An exciting year ahead

A big part of being happy is being excited. Being excited about everything - the sunshine that comes in through the window when you wake up in the morning, the warm and cosy bed you can stay in for a few more minutes, the fresh fruit for breakfast, the great song you listen to on your headphones while you brush your teeth, the sweet good morning message you get from a friend, the funny conversation you have with a colleague, being able to leave work early, the moments you take for yourself, the next episode of a show you like to watch, the beautiful sunset, the lovely family dinner, the extra dessert you order just because you feel like it, the meeting with friends you love, the smile of your favourite person, a walk in the warm summer rain, saving money for an album, a camera, for travelling or for your own home, the bed after a long day, the time to daydream.

Every day offers many opportunities to be happy and excited - let's never run out of the magic of the everyday and the feeling of gratitude for every beautiful moment.

2024

I have already put up the new calendar for 2024, the Pickmotion “Blütenzauber” (“A Year in Bloom”) Calendar. One of my first personal pleasures in 2024 will be turning the calendar over to the January page, because this month features one of my photographs taken in our garden. I can't think of a better way to start the year than to be reminded to keep doing what I love so much: photography. It's the third year that one or two of my photographs have been featured in the Pickmotion calendar. There are now four different versions of the calendar: the wall calendar with large format photos, the monthly planner for the more organised among us, the family planner to keep all your appointments in one place and the birthday calendar.

The birthday calendar is the newest addition and one of my favourites because it is not tied to a specific year - it is a very slim, perpetual calendar with space for all the important dates such as birthdays or anniversaries.

Let's hope that 2024 will be a year that tells a story of happiness, health, love, peace and joy. Let's look forward to all the small and big moments, the firsts, the happy repetitions of beautiful things, the birthdays and anniversaries that will make us feel excited.

If you would like to own a Pickmotion “A Year in Bloom / Blütenzauber” calendar, you can order it directly from the Pickmotion webshop (the birthday calendar is also available in English), Amazon, Thalia or Weltbild.

Happy New Year!

Tampere on film

I put my little camera in the pocket of my warm brown teddy jacket, which makes me look like a giant bear as I leave the house. It's autumn, October to be precise, and the temperatures are much colder than at home. The keys are safely tucked away in my olive bag, the gloves are on, the hat and scarf are in place and I am ready to go.

The camera is within reach. The term "pocket camera" makes sense. It fits perfectly into the pocket of my jacket. I bought this gem at an auction - it's a preowned analogue camera from 2000, a Leica C1, and it came all the way from Germany to Austria. Sometimes I wonder what this camera has already seen and captured. I am sure it has made a lot of memories over the last 23 years, maybe seen more of the world than I have or ever will.

Now the camera is with me in Tampere, Finland, a place I am quite sure it has never been before - instead of me, who has been here almost every year for the past fifteen years. Returning to a place you already know well has many advantages, but sometimes it is difficult to find new creativity because I have already taken hundreds of pictures of this city. But this camera makes everything new.

36 shots to keep and savor. My first roll of film. In a world where digital transformation and AI have become popular and everything is faster and more economical, the camera seems like a blessing. I still love my digital one and the possibilities it offers, but being limited in the number of photographs I can take and having less chance of adjusting feels good.

I feel a sense of excitement when I press the release button and hear the sound that proves I have successfully created a new memory. The process of slowing down, taking the time to frame and carefully selecting the scene before pressing the button feels pleasurable and makes me smile. It demands a lot more - a closer look, discovering details and getting the lines straight.

The days are golden in Tampere. The sun is shining brightly and there are plenty of beautiful moments to capture. Although it's really cold outside, I continue to take my last shots before I leave the country.

Developing the film turns out to be more exciting than watching a crime movie. I am not sure if any of the pictures will turn out right. If all goes wrong, all the memories captured on film are gone. I get really excited and you can hear a sigh of relief when I see the developed pictures for the first time.

The pictures look like they were taken in another decade. If someone had told me that my grandfather had taken them when he travelled up north in his caravan in the 80s, I would have believed it.

The colours and the grain make the pictures look special - perfectly imperfect. That's what it's all about, the work of getting the shot, the joy, the thrills and the smiles: just an analogue experience.

