tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73983992024-03-14T06:41:57.307+00:00Andrea's Random Lil' BlogAndrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-45954633428620643962011-09-07T21:30:00.000+01:002011-09-07T21:30:47.057+01:00The Bella necklace...I created this necklace as a result of two needs: first, to give my Mother a black and white/monochrome piece; second, to create a necklace which was inspired by Bella, our black and white Wicklow Collie...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yuz6n99-yRc/TmfP8gfhz3I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/W-eu9FT5BjQ/s1600/Bella1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yuz6n99-yRc/TmfP8gfhz3I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/W-eu9FT5BjQ/s400/Bella1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fd8TcxpRpE0/TmfQM-zxY6I/AAAAAAAAAXU/iCr85z5TydI/s1600/Bella6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fd8TcxpRpE0/TmfQM-zxY6I/AAAAAAAAAXU/iCr85z5TydI/s320/Bella6.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />
She seems to have approved the results. I have used here lots of Czech glass beads with a black and white "Dalmatian" pattern and several cute shapes: square, sphere, disc, oblongs, swirly, flowery and polka dotty etc. I bought them in a lovely shop in Prague some years ago - whose name I can't recall right now. I also used Swarovski crystal cubes, Swarovski black separators with embedded strass chatons, black obsidian round beads, clear polished glass beads and more of my little Japanese treasures: several black glass beads with millefiori pattern from the 50's ( made in Osaka) and a beautiful Tonbodama by Japanese bead artist Naomi.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMTptNvoLy8/TmfRkdXosPI/AAAAAAAAAXY/KpVe2zurPOI/s1600/Bella1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMTptNvoLy8/TmfRkdXosPI/AAAAAAAAAXY/KpVe2zurPOI/s400/Bella1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPxHvliWC_4/TmfR7ju90mI/AAAAAAAAAXc/ugd53NCxL10/s1600/Bella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPxHvliWC_4/TmfR7ju90mI/AAAAAAAAAXc/ugd53NCxL10/s400/Bella2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05nMqmNC8EU/TmfR8VgaFFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/FliCu8Oyp68/s1600/Detail3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05nMqmNC8EU/TmfR8VgaFFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/FliCu8Oyp68/s320/Detail3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Below, some details of the Czech glass beads that are so "Bella"...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Krx7Zn9jbg0/TmfR88wZCVI/AAAAAAAAAXk/YGH5J2vQCzU/s1600/Detail4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Krx7Zn9jbg0/TmfR88wZCVI/AAAAAAAAAXk/YGH5J2vQCzU/s320/Detail4.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br />
The Japanese millefiori are adorable, small and cute. I have them in several colours. Again, click on the picture to magnify and appreciate the details...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PL52ZgWYyuE/TmfR9cNeL_I/AAAAAAAAAXo/4Rr-nOLygEs/s1600/JapBeads1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PL52ZgWYyuE/TmfR9cNeL_I/AAAAAAAAAXo/4Rr-nOLygEs/s320/JapBeads1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The big tonbodama represents Bella's heart, flowers, nature, grass, some kibble maybe, all little things that make her happy. Black and white were used not only because she is black and white, but also to convey the way she sees the world: not much colours, a bit faded, but still full of joy. The millefiori are cute, because Bella is... cute! That was it. Simple as that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RfOqr7vrSMU/TmfR93SbueI/AAAAAAAAAXs/DskGc5gen3c/s1600/Tonbodama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RfOqr7vrSMU/TmfR93SbueI/AAAAAAAAAXs/DskGc5gen3c/s320/Tonbodama1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M667MouR8YU/TmfR-XC71QI/AAAAAAAAAXw/fY7bKdSDpwE/s1600/Tonbodama2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M667MouR8YU/TmfR-XC71QI/AAAAAAAAAXw/fY7bKdSDpwE/s320/Tonbodama2.jpg" width="189" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-41297041315503601962011-09-07T21:07:00.000+01:002011-09-07T21:07:42.797+01:00The Natsu 夏 necklace...A short post to mark my coming back to the world of blogging... And the creation of another necklace after a long hiatus. During this time I've been struggling to stay awake (with not much success so far!), been to Rio and back, and not much more. Except for pampering our little Bella more and more every day.<br />
I made this necklace as my Mother requested. She had a long Murano lariat that broke. She gathered the beads and sent them to me, asking me to do "something" about it.<br />
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I decided to make a new, longer necklace and reuse most of the beads, also adding some new elements, such as: Swarovski crystals (essential, in my opinion), Brazilian lemon quartz pebble and lantern-shaped beads, small round yellow jade beads, and three fabulous tonbodama, by Naomi, a very skillful Japanese bead artist. My aim was to give these tonbodama a new "home" and I thought they would get along really fine with my Mother's original beads.<br />
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Tonbodama are exquisite glass beads that combine different types of coloured glass and can be inlaid with several delicate patterns. In Japanese the word tombodama literally means "Dragonfly bead", as they seem to display the colours and reflections of a dragonfly eyes: <span style="font-size: large;"><span class="card1"> </span></span><span class="card1"><span style="font-size: large;">蜻蛉</span> (tonbo) meaning "dragonfly" and</span> <span class="card1"><span style="font-size: large;">玉</span> (dama) meaning "sphere, ball"</span><span class="card1">. The art of glass beading was introduced in Japan around the 3rd-4th centuries AD, from the Eastern Mediterranean via the Silk Road (mostly China and Korea).</span><br />
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<span class="card1">I decided to call it Natsu <span style="font-size: large;">夏</span>, which means Summer, because its colours remind me of that season, the early days of Summer. Also it has been assembled in August, which is midsummer here in Ireland. The predominating hues of yellow, blue, green, bring to mind the blooming buds and rays of Sun. Swarovski and Murano transparent beads elements bring some water and dew into it. To appreciate the details better, please click on the pictures to magnify them...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fyMI9yWuOrk/TmfI-YffDbI/AAAAAAAAAW0/uP22-pw7h5A/s1600/Natsu2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fyMI9yWuOrk/TmfI-YffDbI/AAAAAAAAAW0/uP22-pw7h5A/s400/Natsu2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="card1"></span><br />
<span class="card1">Below, a detailed view of the lovely lemon quartz pebble beads, and the lantern-shaped ones - which I am not 100% sure are lemon quartz, but certainly some kind of quartz/crystal.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqfG5kE-cyA/TmfJTelLL9I/AAAAAAAAAW4/U_NAUtvp-SY/s1600/LemonQuartz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqfG5kE-cyA/TmfJTelLL9I/AAAAAAAAAW4/U_NAUtvp-SY/s320/LemonQuartz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A view of some of the old Murano transparent aqua beads, with a nice organic shape, some yellow round Jade beads and glass yellow ones at the left. Aqua Swarovski coated bicones were used between the Muranos and lemon quartzes and can be seen here... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wAUasDlzxIw/TmfJTzEokFI/AAAAAAAAAW8/i9Dd4MmxVP4/s1600/LemonQuartz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wAUasDlzxIw/TmfJTzEokFI/AAAAAAAAAW8/i9Dd4MmxVP4/s320/LemonQuartz2.jpg" width="189" /></a></div><br />
The tonbodama are these beautiful big round beads in green, yellow and blue with inlaid flowers and roses and swirly golden patterns.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X633edC2ToY/TmfJUq5nL_I/AAAAAAAAAXA/qsm3lxBo9E4/s1600/Natsu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X633edC2ToY/TmfJUq5nL_I/AAAAAAAAAXA/qsm3lxBo9E4/s400/Natsu1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Below, they can be seen in more detail... I absolutely adore them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kwI1Slyuuc/TmfMCEfWBoI/AAAAAAAAAXI/dkLd46lg6U8/s1600/Tonbodama1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kwI1Slyuuc/TmfMCEfWBoI/AAAAAAAAAXI/dkLd46lg6U8/s400/Tonbodama1-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nfeIqw01UwI/TmfMC2olXyI/AAAAAAAAAXM/SpHJFWZZkCk/s1600/Tonbodama3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nfeIqw01UwI/TmfMC2olXyI/AAAAAAAAAXM/SpHJFWZZkCk/s400/Tonbodama3.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><br />
Again, the lovely transparent Muranos, some Czech faceted crystals, lemon quartz and Swarovski elements... The Muranos look quite old and battered but are still shiny and bring a lovely vintage flair to the piece, coordinating well with the tonbodama and lemon quartz.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0Xdt7HjEro/TmfJUz5zcrI/AAAAAAAAAXE/KJxeJHDKeLg/s1600/Natsu3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0Xdt7HjEro/TmfJUz5zcrI/AAAAAAAAAXE/KJxeJHDKeLg/s320/Natsu3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="card1"><br />
</span>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-10028236189236153202010-11-15T10:35:00.000+00:002010-11-15T10:35:26.082+00:00Grafton Street and Brown Thomas decorationsYesterday we also took some pictures of the streets. Again, in <a href="http://www.brownthomas.com/">Brown Thomas</a> they had artificial snow being released outside. It look really pretty, although I don't even think they will be needing that machine for much longer. Temperatures here had a real drop last night, and I am sure the White Winter will be arriving soon.<br />
