Staying in Venice and Istanbul

 Hello my friends.  Sorry I've not posted in a long time but I just returned home from Turkey this week.

My husband and I spent three weeks at our home in Turkey before the rest of the family joined us to continue the vacation.  I've come to the conclusion that our family "travels" as their hobby.  The photo above was taken at a wine tasting we enjoyed in Greece.

We enjoyed our time in the south of Turkey before venturing off for rest of the vacation.

Our first stop was Venice.  It was my third visit to this amazing city but this time I had the pleasure to stay three nights in this magical place.

My daughter rented two different apartments for the family and we stayed in this unique place where we had our own private courtyard.  It had been completely renovated and was very modern and comfortable but I missed the old world charm a bit. 

Venice is an interesting city.  The population now is around 55,000 residents; it used to be close to 175,000.  As the people have left, the homes have been bought up by investors who can rent them at a high rate of rent. Thereby, the average, younger Venetian cannot afford to live in Venice anymore.  It's a very sad case. Also, many Venetians are against the cruise ships coming into their city.  I totally agree with them.  Cruise ships can ruin the unique atmosphere of a place.

The apartment my daughter and her family stayed in was a perfectly styled Italian apartment with Venetian glass chandeliers.  It overlooked a canal and the light that came into the room was amazing.

Here's the beautiful hallway with the wood floors and a wall of framed handpainted watercolors.

I'm hoping to recreate one of these watercolors. . .

On our last night in Venice we had a family dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant.  It was in a square but there was a private courtyard behind.  We had spied this place a day earlier when the waiter told us about the menu.  The waiter from the restaurant next door saw us and told us "You don't want to eat there - it's owned by Pakistani's and is not Italian food".  My husband was shocked and told him "I'm Pakistani".  He isn't but that wasn't the point. Later that day, we went to lunch at this restaurant and it was the best Italian food I've ever had.  The owner is Italian but all the servers are from Bangladesh.  They were so kind to us and offered superb customer service.


  Hence, the last night in Venice we returned to the same place for dinner with all the family.  I didn't realize until later that Rome and surrounding areas of Italy has the second highest population of Bangladesh immigrants outside of London.  They are an integral part of Venice and I admire their ability to learn a new language and adjust to a different cullture.

We left Venice on a cruise and upon our return, we took a flight back to Istanbul.  I love this city, too.  

Again, my daughter had booked two different homes for us to stay in the area of Balat/Fener.  This area is off the Golden Horn and is the old Greek and Jewish part of the city.  Of course, now the demographics have changed.


At first look, the neighborhood can look a little rough in parts but it was quite charming and we felt safe too.  They were putting in new streets with beautiful pavers.
  

The home we stayed in was actually five floors; the bottom floor being a separate studio apartment.  It had been completed renovated to a classic style with beautiful period furnishings.

One of the unique features was this stunning, original wooden ceiling.

And, the stairwell continued to wind up each floor. Our Greek friend, Dmitra, joined us in Istanbul and told us about the Greek community of Turkey from the turn of the century who would have lived in these kind of homes.  They were well off merchants and other successful traders.  After World War I, many of them returned to Greece where they were thought of as a kind of aristocracy among the other Greeks.  Many  more left in the 1970's over the issues with Cyprus.  

The neighborhood is transitioning and becoming a very artsy area.  There were some lovely little cafes a few steps away where they served their style of "Turkish breakfast".

From the top floor balcony, we had a great view of Phanar Greek Othodox College.  It was built by an Ottoman Greek architect beginning in 1881.  The red tower is a well known landmark.

Also nearby, is the  Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople where the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I resides.  

It was an enjoyable time to be with the family.  However, it's always good to return home and get back to my routine.  Lilly was patiently waiting at the door for us when we arrived Tuesday night.

I hope you are enjoying your summer.  It's been unusually hot and humid here for this week but our normal, dry, hot weather is expected to return on Monday.

My best wishes to you,

Pat

Autumn Watercolor Gift Tags

Hello my dear friends. Thank you to everyone who read my last  post and for your comments.  I didn't link to any parties last week since I didn't think it would be appropriate.  But, I'm back this week to share with you a fun little project I've been working on.

