E-magazine Llamas' valley by Lamų slėnis

December 2011 1(7)

perfect places - imperfect people

We will probably never be perfect. But we’ll keep on looking for perfect places, for every day wonders, for cosiness, and delicious recipes of perfect life. Enjoy! “Llamas’ valley”

Editor: Algė Ramanauskienė

Designer: Eligijus Ramanauskas

Photographers: Augis Narmontas, Robertas Riabovas

Advertising: advertising@llamasvalley.com

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Cover story Jeweller Jurga Lago says that beauty hides in simplicity. And she likes contrasts: easy - hard, solid - open work, luxurious - naive... The founder of jewelry home “Yurga” has finished her first collection for New York. And she is certainly not going to stop! We talked to Jurga at her cozy apartment in Vilnius. With cups of Spanish tea in our hands, and bright smiles on our faces. Cover: Pendant “Hunting” (collection “Dark love”) Jeweller: Jurga Lago Photo: Jewelry house “Yurga”

Ask yourself. Lino Lago

Made in Lithuania

A bird in a masculine world of jewellers

Knock knock knockin’ on designer’s door...

Freedom without a business plan

36 s a m t s i r h C e k i l s l l Sme 120 e

guid Unique gift

The idea

Desaturation

Designer: Eglė Balčiūnaitė Photography: Augis Narmontas

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Ask

yourself

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Photography: Augisvalley Narmontas llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Ask

yourself I’m supposed to ask myself about important things, or what I am supposed to care about. - What is important? - I would say this question is impossible to answer as long as we understand that human beings are all the same, both in Vilnius and in Beijing. We share the same basic interests and necessities. We also have the same goals, but we use different methods to achieve them. I think it is unfair to make one’s living exploiting the so-called “small details” as differences between a Catholic and a Muslim, a gay or a “normal-as-god-and-nature-commands”. This creates a huge problem for everybody to get what we really care about, what I and all of us need: a worthycalm life. I think that we all need to face the real interest behind our acts and philosophy of life. You could say that everybody has it clear, that it’s too obvious, but I do not see it so clear. Instead of honest relation between people (even with ourselves) and countries, we find masks everywhere.

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- Who am I? - I consider myself an animal on the planet, without a clear conscience of what we so easily call reality. We live in a continuous abuse of the so-called objectivity, when each person has it’s (stupid) point of view on everything. All of us would have a better life, if we would only accept this disappointing fact. It’s frustrating to see people fixing themselves, and their habitat according to otherworldly rules. It’s simply madness.

- What I do? - A person I admire says, “Work it’s just the worst thing in this world and the proof is that they “pay for it”. I must say that I have never worked in my whole life. I ask myself why I spend most of my time painting (in a hard way - I must tell), and the rest of the time just thinking about my next work. Painting is something I have been doing for ages. My parents say that when I was very little, I would spend all the time drawing, if I only had a pencil in my hand. Later in school, I was the worst student I knew. I spent all the time in class drawing. Afterwards, this mania became a way to make a living. That, on one hand is sad.

Lino Lago Spanish painter Lives in Lithuania Honorable mention in “XXIV Premio BMW de Pintura” competition (November, 2009) http://www.linolago.net/

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Ask

- What I want? - All we want in life is to live as healthy, and as happy as possible. Whoever contradicts, is simply a liar. I would like all of us to understand, that this is the only condition to make it work. I know that you get only when you give. There are doctors, teachers, politics, neighbors, etc., in our surroundings, and they are not wolves (they should not be). It’s sad to live in a place where the notion of people around us is exactly this. I am not talking about Lithuania.

- What do you like and dislike? - I like (in this, or any other order) myself (sometimes). I like my wife, my sons (almost all of the time), friends (but I don’t have many). Money. Peace (not that peace from the idyllic nature). Big cities. To share. Changes. +38 degrees Celsius. Beach. Risk. Critic. Immigrants (I like to see Muslims, Chinese and others on the streets, without forgetting “the ones from Mars”: gays). Urs Fischer (there are many artists I like). From Lars Von Trier to “Transformers”. Books, but not poetry. I like essays, narrative stories (now Peter Sloterdijk, Pynchon, unexpectedly Murakami). Punctuality. Nice food, and other body pleasures, such as sex, or being a spectator of the smile of my children (you will ask: how can I compare these things?). I like marihuana too. I don’t like Fanatics. Politics (these, I could say, I hate. I never vote). Violence (it seems that there are people who like it). Religion (scary). Snow. Thinking twice to choose a path.

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yourself

- Lino, are you not too utopian?… mocking us? - No.

- I believe I said all I could say, so… Let’s talk about the crisis? - It seems an important issue, because everybody talks about it. I think (in my poor opinion) that we are governed by stupid people. It is not even worth thinking about them. One day we will see clearly, that we do not need those kings, presidents, ministers, mayors, etc. Just the way nobody needs priests, bishops or popes now (who could understand life without them 100 years ago?). I can speak about Spain, because I read Spanish news. The money was wasted in stupid ways and those, who still have it, keep it in “tax havens”. They have the wealth to end hunger in the world 4 times over (if we believe what is needed is to end hunger in the world). But politics need funds for their electoral campaigns... that’s the point.

