Thursday, November 23, 2017

Last post before hitting the road

Small clutch and boho/Ibiza bracelet.

Last week I didn't get my design for a small envelop/clutch style wallet ready. I didn't want to make it out of one piece, because then I need a big piece of leather and I have much waste. So I figured something out in 3 pieces, measured  and fixed it all out and made it out of  paper: the corners overlapped each other too much to my taste/opinion  and I made a new paper template with the corners 1 cm shorter and that looked good to me. I traced the pattern over on the leather, cut the pieces out and started assembling it: hadn't I shortened the corners! When designing, I hadn't taken the thickness of the leather into account and now I had to pull and tug and wrick the flaps into place. To close the envelop I had a stud in mind, I fixed the stud but the closing flap was also too short; I didn't want to make the incisions to pass the stud through out of fear the flap wouldn't close properly, so I decided on a nice red elastic to be hooked around the stud. Of course this is only a prototype, but despite the minor problems it looks good and attractive. With some minor adjustments, I'll have a good pattern and my own!

LoveLea's small leather clutch in firm black leather.

LoveLea's black leather clutch.


Here comes the bracelet in dark brown leather I was talking about in my last post: (https://hildemariapierredenys.blogspot.com.tr/2017/11/small-leather-goods-ibiza-style-jewels.html).

LoveLea's bracelet in dark brown leather with shells boho style.


The shells I used are vintage, I have them for at least 40 years. Wear this bracelet in summertime, when you are longing for the summer, at a beach party. It will make you feel happy and sunny.




Detail with vintage shells.


Market

In a week we will be leaving our summerhouse and going north. When we went to the market to make our last shopping, I took my camera with me to shoot some pictures. It was difficult to choose a picture thus I made 2 collages and you have an idea what the colorful market is about.


Socks and vegetables at the local market.

Dolphins

Thursday we were having lunch outside; my husband was facing the sea and suddenly he says: I saw a big splash of water; my thought went immediately to whales but that is not possible, so it could only be dolphins. There were lots of fishing boats before the house and near the coastline so there must be lots of fish and the presence of dolphins confirms this. We hoped the dolphins would get closer to the shore, but alas! that didn't happen. When I went swimming the day after the dolphins for  the last time, I secretly hoped the dolphins would come again, but no again. The water was really cold, 17° C  and when I was lowering myself slowly into the water,  I felt my body's heat rising, I felt my inside as a stove that was stoked up, an amazing feeling! I swam for about 15 min and got out and took a hot shower and felt invigorated. But  warm weather, it was 22° C Thursday, in a cold season causes fog and Sunday was a foggy day. Fortunately bad weather makes great pictures and I captured this fishing boat:




Anecdote.

since a couple of days, a stray cat visits our garden. He is yellow and shy. Tuesday he was wading through a layer of dry leaves, about 5 cm high, really slowly, 1 path at the time, his tail waggling and moving up and down and right and left, no sound coming from the dry leaves. I was in awe for this skill but the waving of his tail puzzled me. I stood still, watching him and wondering what he was up to: had he spied an insect? a wounded bird ? then all of a sudden a big scream, my hart almost jumped out of my chest,  and another cat leaped out from under the leaves, a gray one with his fur all mixed up and ugly, unclean. and unkempt. Off they went chasing each other. The clever cat had hid in a depression of the earth full of leaves and was invisible.

We will be leaving this Sunday, traveling north-west; I wont have much time to write and there certainly won't be time for designing or making jewels. Maybe I'll post some comments, journal  like.
See you!

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Small leather goods, Ibiza style jewels and goat cheese in a jar.

Small leather goods


Last week I started making some business card wallets and planned on making some small envelop like clutches. The envelop designs are taking more time than I anticipated: I want my own envelop, style and dimensions. Meanwhile I continued making wallets and the first one I made this week is pretty feminine with its small tassel and subdued color. Goes right into your hip bag.


LoveLea's business card wallet in pale leather.

LoveLea's business card wallet in pale leather with tassel.

Between the scraps I had put aside aside for my wallets, one was of a dark brown leather, finely grained 2 mm thick. Because it was a long scrap, I was able to get a choker, 2 wallets and 2 bracelets out of it. Because of the dark color, the wallets could be used by men. The bracelets aren't made yet, concept though is in my head.


LoveLea's business card wallet and gothic choker in dark brown leather.

LoveLea's dark brown leather choker; picture courtesy of Suat Ozonder.


