Showing posts with label oceansbounty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oceansbounty. Show all posts

Sunday, 21 December 2014

Decorating for Christmas!

Does it happen to you too, or is it only me?
I was really bored to decorate this Christmas!
First I was on a decluttering mood and so was hubby so the one thing that left first was our huge Christmas tree! It took too much space into our little storage room over the bathroom so he insisted it had to go!
I on the other hand who loves Christmas trees and decorating them I was the last couple of years begging hubby or son to take it down and put it up and I was just decorating by myself, listening to Christmas songs on the CD player. And then again after the holidays I had to put everything away all by myself.
So I accepted hubby's proposition to give it away! But to whom?
And then I had this idea that maybe it would be useful at school.
Although each classroom has its own small Christmas tree, the one that was decorated every year by the Parents' Association in the school hall was nothing much.
So I donated it to my school! Some years ago I had donated my previous tree to another school. That was a 2m high tree. This one was 1.80 but really thick and beautiful.
The mothers of the Parents' Association who came to decorate for the bazaar were really vey happy with it and although they didn't have too many ornaments to decorate it with they managed to make it look really beautiful! All the children really liked it and all the parents who came for the bazaar and the teachers liked it too so I am glad I gave it to them after all! And I will be able to look at it every year!
 Isn't it gorgeous?
So what about my home?
Well my first idea was not to decorate at all. Then I decided it will be only decorating the big living room table and that's all!
So I put my old favourite snowman, the collection of green vases, the collection of little Christmas trees (most are gifts from my brother), my old time angel on the glass Italian vase, the vintage soup pot filled with pine cones, otchipotchi stones, my new little birdy box bought from a bazaar, my Nafplio candle holder from last year's trip, Marabeth's caroler,the star tealight holders I bought from the States, fabric birdy ornaments made by Cathy, clay ornaments from last year's school bazaar, Tua's reindeer, old vintage toys,

 Then I decided I wanted some greenery so bought a couple of fir tree branches and put them in the green vases. Then hang my collection of otchipotchi ornaments on them along with felt heart ornaments made by Cathy, ornaments I bought in the clearance sale in July in the Metropolitan Museum of Art  shop in New York, ornaments made by my niece or cross stitched ones by myself.

My Christmas tree collection, vintage toys, a Resurrection Fern friendship stone, some Ioannaspottery bowls brought from Skyros.
 The felt tree I made last year at In My Closet workshop,
 Frieda's crochet wreaths, Andria's little love parcel, Cathy's fabric birds!
I love the lights everywhere!


Then I decorated a bit around the room with my little elf bought at a Koperti bazaar years ago, the cross stitched picture Marabeth gave me (the red frame looks very Christmassy) and the Winter scenery cross stitched picture I made some years ago. Also the little embroidered angel from Laura of Bugs and Fishes sale.
My Finland red snowflake garland and Cathy's fabric birdies along with some special sea glass and sea glass ornaments made by my sea glass friends Lynne of oceansbounty (sea glass star), Andria of Andriasserendipity (peace symbol) and Juliana (sea glass turtle).
 My little candles from Finland which I always light as they remind me of that wonderful trip there in 2007.
And of course we always light some real candles.
Juliana's candle inside a lovely Christofle silverware bought at a tag sale in the States and lots of semi-precious stones all around it from the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington DC.

 I also put a little pink wreath in the bedroom along with a white porcelain ornament.
Finally I decided I needed some space for my Christmas cards (the ones I receive) so I made a washi tape Christmas tree on the back of our door. It needs a bit of work still! And I think I haven't received all of my Xmas cards yet!
How did you decorate?
Hope you have a great holiday!

Monday, 17 November 2014

If you want a gift for Christmas...