Jovita Pipiraitė Jelena Šaučikovienė Interior designers Co-founders of studio “Mano lietuviški namai” (My Lithuanian Home) www.mlnshop.com Photography: Augis Narmontas

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Made in Lithuania

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Made in - How is “Mano lietuviški namai” preparing for Christmas? Jelena: We are making Christmas wreaths, baking cookies. Jovita: We have ordered wooden carved hearts, braided lambs, and thin candles from real wax things that have a symbolic reference to the meaning of Christmas Eve.

colate from her Advent calendar every morning. There are more and more empty boxes in the calendar each day. Of course, I won’t tell you that she will be eighteen soon... It’s also very nice to know what your relatives secretly dream of, and not to let out you already thought about it... When it’s snowing quietly outside on Christmas Eve, you can feel that cozy bustle at home, the smell of a clean tablecloth, mother cooking in the - What’s so special about this festive period kitchen, preparing something that she prepares for you personally? And tell us about your only THAT day. Christmas. Jelena: Well... I definitely cannot say that I hate - What are the stories of things, which can Christmas... It’s special, because that’s the only be found in your studio? Where do they come time of the year when I cook cepelinai (tradition- from, who creates them? al Lithuanian dish from meat and potatoes). It’s Jovita: Some things we create ourselves. But it also special, because my children still believe that is a long way from the first thought until the item Santa Claus comes to us down the chimney, drinks becomes reality. Along the way we meet many our milk and eats our cookies... Usually our fam- people. We find it very important to get to know ily stays at home for Christmas. all of them. Sometimes I think we are lucky. That Jovita: Every year I become more and more in- is one of the main reasons why it is worth starting tolerant to that shopping fever, when supermarkets any activity. Otherwise, you wouldn’t know how become overcrowded, and when they start glisten- many helpful, creative, diligent, and nice people ing from the end of October, when the discounts exist. We create things that we can’t find in our begin. People are forced to buy unnecessary things, surroundings, or if we find them, they are not quite coated with golden glossy powder... But it’s very how we want them to be. Every time somebody nice to see my sleepy daughter picking a little cho likes what we create - we are very happy.

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Some things stay in our studio after special people find us. For example, Vaida’s baskets, Ieva’s and Skirmante’s ceramics, loungewear by “Muku”, etc. We are dreaming of creating a catalogue of our Lithuanian home - from a rug to a toothbrush. And it doesn’t matter how long it will take.

thing: manifestations of pride, naivety, a hidden moderation, a clear dependence to some social group, and heat, overflowing that all. And I’m not talking about money, or integrity of style. But if we talk about what I personally could call a Lithuanian home, that would probably be reserved, tasteful, arranged with quality, full of - Do you remember the day, when the idea “real” things, that grow old very beautifully, not to create “Mano lietuviški namai” came up? overcrowded by artistic expression, but decorated What was the very beginning? with high quality art. Jovita: After millions of cups of coffee and endless conversations, we took a lot of creative am- Does your home look alike to what we see bitions and national pride, a bit of venturesome in your studio? and blind faith, also a little bit of constant doubts, Jelena: In some way - yes: natural wood, wool, professional experience, curiosity, and we mixed ground (earth) colors. it all. We’re still improving it, even now. Jovita: Yes. - Can you already answer the question to yourself: so what does a Lithuanian home look like? What are the colors, fabrics, shapes, ideas of it? Jovita: I’d say I know what a Lithuanian’s home looks like. It’s endlessly different, just like the people are. I have no doubt, that home is a mirror of a person’s inside. You come in and see every-

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- The coziest corner at your home? Jelena: Of course, it’s our kitchen. Well, also a sofa corner with a woolen plaid, and knitting needles in my hands. Jovita: My bed, where I can bring a warm plaid, a cup of tea, a computer, a few books, a notebook, my telephone, and a lot of other great things with me.

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Tasteful, arranged with quality, full of “real” things

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- New York is a new stage of your career. How did that happen? - It happened almost a year ago. We are working step by step with my partner designer Patty Tobin. She is well known over there. We work together on a big project. It should come true next spring. We want to open a showroom in New York. At the moment my jewellery can be found in her New York boutique. I’m preparing for the showroom very seriously. I have to work physically - to create jewellery and accessories, and at the same time - to observe the market. Part of my works that I send to New York, come back. Because it appears, it’s not suitable for this city. New Yorkers are very choosy, they have seen a lot, you don’t have to surprise them. They need quality, they value originality, and the works also have to be interesting. Among my clients there are a lot of creative people from the art or show business world. There are some very well known names. By the way, one of them should get my jewellery tomorrow! New York amazed me. I could stay there, somewhere near the airport entry...

A bird in a masculine world of jewellers Jurga Lago Lithuanian designer Founder of jewelry house “Yurga” www.yurga.lt Photography: Augis Narmontas

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In jewellery it’s a bit different than it is in fashion. If you make a dress for a celebrity, it’s enough for her to show up in publicity. Jewellery is about Precious metals, expensive jewels. I have never signed an agreement of confidentiality or given vows of silence. But a lot of jewellers do that. It is very tricky. After all, there are some inherited and expensive things, some secret information, so you’d better stay quiet, and you won’t have any problems. Sometimes in jewellery the main role goes to the stone. Sometimes you work as a designer, you create from the very beginning to the end. And the piece you’re creating should fit into fashion, it should reflect a person’s whole life. Yes, I know my clients very well. - Where is the boutique in New York located? - It’s in Chelsea, a very beautiful neighbourhood in Manhattan. The most precious art galleries are located there. It’s a neighbourhood of artists and Bohemia... I love everything over there, so I can’t really be objective. - Tell us about your collection for New York. - During the last six months it got it’s final shape. Now I am sure, which direction I will go. My weakness became my strength. I studied graphics, and I am a woman in a masculine world of jewellers. So when I started working with metals, the plane surfaces attracted me so much. All the jewellers, first of all my father, who was my greatest teacher, were saying, “Jurga, why do you care so much about the plane? Jewellery is about spherical, three-dimensional things, you have to concentrate on the volume.” But during all those creative years I didn’t make any of those spherical works. I just didn’t like it. And today I’m creating absolutely plane jewellery, those pieces are plain like television... They also have drawings. It’s very interesting for me.

