From Finland with Love!

This is one of those wonderful stories that happen through Etsy... where in my first year I have met such wonderful people, amazing artists and lovely friends! My friend Jana from Finland belongs to all of these three groups! She is such a warm and lovely person, a talented jewelry artist and a sweet friend! And she is really generous! Well, I came across her blog recently, and this made me get to know her beautiful work better. I decided to follow her lovely blog and I fell in love with her amazing creations! What happened was that by chance I was Jana's #100 blog follower... She was so sweet to contact me - a total stranger at that time - and ask me if I would accept a gift she would create especially for me! Such a sweet, wonderful surprise!!!!! I was really touched by her warm offer, and after that I discovered a sweet, warmhearted girl whose beautiful inner world reflects in her passionate creations.
My special surprise gift has now arrived... so lovingly and beautifully packaged! And when I opened it... OMG... I saw the most wonderful, amazing hairpins I've seen in my life!!!!!!!!!!! They are just too beautiful to be true!!!!! I can really see how lovingly Jana works, even the backside is so beautiful! And the color... I LOVE LOVE LOVE turquoise!!!

You can find a post about Jana's amazing jewelry here: Experimental Jewelry: HELMITARHA.
And please make sure to visit Jana's Etsy shop Helmitarha to see her great work! You can learn more about her lovely world and her "Secret Garden" in her blog. By the way, if you are jealous of my awesome artwork by Jana, you can win a breathtaking necklace created by her! Check her Blog Giveaway, maybe YOU will be the lucky one :)!

Thank you SO much dear Jana!!!!! You really made my heart smile, you are one of those sweet lovely persons who are still able to give with your heart and to give happiness to the people you meet, it's such a joy to know you!

Experimental Jewelry: HELMITARHA

I love experimental and unconventional jewelry! I've started a series in which I'm featuring jewelry artists who work with unconventional materials and techniques, and who see a ring or a pendant as a canvas to express their art and creativity.

I've recently come across Jana's work on Etsy and I immediately fell in love... The way she creates wonderful, intricate designs reminiscent of Art Nouveau paintings or mysterous oriental carpets using bead embroidery fascinates me beyond words. Jana is a talented Latvian jewelry designer based in Finland, and she works under her own brand Helmitarha -- a fascinating name that means "bead garden".
Jana's pieces start from focal pieces -beautiful stones, shiny crystals, interesting cabochons or vintage buttons- around which she works to create her amazing designs. The Nordic love for clear lines and brightness is evident even in Jana's most intricate and colorful designs, creating a very personal and unique style combining elements of her native culture and her own dreamy visions -- a Nordic trip to Oriental worlds!
You can find Jana's wonderful creations in her Etsy shop Helmitarha, and you can get to know more about her inspiration and her "secret garden" in her lovely blog.

Winter Sunset

Golden Spring

Dancing Dragon

Lemon Sunshine

When Leaves Turn Red

Silver Peacock

Lady with Fan

Chocolate n' Raspberries

Night's Rest

Phoenix Bird