Creativity

If creativity had colour, it would be all shades of lilac. 

Easy wall art DIY

 

One of my favourite things to do is painting groupings. I am a huge fan of art walls and I love creating pieces that go well together and form a perfect set. 

This one is really easy to make, it takes not more than an hour to finish and is also budget friendly! I've called it the "Four Seasons Set" and I'm going to show you how to make the Spring piece. All other ones need the exact same techniques and are just as easy to make.

 For this project you are going to need a couple of old book pages (I've used an old recipe book and a math textbook - my revenge was full.), some ordinary A4 paper,  paint and brushes, a pencil and a black marker and some dry glue. You can pick whatever paint you have - both acrylics and watercolours would work just fine.

 

 1. First off, take your pencil and draw your favourite pattern on the book page. You can choose one of my patterns or create your own - either way - don't draw anything other than your pattern outlines. Adding texture will come later on.

 2. Fill in with paint. Make sure not to apply layers that are too thick - you want to be able to see the writings. This will give your drawing texture and will make it more interesting. In my case - a person can look at an art piece and solve a math problem at the same time. Use similar colours and add white paint or more water to make them look paler. 3. When you're finished and your piece is completely dry, start overlining the pencil markings with the black marker. This will give it a more defined look and will make it pop out. You can then add different textures like little dots, thin lines or markings.

4. Once you're finished with the overlining, create a frame. If you don't have a steady hand, use a liner to create a thin frame around your drawing. Try to match the thickness of the lines for a better look. 5. Add dry glue on the back of your drawing and place it on the centre of the A4 paper. It is now ready to be framed!

 

Make two or three more to create a beautiful set and hang it on the wall, or use the framed drawing individually as an accent in your home. Have fun improving your place! :)

 

Sofia: here and there

Sofia is not one of those cities that you fall in love with instantly. It's messy, it's not that well-organized and being a pedestrian is a nightmare. (well, it's not as bad as the situation in Tbilisi, but still - look both ways when crossing a street and be careful, even if you're on a zebra crossing!)
When I first came to Sofia a couple of years ago I didn't like it at all. I judged the book by its cover, I admit it. Sofia doesn't have the shiny package other European capitals have - impressive old architecture, imperial gardens or shiny skyscrapers aren't exactly the things you're going to find here. But you can find pretty awesome things that are hidden and waiting to be discovered. Only if you are willing to give it a try.
I grew fond of Sofia as time went by, little by little. I learned to like the hustle and bustle, the nervous drivers, the public transport from another era. I discovered wonderful tea houses, sweet shoppes, little galleries and fancy boutiques. I know where they make the perfect blackberry smoothie and I also know a place where I can buy genuine Himalayan tea, which I absolutely adore.
Sofia is growing and improving. It is a process that will take a lot of time and effort, but the most important thing is that it's all going in the right direction. Every time when I'm out and about in Sofia, at the cinema, in a gallery or riding the underground, I see creative people around me. People who think outside the box, who do things differently - organize art events, stand behind green causes and model Sofia the way they want to see it. People who fight for originality and for a change.

One of my favourite narrow streets in Sofia (the same one with all the painted electrical panels) surprised me with this installation, which I cleverly named "Another chair in the wall". Random art hints can be found everywhere in Sofia - music notes hanging from windows, kites, flying from rooftops, old street signs covered in stickers and many many more. I can honestly say now that I do love Sofia, especially after being away from it for so long. And I am sure that every time I come back here, it will look and feel better and every time I will love it a little more. 

Fantastic (international) Four

You remember François, don't you?
Well, the little French guy was getting kind of lonely, so I decided he needed some company. This is how Johnathan, Sergej and Robert came around. They make the perfect company, the fantastic four.
Johnathan comes from the US. He enjoys karaoke and spa procedures and is a big fan of strong hairspray.
Sergej is a Russian guy. He brushes his teeth with vodka and enjoys winter skinny dipping and hunting... with bare hands.
Robert comes from Austria and is a huge beer fan. He enjoys dancing, singing and skiing but his true passion is... cooking a good crispy Viennese Wurst.
And you already know about François - he likes menthol cigarettes, sandwiches with mozzarella and... the ladies.
The four guys get on perfect with each other and meet every Friday night for a movie or something. Who is your favourite one? 