I don't know what gave me the idea, but I painted some little gift tags.  There were some little bits of watercolor paper at my art table and I started drawing and this is what I came up with...

I also had some longer pieces of paper that I thought would make good bookmarks ...

I tried to keep to a autumn theme but got carried away thinking about winter ...

This is a fun and easy project you could do with your children or grandchildren.  Any thick type paper will work and although I used watercolor pencils, you could use colored pencils or markers.  I bought some twine from my local TJ Maxx to make the tags look a bit posh...

They are great to add to a wine bottle, baked goods or a special gift ...

 To recap, here's what you will need:

1.  Thick paper (watercolor or art type paper)

2.  Watercolor pencils (or colored pencils or markers)

3.  Scissors to cut out shapes

4.  Colored twine for hanging*

5.  Artist brush and water (if using watercolor pencils)

 *I didn't have a small paper hole punch so instead I made a hole in the top of each tag with a large darning needle and used a small crochet hook to thread the string through the hole...

My little grandson loves to draw and create things.  Last year at this time we made some colored ornaments to give to his teachers.  A handmade gift tag could add to the charm.

I'm linking up this week with Amy over at  Five on Friday. I am so fond of this wonderful group of friends I have met via this party.  If you have a chance, pop over and meet some wonderful bloggers.

Have a great weekend,

Pat

And, as always, Lilly thanks you for all the hugs you send her.  She's trying to give you a wink in this picture ...

 

 Also linking to the following parties:

1.  Oh My Heartsie Girl ...

2.  Momma Told Me ...

3.  What to do Weekends ... 

Five on Friday"ness"

We received some glorious rain this past weekend.  It was so nice to sit outside under the clouds and enjoy the weather.  But, it has been a bit humid as a result (which is not normal for us here on the west coast).  Anyway, my garden looks refreshed but we are still in need of more much needed  moisture for our parched area.

Today I'm linking up with Amy at Love Made my Home for Five on Friday.   So, here is my take on this week's Five on Friday.  And, I'm also linking to:
Handmade Monday.... 
Yarn Fanatic Party......
Yarn Along...... 

*Please take a moment to stop by the above links to meet some new people and see some great craft ideas.

Creativeness:
Awhile back I purchased one skein of Katia Jaipur mercerized cotton yarn.  I've made a couple of items, including this doily.  I like this thread as it has a little sheene to it but I had to cut the thread after doing the center medallion so that the green would start at the correct area.  It's kind of a no brain crochet project.  I'm about to start knitting a sweater for myself but I don't like having to do the measurements, swatch for gauge, etc....

If you like like the pattern, you can find it here. 

Sadness:
I follow quite a few blogs and I so enjoy reading them and learning new things.  Last year, while I was in Turkey, I was looking for a blanket pattern.   From my searching online, I discovered  A Creative Being hosted by Wink.  I always looked forward to her blog updates as they featured such beautiful patterns that she created. This past May, I almost joined in with a CAL she was hosting for a shawl.   It was with a sad heart that I heard about her demise due to depression.  I was in Turkey when I read this news, just a year since I had first discovered this very talented artist.

As a result, her Fat Bottom Bag inspired me to remake this bag I had created last year.  I know the colors are not as muted but Wink was such a talented fiber arts artist. This bag has been in my Etsy store but there were not takers.  I think I will relist it now.   May her memory be eternal.

Prettiness:
My succulent garden is doing quite well with the drought conditions we are experiencing.  Here's a picture of one of them blooming.

 

(I had to take this photo again since the first one was not clear due to the humidity in the air)

I've always heard stories about the desert blooming.  I would love to see this one day.  Our deserts here in southern California really got a drenching this past weekend.  Luckily, no one was hurt in the flash floods that occurred about 100 miles east of my area.

Contentness:
I think this picture says it all....Lilly is always content as long as she's been fed! 

 

 She loves to sit in the outdoor sitting area....

