Inspirations by Stella

Get Back Up

2012-02-10T19:51:00.001-05:00

Its been a long time since I was posting regularly. Life throws curves at us and we need to temporarily let go of some activities in order to focus on the task at hand. I am happy to come back to blogging, missed it so much.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt writes:

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!

This is a photo we took in Rome. It was siesta time and this puppy was hanging on.
Look forward to my next post. Ciao ciao!

Inspiration for Christmas Season

2011-12-07T17:49:00.000-05:00

This is from Norm Hastings on Youtube. He is an exquisite pianist, and loves God. His music is so beautiful, and I enjoy listening. Be sure to take a listen to his Christmas music which he prepared with Laura Rowzee who has the voice of an angel. Have a little listen and go download this for free here

Life is like Coffee Movie

2011-11-21T10:58:00.002-05:00

Life is like Coffee Movie:

Click the title above to watch the movie- enjoy!

Do you know people that just seem to be happier in general?

Do you say to yourself, "I want to be more like them"?

Often, the happiest people in the world

don't have the best of everything...

they just make the best of everything...

After watching this, I think I will call my mom ♥ and have a cup of coffee with her- I don't do that often enough

Carrots, Eggs or Coffee?

2011-11-14T21:19:00.001-05:00

Its been a very long time since I blogged.
So to make up for it, here is a treat...be inspired♥ click the next line

Carrots, Eggs or Coffee?

To Armenia With Love: Interesting Facts Besides Noah`s Ark

2011-09-04T15:43:00.001-04:00

Why Armenia you ask? Pastor Joseph Hovsepian and his daughter Ruth (Montreal Vacation Rental ) is going to Armenia on a missions trip. Ruth has put together some special facts that you may not know. You can see the details on the blog. Click below:

To Armenia With Love: Interesting Facts: Armenia is a mountainous country in Eurasia, which stands landlocked between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Southern Caucasus. Its...

Yerevan with Mount Ararat in the background.

The Coat of Arms of the Republic of Armenia is as follows: On a shield, positioned in the center, Mount Ararat is represented with Noah's Arch and the coats of arms of the four royal dynasties of the historical Armenia: from top to left - that of the Bargratunides, from top to right - that of the Arshakounides, from bottom to left - that of Artashesides, from bottom to right - that of the Rubenides.
The shield is upheld by an eagle (on the left) and lion (on the right). There is a sword, as well as a branch of a tree, a bundle of spikes, a chain and a ribbon pictured below the shield. Golden is the main color of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Armenia. The colors of the kingdoms of the historical Armenia are as follows: from top to left - red, from top to right - blue, from bottom to left - blue, from bottom to right - red, with orange-painted Mount Ararat positioned in the center on a shield. The foregoing colors emblematize the colors of the national flag of the Republic of Armenia.

Eleni got the Cooking Gene!

2011-08-13T12:14:00.001-04:00

I have a fabulous sister,aka the creative soul of the family. She is a fashionista, a best friend, a referree, a champion multitasker, but also a great cook. She always has a quick tasty idea to make a budget friendly meal for moms on the go.

Here are two of Eleni's recipies for OMG Chicken :

CHICKEN BREASTS

5 breasts

fresh grated ginger and garlic

Fresh chopped coriander
2 tbsp bouillion powder KOSHER NO MSG (ofcourse)

safflower oil

sesame oil enough to coat

mix in a bowl bake st 425 till browned.

CHICKEN DRUM STICKS

10 drumsticks

fresh rosemary 3tbsp

murin 2tbsp

club house cajun seasoning
basil flakes
herbs de provence
oregano
boullion powder KOSHER NO MSG
1/2 fresh squeezed lemon juice

bake at 425 turning once till they look almost cooked then broil last 15min.

I would appreciate your comments to encourage her - she is also shy♥

This is the photo SHE took...Wouldnt you love to eat at her home!

Ten Thousand Villages / Dix Mille Villages in Montreal

2011-07-07T22:50:00.001-04:00

A Canadian initiative of the Mennonite Community, this non-profit program buys products from over 100 artisan groups in over 35 countries. You can purchase handcrafted jewellery, natural home décor, and food and skin care products. Through the network of their stores, online shopping, and Festival Sales across Canada they help improve the lives of tens of thousands of people. This income helps pay for food, education, health care and housing.

A great example of this is Jhonson Augustine’s story from Haiti. The beautiful cut metal sign made for the store on Monkland Avenue in Montreal is his handiwork. Cut metal work is a primary activity in Croix des Bouquets, where Augustin grew up.

“Cut metal work represents the wealth of Croix des Bouquets,” said Augustin. “This is what has made the city famous.” Artisans and apprentices make a living from creating art out of recycled metal drums. “Even apprentices can make enough to go to school, or to care for their children if they are parents,” he said. Currently Augustin’s workshop supports some 50 families. Of himself Augustin said, “This is what God gave me to live; I support my family, I am building a house and I am providing work for others.”

These are handwoven baskets and wall hangings.

These candles are just so unique!

Etsy Greek Street Team

2011-07-04T15:37:00.000-04:00

The Greek Street Team is a group of artists and crafters who sell on Etsy and are located in Greece or related to Greece by heritage.

They are so exceptionally talented, and their shops are so attractively priced. I have bought so many gifts from them and have always been delighted.
In addition, I am featuring Antigoni Creations on my blog....I have alot of her jewelery, you can see me wearing some on my facebook pic. I am always featuring a Greek Team seller on my blog, so dont forget to check them out.

Happy 4th of July to my USA friends & followers!

2011-07-04T15:24:00.000-04:00

Canada and its citzens are so fortunate to have the USA as our neighbour and we join with you in celebrating! Happy 4th of July♥

Vote for the Etsy Greek Street Team List for the Handmade Top 10

2011-06-29T16:47:00.000-04:00

Click on the orange banner to get into the EGST list and vote for your
favorites!

Happy Canada Day!

2011-06-27T18:10:00.001-04:00

From Etsy!

I am very fortunate to be celebrating this day. My family came here from Greece in the late 1940's. This country embraced us, gave us opportunity, and blessed our family.

Anne Renaud: Montreal Children’s Author

2011-06-02T16:03:00.000-04:00

She is passionate about writing for young readers on subjects that are of historical and cultural value.

Her workshop at Imagine A Story on May 28 was about Writing for Magazines. Indeed this is how her writing career began. It was an affirmation that her stories were of interest to young readers. In fact her first book: A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival began as an article she wrote which has a personal connection:

Here is an excerpt from an interview with Anne Renaud:

“My uncle, Thomas Delaney, was one of the thousands of Canadian soldiers who fought to help free the Dutch during World War II. On the morning of April 8, 1945, my uncle was shot in the hip by a German soldier. He was recovered by members of his platoon and hidden in a barn to avoid capture by the enemy.”

Her uncle travelled to Holland in 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands. While there, with the help of a local historian he located the barn. There is more to this story; it’s worth a trip to your library.

In addition her book lets Canadian children learn about the history of the tulip festival and what the Dutch children in the Netherlands do to honor the sacrifice made by Canadian soldiers during World War II.

Her latest book: The Empress of Ireland was a Canadian Pacific Railway ship which is famous for sinking in only 14 minutes in the early morning of May 29, 1914. There was a greater loss of passenger life than Titanic.

However the ship’s legacy is far greater than that. She brought thousands of immigrants to Canada, who greatly contributed to the development of Western Canada. There are more than a half million Canadians who can trace their beginnings in Canada to the Empress of Ireland.

She includes several photographs of the life of the Edwardian liner, and preserves the stories of the passengers.

Besides hundreds of magazine articles, she has several books to her credit, 4 of which were nominated for notable book awards.

Anne writes:
My readers often ask me why I write books. I tell them it is because I like to do creative things and I find writing to be a very creative exercise. It’s also because I can’t dance well and I can’t sing well, so I try my best at writing well. I hope my books educate, entertain and inspire children.

Kevin Sylvester in Montreal for Book Week!

2011-05-03T15:49:00.001-04:00

It's Children’s Book Week in Canada. Montreal‘s YesOuiCanscaip meeting featured Toronto’s Kevin Sylvester. Outside was rainy and glum, but inside our meeting was full of enthusiasm for the very special craft of writing and illustrating for children.

Kevin began by telling us that he has always been an avid doodler, crediting his grade school teacher who encouraged him to bring a sketch book to math class. This of course kept him from doodling in his math text, and saved his parents lots of money.

We got firsthand look at how his first picture book “Splinters” was developed including the layout and the “geometry” of illustrating. Kevin answered questions about the process, using his rough drafts as examples. “Splinters” is about a young girl who only wants to play hockey, but the mean coach and her daughters won’t let her. Can her fairy goaltender come to the rescue?

The inspiration for his Silver Birch Honor award book “Sports Hall of Weird” came from personal childhood reflections. Kevin explained that the success for this book was based on his own memories of reading the back of baseball cards.

“Game Day” is a look behind the scenes at sporting events. Kevin interviewed twenty fascinating people – from Zamboni drivers to anthem singers.

