Easter Shopping Party

Helloooo!!!!!!
tomorrow @ six d.o.g.s. a day & night cultural entertainment center at the heart of Athens (Monastiraki) my fellows in crafts & I participate in the Easter shopping party!!!!

As you may have seen in the previous post, apart of my jewelry I 'll have also my Easter candles!!!



But apart of my things you will have the opportunity to meet some of the most and hip designers & crafters of Athens!!! For example my friend Di Depux will be there and her famous Kawaii Characters jewelry!!!

Also you will have the chance to know Marilia_M (with whom I always share my space in MEC)



Marilia_M

Eleni Tsap with "Just for You" will be there as always!!!! sharing with Art By Artemis, also a classmate of mine from my school days will share her Easter & felt creations with you for the first time, as Mauve & Frnds!!!!!

{flu:k} by Smaro Botsa



In the Easter Shopping Party will join us two ladies  from the WhiteBox  , the only collective of independent designers & artists in Athens, the illustrious Smaro Botsa with the inspiring {flu:k} jewelery line

Anna Economou

& also Anna Economou the legendary greek pin-up girl with her amazing handmade bags!!!! 
The place will be visited by the fairy of perfumes & soaps Myrenia!!!!
If any of you have never the chance to buy one of Myrenia's products please this is your chance!!!! I bought an air freshener for the house on Christmas and it still give us rich scent it gave us the first day!!!!

Myrenia

In addition a well known person from the blog world & as well as a photographer, Irini Michopoulou will give us an opportunity to know a new aspect of her creativity!!! know her also through her blog:

irinimichopouloucrafts.blogspot.com

A father & daughter collaboration the Pal Crafts with handcrafted  vitro objects & other unique creations will be @ the six d.o.g.s. this weekend

Pal Crafts

From the island of Crete, Fisalida comes to Athens to  present her new collection of dolls inspired by the movies of mr Tim Burton

Di Depux's friend Olgitta it's ok for the first time creates unique & special T-shirts &

Last but definitely not least  my friend Marina Aggelopoulou will spread some spring air with her butterflies line of jewelry!!!!!

On top of all these you will have the chance to have a coffee/drink/snack in the most beautiful and secret garden of Athens and if you come on Saturday night you can also go in the event  Loefah presents: Swamp 81 Night at the live gig space of six d.o.g.s!!!!

six d.o.g.s. Garden

Sooooo what do you think??? will you come over to meet us??? will you come party & shopping with us @ the Easter Shopping Party???

kisses

&

wishes

mdq

Easter is coming to town!!!!

GoodMorning people of this world!!!!!!
I have been disapeared for a while but there was a good reason to.....
I was preparing Easter Candles!!!!!
Here in Greece the Easter Candles or Lambades as they are called in Greek, are part of our tradition. In Greece every child has godparents, and the Easter Candle is one of the customary Easter gifts that godparents give to their godchildren (along with a chocolate Easter egg and sometimes shoes). These candles are decorated with various ornaments in relation to whether it will be given to a boy or girl and their age!!! On the day of Holly Saturday we take these candles to the church to the midnight service in which all the lights within the church are extinguished, until the priest comes out at midnight to announce to the world that Christ has risen. Then from the single flame of the priest candle, we all light our candles with the holly flame (as we call it) and we transfer it with our candles to our houses.

Although the Easter Candles with decorations are supposed to be given only to young children, and the rest to take to the church just a white candle, today it is usual for grown ups to hold a decorated candle but a little thinner than the ones tha the children have!!!!



When I was young my godmother lived in Thesaloniki, a city far away from Athens, and she never gave me an Easter Candle (or the other gifts that godparents send to their godchildren).... This was alays my huge complaint of her...but my mother always took care of the issue...as she didn't want me to feel bad she made a tradition of our own.... we went out and we chose ornaments and ribbons and we decorated on our own our Easter Candles!!!! Maybe this is the reason that I love so much each year making them!!!





Each and every candle of them has its own story, and it is made with all my love!!!
So what do you think of this Greek custom?

and what do you think of the Easter Candles that I made for you this year ???

Kisses 

& 

Wishes

mdq 

Earth Hour 2011

Hello people whereever you are!!!!!

