Showing 19–27 of 28 results
-
Pillow
$120.00Pillow:
While attending elementary school in Finland way back in the 60’s, girls were required to take handicraft classes. One of the projects was to embroider our initials on a pillowcase. Being awkward and clumsy with my hands, I used a thick thread with a gigantic needle and went over my initials many times to be sure they would show. During her rounds, my teacher stopped by my desk and -trying to hide her smile- said Pirjo, if I were you, I wouldn’t sleep on the pillowcase because it will scare your face for life. On the hind side the humiliating incident turned out to be a good one; turning bad experiences into positive ones became my life philosophy.
The Pillow can be used as a paper napkin holder or paperweight. You can have your own message/names/initials etc. on the pillow. Eight characters max on both lines can be ordered for custom pieces.
-
Shield
$550.00Shield:
We build a protecting wall around us to stop people harming us but the people close to us can break through and we can get hurt. Badly.
I have a habit of observing people in public places. Like closed books they hide their life stories within themselves. Outside giving only limited previews I can only guess what these people would be like if I knew them.
-
Story Book
$2,050.00Story Book Collection:
I have a habit of observing people in public places. Like closed books they hide their life stories within themselves. Outside giving only limited previews I can only guess what these people would be like if I knew them.
Thorns:
Disappointments in love makes us built a fortress of thorns to protect ourselves from getting hurt again. However, inside the garden of roses still flourish growing hope and strength to take a chance on love.
I have a habit of observing people in public places. Like closed books they hide their life stories within themselves. Outside giving only limited previews I can only guess what these people would be like if I knew them.
Fence:
I’ve seen fences that have pieces of broken glasses embedded in them to keep intruders out. A person who has experienced hardship in his/her life builds a fence with shards to keep safe but inside they are still vulnerable and shattered.
I have a habit of observing people in public places. Like closed books they hide their life stories within themselves. Outside giving only limited previews I can only guess what these people would be like if I knew them.
Halo:
In the Bible there is a chapter that talks about people who are gilded on the outside but their inside is like a cemetery, full of skeletons and bones. We all know hypocrites who appear to be good and genuine on the outside but go against that image on the inside.
I have a habit of observing people in public places. Like closed books they hide their life stories within themselves. Outside giving only limited previews I can only guess what these people would be like if I knew them.
Shield:
We build a protecting wall around us to stop people harming us but the people close to us can break through and we can get hurt. Badly.
I have a habit of observing people in public places. Like closed books they hide their life stories within themselves. Outside giving only limited previews I can only guess what these people would be like if I knew them.
-
Sub-Ocean Life
$400.00Sub-Ocean Life:
Sub-ocean is a spray paintings or “Sprainting” on canvas with iridescent finish. This one inspired by the exhibition at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
While looking for images for a spray painting, I call “Spraynting”, depicting sub ocean life, I came across Life on Earth, the book, signed and dated 1980 at Owen Owen department store Coventry, England, by David Attenborough. Many of images from the book have ended up as my stylized Spraynting collection.
-
Taliban Spring Collection
$450.00Taliban Spring Collection: I made this piece in 1997 when Taliban was a fairly unknown phenomenon. I don’t want to take away the joy of discovering its message by explaining it.
Venus Series: fore-mother of my Venus series is the Venus of Willendorf, also know the Woman of Willendorf. This 4.3 high (11cm) figurine was found 1908 by archaeologist Josef Szombathy at a paleolithic site near Willendorf, a village in Lower Austria near the city of Krems. It is estimated to be made between 24,000 and 22,000 BCE. The figurine is carved from a type of lime stone that isn’t found at the local area and tinted with red ochre.
-
Thorns
$500.00Thorns:
Disappointments in love makes us built a fortress of thorns to protect ourselves from getting hurt again. However, inside the garden of roses still flourish growing hope and strength to take a chance on love.
I have a habit of observing people in public places. Like closed books they hide their life stories within themselves. Outside giving only limited previews I can only guess what these people would be like if I knew them.
-
Tonttu (Finnish dolls)
$500.00Story of Tonttus:
Tonttus are Santa’s helpers, elf or brownies are called Tonttus in Finnish. The legend of the story is that Tonttus live at Mt. Korvatunturi located in Lapland, the northern part of Finland. Tonttus help Santa Claus make presents for good girls and boys. Tonttus live in farms and are named after the places they are assigned to take care of: Stable Tonttus, cow shed Tonttus, Sauna Tonttus etc. The Tonttus who ventured out to the cities are called Home Tonttus. They also take care of animals and speak their languages.
Tonttu come at night while you are asleep and leave presents for good girls and boys. As a kind gesture and good manners, don’t forget to put a bowl of rice porridge with milk out on your window ledge with your wish list.
If you forget, they can play tricks on you. It has happened to me. One time I forgot and my ceramic tools disappeared. Another time, my fingers got glued together and couldn’t do my arts work. And one day when cutting the Tonttu boy’s pants, I realized that one leg was shorter than the other! These are common silly mishaps that can happen if you forget to appreciate a Tonttu!
I designed and hand-made my one-of the kind Tonttu girls and boys. The work process includes 45 individual stages. Each Tonttu is signed, dated and given a “name day”, a Finnish tradition. I celebrate my name, Pirjo, day October 7th, with Pirkko, Birgitta and Piritta.
Tonttus can be on display throughout the year. Although they are made for decoration. Gentle play by responsible children is very much appreciated.
Merry Christmas, hyvää joulua!
I have designed and handmade my one of-a-kind Tonttu boys and girls to be part of Christmas tradition hoping they will be loved and passed as an heirloom from one generation to the next.
Tonttus require painstaking detailed work involving more than items. Only a very limited number is made annually. Every Tonttu is signed, dated, numbered and given a name with the name day. In Finland we have a long tradition of celebrating name days. For example, my name day, which I share with Pirkko, Birgit and Piritta, falls on October 7th.
Due to the fragile nature of the ceramic head and hands and clothes that they don’t take off please handle Tonttus gently
-
Venus of Sunnyvale
$350.00Venus of Sunnyvale was the first sculpture in my Venus series I made after I left Finland and moved to Sunnyvale, California in 1982. She and the many different Venuses that followed got her origins from the Venus of Willendorf.
Venus of Willendorf: Venus of Willendorf, also know as the Woman of Willendorf, is a mere 4.3 inches (11 cm) high fertility figurine. It was found in 1908 by archaeologist Josef Szombathy at a paleolithic site near Willendorf, a village in Lower Austria near the city of Krems. It is estimated to be made between 24,000 and 22,000 BCE. The figurine is carved from a type of lime stone that isn’t found at the local area and tinted with red ochre.
