Blog celebration + give away!

so  D o m e s t i c  s t o r i e s  are celebrating!

what are they celebrating?

&

eventually what am I as their editor, writer & godmother celebrating?

let's see together, shall we?

cause most important of all, 

all this is taking place thank's to 

YOU!

You, Domestic stories and I are celebrating:

~ almost a year since the first "Welcoming" post back on the 10th of August 2010

~ more than 200 blog followers (currently 221)

~ more than 444 {currently 472} fans on the Facebook page created just 3 months ago,

~ more than 1320 people favoriting our respective etsy shop New Ivy Style {newivystyle}

~  addition of our shop to more than 611 circles since it reopened this April

{these etsy treasuries we are creating are making us quite popular & beloved indeed!}

~ 40 etsy Front pages

~ around 2830 hearts for the 54 items currently available

~ almost 1.500.000 views of my personal flickr acccount since July 2009

~ a year of cooperating with Ikea Family Live

& new ones to be coming!

~ a few publications & mentions of printed press like {this} feature among others

~ numerous mentions & features

on interior design blogs

like decor8, Apartment therapy, sfgirlbybay & many wonderful others

{some are mentioned in the "elsewhere, thank you" section on the sidebar on your left}

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

and then apart from numbers

D o m e s t i c  s t o r i e s  are celebrating a year of sharing creativity, reality, life, happinesses, worries,

hard times, good times...

a year of sharing life through a lens, a screen, a couple of keys on a keyboard

&

 a very eager to place herself out there person,

communicating who she is, 

what she does

what she loves,

sharing her passions, her experiences, her insight, her bright & sometimes goofy moments,

 right here with people like you,

who are inspired by living a creative, beautiful life, no matter the odds

last but not least  D o m e s t i c  s t o r i e s  are celebrating a year of  l e a r n i n g

cause this online community has be proven to be a fantastic teacher,

with the most fabulous of classmates & friends!

so before I go on with announcing the presents awaiting you,

let me THANK YOU one more time for brigning me right here,

exactly where I am...

It is just the perfect place to go on with my life, wishes & dreams to be coming true one by one,

day by day...

........................................

.... so time to put the cleenex away and proceed with a festive mood!

Here it is dear all:

one lucky winner will receive a 

F E S T I V E   G O O D I E S  B A G 

 from  D o m e s t i c  s t o r i e s  including:

a. 2 prints of your choice

b.  one paper boat garland from the {three designs available},

with the ability to customise the order

c. a little notebook much like {this one} 

currently available only off line,

which can also be customised

d.  a little secret surprise you'll love

e. another little secret surprise you'll love even more ;)

...and because D o m e s t i c  s t o r i e s  believe that whoever joins us* here is entitled to receive a present and be a winner,

starting Monday the 1st of August until the 10th of August 2011,

you may be entering the shop with

the code

"DOMESTIC STORIES CELEBRATE"

and receive a 50% recuction to ALL items of the shop

{* s u b s c r i b e  to receive the posts by email, simply fill out THIS form}

.... so what do you think, are we festive enough?

here is a glimple of our  home decor shop:

.........

now... what do you need to do so that you are entitled to enter the give away

& use the reduction code?

1. follow D o m e s t i c  s t o r i e s  blog via google and/or networked blogs

2. "like" our FB page

3. visit our shop {right here}

4.  return + leave a comment that you follow & like us + share which

prints you'd like to win 

& 

which is your favorite paper boat garland from {these}

5. in the very probable case that you are already a blog follower & our FB liker,

simply share the link to this celebration on your wall

& tweet about it!

........

that's it my dears!

wishing everyone good luck!

The winner will be picked on the 11th of August 2011!

happy sharing with your friends & happy commenting!

and the loveliest of weekends ahead : )

.............................................

P.S: you wouldn't happen to be too shy to share an opinion on {this recent post} would you? ;)

~ going grocery shopping?

good morming ladies & gentlemen perhaps, too?

happy Friday to you all!

this is a post mainly for ladies, still there ain't no reason that men cannot enjoy... 

 after all styling is a universal issue

you could pass some advice to your ladies, how about that? 

