It’s been a while since I added a really interesting blog to my blog roll, so I’m delighted to share a new favorite link with you today: Ukkonooa. As the name suggests, this is a foreign blog, written by Maija, a Finnish visual artist currently living in the UK.

Ukkonooa is fresh, simple and surprising. Look through the archives and you’ll find an inspiring collection of healthy recipes, fun upcycling/craft activities, handmade clothes (with links to tutorials), flea market finds, decorating tips, and much more.

Maija’s sweet daughter is one lucky little girl.  Let me show you why…

Whether it’s a pretty painted cabin made from a large cardboard box or a dream of a dollhouse furnished with flea market finds, Maija’s creative flair, as I’m sure you’ll agree, is outstanding.

I absolutely adore the bunnies and little chimney on her daughter’s cardboard house (look at the matching star necklace), and I love all the details in the dollhouse, which Maija originally bought second-hand and unfurnished.

Maija’s daughter’s handmade clothes are both stylish and fun. Maija has a real talent for sewing and a keen eye for sourcing bright, modern and vintage fabrics. She upcycles, adapts, prints, and invents, always making sure nothing is wasted.

Ukkonooa is filled with wonderful vintage finds picked up at flea markets throughout the UK and Finland. I love Maija’s taste in toys, especially all the wooden ones she brings home.

I’m equally impressed by her ability to mix old and new, as demonstrated in this simple child’s space she created and with the original mobile she made for her daughter’s nursery.

Ukkonooa is a treasure trove of a blog — these images are merely the tip of the iceberg. Don’t be put off by the Finnish; Maija has started writing in English, and you can always use an online translation tool.

Pictured at top of post: Wooden Circus Toy by Janod.