Happy Friday!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend planned. I am going to a wedding tomorrow and next week it's my birthday (should I say "Yay!" here?). I wanted to share some photos with you, but silly me forgot to take the memory card for the camera. So instead I am going to share some great links I found this week. Deal?

- I definitely want to try out this tutorial (I've actually done something similar at the university, but not so practical)
- is this the cutest anniversary present you have ever seen?
- this video someone shared on twitter made my smile
- I love this song
- this blog inspires me
- I am in love with these flower brooches
- got this book
- I love this gorgeous blouse

Have a lovely weekend!
photo by me (my flickr)

Lovely: Chinese Display Tea

This one is for you tea lovers. How great would it be if not only your tea tastes good, but it also looks good? When you pour hot water those flower teas bloom in different colours, depending on the sort you've chosen. How lovely is that?

You can find it at pekoetea.co.uk

Inspiration: Mabona Origami

I found this awesome guy on flickr today. His origami are amazing, beautiful compositions, gorgeous lampshades, I don't really think there is anything he cannot fold. Take a look at his flickr or website for a lot more of his work.

DIY

Today was a great day! I spent it relaxing by the pool and I finally managed to get some tan, since I was so insanely pale. I am traveling tomorrow so no internet connection until then. I am leaving you with these awesome DIY projects at d*s (I especially love the one with the pencils).


Have fun!

Packaging

Made this little package for the Photo Trade. Used one of my moo cards as a tag. The other things are reused, recycling is good, right? :)

Inspiration

Happy Monday, dear friends!


via fleuravenue

Lovely Package Exchange

When I was little we had Santa visiting us at the kindergarden. He gave me a very pretty package, wrapped like a candy. I loved it so much that when my mom came to pick me at the end of the day I still hadn't unwrapped the present. I told her I loved it so much that I didn't want to tear the wrapping apart. Yep, I was a strange kid! :)


I signed up for the Lovely Package Exchange oh, hello friend are having. I love, love, love getting mail, especially when it is so beautifully packaged. If you want to take part, come join us, but hurry up, because entries are closing today!

photos via oh, hello friend

Lovely

I just love these gaia sandals! I saw them a while ago, but couldn't find where they are from, so when yesterday I saw them at {frolic} I was so happy, plus they have such a huge discount!

Happy weekend!

Hope everyone's weekend is going great. The temperatures are going crazy over here and I wouldn't mind spending some time high in the mountains right now :) I also wanted to share this photo I found here. Wouldn't you just love it if your breakfast looked like that? I know I will!

Have a lovely rest of the weekend!

Art

Did this about a week ago, but didn't have time to upload. Here are some lovelies I found this week:

-an awesome paper flowers tutorial
-the most elegant shopping list I've seen (via paper crave )
-gorgeous swan sculptures on Etsy
-love these leather sandals
-fantastic swap at oh, hello friend (still wondering whether or not to take part)

Etsy Love

If you love sending and receiving mail (I mean the real mail, not emails) as much as I do, then you are probably always on the lookout for some gorgeous postcards. Here are some lovely ones from Rachel's newly opened Etsy shop. I think my favorite would be the right one on top. How about you?

Inspiration: Tamar Mogendorff

I fell in love as soon as I saw these beautiful birdhouses by tamar mogendorff. So pretty! I wouldn't mind having one around.

lots of more inspiration on their website

My niece's drawings

As I mentioned in the previous post, my niece is visiting and we decided to draw. She really loves it and she is so good at it! :)


Have a happy day!

Etsy Love

My 8-year-old niece is visiting for a couple of days. I have planned some fun activities, such as drawing, going to the pool, perhaps watching Ice Age at the cinema if we have time. I'm going to get some fruits and vegetables now, because I don't let her eat junk food while she is with me. Have to think of something delicious, healthy and fun for a kid for dinner :) But before that, I am living you with some of my newest finds on Etsy. Enjoy!

Left: The Paper Apartment Right: yumi yumi

Left: Danny Roberts Right: Sooooound

Top: OSoo Bottom: Tuesday Mourning

Inspiration: Mallard

I'm more of a coffee person, but I wouldn't mind drinking tea if it is in these gorgeous cups. I know these have been around on the internet for quite some time, but I just couldn't help it. So inspirational - design at its best!

How about you guys - tea or coffee?

iDIY: Jewelry

After spending hours on Etsy looking at lovely pieces of jewelry and trying to decide which one to get, I decided I could make some of my own. I ordered some lovely supplies and yesterday I got most of them! I am so excited! Here is a sneak peak.

Have a lovely, creative weekend! xo

Inspiration: Tim Walker

For those of you who are into photography, the name Tim Walker probably means a lot. His use of light is phenomenal and his photographs are beyond magical. Enjoy!

Art

Here's another one of my abstract paintings. Thanks everyone for the kind comments!

Links

I have some great news for you guys. The wonderful photographer Sussanah Conway is giving out an 8x8-inch print at A Cup of Jo. You have to be fast, because the giveaway ends today!


Another giveaway for all the brides who want to stay organized is taking place at Parcel Post. That organizer is absolutely stunning!


And finally, one of my favorite photographers Jen Altman is selling her original polaroids. Visit her etsy shop for more information.


Good luck to all of you and have a lovely day today!

Inspiration: James Gulliver Hancock

I just love James Gulliver Hancock's work. So full of life and colour!

Prints of some of his work are available on his website and the prices are really good.

Recipe

One of the things I love about summer is the chance to eat fresh, healthy meals, even when it comes to desserts. I made this lovely creme yesterday and let me tell you - there is non left already!


I put yoghurt on some bandage to get the water out of it and make it thicker. Then I added powdered sugar and slices of peaches (or any other fruit you'd like) on top. Put it in the fridge for a while and you have the perfect dessert for the hot summer days!

What is your favorite meal in the summer?

Art

Here is one of my best abstract paintings from the time I was preparing for my art exams. The whole idea was to learn how to use colour, different colour combinations as well as composition.

Tempera on paper.

Also take a look at these great Artist's Date Ideas - I really loved all of these!

Have a lovely day everyone!

Inspiration

I dream of rain today. Such a weird, nostalgic feeling. But oh, how can I not love it...

My Garden

My newest obsession is succulents. I made a little arrangement for my parents' sitting area in their backyard. I used a fabulous vintage metal plate that belonged to my great grandmother. Here are all the steps if you want to create one of your own:

What you need: a plate or whatever you want to use, different sorts of succulents - at least 3-4 to make it more interesting, with different heights (in my case there wasn't much choice at the store unfortunately), some pebbles and soil.

First I put some pebbles at the bottom to make it more real for the plants. Then added soil, planted the succulents and finally added pebbles on top. It is really easy as you can see. Have fun! :)

Art

Finally access to the Internet!! There was a storm here on Saturday and I haven't had Internet since. It drives me crazy when I realize how addicted to things like this I am.. Oh well.. I have some catching up to do on my emails and blogs.

As I mentioned before (or at least I think I did) my parents were renovating some of the rooms at home. In the whole madness my mom had found my drawings from 3 years ago, when I was preparing for my drawing exams in order to get into the university. I thought you might be curious to see them, so here they are.


Pencil on paper. I photographed them, because they are way too big to fit under the scanner (50x70cm)

p.s. I have some abstract colourful compositions which I will show you tomorrow.

Have a lovely day!

Go Green!

In my country the concept of reducing our impact on the environment is quite new. I remember being one of those first people recycling and today I am very happy when I hear that more and more people do it. I even found out that last year our country has recycled almost twice more than what was expected from us by the EU. Unfortunately, most of us still use plastic bags when shopping, and although they are not as bad as the old ones, they are still not the best choice.
Here are some absolutely fantastic tote bags I found at Etsy that can make our shopping much more fashionable and greener!


All from LovelyPiecesDesgin

Happy Friday!

I know I've been bad and I haven't posted the tutorial I promised, but I haven't forgotten about it! I've been really busy since I got at my parents' house. I spent the whole day shopping yesterday, painted a mirror they want to put in the entrance hall (took pictures of this little project to share with you, but the paint is still wet and I want to take a photo when it is on its place). I am going out in a few minutes to get some succulents for table decoration as well as some watercolor paper because they want a drawing for the new hallway. I also got to meet some friends I haven't seen in months.
How about you, how did the week go? :)

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! x

photo via this is glamorous (thanks Rachel at Design Lovely for sharing it!)

Mail

I love getting mail! Especially when it is so lovely. I got the lipbalm I won in a giveaway at Curious Little Oyster and it is fantastic! I keep taking it out of my purse only to smell the espresso flavour, it is just so delicious!

Visit her Etsy shop, I promise you won't regret it :)

Freebies!

Did you guys know about this lovely project called Feed Your Soul? It is a selection of free art ready to be downloaded and printed. Each month there is a different artist contributing a print. Isn't it great? Go see them and thank Indie Fixx who came up with the whole idea.

Here are some of my personal favorites:

Also there is a great website where you can buy art at very affordable prices. It is called the Tiny Showcase and each Tuesday at 7:30pm EDT they add a new limited edition print. You have to be fast, because they sell out very quickly. Thanks Naomi for telling me about this! xo

p.s. I wanted to thank you for your wonderful comments on my painting I posted yesterday! Some of you asked how I got the gradation of the colours and what paper I used, so I will make a little tutorial for you guys tomorrow. Until then - have a great day!

IF: Shaky

I've been trying new techniques with watercolor. So much fun!


Have a fabulous day everyone!

Etsy Love

Hello everyone! It is sunny here already, after two weeks of constantly raining. The summer has officially began!
Here are some adorable items I found. Enjoy!

lovely dated stones and signature ones, perfect for weddings in my opinion. I love the wooden keyrings as well. by letterfest

I just love this letterpress fortune teller by Sycamore Street Press - it is hilarious! So much fun! via Design*Sponge