(Early) Spring Balcony

Thank God for warm (and sometimes sunny) weather! Who would have thought that we could enjoy a cup of tea on the small balcony, in February?! So, the days went from bloody freezing to mild and I prepared a cozy corner on the balcony. We've got sheep skin to keep us warm, a well equipped serving tray, potted plants and fresh flowers :)

The pride of my spring balcony are the "green babies" who survived a cold Romanian winter. These plants, mostly succulents, spider plants and ferns, are already trained to spend a few months on the chilly balcony. The space is enclosed with glass, but it's not heated and not many plants can make it til spring. 

I've already daydreamed about enjoying a cup of mint tea with my boyfriend :) Valentine's Day is tomorrow and the balcony is the perfect place to spend the morning together. That's why there is a whimsical heart hanging there. I love the way it looks, with the dusty pink silk and the delicate lace. But the hearts means so much more to me, because it's a handmade present from lovely Lisa. Hop over to her blog Lisa Sol to see her talent in action!

The colors make me smile and it feels like Spring already! Even the hyacinths come in three colors! I just used whatever was handy, not thinking about the chromatic at all. That's why you can see a lovely mix of greens, blues and pinks against the white background of the balcony. Oh, and a little bit of yellow, too!

Ladies, you are invited to take a break with me on the balcony. It is warm and fresh in here. It smells of hyacinths and tea and honey. The teapot is made by local artisans and the green poster is a simple DIY from origami paper. If it gets dark, we'll light the candle and the Moroccan lamp on the shelf! 

Random Happy Home

A lazy home is a happy home! Colors are clashing together; toys, potted plants and tiny things keep piling up everywhere; the cats look wonderfully furry against the cold weather outside. Lots and lots of good books to read. Friends are showing upon my doorstep at least twice a week for game nights, in spite of the happy mess. I couldn't ask for more :)

Above you can see my messy reading corner in the home office. It consists of a neutral bean bag and a pile of books and boxes. I love the way the patterns come together: the Ikea pillow, the traditional rug and the bicycle pattern of my DIY faux wallpaper. And since I bought lots of bulbs last October, we've had hyacinths blooming indoors all winter long :)

My kitty Anais in her favorite spot: next to the kitchen window, where little doves are nesting. On the kitchen shelf, take a peek at my expanding collection of spices and herbs. This little horsey thinks he is a unicorn - I've got a plan to add a small horn and make him into a real one...

Apart from trying out new recipes (involving lots of veggies and lentils), I've been secretly drawing new patterns. My friend Miguel encouraged me to doodle till I die. Now I never leave home without my sketchbook and it feels so good!

More random pics from the happy home: the orchid buds, feathered blue DIY box on my desk, more colors and pattern mixed in the bedroom (including another gorgeous traditional wool rug) and the whimsical owl gift bag, the inspiration for a future DIY project called "Free art for your walls". To be continued :)

Never-Ending Christmas

Hello, dear friends, it's great to be back online! I hope you all had a wonderful time during the winter holidays and that this new year is already on the right track for each one of you, with exciting surprises and new projects!

Please don't be alarmed by the title of this post, ha ha! I KNOW it's been 6 weeks since Christmas, but for me it feels wonderful even now, for a number of good reasons:

a) In January I've received many incredible heart-felt and hand-crafted gifts from my best friends online (and this post is all about the gifts!)

b) My circle of friends feels like the best family ever - and despite our real job during the week days, we've managed to spend lots of time together in impromptu evenings and long board-game session during the weekends. So my days are full;

c) Like any weather-dependent Leo, the grey skies and cold weather make me sleepy... and lazy (for which I am very, very sorry!).

So, back to my presents: the first one to come (pictured above) was from Ana-Marija from Carpe Diem, the lady with the greatest smile in the world. She overwhelmed me, by making these adorable softies just for me, go figure! The gingham cats are meant to be a window treatment, so stay around and I'll show you where these cuddly felines are residing in my home!

Next, another incredible surprise, which left me speechless: the whimsical heart with a twist, hand made by lovely Lisa from Lisa Sol. Dusty pink, delicate lace and a handsome button - this is now my key ingredient to my Valentines decor in the little apartment.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, here comes a little package sent by Ann from Love Making Things. She included a beautiful hand-printed card which makes me ready for the next summer, one of her famous handmade ornaments (yes: it is gingham, again - and it's a heart, again! The stars aligned...) and as a bonus the cutest gift tags. They were on sale at M&S and she couldn't help herself - I understand it too well, Ann!

So these are my presents from Croatia, Norway and UK. A never-ending Christmas full of wonder - I just put away the Xmas decorations like 5 days ago. I've taken lots and lots of pics (with my new DSLR, which I don't know how to use properly) so I can't wait to share the new details of my home with you!