tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178083962024-03-08T01:36:25.554+02:00The Colour BoxAd astra per asperaMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-40680661322177423472007-08-28T12:18:00.000+03:002007-08-31T12:38:24.413+03:00a tea party arrived at my doorstep......it arrived yesterday and it is was all packaged beautifully in this lovely butterfly decorated envelope:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_rSblIf7v9sTETMEQXksKg3ZRIjlUIfYvt4PVfVxSAO7FHeolaNz0GDkxf0CM2QbuPL9OpGGNy-VomOL4fjXb11i4XNzDZSJckJN4zJ32Apc_oFXKUPeDjPiVk4pTGxvfwEs/s1600-h/SOSF+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103678885776157986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_rSblIf7v9sTETMEQXksKg3ZRIjlUIfYvt4PVfVxSAO7FHeolaNz0GDkxf0CM2QbuPL9OpGGNy-VomOL4fjXb11i4XNzDZSJckJN4zJ32Apc_oFXKUPeDjPiVk4pTGxvfwEs/s320/SOSF+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> When opened the treasures that lay inside filled my studio with colours, aromas and magic! Exotic teas, secret recipes, origami clothes, enchanted playing cards:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDA7U1izuhZAhoY35LHvb3b6F9Jv8LAPR3QYmAKz0r1EsQnubJW5vMhNFTfa6iK-3P3npoYWXo0VGuCFux8mlnsXdhcfdlpM0Hn7ZgZIIdEKeiIZ7jZOMCoCle6FIkM0RN7gA/s1600-h/SOSF+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103678658142891282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDA7U1izuhZAhoY35LHvb3b6F9Jv8LAPR3QYmAKz0r1EsQnubJW5vMhNFTfa6iK-3P3npoYWXo0VGuCFux8mlnsXdhcfdlpM0Hn7ZgZIIdEKeiIZ7jZOMCoCle6FIkM0RN7gA/s320/SOSF+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thank you <a href="http://laundryfaerie.blogspot.com/">Soozcat</a> for sending me such a beautiful and magical surprise! :)</div><div></div><div>x's</div><div>m.<br /></div><div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-3173834525724524062007-06-13T23:45:00.000+03:002007-06-13T23:53:42.012+03:00It's here!! The SOSF tea party event!!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1fD60KmtEio/RmszqMXg1rI/AAAAAAAAAbs/TTcOqBF2S6c/s1600/teainvitewithtext+demi+reduced.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1fD60KmtEio/RmszqMXg1rI/AAAAAAAAAbs/TTcOqBF2S6c/s1600/teainvitewithtext%2Bdemi%2Breduced.jpg" border="0" /></a> The lovely and talented <a href="http://tlcillustration.blogspot.com/">Tara</a> is admin of this new SOSF event (she made this incredibly gorgeous invitation and thought of this genius theme)!<br /><em>"This event's theme is "Handmade card, favorite tea and a treat"! (One of each.) To keep mailing costs low, be creative with light-weight, flattish items that you personally enjoy and will fit into a small, padded envelope. For example- a couple of packets of your favorite tea, with your great-aunt Tursell's recipe for scones or petit-fours tucked into a beautiful, handmade card in which you write your own tea rituals to share with your recipient. Add a wrapped piece of gourmet chocolate or biscotti, or something non-edible, but tea-themed as a *treat* and you will be set! This is just one possibility - use your creativity and love of sharing tea with friends."</em><br /><br /><strong>For more information visit the <a href="http://thesocietyofsecretfairies.blogspot.com/">SOSF</a> blog!!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />This in not an event to be missed!!<br /><br />:O)<br />x's<br />Maya<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-9560052926186996202007-06-03T19:38:00.000+03:002007-06-03T19:53:01.671+03:00Presents and prints!<div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1080/527908132_633156af81.jpg?v=0"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1080/527908132_633156af81.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>A few days ago I was visited yet again by those creatures of the fairy world: the black crow delivery service!!!!</div><br /><br /><div>They brought me a sapphire treasure from far away made by a very talented young jewelery designer: Toby of <a href="http://naturalattrill.blogspot.com/">Natural Attril</a>!! </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>It is truly gorgeous and I love it: A huge thank you to Penny and Toby for their lovely gift!!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In other news I have been busy with my Etsy shop!! I have been trying to find a new (and more interesting way) of packaging my prints...So I have designed a special folder for them to be delivered and kept in:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1046/527908118_ced2bcc780.