As a young boy he read the Hardy Boys, which served as a foundation on which to build his YA book “Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders”. Neil is a 14-year-old super-chef from Vancouver who solves mysteries on the side for the Vancouver Police Department. Super-chef Gordon Ramsay calls the series “Good Fun” and it had garnered critical praise and sales!

He is a strong believer in illustrations, strategically placed in each chapter of the Neil Flambé series. This is great because who doesn’t like to see the bad guy with the mustache lurking in the shadows? Book #2 in this series is “Neil Flambé and the Aztec Abduction “and Book #3 “Neil Flambé and the Crusader Curse”.

If Kevin Sylvester’s name sounds familiar it’s because he is also a broadcaster. In fact the character Neil Flambé was originally used by Kevin during a CBC summer morning broadcast of his ongoing story Neil Flambé and the Case of the Caustic Cumin.

He has been a broadcaster on national radio in Canada for years and years and has covered eight Olympic Games. He also produced documentaries on topics ranging from racism in hockey to the history of church bells in Canada.
He now splits his time between his attic studio in Toronto and the radio. He was named a Massey Journalism Scholar in 2007 and used the time to study theology at the University of Toronto.

Kevin gives amazing presentations for schools, career days, and illustration workshops. You can contact him here.

Illustration Friday....topic is Bottled !

2011-04-08T12:52:00.000-04:00

So here is my submission for this week...of course, being Greek, this is what I came up with :)

Imagine a Story 2nd Edition!

2011-02-28T22:00:00.001-05:00

Imagine a Story

On Saturday, May 28th, 2011, Yes Oui CANSCAIP hosts "Imagine a Story, a one-day conference for emerging and established creators of works for children." The event will take place at Dawson College (3040 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal)

Author Brian Doyle (Quebec), author Marsha Skrypuch (Ontario), picture-book author Elizabeth Bluemle (Vermont), editor Peter Carver (Ontario), children's poet Ted Scheu (Vermont), and author-illustrator Willow Dawson (Ontario) are just a few of the individuals scheduled to speak at the event.
Don't miss our early bird special which ends March 28th!
Early Bird Special:
Pay $100 (instead of $110) if you register by March 28th.

Get your registration package here:
YesOuiCanscaip

The Quebec chapter of the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers / Section québécoise de la Société canadienne des auteurs, illustrateurs et artistes pour enfants

Mend it dont end it ♥

2011-02-11T17:39:00.001-05:00

A music video on my facebook page is about a husband taking an honest look at his marriage, and how he turned things around.Sometimes a song can speak words that you cannot. Here's the story behind the song:

Library of the Early Mind

2011-02-02T13:13:00.000-05:00

Attention All Children’s lit. enthusiasts!

Thursday, May 19, at 7:00 pm

Selwyn House School is hosting the screening of this documentary film :

Library of the Early Mind-

It will be held at Selwyn House School in Coristine Hall

95, ch. Cote St. Antoine, Westmount QC H3Y 2H8

Admission $10 • for information and tickets contact:

Carol-Ann Hoyte • hoytec@selwyn.ca or (514) 931-9481 #2241

http://www.libraryoftheearlymind.com/

“Library of the Early Mind” is an exploration of the art and impact of children’s literature on our kids, our culture, and ourselves.

From the first stories we hear told to us to those childhood heroes that stay with us a lifetime, the impact on our culture runs deeper than what we might expect.

“No one suspects the children’s writer,” says author and illustrator Mo Willems, a former 'Sesame Street' writer.

The film features nearly 40 prominent authors and illustrators talking about their work, its genesis and its impact. The number of books in print by the authors in 'Library of the Early Mind' exceeds 240 million.

Edward J. Delaney, director and co-producer of this documentary is (born in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1957) is an American author, documentary filmmaker, educator and journalist. Delaney received a 2008 Literary Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts

Steven Withrow, co-producer, is a poet, playwright, fiction writer, teacher, and author of six instructional books meant for visual artists and storytellers: Toon Art, Webcomics, Character Design for Graphic Novels, Vector Graphics and Illustration, Secrets of Digital Animation, and Illustrating Children’s Picture Books.

Giveaway!

2011-01-27T20:12:00.001-05:00

I have a Giveaway to offer!

LivingInspired is offering two Original Fine Art 8 x 12 Photographs, both of which were exhibited in a gallery collection!

They are printed on professional, acid free, archival paper that produces sharp details and luscious color with a matte finish.

To enter the giveaway and win your Original Fine Art Photograph by LivingInspired, you just have to:

1.Leave a comment below & pick a number between 1 and 25

AND

2.To gain one additional entry,

Follow Inspirations by Stella blog or Facebook Page

And please mention it in your comment of my blog.

The winner will be picked next month February 16th, and I will post the winners name, and send a notification mail. Good luck to everyone!♥

Below are the Giveaway items and the artist’s bio. Thanks so much for your participation!

Pray For Us

Serenity

My name is Ariella, and I am the creator behind my two Etsy shops: Piece of Peace and Living Inspired.
People often ask me, “How did you learn how to do that?” I don’t believe that anything in life comes easy. We find something that calls out to us, and we practice it until we develop a certain proficiency in that area.

As a child I was very inquisitive and curious about life and cultures. I always felt I was different. I loved old movies and often felt I was born in the wrong century. I loved creating things with my hands; anything from potpourri sachets for my drawers, hand dipped candles, baking, sewing, and even sewing my own vintage inspired clothing.

For the past 4 years I have been kind of obsessed with “inspiration”. I could feel that the inspiration I was gathering from the blogs, from Etsy, and from the online craft and photography communities were filling me up, and that they would soon spill over. For me, that gathering and processing component is so crucial.
When I decided to sell my jewellery on Etsy, I became increasingly frustrated that my pictures didn’t turn out the way I saw them through my eyes, so I started to work on my photographic skills. After two years of feeling the limitations of my little Sony Cybershot, my sweet husband bought me a Nikon SLR for my birthday. Then I took some photography courses to learn how to use the camera.

So, that’s where you find me now…a thirty something Mom with a full family life, trying to carve out time to nourish my creative spirit and always looking into the future at the next creative challenge on the horizon.

What is Yes Oui Canscaip!

2011-01-21T17:18:00.001-05:00

The Quebec chapter of the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers /

Section québécoise de la Société canadienne des auteurs, illustrateurs et artistes pour enfants

Our chapter includes authors and illustrators who are at various stages of their careers from those who’ve had several books published to those who are not-as-yet published. Though most of our chapter’s participants write or illustrate children’s books, others create material for kids in other formats (ie. magazines, music, film, television, storytelling, and theatre).

This is an initiative of a friend of mine who is a true-blue KidLit fan: Carol-Ann Hoyte.

She is a published poet, and here is her blog: Poetry In Bloom

Our next meeting is : A Tale in Two Languages

Monday, January 31st @ 7 p.m.

Westmount Library, 4574 Sherbrooke Street West,

Come and learn about the world of children's book translation from various speakers including Anne Renaud (author and translator), Christine Jutras-Tarakdjian (poet and translator), Caroline Larue (translator), and Hugh Hazelton (professor and translator).

Since I dont have an official group photo of us...here is a pic of a couple of of us.
This is me and Carol-Ann in Vermont during our Vermont College of Fine Arts Special Event Day.

The Weaving

2011-01-12T15:18:00.000-05:00

This is a poem that Corrie TenBoom used to illustrate life's experiences. I read her book the Hiding Place♥

This is a page from my Sketchbook Project .

New Beginnings - Happy New Year

2011-01-07T14:16:00.003-05:00

ew Beginnings for 2011.

"The artist is a servant who is willing to be a birth-giver...but the artist must be obedient to the work, whether it be a symphony,a painting, or a story for a small child."

From Madeleine L'Engle "Walking on Water Reflections on Faith and Art"
She speaks to the creative soul, offering a gentle invitation to believe, celebrate, and create.

This is intense reading, as I am preparing for a more creative 2011, I am taking this little book one chapter a week.

It has been a very personal delight to discover that she begins her book with a trip to Ayia Napa, in Cyprus. My late father's sister lives there, and I have been there many a summer as a child.

So from the get go I see this as divine inspiration. Already I have re-read paragraphs I have highlighted - the little book is aglow with colors.

Anyone thinking of the same goal? Would you like to share your own "walk" with me on this? It might be a fine thing to share...contact me at inspirationsbystella@gmail.com

Sketchbook Project

2010-12-30T16:46:00.000-05:00

While in New York City, I stopped at Bryant Park, just outside the library. It was a perfect sunny fall day; and there was Terry Waldo playing ragtime tunes that brought sunshine into your heart.

Soon after sketching this, I saw the film: Letters To Juliette. It was filmed at this very spot. It felt like being there.

If it wasnt for the Sketchbook Project, I wouldnt have saved this memory.

O Holy Night ♥

2010-12-24T08:44:00.001-05:00

The Nativity Story

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register."

It's the beginning of a passage of Scripture that many of us have unintentionally memorized by virtue of its repeated readings at Christmastime—ever since there was a reason to celebrate what we now call Christmas.

