lilymoon

The Aviary Keeper and the Beautiful Fair

2011-09-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

So far it has been an adventurous year...I have moved away from the beloved island I have been living on for the last 18 years, to make a new home now in the U.K. I have met new people, seen exciting new places ( Jane Austen's house being one of my favorites) and found a new studio space which I love. It has been a good year...tough at the beginning but unraveling sweet and exciting....
I also started a new blog, devoted to the Aviary Keeper, which is one of the reasons I have not posted here for so long...
One of the most exciting things has been being invited to take part in the Selvedge Fair this coming Saturday! I have been extremely busy this past month getting ready for it and am thrilled to be meeting so many talented artists on the day :)

My path...

2011-02-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes

2011-02-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have to leave, say goodbye and move on....It can hurt, it can make you cry...

Sometimes you find a new path...that leads to a new life, new experiences....that fill in the holes in your heart.

Back with big changes...

2011-02-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

...it's been very long since my last post...

...feeling serene and happy....
....and my painting fingers are incredibly itchy...

Monogram

2010-04-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with Odysseas Elytis poems, from the first verse i ever read...and in my work i always aspire to capture some of its magic...a thing impossible I know.
I found a translation of The Monogram on the internet, and had to post a small part of it here...i hope you enjoy it

"Always you the little star and always I the dark boat
Always you the harbor and I the beacon on the right
The wet dockwall and the gleam on the oars
High in the house with the vine arbors
The bound-up rosebushes, the water that feels cold
Always you the stone statue and always I the lengthning shadow
The half-closed window shutter you, I the wind that opens it
Because I love you and I love you
Always you the coin and I the adoration that cashes it:

So much for the night, so much for the roar in wind
So much for the droplet in the air, so much for the quietude
Around the despotic sea
Arch of the sky with the stars
So much for your least breath

That I have nothing more
Amid the four walls, the ceiling, the floor
To cry out of you and so my own voice strikes me
To smell of you and so men turn wild
Because men can't endure the untried
The brought from elsewhere and it's early, hear me
It's too early yet in this world my love

To speak of you and me."

x
Lily

Back home...

2010-04-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

It's been two days since i came home from Germany where i went for treatment. Everything went well until a volcano had the idea to keep me from coming home for a few days...but i managed to click my heels and land somehow in my studio again...i missed my painting, the Mediterranean light and my dogs very much, and I'm relieved to be reunited with them all...

I'll probably be heading to Germany in September again, but for now, I'll enjoy all i have and keep painting... with the light flowing through my window, my watercolours on the table next to my rocking chair and my little dogs at my feet, dreaming :)

x
Lily

Confessions

2010-03-15T08:59:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone for their lovely welcome back comments :) I'm very grateful to everyone!

I'm busily working on paintings, and i have to say that the lovely weather we have had lately has helped boost my spirits - Spring has a magical way of doing that!
Blogs i suppose are also about confessions, so i'll confess here that i was scared, scared that i wouldn't have the inspiration and energy to get back to my paintings...and it sort of showed in the first attempts i made, the colours were dark, the girls were sorrowful, something you will notice no doubt your self when i add the paintings to my shop. But slowely the joy is coming back into them, the playfullness that i embarassingly let myself forget about, and ofcourse, hope, hope that i'll be able to continue doing what i love most for a long while yet :)

much love,
a little less scared painter,
called Lily (Maya, Stavri....the list goes on, lol)

It's been a long long road

2010-02-03T01:14:00.000-08:00

It's been over a year since i last made a blog entry..i sort of disappeared into my own world, waiting for the storm to pass...there's still some thunder, lightning and some howling winds, but i can't let another year pass by waiting...My new years resolution for 2010 was to regain my life, even if it meant being a little shipwrecked...
I've started working since the start of the year on new work and loving it. My hope is that in April/May 2010 i'll have lots of new things to share with you my friends...
Thank you for not forgetting..
Love,
Lily

The girl with her voice in a cage

2009-03-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Varsti came to terms with the fact that she was different from her peers at a very young age.
But the other children (who we know mostly imitate their elders) would constantly tease her, because of her difference...you see, her voice did not come through her mouth, but through the tiny beak of a yellow bird that she carried around wherever she went...

