Stories

Our first meeting with Jaana Klami in Estonia gave us cooperation ideas very quickly. We agreed to visit them in August during Loviisa’s Old Houses Days from August 26th to 27th, where I could make a small exhibition and get acquainted with handicraft promoting and cooperation forms of this community.

We arrived on August 25th and a journalist Hannu Lahtinen, with whom we chatted all the way, was expecting me at the harbour. An article at Pyhtäänlehti about me and my undertakings was born from this conversation. In the evening I put up my exhibition with Jaana at Handicraft shop called Loviisa Hulda Huolettoman.  The shop is a possibility for local handicraft makers to sell their products in three shops and summer sales for tourists. All costs are being covered solidarily and everybody must make sale days – that means to work two or three days a month in the shop. All this is being organized by Jaana Klami. Jaana Klami’s work is praiseworthy.

Handicraft can be one of possibilities for earning some extra money or a pleasant hobby. As here, the problem for handicraft makers is valuing their work. Through all these days I heard and saw how they all supported each other, discussed about their products, materials, quality and price. And made early plans for Christmas sales.

There were handicraft makers with their exhibitions from far away at Loviisa’s Old Houses Days Handicraft Fair. There are similar cooperation networks and handicraft shops in other places in Finland. Rules are different only in details, but basic principles are the same – cooperation makes stronger and costs are smaller. Together, the quality of products can be improved and choices can be broadened. My flower-coats got a lot of attention. People wondered about work volume and wanted to find out about my technology. And this is one of possibilities to develop our cooperation.

Looking forward to our meetings in the future!

Janika from Jaanioja Handicraft Farm