Before and after Sunset...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEEOGhMWvI/AAAAAAAAAUY/F5oNjVHVafc/s1600/Snowb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEEOGhMWvI/AAAAAAAAAUY/F5oNjVHVafc/s400/Snowb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEEAidfcbI/AAAAAAAAAUU/6FcFofdKZ6I/s1600/Snow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEEAidfcbI/AAAAAAAAAUU/6FcFofdKZ6I/s400/Snow3.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>In the Brown Thomas <a href="http://www.hermes.com/index_all.html">Hermès</a> boutique there was a little exhibit on Kelly bags. There was a giant Kelly inside the shop, where people could go inside and... Well, I don't know because I did not go inside. I thought it was interesting, but a bit weird at the same time, since once you were in it, it would move a bit, like it was floating or something. Somehow I did not fancy the idea of being inside it. Here are some shots though. I must say I am NOT a fan of Kellys or Birkins, by the way. Not only (and foremost) because I could NOT possibly afford one, but mostly because I am very far of being on a "classic" vibe regarding clothes and accessories anyway. I am more of a Kipling, Radley and d'Autore bag kinda girl. Really. However I must say I love most Hermès perfumes and their lovely scarves (carrés). Oh yes, I do!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEGJblAjVI/AAAAAAAAAUc/dbTwWyYRGYw/s1600/Hermes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEGJblAjVI/AAAAAAAAAUc/dbTwWyYRGYw/s400/Hermes1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And, talking about bags, here are some pictures I got from the <a href="http://www.louisvuitton.com/">Louis Vuitton</a> windows, also in BT. Again, not my kind of bags (Mark, rejoice!!!), but they look very pretty anyway...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEGyv2bfmI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Ej10igTJyiM/s1600/LV1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEGyv2bfmI/AAAAAAAAAUg/Ej10igTJyiM/s320/LV1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEG2puP3ZI/AAAAAAAAAUk/44Ng_ZUChJ8/s1600/LV2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEG2puP3ZI/AAAAAAAAAUk/44Ng_ZUChJ8/s320/LV2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now back to the handbags once again, these are designed by Marc Jacobs, who is in charge of the LV design for clothes and accessories nowadays, and already for some time. He really gave the house an injection of modernity, with new textures and contemporary designs.<br />
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I absolutely favour soft, slouchy bags though, and don't really like sturdy, hard ones - as is the case with most LV and Hermès. I must say though that one LV item I would perhaps consider having one day is a Murakami Sakura one, where the LV logo is mixed to lovely pink cherry blossoms with a happy face. But that is from a collection from some years ago already. So...<br />
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Now, the Christmas decorations in Grafton Street were quite pretty and elegant. Big spherical chandelier all over, which would lighten after the Sun was down... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJEE1xBeI/AAAAAAAAAUo/19Dvr3z5hHg/s1600/Graf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJEE1xBeI/AAAAAAAAAUo/19Dvr3z5hHg/s320/Graf1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJEjNUEQI/AAAAAAAAAUs/jSsJ4w4mSZQ/s1600/Graf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJEjNUEQI/AAAAAAAAAUs/jSsJ4w4mSZQ/s320/Graf2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJFDaJGUI/AAAAAAAAAUw/x_7fAw2NFnk/s1600/Graf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJFDaJGUI/AAAAAAAAAUw/x_7fAw2NFnk/s320/Graf3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And, when we arrived earlier on, we saw some amazing therapy dogs: 2 Labradors and 1 Samoyed. The Samoyed reminded us of Bella. Not physically of course, but his behaviour that was pretty much similar. He was ALL over the place. His name was Bruce, by the way.. A handful of a doggy, really!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJ9U6E7DI/AAAAAAAAAU0/EPtS_E2COX0/s1600/Doggy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJ9U6E7DI/AAAAAAAAAU0/EPtS_E2COX0/s320/Doggy1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJ9-gAH3I/AAAAAAAAAU4/JuBaabuE2eA/s1600/Doggy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOEJ9-gAH3I/AAAAAAAAAU4/JuBaabuE2eA/s320/Doggy2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-82344943563592712092010-11-14T19:54:00.002+00:002010-11-15T09:46:40.514+00:00Brown Thomas Christmas Decorations!We left Bella home today to take some pictures of the <a href="http://www.brownthomas.com/">Brown Thomas</a> windows. This year the theme is Celtic Mythology. A super-modern take on Celtic Mythology, I should add. I thought it was just brilliant and, for the 1st time in my life, I wish I were a windows designer! Beautiful. All Pradas, D&G, Armanis and so on mixing up with the mythological characters. Very well done, and super-creative. I particularly like the boho atmosphere in all the clothes, as well as the earthy, autumnal colours.<br />
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We did not use flash on the pictures. Some of them were taken before Sunset, and the others after Sunset. The ones were the reflections on the windows are more evident were taken before Sunset (3h15pm more or less). Please click on the pictures for the maximised version. Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA2T2JWP7I/AAAAAAAAARA/fFsAMNAWF2M/s1600/Window3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA2T2JWP7I/AAAAAAAAARA/fFsAMNAWF2M/s200/Window3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA2UnbJYMI/AAAAAAAAARE/NfnHbXILYIo/s1600/Window2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA2UnbJYMI/AAAAAAAAARE/NfnHbXILYIo/s200/Window2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA2VNiuOXI/AAAAAAAAARI/mUVn36yaYbo/s1600/Window1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA2VNiuOXI/AAAAAAAAARI/mUVn36yaYbo/s200/Window1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The pictures above show a "generic" view, from a certain distance and before Sunset. Below, some more detailed shots...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3Pl55bXI/AAAAAAAAARQ/yuOBKhg7Tfo/s1600/BTb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3Pl55bXI/AAAAAAAAARQ/yuOBKhg7Tfo/s320/BTb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3QXe7viI/AAAAAAAAARU/c9V5haFx-24/s1600/BTc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3QXe7viI/AAAAAAAAARU/c9V5haFx-24/s320/BTc.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3Q2fo87I/AAAAAAAAARY/3WCt8rGtHrA/s1600/BTd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3Q2fo87I/AAAAAAAAARY/3WCt8rGtHrA/s320/BTd.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3RTM8JCI/AAAAAAAAARc/OuonvecsvDs/s1600/BTe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3RTM8JCI/AAAAAAAAARc/OuonvecsvDs/s320/BTe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3TYk2SGI/AAAAAAAAARo/B0DnuVtKACE/s1600/BTh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3TYk2SGI/AAAAAAAAARo/B0DnuVtKACE/s320/BTh.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3T-jhReI/AAAAAAAAARs/Nvd-4RwFXIw/s1600/BTi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3T-jhReI/AAAAAAAAARs/Nvd-4RwFXIw/s320/BTi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3UaVf26I/AAAAAAAAARw/IAWnZbUv_IM/s1600/BTj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3UaVf26I/AAAAAAAAARw/IAWnZbUv_IM/s320/BTj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3VlPALwI/AAAAAAAAAR4/Uetr-BAJURY/s1600/BTl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3VlPALwI/AAAAAAAAAR4/Uetr-BAJURY/s320/BTl.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3WZuyvvI/AAAAAAAAASA/29KiM0sPfiA/s1600/BTo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3WZuyvvI/AAAAAAAAASA/29KiM0sPfiA/s320/BTo.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3eF5ErAI/AAAAAAAAAS0/Bw2tdzg8pNs/s1600/BTza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA3eF5ErAI/AAAAAAAAAS0/Bw2tdzg8pNs/s320/BTza.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Some more shots to follow. These were taken after Sunset... I must say my favourites here are the fluffy feather hairbands and also the sequined top in bronze/gold that one of the mannequins is wearing... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4o_HCSYI/AAAAAAAAATU/ODXbkk5tLaY/s1600/BT8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4o_HCSYI/AAAAAAAAATU/ODXbkk5tLaY/s320/BT8.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4pWFjWtI/AAAAAAAAATY/AOeLqcTCWAc/s1600/BT9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4pWFjWtI/AAAAAAAAATY/AOeLqcTCWAc/s320/BT9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4p3-VH-I/AAAAAAAAATc/zOG8lhstINI/s1600/BT10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4p3-VH-I/AAAAAAAAATc/zOG8lhstINI/s320/BT10.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4qZpmRYI/AAAAAAAAATg/HTzdaLJ_tNQ/s1600/BT11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4qZpmRYI/AAAAAAAAATg/HTzdaLJ_tNQ/s320/BT11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4q2pSb6I/AAAAAAAAATk/pbSkFIxzbJo/s1600/BT12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4q2pSb6I/AAAAAAAAATk/pbSkFIxzbJo/s320/BT12.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4rRmkWXI/AAAAAAAAATo/hzU6Zco8qpc/s1600/BT13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4rRmkWXI/AAAAAAAAATo/hzU6Zco8qpc/s320/BT13.