My Weekend Outfit

 

Fluffy Orange and Lime Bag, Hand Knitted Chenille Pink Bag, Soft Bag, Leather Strap, Kiss-lock, Stripes by StarBags

Linen Layering Dress Mori Girl, Bolero Vintage Embroidery Linen Dark Grey size 8 EU size 38 by StarsWear

Suede leather Mary Jane shoes, Gray Mary Jane barefoot shoes woman, flat summer shoes, Handmade shoes, suede leather dress shoes with buckle by TeSHoes

Chunky Rainbow Scarf, Crescent wrap Scarf, Knitted Textured Chunky Scarf, Stripe Textures, Rayon, Wool, Rainbow Colors by StarsWear

Newly Listed: Tutti Frutti Bag

Tutti Frutti Bag, Happy Sunny Bag, Sunny Sky, Crocheted Fruits, Knitted Basket Bag, Pastel Blue, Pink, Yellow and Pink Bag by StarBags

Other images via Pinterest.

My Welcome Summer Outfit

Cascade Skirt Cascading High and Low skirt Preloved Patchwork Quilt fabric Clothing size small by StarsWear

Floral Bird Bag Vintage Embroidery, Butterfly, Flowers, Bird, Linen, Kiss-lock by StarBags

Vintage Tin Necklace, Statement Necklace Leaves and Flowers Shabby Chic by StaroftheEast

Vintage Handmade Embroidered Shirt, Handwoven Cotton Fabric Sleeveless Summer Shirt Vintage Floral 1970s Turkish Clothing by StarsWear

My Boho Outfit

Revamped Vintage Plaided Jacket Embellished with Crochet Flowers and Beads size small by StarsWear

Cluster Stone Earrings, Sterling Silver Garnet, Peridot, Amethyst, Citrine, Ruby and Quartz Stone, Romantic Jewelry by StaroftheEast

Bohemian Floral Bag, Green and Pink Traditional Folklore Bag with Needle Lace by StarBags

Newly Listed: Knitted Textured Scarf

Knitted Textured Scarf, Stripe Textures Cowl, Wool and Acrylic, Teal, Gray, Burgundy by StarsWear
Rustic Industrial Wall Art Decor, Teal Pittsburgh Engraving Print, Canvas Art by LisaRussoFineArt
Undertow . giclee art print by ClareElsaesser
New Orleans Print, Fine Art Photography, Travel Photo, French Quarter, Architecture, Wall Art by briole

Newly Listed: Knitted Wing Cowl

Knitted Wing Cowl, Feathers Flame Cowl, Scarf Reds and Pinks Scales Wrap, Flower Leaves, Vegan Cowl by StarsWear
Hummingbird Photography, red and blue hummingbird on branch, summer, hummingbird wall art, home decor by LynnLangmade
Cardinals on Tree Branches Photo, Red Birds in Gray Cloudy Sky Photography, Birds in Tree Branches Nature by MicheleBlanche
Red Berries Bittersweet, Red Brown Blue, Simple Style Nature Photography, Earthy Woodlands, Fine Art Print by DebbraObertanecArt

Newly Listed: Ombre Kelp Scarf

Ombre Kelp Scarf Purple Green Ombre Hand Knitted Luxurious Accessory by StarsWear
Botanical Wall Art Print Tree Seed Pods Mauve Nature Photography by LupenGrainne
Nature Photography, leaf with autumn rain, wall decor, raindrops by LynnLangmade
Wall Art Nature Floral Print Photography Fine Print anemone, Home Decor by DanielDanilovArt

Newly Listed: Bird Bag

Woodland Bird Bag - Golden Oriole, Vintage Embroidery, Blue Green Colors, Patchwork and Leather Bag by StarBags
Completely coincidental: the bag we've made has the exact kind of bird as my new friend (hope she's doing alright). The embroidery is vintage, funny how things fall in place sometimes.

