Details and things I like

I was sitting here, looking at this board on Pinterest, hearing the rain just outside my window, feeling the humidity but not the warmth. No summer feelings here, not yet, maybe later? My little one has been sick, and so has my cat, and I have been hoping to make a book for a friend with the images below, but my printer is not working.  I felt like rambling into the abyss, and what better place to do that than here.

All the above pictures were taken in Paris during a very short trip. Grateful for that time away!
I hope your summer is much more exciting than mine so far.
All the best,
Giova

Things that make me happy

This week feels like summer, and obviously my inner hibernating bear has woken up. Everything all of a sudden makes sense. I am from 'south of the equator," after all. Here are recent pictures of things that make me happy.

 Colorful paper garlands.

Blue skies and tulips by my desk.

 Wilted tulips also fascinate me.

Road trips show me a world outside my own very limited 'world.' And the views are always stunning!

 Giant thread spools of colorful thread and yarn. What a sight!

And Paris! Always Paris. Even if only for two days. Glorious baguettes, croissants, and Ispahan!!

Wishing you a warm and colorful week ahead,
Giova

Light coming in

Literally light coming in. And since it is not an everyday occurrence then I must make the most of it which is usually just staring and taking pictures, and thinking - I'm doing loads of that lately. 

I'm always amazed how beautiful everything looks, how light can transform something as ordinary as a mandarin or a feather and give it another dimension - as if, all of a sudden they become illuminated from within.  This light coming in where I live, only happens during this time of year, and I have never paid attention how long it lasts. But let me leave the words to the expert...

A light exists in spring by Emily Dickinson

A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here

A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human nature feels.

It waits upon the lawn;
It shows the furthest tree
Upon the furthest slope we know;
It almost speaks to me.

Then, as horizons step,
Or noon reports away,
Without the formula of sound,
It passes, and we stay:

A quality of loss
Affecting our content,
As trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a sacrament.

I had a meeting yesterday to show my work, and lo' and behold "he" liked my work (genuinely) and it seems I will get a table at a fair here (more details as the event gets closer). I'm excited and nervous - both at the same time and with the same intensity. I have never shown my work like that before, but it is something that I was secretly hoping to do this year - so I must go and find my courage and faith (I think it is in one of my pockets, the left one, I think).

Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson

'Hope' is the thing with feathers-
That perches in the soul-
And sings the tune without the words-
And never stops - at all-

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm-

I've heard it in the chillest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of Me.

You know how "they" say it is all in the little things or the simple things? Well, this idea from Rachel, gave me so much joy. Watching the light go through those hearts, and that fragile paper was really the highlight of my day. I guess it doesn't take much to make me happy, but please clouds, let the light in... PLEASE!!!

I finished the Big Magic book, and it was just perfect. Most of the things she said, really hit the right buttons with me, and I can't recommend it enough. Now I have started reading this one, and so far it seems so "tender" (if that can be a correct adjective to describe a book). I like how books find me, and how there is always the perfect moment for each one.

I am finding a lot of solace in poems lately (more than usual), I hope you don't mind me sticking the above ones here, I really like them, and hope you do too.

Sending you lots of light, may your days (and weekend) be bright,
Giova

A Fabric Book or record of fabrics

This little project has been in the back of my head for quite some time, as I wanted a place where I could keep and look at some of the fabric I've bought or was given to me. A special place to hold all these little pieces of fabric.

I love visual records, and this tactile one is becoming my favorite.

This is the front cover (no back cover yet), and a tad big, but what the heck, I'm all about improvisation, as you will see. No page is the same size or straight in any way.

I've added the typed name of the giver or companies to help me remember. The fabrics above can be better seen here.

Lately, I'm all about the blues, and Japanese fabrics.

 You can find Monday's Milk here and Yoko here.

Last but not least, these beauties were given to me by two very lovely people, and are the reason why I wanted a place to keep little squares of fabric before I use them on something and forget how they look like.

I should have apologized at the beginning for being absent and so on and so forth, but the truth is my life is pretty hectic and with so many ups and downs it has started to look a lot like a mexican telenovela, and the last place I want to vent about my life is here.

I do hope this little project inspires you to get cutting and stitching.  I will show this book once I'm finished, I think it will be in the "accordion" style, and I shall be back, but I don't know when.

Wishing you a very warm and lovely summer,
Giova

Some days are better than others

I briefly mentioned in the last post how hectic and weird the past weeks have been.  A sort of roller coaster of emotions and thoughts have been passing through me almost daily, that I've found it very difficult to concentrate on many of my usual tasks. My sister gave me those words on the title a few years ago, and they seem to always reassure me. Simple and to the point.

You probably know already that I love words, quotes, poems, etc… And these seem to always resonate with my days, especially when the day is not going so great, and they immediately put me at ease. It is really OK to have bad days, they are actually not that bad if you really think about it. You just have to change the perspective a bit. As someone said (I don't know who); "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

I have been trying to remember to breathe and enjoying the little things, which at the end of the day is what saves me from me -I hope I'm not being too confusing-.

