Sparkle

Sparkle by jenny-tris-apostolopoulou featuring rebecca minkoff

Rebecca minkoff
theoutnet.com

Valentino shoes
valentino.com

Hoop earrings
etsy.com

Guerlain
nordstrom.com

Shu uemura
shuuemura-usa.com

This with That : Blue

This cutie coin purse

with 

That Blue handknitted beanie hat

Pissed off and Productive

You know, when you have those days, when

you are sooo pissed off you just want to

smash EVERYTHING, including the amazing China you

have been saving for when 

"the king/president/Hugh Jackman visits", because

it will just make you feel good even for a few minutes?????

Well, I have been having **those** kind

of days..

And I know that if I do smash everything

that can be smashed, I will be sorry

later. Not because I will

have destroyed all my glasses/jars/vases

but because I will have to do the

clean up myself. yep. 

Anyway, this post is not about me telling

you the reasons I have been so

pissed off, but no, they have nothing

to do with that post.

I just decided that I will not do any smashing

and I will take all this energy and do 

something creative with it.

So, I did.

I made twisted wire. I mean, I made it.

Took pieces of left over wire (because I m 

running really low on supplies too.*head desk)

and just started twisting it. 

It took me a while.

I actually made more. I also made twisted

wire out of brass and more copper.

no more silver though.

But, not only did I make twisted wire

I also used it in some designs.

Can I say I am reaaaaally pleased with these???

And I also made these, well not out of twisted wire,

but I was in a productive-pissed off frenzy!

yummy :)

oh...and I also remade this :

which you can find here

and these cute petite butterflies

What do YOU do when you are pissed off??

This with That : Yellow

This coin purse with yellow triangles

with that pair of Neon yellow enamel earrings

sunny!

Ongoing Battle

Consider yourself warned :

1. This is a long post

2. I am not a good writer

3. English is not my 1st language
4. there is only 1 photo in this post

.

.

.

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Ok..I would love to see how many of you started reading this post, and

then after nr. 4, how many actually stayed on the page...

*pours some coffee*

This is one of the numerous posts I have written/edited/revisited/re-edited 
and then abandonned on the draft folder.

Why you may ask? Well, because of nr. 2 and nr.3, I m 
affraid you will think I m either crazy, or a 
complete fool, or an idiot, 

or boring to death, or you will think to 
yourself "did she actually write this???".

But this time, I just felt I owe it to myself to click the publish button.

I know only a few of you will actually read this, and I just

don't care really if you will think less of me; not anymore anyway.

So, for those very few who might have decided 
not to run away, because I love you and  because of nr.2, I will cut straight 
to the chase.

*deep breath*

Ok. For the past year or so, I have been

told, quite a few times actually, that

my shop/creations are "all over the place".

I think I fully understand what "all over the place" means, but because

of nr. 3 I can not be 100% sure about the feeling of this

phrase. you know what I mean?

It would be so great if you did. 

See? I could have said lovely, but great is another word, with
another feel to it.

It's more intense than lovely.

You get it now?

Anyway....I guess the phrase means, that I do not
 have a cohesive looking shop, that my creations 
are not distinctive, that they

do not have that special recognizable niche, style.etc...

 I was really hurt. Even though I m sure

their intentions were good, all this had me 

losing hours of sleep feeling lousy with myself.

Feeling incompetent, talentless, boring, just not enough...

Quitting was/has been and still seems like a delightful option

every time I find myself in this state of mind.

The truth is though, that my shop IS "all over the place".

My creations are a mix of various styles....

If you look at the photo below you will too say this:

I go from mimimal, to a bit bohemian, to a bit of

a gypsy style, then the pearl earrings are the elegant part,

 then to colorful fun and playful, and then

to bohemian and colorful once again.

There is silver, gemstones,pearls,copper,enamel and some

beading! hello??!?!?!

Heh. My shop looks like a freakin' department store..
the only cohesive thing about it, is the white background
made with repurposed-by moi-wooden crate...

LMAO!!

*stops laughing*

Thing is, I have always admired people with a great talent 

in something. Those who excell in making/singing/creating/painting sth with their

own individual/recognizable magnificent style...and sticking to it.

I always admired their greatness.

And always felt short for not having it.

People like me, have small talents.

Can do really well in many things, but never excell in anything.

I am a good singer, a good piano player, a good crafter.

But not a great one at anything of the above.

One day I was thinking about talent and how

it is like the jackpot.

You either earn big time, or

small prizes.

And, as we all know, jackpot is not

something really frequent for most people...

Small prizes are.

*drinks some more coffee*

Before you start thinking this is a "boo hoo" post
all about "please make me feel good about myself"
I will say it loud and clear...

I LOVE love love what I make.
I love each and every little thing I have created with
my own hands. 
Simple or more intricate, inspired or not, perfect or mediocre,
I love every inch of every single piece.
I have come a really looooong way.
I ve had many crying days and many smiling days
through much trial and error. 
Through success and failure.

So, yes, maybe I will never be the designer with
the *wow f****** awesome* designs.
And maybe I will never find a niche.

But, this is who I am.
I love minimal design, but I love me
some bohemian style as well.
I love the gypsy look, but I do
admire elegance.
And I do love colors and playful designs
and fun designs.

*coffe is over.a refill?*

....however, this is an ongoing battle.
A never ending one.
There are days I feel satisfied with myself
and there are those dreadful days
I almost pity myself for my lack in greatness.
There are days when loving your pieces
is simply not enough to overcome the horrible 
feeling of not being great.

Those days, quitting seems like the only way out;
out of mediocre, of boring, of not good enough.

It really is an ongoing battle.



I think I will not tire you any longer with my
awful writing...

I am not sure, even now as I read this again, how I would
like to end this post...

I do not feel hurt anymore when I am told
this kind of thing. 
I ve come to terms with it :)

 Thank you, whoever you are who actually
took the time to read this ramblings of mine.

J

This with That...a better version:)

So, I have decided to slightly change my "This with That"

column...of course it's been over *cough* a month

I posted such a thing..BUT, I promise

to do so from now on...

The idea is to combine items, usually two, that

cost no more than $50-$70 in total...

I really liked this idea, if I may say so myself :)

Today, we have this pair of items, both cost $57! :

This pair of silver heart stud earrings

with That Deer and Bird womens' Tshirt

:)

New!

sparkly blue Titanium Druzy.....

..with a gorgeous Amethyst cabochon....

In one necklace.....with white freshwater pearls and loads of silver...

Blue Titanium Druzy Necklace

A noisy charm pendant all about nature...

Handcut embossed silver butterfly, a silver flower that can spin

playing with your fingers..

and a leaf. with gold and a pearl.

Elegance.

Sterling and fine silver charm pendant with white pearl

.....

Jenny