Events – Little house on the ocean shore

Blue and White Finland

6.12.2017

Lillan has stood on its place when Finland was part of Sweden. And part of Russia. It has stood there when Finland became independent 100 years ago.

https://fi.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suomen_lippu

The Finnish flag song says about colors: blue as the sky, white as snow.

So many things in Finnish nature has those two colors.

The colors from Lillan shore.

The sky by the evening after the snow has come.

Lillan congratulates the firm ground it has stood for 300 years. Congratulations, 100-years-old Finland! ❤️

It was wonderful to meet!

13.9.2017

Reading here the greetings from the Open Doors at Lillan. Not everyone left their message there but still I counted 95 names from the book! How lovely is that ❤

The first visitors came already before noon when the happening began and last ones left after 4pm when the Open Doors -happening ended. So wonderful to read all the comments:

Ihana tupa! Wonderful cottage!

Ihana nähdä Taalintehtaan toiseksi vanhin koti; ihanasti olet Sari sisustanut, vanhaa kunnioittaen, nykyaikaan sopiva 🙂
Lovely to see Dalsbruk’s second oldest home; beautifully you Sari have designed, respecting the old, suitable for modern age 🙂

Oli kauniit huoneet ❤ Rooms were beautiful ❤

Kaunista täällä! Beautiful here!

Even though the artist had painted Lillan house red in the map, many and many and many found the small yellow Lillan. So many wonderful discussions, longer and shorter, in those four hours!

But for me, the best of the happening was to hear parts of Lillan history. Who had lived there, what it looked like in those decades, how the life was back then.

And here was the greatest price for this event: a family that used to live in Lillan in years 1966-1974 had bought some photos from those days with them!

The Boy of Friman family on his first school day at Lillan stairs

The hand that I hold very warmly. Thank you Mrs. Friman ❤

At the September Open Sunday 10th of September 2017 there is also an Open Doors happening at Dalsbruk. There are several old houses with their personal names attending, telling their part of Dalsbruk’s history for some centuries.

Old houses all have their own stories. Present owners are there to tell what they know and maybe even to hear more about the history of the houses.

And the names of the houses at Dalsbruk, then. Not were houses known by their location but by their names. In Sibirien (Siberia) it was almost always quite cold since it is located on a high bank by the sea. And Kärringslänktan (Hags’ yearning) there used to live the factory’s men still without wife and family.

The event was inspired by the book “Från Honolulu till Sibirien”, collected by the Dalsbruk village union.

img_3128-1 — I’ll take this book with me to the Open Doors at Lillan.

Lillan will attend, of course. It is one of the oldest houses still left in Dalsbruk. About its name I’ve already told in this post.

img_3129-1 — Picture of Lillan from 1920’s from the book

Other houses to attend and see are

Marmorpalatset (2 apartments and garden)
Nybyggningen (2 apartments)
Övre Kajlins (1 apartment + garden)
Stenkakola garden
Worker’s apartments in Bruksmuseums area

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Link to the event (in Facebook) here. Event is arranged by Saariston Kulttuuriseurue – Skärgårdens Kultursällskap.

Festival Norpas

26.7.2017

Dalsbruk was quite depressed and blue after the steel mill had quit. No more pipe whistles to rhytm your day. Insecurity of the future.

Then, small blinks of sunshine, of the brighter future. Rosala Handelsbod moved from Rosala to Dalsbruk, first by the marketplace. Positive, international, classy, beautiful. I was so happy! Rapt for all of us. This would start our new rise, I thought. Went and wrote a blog post of the Café and its charming merchants. With her permission, of course.

But even before that, there came a small and a bit weird (in a positive sense) festival: Norpas. First year 2012 it was not a lot more, to my recollection, than a big friend gathering at Dalsbruk, ultimating at deep and warm get-together at Dalsbruk’s Old Factory, Ismo Alanko using his amazing musical talents to guide listeners from one mood to another. With some exceptionally brave and imaginative artists to tune audience even more into this magical event.

Year 2013 Norpas was already a bit bigger. More events, artists and visitors. One of the audio-visuals especially hit my artistic nerve. Year by year the Norpas Festival grew bigger and established itself. Somehow it still managed to maintain its inter-artistic and warm attitude.

Events take over the whole Dalsbruk centre area:

As well as the old interiors:

This year’s program here. Can’t wait to feel, live and breath Norpas again ❤

Why do I ask?