Newly Listed: Knitted Felted Wool Bag

Knitted Felted Wool Bag Ombre Rainbow Checked Felt Purse by StarBags
Prickly Pear Cactus, Cactus Garden, Cacti, Southwest Photography, Plants by ThePhotoImpression
Flower Photography - Blue and purple orchids, fine art photograph by WindRushImages
Original Abstract Painting Autumn Landscape Fall Colors Brown Red Blue by NatureAndArt

Newly Listed: Red Chrysanthemums Bag

Red Chrysanthemums Bag, Crocheted Chenille Puffy Happy Sunny Bag by StarBags
Flower Photography, Red Chrysanthemum, Fine Art Print, Red Flower, Floral Photography by CreamDaisy
Flying Bird, Cardinal, Bird Photography, Red, Nature Photography, Wings by SmallMysteries
Rustic Red Decor, Red Barn Print or Canvas Art, Rustic Red Barn, Farmhouse Decor. by LisaRussoFineArt

Marbling Paper

Like almost every Winter, I've been attending some courses that are arranged by the Ministry of Education and are free of charge (except for the materials that you buy yourself). This Winter I'm continuing my two-year Jewelry course for its second and final year. More interestingly, I have been attending a Marbling Paper course, or as they call it in Turkish, Ebru Sanatı.

Something that is not done much anymore in Europe, but is in Turkey a traditional form of art. While in Europe it was a popular thing to use for handbound books (which in itself has almost disappeared), here there are many motives and techniques and are meant for framing.

I missed a few weeks while we were away but I caught up pretty quickly. It is once a week but takes the entire day as it does take time to settle as you need a lot of stuff for it.

It involves art and science as each layer of paint must be prepared differently so that it can push aside the previous layer.

You also can not work hours on it and need to be pretty swift and transfer your piece on paper right away. The water is of course not only water but contains a special seaweed which gives the water a consistency strong enough to let the paint stay on top instead of sinking.

There are many techniques to marble and create motives. Our course is just a few months so won't be enough to learn all but it is a great start.

The brushes are also traditional and are made of rose branches and horse hair.

"A day without learning is a day wasted. There is so much to learn and so little time to learn it."

— from Wisdom from World Religions by Sir John Templeton

Newly Listed: Sweet Sea Flowers

Sweet Sea Flowers, Seashell Flowers, Windowsill Decor, Bookshelf accent, Copper Leaves by StarHomeStudio
Nature photography, Swallows, Autumn trees, Fall, Birds, Nature, Wall Decor by Fizzstudio
Jellyfish, Wall Art Prints, Nature Photography, Sea Creature Photograph, beach decor, ocean by TraceyCapone
California Photography, Palm Tree Art, Ombre, Summer Nights, Sunset by ColorPopPhotoShop

Newly Listed: Ombre Knitted Bag

Ombre Knitted Bag, Soft Romantic Bohemian Bag, Gray, Pink and White by StarBags
Forest Print, Winter Landscape, Landscape Photography, Foggy Forest by EyePoetryPhotography
Botanical Photograph Pink Gray Flower Dreamy Garden Nature Floral Minimalist by GalleryZooArt
Paris Photography, Montmartre Parisian Rooftops, France, French Wall Decor by rebeccaplotnick

Our Creative Space...

We have two of these lovely chairs, they were an icky ugly brown which took many days to clean off. I'm now painting them in cheerful colors, matching some vintage embroidery (which you can actually see in the photos if you look carefully).

Can't wait to finish these, I think they are going to be quite smashing!

Newly Listed: Peacock Jacket

Peacock Jacket Mori Girl, Fairy tale Clothing, Landscape Vintage Gobelin Tapestry Fabric Clothing by StarsWear
All other photos were taken by me in our beautiful natural surroundings :)

Newly Listed: Sputnik Sea Urchin Earrings

Sputnik Sea Urchin Earrings - Sterling Silver Statement earrings by StaroftheEast
All photography was taken by me during a photo expedition, you can more photos of that trip here.

Newly Listed: Live, Laugh, Love Tote

Live, Laugh, Love Tote, Wool Suiting, Leather and Antique Lace Tote Bag by StarBags
Blue Moon, Full Moon photo, moon phase photograph, night sky with tree branch sillhouette by moondreamin
Fine Art Photography, Castle Staircase, Abstract Art, Fairytale Art, Spiral Design by PrettyPetalStudio
Photography Backdrop, Old vintage background, Food and product styling photography by InkAndElm

Newly Listed: Bohemian Leather Knitted Bag

Bohemian Leather Bag, Knitted Leather Tote Bag made with Vintage Kuchi Tassel Charms, Boho Bag by StarBags
Seabirds Photograph, Coastal Seascape, Ocean Landscape, Beach Decor, Beach Photography, Coastal Seabirds by BreeMadden
Sand Photography, beach photo, wall art seashore print coastal photograph, Sandy Shore by CarolynCochrane
Seaside Simplicity, Fine Art Photograph Nature, Beach, Coastal, Sea Grass, Fog, Fence by mariegradypalcic

The Story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Once upon a time, long, long ago a king and queen ruled over a distant land.  The queen was kind and lovely and all the people of the realm adored her.  The only sadness in the queen's life was that she wished for a child but did not have one.

