As simple as it gets....

....using mostly already existing furniture from our previous homes and spending as less money as possible ( so that most can be invested in gaining experiences through often travelling) were the drawing lines for making this Penthouse a home.

My things arrived by track from Greece almost 2 years ago.
So let's see how it goes from what is seen here:

His:
-> two piece sofa corner (Ikea)
-> wheeled coffetable legs, which were
added to a new surface from Ikea.
They were also wallpapered by me,
for a little luxus look.

Hers:
-> 2x4 Expedit
-> White flokati from Habitat
-> Alseda stool from Ikea
-> white, cotton curtains from Ikea
-> Vintage Albert Van Luit wallaper
found in an amazing shop's attic in
Athens, among with a few oher rolls,
that are mostly used in my crafts.
-> base lamp from Ikea
->handmede brown pillow

Bought together:
-> Leran big cental pendant lamp (Ikea)
-> Balck&white big cushion (x2) from
Ikea

...from the heart...

...everyday life has a distinctive quality when we act with awareness...when we learn to enjoy the present and the moment...when we find the beauty in simple things and appreciate all that we have...however small or big...much or little...
It's worth to notice that in the English language the word present, referring to " now ", is the same word as "gift"....
Our present is actually our biggest....present!
Our lives are our presents!
What we do with them is up to us....
Connecting to our deep, true, inner, pure selves is a way to living to our most possible, fullest extent, whatever that means for each one of us.

A lovely weekend to all.....: )

Domestic charm...

...as always...love and appreciation for the small things in life...
...a cup of tea...
...a chocolate cake to share...
...simple oblects with a story to tell...
...a vintage item not thrifted( not that this is a bad thing!) but passed down in generations, evoking memories
...daily chores...
...natural light...

Enjoy your day...

may it have...

* the freshness of crisp air and pretty flowers...
* the sweetness of sugar...
* the warmth of a cup of tea...

...and may we celebrate life & love on every occasion possible...
...perceiving love mostly as openess, clearness inside, forgiveness and going beyond our selfish existences....as loving ourselves differentiates much from and shouldn't be mistaken for having room ONLY for ourselves...
...to the eternal seekers of happiness, please stop...and look inside...happiness, love and light are here and now....no better house will bring it, no better or more possesions...for all these can be taken away...and the only thing that matters and will always be with us...is...US...ourselves...who we are, what we think, what we've learned, what we've offered and what we've said....
....so let's mind the words we use....as they can bring lots of happiness or unhappiness to others....and had we done something wrong...apologising and acting towards a positive direction will fix the harm done....

Style...your way!

Style...your way!, originally uploaded by ivy style33.

Style...your way!

....just wanting to emphasize, that the most important thing for all of us, is to find our personal style in everything!
...not only in our homes but also in dressing ourselves...and actually in every aspect of living and life. Eating, thinking, behaving, travelling...everything that is part of life! 

I know it's hard in the era of multi media and trends and "musts"...but being creative, honest to ourselves and engaging into activities that help us learn more about who we really are, are good antidotes.

So,yes, to being inspired by any means and in every manner....
And mostly a big YES to discovering who we are, who we want to be,
what brings us in peace and how we can be the best we can both for ourselves and the people we love, as much as the whole world out there.

If we have one big obligation for enjoying the gift of life and being here, alive, is to be the best US we can ever be. Coz, if WE don't, who else will be for us?....if we are busy trying to be like somebody else, who will be us?...there is not one single person that doesn't have the potential of being a wonderful one, in his or her own way.

One basic " ingredient " to more and more reaching there, is Acceptance. Both of all the pleasures life brings to us, but also the hard times.

Lately, I ve been making posts about being grateful for a certain small thing in life.
Today I 'm grateful FOR my life.
...all we need is to consider all the misfortune that billions of people are facing daily in the world....then all of us, having the luxury of spending time here, can be nothing less than simply grateful.

I 'll close this post by saying that I 've decided to be donating to charity for as long as I can, 33% of the earnings of the things that I 'll be making and putting in the Etsy shop. It needs a lot of work that I still have not done....but these days are devoted to that.

Every month there'll be a new cause or institution to donate to. But for the first months, I think that the people in Haiti can use all the help they can take. I know that this contribution will be close to being unworthy of calculating, but must admit that I do it also for me. I 'll be feeling better knowing that I add a slight little something and then my crafting sessions will have a deeper meaning for me and reason for doing them.

There'll be an announcement about when this will exactly start. The most important thing is that proof can be provided to all of you, about the contributions actually being done to the causes we will be choosing. Suggestions are welcome : )

All of my life, I had been saying....if I got rich, I 'd be able to help the world...well... I have already become almost 35 and am still anything but rich, speaking of actual assets. But I feel so rich inside and am so grateful for all and everyone that is around me, that this is the right time.

Love for paper...and a very simple craft...

Love for paper..., originally uploaded by ivy style33.

....I had just two small pieces of my favorite papers, big enough though to cover the two simple glasses we no longer use ( new ones have come to the home's life, since a while ).

Instead of remaining unused, as they did for some weeks, they now glow beautifully at night, holding tealights inside.
They look equally nice during the day though.

4 seasons - good reasons

via

These lovely melamine plates are sold for $54 a set and the whole amount is to be donated for support at Haiti.
More info here:
www.lostbirdfound.com/platecharity.ph

Blessings....

How does someone respond to human " smallness", to put it kindly and mildly in to words?
...to envy?
...to unfairness?
...to superiority feelings?
...to those who always must & need to be the best in order to feel ok with
themselves?
...to those who only pretend to accept critisism but are critical themselves?
...to those who cannot see with the eyes of the heart?
...to those who hate?
...to....to...to.... to all that is negative in a way - thoughts, energy, actions?

Well, I 'd say let's respond with b l e s s i n g s, for them and us, wishing that all negativity spreads away in the universe, having caused absolutely no harm...

I 'd say :
* All you need is Love *
* Love is where the heart lives *
* Adore your life - it's the only one you get *
* Enjoy the value of anything homemade *
* Eat a biscuit and*
* Remember to sometimes send a real mail * - in the era of everything on line!

This is my small, recently aquired stamp collection from lovely Etsy sellers:
www.etsy.com/shop/3point5dollars
www.etsy.com/shop/suppliesbysusan

Rectangles - circles - lines & curves

I guess you all have figured it out by now, that I love geometry and shapes....it was one of my favorite subjects at school and was a complete nerd at it, looking forward to solving the homework exercises...now that I see nothing wrong or uncool about being a little " nerdy "...no problem in sharing that! ; )

Now, I mostly care about geometry and shapes serving the purpose of good design, function, comfort and of course, jumping out of its "Strictness" and providing pleasing eye candy...
Have a lot to learn but love this process!

Happy wishes : )

Especially devoted to these friends of mine who are feeling kind of troubled these days....it will be just fine my dear friends.

But also to the ones who are already happy, the ones I love, the ones who love me and those who have been there and still are when I 'm walking through my " Bridge over troubled waters".

My real life supporters, they know who they are, thank you for making it possible for me to be where I am today and heading there where I want to be. Am thankful for having you in my life and understanding that love can hardly be found in words, rather in doing and being. Thank you, so much.