The Nativity Story doesn't recite it word for word, but the onscreen happenings bring the precious narrative to life as Mary and Joseph make their laborious way from Nazareth to Bethlehem in obedience to the governmental edict and to fulfill the ancient prophecy of a Messiah to be born in the City of David.

The Sketchbook Project

2010-12-22T21:13:00.003-05:00

Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country.
After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view.

28833 artists from 94 countries around the world are participating. The tour starts February, 2011.

Enter Stella...been hoarding the sketchbook in my purse, on top of my agenda, in my book bag, on my various little day trips, always with markers and mini watercolors stashed away...but never had a moment quiet enough to sit and sketch.
Now my Christmas shopping is done, cards sent, gifts wrapped, tonite's dinner cooked, kitchen cleaned and I am posting this endeavour.

The link is Art House Co op and apparently you can see what others and myself have posted...So far I did submit my first page...more to come though. Bum in chair, inspiring music playing, and I am going for it. Actually it is very exciting, I wish I had more time put into it. But you know what they say, its not how you start that counts, its how you finish...

This is what my sketch book looks like. I am so happy to have it and also the Brooklyn Art Library card.

You can look me up here:
http://arthousecoop.com/users
Stella Papadopoulos
Montreal, Quebec Canada
Sketchbook Project 2011
theme: Down Your Street

Merry Christmas to all♥

2010-12-21T14:30:00.001-05:00

My Pastor's message from the Gospel of Matthew reveals historical facts about the birth of Jesus.

The Magi were from Babylon, they were not Jewish but knew the Jewish scriptures. They answered Herod's question with a quote from the Jewish prophet Micah. King Herod would not travel to Bethlehem which was 7 miles from Jerusalem; the Magi had travelled 100's of miles.

How did they know the Jewish scriptures?
It dates back to Daniel's time...yes the same Daniel in the lion's den...around 600 years before Christ's birth. Daniel made known and interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream when his own astrologers failed to interpret. Daniel told them that it was not astrology, but the God of Israel Who interpretted the dream. This is the land where the Magi came from - the knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures were introduced by Daniel 600 years previous.

You see, Matthew writes that the Magi come to a house, not a stable. Herod asks the Magi for the exact time the star appeared. It had taken the Magi two years to study and put it together that this spectacular star guides them to see the baby Jesus. (There are more Scriptures that explain the presence of the star of Bethlehem.) That is why Herod gives the order to slaughter all baby boys two years and under.

Here is the account from Matthew chapter 2: The Magi Visit the Messiah
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’[Micah 5:2,4]”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Holidays~Holy Days~Hollow Daze

2010-12-17T12:50:00.001-05:00

Holidays ~ kick back from your routine

Holy Days ~ celebrate the incarnation of our Lord

Hollow Daze ~ being overwhelmed with things to do or not having close relationships,

being far from loved ones, feelings of loneliness

On Sunday December 19th at 6:30pm we are having a

Christmas Caroling Night

click here to locate us

You can change your routine

You can celebrate the birth of Christ

You can forget the "to do" list and be in the company of others

My deepest sympathies to the Montreal family and those close to them.

2010-12-16T08:13:00.003-05:00

The unspeakable, unthinkable happened to a family that was looking forward to a joyful Christmas reunion. Gardenview School is a place of promise and hope...their peers grieve alongside the family. This is a mural from Gardenview:

Let us lift up this precious family in prayer, as they struggle to move forward. The parents of Anastasia De Sousa in Montreal can understand this family as they cope with such a traumatic event, as they lost their daughter in the Dawson College shooting in September 2007. They have started the Pink Angel Foundation in her memory.

There will one day be a joyful reunion in Heaven ♥

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

White Christmas

2010-12-08T10:34:00.000-05:00

Living in Montreal is living in surprise weather.

Environment Canada referred to this as "une apparence de neige" or "just some light snow"

More than 25 cm of pearly pristine fluffy stuff came down from the skies, softly lightly but persistently for almost two days.

The children playing in the snow were squealing with delight!

Advent

2010-12-07T07:38:00.001-05:00

“Advent” simply means coming as in Christ is coming, and for us now He has arrived. Advent represents our expectation, anticipation, and preparation for who Christ is and what He has done for us.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

This is what the Old Testament prophecies foretold concerning Jesus.

In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet Isaiah addresses the "house of David," meaning the family and descendants of King David, and speaks of a virgin being pregnant with a child, and giving birth to the child. Isaiah says this in the context of it being a sign from God. He also says that the child would be referred to as "Immanuel," which means, "God with us."

The New Testament books of Matthew and Luke record details involving the birth of Jesus, who was born about 700 years after the time of Isaiah, saying that he was born of the virgin Mary and is the Son of God. Because he is the Son of God, Jesus literally can be referred to as "God with us."

Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA Friends

2010-11-27T17:27:00.000-05:00

Recently I came across Jennifer McGuire Ink. She has a very beautiful and engaging blog. And she lives in the USA, recently however she was in Montreal! I wish I had found her sooner, I would have come to say hello and thank her for her amazing blog and help in the creating world. She has helped me get organized in my studio, and encouraged me.

Her Thanksgiving Day blog post featured one of her designs which says it all. I encourage you to visit because she has very special giveaways, and all sorts of goodies. Thank you Jennifer !

Operation Christmas Child NOW ONLINE- box collection is November 15-21

2010-11-12T22:12:00.001-05:00

A fun and simple, hands-on project of Samaritan’s Purse which asks people to fill shoe boxes with a variety of gifts to bless the lives of children living in desperate situations in the developing world.

National collection week is November 15 -21. And click here to find the collection center nearest you.

There is an urgent call for Haiti. The earthquake has left millions homeless. MOST OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.... this year Operation Christmas Child is making Haiti a major focus.

Now you can pack a shoe box online! Please consider this and pray for Haiti♥

CLC Bookstore in Montreal

2010-11-04T21:13:00.002-04:00

The CLC Bookstore in Montreal is one of the city's treasures.

CLC stands for Christian Literature Crusade.

This is beyond bibles and bookmarks.

If I need a special gift that is meaningful and beautiful, this is where I will shop.

I purchase many inspirationalbooks, like for example The Shack, devotionals like the Love Dare, as well as Contemporary CD's and DVD's like Fireproof.

A fixture of Montreal for 57 years, they are an interdenominational literature mission made up of people from many backgrounds, denominations and nationalities. Today there are over 150 centres and 40 mobile units in over 45 countries. Literature in over 70 languages is distributed.

They of course have their own facebook page too.

Love and Laundry-a Tribute to Multitasking Moms ♥

2010-11-02T08:32:00.002-04:00

My today is one of these days, and there is One who walks alongside ♥
2 Corinthians 1:3 "God is...the source of all comfort"

Pied [carre] edition 2010

2010-10-22T20:20:00.001-04:00

Galerie Zone Orange is hosting the second edition and as promised here are the pics.

But first you must meet Joline Morin she is the welcoming face I see each time I go visit. That is her at her coffee bar. Her business partners are Veronique Buist and Justine Bourguignon-Tetreault. These young women have made an impact on the emerging artist community in Montreal.

Bravo! and thank you so much for supporting us all!

Come see my Vernissage in Old Montreal OCT 14 - NOV 6, 2010

2010-10-08T23:50:00.001-04:00

English text will follow:
Inspiré de Squarefoot show à New-York et à Toronto, la Galerie Zone Orange présente pour une deuxième édition l’événement Pied [carré] MTL. Pour les artistes, un seul critère de création : produire une œuvre d’un format final de 12 pouces par 12 pouces. Sorte de carte d’affaire pour les créateurs, c’est une véritable mosaïque éclectique qui sera présentée du 14 octobre au 6 novembre 2010 à la Galerie Zone Orange.

L’exposition collective unique est le rassemblement parfait pour promouvoir l’art émergeant et acquérir à petit prix une création originale et signée. Que ce soit pour le plaisir du connaisseur, pour la découverte du néophyte ou pour offrir en cadeau, tous trouveront un « pied carré » qui leur convient…

It is so well written in French...Inspired by the Squarefoot show in New York and Toronto, they are having their 2nd edition of Pied [carré] MTL. The criteria for all artists is to produce a work that is 1 foot by 1 foot square. Its is like a business card for the artists and looks like an eclectic mosaic. It will be on display from 14 october to 6 november .
They are located in Old Montreal:

ZoneOrange inc,
410 Saint Pierre

H2Y 2M2

Montréal, QC

If you look closely in the middle where the walls join, top row, my painting is second one on the right...a large part of a monarch butterfly wing...this year its really different...I used natural elements to inspire me as well as compose the painting. I really enjoyed painting them♥
Dont worry if you cant come, i will post the pics here.

Quebec getaway - Charlevoix region ♥

2010-09-06T15:58:00.000-04:00

Last week I joined my husband on a 2 day trip to La Malbaie, Manoir Richelieu-Fairmont Hotel .
It is in the beautiful Charlevoix region. The drive there was as beautiful as our stay.

