Category Archives: Inspiration
October 16th
At this age, birthdays are not very special events but I was delighted to get a book about Burlesque from Pekka and this lovely home made note holder from my daughter! I’m working on my upcoming performance in which I use some Burlesque imagery so the book is just perfect. I’m very happy.
Despite my birthday, I decided to bake an apple pie and the kids baked Finnish pulla, yam! I cannot recall when I last baked pulla -it’s years ago- and this was definitely the first time in this house… I also managed to go for a run so the day was not so bad after all.
Johanna
Long time no see
ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival kept me very very busy but we finished the festival last week successfully. I had a great time, the works were very inspiring, touching, moving, disturbing, fun and everything the works of ANTI should be.
Now I’m moving my thoughts towards my new upcoming performance and although it still feels very distant and strange, I’m beginning to get excited. That’s good. So I’ve been sorting out rehearsal schedules and it looks like it’s somehow going to be possible to create. I think.
I’ve been so happy about my green coat. This is a coat I bought years ago in Stavanger in Norway from a fair trade shop. I somehow fell in love with the color although it was otherwise a bit strange. I thought it was kind of too long for me, the buttons were strange and there weren’t enough of them and it had weird velcro straps that were supposed to close it but it didn’t really work. I think I wore it a few times in Stavanger but I don’t remember having worn the coat ever in Finland because it was somehow…. strange…
Anyway, as I was complaining that I cannot afford to buy a new coat for the autumn (my old black one is seriously worn out), I suddenly remembered the green coat! I thought I could bring it to a dressmaker and get it somehow redone so that it could become my ‘new autumn coat’. So that’s what I did and I’ve been wearing it a lot. Warm, funky color – and it’s new without buying anything new!
Shoes Minna Parikka, stockings Wolford, scarf Marco Polo
I had a little break from training during the extremely busy ANTI days but I did participate in the ANTI 10K – Run Write Run! It was actually the first time I ran 10k after my knee surgery. My knee still feels a bit weird but it was ok. It didn’t hurt but I couldn’t run very hard either. I had a shorter run the other day and my knee was a bit achy and I felt the same yesterday in the functional training. So I have to be careful.
Now I’m off to town with my daughter on our bikes. It’s not winter yet.
Johanna
busy autumn days
Days and weeks just fly past as I’m so busy with the upcoming ANTI Festival, planning my new production, training and just the normal daily life. I caught again some kind of virus and have a flue which is really annoying. It’s not very bad at the moment and I went to quite hard functional training on Friday and Nordic walking today. I also have a Kinesis training today. I hope the flue doesn’t get worse. I was planning to have a dinner with Rosie Dennis tonight but Rosie, who arrived in Kuopio yesterday, had also woken up with a sore throat so we decided to dine another day. But I’m really looking forward to meeting Rosie tomorrow! It’s more than a year ago since I last saw her.
Yesterday I quickly popped into town to see if the local Marimekko shop had this skirt.
Those of you who have seen my Acts of Clothing performance know that I have mixed feelings about Marimekko but there are usually one or two items in their collections that I like. And the Marimekko shops in Kuopio NEVER have them. I don’t understand who makes the choices what they buy in and on what basis! So I already knew yesterday that they won’t have the skirt or that it would be very unlikely that they would, but just to be a pain in the ass, I went and asked anyway. And of course the answer was no. So not much reasons to visit the shops…
On Thursday I finally got my green coat from the dressmaker where it was fixed. It’s a coat I’ve bought in Stavanger, Norway, some years ago but it never really suited me. It was too long and the buttons were strange and one of them came off etc. So as I was feeling fed up with my worn out black coat, I suddenly remembered that maybe something could be done to the green coat to make it wearable. So it was shortened, buttons were changed and more buttons added. And now I love it! I will take a picture of it soon and post it here. The green is rather intense and I’m sure some people will hate it. But I’m really into it. In fact, I bought a pair of Wolford’s green tights to match the coat. And I’m sure it will look great with the United Nude Fold shoes that Gregg in bringing me from London. I can hardly wait!
Oh, last week I was again asked to become a candidate for the parliament election but I said no. I’m honored to be considered a candidate but it’s really not on my agenda, maybe some day, but not now.
