Birdcage

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-09T19:26:00.001+02:00

Today, I chose to make Christmas cut-out cookies with vanilla dough, adapted from Martha Stewart's Christmas recipes.

It took me a while to complete the recipe but I think the result will please the whole family. Not only did I manage to color my cookies with a very easy colored glaze but the taste of them is stunning.I believe this yield will end pretty soon!!!!

The recipe for the Vanilla Dough is as follows:

3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla powder

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and beat until combined.

Shape dough into 2 disks, and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Roll out 1 disk on a lightly floured piece of parchment to a 1/8- to 1/4-inch thickness. Repeat with remaining disk. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Cut out desired shapes.

You place the cookies in a preheated oven, at 170C or 325F and you bake them until the edges become golden brown. Depending on the shapes of the cookies the baking process lasts from 10-18 minutes.

For the Glaze:

Mix in a bowl 1 1/2 cups of confectioner's sugar along with 3-4 tablespoons of either water, milk or lemon juice. If the glaze is thick you might want to add more liquid, if the glaze is thin you might want to add more sugar. You will understand that you have the perfect glaze when this is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Enjoy!!!!!

Serraikon

2011-12-06T11:32:00.001+02:00

On Irakleitou Street, at Chalandri there lies "Serraikon". It is a cute traditional Greek bakery that sells Bougatsa(is a Greek breakfast pastry consisting of custard, cheese, or minced meat filling between layers of phyllo. "ref.Wikipedia"), all short of pies made both with phyllo and dough, traditional desserts, donuts and many more. All of these delicatessen can be accompanied by a huge variety of cold and hot drinks. Just ask the manager and he will be more than glad to assist you enjoy the most delight breakfast you have ever imagined.

I have attached below both photos from the shop and also from the products it sells.

Serraikon: Irakleitou 67 str, 15238, Chalandri, 210 6085554
Twitter: @Serraikon

Fashion-Denim Shorts

2011-11-29T00:49:00.001+02:00

Runwaydreamz.com :

Established in 1999, under the label Runwaydreamz, designer Christian Yasser Massuh, designs eye-catching must have one-of-a-kind denim trends.

Runwaydreamz has received wonderful international recognition from countless admirers for its unique designs and interpretations of the denim shorts. "The aesthetic of the brand Runwaydreamz suits the Australian lifestyle, and a pair of these shorts will leave your friends extremely envious as you leave the house," (Style Bungalow).

The best part is that each design is made by hand from the very best in vintage denim for a remarkably special, one of a kind design. We can guarantee you'll receive thoughtfully crafted designs that you'll love to own.

These unique pieces are just adorable and promise you a great outfit for every hour of the day. Always in fashion....

Fashion-Iris Tsante

2011-11-27T21:11:00.001+02:00

Jewelery Artist: Iris Tsante

She is Greek and she is very talented. Her pieces provide connotations of optimism, lightness, simplicity, joy and innocence, revealing at the same time qualities such as fragility and vulnerability. They often are characterized by a “mischiefing” tendency, sometimes in harmony with the qualities of the original materials and sometimes making contradicting statements upon more “formal” and “serious” symbols of the western dress code. Simply "adorable".

Below are some of her work through 2009-2011. You may find them at : http://www.elenimarneri.com

Etsy- Artist:Karen M. Andersen

2011-11-27T20:48:00.001+02:00

Browsing artists and handmade objects at etsy.com, i hit on Karen M.Andersen. I was attracted by her coin purses, that she has in many shapes, colors and fabric drawings. I have attached some of my favorites below.

These cute coin purses measure approx. 5.5 x 4.5 inches (14 x 11.5 cm) and their price vary among 6-8 euros per item.

If you wish to have one of them, the only thing you have to do is visit the artist's profile page on etsy.com at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/karenmandersen?ref=seller_info

Enjoy Baking with cute bakeware products

2011-11-25T23:41:00.001+02:00

Once i need to eat something or once i am in the mood of cooking, i always want to have the proper tools surrounding me. More specifically, i need all the necessary equipment that will assist me in fulfilling a recipe and will ease me in receiving the ultimate flavor. This is why i choose to buy bake ware and kitchen aimed tools that apart from being helpful, look rather "cute", "inspiring", generally make me wanna start cooking. Such tools i have attached in the photos below, and i suggest them to you so as to make your life simultaneously simpler and attractive. ;-)))

Measuring cups (help you follow the recipes with measuring precision....)