Taken with my Leica C1, Kodak Gold 200
Developed at Cyberlab

An ode to Finland

It was always there, right at the centre of my heart. Since the early days of my childhood I have been talking about Finland, not knowing where this feeling, this calling for the North, came from. Sixteen years ago I set foot on this land for the first time, and since then many steps - small and large ones - have followed.

My picture of the North has always been created - some might also say distorted - by the media. I grew up watching romantic movies set in Scandinavia, showing the most idyllic places imaginable and giving the impression that there is always summer, endless summer nights with beautiful light and romance just around the corner.
Time also seems to be a precious thing that never runs out in the North. Slowing down, and focusing on essentials have always fascinated me.

It was one of those lovely warm weeks in June that proved to be the perfect time to dive into this dreamy world and discover a bit of Nordic charm in Tampere.

Tampere Love Letter

Where sunsets last for hours. Where sweet little cafés can be found right in the middle of the forest. Where the sea sparkles and the water tickles your feet as you walk along the sandy shore. Where roses are called Austriana. Where you can be yourself.
Where wooden houses have deep colours and the most beautiful verandas. Where the smell of barbecue is the odor of the summer. Where second-hand shopping feels like a treasure hunt. Where living the best life feels easy.
Where the red brick buildings evoke industrial charm. Where you can always find a companion, even if it is a giant plushie called Elephi.
Where walks in the rain with soaking wet socks are fun little adventures. Where the fridge contains endless Geisha chocolate bars.
Where design is a must, not a nice extra. Where the forest brings you joy. Where sugar-coated lips are a nice side effect of enjoying every bite of your munkki.
Where happiness feels different, but beautiful. Where you can watch the sunrise at 4am. Where you meet your flat mates with a cup of coffee in the elevator. Where life feels good.
Where cars get professionally repaired in small garages and people wait on the pavement. Where construction paths are painted with flowers so that there is also something beautiful about them. Where places look like they were originally made for postcards.
Where the light is particularly sparkling. Where the streets are full of life and music. Where dreams can come true.
Where curiosities lighten up everyday life. Where a week flies by. Where a light breeze makes the heat bearable.
Where my favourite bench is located. Where the longing for the next reunion begins even before I have left the country. Where the sun gets celebrated and all shops close for Midsummer. Where memories will last for years, if not forever. Where a deep breath of fresh air becomes an elixir. Where my heart belongs. Where it feels like a second home.

There's a transformation that happens every time I step onto the plane. Focusing on the simple and beautiful things in life can make the difference. There's always happiness and small pleasures if you look closer and let them be.

Tampere in summer

All pictures were taken in June with my Leica Q2

Pürgg in spring time

After spending a wonderful and relaxing time in Pürgg last July, I was really looking forward to visiting this place again - this time we travelled there in May with the whole family.

We stayed at the same apartment, die Gasthaus Krenn residency and it already felt very familiar coming back to this place. The residency offers three apartments in different sizes, we stayed in the middle sized one with two bedrooms. All three apartments but also the hotel rooms of Gasthaus Krenn have a really warm and inviting atmosphere due to their interior design details, wonderful artworks, beautiful flower arrangements and amazing furniture. In the bathrooms you find a large selection of Susanne Kaufmann products.

The weather was unfortunately not too great when we were there, it was quite cold and it rained a lot. It felt like pre-season for Pürgg, the beautiful natural swimming pool was not open yet, the mountains were still covered with snow and the deckchairs, which I loved last year, were still missing on the balcony. Although the flat offers a wide range of indoor activities, such as a large selection of books and magazines, some board games and even a Playstation, I would recommend staying there at a later time, e.g. at the beginning of the summer season, to fully enjoy all aspects of this place.

Travel tips around Pürgg

Trautenfels Castle

This time we visited the museum of Trautenfels Castle, a beautiful castle in the Styrian Enns Valley, which offers impressive historical rooms like the Marble Hall as well as modern architectural elements. The permanent exhibition shows the themes of forests, animals and wood, treasures of the mountains and the natural landscape of the Enns Valley. There was also a special exhibition on the healing arts - on the history of medicine. I also liked the museum shop and bought a votive gift there - eyes, of course.

