Thank You 2012

Vuosihan tässä ehti jo vaihtumaan, mutta muutama kiitoksen sana on paikallaan sillä 2012 oli niin merkittävä kaiken kaikkiaan...

Eeka syntyi 13.1.2012, hän on pian jo vuoden vanha! En tiedä kuinka voisin kiittää hänen olemassaolostaan. Eekan odotus ei kestänyt vain 9 kk vaan lähes 3 1/2 vuotta. Tämä ensimmäinen vuosi hänen kanssaan on mennyt niin äkkiä ja kaikkihan on mennyt hyvin, joistakin epäuskon hetkistä huolimatta. Kaikki järjestyy, kuten sanontakin kuuluu. Omat ja H:n vanhemmat sekä lähisukulaiset ovat olleet tukemassa meitä tällä uudella matkallamme, iso kiitos siitä kullekin heistä, ystäviä unohtamatta.

Vaikka Karuskin toiminta on ollut melko lailla minimaalista vauvavuoden vuoksi, olen kuitenkin saanut uuden mahtavan mukavan jälleenmyyjän Jyväskylästä, Pienenkamarin. Kiitos Annukalle joka otti minuun yhteyttä syksyllä.

Etsyssä en ole ehtinyt olla muutoin aktiivinen, mutta luotsaan yhä Handmade Europea, European Street Teamin blogia jonka pyörittämisessä iso apu minulle on ollut Ankasta, blogin teknisestä tuesta.

Yhteistyö kimaraCRAFTSin tyttöjen kanssa on ollut mukavaa, olen kiitollinen kun he ovat ottaneet minut mukaan messuille kuten toukokuussa Kierrätystehtaalle vaikka en ole pystynyt osallistumaan projekteihin ollenkaan täysipainoisesti. Myös pop up -shoppimme onnistuminen huhti-toukokuussa Kinuskilla kahvilassa Kellokoskella oli todella hieno juttu.

Katsotaan mitä tämä uusi vuosi tuo tullessaan. Ainakin lapsen kasvun intensiivistä seuraamista ja sen ohella uuden ideointia Karuskille. Huhtikuulle onkin tulossa yksi uusi ja kiinnostava pop up -shop projekti. Siitä lisää lähempänä.

Hyvää uutta vuotta!

--

The year already changed but a few thank you words come to my mind now when that remarkable year is behind us.

Eeka was born on January 13th 2012, he's soon one year old! I don't have words how to thank for this presence in my life. It wasn't just 9 months we waited for him, it was nearly 3 1/2 years of waiting. This first year with him has been flying and things have gone well, despite some moments of misbelief I faced with myself. Everything goes all right, they say. Both our parents and close relatives have fully supported us on this new journey, so big thank you to all of them, not to forget friends either.

Although Karuski business has been put to minimal during the baby year I did get a new amazingly nice reseller here in Finland. Thanks Annukka from Pienikamari for contacting me last fall.

I haven't had time for Etsy but I still take care of Handmade Europe, the homebase of European Street Team on Etsy. Anka, our tech help has been my right hand there.

Collaboration with kimaraCRAFTS girls has made it possible for me to join craft fairs I couldn't have done by myself. I'm grateful they let me stay with them even though I couldn't join the projects fully at all. Even our pop up shop at Kinuskilla cafe last April-May was a big success.

So let's see what happens in 2013. There will be intensive moments seeing the child grow, I'll be searching for new ideas and work on Karuski. In April there's a new and interesting pop up shop project coming up. More about that in a bit.

Happy New Year!

xx, minna

Monday Happyness

Hello and Happy Monday!

I've started to think about the upcoming holidays
and looked through my Etsy favorites
I noticed there're many, many things I'd love to
give to someone as a present or get for myself this X-mas.

Here're a few that make this Monday a happy one!

ps. This Saturday I'll be at holiday market in Billnäs
it'll probably be the only one I'm attending this year
I thought it would be nice to take it easy with craft fairs now.

fingerless gloves by knitandwedding

felted elephants mobile by sewnnatural

ceramic pendant by taylorceramics

lambswool diaper cover by laurablossom

bear cub pin badge by elizabethpawle

Hei ja hyvää maanantaita!

