The resolutions of 2015!

Happy New Year!

Oh, new year, new organizer (bought my first original Filofax, in purple) and....

 new resolutions list!!!

I love this time of the year, when I can make a list of the things I want to do during the whole year!

Last year my list had only four goals. I worked for all of them but in the end I accomplished two. 

This year I'm more of a daydreamer and the list is much bigger. Here's a part of it:

* Spice up my personal style. 

I think that growing up I'm becoming less eccentric. I started working on my appearance by dying part of my hair (which is usualy dyed blue). So now I'm wearing a combination of brown, blue and purple hair!

* Smile.

Lately I realized that smiling makes you fell better instantly!

* Take care of my body and soul.

Workout more, eat better (and less) food, etc.

* Finish my video art project.

I've been trying to do this since last year.

* Work even more with my jewelry brand, Daily Art by Angelina.

When you're a one person business there's a lot to do, from designing and creating to promoting your work, and always something extra you can add to your "to-do-list"!

* Improve this blog.

New things coming!

* Volunteer.

I've been thinking for quite some time to volunteer to a cause.

* Maybe travel. 

"Maybe" is about the money factor. Last few weeks I'm watching a tv show where two guys travel the world and Ι heve started feeling very strongly the need to see the world (or part of it)!

Plus, being inspired from the facebook games where you have small goals to accomplish, I thought of setting one or two each month. I'm starting with reading four books and workout and meditate daily, for january.

Have a very very nice year and good luck with your own resolutions!!

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).