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I know my clients very well - So you needed to get to USA to find once again things that are so close to you? - No, I wouldn’t say that. In Europe, we have a lot of things. The world is getting even more cosmopolitan. For the first time, between ten of the best New York designers there is a Vietnamese (and if you are on that list, it means you are the best). And you can hear even more and more exotic names. Before some time it seamed impossible, there was only London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo. Today we talk about Iran and Iraq - they also have

some interesting designers, musicians. Lithuania is also very interesting, just like all the other unheard-of countries, strange names and cultures, but I don’t say - the better ones. We don’t have that nomadic gene. My parents didn’t travel anywhere. When you don’t see the world, you start thinking that you are better than others. And so we are. Just as much interesting, as Vietnam or Iraq. So this collection is a comeback to plane, to beautiful glossy surface, to polished metal. I just found the plain once again in all possible forms:

with enamel, polished silver, gold, opaque plane. - Every collection is also a discovery of something new, right? - Yes. This collection has a lot of enamel, it’s a complicated technique. For the first time I was drawing a realistic drawing for my jewellery. Earlier I used graphics. I was a good drawer, and I liked etching a lot. But I never used it after I finished my studies. So this was the first time, when llamas’ valley

I I was drawing on the jewellery. It’s sort of a comeback to where I come from. The stones I used for my pret-a-porter collection are brilliants and semi-precious stones. There is also a collection “Yurga De Luxe”. That would be 18 Carat gold, brilliants, rubies, emeralds, sapphires. That collection is in Spain at the moment. In February we will make a presentation in Lithuania. After that is will fly to New York. The major part of my works are being produced in Spain. Here, in Lithuania, my studio is located, here I live, here I create the first prototypes. But everything, that is precious, goes to Spain. Because the Lithuanian laws leave no

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chance for a jeweller to work here. We can’t change the system. - Do you remember the moment, when you decided to move to the next level and show your works to the world? - Oh... The major personal exhibition I had was held in The National Museum of Decorative Arts in Madrid. And what was the first exhibition… It probably was held in Gotland, Sweden. Today I am 37. Half of those years I have spent here, still in that Soviet system. I was quite conscious, when the Independence came. I still felt the closure, the inability to escape, when you’re not allowed, when

I work half of the day, another half I create

you feel the hunger for everything. People say that women from Eastern Europe are like predators. But they didn’t have anything, that is why they have the will to EAT and LOOK. I also wanted to escape. I traveled through Europe hitchhiking, I took all the possibilities to show my work to the world. - Are there any principles you follow in your creation? I heard you say that beauty lies in simplicity... - That simplicity is sometimes so complicated... Simple things usually are the most complicated ones. By creating you have to be honest, you don’t

have to put your nose where you don’t understand something, you have to know very well where you are going. I’m talking about techniques, because there are a lot of innovations. But if you wander, it’s very easy to loose your way. Talking about that beauty in simplicity... I remember that all the time, but... I’m hyperactive! I can’t stay for long in one place. Physically. Luckily, at the moment I have a lot of activities: it’s business, it’s art, it’s design and creation... All in one. I like it, because I have to plan my time very strictly. I work half of the day, another half I create. Then I go to some lectures about business management, and also to language courses. But if I had only, let’s say, to manufacture spoons, I probably would hang myself on that spoon... My partner in New York is just like me. But she is completely different in her creation. She is a living classic. A lot of Carats, purity, a lot of color, volume. Sometimes I look at her, and start thinking how beautiful that is, but I would never wear it... Her works are really perfect, but not for me. We are just like black and white. - Jurga, what do you find beautiful in life? - What a simple question! And the most complicated one at the same time... For me children are beautiful. When my two sons were born, my creation changed. Now I also create for children. There is nothing more beautiful than a little human, a little hand, a little foot. Of course, it’s nature, but it’s so beautiful watching a little man growing, how he finds a world for himself, then comes the adolescence, it’s also so great. It really inspires a creator. In some way, you live three lives: your own, you also experience your own childhood and... you go to school with your elder one. I hated school, and now I have to experience that again. It’s a great challenge for me. I would say, the contemporary youth is so positive. They are fantastic. They are different. Absolutely resistant to the advertisement, to marketing, they are suspicious.

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Beauty is also important to me. We, artists, are all sensitive to beauty, our surrounding has to be aesthetic, we want to be surrounded by beautiful people. Who are beautiful people? It has to be an interesting person. Good music, films, constant movement, being able to explore the world, not to be stuck in one place – that is important. I do believe one can live in a countryside seeding potatoes, and to see beauty in that. But that’s one in a million. I just mean, if you are talking about beauty, you have to see the ugliness. I really love Lithuania. And that is why I keep criticising it. With time running, I become more and more intolerant to intolerance. I’m quite diplomatic, but sometimes you just have to shut some people up. Sometimes we lose a lot by being closed. In all senses: in art, design, culture. We are very gifted, but not more gifted than, let’s say, Scandinavians. - And what is a beautiful home for you, as I know you just moved into a new apartment? - Home is home. It’s really different for everybody. My home it is a home of a hyperactive woman… There have to be only a few things around, only the most necessary ones. It also has to be very cosy. I don’t like the strict order, but I love the cleanness. It has to be that when you come