The museum is open daily from 1 April to 31 October from 10 am to 5 pm.

If you get hungry after the cultural visit, you will find a rustic fish restaurant called "Schlossteichstüberl" directly below the castle with a wide selection of fish dishes.

Hallstatt

Just 43 minutes away by car is the town of Hallstatt on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut region. Hallstatt's UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts visitors from all over the world, especially from Asia. There is also a replica of the village in China, in the province of Guangdong - the centre of the village is modelled on the Austrian town, because the combination of mountains and lake is considered as “lucky” and a wonderful place to live.

I recommend visiting Hallstatt quite early or late so that you can enjoy the town without it being crowded.

Grundlsee

As I have already heard a lot of positive things about Grundlsee, we also visited the largest lake in Styria, which is also surrounded by beautiful mountains. Every three years, the Daffodil Festival takes place at this lake, where daffodils are arranged into figures and shapes such as giant bears, dogs, owls, birds, etc. I would love to experience that one day.

Liezen

As it was raining quite heavily, we decided to go shopping and visited Liezen's ELI shopping centre with 50 different shops. Here you can find a grocery shop, many fashion shops like Kastner & Öhler, Only or Vera Moda, a bookstore, a sushi place, a bakery and a kebab shop.

Gasthaus Krenn

The reusable Postcard

On some days happiness lives in the letterbox. When you come home after a busy day at work, opening the letterbox and finding, among all the bills and piles of advertisements, a colourful postcard from a friend you haven't heard from in a long time can really make your day and bring a smile to your face.

Taking the time to sit down, picking up a pen and writing a few lines might be a bit old-fashioned, but also very lovely. The Pickmotion cards in their Polaroid retro style are perfect for it: No matter which purpose - a birthday wish, a little note of thank you, an invitation or just for fun – you can find a suitable card for every occasion.

I am fascinated by handwriting and I am always happy when I receive a handwritten letter or postcard. I already have a large box in which I have collected many letters and postcards from the past: They go back to my childhood, like letters from my best friend from whom I was separated by a move, to little love letters, birthday wishes and holiday greetings.

Pickmotion’s sustainable greeting card

Adapting to the needs of the present time and especially of the environment, Pickmotion has now developed an environmentally friendly postcard that can even be used twice.

The card comes in a package made of 100% recycled paper - completely without plastic and glue. Inside you can find a folded card that serves as a passe-partout for the postcard and on which you can write your text or wishes. By simply lifting the postcard out of the passe-partout, the card can be gifted a second time. So you can make someone happy by sending a card in an envelope and the receiver has the chance to do the same by reusing the postcard.

I am pleased that my motif "pink poppy in the garden" (ZG-1316) is part of the sustainable Pickmotion nature edition and will hopefully bring joy to many senders and recipients.

An autumnal week in Tampere

I got off the bus at midnight at the Ratina bus stop. I had often imagined what it would be like to be back in Finland after such a long time. Although it was a pitch black night, I noticed that the city had changed. Massive buildings like the Nokia arena and the surrounding buildings gave the impression that the city had grown since we last met. Had I grown too, had I changed? At the latest when I turned the key and stepped into the hallway of the old building, I noticed the smell of freshly washed laundry - memories flashed in front of my eyes - I knew I was right, I was back home.

The loft was in the middle of Tampere. It was the end of September and a little adventure was still waiting for me: my heart was warm, the radiators cold. My fluffy autumn jacket, an additional electric heater, long city walks and cuddling up in two blankets at night became my friends that week.

Sometimes I wonder how life would have turned out if everything had gone right or wrong. My plans were different this year. I should have travelled to Lapland in August, but life got in the way. Standing there at Laukontori watching the beautiful sunset made me feel so grateful: I knew I was at the right place at the right time and that there was a reason to be there at that moment.

