DIY Cone garland - Tee-se-itse käpykoriste

DIY Cone garland - Tee-se-itse käpykoriste

Mommy's project this weekend at the summer house...We have dry (even dried...) cones everywhere. Why? Because I've had these plans to make a long, LONG cone garland for about a year. Didn't get it done for last Christmas, but for this Christmas - it will be ready. You'll see it in many photos to come ;).

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Tässä vähän kuvia mamiskuukkelin projektista mökillä tänä viikonloppuna. Inhottavaa, kun toi olkapää kiukuttelee vieläkin, niin en pääse kutomaan tai virkkaamaan. Mutta on nämäkin kivoja projekteja :). Meillä on ollut näitä kuivia käpyjä (tai kuivattuja, onnistuu uunissa tai saunan lauteilla 1-2 tunnissa, kokeilkaa, tosin tuoksu ei paras mahdollinen...) vähän joka kaapissa ja ämpärissä mökillä ja kotona, kun on pitänyt tehdä tämä projekti jo viime jouluksi. Mutta nyt se valmistuu, ja tämä käpykoriste varmasti näkyy siellä ja täällä blogissa nyt jouluun asti. Eikö tulekin aika nätti tapaus? Kustannus 2.90, eli tuon rautalangan verran (kieputtele kävyn alimman kerroksen ympäri aina vuorotellen aloittaen ala- ja yläpuolelta). Ei muuten lähde kävyt irti ihan helposti. Sormenpäät tulee vähän helläksi kylläkin.

DIY Cone garland - Tee-se-itse käpykoriste

DIY Cone garland - Tee-se-itse käpykoriste

DIY Cone garland - Tee-se-itse käpykoriste

Christmas present tips from Weranna's - Joululahjaideoita Werannasta

Christmas present tips from Werannas - Joululahjaideoita Werannasta

It's starting to be here. Christmas that is. The other day I was just saying in Twitter @WerannasRiikka (come and talk to me, please!) that it is just fab, when it is dark and rainy and cold out there - feeling good about yourself you can just have your bedsocks (and slippers) on, cuddle inside a blanket and have a cup of tea. Or a glass of wine. Perfect.

It feels strange that it is only now that Christmas is here. In January, when I had just thought that now a few months WITHOUT Christmas, got a mail. From a wonderful Interior Magazine. Asking, if they could have their Christmas photoshoot in our show-room, now our home. Of course :)! Eeee - would you like to use some of our products, as well? And right there and then began planning for this Christmas.

Just very short time ago we did the Christmas photoshoot to the shop - I don't know how to do it so much in advance. Rushing suits me somehow better ;). This time just me and @SallaThure - I did get that new camera, you know ;). We managed somehow, took 10 times more photos, than Paulina, of course, but some of them are quite okay. You can at least recognize the products. Mostly. We are all earthy this year. White, linen, grey, a bit of black. Very little bling-bling. Perhaps some red just before Christmas. Let's see.

And - don't worry - Paulina Arcklin is still with us - and we were planning next summer already some time back. Trying to decide, whether it will be Hippie trip in Europe, or a Hippie safari. What do you think? I'm quite sure how the safari organizers would take it (yes, they would be very professionally rolling their eyes when they saw our pink tassle cushion covers). Yes, in Simba Experience we trust. 

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Se alkaa olla täällä. Joulu nimittäin. Huokailin tuossa Twitterissäkin @WerannasRiikka (tulkaa juttelemaan!) tuossa joku ilta, että on ihanaa, kun ulkona on pimeää ja koleeta ja märkää - voi ilman huonoa omaatuntoa laittaa villasukat (ja huopatossut) jalkaan, käpertyä filtin sisään sohvan nurkkaan ja ottaa kupin inkivääriteetä. Tai lasin punkkua. Yhteisvaikutus sama - nukahtaa. 

Tuntuu hassulta, että joulu alkaa kolkuttelemaan ovelle vasta nyt - viime tammikuussa ajattelin, että nyt muutama kuukausi ilman joulua, ennenkuin aletaan miettimään seuraavan sesongin tuotteita. Meni pari päivää ja eräs ihana sisustuslehti otti yhteyttä, ja kyseli, josko silloista show roomiamme, nykyistä kotiamme, voisi käyttää joulukuvauksiin parin viikon kuluttua :). Tottakai voi, öööööö...olisitteko kiinnostuneita muutamasta joulutuotteesta meiltäkin? Ja siitä se tämän joulun miettiminen sitten melkein alkoikin.

Teimme tuossa joku aika sitten joulukuvauksia kauppaan - en osaa koskaan tehdä niitä etukäteen, koska  tämän tarvitsee tehdä ne sen mukaan, miltä tuntuu just silloin. Tänä vuonna Weranna'sin joulu on täydellisen maanläheinen. Valkoista, pellavaa, ruskeeta, harmaata, jopa vähän mustaa. Vähän kuusen oksia. Ja vahingossa ehkä vähän jotain kiiltävää piristämään. Ja ehkä sitten ennen joulua päästään vähän punaiseenkin. Katsotaan.

