Summer Memories....

It was about time to realize that Summer ended and Autumn is here...a hot one so far, but still Autumn. I love every new season, but most of all I love Summer..what can I say I am from an island...

I am still looking the photos from our vacation on Crete and a sweet melancholy captures me. But at the same time I smile, since it is a great feeling to have such a wonderful memories. 

Be happy for the moments we have lived and enjoy the moments that will come....

         mats mouts

Inspired by the Aegean: ATELIER LIVING DREAMS

The Greek blue sea, with its magical sun-kissed islands, is an endless source of inspiration to many artists... And I love seeing my beloved Aegean Sea and the Islands through their eyes and their inspiration.
Today I have the pleasure to make you meet one of them... Sabine lives on the beautiful island of Crete. Her work and inspiration could well fall into two other categories and belong into my other two columns, 'Experimental Jewelry' and 'She Traveled...'... Born and raised in Germany, Sabine has found her true home and endless source of inspiration in the wonderful island of Crete. She considers the island of Crete as "the home of my soul", and this "place full of history, amazing landscapes, passionate people, light, color, smells of wild herbs and this certain incredible wind, which is whispering ancient tales within the leaves of weather-twisted olive trees" is the endless source of inspiration for her art. Her shop Atelier Living Dreams is a tribute to all the things she loves, and to her dream come true. Make sure you also visit Sabine's beautiful website.

Sabine says "My world is creativity, colors, shapes, balance and harmony. After kind of an odyssea finding where you really belong, after years of study and travel, I am living my dream, and also my aim and purpose, doing art and design at my atelier, here on my beloved island, my place of home.

As one will surely see and feel, my works are inspired by this certain spirit of life, at the same time simple but although quite oriental, underlined by the bright colors of the sky with its amazing light, the deep blue shades of the ocean, and the rough and bizarre impressions of the Cretan landscape. My jewelry, artwork and fashion designs are a multicultural symbiosis, a statement and an ode to the beauty of culture, variety and difference".

Sabine is often inspired by the ancient symbol of the "Evil Eye" (or Lucky Eye), common to many oriental and Middle-Eastern cultures, as well as to the Greek culture. To the traditional protective symbol of the evil eye talisman, Sabine adds her own very personal interpretation: "I add the fact that when I was little, I refused painting the sun just as a yellow corner or ball, and against all odds, I used to paint it as a bundle of multicolor rays. During the years I learned about various cultures, folklore and the sacred geometry. All these facts together lead me to the creation of the 'Eye of Panthea'."

Her 'Oro di Mare' collection, created with natural elements she gathers from the sea, and mainly beautiful sea-shaped driftwood, "expresses the feeling that the rough and nature-shaped surface and the preciousness of gold and silver go very well together, as at a certain point they meet at the same origin. Nature and life are precious through themselves. Sometimes rough but shaping and refining, and then shining as silver or gold. Each piece of jewely is shaped by its travels through the nature, leaf-gilded or –silvered, and decorated with noble materials to line out its uniquity. Wearing nature's refinement and preciousness, is the philosophy in each unique piece of my 'Oro di Mare' artwork jewelry".

- Sabine's booth at a craft exhibition on Crete -

My beloved town... Agios Nikolaos!!!!

Hello my friends!

At last I have in my hands (or should I say in my pc…) the pictures I took from my home town almost a month ago, when I was on family Easter’s vacation. We were lucky since during that week in my beloved island the weather was almost like Summer, really sunny and really hot!

My home town is not a big one, actually it can be considered as a small one, but it is really beautiful with amazing beaches, unique corners and natural beauty that will definitely be loved. Even though Crete is a big island,  when you are in Agios Nikolaos you can truly realize that you are in an island… every step drives you to the sea and the blue color is all around. Sky ends where sea starts. 

One thing that I love in my place is that you can also visit other adorable places near the main town, like Elounda or Plaka. And even though these two villages are really close to Agios Nikolas, they look very different. In Elounda the sea is not deep, you can enjoy the  fresh air full of the smells from the sea and have a drink just next to the beach. 

On the other hand Plaka is a short trip to the past. Beautiful houses from stone with Cretan architecture and Spinalonga island just a mile away. If you close your eyes you can “hear” the voices of the people that leaved there….

I love my town, I love the people, my friends are still there. People are simple, with great hospitality and a great sense of humor. Have a cup of coffee with them or a raki and you will definitely feel that you knew them since ever.

When the day ends... the colors are simple amazing! I love to sit and admire them, while I am dreaming and this is exactly the perfect way to think what this day brought and leave behind the problems. A beautiful night is coming and soon a new day. 

One of the jokes here in Greece is about Cretans and how much they love their island… I adore it, not just love it. I know that when I am there I laugh, I enjoy life, I meet good friends, I smile without being anxious and I relax by the sea. I live well… Ef Zin :)

mats mouts

Monday MoodBoard - My Favorite Greece

1. alekaki 2. pergamondo 3. tenderblue  4. polixeni19

My mood today? in blue and white! Today here in Greece we have a national holiday and we celebrate it with parades. The most usual colors in the students' appearance is blue and white, like the sea, the sky and the wind of Greece. 

I live in a beautiful country, with amazing people and great weather! I love having trips all over Greece and especially on Summer. In great islands with gold beaches or in amazing mountains with unique sprouting! I love every single place of my country.

 Agios Nikolaos Crete

 Elounda Crete

 Aigina

 Antipaxi

Santorini

A few of my favorites places and of course my beloved Crete the place I was born. I feel myself lucky to live in such a beauty :)

If you want to check more moodboards, please click on Estella's blog! 

Have a great week!