The city walks had a therapeutic effect. The colourful leaves formed a perfect symbiosis with the reddish-brown bricks of the city's buildings. It seemed as if the city had been built to match the season. I stopped at the Pyynikki Tower a few times to get a hot chocolate and a munkki for my forest walks. Step by step - reflect - recharge. Just a week with a desire to stay longer. Memories, photos, snippets of city sounds - little impressions to collect and remember. I am sure I have changed, but the love for this city won’t go away.

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Tampere travel guide

Is it worth visiting Tampere?

If you love the Nordic countries, I would definitely say yes!
I really like the fact that city and nature are so close together and you can enjoy both without having to compromise. 

How to get to Tampere?

AirBaltic offers direct flights from Munich, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Milan, Nice, Rhodes and Riga. You can also choose Finnair (coming from Austria: from Vienna or Ljubljana airport), AirBaltic from Vienna or Lufthansa (with a stopover in Munich) to get to Helsinki and then take the train or bus to Tampere.

I booked a Lufthansa flight from Graz to Frankfurt and then changed airlines to get to Tampere with AirBaltic. The Frankfurt airport was really crowded - I would recommend getting there in time: I luckily had more than 4 hours waiting time between my flights and was only travelling with hand luggage - otherwise it would not have been possible to catch the second flight.

The Tampere airport is rather small, but nice and comfortable - you can find and get everything you need.

The bus schedule is adapted to the flights. I arrived around midnight, the bus leaves right outside the airport. You can't pay with cash on the bus - if you have a travel card, you can use this one or use a mobile ticket or pay contactless. I used bus number 103 and it took me 20 minutes to reach the city centre. The bus zones from the airport to the city centre are CBA (or ABC). For a timetable, I can recommend downloading the app "Nysse mobili", which is also available in English. You can buy tickets, but also search for the best connections directly in the app.

What to do in Tampere in autumn?

On sunny days I recommend talking walks, e.g. in the city centre, in the Pyynikki or Pispala area. The Hatanpää arboretum is also worth a visit not only in summer but also in autumn: you can still find some sunflowers there, but also wonderfully coloured trees. The Tallipiha stables are also a great place to visit and to buy little gifts for your loved ones.

On rainy days, it's time for cultural activities or a shopping trip: I would recommend visiting the Moomin Museum, Vaprikki or the Sara Hildén Art Museum. During my stay, I visited the exhibition of Brad Pitt, Nick Cave and Thomas Houseago at the Sara Hildèn musem and really enjoyed it.

It's also a great experience to find some design treasures in the second-hand shops in Tampere: My favourite second-hand shops are Kirpputori Tarina, UFF and Radiokirppis.

Where to stay in Tampere?

Personally, I prefer Airbnb apartments because it makes you feel like a Tampere resident and you have a whole place for yourself. Especially if you are staying for a longer period of time, it's a good opportunity because the apartments are well equipped and most of them have a washing machine or even a sauna in the house. If you book well in advance, you can find more than a handful of nice options. The loft I chose was right in the city centre, so I could reach everything within a few minutes. If you're more into all-round service, I would recommend a hotel: Lillan Hotel & Kök, 1.5 km from the centre, looks like a lovely boutique hotel, but also the Lapland Hotels or Unity Tampere in the Pyynikki district (which also has a great working area) are worth checking out.

What is the most beautiful district in Tampere?

Tampere is divided into many districts and most of them have their own charm. If you like Scandinavian and Nordic wooden houses, you should definitely check out upper Pispala. If you want to go for a walk near the city centre, I recommend the Pyynikki area with its nature reserve and Pyynikki Tower, which is a nice destination not only for tourists but also for Tampere residents. There you can not only enjoy a wonderful view over Tampere, but also get a munkki – a kind of donut – and a hot chocolate or a coffee.
If you like red bricks, visit the Finlayson district in the city centre. Fans of amusement parks should visit Särkänniemi - there you can also find a restaurant in the Näsinneula tower, an aquarium and the Sara Hildén art museum.

How to get around Tampere?

It's pretty easy to get around Tampere - on foot, by bike (you can rent Tampere City Bikes, for example), by scooter, by bus or by tram. The only time I used a taxi was when I had to arrive early at the airport, e.g. on weekends. Taksi Tampere is my preferred choice here. You can also download the app (also in English) and book your trip directly from there.