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home you feel no pressure, and it’s not the end of the world, if you child breaks a jar of jam. I wouldn’t like to and I couldn’t work at home. I can’t stay in one place for long. My husband Lino likes watching people, so he goes to a supermarket to relax… But when he’s working, he needs to be alone, nobody dares to bother him. Me, I need some movement. That is why my home is also full of movement. It would be a lie, if I said I don’t care about the small details, beauty, design. In every chaos there has to be a lot of order. We even brought these nice door handles from Spain and power switches from New York, we selected the dishes very carefully, but it’s not so easy to note that at first sight. The same in fashion: if there is too much of elegance, it’s not elegance. I actually like what I call a careless elegance. - What people are your clients? - Out of Lithuania I work mostly with Spaniards, also with Danish, because I had a boutique there. I’ve created jewellery for some people with blue blood. They were my husband’s clients, who ordered his paintings, and later I created for them. Those people have a lot of titles, they are rich of course, some of them have two or three castles. That’s a different level. It’s actually better to listen to them,

rather than talking. Firstly, I am quite young. When you talk to a noble woman, who is 70, and she looks pretty amazing, has a wonderful memory, has traveled the world, she actually has quite a different experience than I do. So during the first meeting I only listen, and try not to slip. To be honest, sometimes those people seem to me like aliens… - Do they understand us? - They are extremely intellectual, very well educated. They know Madonna personally, they dine with Barack Obama, or Nicolas Sarkozy. And at the same time they are so simple… One of my noble clients was driving me 100 km, just willing to show me some local jeweller, because he thought it would be interesting for me. And he actually was driving the car himself! Blue blood – it’s a different culture. I am from Eastern Europe, my strength is my artists parents, but we are from a different world. Not worse, but different. To understand it, you have to be tolerant. Do they understand us? I don’t think so. But they are tolerant.

having Dinner with them, you feel hypnotized by the knowing who they are. - Let’s go back down to earth. Do you like cooking? - Yes, I love it! When Patty visited me, I baked cookies for her. I also bake cookies for my children. I love it, but I don’t have much time for that. - Is there anything your children ask you to prepare on special occasions? - No, but there are some dishes that they ask me not to prepare… I like exotic cuisines, trying new spices. And my children would be very happy, if they only had to eat dumplings, hamburgers and fried potatoes.

- What about your Christmas? - I remember Christmas from my childhood. We were living in an apartment with very high ceilings, and there used to be a very big Christmas tree. Today we spend Christmas differently – here, or in Spain, we were also thinking to go to France, - To meet such people you really have to turn where my sister lives now. But probably we’ll stay up on the right place at the right time… at home this time. I’ll prepare one dish. The chil- I call it life’s gifts. These are irreplaceable ex- dren will find some gifts under the Christmas tree. periences. During those few hours when you are Yes, I really would like to stay this year.

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Milda Čergelytė Lithuanian fashion designer Lives in London www.mimicfashion.co.uk

“In London you have so many loft districts, and quarters! There are many former factories that are transformed into beautiful apartments by people, who wish to live non-traditional. I needed space for my work. Now besides my personal needs, I also have a whole studio at home. So the huge space helps us. Here you can find the fashion house „mimi.c“, a circus school, we also have a space for modern dancing! After I decided to have my own corner for my creation work, I had one month to find a suitable place. I was not frightened by a completely empty, not equipped space. After a few weeks I moved into a still dark and dusty loft space with no furniture. I share my home with much older people, so we compliment each other well, talking about order, and routine. Everyone respects each others job. Their activity doesn‘t bother me, as well as mine doesn‘t bother them. So we have no competition. Their training is a daily routine for me. But they see me sewing daily as well. Sometimes I even join them! We sometimes have circus lessons in our loft, as well as shootings and castings. There are many things in my home. I love nice things. I love different feminine details. I can’t resist to some industrial style stuff, which I find in antique stores. I have a dream to understand how to live ascetic, but all of my attempts fail… I don’t have a

wardrobe. Instead of that I have a clothes rail from a fabric. My clothes are sorted by color, which satisfies my need for aesthetics. A dream home is a place where muses make love... And you approach the bugaboos of daily routine with harmony. I cannot imagine my home without a sewing machine, electricity and WC. The rest comes by itself. I like very much spending time at home.Only here can I find peace. Today I just don’t have any time for my hobbies, for they usually make me calm. So when I want to rest, I simply have a good sleep, or, if I have time, I read a book, watch a movie. Household routines and home ordering make me forget the working worries at least for some time. I bake and cook, but I’d rather shorten curtains, than bake a cake... In the bathroom we coddle our pink orchid, and there are herbs in the kitchen. Though I am not a big lover of plants. I prefer jogging in a park, or down the riverside. White color relaxes me. I simply couldn’t live without white walls. Metal is one of my weaknesses. I can’t resist to steel furniture, or the technique covering with steel. At some point, I found beauty in cold. But I think that a passionate woman can warm up even the coolest space. What’s the smell of my home? Incense, or tasty dinner”. llamas’ valley

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A dream home is a place where muses make love... llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valley

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Photography: Modestas Ežerskis

Knock knock knockin’

on designer’s door...