Please if you read this post, do not forget that today is the Eart Hour 2011 and in which ever place of the world you are and what ever you do at 8.30 do switch off all your lights !!!!!!
I was reading some twitter posts and I saw that in Sydney Australia the Earth Hour finished juat 2 minutes ago!!!!

Watch this superb video in you tube (and do not forget to switch the power there too...in the up left of the screen )
If you have a twitter acount there is this fantastic app that at 8.30 your local time switches off the lights in your twitter profile picture : http://www.eh2011.com/.
You can read more informations about this global event at http://www.earthhour.org
Greece has already joined the Earth Hour event and at 8.30  all the classic historical monuments like the Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion will switch off their lights for one hour to demonstrate commitment to energy responsibility. Candle-carrying crowds are expected to gather and watch as the monuments go dark.

So what do you think??? will you be one of the billions of people who will help the world to make a change??? will you be part of the largest voluntary action ever witnessed??? I certenly will!!!!!

Dark kisses

&

earthy wishes

mdq

Respect & Awe for Japan

Hello people of this world wherever you are!!!!!
As everyone knows ten days ago one of the most terrible natural disasters stroke Japan......
Although I live in Greece, a place so far away from Japan, I bet I have the same feeling with the most of you, that this disaster is like next to us.....
Having survived a major earthquake (for Greece at least) 11 years ago, I can assure you that there is nothing more scary than to feel the earth move under your feet.....now I think that the tsunami and the feeling of a huge wave come after you may be 100 times more scary.....
I don't want even to imagine how it is to lose everything.... it is beyond my mind what these people have been (and are still ) through.....

However, in various disasters all over the world through the years that I remember myslef watching the news, I do not think that I have seen another country and its people to react with such dignity in the aftermath of the disaster.....

These people although they had lost members of their family, their homes, their way of living, they were so modest, without yelling, crying, without accusing their goverment, their God, or whoever else...
Since I remember myself, when I first heard a Japanese tale my mother used to tell me, when I touched my first hello Kitty , when I  watched like crazy Japanese cartoons on TV, I loved this country!!! I still love everything about it, their culture, their design, their architecture, but now I also admire and have huge respect and awe for  them !!!!! And it's not only me look here http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/how-musicians-are-raising-money-for-japan-relief-20110322 what the music industry plans in order to help the Japanese people!!!! 
Let's hope that the tragedy will stop here, and there will be no further disaster with the nuclear plants.....
One of my dreams is to be able someday to travel to Japan. I don't know  when I ll be able to go but I know for sure that definetely I will!!!!!!

Kisses
&
wishes for a better tomorrow for Japan
mdq

litltle silly things...

well today is saturday and I am trying hard to be on work mode.....but it's hard...the weather here in Athens is super sunny, and I feel miserable that I have to stay here to make some Easter candles instead of going out....

so I am sitting in front of my laptop and trying to relax before I start to work...

so I am going to  my twitter page to see what has happened to the people I follow...not very much but I just realised that he next Glee episode is on April........:(

Also if you any of you have a twitter account, don't forget to follow me & then I follow you back so we can learn each other's news on a daily basis!!!

My twitter name is marinadqueen

then a quick view at  my facebook news feed is also intersting....

and then... I found this very funny site that lets you type upside down texts....

ןɯʇɥ˙sɹǝʇʇǝןuʍopǝpısdn/ʎɐןd/ɯoɔ˙sǝɹıʍuǝʌǝs˙ʍʍʍ//:dʇʇɥ  

and this led me to this other site that tell you how to turn your computer screen upside down (and I can't wait till to mess with my friend George's screen....) go there and you ll see how (and I tried & it works)

http://www.sevenwires.com/play/UpsideDownScreen.html

 

so now it's time for some work to be done....as you can see in this photo...this is how this weekend is going to be....wrapping ribbons around candles (but when I ll be done I ll share with you some beautiful photos)

I hope your Saturday to be much mote intersting than mine

Kisses

&

Wishes

mdq

A Meet Market weekend

I know it has been a long time since my last post......this is only because I was working like crazy in order to prepare some of my wholesale orders and also to be ready for this month's Meet Market!!!!