Ihan viime aikoina olen alkanut ajattelemaan
tulevaa joulun aikaa ja kävin läpi mm. Etsy-suosikkejani
siellä on monia juttuja joita tahtoisin joko antaa jollekin
lahjaksi tai saada ehkä myös itselleni tänä jouluna.
Tässä vain muutama esimerkki joiden näkeminen
tekee tästä maanantaista kivan päivän!

ps. Tulevana lauantaina osallistun Billnäsin Joulu -tapahtumaan ja
se taitaakin jäädä ainoaksi sillä ajattelin ottaa
tänä vuonna rauhallisesti myyjäisten kanssa.


xx
minna

Greetings From Berlin #2

Hi there,

Is it the days that are getting shorter
because I really feel my pace is so slow now?!
I love autumn but not very much looking forward
to those days and months with minimal daylight
*sigh*

Anyhow, here are a few more picture from Berlin
where I got a chance to spend a week
while visiting Hello Etsy
I'm going to cherish that week as it was filled with
many happy moments, warm weather
all those amazing speakers and fellow crafters
Berlin was really great again!

a handbook to guide us through Hello Etsy

Thanks ThingLink for featuring Karuski on the handbook!

Here's just a part of visit cards I swapped during the weekend.
Lovely collection.

H with towers, such a silly picture

Two of us on this funny close up photo

Have you noticed that some of my pictures include tags with links?

I wanted to try the linking tools ThingLink provides

it's quite awesome you can add several links to one picture if you like

they even have the audio tool so you can include a little story

to go along the item or people in your photo

It can bring your pictures really alive! 

[this wasn't a paid ad LOL]

xx

minna

Greetings From Berlin

Hi!

I just got back home from Berlin,
it was the Hello Etsy summit I visited
and as I was traveling with H
we wanted to stay for some extra days
so all in all it was a one week trip to us.

I can't believe how warm it still was in Berlin
we had dinners outside and walked without
jackets during the day
only Sunday happened to be a rainy day

It was awesome to meet lots of online Etsy friends
at the summit which took place 17. - 18.9.
There were lots of interesting sessions
one of my favorite speakers was Natalie Chanin
you should definitely check out her unique & ethnical clothing line.


Here are just a few of my lovely European Etsy friends I was lucky to meet!

Judit and Mitsy enjoying Marimekko fabrics

Mari having fun sewing

Rhiannon and Hello Etsy bear

Petronella with Mitsy on a break

I'm going to make another
Berlin related post in the coming days
so if interested in seeing and reading more
stay tuned!


xx
minna

Happy Friday

Hello Friday!

Looks like it will be a lovely and sunny weekend here
can't wait to do some gardening and enjoy outdoors life
I've been thinking about throwing a poll so that
I could improve my blog a bit
will figure out more how to do it this weekend
and let you know soon...

I browsed my Etsy favorites and
felt like sharing some sweet prints I love

a bunny someday

by prettylittlethieves

hope bird

by naokosstoop

windy day

by ashleyg

little print

by holli

How about your weekend, do you have any plans yet?

I hope you'll have a nice one filled with sun and good times!

ps. If you're looking for some crafting inspiration with flower theme,
here's my tutorial link tips over Handmade Europe...

xx

minna

My Creative Space

Hi!

The days are running fast again...
this week I have spent lots of time
searching and ordering supplies for my post earrings
new wholesale orders are waiting
I'm so happy my little earrings are loved *smile*

This is a little bit boring but
I haven't created all that much this week
here are just my newest additions to
Karuski's Etsy shop: earrings, necklaces + bracelet

vintage velvet cabochon adorns this long necklace

these lovely Japanese stones are getting rare these days

vintage red velvet cabochon sits on a hand painted setting 

sweet brass locket is the focal point of this long necklace

large satin rose and vintage beads make this bracelet

More creative spaces over Kootoyoo's new site ourcreativespaces...


xx
minna

My Creative Space

Hello Thursday,

Last weekend I was at the design craft market
It was really nice, I enjoyed a lot.
This week I slowed down a bit
I've been photographing new pieces
I'm putting them to my Etsy one by one
some are already there *smile*

sparrow with roses necklace

plum post earrings

apple blooming necklace

Do you have plans for the Easter?
I'm not traveling anywhere far from home
but will spend time with H
it will be fun to cook together
looking forward to that

Happy Easter to you!

ps. Lovely soothing images for your eyes and soul...
I'm loving Krista's photography


xx
minna

Friday Love

Hi everyone!