The Sketchbook Project: 2011 » Art House Co-op | We build art projects and communities

2010-08-27T15:00:00.000-04:00

The Sketchbook Project: 2011 » Art House Co-op We build art projects and communities

I just sent in my participation to this very cool idea...A travelling exhibit of sketchbooks....
Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the USA.
All books will be included in an exhibition that tours the following cities:
Brooklyn, NY Austin, TX San Francisco, CA Portland, ME Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL
More information about the tour
After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view...You can take them out like a library book, bring them home and enjoy them.

You have to choose a theme to participate. Since I like to highlight my immediate place, I chose: Down Your Street.
This is a really inspiring challenge for me. I think my first sketchbook entry will be the Ladies in Blue mural in Montreal.

Maybe I will have an opportunity to go to Brooklyn myself and see all the beautiful art.

If you are an artist or just a person who likes to doodle, or a crafting stay at home mom...This is your little foray out of your usual world, a personal project that will ignite your creativity. You have until October 31st 2010 to join.

'Despicable Me' It's So Fluffy

2010-08-15T21:46:00.001-04:00

This summer we saw this movie...and it was a hit with all of us.
"Its so fluffy"!!! LOVE IT!!!

Toronto Greektown -Pantheon Restaurant

2010-08-11T17:44:00.000-04:00

Pantheon Restaurant: This is a very good restaurant in Toronto Greektown, the food was exquisite. (647) 977-6375

It was recommended to us by a Bavarian Sausage vendor in front of city hall; also delicious and fresh. Of course being Greek, it was like talking with an aunt I hadnt seen in years. She gave us directions by subway which were perfect. The restaurant is across the street from the Chester subway!

We made reservations, good idea cuz the line up was down the street on a Sunday nite! The owner's wife Olga greeted us and was very sweet, bringing us to our table-perfect for our family.

It was clean, welcoming, comfortable seating and lovely ambiance; and the waiter was really professional, and patient. Weary from a 15 hour car trip, the day before, this meal was like arriving at an oasis.

The Spanokotiropita was amazing! We had to order it twice because we couldnt resist! The platter of seafood was so fresh and cooked perfectly. It was like eating at my Yiayia's house. I had my favorite fish- Tsipoura - they call it Porgy or Sea Bass in English. It is not always available, so I was especially happy they had it and it was served perfectly, like I like it - grilled, or Skara as they say, with lots of lemon and a side of steamed fresh veggies.

We were stuffed at the end and they offered us, a dreamy Greek dessert-on the house. We left there feeling like we had been taken care of like family.

I dont review restaurants, but this place was special. Hope you have a chance to go!

What Faith Can Do- Kutless w/lyrics

2010-07-23T10:02:00.000-04:00

I will be on a car trip with my family ♥ and wont be posting till beginning of August, Leaving you with this beautiful song of encouragement by Kutless.

Goodbye Ladies In Blue...Knossos Palace painting in Montreal will soon be gone!

2010-07-19T11:52:00.000-04:00

Last summer my July 3, 2009 post I was delighted to show off this beautiful mural painting in a parking lot in Montreal's Greek part of town....now a building is going up in that spot:

Well at least we got to see her♥ Perhaps the muralist will adorn another bare concrete space with her gracefull figure♥

Tah-dah! Boutique, Galerie, Metiers d'art at Jean Talon Market!

2010-07-16T14:37:00.000-04:00

This is a brand new delight at the farmers market in Montreal, Marche Jean Talon.

The owner is an enterprising young woman "Sabrina", who has artistic style and saavy.

Her store includes unique gift items that are hand selected by her and made by Montreal artists, myself included.

There is something for every price, and every price is something unique.

So if you are looking for a surprise, pass by her shop, you will be glad you did!

as she says; "Une surprise yous y attend!"

156 rue Jean-Talon est

metro station:Jean-Talon

I Hear You

2010-07-11T09:56:00.000-04:00

The ear that hears the rebukes of life

Will abide among the wise.

Proverbs 15:31

Alfred Nobel - Sweet inspiration for second chances-A Do-Over

2010-07-09T11:39:00.001-04:00

A change of heart can change how we are remembered.

Consider the Swedish chemist who was probably stunned when he read his own death notice

in the morning paper; it read,

"The inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday,

devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before,

and he died a very rich man."

It was a mistake, his brother had died, but this obituary had a serious and far-reaching impact

on the way his legacy would be recorded.

He did not want to be known for developing an expedient, efficient way to massacre people

while garnering personal wealth in the process.

So to this end, he founded a series of awards for scientists, writers, leaders, and humanitarians whose achievements support the furtherance of peace.This is now recognized as the Nobel Prize.

Alfred Nobel once wrote: "Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one."

Source for this post: In Touch magazine, June 2010, part of the ministry of In Touch Ministries Inc. Atlanta GA.;

"Power on Loan, What the rise and fall of Kings can teach us about the world's most temporary commodity. "by Dan Schaeffer pg 30. http://www.intouch.org/

Happy Belated 4th of July to my friends and followers in USA♥

2010-07-06T20:59:00.000-04:00

Mercy Me - Finally Home

2010-07-01T14:35:00.003-04:00

Deleted the video link, it takes too long to load my blog with video. Thanks for looking and your kind comments♥

On July 4th, it will be 19 years since my father went to be with Jesus.

The words of this song express the words I cannot say.
( earlier I said 20...but its only 19...)

Happy Canada Day!

2010-07-01T10:05:00.001-04:00

My family came to this great country in 1948 from "the old country"...Greece♥

And I am proud to be Canadian, thanks Papou for choosing Canada!

Rotary International Convention 2010 - Montreal June 20-23

2010-06-25T19:37:00.003-04:00

Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Montreal Rotary Club was host to the convention.

Greg Mortenson spoke on June 21st. He is the author of the book :"Three Cups of Tea" is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.” -Tom Brokaw

Country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton spoke at the fourth plenary session on 23 June about the importance of early childhood reading.
She has founded an initiative called Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort to benefit the children of her home county in east Tennessee. Dolly wanted to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s financial situation. To date they have distributed 25 MILLION books to children!

A few years ago, I had the honor of designing a new banner for The Rotary Club of Montreal.

The conference was a hit!

2010-06-03T14:32:00.000-04:00

The Welcome address in the Dawson College Amphitheatre. The chairperson of the Illustration and Design Program donated the room to us. We had participants from Ontario and guest presenters from Vermont College of Fine Arts. where they have a MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults.

Shelley Tanaka presented two sessions:

1.A Master Class in Writing for Children

2.Strategies From the Editor's Desk

Shelley Tanaka is herself a tour de force.

She is a fiction editor at Canada's foremost publishing house. She is an award winning author of childrens non-fiction. She has translated picture books from German and French to English. And she is a professor at Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults.

We couldn't write fast enough to take in all that she imparted to us in such an excellent way. She was a most gracious speaker, involving her audience, and answering questions.

This is a panel discussion called:

Breaking Into the RedHot KidLit Market.

It was moderated by Raquel Rivera. The group of Montreal authors spoke about how they broke into the industry and are still flourishing. They also shared their experiences like dealing with the dreaded rejection letter, and researching publishers. It was very encouraging and very informative.

From Left to Right are:

Raquel Rivera, Lori Weber, Monique Polak, Joyce Scharf, Alan Silberberg, Jill Murray and Paul Bracegirdle.

There is much more that I cannot include cuz it would be so-o-o-o much to read...so next year come and join us!

Until then you can join YesOuiCanscaip in the fall, its free and enriching! And you can meet these authors, illustrators, and be part of our growing KidLit Community.

Imagine A Story Conference May 29th, 2010 Saturday in Montreal !

2010-05-18T16:57:00.002-04:00

Is a one-day conference for emerging and established creators of works for childrenOn Saturday, May 29th, 2010, Yes Oui CANSCAIP hosts "Imagine a Story, a one-day conference for emerging and established creators of works for children." The event will take place at Dawson College (3040 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal), in Room 4C1 (Amphitheater) from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Marche Jean Talon Market....

2010-05-03T14:29:00.000-04:00

I am working on a watercolor inspired by Jean Talon market. This was a piece of watercolor paper I used to work out my palette- I liked it somuch I couldnt throw it out so i doodled...

And am surprised how nice it turned out. I struggle with Abstraction, but what i love about it is its spontaneity.

Let me know what you think...should i do more of this?

Montreal got Snowed!

2010-04-28T19:20:00.000-04:00

It snowed all day, and 30-35 cm of wet snow fell on Montreal when it was all said and done.
Thankfully today (April 28) the sun came out and its almost all gone.
Here are a few snapshots I took in the morning, what you see is just the beginning.
There was alot more after that.

Kids were making snowmen!

A Lovely Message from Yayo

2010-04-23T11:59:00.000-04:00

I opened my email today to discover this thoughtful reminder from Yayo:

Bonne Journée mondiale du livre et du droit d'auteur !

Happy World Day of the Book and Authors' Rights !

An Evening with Sheree Fitch!

2010-04-10T20:14:00.000-04:00

Children's Literature Roundtable of Montreal hosts An Evening with Sheree Fitch

Wednesday, April 14th @ 7 p.m.