Anyway, another crazily busy week ahead but so exciting. It’s almost ANTI time with an amazing selection of international artists and w wonderful conference and seminar programme. I’m sooooo much looking forward to it all.
Hope to see you all around.
Johanna
interior design
I’ve dreamed about the Kartell Bourgie lamp for years and finally bought it today. Actually, I was out looking for an armchair – something I’ve searched for a while now but haven’t found the right one. Either they don’t please me aesthetically, they cost a fortune or the ones that would fit into our house don’t provide the comfort and functions I would like. So I bought the Bourgie, which I absolutely love and which I think suits our bedroom perfectly. Or what do you think?
A few weeks ago I bought the Luhta Home bedcover and pillow cases which I think suit very well the Cole & Son Malabar wallpaper.
Johanna
Jee!
Lumene is back with a loose powder, this time translucent mineral powder! I haven’t tried it yet but refuse to think that it wouldn’t be at least as good as the old loose powder. To my total surprise, I learned some time ago that Lumene had stopped making the loose powder, which I had used for years both in my private life as well as on stage. Occasionally, I tired other loose powders as well (Chanel, Dior, Blasco…), but always came back to Lumene. So I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. I tried Chanel, Max Factor and the latest try was Loreal but I wasn’t satisfied! So when I was in Helsinki, complaining to my friend Maija how badly the Loreal powder was doing the job, she later texted me that Lumene is back with a new mineral loose powder. So today when I quickly popped into town and Anttila’s second floor, I looked if the powder was there and yes it was. I didn’t hesitate for a minute. There was also a Lumene representative in the shop (wearing Nanso’s dress) and I quickly told her how devastated I had been when they stopped making the loose powder. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one as they had received so many complaints that now they finally came back with a new one. I’m not a total fan of Lumene but there are a few products I do like, for example the Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum. Today, inspired by the powder and the representative, for the first time I bought their Wild Rose Lipstick in a new wonderful vintage red color called Joy of Brightness. I’ve only tested it tonight but feels good.
In Helsinki I met with my web master and discussed about updating the site. One thing I’ve been thinking a lot is whether I should remove the blog from the site and have it somewhere separately. He and few other people I’ve talked about it with, think that I should keep the blog on this site (we will remove it from the front page, though). They say that my life is my work and my work is often about the everyday, the observations about the everyday, the small and sometimes insignificant things that occur, happen and I come across. But it is exactly posts like this that I’m hesitating to post on this site! I’m very conscious of writing about my interest and inspiration of design –weather it’s about design of furniture, cutlery, clothes or shoes-, fashion, traveling etc. People have such strong views of high & low art although it is often exactly that boarder that my work also touches…
Anyway, in Helsinki I also had a heated discussion with one choreographer whether my work is dance. Maybe more about that in another post!
Johanna
Helsinki days
Shows of Acts of Clothing in the Ateneum theatre in Helsinki went really well. It was great to experience so many people being touched and moved by the work. It was also a real pleasure to be hosted by the producer Mika Väyrynen and the technical crew which was just great. I want to thank especially Timo who run all the shows. Everything went smoothly and well.
Mika took me to the concert of Paula Koivuniemi which took place in the Huvilateltta. It was just great! And I became a fan of Paula Koivuniemi. So much that I sent my son today in the rain back to town to buy Paula’s Rakkaudesta cd.
In Helsinki I managed to have some business meetings, see some work and some friends, too. It was a luxury to stay in Töölö which is a very nice and central part of Helsinki. At last I remembered to return my Lustwear socks which I’d bought sometime last year but which didn’t suite me at all. Hammi promised me to change them but I don’t know how many times I’ve been in Helsinki and not remembered to take the socks with me… I changed the socks into a kind of scarf since there’s no way I could afford at the moment one of their wonderful coats… In Stockmann I found the new Shock Absorber run bra on sale so now I’m also a very happy owner of a new black running bra.
The only down fall was that I caught a cold which didn’t really effect my show last night but today I woke up in the middle of the night feeling just terrible. The train journey home was a nightmare and I’ve been feeling really ill and bad all day, mostly sleeping and sipping tea. I really would like to go to work tomorrow but I don’t know if I can.
