Size Does Matter

Today I'm here to talk to you about handbags.  Or specifically, the size thereof.

I had to buy a new handbag earlier this year when my last one was finally about to fall apart.  It took much googling of bag shops, saving of pictures, and an absolute list of non-negotiable features.

For me that means:

1. COLOUR
I've had hot pink, red, my last bag was black and white striped.  So long as the colour suits my current mood to a T.  (Every bag I screen-saved was cream!)

2.  BEAUTY
I use this thing every day, so every time I look at it, it must give me blissful little happy chills.  (Look at that pom pom!  And the shape?  Gorgeous.  My husband told me it looked like something Jackie O would have used. I nearly fainted with pure glee.)

3. COMPARTMENTS, COMPARTMENTS, COMPARTMENTS
-  phone pocket
- small zip pocket for keys
- at least two big compartments.  One for wallet, bullet journal, sunglasses, ereader etc.  The other for kids stuff aka water bottles, snacks.
- a middle zipper compartment for emergency supplies - toiletries, tissues, a shopping bag etc
- room for extra pens and paper so my arty kids can draw whenever they get the urge

Just call me Mary Poppins.  For my handbag is a modern day magical carpet bag.

For if you suddenly need a pen, look to me.  Require a band aid?  I'm your girl. My son asked for a pencil with which to draw a "veiled chameleon costume" the other day  and I provided.  "Mmm," said he, "this is a 2B.  I'd really like a 9B."  Did I have it? Did I ever.

 

So, are you a big handbag gal like me? Prepared for anything?  Or are you that magical unicorn - a woman who can leave the house with her key, credit card and phone?

What's hanging on my walls.

Now the dust has settled from all our renos, one of my favourite jobs has been hanging all our art back on the newly painted walls and when I did it I got something of a surprise. I realized that all our pieces are about the places and people we love. I thought I'd show you a few and the little stories behind how we came to have them.

This was painted for me by my friend, Donna. It's called "Barbara's colours". It reminds me of paua shells, or leaves floating on a pond, and I absolutely love it.

This is a New Zealand artist who creates prints and lithographs inspired by Maori and Greek myths. This fits perfectly in our Greek - New Zealand household.

And here's another by the same artist. If you look closely you'll see some New Zealand icons on the Greek vase. This one of the first piecs we bought and still one of our favourites.

Our very good friend Maree gave us this as a wedding present. She was also our wedding photographer. She took it in the gardens of Sissinghurst. So romantic!

A local Maori artist did this piece for us. It represents our family and on the back has a beautiful Maori prayer written by the artist.

The mother of another friend is a well known New Zealand artist and this was another wedding present. It represents Persephone in the underworld. Another NZ/Greek piece.

My husband took this photo in 1992 when he visited his dad's village in Greece for the first time. There was no such thing as panorama then so he just took a number of pictures and then when the technology caught up we had them stitched together!

This hangs in my bedroom and is called "The Kiss". I think it sums up my world completely :) What about you? Do you have any favourite pictures hanging on your walls?