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p> </p><p>I've also started a new blog in which I hope to slowly add the stories behind the illustrations: <a href="http://lilymoonhome.blogspot.com/">http://lilymoonhome.blogspot.com/</a></p><p>Etsy has been a lot of work, but I have really been enjoying creating prints for the shop!!</p><p> </p><p>x's</p><p>m.</p><p> </p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-21149905318404249542007-05-16T14:06:00.000+03:002007-05-16T14:16:20.581+03:00My Etsy shop (and it's mini version)I've just about (nearly) set up my new-ish Etsy shop and as you may have noticed to the right of my blog you can see a mini Etsy... The name of the shop is Lilymoon ( I've always had a soft spot for lilies and the moon and I have endless midnight conversations so the name just felt most approriate lol )...<br /><br />Its still in its early stages, but I am working on some mew (new even?) prints to add to it and some new Paper Gardens ( I'll write more about this project soon- promise)...<br /><br />x's<br />Maya<br />:)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-56281593668596489852007-04-27T19:36:00.000+03:002007-04-27T21:39:37.570+03:00The other day...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZtkaS-kGC1t-JJtgx5_Eo9eUiVKl8zQV1r4MbAr2oc699MK9jGr9TgEbJaNAUIBZpXDRJhypsGhUBJHW2lL9Zoxn58ulbsX6igRHkX9giDAgYOQCsGOfQMRQ6QLPWkzKLMmA/s1600-h/april+27+2007+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058175932958778098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZtkaS-kGC1t-JJtgx5_Eo9eUiVKl8zQV1r4MbAr2oc699MK9jGr9TgEbJaNAUIBZpXDRJhypsGhUBJHW2lL9Zoxn58ulbsX6igRHkX9giDAgYOQCsGOfQMRQ6QLPWkzKLMmA/s200/april+27+2007+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div>I was on my veranda taking a brief break from my drawing (and as usual having a silly look on my face) :<br /><br /><br /><br />...when suddenly <strong><em>wooooooosh.....</em></strong><br /></div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058176379635376898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAc-RbfLxuHXexDrs3hh4u0ex6fnb87MWKbVsYWPExa8s2AC3x9rknpqH_zBS2stMplfuluay98RwDIKohT8kJgvksanSa5R13sY89CArlyM0vNgI_Cw6YZOiKLmj0fDdcF5c/s200/april+27+2007+018.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>a tornado of black feathers and strong wind gave me a new (and scary) hairstyle !!</div><div></div><div>I turned around and expected to see those funny beings, aka Black Crow Fairy Gift Messengers...But nope...they had vanished in a blink of the eye - It seems after seeing their business going so well they put their beaks together and decided to create an express service to save time!<br />On the table of my humble veranda were two lovely gifts from friends far far away:<br />A fantastic selection of music from the kind and talented <a href="http://www.theaoi.com/artist/daviddean/">David</a>:</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058176800542171922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEwsmTkqoNLXHpCMwXd1923AHt3H2IfxIrNoSrlHiEtwwVcBXFPs5UnX2QetUlmdgw1jqYMSqO6xiPYnm0rT1ouzJGD3lF_9Bv4_VJ24Vq0_7qZ1PGPgK30FR9ABGI3kgdR5D/s200/april+27+2007+005.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><p>...and a beautiful package of goodies, with a book featuring her incredible work translated into greek from the lovely and talented <a href="http://www.allaroundus.blogspot.com/">Gretel</a>:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058177242923803426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxFVOKHxqv365idYNNPFHGg9osAwv2oigugGcD51ABMH8QZ4tXd_f06IFAA0Zgj8ChWrDz-CnNJi9zrrjiSIhiP2n4mLFkPq9fyrbmhgaKf79YeZlTfyNgPJY6UnPnRykvi6q/s320/april+27+2007+002.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p>Thank you both so very very much! :)<br /><br />x's</p><p>maya</p><p> </p><p>p.s. apologies for the small photos- I am having a bad flickr day :(</p></div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-63888531515766903502007-04-22T17:41:00.000+03:002007-04-22T19:01:51.635+03:00Random pix of:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28185402@N00/468381654/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/468381654_d4e126923a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="april 22 2007 001" /></a><br /><br />1>...Little table next to my chair where I keep my colours and a sample of the book layout I have been working on.