{of course I know that they look super perfect since they are yours  but a little inspiration never hurt anyone... right?... see my point? ;) }

so, let's say that we ladies, need to go GROCERY SHOPPING

one thing is certain: we need to be : c o m f o r t a b l e 

however, that doesn't need to be correlated with:

a.  looking as if we are going to the gym, packed in training shoes

b.  neither does it mean, that we throw just anything on & go out

and then again if you are thinking of any of the following,

I'd strongly, while very kinldy, advice not to:

a.  put on make up & especially go out with smoky eyes + red lipstick

neither in a combination, 

nor sepateretely one of the two

{we are going out to pick up just a few goodies after all, right?}

b. balance on high heels, despite our magnificent ability in walking like a cat on them

c.  spend hours in front of our wardrobe figuring out what to wear

d. come up with a very different, eye catching outfit

{life is not an editorial}

e. grab any tote to carry our groceries with

..................................................

wonderful... 

now that we are done with the basic NOT TO DO  list ,

how about proceeding with the TO DO  one?

for the record, amaware that gorgeous & stunning do not exactly describe my looks

in the picture below

&

actually this is exaclty the reason it is shared here

it just happens that some days we are less fit than others,

more tired or whatever...

all phases of real  life,

so, let's see what could work for a stylish & simple outfit

put together in a second:

a. a light cotton, knee length dress

in a colour & shape that charms our body shape

{I got mine last year from h&m online during the summer sales & paid 1/3 of its anyway low price}

b.  a practical Tote shopping bag with some nice details, 

{like the adjustable, practical & pretty leather handles}

somehow matching our outfit.

I got mine {here} 

&

 actually consider it 

one of the best {few} buys I made since 2011 launched.

 I'm carrying it all year round, 

thank's to the choice of jean like fabric, which fits every season

{doesn't it look gorgeous {here}?

~ a cotton scarf/schawl in a neutral colour

{ this one is from h&m current Spring collection & am absolutely adoring it.

it can also be worn as a mini skirt like {here} + a headband like {here} }

~ a pair of comfly flat sandals with nice details like these:

{these ones were found in Greece at Pull & Bear}

~ one accessory, my favorite one is my wooden bangle

~ a descrete ring we usually wear

~ no make up but perhaps some rimmel on eyelashes

~ hair in a pony tail for convenience unless it is short

&

~ last but not least:

let's put on a S M I L E !

: ) 

ready to share with the people you'll interact

&

remember that this world out there only brings back to us

the input we ourselves offer...

want to be treated with sincerity, respect & kindness?

find these traits within yourselves

& 

share them with the world!

others do not seem to get the message?

their problem + sadness ; )

................................

well, that's about it my dears...

how about suggestions from your side?

... and  how are you? 

what are your plans for the day & weekend ahead?

have you had a chance to enjoy some very favorite accessories of mine

{I posted about yesterday}?

 and do your know that today we are going to begin celebrating here 

&

the next post is all about the give away I have been promising

&

other wonderful chances for you to enjoy things from our shop?

oh yes, indeed!

so I might as well go,

cause the preparations are still going!

have a delightfully stylish, happy & productive Friday,

till we meet here again

xo

Domestic stories present Fab pins!

the time has come my dears,

it took a little longer than expected,

still I personally believe it was worthwhile

and hope that you will feel this way, too.

This feature is very special to me, not only because of the lovely products 

presented & the lovely person behind the making of them,

but also because it has given birth to a new idea.

Something that I have been trying to figure out since quite some time now.

That said, I'd like to ask you in my turn to be patient for one more time,

&

 simply keep this in your minds as an introduction

for a new era for Domestic stories.

I'd like to proceed with the wonderful presentation 

I' ve been longing to do

&

promise to go on revealing details very, very soon.

So, first of all take a look at the picture opening this post

& 

the one following below...

take your time to look carefully 

&

 concentrate on details...

Can you tell already?

if you are seeing some Fabulous Pins

&

the word recycled somewhere,

then you have it right,

as this is the key to this post:

some trully amazing, Fab pins, made from recycling security envelopes!

what a concept, right ?

How did these lovelies end up in my home

&

are eventually being featured here on Domestic stories?

a couple of weeks ago,

I noticed a beautiful etsy shop icon,

commenting on {this} etsy treasury I had just curated...

 I was so attracted by the little picture representing the shop,

that I immediatelly visited it and looked at the products one by one.

the outcome?

