Entrepreneur's Diary – Now Where's That Camel Again?

Well, well. Looks like I’ve once again performed my magic trick called “Oops, three months vanished.”Spring flew by so fast I could barely keep my hair in place. As an entrepreneur and, in my own words, a “lady boss,” I’ve been pulled in every direction – but I have to say, it’s been wonderful. Even if I’ve sometimes forgotten what day of the week it is… or that socks can, in fact, be washed occasionally.

The sun is shining again this morning with its gentle summer rays, and I find myself thinking about everything I’ve been up to. So: what has the queen of creative chaos actually been doing?

The Kingdom of Craft Workshops – From Tufting to Mosaics

Well, tufting courses, of course! They’ve been run with a big smile, breathing in yarn dust, tufting gun in hand. And now, guess what – I’ve started exploring the secrets of mosaic art too. That’s right – the goal is to expand the range of workshops and attract more enthusiastic craft souls into the world of mosaics.(Spoiler: lots of glue is involved, and tiles stick to your fingers… sometimes permanently.)

Entrepreneurship, by the way, is a whole art form of its own. If I had known beforehand how much micro-hustling it involves, I might’ve packed a camelback for the journey. Seriously – lugging stuff from one place to another, constantly picking up and sending off parcels, hardware store runs for glue and tools… and of course, "power maintenance" for tufting guns, because what’s more fun than playing engineer without training?

Teacher Lost, Artisan Found

I don’t regret my career change for a second. In my former life, I was a visual arts teacher. I liked it, sure, but my heart longed for something else. So I started from scratch.

I spent my childhood in Laajasalo, that seaside paradise in Helsinki, where the rocks invited us to race and we ate so much ice cream that even my lactose tolerance was confused. As a teen, we moved to Vantaa – shoutout to Tikkurila! New neighborhood, new adventures.

After high school, I bounced around a few schools: in Järvenpää, Laajasalo, and eventually followed my dreams abroad. I applied to study art in England – and I got in! Photography swept me off my feet, first in Sunderland and later in Manchester.

And before I knew it, I was in teacher training. Then, through London, I ended up in North Sudan, Hong Kong, Thailand… I experienced the famous sandstorms, ate some grilled scorpions in Cambodia, and had jellyfish stings on my belly. Honestly, no one warns you about those mini sea mines while snorkeling in Bali.

Every day life follows you everywhere, but it was a life rich in stories. And now, back home in Finland, I finally get to do what I’ve always dreamed of.

The Joy of Working with Hands – And a Wild Kingdom of Color

I’ve always been the creative type – the one who’d rather doodle on the edge of a test paper than answer the questions. Writing, crafting, DIY, making things… anything, as long as I could get a little messy and use colors.

I’ve done all kinds of jobs: cashier, cleaner, bartender, flight attendant, babysitter, even a handyman (don’t ask). But now, it finally feels like I’m home. This is my thing – though I have to admit, the life of a craftsperson is anything but easy.(Actually, I should write a whole blog about it. Really. “Confessions of a Craftsperson” or something like that.)

Summer, Workshops, and a Little Break – Welcome to Join!

The future is hard to predict – my crystal ball is still in for repairs and coffee grounds only give me anxiety. But one thing is certain: I sincerely hope people find their way to the tufting and mosaic courses over the summer.And especially you – who love color, joy, and creativity – you’re warmly welcome to come brainstorm, experiment, and create!

🌸 Here are the last June workshops you can still sign up for:

• Thursday, June 12, 2–5 PM – Mosaic Workshop: 40 cm garden butterfly

• Saturday, June 14, 11 AM–3 PM – Children’s Day in Iittala: Walk-in mosaic workshop for kids (Location: Iittala Village)

• Wednesday, June 25, 2–6 PM – Tufting Course

• Saturday, June 27, 10 AM–2 PM – Tufting Course

☀️ And then – the boss lady is taking a small but well-earned break in July, so she can hit the ground running again in the fall!So: if you want to join a course while you’re still in that summer vibe, or are desperately looking for a bachelorette party activity – now’s a great time to grab a spot.

Welcome to the studio – whether you're a tufting newbie or a seasoned glue king, no one leaves without color (or possibly a little glue on their fingers).

Ateljee PiccoloPalokunnankatu 9, 3rd Floor (Elevator available)

Bookings: ateljeepiccolo@gmail.com

WhatsApp: 045 787 55 817

Instagram: @ateljeepiccolodesign