Maybe more about Helsinki in the next post and about one rather disappointing performance I saw…
Johanna
Riga & Cesis & Helsinki
Last week I spent five days in Latvia. First I had two days off which I spent with Pekka in Riga and then we travelled to Cesis for the Cesis Art Festival and Care to Create conference where I gave a talk / discussion with Eric de Visscher.
The contemporary are festival was a great experience and I enjoyed both the programme and the conference a lot. And it was wonderful to meet so many collegues from Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Iceland. The opening of the festival including the concert of contemporary music titled Joy was a real experience.
Riga:
My hair pin from Akiko, sunglasses Ray-Ban Jackie Ohh, handbag LumiAccessories, T-shirt Paco Chicano
Cesis:
My dress Vero Moda ‘Very’ collection, handbag LumiAccessories, shoes Minna Parikka
My glasses Dolce & Gabbana
Right after returning from Latvia, I travelled to Helsinki to work with Gregg and Laura on the ANTI Festival. Despite the heat, we had a great time. By surprise, we also found Gregg telling stories about Bob Dylan in the exhibition in Kiasma! That was part of Johanna Lecklin’s Story Café which has also been shown at ANTI. There were actually quite a few ANTI artists in the exhibition; Antti Laitinen, Eeva-Mari Haikala, Seppo Rennvall, Marja Mikkonen…
Now I’ve been preparing for my ACTS OF CLOTHING performance at the Full Moon Dance Festival in Pyhäjärvi where I’m off tomorrow. It’s been rather sweaty – the all time heat record of Finland was beaten today, +37,2 celcius degree…
Johanna
busy and sweaty summer days
The last weeks have been crazy in the ANTI office. We finally launched the 2010 programme and new website on Monday and I thought I’m able to have some holiday… it didn’t really work out as something unexpected came along and I’ve been busy sorting that out. Oh well. I still have to go to the office on Monday but after that I will be on holiday until the conference in Cesis, Latvia. That isn’t much so I really have to try hard to get my mind off work but it might be a challenge as I have to prepare for my talk in the conference… But I’m really looking forward to spending a few days in Riga and Cesis! 

It has been a bit busy at home, too.
Many passersby on their summer holiday lodging for a few nights and my daughter’s birthday party. But today was a celebration as we finished the home made table for our roof terrace. So far we haven’t had any table and I’ve been complaining about that so much and just dreamed of being able to dine outdoors. Now we finally can and already did! So nice. The table might not be 100% perfect but I love it already. I didn’t do much, only some painting…
The Toy chairs by Philippe Starck, Essence Pitcher by Iittala, design Alfredo Häberli. 
It might be that Iceland is calling again…
Essence glass, wine is my new summer favourite Lindemans Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon blanc, MacBook Pro, Mondo travel guide. 
Although it has been really hot, I’ve tried to push myself to runs regularly. The running skirt has been excellent in this kind of weather and I’ve really enjoyed my runs. Acts of Clothing shows are coming up so I’ve also been motivated. My operated knee has been better but I’m not up for really long runs with it yet. But that’s ok.
Sunglasses Jackie Ohh Ray Ban, running top Nike Fit, running skirt & shoes Asics, footpod Polar, iPod suffle.  
So yes, my daughter turned 8 and got this gorgeous bicycle as a present from the whole family including grandparents and great grandparents… She was so happy and I’m really pleased we can cycle more together. Her bicycle is Helkama Jasmine, mine is Aino and my son’s Jopo…
Birthday cake and muffins baked by her sisters…
Wishing you all beautiful summer days.
first flowers in the garden
I’ve been so busy that I’ve had no time to focus on the garden -and I’m not a garden fanatic like Aila for example. But still the first flowers in the garden bring me so much joy! My daughter got this idänunikko from Aila last year and it opened its first flower a couple of days ago. Also the japaninakileija in the background (small & delicate) is blooming – and it’s also from Aila…
My daughter is working hard in the garden and it’s beautiful to watch how inspired and committed she is. We had such a lovely time a few weeks ago when we planted seeds of carrots, spinach, salad, peas and sunflowers…which are all growing already.
My weekend will be filled with rehearsals of Acts of Clothing, Milk and ANTI Festival stuff like EU excels… But today I felt inspired as I had a meeting with Sonja and a little chat about my upcoming work.
Johanna