Lovelea's business card wallet in dark brown leather.

Ibiza style jewels

The colder weather made me long for warmer temperature and it inspired me to make some Boho/Ibiza style necklaces and bracelets. The necklace in the picture below is made out of a pale brown leather with a tassel of the same leather and turquoise and orange wooden beads.


Boho pale brown leather necklace with tassel and wooden beads

 Boho style cries for bracelets and lots of them. I made a 2 string leather bracelet with wooden beads, and a 3 string one. The lace is home made and of real leather. The 2 string bracelet has a little tassel.


LoveLea's 2-string leather bracelet with wooden beads. Picture courtesy of S. Ozonder.

LoveLea's 3-string leather bracelet with wooden beads. Picture courtesy of S. Ozonder

Goat cheese in a jar.

For a lot of products, the season is almost over. The same is valid for cheese and especially goat cheese. The fields and mountain slopes are invaded by sheep and goats with  their lovely, sweet, funny, shy little lambs and kids. The milk isn't used for cheese but goes to their babies. So no more fresh cheese for a while. Last week I bought my suppliers last chunks of goat cheese . This should get us through the winter and spring till new cheese is available. I don't have a very big fridge and goat cheese doesn't freeze well so I cured them in oil, olive oil.

Goat cheese in a jar.

I didn't have a fancy jar on hand but I assure you, it's the content that counts. Off course I could just fill the jar with cheese and pour the oil over it, but that is not much fun; it would taste all right but I prefer an enriched cheese. What I like is cheese cured with herbs and condiments. I start out putting some black peppercorns and 1 sage leaf  and a  tea spoon of nigella seeds at the bottom; then I cut the cheese in pieces that fit into the jar; between layers I only add 2 or 3 black peppercorns and some nigella seeds. I don't overdue, I still want to taste the cheese. When the jar is almost full I pour the olive oil over it and control carefully if the oil went everywhere in the jar, no air pockets should be left. Then I cover the last piece of cheese with a sage leaf, 3 or 4 peppercorns and nigella seeds, insert some thyme sprigs  into the side and pour more oil over it so everything is covered well. A week later, you can start eating your cheese. Savor your cheese with some dry white wine or with a sweet white wine, like a Sauternes, it is heaven on earth. A bit fruity red wine is o.k. also. And you can have it at breakfast to start your day in a good mood, but take your time to savor it.

Goat cheese in a jar with sage leaf, black peppercorns and nigella seeds.

My leather supplier had 2 long strips of black, shiny leather. I took them home, just the right thing  for fancy chokers or necklaces. Wait and see. And by next week the dark brown bracelets and my own envelop should be ready. Wait and see, 😊😃

Do you have a favorite recipe for cheese? What do you do when you have a big supply of cheese? Let me know, please. It would be cool to have some interaction.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

About pomegranates, dogs, an insight and leather goods.

Pomegranates


This time of the year, the pomegranates are in season, ready to eat. I love their color: deep deep red skin; some are one side red, the other side off-white/ beige. The beads inside are an  almost translucent red. I like pomegranates if the pits in the beads are not to big and bitter but I don't like to pare them; it is a tedious, patience demanding job and you have to be careful not to stain your cloths, the countertop or the floor, they cause very nasty stains! But they make beautiful pictures .


Pomgranates
Pomegranates.


An obsevation and a deduction.


I  was aware that our dog is jealous: when we pet a dog, she comes running to be petted too! Last Sunday we went for a walk and on the road we met the neighbor's dog; because his owners are away for a few days, we petted and stroked him more than usually so he won't feel lonely;  he is easily scared when he is on his own and  barks the whole day and the whole night. By petting him we not only perform works of  mercy, but we make him feel less lonely and he is more quiet. Our dog was a little behind us and saw me petting the dog. They are friends and get along well. When she was close to me I wanted to stroke her too, she loves to be stroked, but she turned her head away. I protruded my hand again to stroke her and she did it again, this was no coincidence! She turned away and went a little bit farther and lied down. I called my husband to watch, did some steps in her direction and she stood up and took off! Have you ever!


Dog painted by Hilde Denys owner of LoveLea
I painted our dog in my favorite position.