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Neringa Jociūtė Fashion and interior designer http://www.yotshiutee.com

“I called my project “Velvet wings of longing”. Why velvet? Can you long for something that you have never experienced? I read signs. Modestas (photographer Modestas Ežerskis) says, “I want to show people photos that capture the creation of both of us.” Ok, I agree. We need a book - more people will see it. I decide: the starting point of this project is that everything that comes will be an adventure. And if it doesn’t come, it’s also an adventure. If you follow my thoughts, I needed consciousness of bhagat of Krishna. I made my effort. I went to Kirtanas (calland-response chanting). I got acquainted. The “model” got some doubts, and then he changed his mind... No, I said, I don’t need it anymore... Too many words are spent, it’s somehow inaccurate... I left everything, because I started becoming unfaithful to the idea. After five minutes I meet a person with a Hare Krishna braid and knowledge on the street… I say: I’ll photograph you. He says: Ok! A tattooist, who approaches all the monsters of hell on a body, listens to teenagers’ metal-techno music, and says, “Horror! Chaos!” I say, I also thought so, but then I listened attentively to every line separately - it’s perfectly beautiful. Someone separates that chaos to separate sounds, and creates a perfect harmony. I remember anthropologist Laimė Kiškūnė’s story about a test with the odor of a smelly vagabond. When they separated all the smells from one another, the badness was gone. Another friend tells me joyfully what one smelly man shouted on a bus, “So now you hold your noses? Never mind - it will smell good in spring!” So what attitude do we choose? I went to my son’s concert and couldn’t take my eyes from one guy.

My former husband started getting angry with me, but I made the excuse, “I can’t separate the angel from the demon in him. Everything is so beautiful.” You have doubts? After some time we photograph him. We meet each other feeling quite strange. Simonas (my son) asks him, “Do you have any hair on your chest? No, don’t misunderstand; my mother wants to photograph you. She’ll put on a necklace, so we need...” I try to separate myself from beauty, but first I have to take some pictures of angels. Those hairy angels... I decided not to color my hair. I’ll be grey. My girl-friends got scared. They ask me to color my hair. Why is it bad to be grey? They say it looks sad. Ok, I agree. If you’ll get sad looking at my grey hair, I’ll color it. But if it will be funny, I’ll leave it. I negotiate. I created a perfume. Laimė Kiškūnė mediated between scents, their compositions, and me. Then I was looking for a personal relationship with each of them, without taking notice how they match. And finally - the result! The scents covered each other, and there was only the smell of cleanliness left... Laimė asked me how I will name my perfume. I spontaneously responded, “Kalinichta”, or “Good night” in Greek. After a year or so, I read a book, and suddenly I understood why the Greek culture is so important to me. I was there when the Turks enslaved Greeks. Only, according to M.Waltari, I don’t know on which side of the gate I was standing, because the scent is the Arab desert dust with a flavor of a harem, and the name of the perfume is Greek. llamas’ valley

Photography: Neringa Jociūtė, Simonas Kušlys

So what is left of me? Even my scent doesn’t exist - it’s changing. When I read, some books seem to be written by myself… I have just created biblical clothes. Everybody says, “You look like a goddess with those many-layered nightgowns.” Yet my son could not resist, “Enough of those slippers and Hare Krishna clothes.” So what then? After all, he plays metal, he’s a bassist. So I decide it’s time for militarism, and metal buttons. Signs came to me! When I worried about my children, whether they are doing everything right, they said to me, “Mum, chill!” So recently on a lecture about values, as the lecturer was talking about the greatest of them, I prompt to my neighbor, “Chillin’”. He says, “But love is the greatest value!” I responded it’s the same. He asked me, whether I hadn’t fallen in love with anyone yet? I was surprised, “I’m already in love with all of them.”

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My ex-husband organizes a parents’ party. I’m not on the guest list. My friend explains, “You are the soul, which means - not so much a mother...” So I remembered that I gave him the title of white fairy myself... I told him I don’t need it anymore. Why fairy? Maybe rather a fortune-teller. My son keeps bringing his friends to my home. He is seventeen. So he calls me, and tells me about the time - tomorrow! Ok, I say, no problem. If they appear, it means you oppressed something. At night I dream Merlin the Magician. Then I see a bookstore and my inner voice tells me to go in. I go in, two minutes before it closes, and I don’t know what I am looking for. I buy a book; at home I open it and read about... Merlin the Magician (the title of that book is not related with that). Synchronization is the magic. When you put all the information one onto another, you know everything at once.

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So what is important for me now? I would say scents, colors, and light, as well as music, and chocolate. What are those senses, while you’re in a body...? Belgian chocolate - a real “Theobroma.” After all, cocoa beans are used to serve as money... Everything is changing, decreasing, and ending. Sandalwoods, cotton, and rise...and then again, everything from the beginning. Modestas Ežerskis gives me an apple. I say - you’re like Eve to Adam. After all, we don’t know where we have met before. We all change our roles, our sex, our looks, riches, and wisdom. The book will be about that. We write it everyday. All the bills have to be paid, but the principle finds us and it works 100 percent.

That is why Themis is tied on the eyes (or maybe blind?). I explain what I understood: at first we do what we want, later - necessarily (!) what we don’t want. And finally, when we understand how we should act, we start from the beginning. Symbols stay for generations and their value depends only on the one who’s reading them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be valuable. As a teacher without a student, as day without night, as joy without sadness, as beauty without ugliness, as youth without old age, as me without you. I feel grief out of joy, when I buy a big pile of paper for 13 Litas. That is such a value and I don’t know, whether it will be major, if I fill them all. All this is both, adventure and happiness at once. llamas’ valley

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And again everything from the beginning <...>

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Coffee with muses

Freedom witho a business p Agnė Kananaitienė Milena Liutkutė Graphic artists Share a studio in Vilnius, Lithuania Photography: Augis Narmontas

One day they decided to quit their office jobs, and start a new life. Without a business plan, but full of freedom, creative joy, and discoveries. The two graphic artists Agnė Kananaitienė and Milena Liutkutė, who previously worked in the advertisement business, now share a bright, cozy, spacious studio in the Franciscan palace in Vilnius. “Llamas’ valley” visits them just before Christmas. So we fall into a luminous space with shimmering bulbs, a small Christmas tree on the windowsill, an original feeder with some tasty cookies for the always hungry ones, and walls covered by graphic works, and funny pillows with clowns... A real joy for your eyes! They waited for this studio with bright windows for six months. When they first entered, it was completely empty. You could even feel the echo. Today it’s full of lovely details.