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Tampere in autumn

All pictures were taken in late September with my Leica Q2

Relaxing days in Pürgg

The year 2023 still feels like an open book with many blank pages waiting to be filled with memories. While editing some pictures from last summer, I was immediately reminded of this beautiful and peaceful place I visited last year and set my first vacation for 2023: I will visit Pürgg again in May!

Pürgg is a small, in my eyes romantic looking village in Styria, Austria. It is located on a small plateau with a significant view on the impressive Grimming mountain. The village has a few narrow streets which are largely for pedestrian traffic only. Pürgg is known for its two churches – “Pfarrkirche zum Heiligen Georg” (Church of St. George) and Johanneskapelle (Chapel of St. John) with its really old frecoes from the 12th century as well as for its beautiful Christmas market.

Summer vacation in Pürgg

To be honest, I did not know the village before, although it is only a 2 hours drive from home. Our cousin recommended the place to us - and so we decided to book the residency, an apartment of Gasthaus Krenn for our stay. The pictures on the website already looked great and we didn’t get disappointed: the reception was really nice, the apartment looked fantastic with all its artwork, lovely decoration and the huge balcony with a great view of the Trautenfels Castle.

I can't remember the last time I felt so relaxed as during this stay. I took a book with me and enjoyed lying on the sun lounger on the balcony listening to the leaves rustle. I couldn't think of a better way to calm down and take a rest. Walking through the little town in the morning hours was also very special - there are many second homes in Pürgg, so it is very quiet. The village has its own charm: Also worth mentioning are the natural swimming pool (“Naturbad Pürgg”) and the beautiful flower meadows.

Gasthaus Krenn

Whenever you are in Pürgg, I highly recommend checking out Gasthaus Krenn. They offer beautiful hotel rooms, a guest house and a residency. They have a small vintage looking grocery store called “Greisslerei” with lovely (regional) treasures as well as a rustic restaurant with a divine cuisine.

Pictures taken with my Canon 5D Mark III and Leica Q2.

Ljubljana in autumn

I really like the early stage of autumn, when it is still warm and you can enjoy being outside, going for  a walk, spotting all the colourful leaves and enjoying the sun. It's also a perfect time for travelling, especially for city breaks, as it is not so hot anymore and there are fewer travellers. I haven't been to Ljubljana in the last four years, so we decided to visit Slovenia's capital in October again.

How to get to Ljubljana

For day trips, we often take the car, but since we were staying overnight, we took the train. There are only a few stops from Villach (Faak am See, Jesenice, Bled, Kranj, Ljubljana) and you can be in Ljubljana in less than two hours.

Where to stay

We decided to stay in an Airbnb apartment, which was located in the old town near the town hall and the Robba fountain. The house we stayed in was built in 1580 and had a large courtyard and the living room had a beautiful wooden ceiling. Despite the fact that it was in the middle of Ljubljana, the flat was quiet and it was a great feeling to just step out of the house and be in the centre of Ljubljana.

What to do in Ljubljana

I really like it when my vacation is not completely planned and I have enough time to discover a new city without schedules. We spent most of our time walking around and chatting. One of our highlights was exploring Ljubljana in the morning hours when it was still foggy and no one was around. Especially the old town with its beautiful buildings had a lot of charm and a romantic touch.

But not only the morning hours, also the evening hours when the sun was setting were fantastic. We took a walk to Ljubljana Castle, ordered a few drinks and enjoyed the sunset above the city.

All in all it was a really nice stay with a nice accommodation, good food and lots of discoveries. I'm sure it won't be another four years until the next visit.

Ljubljanica river

Metelkova

Breakfast at EK Bistro, Ljubljana

Ljubljana castle

Pop`s Pizza Place Ljubljana

Airbnb Apartment in the center of Ljubljana

All pictures taken with my Leica Q2

Pickmotion calendar for 2023

One of my favourite subjects to photograph are flowers. I just love stepping barefoot into our garden, walking straight to the flowerbeds, watching the blossoms grow and photographing them. Their uniqueness, bright colours, different shapes and textures fascinate me - and certainly make me happy.