Beaconsfield Library, 303 Beaconsfield Blvd., Beaconsfield

Don't miss this rare chance to catch this award-winning Nova Scotia poet and author!

The ebullient and energetic wordsmith is best known for her rhyming picture books such as Sleeping Dragons All Around which was re-released in a 20th anniversary edition in 2009.

Fitch's novels for teens include The Gravesavers (2005) and One More Step (2002).

Her adult works are the novel Kiss the Joy as it Flies (2008) and poetry collection In This House There are Many Women (2005).

Visit the author's website (http://www.shereefitch.com/) to learn more about her and her work.

Personally, I have fun re-reading to my now teenage kids:

There Were Monkeys In My Kitchen

Its a delightfully illustrated picture book that rhymes so perfectly you can almost dance to it! Its zany and every mom can have so much fun with this! I think that I enjoy it more than my kids!

Today is Greek Independence Day ♥

2010-03-25T17:38:00.000-04:00

Greece is my country of origin. The economics of this place is not very uplifting these days. Yet there is the Greek Etsy Street Team. These exceptionally gifted artists are committed to creating beauty everyday. No matter what is going on out there. Have a look at their blog post today.

I chat regularly with a handful of the women behind this enthusiastic and compassionate team. From 3000 miles away they have become my friends, we recently exchanged gifts for Easter. The gifts are on a special FlickR account. And let me tell you these women are uber generous with their gifts! Their shops create masterpieces, imagine them creating one just for you! It is heartwarming, and selfless.

They encourage, and always put a smile on my face. Greek humor is really precious, and I am glad that I speak the language. Never mind the 7 hour time difference. For a special treat some mornings, I will pick up a second cup of coffee and sit down to read the Greek Etsy Street Team forums and chat-Greek Style. OPA!

Almond Blossom

by Gogo Korongiannou

From the island of Poros

ERGANIweaving

she made my Easter gift:

and last but not least:

Maroulina's creations

Saumon Cubic Zirconia sterling silver ring

My dear sweet Greek Etsy Street Team, you are much loved♥

Get a International Giveaway!

2010-03-22T18:02:00.000-04:00

Here is a great place to pick up some fine items: International Giveaways

There are many Giveaways there, including moi! I am giving away 3 ACEO's!

Just click here and click on my image on the page, then scroll all the way down the page to participate.

There is a new interview and some more personal info too.

In addition, if you participate according to the conditions in this Giveaway, I am offering more freebies from my shop :)

Montreal Bus Stop...snow is almost gone!

2010-03-08T18:48:00.001-05:00

Isnt this cute? Even the bus stops have hats on!

To my friends of Greek Etsy Street Team...send us some more sunshine! Wait I have a better idea...why don't I just come visit you instead and go for coffee by the ocean in Glyfada?

Some Montreal Scenes

2010-03-08T18:44:00.001-05:00

Last week, on my way to an appointment downtown, I took some pics. Seen these all my life, but never photographed them.

Along McGill College Avenue in Montreal, there is a sculpture called The Illuminated Crowd It stands at the base of the BNP Tower-Laurentian Bank Tower. This unique piece of art was created by Raymond Mason and has stood at the entrance to these glass skyscrapers since 1985.

This is a group of 66 people with their own personalized facial expressions.The faces on the figures at the front of the Illuminated Crowd are filled with joy and amazement, the middle portion of the crowd have people talking amongst each other and the last part of the group have good and bad emotions coming from their expressions.

Paul Lancz’s sculpture called "TENDERNESS" depicting mother and child in white carrera marble, has in a short time become the most favorably talked about piece of art in the city.Paul Lancz's representation is unique, in that the mother is not holding the child, rather the figures depict two equally significant entities expressing devotion to one another. The child kisses the mother's hand, the mother the child's forehead.

Color my world!

2010-03-08T12:04:00.001-05:00

As the season changes over from the grays of winter to spring, there is an explosion of color that soaks into my soul! Another treasury (cli ck to see treasury)curated by the talented lady behind a delightful Etsy shop:

MindHeartArt

She makes so many different types of jewelry, look at these: hand knit flower earrings made with organic wool!

Its Spring!....in Athens!

2010-03-02T18:52:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Antigoni of the Greek Etsy Street Team, made a treasury that reflects the vitality and beauty of spring!

Antigoni also has a graphic design shop for Etsy sellers its called

( I just love this name):

La Sousourella

So here is the treasury:

Here is my current favorite item in Antigoni's shop:

The Garden of Eden Necklace

Stemellina Giveaway!

2010-03-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

One of my friends in the Greek Etsy Street Team, Stemelina, had a giveaway on her blog: Felt4u/FeltJewelery and her sweet little daughter picked my name in the giveaway!!!

I have never won anything and so it is such a delight!

Here is what I won: Its absolutely gorgeous, and will be a great accessory !!!

Thank you so very much, it is such a lovely giveaway!

A Touch Of Calm - included me in this treasury

2010-02-23T18:30:00.000-05:00

An very fine Etsy Seller: Inspired by Marie composed this serene treasury.
It is a reflection of her talents, she creates wood art...yup, and its irresistible.

Isnt this lovely?

So you know how talented she is,

Here is a sample from her shop:

Meet Richard Ungar - Author / Illustrator / Lawyer-CANSCAIP

2010-02-17T20:28:00.003-05:00

I met Richard Ungar at the CANSCAIP Conference last November. When I told him about my blog, he was very kind to agree to my interview. Thank you Richard!
Richard Ungar balances the worlds of law, art, and writing. A practicing lawyer by profession, he devotes his leisure hours to painting and writing.

He has studied painting at the Ontario College of Art and Design. He also took a five-month sabbatical to paint in France and Jerusalem. His work can be found in private collections in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Washington, and Denver.

He lives with his wife, two sons, and pussycat in Toronto.

He has four picture books published.Three of his books take place in the mythic village of Chelm (not to be confused with the real-life village of Chelm that is in Poland).

Richard says that once you have visited Chelm, (the mythic one that is) it is very hard to leave. You see, the people there are very silly. And, when you spend half your day being a serious lawyer, silliness is welcome.

Rachel's Library
The citizens of Chelm have always had a reputation for foolishness. How can they convince people otherwise and show outsiders their true wisdom? Surely the answer lies in the great city of Warsaw. They will send a delegation to the capital to find a solution.

Young Rachel is an unexpected addition to the group, but as always, she is the one with the answer. The clue to wisdom lies in books. What Chelm needs is a library. In her own creative fashion, Rachel finds a way to build a village library – different from any library you can imagine.

Two other books: Rachel Captures the Moon and Rachel’s Gift have introduced the endearing village of Chelm – always quirky and always full of surprises.

One of the many reviews:

"Though the story possess a humourous tone, it conveys a valuable and inspiring message; sometimes the answers to our problems are closer than we think - they lie within us. Ungar's watercolour and coloured pencil illustrations, rich with reds, oranges, and yellows, add vibrancy and warmth to this folktale..."
- Canadian Bookseller

Even Higher is Richard's most recent book:
Young Reuven has a problem. Every year, on the day before Rosh Hashanah, the beloved rabbi of the village of Nemirov disappears until nightfall and no one knows where he goes.

That evening, when Reuven watches the rabbi through the synagogue window, he gets an idea. Determined to follow him at daybreak, Reuven is baffled as the rabbi, disguised as a simple woodcutter, passes the synagogue, the cheder, and Beryl the Baker’s house — his usual stops — only to enter the great forest. Where could the rabbi of Nemirov possibly be going?

Adapted from a beloved story by I.L. Peretz, Richard Ungar once again captures the joyous spirit of the Jewish folktale with lighthearted humor and a rich palette of colors as vibrant as the story he tells.

Read one of the reviews:
"The story is charming and instructive for children, and Ungar's adaptation is written at a level that can be read by capable children in the target age group. Parents and teachers will also find that the story has been structured well to engage children's minds - the mystery, the dare, the adventure, the truth, the lesson"
- CM Magazine

Richard graciously accepted to be interviewed for this blog post:

Q: Which contemporary illustrators continue to inspire you?
The first illustrator to have a big impact on me was Ed Young. I saw his work in a bookstore near my office and was blown away by the looseness and elegance of his pastel paintings in his book Lon Po Po. His work opened my eyes to the idea that there is not just one way to illustrate a children's book - which led me to thinking that one day I could possibly illustrate my own children's book.

Other illustrators whose work I admire include Jirina Marton, a Canadian illustrator who recently won the Governor General's Award, Murray Kimber (The Wolf of Gubbio) and Marie Louise Gay.

Q:How do you generate ideas to write about?

With my picture books (I've written 4 so far), my inspiration has come from Jewish folktales. My stories have been either adaptations of classic Jewish stories or inspired by Jewish folktales. For example my book 'Even Higher' is a retelling of the classic story of the same name by I.L. Peretz.

Lately, (the last few years) I've been trying my hand at writing middle grade fiction. The source of ideas for my writing in this genre are a bit harder to pin down. Sometimes an idea comes to me by looking at a photograph, or when I'm walking along a street. Often though the ideas come when I'm actually writing.

