ELEVEN

eleven.

we've reached another era 

~ she planned the entire thing,

chose her flowers,

decided on the menu, 

gave instructions on the cake she was after

('you just need to divide the cake mix

into two different bowls

& throw in different amounts of red colouring...'),

baked and prepared the rest in advance

 after her ballet lesson last night.

i look at her and marvel every day. 

kind.

smart.

important.

and so loved.

(I don't think any movie scene has made me well up 

like the one above from The Help
(all the more powerful
when you watch the whole movie
and see the context)

~ oh the power of words,

and uplifting each & everyone,

big & especially the small...)

♡

MASTER POTTER

We were on our way to my brother's wedding

on a field in the North of England

& staying en-route,

when we had a morning to spare

only to realise we were staying 

right close to the Wedgwood factory. 

In addition to the Wedgwood Museum,

we had a little factory tour thrown in.

Best of all,

we jumped at the chance

of our kids having a go on the pottery wheel

at the factory's Master Craft Studio,

under guidance by

master potters themselves.

These older masters with their assuring, strong arms

led the way 

until the kids were able to fly free,

adding their own finishing touches 

with fingers crossed in the shape of a butterfly. 

Watching it all brought a lump to my throat.

And then, a couple of weeks ago,

the kids were in for a nice surprise,

when their finished and dried creations

arrived in the post. 

DARLING BUD OF MAY

To wind up a  week of deadlines, a 20s bash and a study trip,

today a drive down a country lane

to a christening

amid wood anemones 

and birdsong.

What better time 

to celebrate a newborn

and new life

than in this glorious month of May. 

Her first name means "star"

and her second name "bright light",

which just fits to a t,

thinks her doting aunty. 

LITTLE MINNA

“Sometimes since I've been in the garden 

I've looked up 

through the trees at the sky 

and I have had a strange feeling 

of being happy 

as if something was pushing and drawing in my chest 

and making me breathe fast. 

Magic is always pushing and drawing 

and making things out of nothing. 

Everything is made out of magic, 

leaves and trees, 

flowers and birds, 

badgers and foxes 

and squirrels and people. 

So it must be all around us." 

Frances Hodgson Burnett: The Secret Garden

Shoot: children's collection for Minna

My right hand: Tanja Hatula

Models: Sienna, Frida, Milla & Oona 

MINNA, BEHIND-THE-SCENES

This past week I had the 

pleasure and absolute honour

to shoot Minna's delicate children's collection,

and I wanted to share some behind-the-scenes glimpses with you.

Our home was filled with little rosy-cheeked girls

in floaty, lace dresses,

flowers and sunlight,

beautiful Minna Hepburn herself, 

who had flown over from England,

and my dear friend Tanja 

helping with flowers & dresses & setups.

A dream team,

left with a hunger for more. 

Now busy guzzling the coffee

and going through final edits -

I'll share some more in this space very soon.

Viime viikolla minulla oli ilo ja valtava kunnia

valokuvata Minna-lastenmallisto kotonani.

Halusin heti jakaa vähän behind-the-scenes -otoksia.

Iltapäivä oli tulvillaan punaposkisia tyttösiä

valkoisissa pitsimekoissaan,

kukkia ja valoa.

Minna Hepburn itse lennähti paikalle Englannista,

ja ympärillä hääräsi myös rakas ystäväni Tanja,

joka sitoi kimppuja, napitti mekkoja

ja lainasi visuaalista silmäänsä.

Unelmatiimi,

nälkä jäi tehdä lisää.

Nyt mutteripannu porisee ahkerasti

käydessäni lopullista kuvasatoa läpi -

lisää ihan pian.

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