One winter day, the queen was doing needle work while gazing out her ebony window at the new fallen snow.  A bird flew by the window startling the queen and she pricked her finger.  A single drop of blood fell on the snow outside her window.  As she looked at the blood on the snow she said to herself, "Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony." 

Soon after that, the kind queen got her wish when she gave birth to a baby girl who had skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony.  They named the baby princess Snow White, but sadly, the queen died after giving birth to Snow White.

Soon after, the king married a new woman who was beautiful, but as well proud and cruel.  She had studied dark magic and owned a magic mirror, of which she would daily ask,

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Each time this question was asked, the mirror would give the same answer, "Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all."  This pleased the queen greatly as she knew that her magical mirror could speak nothing but the truth.

One morning when the queen asked, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" she was shocked when it answered:

You, my queen, are fair; it is true.
But Snow White is even fairer than you.
The Queen flew into a jealous rage and ordered her huntsman to take Snow White into the woods to be killed.  She demanded that the huntsman return with Snow White's heart as proof.

The poor huntsman took Snow White into the forest, but found himself unable to kill the girl.  Instead, he let her go, and brought the queen the heart of a wild boar.

Snow White was now all alone in the great forest, and she did not know what to do.  The trees seemed to whisper to each other, scaring Snow White who began to run.  She ran over sharp stones and through thorns.  She ran as far as her feet could carry her, and just as evening was about to fall she saw a little house and went inside in order to rest.

Inside the house everything was small but tidy.  There was a little table with a tidy, white tablecloth and seven little plates.  Against the wall there were seven little beds, all in a row and covered with quilts.

Because she was so hungry Snow White ate a few vegetables and a little bread from each little plate and from each cup she drank a bit of milk. Afterward, because she was so tired, she lay down on one of the little beds and fell fast asleep.

After dark, the owners of the house returned home.  They were the seven dwarves who mined for gold in the mountains.  As soon as they arrived home, they saw that someone had been there -- for not everything was in the same order as they had left it.

The first one said, "Who has been sitting in my chair?"

The second one, "Who has been eating from my plate?"

The third one, "Who has been eating my bread?"

The fourth one, "Who has been eating my vegetables?"

The fifth one, "Who has been eating with my fork?"

The sixth one, "Who has been drinking from my cup?"

But the seventh one, looking at his bed, found Snow White lying there asleep.  The seven dwarves all came running up, and they cried out with amazement.  They fetched their seven candles and shone the light on Snow White.

"Oh good heaven! " they cried. "This child is beautiful!"

They were so happy that they did not wake her up, but let her continue to sleep in the bed.  The next morning Snow White woke up, and when she saw the seven dwarves she was frightened.  But they were friendly and asked, "What is your name?"

"My name is Snow White," she answered.

"How did you find your way to our house?" the dwarves asked further.

Then she told them that her stepmother had tried to kill her, that the huntsman had spared her life, and that she had run the entire day through the forest, finally stumbling upon their house.

The dwarves spoke with each other for awhile and then said, "If you will keep house for us, and cook, make beds, wash, sew, and knit, and keep everything clean and orderly, then you can stay with us, and you shall have everything that you want."

"Yes," said Snow White, "with all my heart."  For Snow White greatly enjoyed keeping a tidy home.

So Snow White lived happily with the dwarves.  Every morning they went into the mountains looking for gold, and in the evening when they came back home Snow White had their meal ready and their house tidy.  During the day the girl was alone, except for the small animals of the forest that she often played with.

Now the queen, believing that she had eaten Snow White's heart, could only think that she was again the first and the most beautiful woman of all.  She stepped before her mirror and said:

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who in this land is fairest of all?

It answered:

You, my queen, are fair; it is true.
But Snow White, beyond the mountains
With the seven dwarves,
Is still a thousand times fairer than you.

This startled the queen, for she knew that the mirror did not lie, and she realized that the huntsman had deceived her and that Snow White was still alive.  Then she thought, and thought again, how she could rid herself of Snow White -- for as long as she was not the most beautiful woman in the entire land her jealousy would give her no rest.

