Friitala’s Showroom in Ulvila is on holiday between 5th and 31st of July. However, the Helsinki AULA 5 showroom is open in July Mon-Wed 9-17.00. The address is Runeberginkatu 54b.

AULA 5 is a group project that brings together the public space solutions of five domestic companies. The companies Annala, Maiser, Rotola-Pukkila, Soft-kaluste and The Friends of Finnish Handicraft all have long traditions and their own domestic production. The Aula 5 showroom features the products of the group’s companies and also have the embroidery packages from The Friends of Finnish Handicrafts for sale.

THE SUMMER’S ORDERS FOR RYA RUG PACKAGES

 This summer’s rya rug package orders must be made no later than 30 May 2021 due to material deliveries.

DO YOU NEED A NEW SUMMER CRAFT PROJECT?

The rya rug packages will be on offer for -20% between 8th and 16th May 2021. You can get the discount from the online store with the code ‘ryijykevät’.

THE FRIENDS OF FINNISH HANDICRAFT TURNS 142 YEARS ON APRIL 23rd!

In honor of the birthday the embroidery kits are available at 20% discount next week 19.-25.4.

You can get the discount in the online store with the code ‘kirjontatarvikkeet -20%’.

Embroidery packages can also be found in Ulvila, Friitalantie 11 C (Wed-Thu 11-17) and in the Helsinki Showroom, Runeberginkatu 54 B (Mon-Fri 9.-17.00). The availability of packages in Helsinki should be confirmed in advance by calling 044 4455759.

The offer only applies to embroidery kits.

Väinö Blomstedt, Painter and textile designer

Väinö Blomstedt (1871–1947) was the first artist hired by The Friends of Finnish Handicraft. As an artist, he designed tapestries, ryas and embroidery; there are a total of over a hundred models in the archive. The artist’s duties also included the entire production, e.g. controlling the use and composition of colors, and the artistic level was considered to have risen thanks to Blomstedt. He considered it important that the models were implemented professionally; Therefore, rya models could not be lent to weaving schools because their production could not be controlled. Blomstedt was a permanent artist at the Friends of Finnish Crafts from 1900 to 1903.

To honor Väinö Blomstedt’s anniversary, the Friends of Finnish Handicraft have reintroduced two of his models from the early 20th century. They are originally carpet designs, but work just as well as ryas. The Mosaiikki rya has an irregular surface pattern that spreads around a monochromatic central area, which in its organic ripple reflects the Art Nouveau style. ‘Mosaiikki’ (Mosaic) can be seen in the association’s 140th anniversary exhibition at the Ostrobothnia Museum in Vaasa until April 18, 2021. ‘Lähde’ (Spring), a bird and plant themed rya, dates from 1909. In rya, branches and leaves surround a blue central area, birds flying in the corners.