The  Meet Market is a mobile community of designers, craftsmen, artists, collectors and independent businesses, who gather once a month  in various venues, exhibiting and selling along with a full line-up of music from local djs and music producers!!!! For the last almost 4 years I am a part of this cultural collective of creatives, as it is the most successfull craft/show/market/fair of Greece!!!

This weekend it was held at Technopolis which is a former gas factory in the heart of Athens!!! My stall is always in the entrance of  The Furnaces building, which is maybe Technopolis' most distinctive space that retains the atmosphere and the feeling of the old factory.

 

Drama Queen @ The Meet Market

I love the Meet Market weekends for several reasons

because I have the chance to meet with my friends who also make things

because I have the chance to meet with my other friends who pass by to meet me

because I have the chance to meet with my customers (actually it is the only chance that I get to know who are the people that buy my things and actually I love it!!!)



Drama Queen @ Meet Market

because it is the most nearby experience to a camp experience (which I love and I wish I was a child again just to spend a summer in a camp).

Christy

Especially this weekend my niece Christy came from Patra where she lives and was my helper, also as the weather was sunny many frineds passed by to say hello and spend some time with me, and even if the sales were not as high as those on Christmas (we live in the economical crisis era so we can not complain) the fun really hit a limit up!!!!!!!!

In general I love being part of the Meet Market, and although that I am very tired when it is over (like now) I am a little sad waiting for the next one......

                                              kisses

&

wishes

mdq

Happy 1st day of spring!!!

Good morning!!!!

this is the first day of spring!!!!

I thought to share with you this song that really makes me to get up & dance!!!!

Singing wishes

&

Dancing Kisses

mdq

Oscar Appearances & more...

well....I imagine that all of you out there that you love the movies, you have already learned  the winners of last nights Academy Awards.....I think that the 2011 Oscars were given without any surprise everybody knew in advance the winners and unfortunately there was not something for discussion the days after....

Except the dresses....to tell you the truth it was my surprise  that most of the last night' s appearances were just ok...there was not someone dressed in such a way to amaze me, although there were some ladies that somehow managed to make a negative impression.....

for example Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow... the first one wore a Christian Dior dress but to tell you the truth it looks like an origami project (and probably a bad one) and the second one with the Calvin Klein dress could definitely understudy the disco ball of Studio 54.... sorry ladies but I think that your last night dress choices were just out...... 

Now look at this gown that Marisa Tomei wore....Really??? Tim Gunn would have suffered several strokes if someone of his Project Runway kids would show something like this.... this dress makes her look like she just had 3 bottles of beer and 2 whole pizzas......  

Ok for this orange hurricane that Jennifer Hudson wears there are not enough words....even though she has lost weight and she is really lovely and beutiful this gown is like an ad for orange juice.......

Now for this appearance I am a little confused....

maybe because I love Cate Blanchett and I really don't like to say something bad...but this dress...it is like an armor...and the yellow lace on the shoulders.... not her best moment........

ok Mrs Sharon Stone has made the right choice for the dress but not the right choice for her styling....I love the dress but her hair is like Frankenstein's bride....otherwise she would be one of the best.... 

there are not much to say with the Oscar winner Natalie Portman...she is just lovely!!!!

and also she is the proof that everywoman, no matter how her body is, can be georgeous if she is dressed properly and if she is well styled!!!!!!

Another good example of good styling: the young and sweet Hailee Steinfeld is well- dressed according to her age without trying to be a woman who goes to Oscars....she is a young fresh girl and that's it!!!! 

Simply chic!!!! Again appropriate for her age Miss Jennifer Lawrence is completely different from her role in the Winter' s Bones and also really astonishing!!!!

The right classic black dress can make a woman look like a star!!!!although Maria Menounos was not one of the stars of last night she shaded most of them with her glow and her greek elegance!!!! 

For me, maybe the most beautiful female appearance in the Oscars

Last but not least, and definetely out of every comment because she is a category on her own is the fabulus Helena Bonham Carter!!!!

Last night she wore a dress made from the "Alice in Wonderland" costume designer Colleen Atwood!!!! She is the woman who does not need a special dress to stand out but the one who makes a dress unique and one of a kind!!!! Respect!!!!!