Researchers found out that the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions and enhances feelings, they can make us feel less depressed, anxious or upset - honestly, has a bouquet of flowers ever made you unhappy? Unless you react allergic to it - but I hope that's not the case.

I believe that flowers have a positive impact on my emotional wellbeing, and if you take a look on Instagram and check the hashtag #flowersmakemehappy, 1.7 million people currently feel the same way.

Pickmotion Calendar “Blütenzauber”

Not only do flowers belong in our garden, but I also like to display them in our home. Since their flowering time is limited to certain seasons, I'm more than happy that Pickmotion has created a flower calendar for 2023 called “Blütenzauber” - the calendar helps to create an inviting, floral space all year round.

One theme - three sizes

The Pickmotion calendar is available in three different sizes: as a wall calendar with large-format photographs, as a monthly planner and as a family planner. Each calendar has a different cover - the covers of the wall calendar and the family planner feature my pictures and there are also two of my photographs inside the calendars.

I decided to dedicate this blog post to the brand new calendar format: the family planner. The planner is a bit wider than the monthly planner and offers a lot of space to write down appointments of the family, the team or the flat-sharing community. The selection of photos is definitely a best of 2023 - each image represents a month beautifully and in addition, a lovely mindful quote has been added to the calendar page.

You can see my favourite photos from the calendar here:

Pickmotion Blütenzauber Cover (also August) | love grows here

January | winter magic

February | believe in yourself

March | spring awakening

June | enchanting world

September | small things, great happiness

December | magical moments

My photographs can be found on the cover and on the calendar pages August and December.

If you too would like to own a calendar to brighten up your days in 2023, you can use the promo code PICKMOTION25 until the end of the year to get 25% off a purchase in the Pickmotion online shop. The code is not only valid for the calendars, but also for all Pickmotion products such as postcards, magnets, bookmarks, art posters, etc. This post btw. is not sponsored.

You can also find the calendar in the Thalia or Weltbild, Buchhaus.ch online shop.

Many thanks to Pickmotion for another wonderful collaboration!

Trip to Maribor

Unexpectedly I ended up in Maribor at the end of this summer. It wasn't planned, but since another long-scheduled trip was cancelled, my sister surprised me with a short visit to Slovenia's second largest city.

I have never been to Maribor before and was quite surprised that it only takes a little more than one hour by train to reach this city from Graz. My sister chose the new B&B hotel in Maribor for us, which turned out to be a nice accommodation for our short stay.

Maribor Old Town Walk

Most of the pictures you can see here were taken during a morning walk. I cannot recommend enough getting up early, grabbing your camera and going for a walk - it has so many rewarding benefits. Firstly, the temperatures are still moderate and you don't have to shoot in the summer heat. The light is usually fantastic and gives your pictures a special touch. Most of the time the city is not crowded - so you can walk slowly and discover any new place at your own pace - it feels like you own the city because almost no one is out there yet and you have the main square and the streets for yourself.

Maribor Architecture

I liked Maribor a lot - especially because of its flaws. On the one hand, there are really beautiful buildings with breathtaking facades, but on the other hand, you can also discover very old, desolate houses. Walking through the city, you get the feeling that the streets tell their own story and you can imagine that it wasn't always easy. It feels authentic and real - because life is not only made up of infinitely beautiful moments, there are also difficult and hard times. Especially the darkest places can be inspiring and shape us the most. Something about these houses fascinates me a lot, much more than any other renovated building.

We spent three days in Maribor and because of the rain on the first day we didn't manage to do all the things we wanted to do. But I am sure it was not our last visit - since it is so close, we will definitely come back again.

Glavni Trg – Maribor’s Main Square

Plague Column

Železniški most | Blue bridge

Franciscan Church

Maribor University

Dessert shop Ilich with the best ice cream in town

Maribor Cathedral

Lent

Pyramid Hill

Mestni Park

Trije Angeli | Three Angels

All pictures taken with my Leica Q2

Munich for a day

In July a little dream of mine came true: I won tickets for the Harry Styles show at the Olympia Halle in Munich which has been sold out for years. Unfortunately I only have a few mobile phone pictures from the concert, but I can show you my Munich impressions with my Leica Q2.