Artfulness:

You probably will think I'm a bit crazy, but I ordered a book written by my favorite TV personality, Venetia Stanley Smith.  She's a British woman* who immigrated to Japan 40 years ago and has adopted Japan as her country.  She's a very talented gardener and herbalist as well as being an accomplished artist.  This book is in Japanese (which I can't read of course) but the illustrations are all done by Venetia.  

Above are two of my watercolors taken from her drawings....

*Venetia's great great uncle was Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905. She spent her early childhood years at the family's ancestral home,  Kedleston Hall.

I hope you have enjoyed this little glimpse into my week.  Life is good here at Lilly my Cat.  I really have no complaints and I'm so blessed to have met such wonderful friends via this blog.  Until next time, have a wonderful weekend and my best to you.

take care,

Pat 

 

Edith Holden and April Watercolor

Hi my dear friends. I hope everyone is having a great start to spring and if you took a spring break, I hope you are home safe and sound.  It's a joy to be sitting at my computer today since the last two days have been spent emptying and cleaning the pool.  Not a fun job!

I'm always a little late (like quite a few years) with what is new.  Through some wonderful blogs that I read, I discovered Edith Holden and her books; The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady and The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady.

As you may know, Edith's book shown above was written back in 1906.  I remember seeing this book in the book shop at Coughton Court when I visited in 2013.  Too bad I wasn't familiar with what I was looking at.  The inside front page reads:  "Gowan Bank, Olton, Warwickshire, Nature Notes for 1906".  The entire book is a facsimile of the original written in Edith's beautiful handwriting.  I purchased my copy of this book via an online bookstore for less than $5.00.  It's a hardback edition, printed in 1977 in Italy.

After I received the first book, I had to get Edith's second book; The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady.  Again, I ordered this book online and it's a paperback edition printed and bound in The Netherlands. 

On April 22, 1906, Edith writes:
"Went to Bickleigh Vale, - a deep, narrow combe, running down out of the moor, with steep, wooded slopes on either side, and deep down at the bottom the river Plym winding it's way.  The ground was carpeted with Anemones and Blue-bells and here and there Primroses, and the tall, handsome plants of the Wood Spurge were conspicuous with their red stalks and pale green flowers.  It was the first name I had ever seen this plant......."

Above is my watercolor of Edith's Wood Spurge

Edith was a British artist/naturalist.  She was born in 1871 in Birmingham, England.  She taught school for a few years before marrying a sculptor in 1911.  She drowned in the River Thames in 1920 while trying to collect chestnut buds  from a tree on the riverbank. 

Her book, Nature Notes for 1906 was posthumously published in 1977 under the title of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.  Edith originally wrote this book to encourage her pupils in nature.  Many marketing items followed featuring Edith's art work.  Edith's great-niece, Rowena Stott, found Edith's diary in the family home in the mid 1970's.  She took it to a publisher who published this book which fast become a best seller.  For  me, this is such an amazing story to think about; Edith's notebook sat untouched for over 60 years until a member of her family discovered it in the family home. 

Edith was born during the Victorian age.  I am very taken with this era.  Beatrix Potter is a favorite of mine and Edith Holden is from the same era.  Both of these women were very ahead of their time living in such a structured Victorian society. 

As to why I was so late in discovering Edith Holden; Back in 1977 I was living in a small farming town in Eastern Washington.  I grew up in a small town so it wasn't anything different for me.  We had a small library that I visited frequently but otherwise, we were a bit secluded in what was going on. Our little town newspaper didn't have much news albeit potato prices, wheat prices, and local goings on.  Looking back, I have such fond memories of living 22 years in this little place.  It will always hold a dear place in my heart.

I hope I have not bored you with today's post.  It's exciting to discover something new that brings me such joy.

My best to each of you,

Pat

Linking up to the following parties:
The Art of Home Making Mondays...... 
Wordless Wednesday... 
Do Tell Tuesday..... 
Ivy and Elephants,,, 
Share Your Cup Thursday..... 
 Happy Friday...