<br /><br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28185402@N00/468381660/"><img height="600" alt="april 22 2007 014" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/468381660_ac0ce24595_o.jpg" width="450" /><br /><br /></a>2> ...The view beneath my window<br /><br /><br /><div><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28185402@N00/468381642/"><img height="620" alt="april 22 2007 003" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/468381642_5a90305968_o.jpg" width="465" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>3>...Some of my favourite bits of jewelery: Rhinestone hairpin, Hummingbird earrings, 1940's Guilloche locket, a ring I bought in Prague years ago (the stone is apparently a piece of meteorite)...and below my favourite of all, a silver birdcage:<br /><br /></div><div><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28185402@N00/468381646/"><img height="600" alt="april 22 2007 005" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/468381646_7f3f59169c_o.jpg" width="473" /></a><br /><br />:)<br /><br /><div></div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-14940048693666296872007-04-16T16:30:00.000+03:002007-04-16T16:43:58.137+03:00tweet tweet tweet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggEIlWd91ejL8aGuXcqpYr5UYHaBJAt3lt_TqYxTnsyKbM6XaFOZlmA82auQWy8BiYYJJzCtZ18AqKF0SebVN6NtYo-qUfGUBk89yc1-9ZdJpYwEWSxjEN5l6QmPxJD0dnReo/s1600-h/illo+on+wall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054020057608207122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggEIlWd91ejL8aGuXcqpYr5UYHaBJAt3lt_TqYxTnsyKbM6XaFOZlmA82auQWy8BiYYJJzCtZ18AqKF0SebVN6NtYo-qUfGUBk89yc1-9ZdJpYwEWSxjEN5l6QmPxJD0dnReo/s400/illo+on+wall.jpg" border="0" /></a>... Bird sketch....<br /><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUdx-1jAIVgG-i8dVEhZoYutGkxKvcocniNo3LFgho5qQSy2jnzwKC-shSgi4cga7JWDIf6wmywzW_Cpp67ajcP_94rWHCzDrk-Pd-MUx9YcFSbUb7D9RWPP2oJCeTup-WN8E/s1600-h/illo+on+wall+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054019318873832194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUdx-1jAIVgG-i8dVEhZoYutGkxKvcocniNo3LFgho5qQSy2jnzwKC-shSgi4cga7JWDIf6wmywzW_Cpp67ajcP_94rWHCzDrk-Pd-MUx9YcFSbUb7D9RWPP2oJCeTup-WN8E/s400/illo+on+wall+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>... Another birdy illo on the wall of my studio...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xf-QZIluqBKPh5mBY9NjEGvQ9842TbvrfkDMV_1t3-mS2bzNE0k_LXu667gy5iSmPiFZAIWIar6bTKkk6F706zsLVE6fsUJMAQZkdEBmrYff6n8xVdYkgQwCRojO_5LiO7JM/s1600-h/Bird+books.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054017914419526386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xf-QZIluqBKPh5mBY9NjEGvQ9842TbvrfkDMV_1t3-mS2bzNE0k_LXu667gy5iSmPiFZAIWIar6bTKkk6F706zsLVE6fsUJMAQZkdEBmrYff6n8xVdYkgQwCRojO_5LiO7JM/s400/Bird+books.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bird books that I bought recently.... :)<br /><div></div></div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-56726821635845995392007-04-15T20:41:00.000+03:002007-04-15T21:05:48.172+03:00Tweet tweet<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/460159304_305a36b847_o.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/460159304_305a36b847_o.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have been working on book illustrations this week for my personal project.<br /> I've been going through a err..."bird phase" these past few months i.e. collecting books, ephemera and anything else that has to do with birds...<br />and drawing them a lot...It's a miracle my little black sketchbook hasn't flew through the window and built a nest in the lemon trees below!<br />Anywaaay...<br />The above illustration is titled " The fair at St Francis" :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-30681921891659263752007-03-31T19:30:00.000+03:002007-03-31T20:04:53.248+03:00Goodbye March (it's good to see the back of you)Blimey its been a rollercoaster of a month...Being ill, then going into hospital while many other things were falling apart, having an operation and then coming back home to discover that the worst part of an operation is the recovery...Yikes! I sit here wondering did all that really happen...?<br />Well the stitches on my tummy confirm that it indeed did happen and that it wasn't all a nasty nightmare induced by too much smirnoff and peanuts...<br />To make things even worse: I won't be going to Bologna (*sulks heavily*)because of all the above...<br />But...<br />Out of all the bad there is always some good...I have a lot of things to be thankful for that I would not have noticed if all the above didn't happen...<br /><br />Maya's "after the horrendous thunderstorm there is always a cloud with a silver lining" list:<br /><br />1. Breathing- No joke, anyone who has an operation like the one I did will treasure breathing.