Love at first sight & an order placed immediately.

remarkable is the fact that I actually more or less am not the hugest fan of pins,

but as I'm in love with geometrical patterns,

natural tones & shades of blue,

falling in love with these set of badges was inevitable.

additionally I was emergly attracted by the beautiful product photography and packaging 

&

 simply reasonated deeply with recycling paper in order to make these pins.

When I - very promptly - received my order,

I felt like a girl on Christmas morning, thanks to the lovely packaging seen {here},

the thoughtful little card & a surprise present of a third set of 5 pins!

I also felt like getting to know a very interesting person,

as Jenny and I were exchanging some mails.

She responded so super positively to my suggestion of her being featured here

after she got familiar with the blog,

that not only she shared her story on  how it all begun,

but she also offered herself a special reduction to all the readers of Domestic stories.

isn't this wonderful?

I'll give you all the info +  instructions at the end of the post.

For now, take a visual bath in Jenny's Fab pins

&

come with us to hear fragments of her story... 

rather than asking questions, I let Jenny open her heart & speak for what ever pleased her

concering her work.

she says:

" I have always been fascinated by the hidden beauty in everyday objects that most people around me don't notice. Especially things which are designed to be used for only a short time such as tins, packaging & various other ephemera.

While recycling envelopes (from the many bills, bank statements & junk mail I had lying around) I noticed that the insides were all different & decided to use the paper to make little envelopes (with patterns on the outside) to use for gift wrapping small items & sending little notes. That was back in 2006. I made my first badge back in 2007 with a toy badge maker. I eventually bought a professional badge machine last year. I have now built up quite a collection of these envelopes & I love how making a simple badge with them really brings the patterns to life. Each is like a miniature piece of 

abstract art!"

well, I happen to strongly believe with all my heart that these badges are trully little pieces of every day art.

I can imagine so many uses besides what I already show you here,

like decorating a daily shopping tote bag or a cushion.

necklaces, armbands & bookmarks come in my mind... 

decorating cute as...button presents, too!

&

I just cannot get over the idea of framing them... 

 I actually think that I'll do that, as soon as I enjoy them in various ways,

or since I'm already a happy owner of 15,

frame 9 & keep my most favorite six to use daily

in various ways...

Here are the three lovely packages I received:

and these are the two ways I'm loving using them at the moment:

Jenny produces pins of other kind of paper than {recycled security envelopes}, like

~ {stamps} from countries like USA, Canada, France, Italy, Germany & Australia,

~ {dictionary pages}, making clever combinations with words such as:

 theory - reason - logic

ego - self - identity

portrait - collage - landscape

 abstract - expressionism - symbolism

& 

others from

~ {fabric} as well

My next favorites are the ones made from dictionary pages....

[via]

I just love me some art with a touch of intelligence & intelect,

a real story behind 

&

 a beginning for no other reason than pleasing oneself,

while at the same time being genuine & contributing to recycling / upcycling.

So what do you think my dears?

has it been worth to wait a little longer?

I hope that you are nodding positively : )

now, how about sharing with you Jenny's present?

a 15% reduction to all readers of Domestic Stories!

All you have to do is visit Jenny's etsy shop Fab pins right {here},

place your orders & write the code:

"DOMESTICSTORIES"

{ as one lovely word please}

in the COUPON CODE section

that way 15% of reduction will immediately be incorporated in your purchase

the generous offer runs till the end of 2011!

 stay connected with Jenny through her {tweeter}

and enjoy!

hope you've all spent lovely days 

c u right here very soon 

xo

.................................................

P.S: all shots except the one before the last are styled & taken by Iro - Ivy Nassopoulos  for Domestic stories with Ivy {product} Photography

~ internal stillness & white LOVES wood . . .

good morning everyone...

 just a few thoughts to begin the day with until the promised post is on...

 i n t e r n a l  s t i l l n e s s...

 ... do you know moments when your thoughts are still?

 ... when there exists nothing else but you, in your natural environment?

 ... when judgement is switched off...

 ... when ambition & the ego are resting...

 ... when you just enjoy the simplest things in life...

 ... when you are happy with all you have & who you are...

 ... regardless of all shortcomings...

 ... just for a little while... 

a simple stone among sand, shot during our vacation, with {a magnificent mini island} in the background,

where we swam to everyday while in Kos...

... m a g i c...

enjoy your days 

& 

try to resist to many words for a little while,

sometimes they just camouflage extreme internal nervousness...

there is no need...

just breathe 

& 

accept who you are & where you are right now...

there is a reason for everything ...