New Hobby - Watercolour Greeting Cards

I have missed writing this past week and I have missed hearing from everyone, too.  It's been a busy week here at Lilly My Cat.  My little grandson spent the better part of the week at our home and I've forgotten how much energy it takes to have a child!  I guess I'm getting old. Our day started at 6:30AM and this is how it went:

1.  Eat breakfast
2.  Get dressed for school
3.  Drive him to school (15 minute drive)
4.  Take him to the school inside and sign him in (back in my day, the child was left at the curb and walked in by himself)
5.  Drive home (15 minute drive)
6.  Pick him back up at school (go inside the school and sign him out - this part I totally agree with given today's problems)
7.  Come home and fix lunch
8.  Nap time?  I don't think so.....
9.  Have fun doing all the things that you can do at Grandma and Grandpa's
10.Eat dinner
11.Go to Sleep (storytime first)

I finally have gotten the routine after these four days.  I was the oldest person at the school drop off.  There were some young Moms with more than one child to look after!   I've come to the conclusion that when you are 60 years old, you run out of energy.  But, in all respect, it was so much fun to have my little grandson stay with us and he was so well behaved.  I look forward to many more visits with him at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

I last wrote about my discovery of watercolor pencils.  I've had so much fun experimenting with them.  This past week my daughter gave me some beautiful card stock and little sticky corners so I could make some one of a kind cards with my watercolor pictures.  I will share with you some of them:

Can you see the little black corners?  Years ago this is what they used in photo albums.  Now they come like stickers and they are so easy to apply.

I think this little watercolor is my favorite....

I like the way the colors dried on the card on the left..

And the wintery snowdrop card.

 

My little grandson and I did a craft project coloring glass ornaments.  He gave them to his teachers at school.  I had fun painting little gift tags for the packages...

So, as you can see, I've had a busy but fun filled week.  My needle arts are not getting all the attention but I'm still working on my Coast Ripple Blanket.

I hope wherever you are that you are well and safe.  Please say "hello" in the comment section if you have time.  I'd love to hear from you.

Blessings,

Pat

P.S.  Oops, almost forgot, please visit my friends over at Handmade Harbour.

DISCOVERING WATERCOLOR PENCILS

A couple of weeks ago I went to my local Walmart store (not my favorite store and I seldom go). I can't recall why I went there in the first place :( but while looking through the aisles, I came across a little tin box of watercolor pencils.  It was marked down to $3.00 so I thought, why not give this a try.

I have dabbled in art since I was 12 years old.  When I moved to California four years ago, I threw away lots of my old art supplies including my original oil paints that I had had since I was 12 years old!  (I'm sure they were dried up but there was some sentimental value).  After I was married and busy raising my children, I kind of gave up my painting.  But, after all these years this changed after my purchase of the watercolor pencils.

There they are in the back of the picture.  I bought five more (in the middle of the picture from my local Hobby Lobby store and then I purchased the set on the left online.  I'm now finding that there IS a difference in the quality of the pencils.  But, more on that another time.

Do you see the beautiful fish watercolor book?  This design is from a Turkish template and I ordered this book online through my favorite discount book dealer.  The other two books are over 40 years old!

I also bought this little tutorial book that is really quite fun and simple.

Experimenting with my colors.....Can you see the outlining?  I used a super fine waterproof marker.  I'm a big fan of Venetia in Kyoto and when she paints, she incorporates fine lining the image.

Winter snowdrops....how I long to see a beautiful, snowy landscape.

Thinking about wintertime, here's a poinsetta that I was practicing with.

Amaryllis...I think this is my favorite so far.

Awhile back I bought two of these greeting card kits from TJ MAXX for like $1.00 each.  I am going to use one as a backing for my lilly of the valley painting.  I'm going to give it as a birthday card to a dear friend who loves lillies of the valley.

So, here's a little insight into what I have been working on this week.  I think I have a long way to go to get my artistic skills up to par.  But, I will keep on trying.  I would love to hear from you if you have to time.  Have a great week!

with my best,
Pat

P.S.  My Coast crochet blanket is coming along - I'm half way done!

Oops....almost forgot, please stop by Handmade Harbour and see what other crafters have created.