Open-air modern art

      this zebra was my absolute favourite one. It is an enlarged version of an old but very famous safety matches brand here in Bulgaria. There's also a witty pun involved, but I'm afraid only my Bulgarian friends could understand it ;)

Тwo of Sofia's liveliest streets now look better than ever. All outdoor electrical panels on Shishman and Rakovski Street have been transformed into beautiful pieces of art. A permanent open-air exhibition without a theme, without limits or regulations. But with a strong idea - the idea of making our surroundings more colourful and interesting. I got such a warm feeling while walking down these two streets. It was nice to see people smiling when noticing the pieces of art here and there, patiently waiting for me to take a picture and giving me directions to their favourite ones. It's like Sofia has finally taken off her grey dress and is dripping with colours.

I cannot tell you if this is a sponsored act or just a couple of artists trying to express themselves the best way they can. Either way: the result is great. I know for sure that one of the Bulgarian electricity companies has approved the idea and is planning to sponsor the transformation of another street in Sofia. Wouldn't it be wonderful? I would love to see more, and not only in Sofia, but in other towns in Bulgaria as well. Rousse, we have to follow!

Lovely, isn't it? For more see my flickr account or why now visit Sofia soon? :)
~

Things that make me happy

Dexter is an angel. He doesn't particularly enjoy being taken pictures of, but he does it anyway, because he sees how excited I always am. Or probably because I give him treats after our photo sessions. He made a new friend a couple of days ago. Little Jimmy is only 3 months old and is the most energetic little thing ever. Always jumping or running around Dexter, trying to figure out why he is so enormously big. They didn't stop playing the whole day. I couldn't even take a decent picture of them running around the house. Dexter behaves like a good big brother, always watching after Jimmy. I am very proud of him. :)
When I'm not chasing after dogs with my camera or phone, I take the time to travel around Bulgaria. There are so many places I want to visit!
Did I mention I now wear glasses? It may not be the best reason to feel happy, but for me it is. I'd never realized how bad I could see until I put them on. Thank you to everyone who has helped me read signs, german sentences on the blackboard or movie subtitles in the cinema. I can now do this alone. And with style. My new glasses are so cool that Dexter kept stealing them from me to impress his friends. I had to buy a pair for him, too. Now they call us "The Nerdy Duo".
I am reading books, enjoying my mom's divine cooking, sipping on refreshing drinks and listening to good summer tunes. What have you been up to?
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My Summer 2012 to-do list

I made this list during my last week in Vienna. Partially because I was too bored and couldn't wait to come back home, but also because I wanted to have a list to follow, too. I rarely make lists. Or if I do, I lose them somewhere and forget about them. But it's so much fun - writing down everything you can think of and then, at the end of the summer, checking all the things you've done and feeling sorry for the ones you've missed. I am working hard (well... not too hard, don't worry about me) on achieving every single thing from my list and I hope my summer will be long enough for all I've planned. I am reading Nietzsche, I am working on a couple of new projects, I travelled and took pictures here and there. I cuddle with Dexter more than ever and I learn how to roller-skate (tips, anyone? I'm not doing that well...) I even tried my untertwater camera, but unfortunately this one doesn't work properly, either. I think I'll never make decent underwater photos. I am also pretty excited about learning how to surf - hope the weather will be on our side in late August. Only 20 days of my summer vacation in Bulgaria have passed and I've already checked more than 6 things from my list. Wohoo!
Have you made a summer to-do list, too? What do you definitely want to do?
~

Raindrops

"Some people feel the rain, others just get wet"

When was the last time I used my tablet? I can't really remember... does this mean that I have a super awesome summer or that I'm just too lazy to draw? Probably both. How is your summer going? Do you find the time to be creative or do you prefer to sip cocktails somewhere? (non-alchoholic, please! Some of us have to drive afterwards!) Either way, I hope you're having fun! 

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A trip in Snapshots

It's been a little toasty around Rousse, so we decided to run away from the heat to a quiet, peaceful and, most importantly - colder place. We invited Dexter and a couple of friends and took a quick trip to the mountains, where the air is cleaner, the grass is greener, and you need an extra blanket during the night.

The weather was great, the improvised meals we cooked tasted divine and the bats that flied around the house during the night didn't scare us at all. Dexter was there to protect us, though he didn't really know what to do. Good thing we didn't trusted the boys and their fishing skills and took some provisions, because otherwise we would have eaten... three tadpoles and a frog.