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4sDlGJXI/AAAAAAAAATs/PSLjCmzq0oo/s1600/BT14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4sDlGJXI/AAAAAAAAATs/PSLjCmzq0oo/s320/BT14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4tY6i3QI/AAAAAAAAAT0/hmnc3u05_wg/s1600/BT16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4tY6i3QI/AAAAAAAAAT0/hmnc3u05_wg/s320/BT16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4t9vt3sI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Vw77RTE1PfI/s1600/BT17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4t9vt3sI/AAAAAAAAAT4/Vw77RTE1PfI/s320/BT17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4uSHH7jI/AAAAAAAAAT8/xjdTVZFw9pk/s1600/BT18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4uSHH7jI/AAAAAAAAAT8/xjdTVZFw9pk/s320/BT18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4vRiLxFI/AAAAAAAAAUA/4sPA01wuPQs/s1600/BT19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4vRiLxFI/AAAAAAAAAUA/4sPA01wuPQs/s320/BT19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4v_A5-tI/AAAAAAAAAUE/gpe8skOlUTw/s1600/BT20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4v_A5-tI/AAAAAAAAAUE/gpe8skOlUTw/s320/BT20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4weqMfOI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Rmpur14adOU/s1600/BT21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4weqMfOI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Rmpur14adOU/s320/BT21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4w1g6-2I/AAAAAAAAAUM/uq5RjlzogrQ/s1600/BT22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4w1g6-2I/AAAAAAAAAUM/uq5RjlzogrQ/s320/BT22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4xrvR8rI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/-CQT4sRqNOA/s1600/BT23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4xrvR8rI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/-CQT4sRqNOA/s320/BT23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4lfzPRpI/AAAAAAAAATA/lO7ZRYaMFIc/s1600/BT3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4lfzPRpI/AAAAAAAAATA/lO7ZRYaMFIc/s320/BT3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The next pictures show the top I mentioned before and the lovely feathery hairband. I would definitely wear them... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4mHoDTKI/AAAAAAAAATE/Sr4pps63waY/s1600/BT4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4mHoDTKI/AAAAAAAAATE/Sr4pps63waY/s320/BT4.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4naDx18I/AAAAAAAAATI/Pzmua5bI0RM/s1600/BT5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4naDx18I/AAAAAAAAATI/Pzmua5bI0RM/s320/BT5.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4n4fy1lI/AAAAAAAAATM/rJGc3EGvdNk/s1600/BT6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TOA4n4fy1lI/AAAAAAAAATM/rJGc3EGvdNk/s320/BT6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-30566909415364002332010-11-10T18:17:00.000+00:002010-11-10T18:17:26.404+00:00Bella and ISome pictures Mark took of us, some day last week... When I look at them, I realiseI desperately need a haircut.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrhYrL0NDI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/8XqH0NHrQhA/s1600/SitReszd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrhYrL0NDI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/8XqH0NHrQhA/s320/SitReszd.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrhH52pVWI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/i5kEd_fow_I/s1600/Us3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrhH52pVWI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/i5kEd_fow_I/s320/Us3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrguUryTmI/AAAAAAAAAQo/b7uVI2XhpvI/s1600/Us4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrguUryTmI/AAAAAAAAAQo/b7uVI2XhpvI/s320/Us4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrgwNiNf9I/AAAAAAAAAQs/LqLyGRmhA50/s1600/Us5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrgwNiNf9I/AAAAAAAAAQs/LqLyGRmhA50/s320/Us5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrgxZmwbdI/AAAAAAAAAQw/xLbk5X3bFsU/s1600/Us6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrgxZmwbdI/AAAAAAAAAQw/xLbk5X3bFsU/s320/Us6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrg-LdgBiI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/FBR7bGs_W0Q/s1600/Us2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrg-LdgBiI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/FBR7bGs_W0Q/s320/Us2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-16125050324080959032010-11-10T18:10:00.000+00:002010-11-10T18:10:09.186+00:00Bella's Hallowe'enA bit late maybe, but here are some pictures of Baby Bella on Hallowe'en. She was not scared of the fireworks outside, which is great. OK. But she has that unreasonable fear of motorbikes, which drive her nuts and out of control instead. Anyway, nothing is perfect!<br />
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She did not want to wear her Witch's hat. She just wanted to chew it. So, she went outside with her little Spooky Scrunchy and everybody loved it. We also had some kids coming to the house with their freaky costumes, but she was scared of them, ha ha!<br />
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Don't forget to click on the pics to maximise it! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNra6fj4WZI/AAAAAAAAAP4/cQjfLQDlCyg/s1600/IMG_7849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNra6fj4WZI/AAAAAAAAAP4/cQjfLQDlCyg/s320/IMG_7849.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
These are my cat ears. It's a fluffy headband, which she actually managed to take off me twice! She went nuts when she saw me with them. In truth, whenever someone is wearing a hat or anything on their heads, she finds a way to take it off and just wants to chew it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrfGjqZ45I/AAAAAAAAAQY/I0htvR2CyOI/s1600/LittleWitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrfGjqZ45I/AAAAAAAAAQY/I0htvR2CyOI/s320/LittleWitch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>And this is the witch hat that she refused to wear! She is pretty much like me! I also don't like having stuff in my head...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbpU7IrJI/AAAAAAAAAP8/X4k3gTMh5fI/s1600/Scrunchie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbpU7IrJI/AAAAAAAAAP8/X4k3gTMh5fI/s320/Scrunchie.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Papi is putting the scrunchy on Bella. You can see how sulky she looks! Like she is saying: "no, I don't want it!". I love the way she looks at the camera here!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbpxitAsI/AAAAAAAAAQA/furUb0pllUA/s1600/Scrunchie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbpxitAsI/AAAAAAAAAQA/furUb0pllUA/s200/Scrunchie2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbrPPUcpI/AAAAAAAAAQE/N_0sLGJVXPo/s1600/Scrunchie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbrPPUcpI/AAAAAAAAAQE/N_0sLGJVXPo/s200/Scrunchie3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbsG7DkyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/5z3HfuI-TVc/s1600/Scrunchie4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbsG7DkyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/5z3HfuI-TVc/s200/Scrunchie4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbtImH_tI/AAAAAAAAAQM/OZYOazbBOtk/s1600/Scrunchie5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrbtImH_tI/AAAAAAAAAQM/OZYOazbBOtk/s200/Scrunchie5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
And finally here she is, walking with Mark outside, always very proud of herself!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrfsLb0KpI/AAAAAAAAAQc/4Jj1zmRDNHY/s1600/GoingOut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrfsLb0KpI/AAAAAAAAAQc/4Jj1zmRDNHY/s320/GoingOut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrftG1vHNI/AAAAAAAAAQg/snkLmKR7NGA/s1600/GoingOut2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TNrftG1vHNI/AAAAAAAAAQg/snkLmKR7NGA/s320/GoingOut2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span id="goog_83466061"></span><span id="goog_83466062"></span>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-26113849237060977032010-10-28T09:49:00.000+01:002010-10-28T09:49:06.357+01:00Bella with insomniaLast week Mark was travelling abroad, to either Atlanta or Montreal (he does that quite often, so I always get confused with dates and locations). I, of course, stayed alone with Bella. She behaved OK in general, and my brother-in-law even took her for runs and so on. So, she was fine.<br />
<br />
The night before Mark's arrival though, she got completely insomniac. Restless. Whimpering and walking around and jumping and throwing her toys everywhere. For two or more times she wanted to go outside to the back garden. And it was already LATE. Past midnight. Being outside, there was an almost full moon, which made me dread that she would soon start howling because she was walking around, wagging her tail and looking very impatient.<br />
<br />
This predicament lasted and lasted. At one stage I Skyped my Mom, who saw Bella playing and jumping like a little mad thing in the webcam: "Andrea, isn't there a way to give her some beer or something???"... Of course not. Restless she was. I even forgot about using some lavender to calm her down. That usually works.<br />
<br />
Anyway, when it was almost 4h30am I was exhausted and decided to bring her to bed, using a little chewy bone as a bait. She came to bed with me, I laid down, but still she would not stop. Jumping all over me, biting my ear, grunting like a little pig. Until I had the idea of holding her and have her laying down beside me. I kept holding her, cuddling. And I started to sing lullabies! Brazilian lullabies ("O Cravo Brigou com a Rosa", "Sapo Cururú", and some songs, making up lyrics and even melodies). I noticed that when I paused, she wouls scratch my arm with her little paw as if saying "Continue, please"... OK, sing, sing, sing... After 15 or 20 minutes she was fast asleep. And stayed so until the morning when Mark arrived!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So, lullabies really relax! My Mother said the next day I should get some CDs ready for her (what??? Okaaay...). Anyway, here's one little picture I took on that night. That's how she was behaving!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMk4LhP-b1I/AAAAAAAAAP0/SF58IqGUUNk/s1600/Waaah%21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMk4LhP-b1I/AAAAAAAAAP0/SF58IqGUUNk/s400/Waaah%21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-19597581016521246772010-10-23T00:43:00.001+01:002010-10-23T01:07:55.123+01:00Bella loves Murakami...I received my Takashi Murakami pillow two days ago! It's so adorable. Bella however, thought it was for her of course! Whenever something arrives with the postman, she thinks it belongs to her. In this case, the pillow is soft, cuddly, clourful and warm. Just the way she loves it!<br />