As you may have understood from the previous post, I have some trouble seeing myself  as the person who I am.  There was a time when I was really skinny, but I couldn't see it myself. These days, when I see myself unexpectedly in the mirror, I can see myself as I am, not skinny but not fat either while when I look intentionally in a mirror, I see someone fat. The same happens when I think about myself as a person, I can't see or understand who I am. In "Feel free to prosper"  Marilynn Jenett says that the subconscious only hears dominant words and when we criticize others, the subconscious thinks we are speaking about ourselves! It's about 1 year I read this statement and I didn't do anything with it. Some days ago, "mon jeton est tombé": if I start saying nice things about others, if I praise them instead of criticize, then my subconscious will think I am talking about myself and  I 'll be able to see myself in a good light!!! Wouldn't that be great?


Black Leather Jewels


As I told you in my last post, I made 2 choker and 2 bracelets in lean black leather for the year-end feasts.  They are multi stylish (if there is a word like this): you could wear the choker easily in a "chique" way or, if this is not you, in a Gothic style. If you choose chique, you could wear the bracelet combined with a golden chain, provided you want to wear a set. The choker and the bracelet  will make a Gothic outfit  very Gothic. How about a choker with some chains, cool I think!

LoveLea's black leather choker
LoveLea's black leather choker.


LoveLea's black leather bracelets.
LoveLea's bracelets in black leather

Small leather goods.


X-mas is coming and New Year, everybody wants to get presents for their loved ones, children, grand children, friends, relatives, neighbors, a business relation and I have crafted some business card wallets. I have small envelops in different colors in mind, but I'll create them in the course of next week.



  LoveLea's leather business cards wallets
LoveLea's leather business cards wallets


 LoveLoveLea's brown, night blue and pale blue leather business cards wallets
LoveLea's brown, night blue and pale blue
leather business cards wallets.

The wallet to the right is in a very nice blue leather, the color of the sky before rain falls down. Lying flat is a wallet in a very soft, pale blue leather and to its right a cable holder in the same leather, goes together in your tote.  For the brown wallet I used the skin inside out, the brown was much deeper and richer; my husband prefers this one because it is less slippery on the outside and the smooth inside lets your cards slip in more easily.

Tell me, which one do you prefer? all of them are for sale at my fb page, link in the left column. I will be making more in the next week and a choker embellished with a chain for the Gothic lovers.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

An ancient road to connections.

The acropolis of Bergama

It has been a while, lets say almost 20 years that I visited the acropolis of Bergama. Since then, lots of interesting artifacts have been discovered. I have been longing to discover those new things myself since April! We were very busy around that time, then came the summer months, no way you see me walk around on a summer day between piping hot marble ruins! Finally this last Friday we payed the acropolis a visit. It was a beautiful day but we didn't find that out until we were climbing the ancient roads in the sunshine: we were clothed way too warm and kept peeling off layer and layer of coat, sweater and blouse till we were only in a t-shirt; you wouldn't believe that the acropolis is very very cold and windy this time of the year.

You start your visit by following a wide bumpy road paved with huge rectangular stones; parallel to this road is a  smooth wooden road but I prefer the bumpy one, imagining myself walking there as a local citizen, donned in a linen chiton, maybe get a glimpse of Attalos III.  Surely Alexander the Great's feet have walked this same route! Thus wandering on this ancient stone paved road, I felt connected to the past, I felt being part of something bigger than me.

Ancient paved road of the acropolis, Bergama, Turkey.

There are lots of pictures of the acropolis of Bergama, former Pergamum on the internet; I want to post a couple pictures of less photographed segments, with the exception of 2 picture of the truly majestic temple of  Hadrianus, pictures of which I am proud.

Hadrianus Temple, Acropolis, Bergama, Turkey



Columns, capital of Hadrianus Temple, Acropolos, Bergama, Turkey.

In the picture above you see clearly the 2 types of columns, grooved (foreground) and plain (background), and in the left corner is a good view of a huge Corinthian capital with acanthus leaves.

From the tempel of Hadrianus was a passage to the theater below, but I really wonder: who would use this dark, small, steep, potentially dangerous stairs to descend to the theater when there must have been nice large entrances? My husband, 😏 😊.


Staircase to the worlds most steep theater, Acropolis, Bergama, Turkey.


Something puzzles me: because the Hadrianus temple was build on the top of the hill and partly on the slope of the hill, big foundations were needed: instead of the usual foundations, they built galleries flanked by rooms on one side, maybe used as store rooms on which the platform of the temple rested. In one of this rooms, we saw rests of paint, like frescos????

Foundation with storage room on the left behind bars.


