Ivy hearts styling...

Ivy hearts styling..., originally uploaded by ivy style33.

....wether interiors, exteriors or fashion, she loves to style!
....and most of all she loves to style with a clear mind and a smily heart!...she's happy for her initial studies and major in Psychology (and minor in Philosophy ) and sees that provided there is health given, there is nothing that can stand between a person and his/her true passion!

Having been passionate about style all my life, the only reason I hadn't studied it at the beginning was that major life issues in my immediate environment called for understanding, and studies on the subject mentioned were a priority.

Years of personal analysis followed ( as to practice in my own self what studied) and all comes down to the one and only truth: we are all born with some talents and passions and there's nothing better than perfecting them as soon as possible....but should life bring it this way, that there is a delay...it is never too late and actually, late is better than never!

I have come to conclude that there is a special quality in styling that fascinates me and this is that of balance.

I know that decorating is very often about astonishing results and evoking ohhhhs and wooows, or needing to impress even a little bit with some possesions. This is fine and quite often I myself do admire such spaces, but somehow I prefer to live and create simple interiors, that are powered by the personalities of the people inhabiting them.

Balanced interiors of course needn't always be in neutral palletes, as much as balanced people needn't always be quiet! They can still be expressive and get super enthusiastic about things, still there's something about the way of expressing that holds a certain balance....

Always...not too much....and not too little...who knows maybe a new wave will emerge....after minimalism and maximalism....balancism!

If we think about it, we are all amazed or affected by balance in so many ways....dancers and acrobats wouldn't be able to perform without balance...buildings wouldn't be able to stand straight, cyclists wouldn't be able to ride their bicycles or motorcycles, there would be no musical harmony and of course there would be no day and night, no seasons....everything in the whole of existence seems to be based on balance....but we people are sometimes so dependent on our need to impress, that we choose fancy or extreme ways - in our interiors / outfits/ behavior - which are definetely much more notable and exciting...and probably easier to achieve...

Do they make us happy though?
Could it be that the key to happiness is also balance?

When the adult world inspires children...

...let it be a positive experience...one that is the best possible example ever....

Words won't do much....as children tend to hear with their eyes and heart.
Actions matter...so, shall we want to be responsible parents/teachers/educators, we first are obliged to be responsible and true to ourselves.

Children are extra pure and sensitive to "catch" real emotions....telling them that all is right, when actually it's not for us, will only create confusion.

To say the truth is an art and it all starts from telling the truth to ourselves...about ourselves....we are not only wonderful..we are human...we hurt...we have done things wrong...we have possibly hurt others...but all this is part of life.

Happiness is not about being happy all the time....rather it's about accepting the fact that there'll be some unhappy moments in life and learning to deal with them.

Achieving some balance inside is happiness..then we need not talk about it, we need not shout it...people simply have to look at us...and they know...and that's enough.

Children need not be taught how to be happy...
Children need to learn to accept and the best way to that is by accepting them.

We've all been children once...we know that the most intense emotional experiences were formed then...and all our adult life depends on curing ourselves from all possible harm that was done then...by accepting that nobody is perfect, neither our parents....but they must have done the best they could....

So let's try to be the best parents that we can, when parenthood knocks on our door, keeping in mind, that first we have to be the best we can for ourselves.
And please, let this not be confused with being selfish.
Actually, life is showing that the more we accept who we are, the more space and understanding we have for others.

Wallpaper projects

  Today I grouped together pictures of a few wallpaper projects that I did a month ago. I find myself in love with this material and the endless ways in which it can be used! I will not write many details here, rather I 'll pass you to my flickr account, where you' ll find more descriptive details of the projects.  

   As I 'm in a flight mode tonight, there are rather a few things I need to take care of....still as you can see, it is hard for me to keep myself from posting! I hope you' ll enjoy the pictures and get inspired for new weekend projects, as it is only one day away!
Have fun...oh!...and happy Thursday : )

On creativity, love, psychology and real life....somehow mixed in the same post

   This is one of a pair of two favorite dessert plates of mine, that were found in Habitat a few years ago. I like to use them for dessert and breakfast, especially when I could use to be cheered up a little bit.
   I haven't been making or posting many pictures lately, as there's not so much time or desire for it, due to issues that need to be taken care of. But I cannot leave this place, with out offering or sharing something with you. Because no matter what is going on, there's nothing more true, that comes from deeper inside me than expressing myself though creativity, decoration, design and photography! This is one of my ways of living with love and expressing love for life and promise that I 'll be always coming back, everytime having learnt something new and having made a new step ahead in life.

  It's funny, how through posts like this, the issue of Psychology is also touched....because who we are, what we do, how we live and express ourselves is actually part of our psychology.....it is part of who we are, it is a reflection of ourselves. It is of course a person's eyes that are the mirror of his/ her soul, but so is the way somebody lives and his/her place itself.


 It's not about money and possessions, eventhough money does help a lot to bring home with us things that we like and love to have, it 's mostly about the feeling that we give to the spaces where we live, and this can be achieved only by putting part of ourselves there. It' s about making a house a home, and this is done only through love.


   I know I' m getting kind of emotional, but I 'm not here to create impressions of living a perfect life, having everything sorted out and walking steadily on the path of life. No, I 'm actually here, writing these lines, because this is exactly what I need to do, to be able to make my very own, stable path in life and choosing to do it, being engaged in the things that are meaningful, important and by doing them, being able to offer the best part of me.


  It's funny how I had to complete my studies in Psychology, to find out that it's through creativity that I actually want to live. And I love to be creative with other people, especially with children. I 'm so thankful for the lovely hours spent together with them, through the Art&Crafts sessions. There is so much beauty coming out from their pure souls. And in the case that they are troubled, for any reason, oh! how it helps to understand more about them through their creations and drawings! And how soul soothing and therapeutic it is to let them and encourage them to express themselves.


  So, because this post has ended up touching far too many issues than it was intented, I will close by saying, do find yourselves through any expression of creativity and most af all, encourage your little ones ( or even bigger ones!) to experience this lovely - eventhough cruel very often at the same time - world, through every one of their senses! And to make the always necessary connection to this post's picture, a little eye candy to please the eye and soothe the soul, through these colourful, playful kimonos printed on this plate.


  A lovely Wednesday to all....keep on smiling ; -)