It’s quite the rush when people want that thing you designed.

Eerik the Happy!

Eerik the Happy!

New for Finnish sauna fans – Eerik the Happy is here!

A new interior brand Erik the Happy brings color and joy to washrooms. Designer and carpenter Helena Valtonen and Jari Eskelinen have revamped a Finnish classic, the sauna door handle, and they unveiled the Bonbon handle, exuding modern design and wonderful colors, made from Durat material.

Things to hang on your ear or tree

X-mas ornaments
2012

  • The idea came, when we needed some modern and light ornaments for our own tree. We tested a lot of different shapes, but landed on some diamonds and old tattoos to give it some bling and rock’n’roll.

    With Pete Pihlajamaa we made 2 sets of X-mas ornaments out of laser cut plywood and acrylic.

X-mas ornament photos below: Marko Sorsa

Tivolipioni
2021

  • Tivolipioni which is loosely translated in English to Carnival peony, is the first flower of the collaboration between Ruffle Army and BonBon Giggles (Helena’s alter ego). The captivatingly colorful flower pattern is designed and drawn by BonBon Giggles.

    The idea for Carnival peony came from the smell of cotton candy in your hair and eyelashes after a day of fun. Those warm summer evenings in the glow of colored lights around music and laughter.

    Even though the size of the earrings is a "statement", they are still comfortable to wear, because the material is super light birch plywood. All edges are rounded and the size has been tested so that it also works on a dog walk with the hood on.

Timangit
2021

  • Timangi is part of a set of three different earrings, which is the second coming of Ruffle Army and BonBon Giggles (Helena’s alter ego) collaboration. The captivatingly colorful diamond patterns are designed and drawn by BonBon Giggles.

    "I've been looking for years for a flashy, glamorous earring that would be festive, but also modern and fresh at the same time. Then I had to do it," says BonBon.

    "During filming, we noticed that Timangi's expression changes all the time, depending on the light and the environment. They clearly love movement and light up on human skin!”

All things creative

I have done a lot of stuff with amazing people. Here’s some.

Collaborations

With awesome Anja Reponen we know each other a long way, because we were at the same art school back in the day. So we did a Viva les twinkle -poster pro-bono for Trasek ry and had so much fun making it!

My husband and I have done a lot also with my “neighbour” creative Pete Pihlajamaa, X-mas ornaments and interior stuff, like the mural and the table in the pictures. He also vandalized a painting I inherited and we love it dearly.

Deko magazine cover and kitchen brochure photography by my idol Krista Keltanen.

  • Collaborating and making images that create meaningful visual content for my clients is at the core of my work.

    I paint and draw, aiming for warmth, fun, and flow—even elevating the mundane.

    I designed book covers before starting illustrating a few years ago. The great city of Helsinki is where I live and work.

  • Pete is an tattoo artist, painter, interior designer, inventor, builder and a great creator. If you can imagine it, he can make it happen.

My peeps!

I'm lucky to be surrounded by creative people sparring me in every turn. I get a lot of kicks when I see someone wearing something I designed, like these earrings, t-shirt, poster and tote bag prints. These are my kind of peeps <3