Q:What childrens lit blogs would you recommend to kidlit bibliophiles?

I haven't spent a lot of time lately on kit lit sites, so I might not be best positioned to answer this question. But I've heard from others that Verla Kay's site is a good source of info for kid's writers. I also like to read Richard Scrimger's blog because he is very funny.

Q:How do you manage your time with two careers?
I scramble a lot... when I'm doing my lawyering I am completely focused on it and since that is the career paying the bills, it tends to take precedence over the writing. But even when I'm busy at my day job, I somehow find time (mostly late at night) do do my writing. For me, consistency with my writing is the key rather than quantity. I try to write every night - even if its only a few words. By the end of the year with any luck I'll have written a bunch of words.

Thank you so much for your time, and for sharing your insightful art. It is beautiful and most inspiring!

Richard Ungar does school visits too!

Wonderful Treasury by VickiDianeDesigns- Greek Etsy Street Team!

2010-02-17T11:17:00.003-05:00

The Greek Etsy Street Team is irresistible. These girls are very sweet souls that give credit to the artistic heritage of Greece. Their Blog is EtsyGreekStreetTeam.

VickiDianeDesigns is a Etsy Seller with a generous and creative soul. Her shop features ecclectic items that are worth your click on this link.

Some Fav Etsy Sellers

2010-02-13T18:39:00.003-05:00

Gifted Designs
OOAK, lovingly created jewelry hand-crafted by Shannon Rochon. Choose from necklaces, earrings and bracelets to make you feel gorgeously chic, timelessly elegant and classically cool everywhere you go!

PanicaLab makes all sorts of one of a kind things, like this cowl neck warmer:
Neck warmer is hand knitted in 50% wool and 50% acrylic blend.
It's suitable for both men and women.
You can wear it as a headband or even an open top hat!

Sew Faithful makes this practical little wallet:This simple little wallet is perfect for holding your ID, Money (including change), and Credit Cards. Or use it for your Business cards

DaisyChain makes unique accessories like this 2 1/4" Pocket Mirrors

Handmade textured paper that I pick and then hand press into a round circle of pocket mirror

New Etsy Minis!

2010-02-13T12:28:00.002-05:00

What is an Etsy Mini? Its a little vingette of Etsy sellers items featured on the left hand side of my blog.
Etsy Mom, Etsy Q, Etsy Greek Team, and Etsy Christian Artists and Crafters.
Have a look!

"Imagine A Story" Conference In Montreal!

2010-02-08T19:05:00.001-05:00

Yes Oui CANSCAIP hosts the inaugural edition of its "Imagine a Story" conference on

Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Dawson College

3040 Sherbrooke St. W., Room 4C1 (Amphitheater), Montreal.

Full conference details and registration information are

available online at http://www.yesouicanscaip.ca/conference.

Yes Oui CANSCAIP is the Quebec chapter of CANSCAIP

(Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers).

For those of you with Facebook, here is the event page:
Imagine A Story

Thoughts on Writing for Children

2010-02-07T17:28:00.002-05:00

"We must meet children

as equals in that area

of our nature where

we are their equals...

The child as reader is

neither to be patronized

nor idolized: we talk to

him as man to man."

-C.S. Lewis

Hearts for HAITI on Etsy

2010-02-02T16:24:00.000-05:00

Many Etsy sellers have graciously opened their hearts by sharing their their skills and earnings for charity. One of the more ambitious collective shops is HeartsforHaiti. More than twenty sellers are running the operation and countless others have donated their work to the shop.

Click Here for the interview with Victoria, a.k.a. exlibrishandmade, the organizer behind HeartsforHaiti.

Featured in EYE CANDIES

2010-01-31T18:48:00.000-05:00

I have a Giveaway on the popular Eye Candies

About the Eye Candies Project

Searching, discovering and selecting eye candies in the field of art, craft and photography is the main target of this blog! Launching during mid December 09 my prime aime is to keep you amazed with waves of creativity and visual treasures.

Art Candies is a project of Aphrodite Ioannou, digital illustrator and founder of the Digital Portrait Project based in Athens, Greece.

You can enter the giveaway to win this art print just by:

1) Following my Twitter (TweetStella), and/or

2) Following the EyeCandies Blog.

Make sure to leave a comment here so they can notify you through mail if you are the lucky winner!

Thank You Eye Candies!!!!!

Government of Canada Pledges To Match Donations

2010-01-22T13:11:00.001-05:00

This earthquake is the worst catastrophe in the Western hemisphere in the last 200 years. Latest reports are that as many as 200,000 people are dead, and 1.5 million more are homeless.

In response to the devastating earthquake that hit south of Port-au-Prince Haiti on January 12, the Government of Canada has created the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians, the Government of Canada will contribute one dollar to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, up to a total of $50 million.

Samaritan's Purse Canada is one of the organizations which is eligible for this.

You can click on my button on the left to take you to the donation site.

Watch video by Franklin Graham, President Samaritan's Purse.

Books for Haiti Orphans

2010-01-18T13:09:00.001-05:00

Danita's Children is a Haitian orphanage housing 75 children ages 4-17. They were not hurt in the earthquake but will be taking in several more orphans. They are in need of help which you can select from their website. Prior to the earthquake they asked for FRENCH language books, new or used; novels, literature and informative books for ages 10-17 are needed most (40 pages +) There are 500 students in their community school and only 15 French books in the library. They do not speak English.

Food for Thought

2010-01-16T08:07:00.000-05:00

"Literature adds to reality,

it does not simply describe it.

It enriches the necessary competencies

that daily life requires and provides;

and in this respect,

it irrigates the deserts

that our lives have already become."

- C. S. Lewis

Sunshine Blog Award from my friend Kallia in Athens, Greece!!

2010-01-12T08:14:00.000-05:00

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blog world.

The rules for accepting these award:-

Put the logo on your blog or within your post.-

Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.-

Link the nominees within your post.-

Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Its an opportunity to visit blogs again, and reconnect with friends in blog land♥

This is hard as I love so many different blogs for so many different reasons , well here I go!

I want to pass this award to the following cross section of bloggers (in no order):

A Creative Dreamer

Kathleen McGiveron -Ceramic and Sculpture Art

Inspire Wire(byTLC Inspirations)

Novely Jewels

Crystal Lullaby

Emma's Jewelery Box

Silly Cheeks ( or OneInspiredMama)

ALittleBitofEverything

Meet Writer's Helper

2010-01-05T08:58:00.002-05:00

I met Audrey Owen of Writer's Helper several years ago when writing discovered me. She is my mainstay and the reason I haven't given up writing or trying to anyways. A woman of quality, I have learned much with her.Audrey's credentials are sound and reliable you can meet here here.

I receive her e-zine and it always inspires me one way or another. Today I opened up her e-zine and discovered this little poem which was what I needed to "hear". Thank you Audrey!

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,

...When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must--but don't you quit.

...Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a faint and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup.

--Anonymous from "Don't Quit." --Hazel Felleman, The Best Loved Poems of the American People, pp. 113--114

If you are aspiring to write, or are already writing, Writer's Helper has something to offer. If you are serious about editing, she will turn your sample edit into a free sample edit. Find out here.

Uug-g-h-h-h...Alot of snow!!!

2010-01-03T19:03:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone, well now you know that I live in Canada and am enjoying the year's first huge snowstorm. It started snowing on New Year's Eve, lovely sparkling little snow flakes. I went cross country skiing in the soccer fields near my home. The skiing was great! Work off the Greek Vasilopita smothered with butter (just saw Julie and Julia...yum!). But now its Sunday, three days later, and that lovely sparkling little snow is still falling!!! I dont mind that much actually because its not cold when it snows- its really very refreshing! Dropped off my daughter at a friends house and here are some pics I took driving home. Its against the law in Montreal to talk on a cell phone while driving...mine happens to have a camera in it and I sort of broke the law...I think.

Happy New Year to all my readers! Its Greek Dancing on youtube!!

2009-12-31T18:06:00.003-05:00

Thank you everyone for your kind comments and support. I also send a big fat Thank you to those who have agreed to be featured, answered questions and sent me lovely pics to make my blog a pleasure to read. In fact you are part of my "neighbourhood" as Mr.Rogers would say.

Wishing all of you the best for 2010; in Greek we say "Kai tou chronou mai eigia"..."Next year lets wish the same with health"...Health, something we take for granted; and yet when its not 100% we obsess over not having the full 100%. We also say in Greek that "all can be fixed when we have our health".

So my friends on that note, I leave you with a Greek song from the magnificent Manos Hatzidakis....
Because, growing up Greek in Canada, I never understood Auld Lang Syne...and it made me cry :{
This clip is of Melina Mercouri! dancing! breaking glasses! makes me wanna get on the first flight!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA-4b_hEfKo&feature=related

Chronia Polla !! kai tou chronou mai eigia!!
Stella

ps. Thats me in the green velvet tunic dancing Greek with my dad - its the same dance Melina does in that video clip; the cute little girl in the red tunic sitting on the desk is my little sister, Eleni; she still is cute. Dad is in heaven since July 4, 1991, miss him :(

My Friend "A Creative Dream"

2009-12-26T20:39:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone and merry Christmas! Most of my posts include pics, but this post is about an invitation from a creative blogger with lots to see.