But what the other children didn't know was that she had a secret...something that they would envy... Because through the bird, she could talk not only to humans, but also to nature, trees and animals who would await her passing by so they could listen to the stories she would tell...
...and that is how Varsti found out that trees could weep, as diaphanous petals would fall in her presence...

Friday Fete

2009-02-20T02:48:00.000-08:00

I try to keep a few hours, free on Friday just to sketch for the fun of it! Usually this entails downloading an audio book, pressing the "start" button and spreading ALL of my paints around my couch/bed...
I imagine I have the silliest grin on my face while attacking my moleskine....

a sketch of Eva

2009-02-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

It's been nearly two months since my previous post.
I have been working on getting better and discovering life again- the simple things that I love.

I'm sure it's a cliche: i love to paint and draw... touch with my pencil every contour and experience every colour.

" Eva" was one of the skecthes I made today.

Thank You!

2008-12-03T08:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for your supporting me through one of the most trying times of my life.
Thank you for writing your beautiful comments and helping me through the darkness.
Thank you for being there and being wonderful!!

Lots of love and gratitude,
an (almost) fully functional,
Lily Moon

Black Canvas

2008-10-22T04:39:00.000-07:00

Warning: this isn't the sanest or happiest of my blog entries...

I woke up today to discover that both my legs are paralyzed.
Its a dark place to be.
Listening to music and scribbling in my diary is all that keeps me going.

I want to crawl into one of my paper gardens and fly away with the black birds....

A little sad....

2008-10-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a long month, a long year to be precise! I've been in and out of doctor's offices more than I can count, and for the third time this year I am being admitted to hospital today. I've been battling a very sinister and sneaky disease this past year...I've missed being healthy, I've missed being able to do little everyday things and this month I have missed most of all my drawing and painting!
I do hope this is all over soon...
For the meantime just wanted to say thank you all those who have been so supportive through all this!
Sending you lots of love and hope to see you all soon!

Love
Lily Moon

Messenger Birds.....

2008-07-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

Ramses: Delivers mainly love letters....he is quite shy, cries easily, likes to hide away in ferns and desperately wants to learn to sing (he believes he was a nightingale in a previous life)....
Ariadne: Delivers mainly good news...She may look pensive, but she is of a perky and adventurous nature... Sugar coated peanuts are her favourite snack (and she won't say no to a margarita bird bath)...

and last but not least my beloved No'e : He just likes to sit on your shoulder when you are feeling lonely....

The above prints are currently available exclusively for the month of August at my brand new Big Cartel store here
and will be available in my Etsy store in Septemeber. :)

xxx
l.m.

Sketching and listening...

2008-07-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

...to Jacob Golden tonight...

I love listening to music while working, but he makes it difficult sometimes... have to stop every time I listen to 'Hold your hair back'.... it's that good...

Garden Dwellers and Messenger Birds

2008-07-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

Lost and Found (Print)
.... garden dwellers and messenger birds amongst a field of poppies....

A new addition to the Paper Gardens.... an ornate aviary with messenger birds (trained by the Aviary Keeper).....

xxx
L. M.

Petite Teaser.......

2008-07-14T15:44:00.001-07:00

........?

Lilymoon Hearts:

2008-07-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Little Doodle's etsy shop is full of mischievous birdies and other beautiful work:

This piece made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside - a beautiful accordion book by Iris Schwarz:

A gorgeous dress that was custom made for me by Suzannah Mullikin - she is such a talented artist and a very lovely person! You can visit her Etsy shop here!

Sneak Preview...

2008-06-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

...of what I'll be listing in my Etsy shop next week!
(The originals on canvas will be available as well as prints :O)

xxx

Lily Moon

All you need is....

2008-06-25T09:38:00.001-07:00

....and lots and lots of paints in all the colours of the rainbow.... :O)
Did I just kill a song there?

I am slowly getting back to my daily painting routine (and loving it)... Im looking forward to working on gocco prints next week (yay) and am painting new stuff that I'll be adding slowly to my Etsy store - also re working some older prints that I thought needed a little touching up (ooh)!

xxx
Lilymoon

Oh poo....