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I took some lovely pictures of her trying to have it...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhBi3BwXI/AAAAAAAAAPI/VEvrm8Wr-D8/s1600/Kiki11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhBi3BwXI/AAAAAAAAAPI/VEvrm8Wr-D8/s320/Kiki11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhDGHb0rI/AAAAAAAAAPU/ar4kJhX3L2A/s1600/Kiki8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhDGHb0rI/AAAAAAAAAPU/ar4kJhX3L2A/s320/Kiki8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhDzD4uXI/AAAAAAAAAPY/SKH41HvdjaI/s1600/Kiki7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhDzD4uXI/AAAAAAAAAPY/SKH41HvdjaI/s320/Kiki7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhFRc4d2I/AAAAAAAAAPg/NIEtUwYPy7U/s1600/Kiki5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhFRc4d2I/AAAAAAAAAPg/NIEtUwYPy7U/s320/Kiki5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhF0WWOYI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5JF7706WcCI/s1600/Kiki4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhF0WWOYI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5JF7706WcCI/s320/Kiki4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhGd1BKHI/AAAAAAAAAPo/2zYCwrcTLIU/s1600/Kiki3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhGd1BKHI/AAAAAAAAAPo/2zYCwrcTLIU/s320/Kiki3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhHIfZ2cI/AAAAAAAAAPs/IM3PgCMHbFg/s1600/Kiki2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhHIfZ2cI/AAAAAAAAAPs/IM3PgCMHbFg/s320/Kiki2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhHhbUlgI/AAAAAAAAAPw/PJzgTPrk1bQ/s1600/Kiki1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TMIhHhbUlgI/AAAAAAAAAPw/PJzgTPrk1bQ/s320/Kiki1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-59712462508432568032010-10-21T00:51:00.000+01:002010-10-21T00:51:35.981+01:00Le Petit Prince<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Prince">"The Little Prince"</a> was one of my favourite books when I was young. And still is. Of course, I still remember seeing Gene Wilder playing the Fox in the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071762/">1974 Stanley Donen's</a> production. Beautiful.<br />
And being a big fan of <a href="http://andrearyu.superpokepets.com/">SuperPoke Pets</a>, I decorated my very own Little Prince's habitat starring my dragon Ryu-chan! Here it is...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9_TqcCmpI/AAAAAAAAAPE/iehx7NdrCvI/s1600/LittlePrince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9_TqcCmpI/AAAAAAAAAPE/iehx7NdrCvI/s400/LittlePrince.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"If for example, you came at four o'clock in the afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy. I shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances. At four o'clock, I shall be worrying and jumping about. I shall show you how happy I am!</span></i> </div><div style="color: cyan;"> </div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is ready to greet you..</span></i> </div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"> <i><span style="font-size: small;">One must observe the proper rites. . ."</span></i></div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></div><div style="color: cyan; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">(Antoine de St. Exupéry, "The Little Prince") </span></i></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-36843742072051323082010-10-20T22:44:00.000+01:002011-01-25T19:14:00.350+00:00Late again... And a new necklace (はなび)<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A</span>gain, I spent too much time without blogging. This is a shame, since it's something I enjoy and feel it's important to me somehow. But I've always been known by the lack of "continuity" in most of the things I do. Unfortunately. I try to change that from time to time, but it is hard and frustrating. Again, and again, I will try it. Maybe one day I will elaborate a bit more about it but, right now, I need to do more and perhaps think a bit less!<br />
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Since my last post and today, I made another necklace. Or perhaps I made it before, not sure right now. Somehow, I forgot to post it, I don't know why. I mean, I probably had some lapses of memory during that time, involved as I was with all the colds and flus that never cease to get inflicted on me, ha ha! Seriously though... Lately it's all about colds and flus (and a diet), and my pretty Bella!<br />
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I decided to call it Hanabi -はなび。The word means literally, "fireworks" and it was given to the piece because of its colours. Reds and golds and deep night, ultramarine blue, very much like the night sky where fireworks during Summer festivities occur. <br />
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Here's what I used for Hanabi...<br />
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- 1 large and quite heavy oblong Murano glass bead in gold foil with speckles of red, green and blue coloured glass and two round ones with the same kind of work;<br />
- 2 medium round Chinese vintage Cloisonnée beads in the same shades and with a flower motif in shades of pale pink;<br />
- Several, several, several Swarovski bicones in different sizes, shades and effects;<br />
- My usual signature stardust antique gold plated small round beads near the clasp;<br />
- Ten antique gold, plated bead caps around the cloisonée and Murano main beads;<br />
- Tibetan gold plated hook clasp.<br />
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And here are the pictures...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9Z5dHR81I/AAAAAAAAAOg/t7upBpzgodU/s1600/Hanabi_reszd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9Z5dHR81I/AAAAAAAAAOg/t7upBpzgodU/s400/Hanabi_reszd1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Some details of the necklace are shown below. On the next two pictures we can see the details of the focal Murano bead. It measures approximately 40mm and showcases a different style of glass work, very similar to molten enamel...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9ccEYayFI/AAAAAAAAAOs/Oi6ojTmGjIE/s1600/Hanabi_focal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9ccEYayFI/AAAAAAAAAOs/Oi6ojTmGjIE/s320/Hanabi_focal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9cfNTHjqI/AAAAAAAAAOw/SgJpDsE9hHo/s1600/hanabi_focal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9cfNTHjqI/AAAAAAAAAOw/SgJpDsE9hHo/s320/hanabi_focal2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Follow the auxiliary Murano beads, round and smaller, but with the same kind of finishing... Note as well, the Swarovski bicones and the stardust spacers...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9dppgp0cI/AAAAAAAAAO0/FhBTKlue-xE/s1600/Hanabi_aux2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9dppgp0cI/AAAAAAAAAO0/FhBTKlue-xE/s320/Hanabi_aux2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In the next screenshots, we can view the cloisonée beads, and hook clasp in more detail. These cloisonée are very pretty, heavy and hard to find nowadays. The contemporary ones are normally quite light and look very hollow indeed, and the artwork is not nearly as detailed. I love the fact that the colours are so delicate and displaying midtones, like a real painting...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9fYzlG4NI/AAAAAAAAAO4/lk5e7JwLfWU/s1600/HAnabi_pair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9fYzlG4NI/AAAAAAAAAO4/lk5e7JwLfWU/s320/HAnabi_pair2.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9fg6fDeqI/AAAAAAAAAO8/8qeloN0mA58/s1600/Hanabi_pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9fg6fDeqI/AAAAAAAAAO8/8qeloN0mA58/s320/Hanabi_pair.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9fjkmQUGI/AAAAAAAAAPA/IlwYR3RN2Pw/s1600/Hanabi_clois.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9fjkmQUGI/AAAAAAAAAPA/IlwYR3RN2Pw/s320/Hanabi_clois.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/TL9asIdqCnI/AAAAAAAAAOk/M-oC_B3tEP4/s1600/Hanabi_focal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>As I mentioned before, the Muranos feel quite heavy. However in the overall result, the necklace itself feels very light and looks quite delicate, oddly enough. I might try and take other pictures since these are a bit too dark and the colours don't seem quite right. The final piece is much nicer in real life though!Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-47548780800861787822010-05-21T11:17:00.001+01:002010-06-05T06:34:35.332+01:00The Tudors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S_ZdMTDPLPI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/dCoBJ-b6eH4/s1600/Fluff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S_ZdMTDPLPI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/dCoBJ-b6eH4/s320/Fluff.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bella with her new scrunchie! These are supposed to go on her neck, but we tried to make her look like a little Tudor lady here!</i></span></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-50118427734122457812010-05-16T12:15:00.001+01:002010-05-16T12:16:05.939+01:00St. Francis of AssisiOK. I am not a Catholic, or have any religions (at the moment at least - it may change again one day though!). I mean, I don't follow anything, I am there for no magical, supernatural powers, maybe because I already had my part on it when I was younger and less cynical. In the other hand, I am all for mythologies and studying religious manifestations and the sort. I love magical things, symbols and beautiful legends. Point made.<br />
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Now that I have a dog, I've been thinking a lot about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi">St. Francis of Assisi</a>. He loved animals, and treated them as brothers and sisters. And protected them. Then I reminded <a href="http://wahiduddin.net/saint_francis_of_assisi.htm">his Prayer</a>, or the famous prayer that is to him attributed. I used to love it when I was a kid. Actually, it was the only prayer with which I identified myself somehow, even knowing it by heart. I think it's really beautiful, albeit very simple and straightforward.<br />