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Visit Agnė’s corner: www.nananai.lt Visit Milena’s corner: www.milenaliutkute.com

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“We didn’t decide to leave our former jobs overnight. It was already in our heads for a while, but it wasn’t so easy to change everything” says Milena. She remembers days when graphic design filled 80 percent of their life, only 20 percent was left for the real creation, for art. Today the proportions change step by step. “I discovered illustration,” says Agnė, “and it was love from the first sight, but I’m still on my journey of discovery. And I guess those discoveries won’t ever end.” At first, it seems the two artists have a lot in common: those blue shades, that splashing with paint, water, and color. Something you can not describe... They wouldn’t agree with that though. Milena says that Agnė is more careful, more accurate. Plus she likes small surfaces, and minor objects, whereas Milena, on the contrary, is found around broad spaces. And when you look at those clowns, watching you from the soft pillows, hanging on the wall, you certainly recognize Agnė’s style (she’s crazy about theatre, and about the practical side of art). As if you would see graphic works full of small mosquitoes... That’s Milena for sure! Though it’s almost Christmas, Agnė and Milena feel quite tired. After all, the first exhibition is coming in February. Both will show their sketches and prints, the values they both share. It will be sort of a warm-up. But what about the freedom? Is it still so sweet and pleasing? “We have the freedom to choose. This studio gave us that possibility. Today, nobody stands behind our backs. You can even go splashing with color in the middle of the day! You can also work at night, if you have to” says Agnė. And they didn’t need any business plan for that...

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Gourmet spaces

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Giedrė Datenytė, Monika Zemlickaitė Architects The Room’s interior designers Photography: Augis Narmontas

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- What would you tell a stranger about the new ing piece of furniture is a table, which was constructbar in Vilnius - “The Room”? ed from wooden rulers by a friend’s father more than - Well, it’s very green and a bit upside down. 20 years ago. We also experimented with lighting quite a lot. - What was the owner’s desire? Finally, table-lamps were screwed to the ceiling... - We were given complete freedom. No creative barriers, only financial limits. His main wish was to - “The Room’s” menu is displayed on iPads! create a bright space. Whose idea was that? - One of the owners suggested that idea. - What interesting solutions have you offered? - “The Room” is located near the Teachers’ house - The bar is almost sinking in greenery. Could yard, which is all overgrown by bindweed, so the idea it be that the plants will change each season? of a green wall was born straightaway. But it changed - No, the plants shouldn’t change, but the view its shape. We added the undeservedly forgotten be- will. The plant we have chosen is a very vital bindgonias and ferns to the bindweed. We also used a weed. If everything goes as planned, it should grow lot of mirrors, trying to change, and at the same time over an entire wall, or maybe it will even enlace the expand the small space. Actually, we found out that whole bar?.. To be honest, we would love that! the use of mirrors has broad possibilities in transforming the space, or creating a literary background. - By the way, what can you order in “The It’s a pity that this space was too small for major Room”? experiments. - This question should refer to someone else, but We were looking for furniture, which were later as far as we know, they have really good day offers. restored, in different places, from a market, or the The menu isn’t long, but precisely because of that a internet to friends’ warehouses. The most interest- great attention is given to every dish.

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Loreta Jasiukėnienė Photographer Photostudio ¨Fotopastelė” Photography: Loreta Jasiukėnienė, Elzė Jasiukėnaitė

- It seems like “Fotopastelė” really loves Christmas! - Yes, we really like it. Maybe because we have another place - a studio that we can decorate and realise the ideas that we don’t have enough space for at home. We begin quite early, we pull out the gorgeous Christmas pillows and tablecloth, we bake gingerbread cookies, and decorate our Christmas tree with them. We are very happy being able to share that Christmas spirit with our clients. We meet them at “Pastel Christmas” event, we communicate and also help those who feel a lack of attention and warmth. - Is there anything you can’t imagine Christmas without? - Of course - without a real Christmas tree. The waiting and preparing for that day for me is as important as Christmas itself. Actually, that period flies by so instantly… I start waiting

for Christmas at the beginning of September. I stitch, I pick cones, I tailor little hearts, I think about presents for my relatives. I try not to leave that for the last days. But I don’t succeed always on that… Together with Elzė, my eldest daughter, we have a tradition of a Christmas Eve photoshoot for Unė, my youngest daughter. We hope, we will have some snow this year, so we’ll be able to maintain that tradition. - What is special about Christmas at your home? - Maybe it’s special because I prepare myself very accurately. I don’t do anything in a hurry. I decorate my whole home for Christmas, even the bathroom! We have a Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch traditionally at my parent’s home, usually the whole family gathers there. Even my sister, who lives in Finland, joins us every two years. llamas’ valley

