Marja-Leena, Author at Marja-Leena Rathje

a Christmas memory

December 22, 2013 in Culture, Current Events, Older Works, Printworks

Mother & Child – etching – image size: 11 x 7 cm. (4.25″ x 3″)

I handprinted this etching in an edition of 65 for Christmas cards sometime in the mid 1980’s, I think. (The date is obscured behind the mat.) It was during a special time when I had found a wonderful print studio where I was able to take up my longed for desire to focus on printmaking. When I came across this particular framed piece in my storage recently, I recalled that it had been hanging in my late parents’ home. With those happy memories, I became inspired to use this as my online Christmas card for this year.

So my dearest friends and readers, with this I wish you a warm and love-filled holiday season, one with happy new memories to hold close. Hyvää Joulua!

13 Comments »

snow day

December 20, 2013 in Home, Nature, Photoworks

snowing all night and this morning

nature dressing up for the winter solstice

lightness for the north’s longest night

December solstice falls about 3 am tomorrow, Saturday morning Pacific Standard Time according to this wonderful site. This snow may not last until then, so I’m celebrating early. Happy Solstice!

Another timely gift arrived for this occasion from a dear friend, Susan of phantsy that who wrote:

I found these pictures this morning. Knowing how much you enjoy examining the magical space between nature and technology, thought you might enjoy seeing them too.

Thank you, Susan, you do know how much I love frost flowers! Happy Solstice to you!

11 Comments »

seasonal treats

December 15, 2013 in Culture, Films, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Neat stuff

Some fun seasonal reading and viewing with a Finnish twist:

1. Living With Finland’s Reindeer Cowboys. Stunningly beautiful photography in this short video and in the film link to be found in the fascinating article. Image above is captured from here.

2. A Pet Reindeer watches TV

3. Santa lives in Finnish Lapland – a newspaper article from a few years ago that I’ve posted before and just came across again.

Enjoy your preparations for the upcoming holidays!

11 Comments »

melt

December 10, 2013 in Nature, Photoworks

yesterday, frosted skylights slowly covered in snow ~ ~ today’s opening views through lace

a gradual melt ~ change and transformation

nature’s ephemeral artistry

what delight to come tonight?

17 Comments »

angle of the light

December 8, 2013 in Home, Nature, Photoworks

about 1:00 pm. December 7th – the sun’s rays are low even near high noon

about 3:00 pm., long low rays of weak sunshine reach in far
create delicate shadows of paper snowflakes onto wall and artwork
reminding us that we are nearing the winter solstice

7 Comments »

two candles

December 6, 2013 in Current Events, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, History

Two candles placed in the window of each home for Finland’s 96th Independence Day, is a long tradition on this day rooted in a time to remember and bring home safely the soldiers who freed Finland from Russia in 1917. The president of Finland even remembers Finnish expatriates in his speech on this day. Happy Independence Day to Finland and my Finnish readers!

On a deeply sad note these candles are also to honour the life and death of Nelson Mandela who died yesterday. So many tributes pouring in for this great man – here is one of many that I like: The Lincoln of Africa

Two candles for a birth of a nation freed from another power.
Two candles for honouring a man who fought for the rebirth of his nation and its people.

12 Comments »

at the desk

December 5, 2013 in Canada and BC, Home

a test photo taken with my hand-me-down iPod, of the view to the right of my computer…
I know, it is not of great quality…just practising

slow starts with Christmas preparations
first wearing of winter coats and mitts
outdoor lights onto shrubs and trees
a wreath at front door and in solarium
bought a tree to bring in later
and some paperwhites to pot up

spoke to family in Victoria
on the other side of Salish Sea
all excited by some snow
hope daddy gets home safe from London
before any snowstorms

4 Comments »

December 2nd

December 2, 2013 in Home, Nature, Photoworks

A gorgeous sunrise to welcome a cold and clear day
Clouds gather to cover an ominously beautiful sunset
Freezing temperatures coming, maybe some snow
I move more pots of tender plants closer to the house

I say goodbye to November, with a little self-congratulatory pat on the back for completing the NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month challenge to write a blog post daily. This was only the second time I have done this, the first was in 2010. Now onwards with printing cards and writing letters!

12 Comments »

last print sale

November 30, 2013 in Art Institute (Printmaking), Current Events, Printmaking

Capilano University’s Studio Art printmaking department is presenting The Last Ever Print Sale!

Monday, December 2nd, 10 am to 4 pm.  
Studio Art Building, Room 104
  Capilano University 
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, BC

Directions and maps

Why is it the ‘last ever’ sale? The Print Sale has been a longtime (25 years?) annual event which we are all very sad to see coming to an end. As some readers know, Capilano University has cut numerous programs including Studio Art and the Art Institute. The second-year Studio Art program is running just this school year to allow the current students to complete their diploma requirements.

So, it is wonderful that they are hosting this event and also including the Ceramics class this time (they used to have their own sale). The Art Institute Printmaking alumni, such as yours truly, have been invited to participate as part of that long tradition.

If you live in the Vancouver area, please come and support the students and get some original artworks for some lucky people on your gift list, including yourself. We hope to see many friends there that special day!

More background:
– About the Art Institute Printmaking program, written in 2004
– About the protest against the program cuts

Poster image: etching by Liam Johnstone

6 Comments »

another weaving

November 29, 2013 in Photoworks, Textures

ducks in a row
another weaving in our home
possibly Mexican or Central American

added Nov. 30th: as I’m editing posts for errors, I came across another post on weaving details and their patterns

6 Comments »

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