<br />2.Being surrounded by friends- correction: angels, who helped me with their love and support...I can never thank them enough, and I know how lucky I am to have them in my life!<br />3. Being able to eat.<br />4. Being able to move.<br />5. Not being dazed and confused for days (what do they put in that anesthetic to make it so yucky?!)<br />6.Being able to take a bath without anyone in the room<br />7. Being able to sleep without waking up every hour.<br />8. Being able to paint and write again<br /><br />The list is never ending really...Sometimes you need a heavy punch in the face from the universe to discover that you are very lucky even if little things aren't going as planned, even if you are not where you want to be...<br />Its good to be alive and healthy! It really is :)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-62301590738381347112007-03-26T20:14:00.000+03:002007-03-26T20:17:51.899+03:00A small note to say......I am just home from the hospital after having an operation and am now trying slowely to get back on my feet- Still feeling weak and dizzy so sorry for any mistakes...I'll need a couple of days still to get back to my old self but just wanted to say I am thinking of you all and missing you...<br /><br />Sending you lots of love,<br />mayaMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-74042375067738832702007-03-14T20:29:00.000+02:002007-03-14T21:34:16.958+02:00Triple delight-full surprise!Nope that isn't the name of a new ice cream flavour but what happened to me on Monday morning when I received the most beautiful surprises delivered by the infamous and wonderful fairy crows :) <div><div><div><br /><div>I was going about my day as usual and then heard a familiar noise at the window...a tick- tick- yaddle- tick...Three little black birds were sitting on the edge of the window gleaming in the pale spring sunlight...I gently opened the window and they flew straight in .... circling my studio they dropped one by one the parcels they were carrying in to my lap...</div><div></div><div>First presented were these amazing gifts from the lovely <a href="http://www.lornaart.blogspot.com/">Lorna</a>:<br /><br /><br /></div><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/421231117_eeb31f0085.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>A beauuuuutiful book illustrated by Jane Ray, a bar of mayan gold that you can eat and some refreshing fairy soap to wash away all things bad.... :)</p><p>Next surprise to drop in to my lap (my legs were trembling by the weight and the excitement by now...) were these beautiful gifts from the lovely <a href="http://paulabowles.blogspot.com/">Paula</a>:</p><br /><br /><br /><p></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/421231105_3f319c7089.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Included were secrets of the colour fairies, secrets of the making of Mysterious Rose Madder and Karmic Cobalt Blue, and most precious of all a beautiful illustration painted by the talented artist herself :)</p><p>Then came the time for the last crow to drop the package into my lap...but it didn't...Instead it gently let it down onto my desk and nodded in a crow-like-way for me to approach...</p><p>"You will never guess who this package is from" it whispered and flew and sat on my shoulder...And he was right...I didn't recognise the writing on the parcel...hmmm....who could it be from?? I quickly opened it to find precious treasures hiding inside:</p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/421231101_e560c7e493.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/421231091_ae689a8319.jpg" border="0" /></p></div></div><br /><p>The magically mystic package included: an angel box, a pearl rose, a book of all things wise, a kettle that brews tea by its own just when you are thinking you need some, a rebellious robin who sings even when life isn't smiling back at you, a serendipitous blue bird box and many more beautiful items...</p><p>I would like to say a BIG thank you to Lorna, Paula and my mystical Secret Fairy (whom I still do not know the identity of but am very grateful to and would wish to thank in person one day if they would want it too!!) for making me smile and making me feel so blessed!</p><p>maya :)</p><p>p.s. The crows are very well and say hi...They are munching on some sugar coated peanuts and tapping their feet happily while I write :)</p><p></p><p></p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-40555495243585808152007-03-11T19:13:00.000+02:002007-03-11T19:36:21.665+02:00Christmas in March - well...almost!Its been an up and down week...