My sister and I decided to add an extra day after the concert so we could do some sightseeing and shopping in Germany. Our journey to Munich started adventurously with a long and exhausting train ride with many unexpected stops - including Tyrol. Also our hotel had a few negative surprises in store for us.

Nevertheless Munich is a great city to visit. We had perfect, not too warm weather to stroll around: On the very first evening, we visited the Olympia Park and explored our neighborhood where we discovered beautiful historic buildings during sunset.

The 9€ ticket was a great opportunity to explore Munich with all kinds of public transport at a very reasonable price. Munich has so many sights, museums and great places to visit that one day is not enough to experience the city in all its facets.

We tried to do as much as possible: We tried Bavarian cuisine and ate sausages and lots (really lots) of pretzels, we had a great time in a beer garden next to the Marienkirche where we drank spezis and beers, we visited the Viktualienmarkt, the famous market in the city centre where you can find not only all kinds of fruits and vegetables, but also some nice souvenirs. Of course, we also spent some time at the Marienplatz and saw the impressive New Town Hall, which is home to the city government, as well as the Old Town Hall.

It was a great short trip; I would be happy to do it again!

Hetkinen – natural cosmetics and design items

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that every now and then I take pictures of beautiful products with a minimalist design. Luckily, after a great collaboration in 2021, Hetkinen invited me back as a brand ambassador.

As I already use their products on a daily basis and have placed them in every room of our house including my office at work, it was a really joyful task to photograph new products and share them on my Instagram profile.

About the Finnish brand Hetkinen

Hetkinen is a small company from Turku, located on the southwest coast of Finland. Since 2018, founder Mona Isotupa and her team have been developing and producing natural cosmetics and design items. All products are natural and plastic-free, even the packaging of the products is mostly made of Finnish pine wood. Recently, Hetkinen was awarded with the Finnish key flag mark - which indicates that all products are designed and manufactured in Finland. In addition, a campaign was launched this year to show that Hetkinen strictly rejects animal testing and that they stand for cruelty-free and vegan products.

All of Hetkinen's products have a stunning design. Hetkinen often collaborates with artists and designers, such as Saana and Olli, an award-winning designer couple from Turku.

From last year to this year, many products have been added to the wide product range, which consists of 18 categories, and I was excited to try out the latest products.

Hetkinen Metsä collection – inspiration from the Finnish forest and trees

“Metsä” is a Finnish word and it means forest. The Hetkinen metsä series in one of my current favourites of Hetkinen. The series consists of 12 products from a spa collection to design products for your home. If you have ever been to Finland, you might know that the Finnish forest landscape is quite unique and filled with pure raw materials such as lichen, birches, cranberries which form the basis for the sauna and spa products.
With this series everyone can enjoy the forest - even when there is no possibility to actually visit it – and have a forest spa day at home.

The Hetkinen birch hand and foot bath helps your tired as well as swollen feet and hands feel refreshed again; birch leaves are amongst other things beneficial for circulation. The lichen mask has the same circulation effect on your face - it cleanses the face deeply and provides the skin with moisture and nutrients. The cranberry cream is a dream come true: it is made from cold-pressed cranberries and smells wonderful. The mild and sweet scent of the cream comes from the northern cranberries and the essential oil of geranium.

The spa day is complete with a lovely feeling at home: therefore you can use the veggie candle called metsä and the scent diffuser metsä. I love the needles in the natural candle made from rapeseed and soy wax and the fragrance diffuser with top notes of birch, heart notes of cypress and base notes of black spruce not only smells fantastic but also looks wonderful.

Hetkinen cosmetics

This year Hetkinen kindly gifted me the pine-coffee lip balm. To be honest, I already owned one – even though I don’t drink coffee, I love the smell of coffee beans. The lip balm – which became an essential product of my daily morning routine – reminds me of freshly brewed coffee and the Finnish forest. There is no better way to start the day than with this lip balm!

One product I was particularly excited about was the sense oil. I got to try the Hetkinen rowan berry-mountain ash sense oil, which makes your skin looks healthy. It can be used for many different areas - for super dry spots on the body like elbows or knees, for the face and lips, for dry hair and it can also be used as a massage oil.