The place where we stayed was too far from a big town and didn't have many residents, but the people we met were really nice and helpful. An older man taught us how to ride a horse. As it turns out - I'm a natural. I took a liking to Iceberg, the black horse and I do thing he liked me, too. A nice old lady came to us and offered fresh eggs and milk. Who does that anywhere else? A cute little girl - the only child in the village at the time - made friends with Dexter and introduced him to the cows, ducks and some little puppies. She also took me around the village and showed me her favourite places  It seemed like everyone in the village was excited about the new visitors and wanted to show and give the best they got. And they did. 

  

See you soon, Vienna!

This is officially my last summer day here in Vienna - I finally booked a ticket and this time      tomorrow I'll be back in Bulgaria! :) 

I had some final errands to do today and had to visit 100 places in an hour or so. It was fun, though -       the day was beautiful and I managed to capture some beautiful snaps with my phone. Here are my favourite ones!

    ***Break the law before the law breaks you.

Read of the Month: June + July

         i'm still packing suitcases... I'm definitely bringing 1Q84 home to my favourite books collection! 

Oh, Haruki Murakami... Would you ever write a book that is something less than brilliant?

My love for Haruki Murakami started as I first came here in Vienna. If I remember correctly, "Kafka on the Shore" was the very first book I bought here. The book was very overwhelming and out-of-this-world. It took me only two days to read all 600 pages and when I finally reached the end... I was dazed and absolutely confused. But I loved it.
I've since read a couple more Murakami books and I like each and every one of them. They float effortlessly between reality and imagination and leave you pondering over... well, just about everything.
If you've ever read Murakami you'll understand me when I say that I cannot possibly make a short summary about 1Q84. It's like explaining an anime plot to someone that has never seen one.
1Q84 is a book (actually a set of three books) about living in a parallel reality. It's about Little People, two moons in the sky, a lifespan of a butterfly and mystical organizations. It is full of stories within the story, mysteries and questions left unanswered. Everything is perfectly detailed and you can easily picture everything in your head. I find 1Q84 to be a romantic novel, but that's just the magic of Murakami - the book can be whatever you want it to be.
I've read reviews that this is probably not the best choice for first-time Murakami readers - not sure why, though. I loved it and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys extraordinary reads.
I am definitely adding it to my collection of favourite books.

Chalkboard quote of the day

What have you been up to lately?

I've been packing suitcases, sipping on enormous amounts of bubble tea (it's my elixir of life in these temperatures!) and writing summer to-do lists. I have a couple more days here in Vienna and then I am finally going back to Bulgaria! How exciting is that?

Now that all my exams are over and I have some spare time on my hands, I can fully enjoy silly things like midnight walks (with the secret mission of finding the best lemon cheesecake in town), long anime marathons and even some drawing projects.

Speaking of projects, I decided it was high-time I gave our chalkboard a summer makeover. The last message had stayed there for far too long (with an addition of some extra difficult and long german words that I just could't remember). This George Bernard Shaw quote has been one of my most favourite ones lately. What about you - have you got a favourite quote at the moment?

~

Favourite Summer Fragrances

my favourite summer scents are: Calvin Klein: One Shock, Thierry Mugler: Womanity; Chanel: Chance Tendre aand Thierry Mugler again: Alien.

   
I have the tendency to always give my perfumes labels. I prefer to use different fragrances for the different seasons, with only one or two exceptions (like, for example, Alien. I can't live without it and still I use it just a couple of times a year for really special occasions). I pick light flowery scents for summer and since I always experiment, every single summer of mine smells different.
One Shock: I'm not going to lie to you. I picked it up because it looked too cute. I've been slightly obsessed with neons lately (anyone else or is it just me?) and I just couldn't resist the electric pink. Turned out that the perfume wasn't that bad at all, either. I would definitely use it on a daily basis.
Chance Tendre: My absolute favourite summer scent. It's delicate and airy and perfect for the heat outside.
Womanity: I love all Thierry Mugler perfumes. They just have this special something, they all smell somehow untypical and this one in particular is my scent. It's a little bit heavier and I can't wear it all the time, because I get a little dizzy (no kidding!) but I choose it for a night out or, like earlier today, for good luck during exams. ;)
Alien: Sometimes when I smell a perfume I've had once before, I have a deja vu. I am sure you've experienced it, too. That's why I adore Alien. Everytime I put it on I remember a very special summer, wonderful memories come to me and it's a great experience. I really don't use it much, but when I do, I make sure it's for something quite extraordinary.

Do you use your perfumes till the last drop and then throw the bottles away? Or do you keep just a little bit at the bottom and store it away somewhere? I always prefer to store some away, it's like storing memories, don't you think?