<br /><br /><br />I'll leave out the down bits and focus on the up - much more interesting ;)<br /><br /><br />I have been working this week on a christmas card design...It really took up a lot of my time, as I was not happy with the first colour roughs I had made...So I continued making roughs over and over again until I finally felt good about a few...I must say this took a lot more time to do than I am usually used to...I hope it was worth the hours of work...Here it is in person so to speak:<br /><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/416671213_1d6fc57558.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>In other news, I still haven't booked a flight or a hotel for Bologna...Grrr...I have to wait a bit to see if I will be able to go due to other problems hanging over my head at the mo...Hopefully by next week everything will be clearer...(crosses fingers, closes eyes, chants "I <strong>will </strong>be going to Bologna"...lol...</p><p>Being positive is key so I am proceeding for the following four weeks to focus on the book proposal and folio work I intend to take with me...I'll be posting some of that work here soon :)</p><p>Oooh...I hear my moleskine calling...it always does that when its hungry...</p><p>:)</p><p>m.</p><p> </p><p> </p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-8004424241839286622007-03-03T17:17:00.000+02:002007-03-03T17:39:29.102+02:00is this thing working?I haven't been able to access my blog since my switching to the new blogger and it has been an absolute pain! Just tried it again and now it seems to be working (hoorah!!) so fingers crossed from now on I will be able to blog again- hehe!<br /><br />So much has happened to me in the past months- mainly bad things but now I hope that all will be alright. I am not going to write about it though as I just want to leave it behind me and start fresh- It is spring after all :)<br /><br />Good news no 1: Next month I am planning to visit the Bologna Book Fair and I am really excited about it! Among other work I am trying to finish my book proposal which I plan to take with me and which I will try to persuade a book publisher is the best thing since greek coffee and biscuits (Lol!)...<br /><br />Good news no 2: I have been loving my new moleskine I bought...I had been dissappointed with the old one as the heavy paper in it couldn't be used for watercolour or gouache- so I thought Id give the other option a go: the one with normal paper in it! Its absolutely wonderful to use with any medium and I can't get enough of drawing it!<br /><br />Good news no 3: My best friend is back from her vaccation and I can enjoy her lovely company again- I missed her a lot! She and I will be going to Bologna together and so now that she is back we can plan all the details for the journey!<br /><br />Good news no 4: There is a lunar eclipse tonight!! I'm dreaming of spending the night on the roof in a comfortable chair watching the moon change colours!<br /><br />(its been a whole 15 minutes and no internet error appearing on page! Phew!! Seems things are starting to get back to normal :)<br /><br />x's<br />m.Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1162046912621086712006-10-28T17:23:00.000+03:002006-10-28T19:37:01.120+03:00Podlings and fairy crows!<p><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/1600/daisy%20L%201.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/320/daisy%20L%201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I received the lovely package of ms <a href="http://catsinthekitchenflorainthegarden.blogspot.com/">Daisy Lupin</a> yesterday (my sosf autumn partner), delivered by those mischievous fairy creatures, the infamous Fairy Crow messengers!<br /><br />The package was filled with magical objects:</p><p>exotic teas, </p><p>Delicate silver hairpins</p><p>sweet almond and fairy dust soap, </p><p>mystical mayan chocolate, </p><p>lovely handmade cards, </p><p>a blue handmade pearl bunny (very very rare creatures of the elf world),</p><p>diamond earrings (from the mines of middle earth)</p><p>and a fairy podling who is and has been sleeping soundly for nearly an eternity and might wake up and turn into a fairy anyday now!<br /></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/320/daisy%20L%203.jpg" border="0" /><br />marshmellow wings<br />and cupcake thank you's<br />to you<br />Fairy Lupin!!Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1161618374693550062006-10-23T18:38:00.000+03:002006-10-23T18:46:14.736+03:00Red Flannel Elephant christmas cards<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2704/1165/1600/web-frenchens.