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Even not being a believer, or a mildly religious person nowadays, here it is for you as well to appreciate it in its very own understated beauty...<br />
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<div align="center" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>The Prayer of Saint Francis</b></div><div align="center" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i><b>"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!<br />
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;<br />
Where there is injury, pardon;<br />
Where there is discord, harmony;<br />
Where there is doubt, faith; <br />
Where there is despair, hope; <br />
Where there is darkness, light, and <br />
Where there is sorrow, joy. <br />
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not <br />
so much seek to be consoled as to console; <br />
to be understood as to understand; to be loved <br />
as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; <br />
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; <br />
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."</b></i></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-_PD29M6_I/AAAAAAAAAOI/QMYo1OQFCQM/s1600/st-francis-green-man1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-_PD29M6_I/AAAAAAAAAOI/QMYo1OQFCQM/s320/st-francis-green-man1.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Credit - the beautiful illustration above was found on a very interesting blog, from writer <a href="http://nancyimperiale.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/prayer-of-st-francis/">Nancy Imperiale</a>, based in Florida. Like her, I also tried to find out the source for that, but could not find it. Thanks to Nancy for having discovered it, and to the unknown artist for such a delicate piece!)</i></span></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-28672581409783081022010-05-15T18:37:00.000+01:002010-05-15T18:37:19.520+01:00Baby Bella and the Waves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-7bNYDKHQI/AAAAAAAAAOA/f7A-zuTQTT8/s1600/Waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-7bNYDKHQI/AAAAAAAAAOA/f7A-zuTQTT8/s320/Waves.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here is Bella today, in Mullingar, looking at the lake. She was on her way down to Ballina with Pappy Mark. He sent this to me via mobile and said: "Bella is fascinated by the waves, but also nervous, not trying to jump in the water, not that I would let her anyway!"</i></div><pre wrap=""></pre>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-73272236563674641372010-05-13T11:11:00.000+01:002010-05-13T11:11:54.820+01:00Bella's Picture of the Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-vQEHmGVPI/AAAAAAAAAN4/c7SXs0dwmtM/s1600/Sepia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-vQEHmGVPI/AAAAAAAAAN4/c7SXs0dwmtM/s320/Sepia.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I used a sepia treatment on this one. Love the way she looks and the blur caused by her moving, making it look a bit like a dream... Her eyes look like little beads as well!</i></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-27128932806571181132010-05-11T10:39:00.002+01:002010-05-11T10:42:08.870+01:00Joys of having a dog...I always say that having Bella has changed my life for better. She is adorable, and a big motivation too. She cheers me up. I must admit lately I haven't been feeling my best, but having her around makes me a happier, less negative person. Anyway, she is our little "baby" now! <br />
<br />
Yesterday we were out a lot. She was a bit hyper though. Her main problem is that she still pulls quite a bit, even with her Lupi harness - which used to be quite good when we started using it.<br />
<br />
Latest trick she learnt is called "Find the Bickie". I carry a bag of dog treats with me. When I feel she is getting hyper, I make her sit. Then I grab one bickie and hide it in one of my hands while she is sitting down, observing (and drooling). I cross my hands in front of me and say: " Bella, where is the bickie?" She comes, sniffs my hands and then uses her paw to touch the hand where the bickie is hiding. She never misses of course, since her sense of smell is amazing, but... The beauty of it is that, before, she used to do the same but using her nose, pushing the hand where the bickie was. Now, without me teaching, she decided to use her paw. Well, may seems a bit silly for anyone else alright, but I see it as a progress in her training and that makes me really happy. And she looks lovely when she does that! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-kk59uP5_I/AAAAAAAAANs/S4ZoQKnhFNE/s1600/Kiko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-kk59uP5_I/AAAAAAAAANs/S4ZoQKnhFNE/s320/Kiko.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bella and her Pappy</i></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-63880176160528903032010-05-10T23:27:00.001+01:002010-05-10T23:28:56.248+01:00Bella's Snap of the Day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-iHOf9M90I/AAAAAAAAANk/pTfO67lIyAU/s1600/Pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S-iHOf9M90I/AAAAAAAAANk/pTfO67lIyAU/s320/Pillow.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pillow says...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="color: #c27ba0;">"Life without friends is like a garden without flowers" </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Click to magnify...)</div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-74804091796806637112010-05-02T08:00:00.010+01:002010-05-02T11:32:25.202+01:00Her Name is Bella...Long time without blogging, it seems! Mostly because I went to Rio by the end of the year and, when I arrived back, was feeling a bit depressed and down. The usual! I will try and re-start writing (once again!).<br />
<br />
But the big news is... We finally have a dog now! I was resisting a lot to that idea, since I tend to get way too attached to them and, when it's time to say goodbye, I really get way too sad. But thanks to Mark's insistence, I gave it in. And it was the best thing that could have happened to me.<br />
<br />
<br />
We adopted her from <a href="http://www.dogstrust.ie/">Dogs Trust</a>. Bella is her name. A border collie cross, although some people say she is a "Wicklow Collie", whatever a Wicklow Collie means (apart from coming from Wicklow, of course). Black and white little bundle of joy, more or less 2 years old. She was very skinny when she came to us, but gained almost 4 kgs already. She is lovely and house-trained, and also very sociable and a quick-learner. We love her to bits!<br />
<br />
Some more pictures of our 4-legged furry Baby... And more will follow, of course! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S90isB-UHEI/AAAAAAAAAL0/B-dC2FQ0hag/s1600/MammyHi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S90isB-UHEI/AAAAAAAAAL0/B-dC2FQ0hag/s320/MammyHi.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S90grpYjCsI/AAAAAAAAALs/yJ1Zti_Y950/s1600/MyBaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S90grpYjCsI/AAAAAAAAALs/yJ1Zti_Y950/s320/MyBaby.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S90dSKNa_XI/AAAAAAAAALc/2_iUtcUo_As/s1600/LovelyPup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S90dSKNa_XI/AAAAAAAAALc/2_iUtcUo_As/s320/LovelyPup.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S91TeBAjGhI/AAAAAAAAAM0/RMXiqCGFhDk/s1600/Yawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5MQOQo51Po8/S91TeBAjGhI/AAAAAAAAAM0/RMXiqCGFhDk/s320/Yawn.jpg" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-30987558003151879502010-05-01T22:16:00.003+01:002010-05-02T11:57:34.095+01:00This blog has movedThis blog is now located at <a href="http://andrea.irlbrl.com/">http://andrea.irlbrl.com/</a>.<br />
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click <a href="http://andrea.irlbrl.com/">here</a>.<br />
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For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to<br />
<a href="http://andrea.irlbrl.com/feeds/posts/default">http://andrea.irlbrl.com/feeds/posts/default</a>.Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-9978927421475192102009-10-17T00:34:00.010+01:002011-01-25T19:14:00.351+00:00The Shizuku necklace...Shizuku is my 2nd necklace from this week. It was also made from recycled <a href="http://www.murrina.co.uk/index.php">Antica Murrina</a> beads, also from a bracelet, as my previous <a href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/2009/10/wagashi-necklace.html">Wagashi</a>. The original bracelet name was called <a href="http://www.murrina.co.uk/antica-murrina/antica-murrina-bracelets/antica-murrina-kiruna-bracelet-grey/prod_52.html">Kiruna</a>, and included light aqua blue Murano beads, very pretty.<br /><br />I turned the bracelet into a necklace, as before, and it became Shizuku, name which means droplet, a "drop of water" in Japanese. The association with this element is more than obvious, due to the texture of the main beads, their colour and transparency, making them look like real water drops, or splashes, or even ice. Two different aqua tones are present here: a light aquamarine tint similar to the sea in a sunny morning, and a darker, grayish kyanite shade, similar to the sea in the afternoon, after a rain shower.<br /><br />Or at least, that's how I feel about it, anyway! The name I firstly decided on was Asatsuyu - meaning "morning dew". Then, I changed it to Shizuku, which sounds prettier and easier, and is more generic as well. In my mind, an Asatsuyu necklace would rather be shorter and with more delicate components, in the end!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu16-730528.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu16-730523.