have a good dream...

My sleepless nights continue and although I've been listening to my rain cd, which helps me to fall asleep, now I'm having nightmares almost every night! and I'm talking about really ugly ones, like driving over dead bodies and dreaming about daylight no longer existing and everything is pitch dark.. yikes!  I wake up terrified and can't go back to sleep. Talking about sleep disorder!!  Well, I must say even though I am sleep deprived, I'm full of inspiration! lol  I have been working non stop on three different projects at the same time.  One is my BB book, the other is this painting, and...

I've started crocheting again!! I'm not really good at it (weaving is my thing) but I don't care. lol  I find it soothing.
I work on my paintings during the day and then at night I crochet! last night I made this really long flower garland :)) 
Stay tuned for more pics from BB's travels.
Have a great week!
xoxo

BB's travels

Good Morning!! We had our first "snow" of 2012! well, on the mountain tops, that is. Athens is surrounded by four mountains and lucky me I have a beautiful view of three of them:) and from what I've been told, that is good feng shui and good luck? The one above is Mount Pendeli.
 It's not really that cold down here in the city, for it to stick, it's 46F but it feels like it's freezing!! lol. Seeing the snow on the mountain tops is just fine with me, because I've had my share of heavy snow and ice storms when I lived in NYC and DC. and that's one thing I can do without. When it does snow here in Athens, which is rare, it's exciting, because it only lasts for a day.Watch me say that and tomorrow we have a snow storm! lol and I jinx the whole thing! hahaha.

This is Mount Parnitha, it's the biggest one.

Well, I told you in my last post, that while I was working on my summer painting I was inspired for the next project, and here it is...  BB's Travels. this is the first of many, and the title is " BB goes to Serifo"   This is the first spread, where BB and Daisy are dreaming and planning their summer get away! lol 

Have a great weekend xoxo

Welcome 2012

Happy New Year!! May all your dreams and inspirations come true! My motto for this new year is to focus! and to make every day count!
2011 was a very mixed year for me..and on those hard days I would drift off to Serifo, the Greek island I spent my vacation at. I would dream I was there again and gain strentgh and inspiration. I felt this wonderful connection and positive energy while I was there. Do you ever feel like that when you visit a new place? like you've been there before?
It took me several months to finish this painting, which is quite unusual for me. I had a general idea of what it would look like, but kept adding to it. The straw at the bottom of the post is from a hat I had bought the year before and finally fell apart on the island! There were a few very windy days!! lol It was part of the vacation, so I added it. and so was the sand. for the tv I cut and sanded a piece of transparent film. I took the "finished" painting to a friend who has a large scanner and he gave me the idea for the stairs to be 3D. so back to the studio I returned and cut out tiny individual card stock for the stairs. And so here it is. "No fishing allowed".
While I was working on this I had another inspiration for my next project. ohhh how I love when this happens!! the "one thing leads to the next".  but that will be my next post :)
Happy New Year, my friend. Thank you for being there for me. xoxoxo

Merry Christmas

From our hearts to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

I've been a good girl, Santa... yeah right!
She wouldn't pose for me! and would turn her head the other way on purpose!  I had to keep a piece of cheese in my mouth so she would face me! lol (tricks of a dog photographer)

Waiting for Santa..

I made this little dress for her today and I felt kind of bad, because every time I would try it on her, for measurments, poor Daisy, thought I was taking her out on a walk..
we love you ! xoxo

Greek honey cookies- Joanna's Melomakarona

I can still smell the honey while I write this post! I was extra careful with measuring and baking times so I can pass this on to you, as a way to thank you for following my blog and for your support :) December marks my blog's second birthday.

                                                JOANNA'S    MELOMAKARONA

1.   1 1/2  CUPS OIL  ( 1CUP CORN OIL 1/2 CUP OLIVE OIL)
2.   1/2    CUP  SHORTENING
3.   1 CUP SUGAR
4.   3/4 CUP ORANGE JUICE
5.   1/4  CUP  BRANDY COGNAC
6.   2TBS.  ORANGE  PEEL
7.   2 TSP   BAKING POWDER
8.   1 TSP  BAKING SODA
9.    6.5  CUPS  FLOUR
10.   1.5 TBS  GROUND CINAMMON AND GR. CLOVES 
11.    1/2  CUP   FINELY  GROUND WALNUTS


Beat first 6 ingredients on high speed  for about 7minutes. Slowly add flour, baking soda, baking powder,cinnamon and clove mixt. one cup at a time and knead for about 7 min. Do not over knead, the mixture has to be soft.  Take about 1 1/2 tbs of mixture and shape into oval shapes. Place onto baking pan, one inch apart. Don't use flat baking sheets. You will probably need about two large pans and one small one.

Press down with a fork to make criss cross design on top of cookies.  Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees for 30- 35 min. The cookies will turn dark golden brown.

                                         SYRUP
2 CUPS    HONEY
2 CUPS   SUGAR
1 CUP   WATER
1  CINAMMON STICK


In a medium size sauce pan, on medium heat, boil all ingredients for 5 min. Skim off any froth. Please
do not leave unattended! clean up is messy if it over boils :(   turn off burner and keep pan syrup hot.

As soon as the cookies are done, take the ones from the small pan and place in larger baking pan.( I do this so I don't waste the syrup) 
With a soup ladle, pour syrup over each cookie slowly. Do this twice. Let the cookies sit in the syrup for a couple of hours or more. That way the cookies absorb most of the syrup. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts.   Makes about 64. 

I'd love to hear how you liked them:)
Happy Holidays!!
xoxo

christmas ornaments :)

Fa la la la...this is what I've been up to since I got back from N.Y.  I know it's silly stuff, but seeing that little "yellow" guy on the tree, next to Daisy, makes me smile :)
Hope you are having a great holiday season. It's so inspiring to see everyone's art and Xmas baking!!  I will be baking Greek traditional Christmas cookies next week and want to share the recipe with you, so stay tuned.
xoxo

till we meet again..

Back home again, and I  still can't believe I was able to visit my family in the US! It was the most fabulous vacation! even the weather was great! unusual for NYC in Dec. Saying goodbye was hard..and tearful but I promised that I would be back real soon :)

This is my little makeup artist at her work, in Soho. I went to pick her up and she took me to this hip bar, where I had a St. Germain martini with a real orchid in my drink! ( I saved it for my passport journal)
I ate really great food and overdosed on cheeseburgers and hot dogs! lol  and chinese food! I tried El Salvadorian cuisine for the first time and fell in love!! oh yes and lots of roast beef sandwiches!
Thank god for all the walking, because I weighed myself this morning and I actually lost a couple of lbs! lol ! wow was I surprised!

oh and all those NY doggies!! Daisy would've have been real busy meeting so many friends.

This is the subway stop for the Musuem of Natural History.

and this last photo is for my little blog friend, Kendra, future paleontologist :))
My trip included a visit to Wash. DC, to see my dad and my little one, who is staying with him until she goes back to Parson's Art School (NYC) in Feb. I also swung by my old house..some mixed feelings there..but no regrets. Maybe my life would be way more comfortable and easier in the US.. but I am a dreamer and like a good challenge!  time will tell.
Ok, won't bore you anymore, I have been working on some fun stuff since I returned and will share on my next post.
I must go and catch up on everyone's blog. missed you lots!!
xoxo