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2704/1165/1600/web-frenchens.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My talented friend Gretel is launching a new Red Flannel Elephant Christmas card range, and its looking absolutely gorgeous...!<br /><br />You can see more of her lovely card range <a href="http://www.redflannelelephant.com/">here</a> and read all about her and her adventures at her inspirational blog <a href="http://www.allaroundus.blogspot.com/">here</a>!<br /><br />x's<br />M.Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1160847931118704122006-10-14T20:35:00.000+03:002006-10-14T20:45:31.120+03:00Hyper Speeeed<a href="http://static.flickr.com/96/269388001_f3d661c65f.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/96/269388001_f3d661c65f.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://static.flickr.com/91/269368319_7f6fa9264d.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://static.flickr.com/91/269368319_7f6fa9264d.jpg" border="0" /></a> Had to make the above cards very quickly so they can be sent off next week to agent...phew...didn't think I'd make it...<br />Now I have to do some graphic design work for a friend, tomorrow I'll be visiting my mum who I haven't seen in ages and on monday morning I have to pay a visit to the dreaded printers - again and then visit a client in the afternoon!!<br />Yikes!<br />The following week is full of work I have to catch up with but hopefully by Saturday I'll be able to take a break...lol<br /><br />I did have mr Toot and the Rain to keep me company though today...<br />Thank you Fairy Lorna!!<br /><br />:0)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1160694457638473482006-10-13T02:03:00.000+03:002006-10-13T02:13:27.770+03:00hmmm....<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/1600/xmas1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/320/xmas1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Feeling a bit rusty and trying to get back into painting again after working the past few weeks using a computer program...I've missed my brushes and paints!! Above is one of todays attempts to get back into illustration mode ....<br />hmmm...<br /><br />:o)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1159388853892319992006-09-27T23:05:00.000+03:002006-09-27T23:31:50.326+03:00This and That<a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28185402@N00/254312586/"><img height="500" alt="christmas card" src="http://static.flickr.com/83/254312586_f461a6b642.jpg" width="328" /></a><br /><br />Above is an idea for a christmas card I painted some days ago...apart from that and some sketches I haven't had time to work on my artwork a lot these past weeks...<br /><br />I've been commisioned a graphic designer job that hopefully should end in the next ten days or so...And then I get my life back....lol<br />Its not been bad really, I do get to meet with some lovely people and socialize for a change- something that shocked my system a bit, but it turns out its like riding a bike, you don't forget how to do it, which was a pleasant surprise!!<br /><br />In other news: I've been gardening today...I'll post some pics of my attempt soon...I planted some roses my mum bought me for my bithday present, and today some sunflowers and some sweet peas...<br /><br /><br />I also have been reading a little when I can find some time- my latest book adventure is set through the pages of Plato...<br />The dialogues are really inspiring and thought provoking (umm...ok so that isn't the most original observation- but it is the truth...lol)...There was this one thing I read stuck in my mind-<br />Socrates is discussing the subject of "Eros" (the love god) with a wise lady he admires...The lady makes the following statement about Eros: Eros is neither human or a god but a demigod...<br />the reason is this: he has to be this way because he is what connects god to humans...Love is the connection...<br />I don't know why, but I mentally noted this and have been smiling about it ever since I read it...<br /><br />Lol...This has to be one of my weirder blog entries...I started with illustration- went on to gardening and finished off with Plato :)<br /><br />x's<br />MayaMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1158171079067176022006-09-13T20:26:00.000+03:002006-09-13T21:11:19.370+03:00home againIts great to be back after my vacation...Italy was a great experience and I am already planning to visit Florence again in the future as I feel it's a place that needs to be revisited and further explored...