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>For Shizuku, I used:<br /><br />- Six large Antica Murrina glass beads in different aqua shades and irregular shapes, slightly crackled and smooth. One of them however, is round and has a crispy, sugar-coated finish like the beads used in Wagashi;<br />- Ten small aqua-gray Murrina beads with a smooth surface;<br />- Seven small Kyanite beads;<br />- Two faceted Czech Fire beads in silver-gold approaching the clasp;<br />- Several stardust silver-plated round beads;<br />- Several flat silver-plated Heishi spacers for the Murrina large beads;<br />- Several Swarovski elements such as bicones, cubes, small briolettes, stars and an octagonal pendant, all in complimentary shades of light Azore blue, aquamarine and different Sapphire shades and effects;<br />- One large silver-plated lobster clasp and ring.<br /><br />Details are shown next. As usual, please click on thumbnails to magnify...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu3-742808.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu3-742744.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/LtMurrina-709432.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/LtMurrina-709427.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/DarkMurrina-764008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 147px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/DarkMurrina-764003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">These three pictures show the Antica Murrina irregular glass beads in dark and light shades of blue (aquamarine and grayish), as well as the small round Murrina ones with a smooth surface. Swarovski bicones and cubes can also be seen, in different shades, sizes and shapes, interspersed with the Murrina beads. The sugar-coated dark sapphire blue Murrina is also visible on the 1st shot...</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Clasp_Shiz-716213.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Clasp_Shiz-716171.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuy4-774978.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuy4-774974.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu18-759863.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu18-759857.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The 1st thumbnail shows the silver-plated lobster clasp and ring. It is a big clasp, since this necklace is quite heavy. It was threaded on sterling silver wire, thus very resistant to breakage. However, it is always safer to use large clasps in the case of a heavy piece. One of the faceted Czech fire beads is also visible. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The 2nd picture displays the only sugar-coated Murrina bead, surrounded by some Swarovski bicones and the flat Heishi spacers, used as bead caps. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Finally, the remaining shot shows the upper section of the necklace, with the stardust round balls and some of the kyanite beads and, of course, the main Murrina glass beads once again.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuy3-727293.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 149px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuy3-727288.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/ASatsuyu6-703457.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/ASatsuyu6-703452.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu8-787593.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu8-787588.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I added these screenshots since we can appreciate how beautifully the light is refracted by the Swarovski elements. Cubes, bicones and an octagonal pendant can be seen throughout, especially on the 3rd shot. As for the Murrina beads, with their smooth irregular surfaces, we can also see how the light appears reflected, making them look like pieces of shiny crushed ice.</span></span><br /><br />And to end this post tonight, some more views of Shizuku. I hope you have enjoyed this one!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu13-778429.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu13-778365.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu1-776541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu1-776536.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu11-731385.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Asatsuyu11-731333.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-26372604413734240582009-10-16T09:14:00.003+01:002011-01-25T19:14:00.351+00:00The Wagashi necklace...This week, I re-started making the jewellery, and it was about time! This first necklace, which I called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wagashi</span>, was pretty much inspired by my friend <a href="http://through-the-sapphire-sky.blogspot.com/">Sapphire </a>pictures and posts on her fantastic blog, for both <a href="http://through-the-sapphire-sky.blogspot.com/search?q=wagashi">Wagashi </a>and <a href="http://through-the-sapphire-sky.blogspot.com/search?q=mochi">mochi </a>. And also, because I love eating them myself!<br /><br />(Sapphire, I hope you will enjoy this one! The flavours available here today are: plum, green tea and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sakura</span>!)<br /><br />The main beads are brand new <a href="http://www.murrina.co.uk/antica-murrina/antica-murrina-bracelets/antica-murrina-sweet-bracelet-multi/prod_29.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Antica</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Murrina</span></a> ones. I bought two bracelets from them some months ago (including the "Sweet" one from the link), and I recycled them to make some necklaces, one of them being <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wagashi</span>. You might ask why did I bother buying them in the first place, just to end up by recycling everything? Well, they were elasticated bracelets. The problem with this kind of bracelet is that the beads get to close to my skin, and I dislike that (makes me itchy). I much prefer normal, non-elasticated bracelets where you can adjust the length with extra links, for example. Also, mind you, the beads were too big and I have the clumsy habit of bumping my hands (and myself) into everything, not to mention getting stuck on door knobs, for example. So, even if I decided to use them, it would sooner or later end up in disaster. Really.<br /><br />The problem is that I fell in love with the beads, so... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Murrina</span> says these beads, that have a "crispy" appearance, are like "sugar-coated", and it's true. They look edible. I think I already bought it with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Wagashi</span> in mind, adding to the fact that they called it "Sweet", so, just could not avoid it. Sweet, yes, but with a Japanese twist (in my mind at least!). As I said before, the colours are very appropriate: pale pink for Sakura, acid green for matcha (green tea), and purple for plum, all on a delectable yokan base!<br /><br />Here is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wagashi</span>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wagashi3-777005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wagashi3-777000.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br />For this piece, I used:<br /><br />- Nine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Antica</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Murina</span> sugar-coated beads in shades of plum, pale pink and acid green;<br />- Two rose quartz pebble beads;<br />- Two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Murano</span>-style stripy beads, one cylindrical and one squared;<br />- Two Czech glass flat swirly flat beads that look like mini-lollipops;<br />- Small Chinese glass pearls in green;<br />- Several <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Swarovski</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">bicones</span> in different sizes and colours;<br />- Several stardust silver-plated small, round beads;<br />- Four ornate Tibetan Silver large spacers;<br />- Tibetan silver S-hook clasp.<br /><br />Note this is my first <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">asymmetrical</span> necklace. I used different shades, sizes and shapes, and tried to spread them over in a quirky pattern. Well, almost! There is a bit of symmetry there, now that I look at it closely, but not as severe as in my previous pieces. It is also longer and bulkier, pretty much on the current trend of chunky, statement necklaces - although not as much maybe. I've been seeing much bigger pieces around lately.<br /><br />Some details follow... Please click on the thumbnails for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">magnified</span> views.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wag_Det1-792835.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 145px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wag_Det1-792785.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wag_Det3-757225.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wag_Det3-757169.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The 1st picture shows some of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Murrina</span> beads in detail, along with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Swarovski</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">bicones</span> and Tibetan silver spacers. The 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">nd</span> one on the right displays one of the rose quartz pebbles, one Czech glass lentil bead, a small Chinese glass pearl and more of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">bicones</span> and stardust round beads.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wag_Det2-707178.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wag_Det2-707122.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Here we can see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Murano</span>-style stripy beads, with a lovely layer of silver foil, as well as some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Sakura</span>-coloured <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Murrina</span> and Chinese green glass pearls. A Tibetan silver spacer can also be seen, as well as the stardust beads.</span></span><br /></div><br />And, finally, some extra pictures showing different views. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wagashi6-705876.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wagashi6-705823.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wagashi5-771184.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Wagashi5-771167.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-22416695186366381482009-10-12T17:30:00.008+01:002009-10-14T04:26:18.477+01:00Of Flowers and Bees Pt. 3 - Farmleigh (again)Some more pictures taken on a different date in Farmleigh, Pheonix Park (circa 2 weeks ago)... Click on thumbnails to magnify!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph1-740576.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph1-740572.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph10-785323.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph10-785260.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph6-747897.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph6-747840.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph2-728843.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph2-728768.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Blue-700740.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 128px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Blue-700735.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph7-789839.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph7-789791.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph3-744261.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph3-744213.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph8-789052.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph8-789002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph9-726825.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph9-726777.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(I don't know which species these are, but they certainly look like anemonae, in a deep blue sea, and not something you would usually expect in a garden!)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph11-712477.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph11-712419.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph12-708271.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph12-708266.jpg" alt="" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph16-757708.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph16-757704.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph18-760864.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 162px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph18-760858.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PhRose-715054.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 161px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PhRose-714995.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(There is a rose garden in Farmleigh, and I love their texture and the spiral formed by the petals, like an ephemeral, colourful mandala)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph13-750467.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph13-750003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PhBee-798193.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PhBee-798138.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph14-745830.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph14-745776.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/CuteBee-794764.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 135px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/CuteBee-794738.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Once again, my favourites: bergamots and cute bees. I have included magnifications of the bees on each photograph. You can clearly see their shiny coats and beady eyes)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph4-743081.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph4-743076.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Yummy-790574.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Yummy-790563.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(This is a different, skniier type of bee, working on a yellow flower whose name I ignore. Not as cute as the bergamot ones...)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph17-774212.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph17-774208.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Mark certainly took this picture, for I would be unable to focus here. If you magnify it, you will clearly see the spider webs shining at the sunlight. I think it is very pretty...)</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ph12-708271.jpg"> </a>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-85377870088494872102009-10-12T10:41:00.006+01:002009-10-12T20:27:58.820+01:00Of Flowers and Bees Pt. 2 - FarmleighI love spending an afternoon in <a href="http://www.farmleigh.ie/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Farmleigh</span></a>, Phoenix Park. We usually go there in the weekends, looking for lovely flowers, herbs and trees to photograph. I enjoy that a lot.<br /><br />What I love the most are the bees. They are always flying all over the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bergamot</span> flowers, which they seem to especially enjoy. One may even call them nasty bugs, since they sting and so on. But I could not care less, for they are always busy buzzing carelessly away, oblivious to my presence and the camera, with their light little fluffy bodies and delicate wings. At least in those moments they seem absolutely harmless, flying around in their yellow and black stripy furry pyjamas, so focused in their feeding activities that photographing them may even seem like an easy task - as if they were striking a pose just for you! Yes, they are cute. And yes, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bergamot</span> flowers smell really, really sweet...<br /><br />As before, click on thumbnails for a magnified view...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/1-772475.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/1-772433.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/2-722009.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/2-722004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The yellow flower is a begonia...</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/3-779856.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/3-779795.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/10-717071.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/10-717028.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Sunflowers...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahlia2-795267.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahlia2-795220.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahlia3-767940.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahlia3-767932.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahlia4-725814.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahlia4-725809.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahliaagain-773021.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Dahliaagain-772976.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lots of pink dahlias...</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/11-794423.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/11-794335.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/9-741671.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/9-741622.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/18-706906.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/18-706853.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/17-760351.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/17-760233.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/19-709129.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/19-709078.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/14-779989.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/14-779919.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/15-734924.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/15-734863.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The one on the left looks like artichoke. Could that be it?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/20-798653.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/20-798649.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/21-751815.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/21-751756.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/12-736535.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/12-736486.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/13-794020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/13-793977.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Cutie-754695.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Cutie-754689.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">And finally, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bergamots</span> with some of my beloved busy bees!</span></span><br /></div>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-9097443820835519932009-10-11T22:58:00.003+01:002009-10-11T23:19:56.461+01:00Of Flowers and Bees Pt. 1 - BallinaThese pictures were taken in Mark's parents Caravan park, <a href="http://belleekpark.com/">Belleek Park</a>, in Ballina, co. Mayo, just some months ago. Now, I am obsessing with taking pictures of plants. Flowers. Bees (these, whenever possible!). Nature in general. Most of the time (98% of the time, to be precise), I don't even know the name of the flower. Or even if that insect is a bee or a bumblebee or a wasp. But I enjoy it nonetheless, in all my ignorant bliss.<br /><br />As always, click on thumbnails for detail...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball1-794782.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball1-794740.jpg" alt="" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball2-771934.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball2-771929.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball3-734519.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball3-734467.jpg" alt="" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball111-789392.