Granny's Land

Elli-Elizabeth Karmasalo was my Finnish grandmother, who had the chance to see and hold me until I was age of four. After that she only saw photographs of me. She use to send me large size velvet pajamas and long sweet chocolates, which I was preserving for months, because for me they were magic bar holders. Every time I received Christmas package from her, I would open it and look at the things inside, like it was real fairy delivery mail from the land of Dwarfs and Moose. I tell you, this magical moments have left deep memories from the foreign aromas this orange box would carry. My nostrils would go through each package, every little detail and this gifts, well they were most precious things. I wish she knew how much happiness my heart emitted from her cards and boxes. How little does little human need to feel cared for? How little I was and how this aromas are some of my strongest memories left from those days. Kiitos Iso-Äiti Elli!

Grandma Elli-Elizabeth made few attempts to meet me in Sofia in the 90's, but unfortunately this never happened. The disappointment was worst then when finding out that there is no Santa. She was my real Santa. Regardless, I have preserved half of her name, her pointy nose and gray-blue eyes. To protect himself, my father never had the dignity to assist this meeting to happen and I would grow bitter of not having the chance to remember anything of her. He also never posted the letters she gave him to send me. Sadly I received them years after she had passed away. I would probably never know why, but regardless of that, she is the root seed i carry from the north. Besides Moose, lakes, arctic waters, Nordic lights and endless forests that I love, there are of course still my father, relatives, dear friends and my partner who are keeping the Valhalla fire inside me bright. There are things that I would love to use in my future beauty projects that belong to the Nordic lands including Rhodiola Rosea, Lingonberry, Cloudberry, Bilberry, Chaga Mushroom, Pine and Tar.

Aino triptych, Axel Gallén Kallela, 1889

Ecological beauty brands made in Finland:
https://www.apteekkishop.fi/Atopik-Sensitive-Hoitobalmi-30-ml
https://www.lumene.com/fi/ingredients-page.html
https://laponieskincare.com/product/face-oil/
https://www.flowcosmetics.com/tuote/huuli-poskivari/
https://www.inari-cosmetics.com/fi/midsummer-magic-water-cream/
https://choicefinland.com/products/choice-ruusukasvovesi
https://www.yliopistonapteekki.fi/ya-naturae-kasvokuorinta-cosmos-organic-75-ml-67486.html
https://www.supermood.fi/store/pure-micellar-foam-toner/