<br /><br />These are some notes I made in my notebook about Florence while I was there, an attempt to capture a little of the atmosphere to take home with me:<br /><br />strips of blue sky floating between ochre buildings<br />carpets of burnt sienna and venetian red observed from God's roof garden<br />sap green river and rose dore gardens<br />gelato in every tint of every colour<br />almond green marble giants and graphite grey pigeons<br />people singing goodmornings, hellos and thank yous<br />warm humid rooms and cool autumn breezes<br />the town smiles in the morning is sleepy at midday and melancholic in the afternoon<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/1600/italy%20pic%209.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/320/italy%20pic%209.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />a pic of me forcing a smile after climbing 500 steps<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/1600/italy%20pic%2010.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/320/italy%20pic%2010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />a view from the hotel window<br /><br />x<br />mayaMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1155682324169356752006-08-16T00:20:00.000+03:002006-08-16T01:52:09.350+03:00at approximately ...<a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28185402@N00/216297450/"><img height="400" alt="coffee time" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/216297450_33375fcfd5_o.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />... 6 o'clock every afternoon on weekdays, I have my coffee break.<br /><br />I sit down, with my diary and cup of coffee and start writing...Sometimes I write about my day, sometimes I plan my schedule for the next few days and sometimes, when I haven't been having a particularly good day, for one reason or another, I biro-doodle till the delicate white pages of my A6 diary look like they have been dipped mercilessly over and over in thick blue ink...<br />I do the same thing on Saturdays but instead of a diary I curl up in my favourite chair with a good book!<br />The one thing that stays a constant to this 30 minute ritual is the type of coffee I drink: A double cup of semisweet freshly brewed greek coffee...<br /><br />I remember as a young girl observing my aunts and mum drinking the same kind of coffee while exchanging flaouna recipes or talking about my energetic grandfather's latest escapade ...75 and climbing trees got them all a bit anxious and worried, but once they had a sip of coffee all the tension in the air would settle a little too magically...<br />Occasionally , if they were really upset about something an aunt would attempt to foretell the future by reading the coffee stains on the cup, with such an air of self confidence that I was convinced the stains were long forgotten hieroglyphics that only the gifted could understand...<br /><br />Wanting to grow up quickly and decipher these grown up rituals I was very excited when my mum decided it was time I should learn how to make coffee myself...The slightly magical aura that surrounded the dark brown substance unavoidably excited my imagination... the "briki" transformed into a magical cauldron and the coffee and sugar, into oriental alchemical ingredients...Each time the make-believe ingredients would change according to whom I was preparing the coffee for: for example,if It was for a person I liked the imaginary ingredients would transform into rosepetals and cinammon sticks... if it was for someone I didn't like...well..lets just say it certainly wasn't something that carried the scent of rose petals...<br /><br />Here is the recipe and preparation for greek coffee (imaginary ingredients are omitted, but feel free to add them if you like :)<br /><br /><strong>Greek Coffee<br /></strong>1 small cup of water<br />1 teaspoonful of sugar<br />1 teaspoonful of coffee<br />Pour water into the "briki" (a very small saucepan will do) to heat.<br />Just before the water starts to boil, add the sugar and coffee.<br />Stir, and as soon as it rises and remove from heat.<br />Pour a small amount into cup, and then return the briki to heat the remaining coffee till that rises too.<br />Pour the remaining coffee into the cup.<br /><br />Always served with a glass of ice cold water!<br /><br />Greek coffee is never drunk to the "last drop" because there is always an undrinkable think coffee sediment that remains on the bottom of the cup (and is called "katakathi")<br /><br />enjoy!