For instance, my beautiful and very neglected succulent has given me 2 flowers, and I'm so grateful for her effort. The top picture is from a few weeks ago, the one below is from a few days ago. She seems really insistent on making those flowers really long, and I can't stop being mesmerized by her beauty.

This other one below,  decided she no longer liked where she was and for a moment I thought I'd lost her, but I placed her outside and voilà, as a thank you she is now giving me her first bloom for the first time in 3 years.

Nature has always been the best medicine for me. Even spending some minutes in my balcony watching my plants... really watching and being with them, helps me so much.

Having certain objects close by when I'm at my desk, like the one above, always give me a much needed distraction. I could stare at things like these for the longest while.

Making things for friends just because, is also the greatest tonic for me. I made this tiny piece for a friend who likes little houses.  As I said before, there is nothing like receiving a surprise parcel full of love, but there is also nothing like making something for a friend that you'll know she'll like. In my case, making things for friends is a wonderful opportunity to ground myself.

I'm not claiming I'm an expert in dealing with bad days, but I think the less we think of them as bad the better the day becomes. Change the label a bit, spend a few hours, even minutes around nature, stare at nature's gifts, really look at their patterns and textures, and finally make special gifts for friends with great love.

I hope you have a very magical day, but just in case it isn't that magical just remember: "Things are as they are, we suffer because we imagined different."

Giova.
P.S: Sorry for the quote overload, I was having one of those days (wink, wink).

Small parcels with lots of love

I have always believed in the perfect timing of things and how they find their way to you. These parcels below are amazing examples of excellent timing. They arrived in time to cheer, comfort, reassure and most of all to deliver the love the person invisibly wrapped just for me.

My life has felt a bit like a roller coaster lately, and these beautiful and amazing people from far away have made me feel loved, and for that I am deeply grateful.

It is magical how "pen-palships" are born, why some are a perfect match, and some others aren't, why some last many years and others don't. I've always thought it is actually quite similar to meeting someone in person- you either have the chemistry or you don't, and you either insist or you don't.

What I  know for certain is, that when beautiful parcels like these or simple, long letters arrive on my mailbox, my life is so much fuller and brighter because of them... And I feel very darn lucky!!

Thank you so very much, Juliane, Jenni, Puk, Julia, and Jen!!

I wish you a beautiful weekend ahead and may the stars align so that beautiful parcels arrive at your doorstep,
Giova

Tulip season in Holland

This might not be any news for you, especially if you follow me on Instagram, but I love tulip season. I'm always quietly waiting for it to happen, and when it does, I feel I'm ready and fulfilled to wait another year for them to bloom again.

Every year it is different, even if they might look bit similar on the pictures, the colors and placement of this colors is not. I call it color therapy, and the most effective one. After 1 minute standing in one of those colorful fields, your soul immediately feels better. I tried filming it, and you can watch it here.

I hope this color therapy injects you with a little joy!

These last pictures, and the ones below are tulips we got to pick ourselves. I love them because they are all different, not like the kind they sell at the flower shops everywhere here, and the black background is my latest  obsession.

 A stylized version.

And a not so stylized version. Our messy dining table, but what the heck, if you're looking at the mess, then you are not really seeing those beauties.

This is our third year visiting the tulip fields, and you can see them here, here and here if you like.

Wishing you a wonderful and very colorful day,
Giova

Plants as gifts with Urban Jungle Bloggers

I completely agree that gifting plants is one of the best gifts you can give. Many years ago, I gave my mother a gardenia which is one of my favorite plants of all, and every year she calls to let me know the plant is in bloom and how wonderful and fragrant they are.

As the idea to give plants as gifts is one that I love, I thought to join Urban Jungle Bloggers once again. Since growing succulents is quite easy, and I have both the mother and babies here, I want to share a very simple idea that includes both, and requires very little time and money.

All you really need to do is take a nice picture of the "mother" plant, and simply print it on a nice paper. I've used some left over watercolor paper, and tied the card with natural twine.

That way, when you gift the "baby" plant, the new owner will have a concrete idea of what the plant will look like and have something to look forward to and be inspired to actually care about the gift.

You can write more instructions on the back or add some useful websites where the new owner can read about his new plant, or leave a simple message like I did.

Another very simple idea is to grow some herbs. I find it much better when someone gives me actual plants rather than the seeds, that way I'm forced to take care of them.

I've placed the seedlings we have been growing for more than a month  in a strawberry crate, along with some terra-cotta pots and some vegetable markers that I got from this wonderful store.  I think these make a wonderful house warming gift and don't take up too much space, so they are perfect for a kitchen window or a small balcony.

I think it is wonderful to give plants that will last a long time, but I also love plants that can be enjoyed when they are ready. Whether you're giving a long lasting plant or one that will be consumed, you just need to let the plants do the actual "talking."

Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series with the idea to get some green into our homes. Every month Judith and Igor invite bloggers to share ideas for creating an urban jungle through styling challenges, DIY's, green tips and tricks. Every month there is a different them on the topic. You can follow and get more inspiration on Pinterest and Facebook.

Wishing you a very lovely and green weekend ahead,
Giova