Kuvaukset toteutettiin tänä vuonna ihan omin voimin @SallaThure :n kanssa - mullahan on nyt uusi kamera ;). Oli pakko kokeilla, mitä saa aikaiseksi ilman ammattilaista. Ja kyllä me jotain saatiin - otettiin varmasti 10-kertainen määrä kuvia, mitä Paulinan kanssa, ja kuvaajat löytää varmasti tuhat virhettä, mutta meillä oli hauskaa ja kyllä niistä nyt jotain tuotteitakin tunnistaa. Don't worry - ihanainen, maailman paras sisustuskuvaaja Paulina Arcklin on mukana yhä edelleen, kevättä ja kesää miettiessä. Mitäs mieltä olette - vaihtoehtoina hippireissu, tai hippisafari. Kumpi kuulostaisi kivemmalta? En osaa päättää! Tosin en ole ihan varma, mitä safarin järjestäjät ajattelisi, kun me pölähdettäisi paikalle meidän pinkkien tupsutyynykasojen kera. Täysi luottamus kyllä Simba Experienceen - pojat pyörittelisi ammattilaisin ottein silmiään ja ehkä jopa auttaisi raahaamaan kamoja. Siis se yksi Paulinan matka-arkku painaa tonnin, oikeasti.

No tulipas sepustus. Ja sitten pitäisi vielä kirjoittaa englanniksikin jotain vissiin.  

 

Kikoi Iroko oval bowl - just beautiful

Kikoi Iroko oval bowl

Today is pure administration, but thought to post some pretty images for you first ;)

This Kikoi oval bowl made of Iroko tree is so pretty. It was sitting there on the table, and instead of reading the newspaper on Sunday morning, had to take some photos.

I love oval bowls - they are pretty and handy on a table.  Especially this oval bowl - just perfect. Hand-carved from wood, it is hard with soft forms. And it is large, just the way I LOVE it.

A true luxury product.

Kikoi Iroko oval bowl and Cottonhut linen napkin

Kikoi Iroko oval bowl and Cottonhut linen napkin

Kenyan carrots & ginger soup - porkkana-inkiväärikeitto

Carrots and ginger soup - porkkana-inkiväärikeitto

When visiting Kenana farm a week back in Kenya (you can read a bit more HERE), we were served this delicious carrots & ginger soup. Best carrot soup I have ever tried. Just before I left we happened to drive by a large carrot farm just as they were harvesting the carrots, so we have lots here at home. Can't wait to prepare the first pot!

Carrots & ginger soup - serves 3-4

1 large onion, peeled and sliced
2 gloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 ginger root
1 kg carrots
1/2 l water
Salt & pepper
Coriander
Whole milk (or cream)

1. Fry the onions and garlic until they are slightly brown
2. Peel the carrots and slice them, then add to the pan. Fry for 5 minutes.
3. Peel ginger root, grate and add to the pan. Fry for 5 minutes more.
4. Add water and bring it to boil for 25 minutes or until carrots are well cooked.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the pan from the stove
6. Liquidize until smooth (I like mine always a bit rough, but up to you!), then add chopped coriander and a little bit of whole milk (or cream).
7. Serve hot with fresh bread.

Doesn't it sound perfect?

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Vieraillessamme Kenanan tilalla Keniassa reilu viikko sitten, meille tarjoiltiin aivan mielettömän herkullista porkkana-inkiväärikeittoa. Parasta porkkanakeittoa, mitä minä ikinä olen maistanut. Ja juuri ennenkuin reissuun lähdin, satuimme juuri paikalle, kun eräällä tilalla oli porkkanannosto meneillään, ja niitä on nyt tuossa terassilla pari säkkiä. Ehkä tänä iltana saadaan soppa aikaiseksi!

Porkkana-inkiväärikeitto - 3-4 annosta

1 iso sipuli, kuorittuna ja pilkottuna
2 valkosipulinkynttä, kuorittuna ja pilkottuna
1 inkiväärijuuri
1 kg porkkanoita
1/2 l vet
Suolaa ja pippuria
Korianteria
Punaista maitoa (tai kermaa)

1. Paista sipuli ja valkosipuli pannulla, kunnes vähän saanut väriä
2. Kuori ja paloittele porkkanat ja lisää pannulle. Paista n. 5 minuuttia.
3. Kuori ja murskaa inkiväärijuuri, lisää pannulle ja paista n. 5 minuuttia lisää.
4. Lisää vesi ja keitä n. 25 minuuttia tai kunnes porkkanat ovat pehmeitä
5. Lisää suolaa ja pippuria maun mukaan. Poista pannu liedeltä.
6. Soseuta. Lisää pilkottu korianteri ja loraus maitoa / kermaa
7. Tarjoile kuumana tuoreen leivän kera

Eikö kuulostakin herkulliselta?