<br />x<br />MayaMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1155576457781803022006-08-14T20:25:00.000+03:002006-08-15T01:28:00.876+03:00Peace<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28185402@N00/215440459/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/80/215440459_aebb228e5f_o.jpg" width="400" height="510" alt="peace3" /></a>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1155388816053144322006-08-12T16:12:00.000+03:002006-08-12T16:20:50.790+03:00The S.O.S.F...is now officially up and running! :)<br /><br />For all interested please visit the official blog at <a href="http://thesocietyofsecretfairies.blogspot.com/">http://thesocietyofsecretfairies.blogspot.com/</a><br />for further information on how to participate.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/28/1865/400/SOSF.jpg"><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/28/1865/400/SOSF.jpg"><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/28/1865/400/SOSF.jpg" border="0" /></p><p></a></p>The beautiful invite was painted by admin fairy PG! <p>Happy fairy thoughts!</p><p>x's</p><p>Maya<br /></p><a href="http://thesocietyofsecretfairies.blogspot.com/"></a>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1155230988746081292006-08-10T20:27:00.000+03:002006-08-10T20:29:48.760+03:00Peace<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/1600/Peace.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/400/Peace.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1154041712823823062006-07-28T01:31:00.000+03:002006-07-28T02:08:32.890+03:00Not Dead...The blog I mean! :)<br />Its just that I have been up to doing a lot of things lately, and things that I still need to sort out, so I am letting it rest for a while. <br />I'll probably blog it to death in September! And thats suppose to be a promise and not a threat. ;)<br /><br />Hmm...news!?<br />Well...umm...<br /><br />Watching and listening the news compulsively. I went through a stage where I couldn't focus on work, as I was getting so upset about the war. But I had to pull myself together... and focused my energy on praying and sending good thoughts to all that are living the nightmare...<br /><br />Got a wonderful package from a friend, which included beautiful illustrations and a birdfeeder. (Thank you!!!! :) )<br /><br />Reading: Yes been doing a hell of a lot of that and not all it is for research. Discovering a lot of amazing things that make me smile.<br />I keep the "history of reading" for when the day is over, and I have gone to bed. It's my treat for the day...<br /><br />Painting: yes! But not feeling too confident in showing what I am up to yet. <br />Probably in September.<br /><br />Just had commision for some jewelry and maybe a painting too.<br /><br />Awaiting: August trip. Doing some research for that as well....I like to know a little (or a lot!) about the place, so I can snoop around more confidently...lol<br /><br />Oh...and my Daniel Smith paints arrived! They are different to the usual ones I am use to. I think their binder is more "sticky" (for lack of a better word)...Almost honey like... But I am getting the hang of them...<br />My favourite I think is Verditer blue, which is a delicate powder blue colour (its a mixture of titanium white, cobalt blue and cerulean).<br /><br />And just remembered:<br />Going: to the dentist tomorrow...grrr...But I won't think about that now...it will probably give me nightmares...<br /><br />Better get back to Alberto Manguel, and the chapter with the tiniest book on earth in it...lol<br /><br />xxx's<br />&<br />hugs<br /><br />Maya the geek!<br /><br />;)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17808396.post-1152746628171598842006-07-13T02:12:00.000+03:002006-07-13T02:37:46.813+03:00My first birthday gift for 2006...was brought to me by my best friend today...<br />She came to visit me this afternoon...<br />she is leaving on Saturday to go to the UK for her vacation, lucky girl!! :)<br />She surprised me by bringing me my birthday gift early! She told me she had to give it to me now, and I would understand why, once I saw what it was...<br /><br />The present she brought me was a white cotton-linen dress:<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/1600/white%20dress%202.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/751/1726/320/white%20dress%202.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I smiled happily looking at it and thanked her with a warm hug:</p><p>it would be the perfect thing to take with me on my trip next month!</p><p><em><span style="font-size:85%;">S'eyharisto Kumquat mou</span></em></p><p>xxxxxx'S</p><p>Maya</p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17404548364385361377noreply@blogger.com7