Magic whisk...

Ruffled mini Baker...

Measuring spoons...

Muffin pan...

Rolling Pin...

All these wonderful suggestions may be found at : http://www.anthropologie.eu/

Christmas Ornaments

2011-11-25T22:55:00.001+02:00

This year, decorate your Christmas tree with handcraft ornaments that will help you mix colors, textures, ribbons and crafts in several ways. You can adjust the size of your ornament, the corner that will decorate and the way this will look. Indulge your imagination and become creative. This creativity will serve your positive thinking and your inner state of mind. Here are some suggestions adapted from etsy.com . By the way, these handcrafted ornaments apart from inspirations can be also bought right away!!!!

Coasters

2011-10-30T12:11:00.001+02:00

These are some coaster proposals i have gathered to demonstrate to you, through the net. Colors, shapes and drawings are mainly pictured and these small pieces can change the way your dining table and/or your table in your living room. Surprise your friends and your family with these lovable coasters and alter your mood while drinking your coffee or tea.

DIY photo display ideas

2011-10-30T10:36:00.001+02:00

source: http://www.shelterness.com/

Pantry Ideas

2011-10-29T11:52:00.000+03:00

Time to get rid of the mess!!!!!Organize your pantry and gain space for storage while decorating your rooms. I have found some images that might inspire you...

Door stops to...Stop the door!!!

2011-10-29T10:43:00.000+03:00

Get rid of that horrible sound the door makes each time you leave a window open and outside it's windy, or anytime you are in a hurry and open the door furiously. Below are some door stops to help you deal with such problems and also make your house look more cute.

Vintage Tin Signs

2011-10-28T23:19:00.003+03:00

A simple and affordable way to decorate different spots in your house is by using vintage tin signs. Those can be found in old furniture stores but mainly a great variety can be reached through internet, depending on everyone's tastes. I am attaching photos with proposals on how to use tin signs on your walls and furthermore i have written some of the sites available to buy online tin signs.

Sites with Tin Signs

www.classictinsigns.com/
www.retrosignshop.com/
www.colacorner.com
www.pasttimesigns.com/
www.allposters.com/

Cookie Cutters

2011-10-28T22:32:00.001+03:00

Surprise your friends and your little fellows by making several types of cookies using the right cookie-cutters. There are plenty online cookware shops that provide cookie cutter packs and suggest brilliant and colorful ideas to serve even the most weird tastes. I found in the net some proposals for cookies that triggered me and i demonstrate them to you to get you motivated and inspire you to use your imagination.....Hope i succeeded.....

Dish Of Desire by Frederik Roije

2011-10-28T21:47:00.002+03:00

Frederik Roijé was born on june 14, 1978, in the eastern part of the Netherlands. He graduated in 2001 from the renowned Design Academy in Eindhoven. There his preference to interior products was already visible.

Nowadays he owns an international design agency which designs diverse products for brands and for market as for private clients. The office is renowned for its creativity and innovative designs. The approach of the company is to reach a new level in product or space. Furniture, lightning, interior and industrial design are part and parcel of the services provided.

While looking for his work the "Dish of Desire" attracted my attention and i attach some photos to demonstrate this to you. (of course my favor in birds and cages, once again reveals)

Take a look at Frederick's working projects and have the take the chance to decorate your house with his art by shopping online at: http://roije.com/

Lookbook.Nu or else LB

2011-10-28T21:09:00.002+03:00

LOOKBOOK.nu is the largest online community dedicated to showcasing member-uploaded "street style" photography.

Also known as "LB" or simply "lookbook," LOOKBOOK.nu is both a utility that allows members to document their evolving style & a collective gallery from which "lookbookers" and non-members can draw daily fashion inspiration.

.Founded in 2008, LOOKBOOK.nu was created to bring together creative, interesting, and open-minded fashion enthusiasts, and to democratically recognize the talents of real people around the world. In a sense, LOOKBOOK.nu is the world's first, truly editorless fashion magazine.

Here is an example of how Lookbook looks:

So now you can get inspired for your everyday style just by looking at ordinary people's photos.

You can visit the site at: http://lookbook.nu/

I love it!!!

Scosha 2011-12

2011-10-28T20:27:00.000+03:00

One of my favorite jewelery brands is Scosha. Scosha is a collection of jewelry by an Australian born artist and designer, Scosha Woolridge.

Scosha considers herself to be a story jeweler, using travel tales as inspiration to create jewelry that combines the modern and ancient worlds, suitable for both men and women.

Scosha draws from a mix of global influences and explores the adventure and freedom within in everyday life. Made of gems/stones, metal, and recycled fibers, each piece is created as a play between materials and how that translates in terms of what is traditionally considered "precious" or "non-precious", "masculine" or "feminine".

Ultimately, the goal is lived-in style. It should feel as effortless as it looks, it's that natural sensibility that is really attractive.

You can have a look at her designs by visiting her site and online shop at: https://scosha.com/

DIPTYQUE

2011-10-28T14:18:00.002+03:00

The diptyque store began in Paris, at 34 boulevard Saint-Germain, with three friends driven by the same creative passion.

Christiane Gautrot, interior decorator, Desmond Knox-Leet, painter, and Yves Coueslant, theatre administrator and set designer.Previously designing fabrics and wallpaper for Liberty and Sanderson, together they teamed up in 1961 and opened a store at 34 boulevard Saint-Germain to showcase their fabric designs. With their unique taste, they gradually transformed the store into a world of its own. A chic bazaar offering a fascinating variety of unexpected items, unique to Paris, which the trio brought back from their travels. Merchants of everything, as Henry Gault and Christian Millau liked to name them, their choices had no limits other than their insatiable curiosity and keen sense of beauty.

In 1963 they began to explore their love of fragrances, first with candles - Aubepine, Cannelle and The - before launching their first eau de toilette, L'Eau, in 1968. A dazzling start to an extensive repertory of fragrances, all bearing the iconic black lettering on the renowned oval label.

Today, guided by this rich heritage, diptyque perpetuates the creation of fragrances without reference to the masculine or the feminine.

You can either visit one of its exclusive diptyque stores or find through the below links corner stores and/or shop online.

http://www.diptyqueparis.co.uk/

Reused Tin Cans

2011-10-11T21:27:00.001+03:00

I have always favored the different food tin-cans i buy for home. I like their structure,their colors and the pictures that cover them. What is the funniest part though, is that I am always trying to find simple and simultaneously artistic ways to keep them after use and/or maybe turn them into something helpful or decorative.

One of the solutions suggested while searching in the net was to reuse tin cans and turn them into various kind of organizers. This application has many options. It is an efficient way to store several stuff such as pencils, food crafts and tools, cutlery. It can also be used as a pot and decorate your windows with plants of your favor. Furthermore you can use them to store your knitting tools, buttons, jewelery, etc. I have posted some photos that might inspire you............

The photos are taken from: http://www.shelterness.com/category/diy/

Humanoid F/W2011

2011-09-24T14:49:00.000+03:00

For more info and for online shopping visit: http://webshop.humanoid.nl

DIY Lavender Sachets

2011-09-18T14:55:00.000+03:00

Lavender sachets source:
http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.com/2008/12/lavender-sachet-how-to.html

DIY horse racks from Ann Wood handmade

2011-09-18T14:32:00.002+03:00

Seeking around the net i found an amazing blog, established by a girl in Brooklyn. She makes things, she paints and draws, using salvaged materials, many of them vintage or antique garments. She finds a kind of affection and tenderness in the re-use and re-purposing of things that were once personal and perhaps treasured possessions.

The photos above picture her "100 horse racks"project which caused my curiosity to look further in her archives.

Just amazing work!!!!!

Find out more DIY methods to decorate your life and re-use materials:

http://annwood.net/blog/

Upcycled Traffic Sign Furniture

2011-09-18T13:31:00.001+03:00

Designer Boris Bally of providence, rhode island utilizes the graphic and material potential of recycled traffic signs as his medium,transforming them into bold, statement pieces of furniture. bally works following the philosophy of '‘HUMANUFACTURED®',
An approach whereby the hybridization of art, design and craft with a variety of hand and production skills occurs. His latest design is the 'broadway armchair' which minimizes scrap generated in its manufacture while simultaneously honing the numerous technical challenges of working with the unyielding material of traffic signs. bally goes through a lot of effort in the location, purchasing and selection of optimal signage material to produce his furniture creations. during the production of these chairs, nothing goes to waste. anything left over during the manufacturing process is further used in the creation of other products
such as switch plates, mailboxes, house numbers, clocks, picture frames, even key fobs. through his work, Bally hopes to open minds to individuals, making them realize that recycled work doesn't have to appear dismal or have a lack of comfort.
By producing hundreds of these armchairs in a year alone, bally will be able to re-direct over twenty tons of aluminum from landing in the landfills.
Each chair uses champagne corks offering anti-slip / anti-scratch legs, and hardware for its construction.

source:http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/16620/upcycled-traffic-sign-furniture.html

Brogue Shoes

2011-09-17T22:40:00.002+03:00

The Brogue is a style of low-heeled shoe or boot traditionally characterized by multiple-piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations (or "brogueing") and serration along the pieces' visible edges.^[1] Modern brogues trace their roots to a rudimentary shoe originating in Scotland and Ireland that was constructed using untanned leather with perforations that allowed water to drain from the shoes when the wearer crossed wet terrain such as a bog.

Brogue shoes may be worn in several ways and thus represent many styles. You may wear them with cute ankle socks or with no socks and yet succeed a perfect fashion icon.

Celebrities love them!!! (see below)Katy Perry,Kristen Stewart, Sienna Miller.

Bike Festival 16-18 Technopolis, Gazi

2011-09-17T13:39:00.000+03:00

Following the successful organisation of the first Bike Festival last year during the European Mobility Week, it became evident that Athens is a city with a growing cycling culture and that an annual cycling festival in the heart of the city is a must for the increasing number of cyclists.

This year, the Athens Bike Festival will take place from 16 to 18 September in «Technopolis», an industrial museum of incomparable architecture that has been transformed into a multipurpose cultural space whose special atmosphere charmed the festival’s visitors last year as well.

The event will be organised during the European Mobility Week – an awareness raising campaign aiming at sensibilising citizens to the use of public transport, cycling, walking and at encouraging European cities to promote these modes of transport. In 2011, the European Mobility Week focuses on alternative mobility and wants to support the transition towards a resource-efficient transport system by promoting clean, fuel efficient modes and human-powered travel.

Organisers aim at offering visitors the opportunity to see and test the latest bike models, to discuss with the market experts and to experience an alternative lifestyle through the parallel activities that will present a different and active culture worth discovering.

All the major brands of the cycling market are expected to participate in the exhibition part of the Festival making the most of the opportunity to have direct contact with the end consumers.

For more info visit: http://www.bikefestival.gr/default.asp

Greece Race for Cure 2011

2011-09-14T12:36:00.002+03:00

Race for the Cure® is recognized as the most successful campaign worldwide targeting the mobilization and awareness of the general public concerning breast cancer. It was held for the first time in Dallas, Texas, from Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Since the first race where 800 participants took part, Race for the Cure® has become a global movement and is now held in over 140 cities worldwide by bringing together more than 1.6 million participants!

Panhellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer in co-operation with Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, organizes Greece Race for the Cure the last three years. This year the third Race will take place on Sunday, 2nd of October 2011, at Zappeion.

During the 1st and 2nd Greece Race for the Cure® more than 5.000 and 8.000 participants run for the cure! Women, men and children participated in the Race in order to awake the world about breast cancer.

The money raised from the 1st Greece Race for the Cure® 2009, sponsored a pioneering Program in Greece for "Genetic Counseling and Analysis". The Program was made in collaboration with the NCSR "Demokritos" and was completed by 28th of January 2011.

The 2nd Greece Race for the Cure® 2010 sponsored a breast cancer awareness Program for young women, till the age of 39 years old. The Program was made in collaboration with the Hellenic Breast Surgeons Society from 23rd of May – 10th of June 2011.

You can register either to the 4km run or to the 2km walk. Both Races will start at the same time (few mins difference) and the starting point and is common to both races. Go and register with your family, your friends or your colleagues! Make your own team and join the Race against breast cancer!

Source and more info: Alma zois