Benedict Cumberbatch and the Sami bracelet

Benedict Cumberbatch is a really admireable person. He's so talented, such a great actor (the best) and still so humble and insecure. And he wonders why he has fans?

Well, now he got all my heart - I've never in my entire life seen a celebrity wearing SAMI JEWELLERY! My heart jumped when I saw these pics, it was a greater moment than watching the Star Trek Into Darkness-trailer.

The Sami people live in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. They are the only indigenous people in the European Union. They have their own culture, clothes, language, jewellery, food, lifestyle... The art of making Sami jewellery isn't an obvious fact in the world - the jewellery isn't sold in too many places and genuine ones (made by the Sami people) can be found only in some places. Here in Finland you can recognise the so called real Sami jewellery by a stamp - I don't know about the other countries.

So, Sami jewellery is quite rare, but nowadays a company called Hanna Wallmark sell these kind of jewellery in several countries. I would make a guess that Benedict's bracelet is Hanna Wallmark, unless he's been up to Jokkmokk ;) It's even possible to buy Hanna Wallmark online.

To make things even cooler, I have an almost identical bracelet that Benedict has! (Comparison, scroll down) I wear Sami jewellery every week, some of them has been in the family for decades, some are new with a modern twist. The one Benedict is wearing is traditional with reindeer skin, reindeer bone and either tin or silver details.

Benedict's bracelet above.

And this is my bracelet:

Appreciate this man and the beautiful handicraft by the Sami people :)

Sources for the three first pics:
http://snelaug.tumblr.com/post/37201460579/black-reindeer-leather-sami-bracelet-pewter-wire
http://cumberbuddy.tumblr.com/post/37180237134/bizarre-sugar-hq-benedict-cumberbatch

Christmas decorations - Bling and Finnish

I put up the Christmas decorations really early this year - usually I only have the calendar until 20th December. Now I wanted to enjoy the Christmas spirit a bit early, so here are my decorations in all their simplicity:

 

This cross is a traditional Finnish cross, mainly from the archipelago. It's a Tuomaanristi (Cross of Thomas). It's usually put up on Thomas's day on 21st December, but as I sad I'm a bit early this year. I don't think you can find this cross anywhere else than in Finland - if you are a tourist and want to buy something unique from Finland, buy this! Mine is from a small handicraft shop from Vaasa, but it's possible to find the cross in other places as well. My parents have an old one where the wood has become dark with time, but the cross is partially destroyed today. I was a lively child...

The Christmas trees are from Ikea, the Christmas disco ball from Indiska, I believe. They give a bling factor to my home.

Christmas cards from previous years. Sherlock / Benedict Cumberbatch in Christmas spirit. Perfection.