Kenana Knitters - changing lives stitch by stitch

Kenana Knitters

Ms. Patricia Nightingale, a beautiful, kind and talented lady - the founder of Kenana Knitters which is a grassroots business that was founded by local Kenyan, Patricia Nightingale, who wanted to assist a group of individuals, as they were lacking a market for their homespun yarn. 

With clever consideration, she helped transform their yarn into unique creations with her distinctive designs, including plush toys, home décor, clothing and accessories. With a vision to further impact the community, the group taught women in the area to knit beautiful, organic products using local, sustainable resources. By providing a safe, family-friendly working environment, Kenana Knitters empowers women, offering them a chance to work and take charge of their lives, with dignity.

Patricia Nightingale - founder of Kenana Knitters

The women are allowed to work from home, or they gather at the Kenana Knitters workshop and do the needed spinning, knitting or weaving there. They may even bring their children with them.

Kenana Knitters - perfect snacks on their way

Kenana Knitters - the workshop

Kenana Knitters - spinning wheel

Kenana also supports women and girls, who might be disabled, for finding less demanding tasks for them to do.

Kenana Knitters - home spun and dyed natural wool

We visited Kenana farm last week, arrived a bit late Friday afternoon due to some problems with the traffic in Nairobi (this doesn't tell anything about it really ;)), and didn't have a chance to see the women at work. But we saw the garden (the board meeting room, that is), we saw the container (the office, that is) and we saw the warehouse (some more containers, that is). We talked for hours with Patricia, learning about the project, and their way of life in rural Kenya. We stayed in one of their beautiful, unique guesthouses (you can learn more about the guest houses at www.kembu.com) built and designed by Andrew, Patricia's son. Had a wonderful dinner prepared by Isaac (we even asked for the Ginger-Carrot soup recipe, will be in the blog during the weekend). The nights are cool, as the farm is around 2000 m above the sea level, and they are also DARK. No difference whether you have your eyes closed or shut ;).

Everything is so wonderfully, peacefully down to earth, and yet they have everything they need.  This project is 100% what I believe in - women helping themselves with their own hands, learning a new skill, becoming good at it and supporting their family locally, with locally purchased materials. And passing the talent forward to others around them. And this project, in turn, is already able to support the local orphanage.

If you wish to purchase any Kenana products to show your support, please visit our shop at www.werannas.com. Please contact us at info(@)werannas.com, if you wish to become a reseller for the products.

Kenana Knitters - home spun spider monkeys

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Kikoi trading - we take care of the faces behind the products

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

First of all: I want to thank Maijakaisa, the owner of Kikoi Trading, from the bottom of my heart, for joining me on my first trip to Kenya. First to Africa actually. I saw HER Kenya, and I’ve fallen in love already.

We spent hours on Thursday in Triangle market, a small handicraft market in Nairobi, where the artisans sell their work. Some of them were making the products right there, some of them make them during the evenings, some of them gather a group of women and make them together (I even met the Picasso of Africa ;), or at least he introduced himself as such. And I mean - who wouldn’t support Picasso by buying some of his work, if he comes to you in a market in Nairobi??).

This place is where some of Kikoi’s products are originally from, and I truly can sign Kikoi’s statement – we take care of the faces (and hands, one could add) behind our products. Wonderful, just beautiful women. Funny, smily….and when I ask to take a photo, they get all serious J!! When the others see Maija making orders in number of stalls she has made business with also before, they wait patiently, and then call ‘Sista, please come inside and take a look at my products, as well!’

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

We passed by Westgate shopping mall a couple of times, where the terrible things took place just couple of weeks back. The roads were blocked and there is the army and the police everywhere in the city center, their machine guns visible. You wouldn't want to mess with these people.

On our way back to Maija’s friend’s house, where we were staying before hitting the road for Kenana Knitter Critters in Njoro, we stopped to buy some flowers and to meet Robert, the talented man behind Kikoi’s banana tree products. We ordered some of new products, let’s see what he comes up with J.

After having a quick dinner we were back at the house – and met the most hilarious people on earth – the owners of Simbaexperience.fi, a Finnish travel agency organizing tailored trips to Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. I don’t remember laughing out loud like that for a long, long time! And and and – we were offered some dinner company AND a Night Safari in the Nairobi national park on Saturday evening before my flight back home (more about this later).  What all you can fit into 3 days when you happen to be in right places at right times…Below what I thought would be my Safari experience ;).

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya

Triangle market, Nairobi, Kenya - I was told by the seller this is Kenyan technology ;)