25/11/2014

Venice, Italy

You read about this city in books, you learn about it in school, but when you see it with your own eyes.... well, you can not describe Venice, if you have never been there.
It is majestic, incredible and dreamy. It is like no other city in the world. Imagine.. no cars, no streets, houses floating on the water. I have been amazed from the moment I stepped out of the train station. It literally took my breath away.
177 canals, 409 bridges, no two quite the same. I went off the tourist track and I got lost in the web of narrow streets of this magical city. I have seen people visiting friends, walking dogs, hanging laundry just outside their windows- the usual life of Venetians still living in their city. 
There are so many places I have not visited yet, even though Venice is only 415km². So many bridges still to climb, so many trattoria's to visit, so many procescco glasses to drink by the Rialto bridge. Venice, I will definitely be back.








24/11/2014

Park stories #1

We have a great park in the area where we live and I can say that it is our's, mine and Poppy's, favourite park in the neighbourhood. Quiet place, looks more like a forest than a park. Green and spacious, cut in half by the River Irwell. 
We both love it, because:

  • there is usually no other people when we visit it nor other dogs
  • Poppy enjoys a good sniff around and runs like crazy through the bushes
  • it is far away from major streets and living areas
  • reminds me of my childhood and woods surrounding my family home
  • it is not very close to where we live but neither too far away















Rex the Boxer

Great dog Rex. Almost 6 years old Boxer. Playful and friendly. Gives great kisses, as says the owner.





16/11/2014

The Handmade Market Stockport

I am a big fan of handmade items. And of customised/personalised items. In today's world, where everyone is obsessed with buying more and more stuff, replacing heir wardrobe completely with every season by buying the same model of trousers/blouse/sweater as thousands of other customers, it is nice to have something that will not only stand out of the crowd of identical items, but will be unique and exclusive to the owner, and the owner only. Consumerism is brining us to the point where we buy just for the sake of buying, without valuing the purchased item. Why would we anyway, when it will be soon replaced by another item? 
With this not-so-short digression I wanted to invite you to have a look at the photos I took today at The Handmade Market in Stockport.
The Market takes place on 3rd Sunday of every month at the Historic Covered Market Hall in Stockport Town Centre. More info here:
I have seen many lovely handmade items: from chocolate sweets to patchwork pleads. Everything made with passion and love, hand crafted to very hight standards. All craftsmen greeted me with a smile and a small talk, it was a tough decision to choose only few items to buy from all those gems.

But, as usual, I had my favourites. 

Monique DecoArt


A very talented artisan. Home decor/furniture/boxes decorated with the decoupage technique. 







Our Lady of The Single Needle


Crochet items in rainbow of colours.  I was impressed by amazing yarns used (I loved the tweed-yarn items) and stunning colourful mandalas. Obviously crochet birds in the nest have to be mentioned here as one of my favourite items in her collection!







Nerys Rose Designs


A stall different from all the others. Laser cut designs in acrylic, paper and wood. Simple, delicate and modern. My favourite items are the acrylic Christmas Threes. Obviously took them home with me.




Support local businesses. Have a look at their pages. Visit local markets. You might find the perfect gift for someone special and I can reassure you that it will be THE GIFT: unique, original and one of a kind.

15/11/2014

Bark in style


As the weather outside is getting colder and colder, we have decided together with Poppy, that the time has come to take the winter coats out of the closet.

Both coats on pictures below are handmade. Pink one is quite light, blue one is much warmer with fleece lining. Coating of both coats is made of a waterproof material. As I was not satisfied with the dog's clothes I found in the shops (or I didn't like the materials nor the price) I have decided to make them myself (with some help of my talented mum).

I am not a big fan dog's clothes in general. Poppy isn't a fan of them either. But she appreciates them when we go out for a long walk and she gets cold, or when it is raining. On days when the rain is pouring, she would not even stick her paw out of the door if she wouldn't have the coat on. Yes, in my dog's head, rain and wind are unacceptable conditions for walking and therefore if the choice would be hers only, we would not leave the house until summer.





Did you say park?