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- The best Christmas movie you’ve seen? - I like everything you just mentioned, wed- I like very much Gillian Armstrong’s “Little dings also! But of course, I like the most those Women” (1994) because of it’s spirit and the photoshoots that are designed and styled by awesome, beautiful winter. myself, when I can use a lot of stuff in it. - And the most delicious Christmas dish? - For Christmas Eve – my mother’s “kalėdaičiai“ – small cookies with poppy seeds, they just melt in your mouth… And yeasty cakes with mushroom, cooked in oil. For Christmas – a Finish ham. - Your style, or how you style your pictures, could not be mistaken to anyone else’s. Where does the inspiration come from? - I start my morning by browsing some of my favourite blogs. They inspire me, they shape my style, and teach me to notice and value things, that I didn’t mention before. I value old stuff, covered by the dust of time, and I’m extremely happy, when I find them, and bring them a new life. Those things are the core of my photoshoots, sometimes I combine all the other stuff to that one thing, and I look for an appropriate surrounding for it. It happens, I find an interesting coffee pot, and right away I have some interesting stories and visions in my head. - If you had to describe “Fotopastelė” in a few words, what would that be? - Cosy, romantic, and it has a drive…

- Is your home full of beautiful photographs? - It’s like shoemaker without shoes… There are only three big pictures of my children that I got as a present. I would like to see more of them, but I don’t really have space for that. I also have a lot of paintings by Lithuanian artists, not mentioning the stitched pictures… I always wanted to make some photography books, at least those of Unė, but I never find time for that. It will be added to next year’s plans. - What present do you expect to find under the Christmas tree this year? - For me, the best presents are related with Christmas, like some Christmas tree deco rations, candles, candlesticks, dishes, cookies, textile… I don’t like and I actually don’t understand the meaning of those practical presents. I’d love to find something antique under the Christmas tree. Maybe some vintage decorations, old postcards, old ice skates, or sledges.

- And what about your dreams for 2012? - They are quite simple. I want my relatives to be healthy and happy. I would like photog- What do you like the most to shoot : mot- raphy to keep bringing me such joy, and I hers, children, families, couples, or maybe would like to make others happy with my something else? pictures. llamas’ valley

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Find more beautiful pictures: www.loreta.blogspot.com www.allthebeautifulchristmas.blogspot.com

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It’s all about your last post

- Have you already decorated your home for Christmas? How does it look? - I decorate for the holidays a little bit beforehand, building up the mood gradually for the big day. So far, I have a tiny tree in a glass jar, some fairy lights, a concrete advent candle holder, filled with pine cones and cinnamon sticks, a star made of a white foldable carpenters’ rule, and some paper decorations that my kids made. I like my Christmas white, simple, and natural. - Do you have any special Emma’s Christmas traditions? - In Sweden, Christmas Eve is the big day, this is when we all get together to have dinner, and open presents. We always start the day by eating rice porridge, and ginger bread cookies. Then the kids each get to open one present, to keep them occupied when the adults prepare all the food. After lunch, we all go for a walk to look at all the decorated houses in the neighborhood; it’s so nice

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to see all the glowing windows filled with stars, and candle lights! - What present are you dreaming of this Christmas? - In my family we only give presents to children, so I won’t be getting any Christmas gifts. But if I would make a wish list, it would include the Hope 1.0 book from the Swedish fashion brand “Hope”, and a new “Byredo” scented candle, as my old one has burnt out. - Maybe you even like spending time in the kitchen, and have some special Christmas dishes?! - Actually my boyfriend is the cook in our house, so he prepares all the food. He makes a wonderful gravlax with ginger! But I love to make desserts, and my favorite one for Christmas is a chocolate pie with lingonberries. I also make lots of sweets, like chocolate fudge, or cinnamon truffles.

Emma Fexeus Writer, stylist Author of “Emmas Designblogg” http://emmas.blogg.se/ - I bet, everyone expects, that one of the most popular bloggers in the world has a very stylish home. How would you describe your home? - Ha ha, my home really isn’t stylish at all right now! We are renovating, and it’s all a big mess! But the living room is finished, and I’m very happy with how it turned out. We have white walls, and a black feature wall. The furniture is all white, grey, and wooden; some of the items are simple, some - modern, and some of them – vintage, from the 50’s or 60’s. For the winter season I like to accessorize my home with lots of sheep skins, and candles for a warm, cozy feeling. - What other great things do you do in your life besides blogging? - I work as a freelance writer for magazines, making product pages mostly. And sometimes I assist interior stylist Lotta Agaton on her shoots, which is great fun!

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http://lottaagaton.blogspot.com/ Styling Lotta Agaton Photo: Pia Ulin - Do you remember the day you decided to write a blog? What was your first idea? - I started my blog when I was working as a styling assistant on a deco mag, and needed a place to store all the info about new products and designers that was sent to me. I figured a blog would work well as it’s a quick, and easy to search way. After a while it started to grow, more and more people came to read it. Since then, I have changed the focus of it to be more about styling, and not about products at all, as I feel that this is the way to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle. - Can you tell us, how six years of blogging changed your life? - I have no idea where I would be without my blog. Blogging has given me new friends, lot’s of great experiences, and even the jobs I have now, all come from the blog. Being a professional blog-

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ger is the perfect job for me, enabling me to work whenever I want, instead of strict business hours. - The craziest place you’ve been blogging in? - A couple of years ago, I used to blog from a bar in town, as I had no internet connection at home at that time. It was a tiny, and a very busy place, so I had to squeeze in between the beer drinking crowd, and the DJ. I also had to be careful not to let anyone pour their drink on my laptop. - What’s the recipe of a perfect, and at the same time very popular blog? - I think the secret is to keep a consistently high standard for your posts. Your blog is never better than your last post, so don’t post stuff just to update your blog. Keep searching for the best stuff, and only post what you love!