7.7.2017

You book your stay at Lillan. All goes well. Then, all of a sudden, you get an email from me with abysmal list of questions. How many of you will be coming? Adults, children? Doubles, singles? Ages, genders? Your estimated time of arrival? Your other wishes or questions about your stay?

What is this? Am I just infinitely nosy? Nope. I’m asking all these questions to serve you better.

I re-organize the furniture, especially beds, always according to the guests arriving. Every bed is somewhat convertible: upstairs bedroom beds flex from 100 to 180 centimeters. Double beds can be turned into single beds. Et cetera. You wouldn’t believe what a furniture jive I have before your stay. (Sorry if I’m sweaty.)

There is a cradle (to the downstairs bedroom) and a crib (to upstairs bedroom or master bedroom). Plus two extra beds to be placed where ever there is a need.

I want to match all the linen accordingly so the preparations for your stay start, on my behalf, way before you arrive to Lillan.

I appreciate you informing as precise time of arrival as possible because I come personally to welcome you to Lillan. Since I don’t live there I have to make some preparations to be able to match my timetable with yours. And yes, I still want you to be able to come when it suites you best – no fixed o’clock.

I ask for your wishes about services, events, to-dos and to-sees to get all ready for your visit to be as successful as possible. Most of the services require something preliminary to be all set when you arrive.

I want you to rest easy and enjoy your stay at Lillan. That’s why I ask ❤

Joyful illustrations

5.7.2017

Rosala Handelsbod has again a wonderful event. This one stays until the end of July: Nähdään majalla (Let’s see at the hut). Talented Sanna Pelliccioni, illustrator and graphic designer, displays her paintings and illustrations for childrens’ books.

Sanna stayed at Lillan during her display arrangements with her two boys. They loved and enjoyed their stay. Well, the feeling is mutual: it was so wonderful to have them as guests at Lillan!

I just love the ideology behind Sanna’s work: she wants to create good and bring joy to the world. She wants to tickle people’s imagination.

That ideology suites more than well to Lillan. These colorful, joyful artifacts are both usable and beautiful.

I think the contrast between the simple tableware of Lillan and Sanna’s bubblingly vivid products is just charming.

These linen and kitchenware do really tickle your imagination, don’t you think? And definitely bring you a good mood.

And the colourbooks are just cheery. Had to purchase some to Lillan toy basket (and try them out a bit 🙂 )

The bedroom upstairs had the narrow wall that felt somehow deserted and desolate. Well, not anymore!

The imaginary tree with canarian type birds bring the needed sun to the murky corner of that room. You can almost hear them chirping there. Sanna’s biologist background does show.

Better yet, there’s more to come. Can’t wait to see the result of Sanna’s and Lillan’s cooperation ❤

Guides and guests

28.6.2017

Service and visit guides now available at Lillan (thank you for the hint Sanna P.!) along with the post cards you can send your greetings from Lillan.

Had the honor to welcome again a lovely group to Lillan. We had real fun getting to know a bit. Thank you Merritt & Co, here’s to your honour 😀 (Picture is a link.)

(There’s first time for everything – never before had sung in front of newly arrived guests 😂)

Meringues – not sea shells – from Rosala Handelsbod

Lillan Newsletter

19.6.2017

Finally! From this day on you can subscribe yourself to the Lillan Newsletter. Latest news, greetings, events and other important, somehow Lillan related news, directly to your inbox. Welcome to join in! And remember: sharing is caring. Wink of this lovely new feature to your Lillan-minded friend as well.

Subscribe your own Newsletter here. Thank you, I’ll be in your mailbox soon ❤

Event calendar updated

12.4.2017

Markets, movies, shows, happenings. Already 497 events and more pouring in. A lot to do and a lot to see here at Kimito Islands, go and check yourself! Which are your favourites?

Spring feeling and events

19.2.2017

Sun shines so bright. Even when on minus, snow melts. You can almost sense the spring on its way ❤ Lillan, always full of light, now almost gleams!

And all the wonderful events coming. Winter holiday just started, Shrove Tuesday next week after it – traditional vinterspex at lovely Sagalund, International Women’s Day week after that. Vernal equinox, easter and traditional easter market at wonderful old verkstad in Dalsbruk (arranged by village society at 15th of April). Then the First of May and almost summer. Lillan garden at full bloom, the sea already quite different tone of blue. Now, only hints of this in the scent of the wind. So alive, so fresh. Welcome to Lillan!

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