October crafts!

I always feel  the impulse to make something with my little hands . I feel my fingers itching for yet  another craft, though this isn’t always feasible with a baby at home who is always  in need of my hugs, kisses and loads of care and attention.

 The  sweet baby is growing up so fast and turning from a baby to a little boy . Every day he surprises me with something new he has learnt and managed to do. It’s amazing how fast they grow and how much they understand, though they are so little!

 Anyway, I managed to make some time and  do some decoupage on a framed canvas using  5 different paper napkins and some paint .

 The final outcome is quite cute , I would say, and it will be one of the gifts I’ll offer to a baby girl  for her  christening .

 Some time ago, I crocheted lots of granny squares in pink, fuchsia and different shades of  yellow, for a blanket  which I finally never assembled, so  I thought of doing something with them .

  I  made a sweet, little  cushion which I embellished with a wooden button in the middle .  This one will be a present , too.

I love cushions . They can add to the decoration of your house . They  are a cheap and  easy way to change  a room a bit , freshen it up and beautify it.

 Another  little thing I made , is this little decorative bag .
I glued  together  its parts and  was ready at no time at all – it didn’t take more than 10' to put it all together. I got the clever  idea of gluing , instead of sewing, from a TV programme.I put inside it bsome painted sticks,  dry leaves and pine cones and hang it from my front door knob.

 I have quite a few flower pots on the stairs , outside my door and I create little vignettes that echo the change of  seasons. I feel so happy when I come back home and look at the greenery , the flowers, the handmade autumn wreath and the quirky  tea light holders.
 It’s a little green oasis for me !
 It’s so easy to create welcoming , happy corners at your home, with plants and colourful little pots.

 That’s all for now , dear readers .
 I hope you are well and have many creative , fun moments in your life!

Tina J

SEPTEMBER IN NAXOS!

Last Monday we sailed to one of the beautiful islands in the Aegean Sea, Naxos.

It was the first time for me to be away from the city in September as I had always been at work .

 People say that September is one of the best times of the year for a mini-escape from the daily routine and that the sea  is very warm and welcoming.

 Naxos is a very picturesque island , with beautiful beaches and  loads of history.

We stayed there for just four days but I felt very happy and relaxed and enjoyed so much strolling  around the narrow ,winding streets of the old part of the town, with the white washed houses and  nice little gardens , the little tavernas, beautiful shops with souvenirs and the smell of sea breeze.

 The  little streets form a real labyrinth.

 In the past when pirates’ attacks where very frequent on the islands, people used to build their houses in such a way that they formed a fortress , a series of continuous walls  that protected them and helped them escape from the enemy. That’s why they ‘embrace’ one another and form a closely knit network of buildings, like a maze.

 I love the maze in the towns on the Cycladic islands, the little , humble houses with the painted, old, wooden doors and windows , the pots on the balconies and white stairs , 

  the cats that lie everywhere, the wind that blows and rushes through the tiny streets ,the feeling of travelling back in time , when life was so much different than today – not always easier, but attractive  for a romantic soul like mine.

 I appreciate the good work and effort and love of the people who open little enterprises  on our islands . They often create  beautiful spaces, with a very good taste and original ideas , they sell handmade goods, local produce and original souvenirs that are really worth buying –if  you can spend some money on a keep shake.

I especially liked ,in Naxos , some shops that sell handmade decorative items made of clay or wood and very  artistic pieces of jewellery at affordable prices.

  I had the best of times enjoying a cup of cappuccino on the terrace of a cafe overlooking the port . They played soft music and the décor was so simple but nice, pieces of drift wood painted white , with fairy lights  , white stools and small tables, candles and  ropes artistically presented and a lovely frothed cappuccino in a beautiful clay cup and saucer, made  my stay there worth every minute of it!

  I took lots of photos and tried to capture the beauty and serenity of the place, the good taste of amateur artists ,  the  unique combination of  colours  and the  random  yet  unique  and artistic coexistence of  various items which create a theatrical  scenery so   well presented , as if placed there by a professional hand.

Yes, it was good. Good for my heart and eyes and though it wasn’t warm enough to go swimming and lie on a sunbed for hours,

 I so enjoyed my walks in the old part of the town that it was the best time I could have had on the island to ponder over  the merit of simple things in life and the importance of aesthetic beauty in our surroundings.

 I hope you enjoyed this  trip to Naxos through my photo shots and I hope I have made you day dream for a while!

Have a lovely October!!

Tina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx