Thursday 26 December 2013

Happy holidays!

I will stay away from my computer and the Internet for some days so I would like to wish you all the best for the rest of the holidays and the New Year!

 From Barca and Miltos happy holidays too!


Christmas Bazaars (3)

The first Christmas bazaar I went to this year was in November. On the day of Saint Stylianos, protector saint of Children, (25th-26th November), the Children's Shelter (Asylo tou paidiou) organises a big bazaar. I used to work for their Primary School so I love going at their bazaar and supporting them. My favourite part is their very cheap vintage items but they have lots of other beautiful things, antiques, handmade and also second hand and sweets.
Here's what I got for vey few euros.
A white porcelain tureen made by Bisto (Bishop-Stonier). There is a small broken part but for 2 euros it is a doll!
 A red bells decorative heavy pottery piece, a Peru metal decorative spoon, little clear and red floating glass balls, a mini Scherzer jug,
 three Chinese saucers and an a amazing  Echt Kobalt saucer, an embroidery hoop, a series of beads,
 a tin box, a set of Babushka nesting dolls,
 The Bisto, isn't she a doll?
 The red and white vase I had bought a couple of years ago from the same bazaar!

  A spanish decorative frame with flowers.

A little porcelain rabbit.
 A pottery whistle from Peru.

 Most of the smaller items were just half a euro, and I also got these items for free.
Two wooden bases (for eggs?)
 and this U.S.S.R wooden bowl which is a bit broken.

 I loved all of my finds.


Wednesday 25 December 2013

Christmas Eve-Christmas Day 2013

Merry Christmas every one! I hope you had or are having a great day.
Yesterday I did lots of chores, heard the Christmas carolers; only a few visited us among them my Godson with his lira and his brother and sisters. It was lovely!
(The photo is from our visit to him on Saturday!)
In the evening we went for a walk at the city centre.
Lots of lights everywhere and people partying in bars and cafes. We chose a quiet cafe for some coffee.


Today we had Christmas dinner at my brother's.
Their house was beautifully decorated.
I love my brother's beautiful glass tree collection.


We really enjoyed it. My sister-in-law is really a good cook.
 We had roast turkey. I loved the stuffing with whole chestnuts.
 This colourful salad was also very impressive and delicious. It looked like a birthday cake.
Layers of egg, carrot,beetroot and potato salad. Excellent!
 My mum's stuffed vine leaves of course!
 My brother made the sweets following our dad's tradition.
Pistacchio baklava and kadaifi. Kourabiedes and melomakarona and that chocolate cake is mine.
I hope you enjoyed yourselves today!

Tuesday 24 December 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing you all faithful followers, readers, friends, relatives and passers-by all the best for a very Merry Christmas! Hope you have a great day!

Monday 23 December 2013

Christmas Bazaars (2)-Our school bazaar

The idea came at the Parents-Teachers Meeting at school. They wanted to organize a bazaar and they wanted help. Me and some more teachers offered our handicraft skills whereas others offered their pastry making skills.
I spent four Friday evenings at school along with my colleagues making things. And I also spent almost every evening for about a month making things at home.
First I made some Christmas ornaments out of a white fleece blanket I bought from IKEA for just 3 euros. It is a lovely material to make ornaments with.




Our Art teacher made these ornaments out of clay.
 She started painting them.
And I finished them off.


 Then the parents brought us some red and green felt.
I made some napkin rings.
I also made some Christmas tree ornaments and two pairs of Christmas tree earrings.
 The Art teacher painted some glass jars.

 Two other colleagues made wreaths and decorated them with candles.
 They also added pinecones that me and the Art teacher spray painted.




 The Art teacher recycled some burlap fabric into stockings and I decorated them.

 She also cut out paper stockings and I decorated them.
 She also painted Christmas cards and we decorated them too.




 Our workshop, the teachers' office.
 From all the things I made I so enjoyed making these ornaments though! I adored them. I got the inspiration and patterns from Crafts Beautiful magazine. But I definitely added my own ideas on them.They are babushkas (Russian Dolls).







 The total of what I made at home.






 And the bazaar!
Children's drawings.
 Sweets.
 Handmade items.
 Cards.
 Clay ornaments.
 Salt dough ornaments.
 Wreaths.
 And felt ornaments.
  And here's what I bought.
I am glad all ot the items I made were sold. And I am glad we helped the parents make some money for the school.