ATCs coming and going....

Hope you all had a FAB weekend!

I finally got around to scanning some ATCs I made and some I received.

I love coming home after work to a mailbox full of goodies and not just boring household bills.

Tweet Tweet ATC sent to Bonnie

and she sent back her lovely ATC and all these great ATC supplies.

I sent 'Under my umbrella' ATC to flossy-p, a fantastic illustrator from Sydney
and she sent Lilac girl.

Illustration Friday - Suit

When I was about 17 or so I had my mum sew me a 'cheap and chic' copy of a Chanel suit very similar to my drawing this week. She added braided trim to the jacket's hem and sleeves and we added tiny gold/pearl look buttons. The skirt was a short soft pleat and Id wear it with black tights. I felt so grown up and very stylish ....my sister and I fought over the jacket as she always wanted to wear it - so much so, that my mum then made her one too!

Coco Chanel designed her classic collarless suit in 1923 - its still perfect today! A real Chanel jacket has a chain sewn into the hem to add weight so the jacket sits right. Coco was all about elegance and comfort. Karl Lagerfeld does a great job at Chanel these days but the prices are not for the average gal....

Other classic suits that I love - Bianca Jagger's simple Yves Saint Laurent wedding suit!


and who can forget this classic suit....makes me want to put on ' The Bee Gee's' and do a little crazy disco dance!

Splish Splash....

Here is my finished ‘She Sells Sea Shells’ 4 x 4 collage for
Danielle Mueller’s Vintage Dragonfly swap.
This took a while – my canvas wasn’t cooperating. Im not confident using paints at all and so decided to use Twinkling H2O’s which give a nice layered look but this canvas struggled with me!
I must have redone the background at least 10 times and again it was creating a pool of water that wasn’t drying right!
When it finally did dry it left it looking bland and dull. Maybe my paints are off?!
Who knows - I bought them about a year ago and used them twice before like here
How typical of me….I really need to sort my supplies and use what I have at home – no more buying new stuff!!
Anyway some of the splotches might look like beach spray what do you think? haha….

Jennifer had me as her partner which was nice as I love her creations! look what she made for me!!! Cant wait to receive it…not only did she make that but she made more than one and had me choose – clever girl!! Lucky me!!

A Touch of Glamour .....

Its pouring in Sydney today so Im stuck at home with my Neo
but Ive been reading the latest australian Harpers Bazaar which features guest editor Dita Von Teese,
who was here for Australian Fashion Week last month.
When I heard she was coming out for that I wondered what she'd think of Australian fashion? Its not as grown up or sophisticated as European fashions, definetely no John Galliano' s here but she said she was quite impressed.

Imagine being so immaculately dressed all the time, her hair is always perfectly coiffed and she has a very ladylike look - that sort of commitment has to be admired right?

im quite low maintenance myself, I mean I really need to push myself to get totaly glamed up, I havent painted my nails in months!
dont get me wrong I love being a girly girl and am so into makeup and beauty goodies! The first time I walked into Sephora (on the Champs Elysees store in Paris) I almost had a heart attack from the excitement!
Most times Im just so comfy in my laid back jeans and ballet flats (my casual look), hair up in a daggy bun
but its really exciting when you do get invited to something special that needs a little preparation and not just a quick shave of the legs in the shower.
Next weekend my workplace is holding their annual awards party and the dress theme is 'Glam it up'
so we're all very excited at work (we, as in the girls)!
A chance to dress up and have a good time!
Im going to wear what I have - a strappy black number that is simple but has some pretty pleat detail.
Im going to pair it with black fishnet tights and black peeptoe heels, add some pretty chandelier earrings in shades of purple! Cant wait!!

I also read in the mag that the Paris Opera ballet is coming to Sydney - love this image from their ballet layout....now who can I convince to go with me, I doubt Andrew would want to?!

I created these "Parisian Showgirl' mood collages
and entered in Decor8's mood board competition.
Some great Amy Butler prizes - 3 days left!
I bought some of Amy Butler's paper recently - its gorgeous!!!

Have a fun weekend everyone - we have a long weekend coming up (Queens birthday) and are having a cousin fly up from Melbourne to spend it with us - should be good adventureous weekend!!

Illustration Friday - Paradise

Wish you were here!!

Id have to say the Greek Islands

are paradise - I dont know anyone who has been that didnt think so!

The light reflecting on the white washed buildings is super bright, its hot very hot!

When I think of the islands I think of endless glasses of Frappe, mini dresses, flirting, flat leather sandals, Ouzo shots, Meze plates, dancing all night and having fun!

This 60 second ad might get you going

check it out - Greece, Explore Your senses

Come fly with me....
(in my best Frank Sinitra voice) Lets fly lets fly away…..

I hope you’re all doing well, I’m still feeling a little achy and woozy but I’m doing well! I can’t wait to have these stitches removed though so I can eat and drink without having my stomach do a nauseating flip! The joys the joys….I just hope braces on the teeth are not worse – that’s a two year commitment!!

I’ve almost finished my free people 'Travel swap' for my partner Lacey. I made her an accordion travel journal using some vintage images and scrap paper– I hope she likes it!
I’m going to add some thick white paper with little clips for all her little travel notes and being an accordion style journal she can just add things into the book and fold into place. I’ve also glued some money envelopes at the back so she can store little bits and pieces.
Just needs a little tidy up, some more little images and off it goes….


Front pages

Jessica tagged me
Give the meaning of your kids’ names, and write about what or how or why you gave the name to your kids

Well its kind of boring really as both Andrew and I decided to go traditional and name our children after our parents so we didn’t buy loads of name books and pour through them for months leading up to the birth….
Keeping the name within the family is a Greek tradition that has been popular for centuries so that’s why when you meet a Greek family they have a dozen Maria’s or George’s or Spiro’s…(now thats a Greek name for you!)
Most Greek names are christian/biblical names and there is usually a saint with the same name so as well as Birthdays we celebrate Name Days.
My name day is at Easter time as Anastasia means resurrection (of Christ).

The middle names are just names that I liked - I felt they went nicely with their first name.

My eldest is Peter Thomas
My father in law, Peter (Panayiotis in Greek) was named after the Panayia, the Virgin Mary as he was born on 15th August, the day of the Panayia – the second biggest religious holiday after Easter. A Very popular name with Greeks!

My youngest son is Neo Markus
He was named after my father Neophytos who was named after St Neophytos, a hermit and scholar that lived in Ayios Neophytos Monastery in 1159, he carved a home for himself out of the rock where he prayed and painted all day long.

Soothing Soupa...

I got home from the hospital yesterday and Ive been eating slush for two days now.

My mouth is doing quite well. Im not as bad as I thought Id be and I havnt taken my pain killers today as Ive got to look after my little Neo - dont want to zonk out and have him run the house down!

So I made some yummy vegetable soup with rice and chicken for lunch today, it doesnt look too appealing but tastes delicious! Even Neo thought so! simple, easy and full of goodness!

I found the recipe in one of my Tessa Kiros cookbooks - I have all 3 of her books - Twelve, Falling Cloudberries and Apples for Jam. They are beautiful books and I love pouring through them for inspiration - great recipes, beautiful pictures, little notes and memories of Tessa's childhood. Her passion for food and family is infectious.

Here are some pics of Tessa cooking at home in Tuscany. What a gorgeous house huh?! this was from an interview in 'Inside Out' magazine (Dec 06)

Piles, Bundles and a Little organisation

By the end of most nights my dining room table (and the floor) is full of paper craft scraps, cut outs and I have sticky glue residue on my fingers. Last night was no exception but I have little bundles of ATCs and tags to show for it so its all worth it right?!
Some doodle ATCs for a swap, Tags for a trade with Jessica and Tea themed ATCs for another swap - I painted my paper with tea and coffee for an aged effect.
I still need to complete one more ATC for Bonnie!

Its so weird now as I just cant sit and watch TV anymore - I have to be doing something else as well otherwise its wasted time for me!!
Life is hectic enough so I don’t know why I make it worse but crafting is an outlet for me, it’s my ‘ME’ time, I just love to zone out and see what comes out of it!

A few of you have commented on where I get the time to do everything but I usually sit down to create or draw once my boys are in bed at 8.00pm, I then clear up the kitchen - if my sink is clean and clear of dirty dishes then I’m one happy girl! And off I go…
Andrew usually works on his laptop or watches TV nearby and most nights he is snoring by 9.30pm! Ha-ha poor darling!
After putting in 12hrs at the office I don’t blame him but me… well I’m a bit of a night owl…always have been. If I have my late night cup of tea and my craft goodies nearby I’m happy to stay up until very late!!
I’ve also been reading quite a bit before bedtime too – I just finished ‘The Kite Runner’ which I loved and have now passed onto my man!!! I’m now reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ which I’ve been speeding through – such a great book which suprisingly I had never ever read!!!

On the weekend I bought some great frames for my art prints - most will go in the formal living room as I plan to rearrange a few things.
Michelle Caplan collages - how handsome is 'The Italian' below....
'Tea Affair' by my good bloggy pal Vanessa and cute girls by Christina of Jam Fancy
My Sofia Barro print also arrived - its bewdifful!!!! will need proffessional framing as I cant find a frame that size!

Tomorrow Im off to the hospital for my oral surgery – Ive got my little overnight bag packed and ready to go!!
Hope it all goes Ok!!!???
Have a great week everyone!

