It's all about books and photographs.

Last week before going to the cinema we went for a while to the Central Library. There was this event "Give books a second life" which was giving away books from the library for free. Those books were either books the library didn't want any more and some were donations from various places and people.
I was happy to see so many young people waiting eagerly to get their free books. We waited with hubby and a couple of friends and here's what we got.

Yes, I know what you are going to say. That I got too many books. Each person was entitled to three free books. Hubby and I got ours but then they brought English books that seemed that no one was interested in so I had to take them home with me!
Then on Saturday we went to the Merimna charity bazaar at the harbour.
The views of the city from the harbour were fantastic!

In the entrance there was this strange creature! It's an exchange library! You leave a book and you get a book.

I didn't have any books to leave so I simply didn't take any. But as I went to the bazaar the next day too I left a couple of books and got these.

I got the funny book for hubby as he would probably find it interesting and could get some ideas for shadow puppets through it. I got the English book for me. I also got the 84, Charing Cross Road because I had seen the movie and would love to read the book. That book is a Bookcrossing book so I joined in the Bookcrossing site too. Bookcrossing is a good way to leave books around for the people to find and read and keep or circulate around too. I am planning to free some books myself since I found this now too.
The Merimna bazaar was excellent. There were lots of activities for children to do and lots of books, clothes and accesories for people to buy.

Here are the books I got.
On the first day. Each book was half a euro or one euro.

 I couldn't leave a shadow puppetry novel of course.

 And on the second day you got two books and one for free so I got lots more. In total for 15 euros I got 26 books. Can you tell I was happy? I will be reading all summer at the beach house.

 I also got a couple of bags and scarves.Again you bought two plus one for free.  The Cute as a button is an Accesorize bag and was 2 euros. I am already using this at school.

There was a lot of jewelry too and although I don't wear much I could give these away as gifts.

After the first day at the bazaar we visited the Photography Museum which is inside the harbour too.My niece is a volunteer there.
There was an interesting exhibition called Recorded Memories-Europe Southeast.
Here are a couple of photos from the exhibition.

We also walked all around the harbour taking pictures.

Can you see the rainbow?

And finished off with some great coffee.

Some purchases and a gift!

I have little money to spend on purchases but some things just beg you to come back home with you at times, don't they?
So here they are in random order....
Three little tables from IKEA bought at very good prices during the sales.
First the IKEA PS 2012 side table. It comes in three different styles. Flat, fruit bowl top, or four bowls top.
You can see them here.

(This photo is from houzz site)
I bought the fruit bowl top one for 15 euros. I put my felted stones inside and covered it with glass. It looks great as a display and I can take great photos of my stones too.Barca seems to agree.

Then two small side tables made only of wood and glass for 10 euros each. I put some of my grandma's crochet on top. All three tables are in the living room as we didn't have any side tables there.

Those lovely colourful socks, one for each day of the week I bought at Lidl.

 Then this online purchase from a favourite shop Dutchsisters. They make amazing bags from vintage embroidery. They even added this lovely heart on the parcel.

The embroidery is all around the bag, so I can hold it on both sides.

When I went to buy a book for my Godson, I just happened to see this notebook and all of a sudden I realised that I could buy Geninne's notebook-journal here at home. I bought it at Public. You can find it online here.

 There are empty pages to draw or write.

 Pages to colour.

 Pages to paint in watercolours.

 And lovely colourful pages.

 I tried to videotape the pages as I have seen being done on online bookstores but Barca didn't really allow that. Still you can have fun with her here.

Finally a gift I recently received from a very generous lady. Zina of EfZin Creations chose me among her other blogland friends to gift me with one of her lovely jewelry pieces. She even managed to choose the proper colour for me, blue.

(Photographed on an otchipotchi stone)
You can find her shop on etsy and read her blog too. Thank you Zina.

Christmas Gifts

This year I tried not to spend too much on gift giving. So I made my own gifts.
I also tried not to spend too much on gifts to myself.
I had to buy my cologne as it had finished and found a day that there was 30% off. Pure White Linen, I have been wearing it for years.I love the little sample gifts they give with the purchase of the cologne.
I also bought 2014 charms and some felt wool for my stones in colours I didn't have.

 That was something I hadn't done for a long time! Buy craft magazines. I bought my dear
Marie Claire Idees which is so good and so cheap. Inspite the fact that I don't speak French, at least I can see the great pics.
I also bought Crafts Beautiful for the felt ornaments it had in the kit and hope to make them.
Finally I bought Mollie Makes for the first time. I had heard so much about this magazine but it is soooo expensive in Greece. But again I really wanted to buy it for the felt kit on the cover and to have the experience of it at last. It is very good. I really loved reading it. I want to try so many things in it.

 Now things I received. A little money that I gave good use to (more on another blogpost).
Two bags.

One from hubby(red) and one from my cousin (felt grey).Unfortunately there was a pin on the grey bag and I lost it!
And a watch from hubby!No it isn't gold.

This lovely coffee maker from my sister-in-law. And lots of coffee and chocolate!

I love making filter coffee without having to use the big coffee maker.

This little porcelain bird from one of my students. I haven't received a gift from a student for ages and it was a nice surprise.

Hubby and I received this beautiful dish with homemade cookies from one of his old students and there were beautiful metal gifts in it.

 The children are designs from an old school book and the other two are Shadow Puppet figures.

I also received my photo portrait from school.

And a gift from my best friend this felt bag with chocolate.

And the things I gave.

This felted stone to my best friend.

 I also made her the fairy bread (I found the recipe in DesireEmpire blog. Thanks Carolyn!). It was super easy, really beautiful to look at and absolutely delicious and the kids loved it and also my effort to make something from their mum's background was appreciated).

 And one of my felt ornaments.

 I made my niece this pendant. I bought the metal charm, painted it and added beads and laces and a chain. She loves photography! That's why I chose this charm.

 I made this stone for my cousin in Athens.

 And this huge one for my other cousin. I had found the coin at the beach and thought that since he is an archaeologist it suits him although it isn't a very old one.

 And this one for my other cousin.

I also made this felt ornament charm for my sister-in-law.

I love making, giving and receiving gifts! Don't you?