

There's really no official recipe - you peel some onions, potatoes and carrots and cut them into reasonable pieces. Then you warm up some oil in a kettle, and cook the veggies in the oil until they start becoming tender. Add some chicken stock (like 1 l or so) and boil until the veggies are well done. Add lots of parsley, or alternatively dill. Use your mixer, add some cream or cream cheese (or both) to taste and warm up again to boiling. Voilá! Done.










































I love burlap - perfect if you are bringing a plant over as a gift - I use a plastic bag under so watering is not an issue, and tie a piece of burlap on top of it with some sisal yarn. Can be used for anything, and it really looks pretty!

When my husband came home, he was so happy to see the dinner ready, all cozy and nice...until I say 'don't sit down yet!! Need to take the photos first...' Well, I KINDA did prepare everything for him...sort of.

You see those metal thingies under the candles? They are exactly what you think they are - old custard molds. Found some new kind of use for them :). Nice to use around Xmas time, as well, you'll see.

Lovely evening I must say - and no, our kids don't like the green thingy in the middle of the soup. Mommy carefully removes every particle to her own plate before calling 'food is ready...!'

***
porkkanakeitto, porkkanakeitto ohje, porkkanakeitto resepti, syksy, syksyn värit

Pumpkin and earthy hues

Yes...when one has too much to do, she starts to play with the camera and the color picker functionality...I give absolutely every credit of this idea to build this kind of color palettes from photos to Jessica behind Design Seeds, but really just wanted to try it out this month with the wonderful color trends.

And give you a hint on what kinds of tools the professionals (not me, I might add...) use to build the color palettes for a living room, for example...

I mentioned some time ago NCS (Natural Color System), which has categorized and coded, I don't know, THOUSANDS of color tones. It is based on a horizontal color circle (yellow, red, blue, green) - yes, we know green shouldn't really be there, but it is ;), placed somewhere on a vertical white-black axis.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? The more black you have, the darker your color is, the more white, the lighter. And every single color is coded! Guess who's logical mind loves THAT :)?

Well, it of course takes a bit of the 'magic' away from the thinking 'the interior designer had a great eye for color...' phrase, but it helps you to understand, why this yellow-green combinations works, and that one - not at all. And why all the colors work just wonderfully in nature...

About the tones above - just to tell you how it works (and for me to see if I got it anywhere right with the tones with plain eye...) - for them to be a perfect match, they should be found on a same page or at least vertically on the same axis...

Well, that dark brown I picked from the picture is a little off, too much red in it, but otherwise - quite okay, wouldn't you say?

***
värit, värikartta, kurpitsan värinen, syksyn värit, syksyn väritrendit 2012

About cotton, friends and a knotty mind

Does it happen to you that sometimes you keep on thinking something so much that you feel like your whole head is full of tight knots which need opening? Happens to me, and yesterday it caused a migraine, which is why this promised post is coming out later than promised. Sorry about that.

Well, usually those knots loosen when you talk to one of those dear old friends, who know everything about you, cry with you, even when they think you are overreacting, and still love you. I am extremely blessed to have such friends, and don't know, how I could manage without them. Poorly or not at all, is my guess.

Now that got that migraine story out ;), should I say why about cotton? Like Ville Tolvanen wrote last winter (in Finnish) 'You rarely meet a person who is as spaced out about different cotton qualities or materials that are sustainable ....'. I LIKE materials, they interest me, like the terms

1. organic cotton
2. fair-trade cotton and
3. recycled cotton

We are planning to increase the selection of Cottonhut, our own brand, and the discussions with the producers are on-going. You would think it is easy to pick which cotton, but noooo, more knots that you can think of! I would love to have OEKO-TEX certified (no harmful substances used in the production), organic fair-trade cotton, while not compromising on the quality, of course.

Well, you may very well guess the price then for the end-customer (you!) - the organic OEKO-TEX certified cotton is not an issue, but having it fair-trade is. WHY, oh why... We'll find some compromise eventually, perhaps wait 'til we have large enough market for these 100% feel-good products meaning enough people to pay the premium, or find a partner to work with, or something. But it is no wonder there aren't too many products like this available in the market, and if there are, they are crazy expensive.

If you are interested in reading more about organic cotton, fair-trade cotton and recycled cotton, you find some very condensed information below. I've added some of those 'knots' ;), would be very happy to hear your thoughts, as well!

Organic cotton - without going too much into detail, you can read more @ organiccotton.org, producing organic cotton doesn't mean only replacing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with organic ones.You need a 2-year conversion program going from conventional to organic production, and you'll need to find a cotton variety which is adapted to the local environment - climate, soil, pests and diseases and so forth. An alarming fact is that the production of organic cotton has DROPPED 35%, and Textile Exchange is expecting at least a further 5% decrease in the production. What?? Cotton is the most pesticide-dependent crop in the world, accounting for 25% of all pesticide use worldwide, so you would think there would be some strong subsidies addressed to to the farmers who move to organic cotton, but apparently not.

As 70% of the world's organic cotton is produced in India, it is not hard to think what is happening to the farmers and their workers there - the price difference between organic and conventional cotton end-products is not that large, but I would think that the produced quantities for a single farmer must be very different. Why else all the pesticides? When the consumer isn't paying for the difference, who is?

Fair-trade cotton - The world cotton market is influenced by the subsidies OECD members - and in particular by the US and EU countries - provide to their producers. These subsidies led to overproduction and the worldwide collapse in prices. Producers in the North (125,000 farmers) receive support while the weakest in the South are confronted with crippling problems (10 million farmers). The consequences of these policies include debt, unemployment and extreme poverty. Fairtrade helps to break this cycle and to protect farmers through a combination of minimum prices and Fairtrade and organic premiums.

In this changing world of ours which emphasizes human-rights and the right to dignified life, it is hard to understand why there is cotton production which is not fair-trade AND organic, why do we need the term 'fair-trade', but I guess those wheels are slow to turn. Someone very close to me works in the international corporate world, and he is really seeing this trend - the shareholders are still, of course, keen on increasing the profit, but more and more not at the cost of human beings and the environment. Times HAVE changed!

Recycled cotton - a cotton fabric which has been made from recovered cotton that would otherwise be cast off during the spinning, weaving and cutting process. (the above wash cloth I crocheted the other night is made of Novita's Hanko yarn, 50% recycled cotton.)

Like said above, as well, I would love to hear your view on this topic.

***
puuvilla, ökotex standardi, orgaaninen puuvilla, reilun kaupan puuvilla, reilu kauppa, kestävä kehitys