  • ...you can find the most beautiful  cushion covers at this shop. inmyc. And you can even print your own photo. Anna of In my closet blog and her family make these cushions. I bought some for gifts in the U.S.A. trip and they were really liked by the recipients. And in very good prices if you compare them with other shops.
  • ...you can find the most beautiful ceramics at this shop on Skyros island. Ioannasverychic.I sent my friend who was visiting on the island to buy me some gifts and here's what I got,very good prices, beautiful work.
  • ...you can find the most beautiful fabric gifts, scarves, coasters and pouches in this shop. Cozymemories. All hand dyed by Sonia with colours she makes out of plants of her area and hand stitched by herself.I recently bought this lovely handstitched pouch and there were even little gifts included in the parcel.
  • ....you can find the most amazing white porcelain items in this shop. Otchipotchi. Made by Paula in her little workshop in far away Portugal. Delicate and beautiful, they always arrive safe and sound and in very good prices.I have bought lots of her art and recently I got these!Gorgeous!
     (photo from otcipotchi shop)
  • ...you can find the most amazing handmade skirts, dresses, bags and hair accessories at this shop. Skeftomai kai ravo. Fani can custom order something you like. Sometime ago I had been to one of her exhibitions and had bought hair accessories for me and my visiting niece!
  • ...you can find the most amazing handmade jewelry at this shop. Meandmamacreations.  Lia is a crafty mum who makes them with her own mum!Isn't that sweet!I would have loved those earrings!(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find the most original gift, a handpainted gourd in this shop. Mariaspaint. Maria is really talented and her gourds are really popular!I had custom ordered a mermaid from her!And it is so beautiful!
  • ...you can find all kinds of Kawaii items in this shop. celdeconail. Christina is an expert on  matter.(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find more really beautiful jewelry in this shop. Stella Creations.Stella makes excellent boho and other kinds of jewelry.Wouldn't you like that?(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find the best book related news and advice on this site. So little sleeping and so much reading. John works hard to keep us all informed on the very best on books and reading.Now that Christmas is coming a good book is the perfect gift.(Sorry this is only in Greek.)
  • ...you can find the loveliest crocheted gifts in this shop. Niattacrochet. Annita makes gorgeous things but I especially like her bags.Gorgeous, isn't it? (photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find the cutest little gifts in this shop.The Wandering Deer. Vivika is similarly sweet and makes tiny little animals that you will want to have as friends.Vivika taught me how to crochet!(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can buy beautiful things here. I made it Bazaar. It regularly takes place at Rover Bar on Sundays. Follow them on facebook to get updates of their schedule.(photo taken from their facebook page with permission)
  • ...you can find sweet cross stitch ornaments in this shop.Mii stitch. Ingrid stitches beautifully.I loved this item!(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find sweet felt ornaments in this shop.Poppysstuff. Poppy makes them with love.(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find the loveliest vintage items in this shop. The Little White House.I would have loved that! Magali is a teacher who loves vintage things and she has lots of beautiful things in her shop.(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find the most beautiful photo prints in this shop. Quercus Design. Jennifer walks beaches with her camera and takes great photos.And she is a great lady too.I loved meeting her this summer.(photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find beautiful sea glass and repurposed items in this shop. Oceansbounty. Lynne really does a great job repurposing and recycling things.I also met her this summer but have also bought many of her items so far.(photo from her shop)
  • ...you can find original sea glass gifts in this shop. Andriasserendipity. Andria is such a dear and elegant lady. Her work reflects that.We met this summer too but we have been friends for some time now.Look at this gorgeous bottle stopper. (photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find lovely everyday jewelry in this shop. efzincreations. Zena makes lovely minimalistic jewelry.I have that same little star! (photo from her etsy shop)
  • ...you can find the sweetest handmade little creatures in this shop. Da Faux Creations. I have bought some for gifts and they are so sweet!
  • ...you can find hundreds of more gifts to choose from or you can sit down and make some things of your own!
Please note: Although I at times have bought items from some of these shops, and I have personally met most of the ladies and gentleman mentioned here, I have not been paid in any way or asked to do this blogpost. I am doing it because I really love handmade crafts, I appreciate what these artists/crafters do and would like to promote their work and efforts. Also it is good to promote small businesses and local or worldwide artists-friends who deserve it.

Sunday, 19 October 2014

Our trip to the U.S.A. (6)- Meeting Andria

July 2nd (still)
We had to rush our Cliff Walk in Newport to meet one of my best and first sea glass friends Andria and her sister Marcia.We got mixed up a bit on Ocean Drive till we found the right place!



 It was the Castle Hill Inn.

Such a beautiful place!
I must say that I was eager to meet Andria! Andria and I have got a lot in common and through the years we felt a lot of respect for each other and appreciation of each other's character and work. So you can understand how much I really wanted to meet her!
We went to the lawn and met Andria and her sister Marcia there!
We started chatting like old friends, sipping margaritas at the adirondack chairs and looking at the lovely view.

We also exchanged gifts. Andria gave us lots of gifts among them two pieces of her amazing art! Andria has got a lovely shop on etsy called andriasserendipity and her work is so much different from other sea glass artists. I love her sea glass and vintage finds combination.

After a while and having enjoyed the sea and the sun and the breeze...


... we moved on the balcony to enjoy a lovely meal. 
 Of course I had to have chowder again!
This poem was inside the Inn.
 But we had to leave after lunch to manage and visit the Newport Mansions. So we said our goodbyes with these two charming ladies!
 We had so much fun! I really didn't want to leave!

And here is Andria's gift on my wall with other sea glass gifts,Julianna's seaglass turtle and Lynne's sea glass star.
Thank you ladies for a great time together!
Next a visit to Newport Mansions. To be continued!