HEY LOOK: GIFT IDEAS FROM FINLAND

We're celebrating the Finnish Independence Day here today and in honor of this occasion, we've put together some gift ideas from Finland and / or Finnish designers for you. Admittedly, half of these are textiles, but there's just so many great textile designers around and it would be a shame not to feature them here.

Kids' shirts and tea towels by Polkka Jam

Screen print Mummola and Soul Bird 2011 by Sanna Annukka

PVC covered storage containers: Varpunen

Unique bags from recycled materials by Onni

Tea towels by Kauniste, available at Finnish Design Shop

Wall calendar of 365 pictures of number plates in Helsinki: UrbnCal 2012 Helsinki. Available at papershop.

Yö metsässä (= night in the forest) textiles by Saana ja Olli

Some colors from Marimekko. Bag, socks, kids suitcase, purse - all available at Finnish Design Shop.

Moomin characters mugs by Arabia, available at Finnish Design Shop.

Arabia 24h Tuokio dishes, available at Finnish Design Shop.

Marimekko dishes available at Finnish Design Shop.

If you don't feel like ordering any of these things / you already have all gifts for your loved ones bought, but would like to add something Finnish to your holiday decor, try to make a traditional Finnish Himmeli or some finnish paper stars.

Images by AM Radio (you can order these, too). Here's a video tutorial on how to make a basic himmeli shape. You can create all shapes from this technique. You'll only need straw, thread and a large needle. The video is in Finnish, but I've watched it with the sound off and ignored the text and could still understand the technique pretty well, so you should too. I hope.