Just a Kid

My son Peter has a really large poster of Homer Simpson near his bed. I cant stand it as its a real eyesore!
He doesnt even watch the Simpsons but when the poster came free with the daily newspaper he demanded it go up in his room.
Whenever I sweetly suggest we take it down he starts crying! Im
such a mean mummy......................

I recently bought some
'Small People' postcards from Marianne
and I plan to frame some for one of the walls in their room. I must admit not having done much in their room, it still looks quite baby-ish although they're growing up super fast!!
Maybe I should show him some nicer alternatives...


I love these movie Posters from 'Jacques Tati' films
and
Babar the Elephant was
always
a favourite of mine




Pirate Boy is
super! what little boy doesnt pretend he is a pirate. This piece is by Amy Alexander at GeorgieLove

I recently found
MillyMollyMandy etsy shop - I love Mandy's illustrations. This one is my favourite, maybe not for my boys but Id be happy with that over my bed!

Illustration Friday - Signs

My sketch this week is about the Signs of aging

We scrutinize our face for all the little signs. The Beauty industry is booming, advertisers make us believe that if we buy their products then miracles will happen and sadly we do get sucked in. Then we have this crazy obsession about not getting old, people are rushing to get botox, fillers, peels and ...gulp.... face lifts! What next!?

Honey Balls anyone??

The Wine festival was a great success…lots of people gathered and I was really surprised at all the free wine! Usually when you have wine tasting they give you a little cup and a teeny tiny taste – well not at this festival!
They were filling the cups right up…I guess it’s the Greek way of life - good wine, plenty of food , lots of music and dance and their happy!

I found a recipe online at Burek boy for the honey balls (locoumades) and his method with pics is here. My mother in law adds mashed potato to hers for extra crunch!




Some young kids danced the traditional folk dances. The Water Jug dance is cute! It potrays village life where the young girls would go down to the local spring to fill their ceramic jugs. The local village boys would follow them and flirt which the girls would ignore of course until one of the boys causes the girl to break her jug, he then presents her with some flowers and a new jug and all is well again. The other dance is the 'Sieve dance' using the olf fashioned sieves that every household would have.
He places two small glasses filled with brandy and dances them around up and over his head, the movements so fast that nothing ever falls...not one drop of Brandy!!

The traditional costumes in the pictures are what people used to wear everyday. I have a great picture of my grandfather Solomos and his brothers all wearing their Vrakas (pants) and knee high boots! I might have to show you one day!

Paper fun!
Say hi to Lila, my first ever Paper Art doll...she was fun to make and has moveable elbows and knees just so she can dance and stretch! too cute! I got to use some of my vintage trimming for her party dress...aint she pretty...
She is on her way to the USA now...

So yesterday I had my appointment with the mouth surgeon and the tooth that lost its way and embedded itself in my gum has got to go!! Im bummed about that but hey its the only way if Im ever going to get these braces on so
Im booked in for surgery on the 30th May! As the doctor was talking I was thinking to myself ...' Hmmm but the Papercraft festival is on the
1st June.' ...crafting or surgery??
I know what Id prefer to do but its got to be done sooner than later I guess and I'll be all puffed up and seeping blood from the mouth....not a good look !! Its an overnight stay and I should be back to normal within a week. Looks like I'll be living on liquids or soggy food for a bit...yum, love my soup!

To perk me up a bit I bought this book,
love it!! beautiful pictures, makes you want to pack up and move to Italia and drink espresso all day long....Crustation blogged about the author a while back, its a great book - check it next time you're in a bookstore!

Tommorow we are going to the annual Wine Festival at the Cypriot club. My mother in law volunteers in the womans committee and we promised her we'd go so it will be a day of eating souvalki, honey balls and taste testing wine...hope the weather holds out and I can take lots of photos!
Have a fun weekend everyone....

Some ATCs I made!

Illustration Friday - Citrus

Almost didnt make it this week - I was kind of stuck what to draw! anyway I did this whilst watching 'Lost' and 'Amazing Race'

"Oranges and lemons," rang the bells of St Clemens. "You owe me three farthings!" rang the bells of St. Martin's. "When will you pay me?", rang the Bells of St. Davey. "When I grow rich!", rang the Bells of Shoreditch

Playing with Tags....

I love this paper collage image that I found ages ago in French Elle Décor...what a great mix of colour!!!
the other day I came across this amazing picture by Eclectic Gypsyland via
Gypsy Purple - love that bedroom!!!!

I got totally inspired to make these collage tags for Raesha’s tag swap. I cut all the papers into tiny squares in all different sizes and then glued randomly onto craft paper. Once it was dry I then glued my tags onto the paper and then cut them out - I like the effect...little shabby paper quilts.


More tags that Im sending for the swap!