The Northern Oddities showing at Ivana Helsinki Concept Store features "eight curious Finnish design brands on their crusade to New York City." This is the first time any of these designers have sent their work "beyond the borders of the Old Continent," and their colorful, graphic patterns and fun, approachable products are a safe bet for a warm reception during NY Design Week.

If you make your way past Ivana Helsinki's dresses and blouses you'll see a table set with Northern Oddities' wares: kitchen accessories, lamps, toys and paper goods, like the plywood notebooks by Private Case. The notebooks come in two sizes and are made from birch wood, a material indigenous to Finland, where they use it for everything from "hand tools and furnishing to bridges and churches." The wood is thin enough not to be bulky and hard enough to provide a sturdy surface to write on. There's even a handy little pencil holder on the side.

Sanna Pelliccioni made the boldest statement with Bombo, her line of colorful kitchen accessories (above) with bright blue and yellow graphics of families printed on hand towels, serving trays and plates.

Neroko represented the sustainable side of things with Loop, a beautiful dog toy woven from 100% natural, uncolored jute rope. Each toy is handmade in Finland using a technique inspired by traditional sailor knots. Neroko doesn't gauruntee that the toy won't unravel, but they do say that if it does "you might be dealing with a sailor dog."

Northern Oddities is Bombo, Eimi, Elina Jarvinen, Jopo, Kaksitva, Neroko, Private Case, Tarahtaneet Ammat (Nutty Tarts). You can see their work at Ivana Helsinki Concept Store through May 28, 2012.