Nature is good place to be
I’m from South Kuusamo, where I lived for the first 16 years of my life in a countyside. Nature was close and an important part of life and everyday routines. I loved exploring the forests, and I would lose track of time while making delicious soups from mushrooms, pine needles, cones, and stones, or when I walked the dogs through the countryside. In the winter, of course, I would ski or build snow forts with my sisters.
However, as a teenager, I had an intense desire to get away! First, I moved to Kuusamo's town to study, but later I also went to Kajaani and Oulu. Yet, I was quickly drawn back to Kuusamo. And, of course, there was also a wonderful man, Mikko <3
We lived near the town center, but I would often find myself in the nearby forest—nature’s embrace was always a good place to be, balancing the hustle of everyday life. Sometimes we would visit my parents on the contryside or reconnect with nature at their cabin. That’s where you can return to the basics, when the washing water is carried from the sauna, and the sauna and living room are heated with wood and with no electricity.
My father is skilled with his hands and has a workshop at home. I loved going there to explore, and in the summer of 2020, I found a piece of reindeer antler in the corner of the workshop. I started working on it by sawing and sanding it with a Dremel tool. Eventually, I made a couple of small roundish pieces. My mom and sister were there too, and they mentioned, "You could make earrings out of these, make some for us!" And that’s how the story of Luoniva began.
Not long after, the business was established, and the online store saw the light of day in early 2021.
In November 2023, I became a full-time entrepreneur. Nature is now a significant part of my life. I get to utilize the gifts of nature in my work, and it feels right to me.
Although we now live close to the town center, where it’s easy to take orders to the post office by bike and where the kids have a short walk to school, I dream of owning a log cabin by a lake. In the heart of nature.
Craftsmanship and Tradition
My father was skilled with his hands. He’s made many wooden items, from sofas to trays and kuksas, and everything in between. He is also the original designer of the kuksa earrings. He made me many pairs in the 90s, but unfortunately, I lost them all!
My grandfather—my mother’s father—was also a craftsman. He is said to have forged 2,000 scythe blades one summer! That’s a lot of daylight (and maybe even nights) well spent. My grandfather also made knives and surely many other handcrafts.
I feel particularly proud to continue the family’s handcraft tradition, as the only one in our family. Traditional materials like antler and wood are also things I love to work with.
Responsibility
Responsible practices are an important value both in daily life and in business. The reindeer antlers are sourced from local reindeer farms, nearby. Most of the tools I use are bought from local stores—close by (unfortunately, you can’t get everything in Kuusamo). The jewelry parts are ordered from Finnish suppliers, mainly online.
The reindeer shed their antlers every year, and no animals are harmed for their antlers. Any leftover pieces are taken into the forest, where small rodents nibble them up. I minimize waste: slightly imperfect but still usable materials may end up as unique jewelry after further processing. Occasionally, I find moose antlers in the forest, but more often I get them from hunters who have hunted the animals.
I ship orders while I’m out running errands, or sometimes I’ll go on a bike ride and handle the orders along the way.
I try to use recycled materials for packaging, such as cardboard boxes, so don’t be surprised if you receive a package that’s already traveled the world a few times.
Thank you for being part of making my dream of creating nature-inspired jewelry a reality <3