So that was it for this year!!!!!!

next year again.......I hope for better appearances and certainly for even better movies!!!!!

many kisses

&

georgeous wishes

mdq 

Oscar predictions & whisfull thinking

Hello people from a place so far away from where the Oscars will be given today.....
we are alsmost 3 hours away from the moment the Oscar ceremony begins, and I am really anxious to see who & what will receive the much desired award.....
. So if it was up to me the Oscar for best actor would be given without any doubt to Colin Firth
Even though I really liked very much the other three performances from Jeff Bridges, James Franco & Jesse Eisenberg ( I didn't see Biutiful) the way Colin Firth acted is moving without beeing melodramatic, unforgettable and definetely worth awarded.
In the best actress category the truth is that I do not have someone distinguish and to worth my Oscar vote...it's one of the few times that I feel like this. I haven't seen Michelle Williams' Blue Valentine but really I don not think that I will be amazed....so if someone has to get it I would give it to Jennifer Lawrence just because at this young age managed to act in such a depressing movie....
Again in the supporting actor category I have big problem to choose....EVERYBODY was very good!!!
I would choose Geoffrey Rush because he was also amazing in The King's Speech but he has also an Oscar so maybe I would give it to Christian Bale, but I would like also to award Mark Ruffalo because he was so different from the roles we have seen him to act so far
One more time I wish that there were more Oscars to give in the supporting actress category....as there is only one award I would give it to Helena Bonham Carter and Iwant to note that Hailee Steinfeld should have been nominated in the best actress category(where Idefinetely would give her the award)

In the director category I would like for David Fincher to win for The Social Network His directing gave the movie rythm and made it easy for the audience to understand the facts without being tiring
For adapting screenplay again I would choose The Social Network with a second choice of the 127 Hours
The original screenplay Oscar definetely I would give it to Inception (and really I did not get the reason why this movie was nominated for so few Oscars), my second choice here would be The Fighter
Finally the best movie Academy Award I hope to go either to The King's Speech or to Inception  or The Social Network

Last BUT DEFINETELY not least....I hope/wish/want/pray as I have mentioned in a previous post for Dogtooth to bring an Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film
In a few hours some people will go very happy back to their homes and some people will go less happy, as I think that just an Oscar nomination, is not only great recognition for what you do but great honor too.
Till tomorrow

Many kisses

&

Oscar wishes

mdq

On the road to Oscars

Tomorrow for someone who loves the movies (like myself) is a huge day as it is the Oscars ceremony!!!!
Eventhough I plan tomorrow to make my own predictions (or wishfull thoughts) about who should win the award I thought that it would be fun today to share with you some Oscar fun facts....so....
As you already know Greece  after 15 years with "Dogtooth" has a foreighn language movie nomination, but the country with the most foreighn language movie nominations is France (34) while the country with the most foreign language movie awards is Italy (10)

One of my favorite actresses is Katharine Hepburn, who is the only actress who has won four best actress awards.

On the other hand the sound mixer Kevin O' Connel has been nominated 18 times and yet has won 0....

Last year Kathryn Bigelow was only the fourth woman to ever receive a nomination for best director(it is a man's world...even in the movies) and fortunatelly won it for the movie "The Hurt Locker", which is the movie that was nominated for nine Oscars and managed to win the 6!!!! a considerable number if you think that so far is the movie with the lowest budget that has ever made such an Oscar success!!!

Another actress that I absolutely love,adore, respect, ....is Meryl Streep who is the actress with the most nominations: 16 in total, 13 for best actress and 3 for best actress in a supporting role. So far she has won 2 awards 
Woody Allen is the one who has the most nominations for Best Screenplay (and not as an actor...ironic???)

This year "True Grit" has the youngest and oldest acting nominees : Hailee Steinfeld turned 15 last month, and Jeff Bridges is 62. In case they win (I don't think so though they were really good) they will have only 45 seconds infront of the 3300 seats of the Kodak Theatre, to thank their families, agents, co-actors, etc etc etc. However if Jeff Bridges win this year will be the only actor who have won a best actor academy award for a role that has been already awarded: in the original version of "True Grit" of 1969 John Wayne won the Oscar for playing Rooster Cogburn
soooo what do you think???? do you think that something this year will happen that will be discussed through the years???
if you want to know more about this year's ceremony go to:
http://oscar.go.com/

dramatic kisses

&

oscar wishes

mdq