Finnish Design Blog

Marimekko designer umbrella

All Marimekko rain gear (Marimekko umbrellas and Marimekko ponchos) are now on sale for 25% off for a limited time and only while supplies last. FinnishGifts carries over 20 standard and mini Marimekko fashion umbrellas as well as a couple rain ponchos. Act now as these umbrellas sell out fast at these prices!

Marimekko mini-umbrellas

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holidays from FinnishGifts. Look for a preview of new Marimekko and Iittala products coming soon in 2009!

Iittala Kivi Votive Candle Holders

Iittala Maribowl and Iittala Kivi Candle Holders

I came across this photo on Flickr of a clear Iittala Marimekko Bowl (a.k.a. Maribowl) filled with some jelly candies, surrounded by several small Iittala Kivi Candle Holders. Another image of Iittala in everyday use.

Rosenthal Studio-line Suomi White Porcelain Dinnerware

Simple and stunning sums up the Rosenthal Studio-line Suomi dinnerware collection. Designed by Timo Sarpaneva in 1976, Suomi was inspired from the shapes of river rocks that had their sharp corner edges rounded off by erosion. This organic shape between circle and square boasts a look and feel that is natural and smooth, and it’s as functional as it is attractive. Sarpaneva’s design raised the bar in porcelain design and has received numerous awards for its simple beauty, including the highest honor conferred in the world of porcelain: the Gold Medal of Faenza.

The Rosenthal Suomi collection consists of 26 beautiful porcelain pieces to fulfill all your dining needs.

There’s still time to shop and take advantage of free shipping from FinnishGifts! You have through Thursday to order your holiday items and get free ground shipping and receive them by Christmas Eve* (see transit map) . Don’t wait, act now and take advantage of this great offer and other hot deals!

As I was listening to the British band, Keane, on my iPod, I was looking at the album cover and thinking how much it reminded me of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai and how that image was often used in Marimekko textiles in the 1970′s. I did some research and found out that Sanna Annukka, a 25-year-old Finnish-British designer, had created the album cover for Keane in 2006. That was her first big break as she then caught the eye of Marimekko CEO, Mika Ihamuotila, who immediately pursued her to work at Marimekko. It was Annukka’s dream to work for the Finnish design house. Below are several of her new patterns/designs that will be released by Marimekko this spring. To read more about this rising design star, please read the linked article by the Helsingin Sanomat.

The photo above was found on Flickr and shows an Aalto mini-bowl with an assortment of Lindor and Geisha candies in it. These small Iittala glass Aalto mini-bowls are great for putting candy, nuts and dips in and adds a touch of modernism to any decor setting. The mini-bowls are available in several colors and two sizes. These make great gifts for anyone and you can fill them right away with some decadent Finnish Karl Fazer chocolate candy! I like chocolate and I love these little glass mini-bowls, a perfect combination!

Check out these elegant and sophisticated glass ornaments by Iittala. These beautiful glass ball ornaments portray Taika’s classic and magical creatures of Klaus Haapaniemi’s mind. Taika means ‘magic’ in Finnish, so add some magic to your tree this holiday season. These classy ornaments sell fast so buy a set today before they sell out. Read more about Iittala’s glass ball Taika Christmas tree ornaments.

The classic Aalto vase has become one of the most famous pieces of glass in history. Since first winning an award for design at the 1937 Paris World’s Fair, the Aalto vase has received numerous awards and influenced many others as it has become a truly iconic piece of art. Today, Iittala’s talented glass-blowers continue to reproduce Aalto’s timeless creation. The bonus is that they now are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes so you’ll be able to find one that fits your style or the personality of the lucky recipient you’re giving it to this holiday season.

Be sure to check out some of Aalto’s other great glass works like the Finlandia vase or glass trays and mini-bowls!

Below are the top 10 most popular Iittala Toikka glass birds based on the number of orders at our website. The Summer Stint, Cloud Tern and Blue Scaup Duck are currently on sale at 35% off and selling fast. The Red-Winged Blackbird is a limited edition bird as only 1,000 were produced. Act fast and get yours before they are gone forever!

(You can click on each bird image to view more information about it.)