Especially in summer, it is very important for me to feel good in my skin and a great deodorant contributes a lot to this. I've been avoiding aluminum-based deodorants for years and was very excited to try Hetkinen's aluminum-free and alcohol-free deodorant. It has a creamy texture and not only removes unpleasant odours, but also moisturizes the sensitive underarm skin. I would highly recommend storing the deodorant in the fridge from time to time - the cool temperature acts as a freshness booster, but also helps to maintain the original consistency of the natural product.

Hetkinen home

Hetkinen is already known for its great veggie candles, which are a special experience due to their wooden wick and the fire-place crackling sounds. In stores and online you can find about 5 to 6 different versions/natural scents – either in square or round shape.
The melted wax burns off in beautiful layers. It reminds me of the annual rings of trees that my father and I often counted together when we went for walks when I was young.

Another beautiful wooden object with a great function is the drop wood diffuser. I just add a few drops of essential oil into the groove of the lid from where the scent unfolds. The bottle with the essential oil (there are five different scents; I picked organic eucalyptus and pine oil) can be stored inside the wooden object. The drop wood diffuser comes in different sizes. I own a small one for my workspace and a wide one for my living room. There is also a tall diffuser available.

Hetkinen summer products

All seasons in Finland have their benefits, but the best, in my opinion, is Finnish summer with its bright nights and blossoming nature. I was very pleased to see that Hetkinen has also created two products inspired by the most significant aromas of Finnish summer.

The summer seizure fragrance is a lovely scent of a lively summer that smells sweet and fresh at the same time thanks to the top notes of Finnish white rose, rose pepper and lemon. It's always a bit difficult to order a perfume online because you can't smell it beforehand, but I'm so glad I chose this one. The scent is perfect for this season: it is a light and bright fragrance for hot summer days.

But not only you, also your room can smell fantastic with the Hetkinen other summer scent diffuser. To me, the natural room scent smells very similar to the summer seizure fragrance for your body. The perfect little extra for your room, not only in summer but also in any other season.

A big thank you to Hetkinen for the great ambassador program as well as the surprise gifts. It is always a pleasure and honour to work with you!

If you want to try some Hetkinen products, visit the Mangolds shop in Graz or have a look at the official online shop. There is also the possibility to buy Hetkinen products during your flight with Finnair!

Donauwellenreiter in Althofen

My first point of contact with Treibacher had to do with the art initiative "Kunst im Werk" in 2015. In that year I started as an intern and helped to organise the concert during the summer months. I liked the tasks and the whole concept so much that I happily agreed helping in the following year again.
Now many years have passed and a lot has changed, but the Kunst im Werk concert is still one of my favourite projects at work.

Donauwellenreiter meets Kunst im Werk

Luckily, it was time for a new concert this year: amidst the industrial hustle and bustle, Donauwellenreiter played a very special concert in one of our production halls in Althofen on 18 June 2022. It is always impressive how quickly a place can change: The production hall for ferroalloys transformed into a wonderful concert location within a few hours! The whole location looks so magical and different in those colourful lights. It's always a pleasure to work with the guys from T.C. consult, who are so passionate about creating this beautiful atmosphere.

About the concert

This year's concert was all about Donauwellenreiter, an ensemble from Vienna - consisting of a violinist and singer (Maria Craffonara), a cellist (Lukas Lauermann), a pianist (Thom Castañeda) and a drummer (Jörg Mikula). It already felt nostalgic looking at the brochures from 2015 and 2016 and preparing all kinds of marketing tools for this year’s concert.

Not only the location was wonderful, but also the band virtuously played many songs from their current album "Delta". I was pleased to hear them play songs like "Le Papillon", "Nemophila", “4K” and "Jump'n'run" - my favourites from their latest album. The audience seemed to enjoy the show and the location as much as I did - the applause lasted for minutes and there were several standing ovations.

And overnight everything has changed and the venue is again a production hall for ferroalloys. But here's a proof of the wonderful concert evening, some pictures from the Donauwellenreiter gig in Althofen: