THICK AND VELVETY

To me, more exciting than The Lord of the Rings, though not as exciting as Fifty Shades of Grey: the discovery of graphite, the story of wood cased pencils, the founding of Faber-Castell! All this in Pencil Perfect, a book about pencils, taking place of pride in my bookcase! As you know, I am obsessed with all things writing and fonts. I bought Pencil Perfect by Caroline Weaver from Shopkeeper & Co in Limassol, and I can't wait to read!

Personally, I prefer Lyra pencils, though Faber-Castell are also great and, generally, all pencils are good for me. Let's not forget a favorite, the Paper Chase pencils from England. I love the 4B and 5B Pencil- I like thick and velvety writing 💝

Have a good day today, always with beauty and a book! 💋💄💝😀🌷👠
#pencils #writing #books #shopkeeper&co #paperchase #fabercastell#lyrapencils #excited #fiftyshadesofgrey #thelordoftherings

A SHINY PRODUCT

The name -Silver Pot- resounds, for me, with magic and culinary history. Cauldrons, medieval kitchens and spits, herbs, Harry Potter! I can't believe that the last time I went to Silver Pot was 2012 😇

Here I am yesterday, enjoying fantastic Mexican spice veggie burghers with rice, salad and white sauce. Dessert was apple crumble. You can't beat Silver Pot. The food and confections, all home made, are extraordinary.

Silver Pot is in Nicosia, and is a shiny product of female enterprise and culinary magic! 😋💋💋💄
#foodblogger #foodblog #silverpot #cyprus #nicosia #food #goodfood#cauldron #harrypotter #magic #female #entrepreneurship

TOWARDS THE DOOR WE NEVER OPENED

I guess we all have a personal meaning for the Mona Lisa -is she a vampire, is she Da Vinci in drag, or just a woman with a memorable smile?-And how about the so-called "Dutch Mona Lisa", the Girl with the Pearl Earring? It was T.S. Eliot who first thought that the Mona Lisa might be a vampire.

I recently bought this amazing book called Vermeer The Complete Works. It's so beautiful, and fully captures the complexity and genius of Vermeer.

I grew up thinking that I would study art myself, and be an artist, something which eventually did not happen. As T.S. Eliot again said, "Down the passage which we did not take. Towards the door we never opened. Into the rose garden". Not studying art is a decision I will regret always.

Have a good Monday evening, always with beauty and a book! ❤️🌹💋💋👠💄💄
#art #vermeer #monalisa #davinci #tseliot #fourquartets#sundayevening #girlwiththepearlearring #dutchart

BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM

I always loved David Beckham ❤️, and I like Victoria, especially as a designer. I never considered myself one of her huge fans, but I thought her OK. Who would have thought that criticism upon criticism for her would make me push aside a book in disgust??? This is a book I was indeed very disappointed with- I am referring to the diary kept by the editor of British Vogue for the magazine's 100th Anniversary. I bought it with much excitement, and it is true that it gives some interesting information about the fashion world. Yet, every other page says something negative about Victoria Beckham - to the extent that I wondered if the book was written to vilify her. A picture with Victoria shows her at her most unattractive.

The author even manages to sneak in some criticism of the late Princess Diana. This is a prejudiced and bigoted book.

How I wish I had not bought it!!! 👎

Have a good night, taking beauty always with you! 💋❤️🌷💝👠

#davidbeckham #victoriabeckham #voguemagazine #bookblogger#books #fashion #fashionworld

...AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

May rains today, and I don't like this at all! Only summer is good for me ☀️ Still, in CYPRUS there is the old belief that gathering rain water to rinse your face makes you beautiful. Like all old beliefs, it has an element of truth in it.

A lovely artwork about summer is Michael Whelan's The Summer Queen. Michael Whelan is an amazing fantasy artist, who has done the cover jackets for mega selling authors like Stephen King, Tad Williams and Melanie Rawn. Back in the days of no Internet, I wrote to his company, Glass Onion Graphics, to send me reproductions of art prints from New York. Yes, I mean wrote with pen and paper, and sent an envelope with a mail order. Unbelievable!

Hope for no more rain!!! 💋👠❤️💄🌹
#summer #cyprus #pool #michaelwhelan #glassoniongraphics#fantasynovels #melanierawn #stephenking #tadwilliams #mayrain#penandpaper

BOUDOIR STATIONERY

I'm so glad I kept these three body milk bottles and used them as decorations!!! Our home (even a very noisy tiny flat like mine) is, as cultural theorists say, a personal museum. There is a soul in soulless things, said Greek writer Gregorios Xenopoulos, and I totally agree. Some of my most beloved possessions are worth very little ( and the truth is I don't own anything expensive). Here is a colored glass paperweight, which I adore, and the three Marks and Spencer body milk bottles which I absolutely love!

Marks and Spencer's do not make these amazing body milks anymore. Or the boudoir stationery/ home deco. Luckily, they still make the Royal Jelly products, which I totally recommend! They are wonderful and cheap. Dream come true!

Sadly, the noisy neighbors deprive me a lot from the joy of home. I can't afford to leave here at the moment, so there it is. Thankfully, there are some pretty things I can surround myself with to make the situation more bearable. As Jane Eyre would say, whatever you can't avoid, you have a duty to bear ☹️

Have a lovely Saturday evening, and take beauty always with you! 💋🌷📕❤️💄🌹👠
#marksandspencers #boudoir #paperweight #saturday #royaljelly#bodymilk #janeeyre #saturdayevening