2008-06-13T00:37:00.000-07:00

I was re admitted to hospital on Sunday but thankfully I am back home now. I am typing this with difficulty as both my hands are bandaged because of injuries from iv treatment - thats the reason I can't reply to all your lovely emails of support and get well wishes: I was thinking of a way to communicate best and thought a blog post would be the best way :)
Thank you so much for your support, it has kept me sane and smiling :)

A big thank you to Fabbra and her wonderful little girl, who sent me the best kind of medicine ;)
Thank you to my illustrator friends who have been with me in spirit through all this, I love you guys :) (I'll try and be online more now, albeit silently, lol.)

I am still painting, in my head, and can't wait to put everything down on paper...

Take care everyone,
and be merry - life is beautiful!!
xxx
Lilymoon
(also known as maya)

Hospital Blues

2008-06-04T10:20:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note to say I am back from the hospital (YaaaaaaaaY!) and will be opening my Etsy store, fingers crossed, this Monday :)
A BIG thank you to all the lovely people who sent me get well wishes - reading them really uplifted my spirits and made me smile!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

I am still a bit shaky, so I won't be online a lot till Monday, though I'll try and get every pending order posted before the week is out!

The above illustration was one of a few, that I doodled in my sketch book while in hospital....
Yes, to the horror of the lovely nurses, I took my paints with me, hehe.....

See you all very soon,
love
Lilymoon

What goes on, on Sundays...

2008-05-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

I'm usually getting the studio ready for Mondays, etc...
- so I sorted out the paints I'll be using next week and gave my brushes a perm so they are all bright and perky....

Afterwards: lit a few candles and listened to what the wise swallows had to say...

....then Nefeli (previously known as Bob the imaginary dog) gave me the "strange painting lady, your bed is very soft and cosy, but I'd prefer going for a walk and chasing some butterfies" look....
So off we went...No butterflies were harmed during our walk, but I got the feeling, Nefeli has fallen pretty hard, for one....Ah, Puppy Love!

Lilymoon Hearts:

2008-05-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

Bird earrings from the Mymble's Daughter:Blueberry Creme Fraiche soap from Savor:

DearPony blouse:

jardins botaniques no....

2008-05-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

...this project began with me daydreaming while painting new paper gardens for my Etsy shop... ..I wondered what would happen if I took a magnifying glass and studied the gardens closely: who and what would I find...Curious collectors, rare plants and flowers, shadows of poetesses bending over to examine nature's offerings....
Then I thought what it would be like to build the gardens frame by curious frame....so people could choose and build their own individual gardens....
And then... I took my brushes again and started painting....

Queen of the butterflies on Lark and Loon

2008-05-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

I've had the honor of creating a design for Lark and Loon's Summer collection! Check out their online store here!

Now where did i put them....

2008-05-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

....I seem to have lost 3 blogging months.....

again!

;)

These little ladies look like they are looking for something too.... It could be true love.... or it could be a laptop....

Sniff, sniff...

2008-01-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

.... spring is just around the corner!

Spring has always been my favorite of the four seasons - the air is full of positive energy and nature is bursting with vivid colors and fresh aromas - there is nothing harmonious about it - it brings an exuberant chaos to all the senses...

Tis the season...

2007-12-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

...for shopping on Etsy :)
Just thought I'd share some of my recent purchases ... can't wait for them to arrive!

This lovely print by ArtandGhosts:

....a gorgeous necklace from TillyBloom:

....and these pretty mittens from Nanichan:

In the studio....

2007-12-02T11:28:00.001-08:00

...working all hours of the day! So sorry for not updating my blog for ages! One of my new year resolutions is going to be becoming a better blogger :)
Thanks for everyone who has visited my blog and for leaving such beautiful comments!

Just a little bit of news: The Shiny Squirrel is selling two prints of mine exlusively, if you would like to have a quick look :)

See you later!! I'll be back soon - promise :)

x
Lilymoon

Garden cubicles and Excuses-Excuses

2007-08-03T00:14:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, I seem to not have blogged for a month!!!

My Excuses list:

1. The aviary keeper abducted and kept me hostage, till I painted enough gardens to make him happy

2. Bob, my imaginary dog, ate the keyboard

3. Iqaaf without telling me about it, decided to go on a world tour with the kite flying sisters and I had to chase him round the globe ...