I thought to share a few sweet finds from Karuski's Etsy favorites.
Just because it's Friday and these are on my own wish list.
Perhaps you like them too.

Any weekend plans?
I would like to get my new pouches photographed.
Other than that I hope to relax a bit.
Last weekend turned out pretty rough so
I hope not to stress that much now.
At least the sales taxes rumba is completed and over. *relief*

printemps photograph

business card wallet

lollipop brooch

poets and writers no.1

Wishing a beautiful weekend to you!

xx
minna

New Work: Earrings

Hi there,

What a nice weekend we had visiting a good friend who threw a house warming party on Saturday night. But, Henri got sick and had fever on Sunday and Monday too.

Today I felt strange after getting home from my riding class. Now it feels like I'm not going to get out of bed tomorrow. I couldn't take a few days off from working now. Need to finish doing taxes and such. But I don't want to work when feeling icky and feverish, either. *sigh*

Here are just a few new earrings I photographed this afternoon. Red roses are in Karuski's shoppe, other new ones need to wait until I get back to normal.

tiny roses

dangling vintage blooms

woodland love hoops

Good night... hopefully I will talk to you tomorrow.

xx
minna

My Creative Space

This week it's been so cold again:
-15 – 22 C in South and -30 – 35 C in North.
The sky has been blue and bright. No more snow storms or rain.
Sunshine is definitely bringing much needed extra energy *smile*

I picked some fabrics from my stash,
light colors to set my mind towards upcoming spring.

recycled napkins, bed sheet and more

A few new clutches are ready and listed in Karuski's shop

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo's blog...

Spring inspired eco-friendly treasury I created last night...

xx
minna

For A Good Cause: EuropeForCharity

Dear friends,

Many of you are aware of EuropeForCharity, the Etsy shop which donates all its proceedings for good causes. This shop was opened when the world was hit by flood news in Pakistan last summer. It is managed by Baa and all items are donated by members of EuropeanStreetTeam. The shop was able to donate $750 in 2010 and the donations went for Architecture for Humanity and Kashf Foundation which both make very hard rebuilding work in Pakistan.

A new organization has been added to the list: BlinkNow which works on grass root level in Nepal, helping local orphans to have a better future. Have a look at their site, it is an amazing story of what one young lady can do to change things for better.

Here are just a few picks from EuropeForCharity's shop.
I hope they bring sunshine to your day!

necklace for $32

crocheted flowers for $4

silk screened tray for $58

birdie pouch for $28

swallow necklace for $18

flower magnet set for $8

Spread the word of this shop, share some love.
I wish you the most beautiful day!

xx
minna

Shop Update + Celebration

Happy News: I'm updating Karuski's Etsy with new things
I'm also pretty busy with the holiday craft markets
first one takes place this weekend at WeeGee in Espoo.
Please stop by and visit if you are in the area!

Did you know Etsy supports now coupon codes?
It is quite great so I wanted to give a try too.
Visit Karuski's Facebook page &
grab a discount code for yourself if you like.







I just noticed I am 2 sales away from 200!
Next three Karuski customers will get $20 gift certificate each [sale #199, #200 and #201] from me!

Thank you everyone for being such lovely customers!
More surprises coming up soon...

Update:
I have lucky gift voucher winners now. Just got sale #199, #200 and #201 right today, Thursday!


xx
minna

Bead Affairs

Hey, the weekend is here again, I hope you're enjoying your [free] time!
Some of you are aware of my detash supply shoppe on Etsy I opened this spring. I just found some beads from my studio on Friday and got them photographed. Here's something I already added to karuskisupplies, and a few more is coming this weekend.

star shaped glass beads with aurora borealis effect

magenta tear drop glass beads with aurora borealis effect

vintage lucite flower beads coming soon, I have some in pink too...

Other than playing with beads I will cuddle up on a couch with a book. I visited our library so there's no need to find other activity this weekend. Anyways, the weather looks pretty rainy so what's a better way to spend a day?!