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- The award you’re very proud of? er Mogens Lassen designed it as a rebellion - Last year I won an award called “Stora Blog- against the over-ornate and elaborate home. So gpriset”, founded by Sweden’s largest newspaper. I was very happy to finally have one of my own. That was totally unexpected, and a great honor! - Three other blogs you follow and love? - The most beautiful compliment you were told about your blog? http://weekdaycarnival.blogspot.com/ - I often hear that people have taken a lot of http://stilinspiration.blogspot.com/ inspiration from my blog when they decorate their http://riazzoli.blogspot.com/ homes. To me that is the best thing, as my goal with the blog is to inspire people to make their - Any music you have lately discovered, and homes more beautiful. fell in love with? - My latest favorite is a Swedish artist called - Other cities you’d like to live in? Melissa Horn. Her lyrics are excellent, and the - I would love to live in Amsterdam. It’s my fa- music perfectly fits my current slightly melanvorite city in the world, with all the beautiful old cholic autumn / winter mood. houses and canals, the friendly and open-minded people and the creative design scene. - What is the most beautiful Christmas movie for you? - One thing you’ve bought lately, that you - I don’t like Christmvas movies, and I defiwere very excited about? nitely don’t like romantic comedies, but somehow - Last week I got a “Kubus” candle holder. It both “Love Actually”, and “The Holiday” just gets has been on my wish list for many years, because to me, and I watch them every year. Perhaps, it’s such a simple, and at the same time stylish winter is the season making me all soft and design classic. I also love it, because the design- soggy inside…

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Photograph: http://mokkasin.blogspot.com/ llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valley 119

e k i l s l l e m S Pick your perfect gift, click on the snowflake, visit us on “Facebook”, and wait for daily giveaways!

P.S. Do you believe in miracles?

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Decorated Christmas cupcakes with chocolate and mascarpone cream “Tie kepejai” www.kepejai.lt 122

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Gingerbread with a scent of spices and honey to warm up your heart “Tie kepejai” www.kepejai.lt llamas’ valley

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Wire earrings “Sea flowers” By Paulina Jure www.paulinajure.lt 124

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Socks. 100% merino wool. Packed in silk paper “Mummymoon” www.mummymoon.com llamas’ valley

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Acces “Ak B www.c 126

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Bear Boleslovas “Žaislu turgus” www.zaisluturgus.lt

ssory Bijoux” craftfields.co.uk llamas’ valley

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Bactus scarf “Bug2hug” www.bug2hug.com 128

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Bowl / Brooch “Fox” By Lolita Pelegrime www.keramikai.blogspot.com llamas’ valley

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Residents of Aželiai village: Martynas, Kostas, Aldute, Antanas, Vincukas By Haušinka Visit on Facebook 130

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Passport holder made from an old umbrella and waterproof fabrics By Emilija LauĹžikaite www.emilijaportfolio.com llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valley

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Cozy handmade postcard, embroidered with silk yarn By Justina Bakutyte Visit on Facebook 132

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Festive 50’s print retro teacosy Doodle pillowcase “Stitch designworks” (Great Britain) www.ciagyvenagrazusdaiktai.lt llamas’ valley

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Knitted felted pillow “Žalios avys” Visit on Facebook” 134

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Handmade notebook By Gintare Kavaliauskaite Visit on Facebook llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valley

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Brooch “December morning” “Sutverimai” Visit on Facebook 136

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Scarf “Pink dream” By Rasa Gušciene www.rgstudio.lt llamas’ valley

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Double-sided bow-tie By Vaida and Agne www.paukstukai.com 138

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Soapstone Solitare “Londji” (Spain) www.pauksciupienas.lt llamas’ valley

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Wooden tea set “Honeybake” “Le Toy Van” (Great Britain) www.mazimazi.lt 140

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Apron “Old Boy” www.oldboyboutique.lt llamas’ valley

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Accessory “Kitty” / Accessory “Šarange varange” By Linos Ukis www.nelook.blogspot.com 142

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Accessory “Bearded” By Linos Ukis www.nelook.blogspot.com

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Christmas slippers By Dominyka Sidabraite www.dominykasidabraite.blogspot.com llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valley

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Cuff-link By Egle Cejauskaite-Gintale

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(Photo: Martynas Gintalas)

Neckpiece “Tear clear” By Urte Karalaite www.urtekaralaite.eu llamas’ valley

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Sugar and miracle Visual Communication Studio “Primprim” www.primprim.lt 148

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Pikos The Hedgehog “Deglingos” www.viaco.lt llamas’ valley

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“Eco-line” glass from recycled material By Viktoras Dailidenas www.daili.lt 150

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Ceramic figure By Agne Kondrataite http://www.etsy.com/shop/ceramage llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valley

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Wallet “Whale” Warmer “Homeland will warm you up” By Rita Balta (Bal designs) Visit on Facebook 152

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Felted slippers By Ringaile PaliuĹĄe www.taputapu.blogspot.com llamasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; valley

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Marseilles soap “Užupio keturiolika” Visit on Facebook 154

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“Bensimon” tennis “Užupio keturiolika” Visit on Facebook llamas’ valley

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Brooch By Lina Lauke “Laukes fabrikelis” www.fabrikelis.blogspot.com 156

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Photography “Little House” By Dovile Dagiene (BirD Photography) www.bird.ph llamas’ valley

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Felted handbag / Toy By Diana Lucinaviciute “Adatyte” www.adatyte.blogspot.com 158

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Elegant collar / Decorative pillow “My little House” “Lovely home idea” www.lhidea.com llamas’ valley

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Earrings “Harlequin” By Egle Butkute Žuramskiene www.eglestiklas.lt 160

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“Sprouted” By Ruta Elze www.rutaelze.com llamas’ valley

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