Bzzz Bzzz, Busy Bee

Aquamarine zircon, although the colour isn't as pretty against the wooden surface:)

Stamped, natural Aventurine stone- ring

Anna- Stiina preparing a setting for a stone with a micro motor

Anna-Stiina's portfolio:)

Goldsmith, Ari Vuorela, showing an example

Setting a stone

Maestro at work

Nearly finished; 18mm Smoky Quartz

Work in progress; Aventurine, Onyx and Turquoise cabochon stones

And Funky Bambi Commission:)

Kaksi / Två / Two

I ♥ My Hound

NEW! I ♥ My Hound- serie tags using Vintaj;

which is a 100% natural brass that is not antique plated or chemically treated, making them environmentally friendly and nickel- and lead-free.

Also available in copper and 925 Sterling Silver (tags only)

with any custom hound related quotes / pet name(s) etc:)

Here are the beautiful pair that inspired the above jewellery;

Lula & Nuba

Galgo "sisters" adopted via SOS Galgos, Spain

Living in Helsinki, Finland

Photo © Anna Keski-Kohtamäki

2011 SOS Galgos rehomed 178 Spanish Greyhounds,

also known as Galgos

Here's a story of Lolita

(does not contain any brutal images)

x x x

Viimeinen Ilo

I just lost last of my rescue gerbils; Ilo (Joy), or "Viimeinen Iloni" ("My last Joy") as I used to call him when he was the last one left after his litter mates passed over the rainbow bridge within 2011.

Here's some pics of Ilo's bunch. His mum, Ruska, was a rescue from London, only 3 months old, arrived with her brother. They were kept in a tiny hamster cage that had no food or bedding (or maybe they were removed before we came for the pick up).

Just couple of days later, 5th of September 2008, much to our surprise, the very slim and very-pre-teen-mother, gave birth to a litter of 7 pups

Here's she is, and some of her "Nakunakit" (naked "sausages") couple of days old.

13 days old, eyes still shut, but a lovely combination of colours!

.. And here he is, my Ilo, 21 days old with his deformed right ear. He was either born that way, or the young mother might have had an accidental "nibble" when he was born and was being cleaned.

♥ Rest in Paradise 5.9.2008 - 22.1.2012 ♥

Ilo's twin Agouti sister, Ilona, 21 days old

♥ 5.9.2008 - 21.5.2011 ♥

Last, but not least, a very small sized "Pikku Nyyti" did very well and outlived her sisters. Pikku Nyyti, 21days old

Villa, 21 days old. He was one of my favourite colours I've ever had, beautiful lilac

Here's a pic of a 1 year old Villa when we moved to Finland from UK, and took a ferry from Germany to Helsinki, back in May 2009.

♥ 5.9.2008 - August 2011 ♥

Another pic of Pikku Nyyti

Here's one of my three pup- lot, that arrived just 1 days old from "London's Hamster rescue" late summer 2006 with their mum and 2 potential dads. They are 14 days old in this pic, eyes just open, two boys and a girl which of "Knut", one of my males made it to 4 years and 10 months which (I think) is a very honourable age.

An average age for gerbil is about 3 years, but nowadays, what I've read on forums etc. it appears to be more towards 2+ than 3+, so I've always been very happy when they pass the 3 years and feel that I've done something correct, and that they've had a good healthy life:)

And here's my firsties ♥ There was a litter of 8 ruby Eyed White's born in Birmingham back in 2004. In this pic the boys are having a play outside in our London garden (2006 or 2007):) They all made it +4years old, apart from one that was lost unexpectedly at the age of 2. These were such a lively, social bunch, also hand reared from day "one" ("" because they are not to be handled too early)

Rest in Peace Ilo, and all my beautiful little babies.

You brought so much joy and sunshine to my life ♥♥♥

New Goodies @ Nitrobabe

A Parcel of new Funky Homo sapiens- goodies have just

arrived to Nitrobabe, Tampere

.. And stolen moments from Varpu's (16 months) life

in the morning of Jan 19th 2012. Meow!

Varpu is stalking a rather large flock of Bullfinches and

Eurasian Siskins fluttering about

the maple tree behind the studio window:)

(which I didn't manage to capture any decent pics of, sob)

Skins

IF Funky Homo sapiens- graphics were available as skins to your

mobile phone(any maker/model), laptop(any size), iPod and/or iPad,

would you be interested, please?:)

(with better graphics, just a quick sample:))

Saturday Roast

River Cottage, Veg Every Day

Recipe no.2 - Roasted Aubergine and Potato

Recipe available online HERE

As strange as it might sound, I've never roasted anything before, or had roasted meal in matter of fact. I suppose it's not really a Finnish / Scandinavian thing to do.:)

My closest thing for a "roast" was when my neighbour in my first UK home in Small Heath, Birmingham, 2003, was preparing a Sunday Roast and hadn't cleaned the oven for a quite some time (told our shared landlord, lovely Mr.Riggall) and apparently the oven literally exploded. The kitchen was all black and quite badly destroyed. The young couple had just adopted a little kitten, and I took care of it while the firemen did their thing and it was safe to return.:) Sure was a scary Sunday morning wake up call; closest to a fire I've ever been (touch on wood).

Anyways, here you are, my first ever roast... I think.

I used the left over aubergine from yesterday's meal which was a half of a quite large one, and 3 large-ish potatoes.

Seasoned with salt and black pepper.

Another cool flea market find:) Two huge German Milk Glass "Salt and Sugar" jars. The containers hold a full 500g bag. I can't remember what they cost, but defo 1euro / each, max!

Stir every 15minutes, says Moominmamma, who was a present from Santa:)

Not in the recipe, but I added some red onions.

I like them as large chunky bits:)

15mins in. I accidentally put the onion in on the first half of the 45mins, would've been perfectly cooked with the last 15mins too.

The world's best garlic press comes from Ikea. I've used the same design for the whole 12-13 years I've lived on my own:) I've been given others too, but this is the best there is, with a removable cylinder for easy cleaning ♥

Freshly squeezed lemon juice. I used only 3-4 teaspoons, rest was saved for a cheese cake I'm making for my grandparents who will visit tomorrow, Sunday (or today as it's 1.30am)

And some chives (ruohosipuli) for finishing touches:)

This is what Mr. Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall's roast looks like:)

And this is mine, not too bad me thinks:) I suppose I conquered my first ever roast! AND found a totally new setting from my oven, ha;)

This meal cost approx. 1.50euros (!),

serving 2 good sized, tummy (over)filling meals

excluding the olive oil, pinch of salt and black pepper

Sure was easy and well GOOD!

x x x