“Marimekko With Love”. Toronto, 2013.

In collaboration with the Textile Museum of Canada Helga, Guntar and I, with material from the Karelia archives and personal clothing and tablecloths, were able to create an exhibition of the the best textiles and designs from Marimekko's golden age. The exhibition encompassed large pieces of fabric, dresses and hats for women and children, photographs and slides, telegrams and other correspondence, posters and cards and other ephemera.

Shawna McCabe, Exhibition Curator and Executive Director of The Textile Museum of Canada.

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The exhibition was well attended by invited guests, museum members, the Toronto design community and the general public, including the Finnish Ambassador . We later learned that "Marimekko with Love" was the best attended and most successful exhibiution in the history of the museum. It was also fascinating to observe the younger generations marvel at "old technology"as they watched slide shows projected by Kodak carousels.

We knew we had a great exhibition and wanted to document and remember it. My son Guntar , who was very involved and instrumental in organizing the exhibition, took on the challenges of fundraising and getting a booklet produced. Many old and new friends of Karelia contributed, Didi Katona and John Pylypezak creative Directors of Concrete Design and Ty Whittington, designer who volunteered the graphic design and production management and we had a book "Marikekko with Love". At the end of the exhibition we had a celebration party. We invited the museum people, Finnish officials, donors and contributors to the book, the press and prominent members of the design community. Karelia Kitchen catered the official opening as well as the closing party with Scandinavian canapes. The Finnish Ambassador sent bottles of diplomatic Finnish vodka for our "Northern Lights" punch. All donors to the book received a complimentary, signed copy of the book.

We are most grateful for the support of the individual donors who made this book possible.

Tønu Altosaar, The Berkley Castle - Original Home of Joseph Simpson Knitting Mill, Concrete Design, Karl Dahlquist, Tom Deacon, Dr.Helen M. Doan, Helena Grossman, Marina and Stan Heidman, Karelia kitchen - Leif Kravis and Donna Ashley, Keilhauer, Guntar Kravis, Janis and Helga Kravis, Nils Kravis and Jennifer Howard, Labatt Breweries of Canada, Rita Leistner, Joan and Henry Leistner, Daniel MacIvor, Mayta and Jerome Markson, Molson Coors Canada, Sachi and Raymond Moriyama, Peller Estates Winery, Helga Plumb, Leslie and Wendy Rebanks, Helga and Gary Sonnenberg, Dr. Kaspars Tuters, Elizabeth A. Tuters, Jane and Eb Zeidler, Mary and Michael Zuberec.