happy monday :)

Some more inspiration from the islands... This journal page will be made into a painting for next years exhibition. My head is so full of ideas it's begining to ache! Lol.  I have a feeling a lot of fish will be playing a big role in my new paintings.
xoxo

the delivery boy..

My latest painting is inspired from Cayenne restaurant (whom I blame for the extra lbs, I gained, btw)
Little yellow is their new delivery boy. He's a bit clumsy, dropping chili peppers everywhere...I think his mind is elsewhere...my little daydreamer..
xoxo

happy fall

Wish that was  true, since the temerture here continues as if it's summer...and I really want to start wearing shoes instead of sandals and fall clothes. Lol

This is what I found at my door, when I got back from vacation! Jill, from bois-fleurie send this gorgeous card that I won at her giveaway! It's so pretty with all sorts of tiny bits of fabric and lace sewn on it. I'm going to frame it and hang it in my bedroom :)  Thank you Jill, your work is wonderful!

sifnos part two

 Vacation days are over, but my brain is still on the island... I wish there was a way I could spend the winter there! I think it would be fascinating, to live like a local, walk around quiet cobblestone streets, with no tourists around and just paint all day... The winter there is mild with lots of rain and doesn't get windy like it does during the summer. ( i did ask,, just in case, Lol)

The most beautiful place in Sifnos, to me is the Kastro. (all the pics are from there).

It is an ancient "castle" built on a rock and the houses are mostly two stories. some of them have little bridges, it's very rugged and has narrow streets. In ancient times it was sealed with  arcades, like war towers to protect the settlement. Three of these entrances are still standing!

This is one of them. They're called "lotzies".

 The view to the Aegean was.....spectacular!!  That little church looks like it's floating in the sea.. I was too scared to walk down there to visit. It seemed a bit too steep of a path. yikes!!

This is a wild fig cactus! the figs are quite tasty, I'm told.

I met some really wonderful people in Sifnos and one of them is Kelly, all the way from Oklahoma.
 She came to visit Greece and decided to live here for one year.. well, that was thirteen years ago!! hahaha  Miss Kelly fell in love with a Greek guy, Tony, and lives on the island nine months out the year, the rest of the time she's here in Athens and goes to the US for the holidays. We'll be hanging out in the winter, she happens to have an apt, close to mine :)  
I thought that was such a nice story when I met her. all the way from Oklahoma! wow!  Isn't it so amazing how being at the right place, at the right time can change your life?!  One day you're in Oklahoma and the next in Sifnos, of all places!! Lol 
 I love stories like that! how your life can change overnight, hopefully for the better, but even if it's something bad..it always has a deeper purpose, one that we don't realize right away and it turns out good in the end. no matter how bad it was...
Hope you are well my friend and creating, creating, creating.! I have started a painting, it's far from done, too many things to take of, business mostly, before I can concentrate on my canvas.
I also want to share with you, something I received in the mail after I got back, but that will be my next post :)  

Sifnos

If only I could stay longer....

This was my first time in Sifnos and also my first time visiting a Greek island in September, when most tourists have gone back to work and their homes, and I must say..it's the best time to go to the islands.

Sifnos = FOOD!! seriously!  I've never had this kind of dining experience before! omg. Even their "plain" dishes were extraordinary. The most important Greek chef was from there, so of course there is pressure or lets just say pleasure for the locals to keep up with Nicholas Tselementes (1878-1958).

Feta cheese balls served with rasberry sauce!!

I had the most amazing food at Cayenne restaurant, which is also hosts a gallery  upstairs....and guess who is having an exhibition there next year :) Niko who is also the chef and owner is an artist himself, invited me to show my work  next summer.

I met the most hospitable and humorous people and made special connection with a couple of them :)
I'll tell you more about them in my next post.

Sifnos is also known for their pottery. The island is full of magnificent artists! A lot of the houses are decorated with pots. even on the roof tops!

This is the view from my room!!

Appolonia is the capital or Hora of the island. It was so pretty at night, with beautiful restaurants and cute little cafe bars.

And of course, gorgeous churches all around the island.

Breath taking sunset.(view from my room)
I will show some more pics on my next post. hope I'm not starting to sound like a travel blog, but I wanted to share this with you :))
Hope you are doing well and creating beautiful art. I have some serious catching up to do, blog wise and work wise... I am sooo inspired by my trips this summer and anxious to get my paint brushes out!!
xoxo

magical Serifos....

Hello my friend, I've missed you... How was your summer? 
I just got back from visiting my favorite Greek island, Serifos. I was there last year and fell in love...and just had to go back again...
One word describes this island....magical...
Every day, after going to the gorgeous beach, I would stop for coffee and take out my journal....ohhh the view was just increadible.. right across from me, I could see the Hora, which is built on the mountain. There are houses there, built right on the cliff, scary, but people actually live in those tiny houses.
Serifos is rich in mythology as well. Medusa's head is burried on the island. She was so beautiful, that Poseidon fell in love with her and because she didn't care for him..he turned her into a monster. Everyone who dared to look at her face turned into stone, as did the king of Serifos Polydectes, who was a very mean king to his people.

This is taken at Hora. Can you see how thick the walls are? amazing! (click on the pics to see them full size)

Don't let the outside fool you, most of these houses are renovated and the interiors are updated. Some are tradionally furnished and others are modern :)

White washed and blue doors everywhere!!

Hora is most beautiful at night...people sit at their balconies with lit candles, listening to music and it's very romantic..

I'm in love with these chimneys...some are fireplaces and other for wood burning stoves. Aren't they so pretty?..

White and blue..everywhere...
 Can you see how happy I am there? like I belong, right?.. I had such a hard time leaving...

Sunset...just breathtaking...

That's the port in the background.

Catgammon, anyone? lol  I remember this kitty from last year. she loves sleeping in there. hahaha

I had wine from those grapes!! pretty strong stuff!  On my last day on the island, I had lunch (fried kalamari) at this tavern right on the beach! my feet were touching sand, that's how close to the water it was!  The family who own the tavern, grow their own vegetables and make their own wine :) how cool is that?..
Hope I didn't bore you with all theses pics. I you want to read more, please see my posts from last year.
I am lucky this year, as I will be visiting one more island this summer, Sifnos. It will be my first time and I'm pretty psyched about it! I won't be leaving for a couple of weeks, so that gives me time to prepare my journal, once again :)
xoxo

vacation time :))

Finally!!! and just in time! This non stop heat wave is the worst ever and I can't wait to get on that boat and feel the sea breeze on my face... That actually is the best part of my vacation..the boat ride :)
even the 4am wake up doesn't bother me. just get on the boat and off to the Greek islands! yesssss!!

Meanwhile, I've been preparing my journal, to take with me..
Hope you have a great summer and see you back here in a few weeks!!
xoxo