4. I've been working long hours developing new work....

Can you tell I am not good at this excuses thing?

p.s. The photos are of the gardens I have been working on this week.

About gardens, angry aviary keepers and mini escapes

2007-07-05T07:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to plant (illustrate) new Paper Gardens this week due to lack of time...I've been mostly working on other projects but am missing my Gardening a lot and hope to get back to it by the end of next week! The aviary keeper has been really grumpy about this - he is constantly demanding new cages for the birds - so I better go buy gouache in bulk, if I am going to make him smile again!

I am taking a little break this weekend, escaping from all that is life at the moment, and taking my sketchbook and my inks with me for company! :)

My mini escape will start tomorrow morning (Friday 6th July) and I'll be back on Monday 9th July! I won't be able to access a computer so unfortunately I won't be able to answer emails within this time frame!

Hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend!

x's

Lilymoon

I've been tagged...

2007-06-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

...by the lovely and talented Michymoo :)

Here goes:
1> My real name is Stavri, but my friends call me Maya and my Etsy name is Lily...this can get a little confusing and can lead to long pauses when signing off emails (while wondering what my name is...)

2>I speak fluently greek and less fluently english and wish I could speak french...

3>I have an imaginary dog called Bob...He keeps me company till I adopt a real dog (who I plan to call Bob!)

4>I try and read as much as I can. Favourite authors include: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Alberto Manguel, Alessandro Barrico, Odysseas Elytis and one of my favourite poets Wistawa Szymborska.

5> I have a habit of starting conversations with anything - including animals, plants and other objects...i.e If say, I pass a tree or a cat I will say "hello" to them - thankfully my friends have got used to this and have stopped asking me who I am talking to!

I have tagged the following talented artists:
http://emmamccann.blogspot.com/
http://kissthefrogboutique.typepad.com/
http://madamebogg.blogspot.com/
http://magicalmiskellaneous.blogspot.com/
http://vuelodepapel.blogspot.com/

Conversations with Iqaaf: I dare you ...

2007-06-22T03:28:00.000-07:00

Iqaaf: I don't understand this picture at all...

Lm: I know what you mean...

Iqaaf: What's it about?

Lm: Well...umm..it's suppose to be an invitation to play...sort of...

Iqaaf: Play what?

Lm: Nothing specifically...just to play in general...

Iqaaf: That's just silly - how are they suppose to play when they don't know what the game is...?

Lm: I sort of try and leave that to people's imagination...

Iqaaf: Ok. So... do you want to play a game?

Lm: I have to work, so I don't have much time...

Iqaaf: But you just invited people to play!

Lm: That was metaphorically speaking though....Which means I didn't actually invite them to play with me!!

Iqaaf: It's not fair!!

Lm: That's another illustration...we will chat about that another time- promise!

Iqaaf: Can I go play in the gardens now?

Lm: Off you go...Just try and not scare the albino crows much this time!

Iqaaf: hrmffff....

Iqaaf: Imaginary Question Asker Aged Five

Lm: LilyMoon

Chapter 2: Introducing the amazing Kite Flying Sisters

2007-06-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

This highly talented act has been together since birth! Ruth and Matilda were both born in the air - on a air balloon flight to be precise, from Paris to New Zealand...

They have had many happy times together gliding gracefully over every continent not to mention they can tell the difference between a Cumulonimbus from a Cirrocumulus cloud with their eyes shut-but their true talent shines when the winds blow fierce and the hail resembles hard boiled eggs :They have a gift of sticking together through the bad times and being able to detect the rainbows in any kind of bad weather...!

Postal adventures

2007-06-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

The ladies are excited about their journey tomorrow morning - they are off to far away lands - and will be seeing things I may never get to see in my lifetime!!

I am a bit jealous!

(Though I have to admit being 3d does have its advantages- sometimes!)

Chapter 1 : Geraldine hates the world...

2007-06-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Indeed she does!

Since early this morning she has quarreled with her mother and her stepfather, her sister Miriam, her Egyptian cat Bastet, her geranium plant, the butler .... but worst of all with her fiancee Mr Daventry whom she hoped to marry later this Summer ...

She is contemplating leaving for good

- after all no one would miss her-

or would they?