I enjoyed....

...in September...

• ...a visit at the local park where children were drawing pictures about the rights of children...

...or they were learning about the rights of animals...

 ...and grown ups were defending the forests of their ancestors against a big ugly invader (aka hellas-gold)...
(Save Skouries)

 ...and friends were selling their lovely handmade crafts...
(Da Faux Creations)

(Skeftomai kai ravo)

(SofiMoukidouJewels)

In October

• ...coffee with a former student at a cafe at the sea front....

 ....and we even collected some sea glass at the tiny beach there...

• ...visiting Renate Busse's exhibition at the Goethe Institute.She makes art using fruit boxes from the greengrocer's....

 (at the Institute garden)

•  ...coffee with my brother and sister...

In November...

• ...going to the sea front event of feeding 5000 people (A menu for 5000 people) using unwanted fruit and vegetables. Chefs from around the country cooked with vegetables that are considered seconds and would be thrown away by the greengrocers. I tried the beetroot salad and it was excellent.

• ...a reading from Nikos Kazantzakis' book "Report to Greco" with the Teachers' Association Drama Club...
  

Our Barca...

...flirts with my coffee (actually with what comes with it, like these grilled peanut butter slices of bread)...

...sleeps on the sofa although she has her own bed (so I put some of my son's old bed sheets on the sofa!)...

...and really enjoys it...

...tries to learn how to knit when she feels lonely (while we are away in the evenings)...

 ...and looks the other way when I ask who she is knitting this red jumper for!(Maybe it is a Christmas gift for me and I spoiled her surprise!)...

...loves chewing her mouse(gift from her favourite visitors A&E and her cousin Nouf)...

...has got a new friend nearby...

(His name is Koperti-Bikos. Our friend Tassos and his school Koperti adopted him from 

Stray Dogs Thessaloniki 

Barca didn't really pay much attention to him when she first met him but we are sure they will get along very well)....

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.