At last she thought of something.  She went into her most secret room -- no one else was allowed inside -- and she made a poisoned apple.  From the outside it was beautiful, and anyone who saw it would want it.  But anyone who might eat a little piece of it would die.  Coloring her face, she disguised herself as an old peddler woman, so that no one would recognize her, traveled to the dwarves house and knocked on the door.

Snow White put her head out of the window, and said, "I must not let anyone in; the seven dwarves have forbidden me to do so."

"That is all right with me," answered the peddler woman. "I'll easily get rid of my apples.  Here, I'll give you one of them."

"No," said Snow White, "I cannot accept anything from strangers."

"Are you afraid of poison?" asked the old woman. "Look, I'll cut the apple in two.  You eat half and I shall eat half."

Now the apple had been so artfully made that only the one half was poisoned.  Snow White longed for the beautiful apple, and when she saw that the peddler woman was eating part of it she could no longer resist, and she stuck her hand out and took the poisoned half.  She barely had a bite in her mouth when she fell to the ground dead.

The queen looked at her with an evil stare, laughed loudly, and said, "White as snow, red as blood, black as ebony wood!  The dwarves shall never awaken you."

Back at home she asked her mirror:

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who in this land is fairest of all?

It finally answered:

You, my queen, are fairest of all.

Then her cruel and jealous heart was at rest, as well as a cruel and jealous heart can be at rest.

When the dwarves came home that evening they found Snow White lying on the ground.  She was not breathing at all.  She was dead.  They lifted her up and looked at her longingly.  They talked to her, shook her and wept over her.  But nothing helped.  The dear child was dead, and she remained dead.  They laid her on a bed of straw, and all seven sat next to her and mourned for her and cried for three days.  They were going to bury her, but she still looked as fresh as a living person, and still had her beautiful red cheeks.

They said, "We cannot bury her in the black earth," and they had a transparent glass coffin made, so she could be seen from all sides.  They laid her inside, and with golden letters wrote on it her name, and that she was a princess.  Then they put the coffin outside on a mountain, and one of them always stayed with it and watched over her.  The animals too came and mourned for Snow White, first an owl, then a raven, and finally a dove.

Now it came to pass that a prince entered these woods and happened onto the dwarves' house, where he sought shelter for the night .  He saw the coffin on the mountain with beautiful Snow White in it, and he read what was written on it with golden letters.

Then he said to the dwarves, "Let me have the coffin.  I will give you anything you want for it."

But the dwarves answered, "We will not sell it for all the gold in the world."

Then he said, "Then give it to me, for I cannot live without being able to see Snow White.  I will honor her and respect her as my most cherished one."

As he thus spoke, the good dwarves felt pity for him and gave him the coffin.  The prince had his servants carry it away on their shoulders.  But then it happened that one of them stumbled on some brush, and this dislodged from Snow White's throat the piece of poisoned apple that she had bitten off.  Not long afterward she opened her eyes, lifted the lid from her coffin, sat up, and was alive again.

"Good heavens, where am I?" she cried out.

The prince said joyfully, "You are with me."  He told her what had happened, and then said, "I love you more than anything else in the world.  Come with me to my father's castle.  You shall become my wife."  Snow White loved him, and she went with him.  Their wedding was planned with great splendor and majesty.

Snow White's wicked step-mother was invited to the feast, and when she had arrayed herself in her most beautiful garments, she stood before her mirror, and said:

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who in this land is fairest of all?

The mirror answered:
You, my queen, are fair; it is true.
But the young queen is a thousand times fairer than you.

Not knowing that this new queen was indeed her stepdaughter, she arrived at the wedding, and her heart filled with the deepest of dread when she realized the truth - the evil queen was banished from the land forever and the prince and Snow White lived happily ever after.

(Grimm's Fairy Tale version - translated by Margaret Hunt - language modernized a bit by Leanne Guenther)

All bags are available at Starbags, each is one of a kind :).

Newly Listed: Escher Inspired Bag

Escher Inspired Bag, Hand Crocheted Ton sur Ton Bag in Cream, Brown, Gray and Green tones by StarBags
Owl Winter Snow, Forest, Tree Branches, Birds Wildlife, Nature, Frozen Woods Photography by EclecticForest
Seashell Photograph Beach Art, Coastal Wall Print, Beach Photography, Cottage Coastal Decor by newleafpics
Old Stone Church Photograph, Ireland, foggy medieval ancient stone building, eery ruins by FirstLightPhoto