I am trying to catch up on my blog reading and found this lovely woman's blog with a beautiful postcard to share. Her blog is "A Creative Dream" The post is from November, shows you how far behind I am :(.

But her blog is so worth it! Enjoy! And thank you June!

Sending you a big fat Greek hug!

Meet Kallia of Kallia's Wonderland !

2009-12-20T15:01:00.000-05:00

I met Kallia on the Greek Etsy Street Team. She has an inspiring Etsy Shop : KalliasWonderland
This young woman is a profoundly creative soul. She is fluent in a few languages, and translated her own interview because my Greek is not as good as her English!

1. Tell us about yourself!

My name is Kallia, I live in Greece (Athens) and I like to create jewels, trinkets and objects from odd materials. I adore experimenting with new techniques and products. My motto is "Reuse & Recycle" because I really need to create a new object from the old one. My attribute is alternative in every way - I do not like standards and I am always looking for something different and unique.

2. What do you do when you are not crafting?

I study European Culture, I am freelance interior designer (specialized in 3D Cad designing), I play keyboard (not so often as I really like…), I watch movies, I search for new supplies and techniques…I always have something to do… I never get bored!!!

3. What made you open the shop on Etsy?

I always wanted a shop! A little shop in country style, with warm colors and white wooden furniture, where anyone can buy my creations and also drink hot (or cold) chocolate, eat my famous cakes and participate in my art/craft workshops!!! But I really couldn’t afford a “real” shop. When I found Etsy, I thought “Wow…that’s my chance!!!”…and I grabbed it! The bad thing is that I can’t treat you chocolate and cake (LOL)!!!

4. What kinds of things inspire you? Do you have any mania or obsession?

Everything! I am maniac with buttons, bottles and match boxes! I really love them!!! It seems to me that can be used almost everywhere…

5. What are your favorite materials? Do you have a favorite creation?

I love most vintage images, ribbons, buttons and bottles (as I already told), felt and brass. I have two favorites! My Singer spool pin and my Fornasetti bracelet.

6. How do you promote your work?

Mostly online. Through Etsy promotion, through my blog and via other sites and blogs. I also try to take part often in activities of the European Street Team and Etsy Greek Street Team.

7. What advice would you give to etsians that are just starting now?

Good pictures! It’s very important people can understand totally the object that pictures because they cannot touch it or feel it. And a positive attitude when everything goes wrong. To make mistakes is to be human. And so the solutions!!!

8. Where people can find you? (blog, etsy, etc...).

My blog:
http://kalliaswonderland.blogspot.com/

my Flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalliasbliss

my Twitter:
http://twitter.com/KalliasWondland

my Etsy Shop:
http://www.kalliaswonderland.etsy.com/

Thank you Kallia!It is such a delight to feature you on my blog. I admire your talents and genuine sweet soul!

Interview with Childrens Book Illustrator: Val Lawton

2009-12-13T18:34:00.000-05:00

Val Lawton was trained as a librarian at the University of British Columbia, but in recent years has taken up illustrating for both children and adult audiences. She granted me this interview and a glimpse into her process. It was a delightful opportunity. She also has a beautiful blog : Val Lawton Illustration

Q. Your latest book, “Where Does Your Cat Nap?” has just come out. Can you tell us a little about it?

A. “Where Does Your Cat Nap?” is a story told-in-rhyme about all sorts of cats, and the kinds of places they might think to take a nap! I guess you could call it a sequel to “Where Does Your Dog Sleep?”

It’s written for the 0 – 5 year old set, but I’ve met some adults who are liking it, too!

Q. The author, Jean Freeman, is an author AND an actress, I hear. What’s she been in?

A. Jean is a renaissance woman, and does all sorts of interesting things. If you watch CTV’s “Corner Gas,” you’ll recognize her as a Fitzi’s Grandma. Did you see the episode about “the great big dirty hoe”?!
She’s also a delightful storyteller. You can hear her read our first children’s book, Where Does Your Dog Sleep?”, on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgF-LFTIoJM

Q. And what about you, Val Lawton? Have you been illustrating for a long time?

A. I started illustrating seriously about 8 or 9 years ago, when I was home with little children. We spent hours poring over library books, and I kept thinking, “hey, I could do this…” So, I put my portfolio together (when the kids were napping!), and started to promote myself as an illustrator. Since then, I’ve illustrated twelve books for both kids and adults.

Q. Are there any illustrators that have particularly influenced you and your illustration style?

A. Oh, yes -- I LOVE the great British illustrators like Edward Ardizzone, Randolph Caldecott, Quentin Blake, Charlotte Voake, Helen Oxenbury, Ernest Sheppard, Simon James, Sally Gardner, etc. etc. I’m also a huge fan of Jean-Jacques Sempe, the French cartoonist/illustrator. There are so many great illustrators whose work I admire.

Q. Do you do anything else besides illustrating?

A. I do lots of classroom visits, where I talk to kids about the illustration process, and then I get them to do some illustrating of their own.I’ve also done a few artist-in-residencies, my most recent at Calgary’s Telus World of Science, in the Creative Kids’ Museum. I spent a month there this fall, demonstrating old-fashioned optical devices like thaumatropes, a zoetrope and flip-books.

I’ve got more on my blog if you’re interested in reading about it… Val Lawton Illustrator

Q. What about adults?? Do you spend any time working with grown-ups?

A. Ah, yes, of course—the grown-ups!… I consult with writers who are interested in developing picture books on their own. I provide both copy-editing and illustration services to people pursuing self-publishing over traditional publishing.

Q. And what are you working on right now?

A. I’m currently working with a Saskatchewan author who’s written a 24-page picture book about a Giant who loves to eat. But he’s a gourmet, not a gourmand…! Very funny stuff! It will be out in 2010.

And there you have it! Didn't I tell you she is a delight ?

PIED CARRE / SQUARE FOOT in MONTREAL!!!

2009-12-03T20:38:00.001-05:00

The SQUAREFOOT SHOW concept being well established in Toronto and New-York, Gallerie Zone Orange initiated the idea in Montreal with a unique collective exhibition. The only creative criteria: the end format must be 12” x 12” (one square foot). The works created an eclectic mosaic, revealed to the public on December 3rd during the opening night and kept up until December 23rd.

Galerie Zone Orange is located in Old Montreal:410 Saint Pierre Montréal QC H2Y 2M2

Square Foot Toronto has youtube showing the preparation, and Pied Carre will also do the same shortly.

Arts Plus 2009

2009-11-29T20:55:00.000-05:00

This is a very carefully and lovingly organized craft fair. The pics will tell you everything. The room was beautifully decorated, even a cafe where shoppers could have some home cooked goodies, and then continue shopping! The artisans presenting were outstanding and very fine people to be with. Several Etsy Sellers were there too! It was a joy to be there.

Loris Lesynski Author, Illustrator, and Poet

2009-11-25T20:20:00.000-05:00

I first met Loris Lesynski at Packaging Your Imagination in Toronto, a few years ago. She and I were waiting in line together.

“Hi there, how do you like the conference?” She asked and smiled in her characteristically sweet, heartwarming, manner. I whined about working on a manuscript for the past three years...and she told me “Stella, don’t worry! It took me more years than that before Boy Soup got published!”

Right then I knew she understood everything, like a fairy godmother. And I am still encouraged by her today. Who wouldn’t be? She is gracious and encouraging, and really loves what she does.

BOY SOUP

Written and illustrated by Loris Lesynski

Paper ISBN 1-55037-416-8, Library Binding ISBN 1-55037-417-6

Published by Annick Press, distributed by Firefly Books

Giant woke up with a big hurting head.

“I am sore I am sick I feel awful,” he said...

Completely depleted and tending to droop.

The only prescription? A bowl of boy soup.

"About Loris Lesynski’s first picture book. It’s a story … with just the right blend of predictable and surprising, rhythmical language that trips off the tongue, bold energetic pictures, an inventive kid-inspired solution to the plot’s dilemma, and at the centre of the book, a giant who is simultaneously threatening and pathetic.
Author/reviewer Sarah Ellis in Quill & Quire"

This is quoted from the website of CM Magazine:http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/profiles/lesynski.html

"I completed Boy Soup after about a hundred and seven rewrites...
"I found book illustration to be quite complex - deciding what to draw is critical, as important as the artwork itself. You have a certain amount of text on any given page: what part of it are you going to illustrate - the beginning? The middle? The end? Maybe something that happened OFF the page? If you're asking children to look at a spread for even 30 seconds, what will you offer them in the illustration? How will their eyes move? How long before they lose interest in the picture? A book is an experience, and some of the not-so-good books out there are only a one-time experience at best. You read it, enjoy it, fine - it's over. Kids deserve better."
Take a moment and go to her website http://www.lorislesynski.com/.

Really, it is a delightful place with photos of her family, writing and drawing tips, pages to color, and activities too!

Thank you Ms.Loris Lesynski, for the privilege of featuring you on my little blog.

