another birthday...

Hello my friend :)) hope you are well and keeping warm. Woke up this morning and it was snowing, huge snowflakes, but it's not really that cold for it to stick. It's ok..I took it as a good sign, since it's my birthday today. 36 once again, Lol. it's how you feel, right?! and not how you look.. ;0
Well, last week was real busy, since it was carnival season, here in Greece. dress up parties and celebrations all over Athens. I attended a dress up party on Saturday and went as a corpse bride. (I'll spare you a pic)

The biggest carnival is held in Patra, which is a couple of hours from where I live. I wasn't able to go, due to bad weather..but it's definitely on my list for next year :)
Meanwhile, I'm working on this little red riding hood, painting. Isn't Daisy so funny looking?!  I think she would look cute as Cinderella as well! Lol
Have a great week :))
xoxo

Happy Birthday Daisy

Happy Birthday Daisy!! you bring so much happiness in my life and most important, unconditional love!

I  L O V E   Y O U <3

I'm so happy with my crochet blanket, even though it's bigger than planned. Most of the artwork in the background is mine. When I lived in the US, I would take breaks between art shows and would dabble into woodworking and painting furniture :)  I will give you a tour as soon as I clean up ;0
Hope you are having a great week!
xoxo

Athens metro system

I've been preparing for  this post for some time now, mainly to add more pics and with the political turmoil going on in Greece, I thought it would be appropriate to share this today.  I feel deeply saddened with the riots that took place in Athens, on Sunday. What was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration, turned out to be a most frightening experience for the crowd that attended. Over 170
stores and businesses were burned and looted. Many people have now lost their jobs. Some of the buildings that were burned were two neoclassical theatres that were built in 1870. The Attikon theatre survived occupation by the Nazis during World War II and now to be burned down by anarchists just brings tears to my eyes..

I am honored to be living here in Athens, a city so full of history and I want to tell you about the most beautiful, amazing metro!  Every station is like a mini museum! During excavations, the workers had to stop digging because of all the plethora of ancient artifacts they would find!! amazing?! It took them a long time to finish each station. Every few metres of digging they had to stop and call in archeologists to retrieve antiquities.There is a whole city, underneath this city!  I have seen all sorts of  ancient objects displayed at various metro stations. Tools, vessels, even toys!! 

I've been collecting these pictures to share with you. Of course, I haven't seen even half of the stations in Athens. Some of them also display sculptures of Modern Art. Many talented artists live here :)

The other thing that amazes me, is that the subway here is..spotless! even though you will see no trash can in sight!  not one little shred of paper on the floor!

This from the metro station near my house :)  The display is beneath glass, on the floor.
All this is mind boggling to me, and I love and respect this country, that has become my second home :)
xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day

My crochet rock collection (the felt hearts are  Jenny Doh's design) is growing every day. It's becoming an obsession! everywhere I go, I look out for cute rocks.

Made four of these pop up cards until I got it right! and then realized I was doing it right the whole time!! geez!  it's cute, though, don't you think? :)   The Daisy part was not pre planned,  so I guess, she's the one who gets the kiss and not me?.. Lol

Strawberry filled linzer cookies.. yummm

Sending much love your way.
Joanna and Daisy xoxo

3 D paintings

Just a quick post before heading out for the weekend :)   It has been a crazy week, trying to finish these 3D paintings to take them for a presentation this morning, at the Benaki museum, here in Athens.  I was to go this morning..and of course..the metro decides to go on strike..  I rescheduled my appt, but I was working like a mad person all week!  oh well.. life in Greece is quite unpredictable at times. Lol  I laugh, because it's what I love about living here. You have to take some things in stride, otherwise you go nuts!

Anyway, ever since I started making these paintings in the shadow boxes, they've been selling real fast, so I took some of my older paintings and redone them 3D.  I think there is a trend going on here... Hollywood is remaking old movies into 3D so I'm copying too. Lol  "Titanic", "Star Wars" etc.
I am having a hard time photographing them, so any suggestions are most welcome :)

 "someone" really likes the blanket I'm working on!
Have a great weekend, my friend!!  Hope it's not too cold in your part of the world :)  we had a couple of flurries yesterday, just a reminder thats it's snuggle season :)
xoxo

2012 calender challenge

Hello my friend! Hope you had a wonderful weekend :)
Here is my entry for the 2012 calender challenge. I'm enjoying this small scale journal and have been writing in it every day. Please follow the link to see more entries.
xoxo

happy february :)

I don't get why February gets a bad wrap.. that it's the coldest month of the year, the bleakest, blah blah..Well, it's my favorite!  Valentine's day for one and it's also my bday month (28th)  and Daisy's too!  ohhh so many cakes to bake this month!
Hope you are doing well my friend! creating up a storm!!

I am officially addicted to crocheting! I keep an eye out for pebbles to crochet and ssshhh don't say anything but when I cant find any..I swipe them from various flower pots! My mom's apt building has just the right size pebbles by the front entrance, so every time I go visit....Lol. My sister caught me last week, stuffing my purse with rocks and gave me a raised eyebrow..
That's one of my rocks and I also made a little case for my phone:)
ps. about the painting...the writing on the waves say " choose me, choose me, choose me".  Lol
xoxoxo