My Holiday Souvenirs.

As I said, I have to be pretty restrained these days with regards to my souvenir shopping as my flat is pretty much sorted and any space for fripperies is tight ………

……. but I this year, even before I went, I had set my heart on finding an icon of the Madonna. I had seen hundreds of them last year when we visited the cathedral in Zakynthos in Zante, but at the time, though I had put in an offer on my flat, I was more geared up for chucking things out rather than gathering, but ever since I have driven Lu mad saying how much I wished I had bought one.

I found this one in Corfu Town, I made the poor woman climb up on a chair to get it down and ermmed and ahhhed, and then I said I would think about it and come back, to be honest I knew I would have it, I just didn’t fancy carrying it around for the rest of the evening in all the heat.  But for the first time ever I got my credit card out …. on  holiday!

I put the bottle of Holy Oil I got from the church in Kassiopi under a small Ikea dome …… it sort of looks right and goes with the icon.

And my final purchase was this evil eye, I have quite a few of the usual round glass versions around the house, but I have never seen anything like this one before, so it would have been rude not to make a considered purchase. Perhaps it’s a bit creepy, but it’s a reminder that I hope there are a few people “up there” who are keeping an eye on me.

So that’s it, other than a few bars of nougat and some Donkey Milk shampoo and conditioner.  Things might get moved around in time, but while the memories are still fresh and a bit of my tan remains they are OK where they are for now.

A Trip To Kassiopi

Kassiopi was stunning, Lu and I didn’t know what to expect, but we found a very beautiful fishing village, with lovely restaurants……..
……. and beautiful views.

It had everything we like in a resort, and I may consider looking at it in more detail when it comes to booking for our 2018 holiday.

 

Part of Lu’s and my Greek holidays almost always includes a peep into a church or two, and the church in Kassiopi was so beautiful and peaceful, I think the memory of our visit will stay with us for a long, long time.

Inside was stunning, with the church dating back to the 16th Century.

I loved the icons, the huge glass lights and the ornate incense burners and glass candle holders, we aren’t very religious, but we always say that if we ever go that way, we will go Greek Orthodox.

What I had never seen before were the Tamata and instantly feel in love with them. They are made from thin metal sheets, stamped with legs, arms, ears, eyes, torsos, hearts, babies, whole bodies, male and female, young and old and as votive offerings are hung from an icon with a prayer and the lighting of a candle, symbolising wishes for a miracle of healing. I desperately wanted one, but this wasn’t the place to get one, so I am currently trying to find a Greek Orthodox shop back home where I might be able to.

There was a lovely lady in the church who told us all about it’s history and answered all our questions, we bought some holy oil, and as we always do, lit candles for all the special people who are no longer with us to share our adventures and memories with. 

Moving on …… there was also two objects of very great desire in one of the ice cream shops, we popped into for a frozen Greek yoghurt and honey …….. to wit the lights ……. OMG, I would give my eye teeth for a pair of these, I have to laugh, my taste is so predictable!  I would love to be regressed one day and find out exactly where my past lives have been spent,  Marc would say that I have definitely got a bit of gay man in me somewhere ……. if you pardon the expression matron!

I don’t usually do wallpaper, but this, in the same establishment as the lights were had me drooling.

Another lovely, day, a day to remember when the nights draw in and are cold and I am snuggled up on the settee wrapped in my duvet!

A Trip To Corfu Town

Lu and my holiday to Corfu was wonderful, the beach, the food and just the rest, doing nothing but drinking in the blue sea, a bit of people watching and quaffing the odd 3 for 2 cocktails! Arillas, our resort was very small, so we decided that we ought to tear ourselves away from the beach for just a little while for an evening trip in Corfu Town and a day trip to Kassiopi. They did disappoint. 

Thank goodness we chose to visit Corfu Town in the evening, it was still pretty hot, but Lu and I are women who were born to mooch, so by taking on plenty of liquid refreshment we did our best not to wilt in the heat

  The old town was stunning ……..

……. so many romantic alleys, leading to mysterious places.

And, in one of my moments of pondering, I couldn’t help wonder why other peoples washing, hung out of windows and on balconies looks so quaint, where back home, it just looks, well …… shonky!

The shops were full of lovely things, but because all the shelves and sills in my flat are just as I want them (for the time being) I had to be restrained………..

……. so my money was safe with this little festive gathering, although I am always on the look out for vintage or “different” Christmas bits and pieces, but it made me smile!

I also decided that if I were ever to get married again (????? heaven help me, and no, I have no such plans) …… but if I did ….. I would definitely go back to Corfu for my trousseau.  The lace was stunning, and so feminine …..
…….. however, perhaps the ensemble below was a little over the top ……
…….. I don’t know why, but Joan Collins springs to mind!!!There were so many objects of desire …………

…… and inspiration, like this display of hand-painted magnets, which gave me an idea, using children’s wooden dominoes …… if I have the confidence to have a go at drawing and painting.

 

Happy days …….. 

Gingerbread Men Christmas Tags

I love gingerbread men, and I think Iris’s love for them too has got my creative juices going ……… so today I have bought you some gingerbread man Christmas tags.

After cutting the gingerbread men out, I put a scrap of red spotted paper behind the hearts, faux stitched round the edges with a white gel pen, gave them eyes, using tiny domed stickers and finally a red bow.

I used a ready made Kraft tag for the base, removing the hole protector ring to fit the background paper underneath, then glued it back down again, setting an eyelet in it using my Crop-A-Dile tool. I also edged the background paper using black lines and white dots.

Then, all that was left to do was add the gingerbread men at a jaunty angle, with a few small punched hearts, a scattering of three dot groups here and there, outline the hole protector.……..

……. and thread a narrow, red ribbon tie through the eyelet.

I also decided to carry the detail on to the back of the tags …

…… just because I could!

Christmas Tree Label Holder Metal Frame Decorations

Another festive project today using the Simply Gorjuss Santoro Tweed Metal Name Plates I got for £1 a pack (6) from NEC HobbyCraft Show.

I also used the last of some metal Christmas tree embellishments I bought many, many years ago, and that I wish I could find again ………. I made the backgrounds using scraps of blue and white glitter paper, attaching them using E6000 glue onto the back of each frame to ensure a good, strong bond.  I added a few silver stars ……….

……. and then carefully flooded the space (minus the Christmas Tree) with Ranger Glossy Accents, leaving to set completely for 24 hours.

When I was sure the Glossy Accents had completely set I glued two label holders/bookplates together, again using E6000 to make double sided decorations. These were left under a heavy weight for a couple of hours to make sure they were well bonded and flat.

Next followed jump rings, beads and wire loop hangers, not one of my most favourite of tasks, jump rings being my crafting nemesis, as Marc will contest.

And then, I could add the Christmas Trees (using E6000), to finally see if my idea would come together as I had imagined.

I am dead chuffed!  These will be put away and then given at Christmas to friends and family as a Christmas greeting that I hope will come out year after year instead of a card.