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball111-789320.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball4-748482.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball4-748434.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball8-717902.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball8-717856.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball9-717574.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball9-717570.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(The above are from the chestnut tree in the Park, so, chestnut flowers!)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball12-772275.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball12-772269.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball13-716116.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball13-716109.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(The bright purple one at the left is a pansy for sur</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">e!)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball10-700030.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball10-700026.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(This baby looks like a hydrangea, but may not be one...)</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Ball1-794782.jpg"> </a>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-5193202116522382122009-10-10T17:28:00.009+01:002009-10-11T23:23:55.188+01:00Back after 3 long months...I am back again, after a long hiatus of 3 months or so, namely, since I moved to the new house. Why is that, one might wonder... Moving to a new place really messed me up: new surroundings, stairs to climb all the time, getting used to it... It takes some time, really, to settle in, and the whole process is quite tiresome for me. I am not very fond of changes.<br /><br />But now, I am OK. Mostly OK. I am settled, yes, but starting to feel a bit depressed: it's one year since I went to Rio last, and I miss it a lot. We will go there for Christmas, true. But whenever I stay more than 10-11 months away, I start to feel depressed and anxious. So, that's why.<br /><br />The house is now looking great (I think!), but of course there are still some bits and ends left (hanging pictures, for example).<br /><br />I still haven't restarted the jewelry though, but at least all my stones and beads are well-organised and in the right places right now.<br /><br />What have I been up to, during these 3 months then? Well, not much, really, except for the usual: watching DVDs, reading manga and books, organising my little things (Kitty collection, stationery, perfumes, magazines etc) and playing with <a href="http://andrearyu.superpokepets.com/">Super Poke Pets</a> on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php">Facebook</a>. I must say I turned out to be quite an addict, for the pets and objects you buy and collect are so lovely, that it's really very hard to resist!<br /><br />The manga I've been reading lately are: Nodame Cantabile (<a href="http://through-the-sapphire-sky.blogspot.com/">Sapphire's</a> recommendation, really great), Inuyasha (yes, yes, still!), Chibi Vampire (which just ended in a rather abrupt/hurried way), XXXHolic (which quickly became one of my favourites), and some others. As for the books, mostly Japanese authors: Natsume Soseki, Natsuo Kirino, Yoko Ogawa. Special mention of course goes to Natsume Soseki, a wonderful Japanese classic. I started by reading his "Kokoro", which is very moving and very hard to put down. I was wanting to read him for some time already, since I read Murakami's (indirect) praises of his work in "Kafka on the Shore" some years ago. At the time I thought: well, if it's something Murakami (his characters, in this case) waxes lyrical about it, of course I am bound to love it. And I was right. It's not a light reading, but one that really makes you think and consider a series of things. And if you enjoy Japanese culture, even better, however the chore of this specific work was rather universal , global, ie, things that anyone (in spite of cultural differences, backgrounds, religion, gender etc) can feel, live and why not, die for. But that was his first book I read, and quickly bought some others: "The Three-Cornered World", "The Gate" and "I Am a Cat" - but am only starting the former tonight.<br /><br />Talking of books then... Our Play Room (aka library, aka computer room, aka...) is finally ready. Mark finished the book shelves that we bought in Ikea (my favourite place for house stuff, for sure!) and I am very happy to report that our book organising issues are all sorted (for now, ha ha! Nah, just kidding...)...<br /><br />If you want to have a better look, please click the thumbnails for a magnified view...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_1-787987.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_1-787770.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_6-786987.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_6-786983.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_5-700176.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_5-700151.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_2-707539.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_2-707534.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_3-786164.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/PR_3-786076.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And some details here...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Swa-714039.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Swa-714033.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Clamp-780600.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Clamp-780561.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Kero2-754521.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Kero2-754518.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Prints-726672.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Prints-726611.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7398399.post-48366204586082279402009-07-09T18:27:00.003+01:002009-07-13T14:03:18.645+01:00The new houseWe moved last Wednesday. It was very, very stressful. I don't want to go into details, really. The moving company was OK, but not as brilliant as they claim to be, and once the insides (of the old apartment that is!) arrived, it was not like everything turned out to be completely right. Well, most of it was great actually! Minor issues of course, but these can be fixed. If not now, over time.<br /><br />Kitchen is great, garden is lovely and, overall, the place is bigger than it looks! The negative points? My shower door is broken, the showers themselves (both bathrooms) have to be either fixed or replaced, and we are running out of bookshelves. A wall unit had to be sacrificed (put to recycle) since it would not only fit in the stairs (1st landing being a bit narrow for the curve and so on), but it was mouldy underneath, as a result of a flooding some years ago in our former apartment. Since it was cheap, not great looking and has already served its purpose, we dumped it.<br /><br />I feel that I am not completely settled yet, and the house is still in the process of becoming "ours". We still have to unpack lots of things and organise it in their places and so on.<br /><br />Yesterday we have our friends around. Monica discovered some lavender flowers in the front lawn. They smell wonderful! And today, while watering the plants in the back garden, I found a small kiwi tree! Now you may ask yourself how do I know it's a kiwi tree. Well, it has a tag stuck to the trunk with its Latin name and other specs, simple as that.<br /><br />We took some pictures (actually, lots!), and here's some of them. Please click on the thumbnails to magnify...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Sunset3-756490.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Sunset3-756486.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunset at our back garden...</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Garden1-759534.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Garden1-759530.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View from inside the living room...</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Buda-739522.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Buda-739481.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">There is a Buddha in the garden! The former owner gave it to us as a well-wisher! I love it!</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/FromPlayRoom-727917.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/FromPlayRoom-727862.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Partial view from the play room...<br /><br /></span> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/fern-724081.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/fern-724078.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/fern2-789219.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/fern2-789175.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Another-751328.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Another-751283.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Another-751328.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/plant2-769322.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/plant2-769284.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/plant2-769322.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/tree1-743060.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/tree1-743017.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Plant1-736021.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Plant1-735969.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Purple-743338.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Purple-743301.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Tree2-799432.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.irlbrl.com/andrea/blog/uploaded_images/Tree2-799399.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Andrea Leite Marqueshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12070758638968538548noreply@blogger.com2