The "things I like each day" project.

For some days now I'm working on this personal project. 

Each day, I write down a list of things I noticed and liked during the day. 

It can be a scenery, an object, colors, an outfit, a fabric, a shop, a gesture, a person....

The first day, for example, I liked:

~ On the subway: an old man with a grey suit, with white stripes. He was probably going to visit someone because he was carrying a pastry shop box (also grey, with a white bow on top).

~ Looking outside the bus: a couple with matching traditional African outfits, made of ecru lace-like fabric. Plus, the lady was wearing a blue turban with gold thread embroidery on it.

~ The dream I saw, where a lady gave me a box full of things that could make you happy (something like magic, because I can't remember what exactly the things where).

The project goes very well. It makes me focus on the positive side and discover small, beautiful things!
You should try it yourselves!

Six reasons to create.

Today I was searching for a photo in the timeline photo album of "Daily Art by Angelina" facebook page when I noticed a few photos from the first days of my small business. And I smiled. And then I kept looking at photos until the most recent ones.

And I remembered why I design and create jewelry....

1. It feels great to start from an idea inside my head and end up creating something from scratch. 

2. The mix and match of materials, shapes and colors!

3. The idea that another person chose to buy something I created (the ring on the photo is the first item I sold on Etsy).

4. The hand sewing, the needle going through the fabrics, the buttons and beads decorating and completing the item.

5. The just bought rows of beads create a special feeling while I'm holding them in my hand.

6. I create, so I can make a butterfly fly and then stand for a while on my finger!

"Mirror mirror on the wall"

Martin Johansson, photographer/graphic designer

Art has an exceptionel power. 

The power to stop time. This happens when you see a work of art and everything around you stops.

You look at something and it captures your attention, your mind, and your soul that nothing else matters for a few seconds. It's like love, there's this spark that bonds you and that certain work of art forever.

A great example of  this theory of mine is a photo I saw this morning:

It's part of a series of photos called "Over sea, under stone",

by Martin Johansson.

Breathtaking, isn't it?

*For more work of the same artist take a look at his personal site:

http://www.martinjohansson.org/.

It's in the way you see things!

Yes, the world out there is a mess. 

Yes, most of the times other people don't have the greatest intentions.

Yes, bad things happen.

Yes, life is not fair.

Yes, the world is not innocent at all.

But no.

It's one of the most usual conversations I have with my boyfriend.

He expects the worst from people and the world and I live inside a nice microcosm that I've been building since I was little I suppose. 

The truth is that I am aware of how "wild" the world is and how bad people can get, but I choose to live my life by focusing in better things. 

I take care of myself and avoid tricky situations and people. I don't care so much about what bad and dark things might happen or about any naughty or devious thoughts others might have. When they occur I deal with them, after that I'm able to recognize them sooner, but that's all. 

The rest of the time I prefer to live by my rules and beliefs, and see the world through my own point of view.

I choose to look at things from a more innocent and positive side and that makes me happy!

A song about sorrow

"Αλλάζει πρόσωπα η θλίψη" - Παύλος Παυλίδης

That's one of my favorite greek songs and it's the soundtrack of this day (so far).

It talks about sorrow and its face/faces.

Here you can read the lyrics in greek and in english translation

(source: stixoi.info).

Beatrix Ost, artist, author, fashion icon and more

Beatrix Ost is a beautiful and inspiring woman!

With a great career and unique style!

(http://www.beatrixost.com/bio/bio.html)

* Photos : advancedstyle.blogspot.com.

Watch a great short film featuring her and her husband Ludwig Kuttner here.....

.....and her talking about positive thinking here

Isn't she amazing?!

The fear of doing nothing.

My boyfriend's teasing me about being busy all the time. He says that I'm making jewelry and then posting here in the microcosm and then painting and then  reading a book....and all these in a period of a couple of hours! 

The truth is he's describing me very well. I like to always keep myself busy.

But very often I'm wondering if that's normal. Surely I have a lot to do, but I think that deep inside I'm afraid of nothing. Afraid that if I don't occupy myself with an activity I' ll get bored. It's like the moments I don't do something are a waste of time.
I have organized my program that way so I always have a to-do-list, but in the end I' m thinking if I have to do less and taste "nothingness".
Spend more time with loved ones, learn to enjoy doing nothing and relax...!

The most adorable velvet boxes

Some time ago I found a photo on the internet:

(sorry, I can't remember where I found it so I can add the copyright)

My eye was caught by the beautiful velvet ring boxes and this morning I saw them again on Instagram, so I did my search and found out about them!

The brand is called "The Mrs Boxes" and they're made of French velvet that is no longer in production, so each color is limited edition.

I just love looking at them!

* Photos: themrsbox.com

Molly Goddard, designer

There's this designer that makes tulle dresses that you can wear on top of your t-shirt and jeans or on top of another dress. 

Do you love tulle?

Do you love dresses?

Do you love layering?

(oh, that's me)

Here is her website:

http://mollygoddard.com/

and here's her work:

mollygoddard.com

standard.co.uk 

(image: Nigel Howard)

asos.com

dazeddigital.com

(images: Philip Trengove)

When magic happens.

I'm going to this shop wanting to buy a notebook.

As I enter a poster of a new Playmobil figure is catching my eye, so I'm starting thinking that I must buy it since I have a small collection of them.

I think of it twice and I get on with buying that notebook that I wanted originally.

And on my way to the checkout I decide to buy the figure (a fairy with beautiful light blue hair and transparent wings, having a swan with her, <3).

At home as I'm doing a mini-photo shoot with the fairy to post her on Instagram and I'm holding her in my hand.....

THE IDEA popped up!

The idea for a Playmobil inspired jewelry collection for "Daily Art by Angelina"!

Afterwards I kept thinking that it's really funny how things happen sometimes. If I hadn't bought the figure probably I would never have this idea...!

Even the smallest choice we make can lead to something new.

That's kind of magic, right?!

It's ok.

Lately I was so nervous. Stress was all over my mind.

After the breathing exercises that are a classic solution to these problems I tried one more:

dealing with perfection.Or better with imperfection. 

I'm a person that wants to try until I have the best possible result and in the end I always think that I could have done even better (secret perfectionist). In my every day life I want some kind of order in things. And subconsciously (I think others see it better than I do though) I want to have the control of situations, things and people around me.

So, these last days when I start getting anxious about something and being afraid that it can go wrong, 

I just say to myself that it's ok even if something goes wrong or not according to plan.

And the truth is.... I 'm feeling much better!

After all perfection doesn't truly exist! :-)

Fresh studio!

Each september I'm redecorating my working studio a little bit. 

This year I bought some transparent boxes to organize my beads and I just can't stop looking at them all the time!

Here are some photos of the studio:

Happy Working!! :-)