..........................

and for those that already wish for some home decor inspiration ,

a few suggetions from the corridors of etsy,

based on how well

 white & wood work together

[via]

Bonjour :)

~ when "real life" happens ...

lovely all,

good evening  & of course good afternoon to residents of America!

 I'm sure that you are all familiar with the factor

 "real life", right?

 ...it takes place when for a day, you intend to post in the late afternoon,

 thinking that you'll be home alone, 

 as he has plans for grilling with collegues in a garden

 and then life happens,

 a storm bursts out,

 the bell rings around the usual time and it's him...

 "I' m hoOome..., plans are postponed for a rain free day..."

 "oh lovely" she thinks...great that you are here,

 also thinking that her post about an  cute as a button etsy shop

 {promised here}

 was left in the middle, 

 as well as a few mails unanswered...

 possibly some readers anticipating

 the appearance of 

 the fingers on the keyboard

  &

the person behind the screen, 

 responsible for the content of this blog here...

 "oh my!" she thinks I'd hate to let them down,

 but then she wants to rush nothing...

 so she gives in to 

  "real life", which happens again,

 with her in the kitchen,

 making an unplanned chocolate cake,

 while the washing mashine is almost ready with the laundry,

 shirt ironing has hardly started,

 the dishes are done

 &

 after the cake making they need to be done again...

 whichever the case my dears,

 real life comes first,

 and so long as it happens, 

 lines like these can be written...

 I'll see you {almost} first thing in the morning here,

 untying the lovely package that you see in the photo above

 before I go though, 

 a very dear "thank you" to amazing Holly Becker,

 who mentioned Domestic Stories with Ivy blog today

 in her open discussion on Facebook,

 as one of her prefered inspiring blogs,

 basing their original, 

 genuine content, 

 on the writers' {inspiring} every day life.

 I spent half the day so incredibly happy & honoured for that

 & 

 made me think that the best thing that I've ever done 

 in my whole life, was to actually begin listening to & following my heart.

 in the meantime, I'm confident it's taking me right where I want to be,

 and there were life has plans of taking me,

 supported of course by:

persistence, work, patience & endless love

  

 cheers!

 c u tomorrow ~

Postcards from Greece ~

so this is Greece...

bright white...

emphasized by the shining sun...

plasticity in architecture...

humble furniture...

lots of flaws...

fading paint...

inviting corners to sit &enjoy from a morning coffee,

to a midday ouzo,

or 

a late dinner...

surrounded by endless blue sea

&

 very often friendly people,

displaying great hospitality...

 jump over {here} to watch a little video of Greece!

there are thousands available on line, 

 still I love the song

by {this} modern band,

singing in Greek,

  using such beautiful words + lyrics...

the pictures of this post were taken during our recent trip to {Kos island}

&

the ones presented here today were all taken in the city center...

  as you may well guess both my parther and I were taking plenty of photos!

 still, as cohesion  & an overall clean look 

 are both matters key to the appearance of the little place I keep here,

you'll be enjoying just a few,

hopefully leaving you with a vivid taste of how my favorite corners looked like.

 these are shots mainly of just two different corners,

photographed through various angles + perspectives...

  in my effort to actually document 

how it felt to walk in  these little streets...

 during a pleasantly hot summer day...

being {barefoot}...

carrying my sandals in hand....

with the camera in the other hand...

&

my most favorite person on earth beside me

or maybe not always so beside me,

as we both love to explore...

only to meet again and start photographing each other

or

realise that we've been taking similar pictures...

this is a place where my heart + soul totally stood still ~

time stopped existing for a while ...

at least so it felt so ~

I love such times...

and cherish them forever ~

wouldn't you just love to be there?

there are more pictures of this vacation to be shared,

 in some dosis now & then,

so that I also get a nice, refreshing feeling

 when preparing the posts here,

since I've been really missing Greek summer so much already.

 the next one will include 

a small list with 

all the places we loved being at, 

when on the island

hopefully they will be a good reference for you in case you visit Kos!

c u quite soon, 

right here,

with a post featuring a cute as a button etsy shop,

you are sure to love!

.......................................

P.S: the two photographs with the watermark "Domestic stories with Ivy Photography" are getting prepared to be available in the etsy shop. In case you are intersted to already order directly via email, a lovely discount will be made for you :)