Canadian Art Educator of the Year Award

2009-11-23T13:44:00.001-05:00

The Canadian Society for Education through Art (CSEA/SCÉA) aims to promote excellence in art education. One action toward that aim is to present awards to deserving art educators.
This year my son's High School Art Teacher won that award!
Sharon Erskine, Canadian Art Educator of the Year Award, Secondary
(Secondary Art Teacher, Lauren Hill Academy, QC)

Bloggers featuring Bloggers....A GREEK Blog!

2009-11-23T09:38:00.000-05:00

I have had the priviledge of being interviewed by a delightful young woman from Greece. She has a beautiful Etsy shop called Kallia's Wonderland. Here is an example of the whimsy and talent of my dear friend.

You can read the interview and see pics of me and my studio on her blog, click here.
Besides being a creative designer, she is fluent in afew languages...and so translated the interview in English which you can see if you scroll down. Thank you Kallia's Wonderland!!

I will be doing a similar feature on Kallia in the near future, so be sure to come by and see!

David Poulsen, for TD Canadian Children's Book Week in Montreal

2009-11-17T14:21:00.003-05:00

TD Canadian Children's Book Week is the single most important national event celebrating Canadian children's books and the importance of reading.

TD Canadian Children's Book Week is organized by the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Last night we YesOui Canscaip enjoyed a visit from David Poulsen .

David A. Poulsen has been a rock singer, high school football coach, stage and film actor, rodeo commentator, documentary television writer and host, college English instructor, and… most of all—a writer.

With 21 books to his credit, David’s writing career began in earnest in 1984 when his short story “The Welcomin’” won the Alberta Culture Short Story Writing Competition.

Besides his accomplishments this author told our group that he is concerned with the forces of our society and how they are impacting our young people (kids). I was particularly touched with his account of his book "Sam's Cage".

Sam’s Cage is the remarkable story of fifteen-year-old Eddie Slater. Already labeled a young offender, Eddie runs away from an abusive step-father and takes up residence at the Calgary Zoo. There he meets Jack, a middle-aged man who has been coming to the zoo’s playground every day for thirty-two years to watch the children. Convinced that Jack is either a pervert or just plain weird, Eddie follows him home one day, and eventually breaks into his house to see what he can find. He discovers more than he bargained for—and that discovery changes both Eddie and Jack for good.

As part of his research for this book, he did some difficult things. He had himself locked up in a center for young offenders; spent time with street kids who were young offenders, and spoke with adults who once were young offenders. Included in this story is some historical research about the character named Jack, a true story that took place some 50 years ago in Calgary.

He did this because getting the voice right in a book is very important. You have to know what their life is like.

About his writing process:

He has a target word count of 1000 words per day, 300 out of 365 days a year. That's about 4 pages, not necessarily "finished" words, but written nonetheless. Sometimes that can take up to 8 hours. Because he lives on a ranch, he begins his day with his chores, breakfast, and then to the computer.

He was very generous with his presentation, and his time. Thank you very much Mr. Poulsen!

Thursday, Nov. 19 @ 7 p.m.

David Poulsen, Alberta author for kids and teens
QFHSA Office (3285 Cavendish Blvd, Suite #560, Montreal)
Hosted by Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations
Open to adults
RSVP/INFO: 514-481-5619 OR 514-738-3413

Treasury Time

2009-11-16T18:10:00.000-05:00

I finally got one! WHAT is a treasury?
The Treasury is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery of handpicked items. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme or just whatever they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Etsy’s staff (“Admin”) often choose whole or partial exceptional Treasury lists to promote to the featured, handpicked items on Etsy’s home page. Treasury lists are temporary and limited in number, so there is some competition involved in creating a list of your own.
Yeah, that means waiting for one to expire...but Etsy helps with a Treasury Clock :0)
So here it is!

Edible Toronto Magazine

2009-11-14T16:31:00.002-05:00

You can find their website here.

My dear friend and champion is the founder of Edible Toronto; Gail Gordon.
I have cut and pasted from her beautiful website:

Publisher and editor Gail Gordon Oliver is a native of Montreal and a graduate of McGill University who feels that her lifelong passion for food and cooking was nourished by the gastronomic riches of her hometown.

Edible Toronto’s mission is to promote the future by focusing on a return to the past, when most of the foods we consumed were locally grown and produced; when we never ate asparagus, strawberries, peaches and plums in the wintertime because they simply weren’t available.

Our stories are people-based and passionate, and our magazine is filled with enticing, full-colour photography.

Speaking of photography, I met one of her very talented photographers: Laura Berman of GreenFuse Photography. Her photos are copywrited, so its best you click on GreenFuse Photography as see for yourself-you will say WOW!

Also, Gail was my gracious host as I was in Toronto for Canscaip Packaging Your Imagination. Being her guest is a real treat indeed! Thank you so much Gail♥

Canscaip: Packaging Your Imagination

2009-11-14T16:13:00.000-05:00

Last week I was in Toronto for Packaging Your Imagination, presented by Canscaip.

What is Canscaip you say?
The Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP) is a group of professionals in the field of children's culture with members from all parts of Canada. For over twenty years, CANSCAIP has been instrumental in the support and promotion of children's literature through newsletters, workshops, meetings and other information programs for authors, parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and others.

Packaging Your Imagination, now in its 25th year, is a day of workshops covering the three areas of CANSCAIP’s interests – writing, illustrating and performing – conducted by professionals successful in their fields.

I like to attach photos with my posts, but dont have any for this one, sorry....I accidentally erased them :[

Last night I met Linda Granfield author of : Remembering John McCrae

2009-10-27T11:49:00.001-04:00

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

In the quiet of the media room in Beaconsfield Library, the Montreal Childrens Literature Roundtable gathered to enjoy the presentation by Linda Granfield. It was a great priviledge to see her meticulous research laid out before us to discover the quality of this man, John McCrae.

In Remembering John McCrae, Linda Granfield, one of Canada’s finest historians and celebrated authors of non-fiction for young readers, has compiled a beautiful tribute to this man. In a distinctive “scrapbook” style, more than one hundred photos, paintings, and documents are displayed to help paint an intimate portrait of a true hero. Readers will learn about his life as a doctor and teacher of medicine, about his tour of duty in the Boer War, and of course, about his service in the First World War, where he experienced a loss so profound it moved him to write “In Flanders Fields.”
You can find Linda Granfield's website here.

Basic Twitter Terms

2009-10-25T17:20:00.001-04:00

Basic Twitter Terms

Posted using ShareThis

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, from Gregory K. at GottaBook

2009-10-25T17:03:00.001-04:00

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

by Maurice Sendak
Oddaptation by Gregory K.

Another family meal is missed:
Max is angry. Max is pissed.
And rumpus beasts? They don’t exist...
My word, Max needs a therapist!

Find out more about Gregory's blog here

Favorite October Finds

2009-10-16T17:13:00.002-04:00

I love earrings, and earrings with hearts. This is just so perfect for the fall. Goes with everything, actually dresses up a plain outfit.
Antigoni's shop is full of beauties. And shipping from Greece is not long at all-5 days for my last buy.
See her shop here

Favorite October Finds

2009-10-16T17:09:00.001-04:00

KalliasWonderland is a member of Greek Etsy Street Team. The items in her shop are must haves, find it here.
I love purses, and this one is to put your earrings in! That is so smart, I always use a little zip lock bag for my earrings. This is good for the planet too! She has many more items that are very sweet.

Favorite October Finds

2009-10-16T17:04:00.000-04:00

I have always loved long gloves, they're so elegant and warm. Practical to have your fingers free too.
Katjadesign is an Etsy Quebec member who is going to be at a local craft fair in Baie D'Urfe this weekend. details here.
But if you cant go, her Etsy shop is here.

Favorite October Finds

2009-10-16T16:59:00.000-04:00

This Etsy Quebec member made this lovely bracelet with honey coin wood. Its so earthy, and perfect for fall.

You can find Coeurdepierre's etsy shop here.

Favorite October Finds

2009-10-16T16:55:00.000-04:00

This Etsy Mom member also has a birthday in October. As a mom, I have collected and cherished many lady bugs in jars for my children. Who wouldn't love these beads! Theyre adorable! Go See CarDonCreativeDesign etsy shop here.

Favorite October Finds

2009-10-16T16:50:00.000-04:00

A member of the Etsy Mom Street team: Paulastressart has a birthday in October, and also has a great special on right now:

BUY ANY TWO PEDANTS OR EARRINGS AND GET A THIRD FREE!!! see her shop for details: here

Treasury from Amoronia

2009-10-15T19:13:00.000-04:00

This is compiled by my friend on the Greek Etsy Street Team, and their Giveaway Amoronia She is a talented artist and has fabulous things in her shop. You wont be disappointed!

Giveaway from Greet Etsy Street Team

2009-10-10T10:29:00.000-04:00

Hi there and Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! This is a great chance to participate in the Greek Etsy Street Team Giveaway go : http://etsygreekstreetteam.blogspot.com/2009/10/grab-giveaway-starting-date-9th-october.html