Finnish Design Blog

Two Weekends for Birds and Birders at The Museum of Glass, USA

Iittala master glassblowers from Finland, who specialize in producing the glass birds created by revered Finnish designer Oiva Toikka, will be at work in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop for the third year in a row. From October 13 – 15, visitors will be able to watch the skilled gaffers use the specific glassblowing techniques and the original color palette developed by Toikka.

Birds by Toikka represents thousands of individual birds and a variety of species that have been designed for Iittala since 1973. These hand-crafted, mouth-blown glass birds are collected worldwide. Toikka has previously designed the Washington state bird, American Goldfinch and the Pacific Water Fowl specifically in honor of the Museum of Glass; both birds are limited editions. This year, the limited edition bird of 1500 pieces is the Spotted Towhee, the symbol of the local Tahoma Audubon Society and a beloved backyard bird of the Northwest. The first 250 Spotted Towhees will be available at the Museum Store beginning October 13.

The Museum is partnering with Iittala, the Tahoma Audubon Society and the Point Defiance Zoo to offer two weekends of bird-related events and educational programming for adults and children.

These fun reindeer key chains from aarikka are a perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season. Made in Finland, these sturdy little key chains are available in three great colors: red, white, and blue. These reindeer key chains are a great little gift for someone looking for something unique.

Blown Glass Art - Toikka Birds by iittala

Professor Oiva Toikka (b. 1931) is one of the greatest names in Finnish glass and iittala’s Toikka Birds are Oiva Toikka’s best known glass blown art pieces of work. Oiva Toikka has worked in the performing arts for as long as he has been working with glass, so it is no surprise that the professor’s command of his glass sculptures is heavily influenced by theater and ballet.

The division of work between Oiva Toikka and the iittala glassmakers creating the glass blown art Toikka Birds is rigorously choreographed. Instead of working at a drafting table, the professor makes preliminary designs from glowing glass mass by giving detailed instructions to his glassblowing team. Each glass blown art bird is mouth-blown from molten glass, and shaped, colored and crafted according to Oiva Toikka’s vision. A master glassmaker moulds the delicate details of the beaks, feathers and tails individually for each bird  

On September 18, 2006, FinnStyle opened its new doors at Gaviidae Common, in the center of Minneapolis downtown retail. In the popular Gaviidae skyway, thousands of shoppers will have the opportunity to experience modern Finnish design every day. No other store outside of Finland offers the breadth and depth of products from both the well-established producers—like iittala and Marimekko—as well as the works of up-and-coming young Finnish designers.

FinnStyle is a premier retailer of modern Finnish design. With one of the largest selections of Finnish merchandise in the U.S., FinnStyle features timeless designs from world-renowned design houses such as Marimekko and iittala. Their large variety of products includes home accents, tableware, gifts, glassware, fabrics, bedding, bags, jewelry and more.

Services include gift wrapping, worldwide shipping, and a full-service online gift registry. Read more at FinnStyle.com.

WooDoo Design Soihtu Aluminum Candle Holders  The Soihtu aluminum candle holders, from WooDoo Design of Finland, are created with the philosophy that simple can be beautiful. The sleek torch shaped aluminum candle holders rest atop a simple, but modern wood base made from either elm or walnut – creating an elegant form and a striking mix of materials. These aluminum candle holders are available in 2 sizes: 2 candle holder and 4 candle holder.

These colored votive candle holders by iittala and Marimekko are synonymous with impeccable Finnish design. The Kivi are timeless, practical and of unsurpassed quality. These candle holders have been extremely popular as gifts and the wide variety of colors and prices make them perfect for just about any occasion. The quality of glass and craftsmanship is evident as light glows through the simple form of the Kivi candle holder. Now available in 21 different colors.

Marimekko Unikko Yellow Duvet Covers

These luxurious yellow duvet covers by Marimekko will add a punch of style and color to your bedroom. Made from 100% cotton, these yellow duvet covers are extremely comfortable and easy to wash. Bring a little fun into your bedroom with a splash of Marimekko style. These yellow duvet covers in the Unikko pattern are available in twin, queen and king size.

The Finnish Institute in France, in collaboration with Design Forum Finland, will organise an exhibition called the Finnish Home at the Institute’s gallery in Paris from 14 September to 21 October 2006.

The exhibition will have a theme of whiteness and “floating space”. The display will be created with products of top Finnish design companies: Marimekko, Artek, Muurame, Showroom Finland and Verso Design to name just a few. Minna Santakari, Set Designer, Samuli Halla, Architect, and Marjatta Levanto, Director of the Finnish Institute in France, are responsible for the exhibition design.

The idea behind the exhibition is to present everyday life in a Finnish home with its distinctive design featuring clean lines, the functional tradition, and a closeness to nature. The exhibition will be divided into three main sections: music and living room, dining, and children’s world.

More information at http://www.designforum.fi/exhibitions.

Durable and easy to clean, these oilcloth fabrics from Marimekko are not short on style. Oilcloth fabrics are soil and water repellent making them great for many types of uses including tablecloths, aprons, and beach bags. One of the great qualities of oilcloth fabrics is that they do not fray or unravel when cut – hemming isn’t necessary like cloth fabric. Test your creativity with the wide selection of oilcloth fabrics from Marimekko.