Each item is unique

Crafts and design (i. Handverk og hönnun) will hold its 14th fair at Reykjavík City Hall from November 5th to November 9th. Among the 58 participants is Kristín Jóna Þorsteinsdóttir, or Stína bongo as some might know her, who will be displaying work made from hardwood and ram horns

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Artist Kristín Jóna Þorsteinsdóttir, or Stína, will be taking part in the Crafts and design fair at Reykjavík City Hall this week.

”I love everything about the Icelandic sheep; the meat, the wool, the horns,” says Stína, when asked what initially made her interested in working with material like ram horns. ”I remember when I was a kid, sitting on the steps outside our house polishing them and how I loved the smell of them and seeing them become smooth as silk. Unlike rein deer horns which are too smooth, and therefore too easy to work with, there is something so challenging in working with ram horns. They have all these grooves and are so crude and crazy in the beginning. It’s very rewarding to see them transform into something almost as smooth as silk just by your doing. I love to transform them like that. (Laughs) And to blend them together, like I do in my candle holders, is even more beautiful.“

Where do you get your ideas from?
”From people around me. For example my father, who passed away a year ago, was a very talented craftsman and a strong influence. I have continued to work on his ideas, like the meat-stands. I’ve also made jewelry, with ideas or adjustments from people around me. A ring from ram horns which was hard to make but I kept developing because people admired it. Same goes for a necklace in one piece, that I like wearing with open shirts. I find that so much fun, trying out new things from people asking me to try this or that. So my ideas start in my head, by demand or simply from all over.“

Does it take a long time to develop them?
”Yes, because I’m old-fashioned. I could use more modern tools to make them but I love spending time making them with my own hands. To see a ram horn, that in the beginning is so raw, transform slowly in my hands to something so smooth and beautiful, is so rewarding. And since I don’t use machinery they never become exactly alike. I could be faster when making Glámur [see photo], but I use an old hand plane, because I want to make each item unique.“

”My father was a gifted craftsman…He was my mentor. He helped me develop my ideas…“

Work by Stína. From left:  Glámur, a safe place for your glasses and a beautiful ornament as well. Rings made from ram horns. A candle holder made from ram horn and hardwood.  Fóa, Upplifun and Ram sell Kristín‘s work.

You make both jewelry and household items, isn’t that a broad spectrum?
”Yes, and actually it reflects my own character. I am a bit all over the place. (Laughs) For example I love dressing up when I’m going somewhere, I think about what I’m gonna wear, what accessories will go with what and what make-up I should put on. But I also love putting on my overalls and step inside my workshop, working with my tools, using my hands to create something and get covered in dust. That’s an image some people find easier to associate with me rather than the dressed-up version, perhaps because I’m a lesbian. (Laughs) But it also reflects my thoughts on jewelry and household items, they’re just as important to me.“

How long has your work been in progress?
”I started about four or five years ago. My father was sick with cancer and we knew he didn’t have much time left. He was a gifted craftsman and worked on his craft at a crafts-shop for the elderly at Norðurbrún 1, where I could be with him. We spent time there together, working on ideas, helping each other out. That was a very precious time for me. Not only because it started me on this journey which keeps developing and growing bigger, but also because I got to spend as much time as possible with my father before he died.

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A meat stand, based on an idea by Stína’s father.

We shared this mutual interest and talent. He was my mentor. He helped me develop my ideas and while we were there at Norðurbrún we kept making things for each other and filled each others homes with various things. I still visit my friends at the crafts-shop occasionally; sit down for a cup of coffee and ask for their advice when I have new ideas.“

Our talk moves back to the Crafts and design fair, and I ask Stína what it feels like to take part. ”It’s fun,“ she says, ”but also difficult. I mean, there are so many guests who come from all over. I had already been to see it for myself so I knew it was popular, but when you are on the other side, wow, you get a different experience.“ But she’s quick to point out that taking part is very rewarding. ”For example, last May when I participated for the first time, carpenters came especially to me, interested in seeing a women with these sorts of items, and when they started to praise my work, I was so glad and honored.“

Would you say that the fair draws a mixed crowd? ”Oh yes, it’s sought by all sorts of people. And it’s very common to see whole families come together. They make it a whole day experience. Perhaps starting at the café for a brunch and then going off to see everything that’s on display. I even had a visit from a kindergarten because the kids wanted to learn what you can make from Icelandic products and were interested in seeing jewelry made from ram horns. Since the designers are so varied, there is something for everybody. “

Stína just started a new company with Þórey Hafliðadóttir (on the left), called Grafísk Miðlun. One of their aims is to make it easier for individuals or smaller businesses just starting, to have professional graphic designs. With an easy step-by-step order form that not only outlines the time needed and cost, the customer can also clearly outline what he wants in his logo, website, brochure etc. ”You don‘t even have to leave your house, it’s all done through the internet with a click of a button,“ says Stína. Check out their website: www.grafiskmidlun.is

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

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      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

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        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

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        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

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        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
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        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
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        Landsbankinn

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        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

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        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

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        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

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          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

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