Colour my world

Jennifer Maestro's fascinating pencil sculptures.  Cut into 1-inch sections, the points were sharpened, holes were drilled and they were all joined together.....and Voila! Well thats over simplifying it but you get the general idea!

Folksy Friday #21

Sunny Side Up!

The working week is almost at an end, I can see relaxation on the horizon.  It may be miserable and raining outside, but come Sunday morning, ill have my feet up with the paper, a big cooked breakfast on the go and a chunky mug full of coffee...  (pinks the link)

(I have actually based this entire Folksy Friday around this one item, I love it,

I love robots and someday it will be mine...infact, Id be happy with any of these items!)

Robot Butterdish - Julia Davey Ceramics

Seedlings Toast Rack - Laura Lees Designs

This has actually sold, but its too gorgeous not to feature

...check out Lou Peajeux for similar items

Retro Rooster Tea Towels - Mengsel

Fry-Up Breakfast Pin-Badge - Nikki Made

Gift Box Chocobot Milkshake Carton, Print and Make - PaperCake Print & Make

Bake More Cake Letterpress Print - PRINT for LOVE of WOOD

Retro Fabric Tea Cosy - Purlesque

Arkadi Monastery

The Arkadi Monastery is located in the Rethymno Prefecture, 25 kilometers southeast of Rethymno, Crete.... high in the mountains, we travelled along windy roads lined with old olive groves. 

History

The historical importance of Arkadi lies in the role it played in the Cretan War of Independence. When the revolution was declared, in 1866, all the leaders met at Arkadi, which was chosen because of its strategic position. Ishmael Pasha sent a message to the monks with the bishop of Rethymnon that the revolutionary committee should leave or else the monastery would be destroyed.

The head monk refused to obey. Later the Turks besieged the monastery where many children and women had also gathered. Soon the besieged realized there was little hope but they fought bravely. Rather than surrender to the Turks, they blew themselves up with gunpowder to avoid captivity. Just a few survived, 114 men and women were taken captives and 864 were killed.

The powder magazine, formerly a wine cellar.

The holocaust of Arkadi was a moral victory for the Cretans. It drew attention to Crete in the West and the way for the freedom of the island was paved.

A decrepit witness of the great battle, wounded and scorched by fire, this old, cross shaped cypress stands pointing to the church.  Bullets can still be seen in its dead bark.

The former windmill of the monastery (pictured below) is used today as an ossuary that preserves the bones of the fighters of the 1866 battle

Folksy Friday #20

Indian Summer

A delightful weekend of colour came to Belfasts Botanic Gardens recently in the shape of the Indian Mela, the gardens were bursting with life, scent, and music and not a drop of rain in sight!  The weathers been a bit of a whirlwind since, with everything from hot, sunny days to quite literally an Indian Monsoon...

hope you enjoy my choices this week, and thank you to everyone for commenting on my Folksy Friday last week, both on my own blog and on the Folksy blog :)

(pinks the link)

Paisley Case (Nintendo DS/DSI) - Buttoned Up & Pinned Down

Bollywood Silk & Feather Brooch - Fuzzbucket

Silk DPN & Crochet Hook Roll - Juicy Fig

Shiva Bottle Cap Badge - Nova & Lorsten

Indian Summer Chandelier Earrings - Sarah Hickey Jewellery

Large Red Kashmiri Beads - Pretty Bead Company

Rose Patchouli - SaffronBarr

Colonial Elephant Earrings - Voodooville

Folksy Friday #19

I was over the moon to receive an email from Hilary @ Haptree this week asking me to guest write the Folksy Friday section on the Folksy Blog...  I accepted immmediately and then went into panic over drive!! I had 3 themes running around my brain but the one I was happiest with was my '1986 Mega Mix' ....as of tomorrow morning, you can view my little Folksy post here ...im so happy :)

(scroll down for my own post and links to the shops...cheers)

"I made you a mix tape..."

This coming Tuesday sees Channel 4 broadcast the first episode of THIS IS ENGLAND ’86 and I’m very excited, not just because I’m a huge fan of Shane Meadows, but because I remember that year so clearly… It was the year of Halleys Comet, Short Circuit, Ferris Bueller, The World Cup, Transformers, Mike Tyson and one of my all time favourite films ‘The Money Pit’

1986…I’m 9 years old and my world revolves around Michael Jackson, roller skating, Cherry Cola, Atari, making up dance routines, swapping Panini stickers, reading Smash Hits….and taping the charts. We’ve all done it, precise timing of the pause button was crucial, and when we’d finished? …we made mix tapes on hi-speed dubbing!

I hope you enjoy my mix tape from Folksy this week!  (pinks the link)

Ipod , Itouch, Iphone case/cover - Beautiful Skin

Smash Hits! – Comf!

Handmade Cassette Keychain – Cut Copy Create

Beat Box Design Mug – Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust

Orange Cassette Tape iPhone Case – Crank Cases

Retro 80's Style Ghetto Blaster Boombox Necklace - Strawberry Anarchy

"Living in a box"