Paint on the wall in a storage room in the foundation.of Hadrianus Temple, Bergama.

We wandered for about 3 hours; as last we visited the Z-building that houses some mosaics; one mosaic consists of 16 medaillons: in the middle 4 medaillons represent 2 tigers and 1 rooster and a chicken,  the 12 surrounding ones are faces with open mouth. It is not my picture that is bland, the mosaics themselves were, maybe they were covered with dust in the not windproof building; but you can have an idea of the level of skill the artisans had!

Detail of mosaic, acropolis, Bergama, Turkey.

Mothers and daughters.

On the way down of the Akroplis, we stopped by the shop of a friend of ours. We hadn't seen her in a while. After having exchanged some news, she started telling that her menopause was causing her a lot of trouble, psychological troubles. She kept saying she felt unsightly and "I am ugly"  but since she had seen a homeopath, for the first time in her life, she felt better; the reason she felt ugly was that her mother told her she was ugly and no good when she was small. The fact is: she isn't ugly, she is beautiful, gorgeous, lively and accomplished, she has her own business, owns the shop she is in and there she was, saying I am ugly! Now she was in menopause, she suffered more, felt it more acute. She wasn't complaining, just telling us in a pragmatical way.

The truth is: if you haven't been told that you are beautiful, smart, funny.... when you were a kid and you came in contact with kids who have been told they are beautiful... and therefore act like they are beautiful... you see your mothers words as true and you can't see yourself as beautiful when you are an adult! I know this from experience: my mother never told me I was beautiful or smart or funny, but she luckily never told me  I was ugly or stupid. Some days I am in front of the mirror and I say: you' re not bad and other days I say: how could you ever think that you are "not bad".

I have been longing to write something about my husband and childeren, but hadn't find the proper time; really, I started writing some lines about my daughter, but didn't know how to blend her in  in the context and this is a splendid moment now:  oh Mothers, please tell your daughters (sounds like a phrase out of the house of the rising sun) that you love them, that they are beautiful, smart, good looking, kind, anything they are;  I am sure the more you look for their qualities, the more you can find them. Please don't blame YOUR mother: just as you they are the product of their upbringing, environment, education..... it is to us to break the circle now we know, so our daughters do have a notion about who they are.




My dearest daughter, my little sunshine (she is mostly in a good mood), my shy girl (she isn't shy any more), my smart girl (that she still is), my kind girl (she used to write me little notes on a piece of paper), my determined, courageous, resilient daughter! You know, when she was pregnant of Vicky, her water broke very early! and she had to lie flat 24/24 for a couple of months to keep the little water she had. That was not the hardest part: there was a risk she would give birth to a baby with breathing problems, a baby with a deformed face. But she had faith, wanted the baby and Vicky is now a very special, beautiful, smart and bright little girl That's how my daughter is, who she is! Yes, my daughter, this is you!

You readers, you all are daughters and maybe mothers of daughters, tell me about your experience, as a daughter,as a mother. You can write in the comments or if you feel too shy, you can write me using the contact form on the left of the post.


Leather small goods/jewels.

Climbing the acropolis took us a whole day; still I made a bracelet AND made a prototype of my own card wallet. The concept didn't take long but working it out: choosing the leather, the measuring, the cutting, the sewing took a couple of hours! When sewing, I realized I hadn't thought about closing the card wallet. I had to think of something before every seam was closed; unfortunately I was to quick to decide and the wallet doesn't close properly. My initial intention was to make a prototype out of fabric, study the problems, find a solution and only then start the leather copy. But time was pressing  and I made the prototype right away with all its consequences. But it looks good and holds 6 cards!

LoveLea's special card wallet outer side.


LoveLea's special card wallet, inner side.




I'll have to make another card wallet and do some  more thinking how to make it safe.

LoveLea's pink leather bracelet with snake head clasp.


This pink bracelet looks good. If you"re still tan from the summer, it will look even better. Will look nice to a party or if  you wear something with 3/4 sleeves.

Next post, I hope to show you some black leather jewels, good for the coming festivities! And tell me about your mother-daughter feelings.

The event of the year (in my town), Pro's of having a dog, How I excorcise inspiration; My revamped quote!

The event of the year Last Friday it was my daughter's birthday and it was the first day of Suikerrock, a 3 day rock festival in our...

The event of the year (in my town), Pro's of having a dog, How I excorcise inspiration; My revamped