A Holly Jolly Holiday

When it comes to Christmas holidays, what I enjoy the most is the part of decorating the house. Is that time of the year when I feel more like home than ever! It's like a winter wonderland in every corner. So, just like last year, I'd like to show you some christmassy pictures of my house these days where I pass most of my time relaxing and spending time with my lovely family. 

Knocking on Christmas door!

Hey, hello guys! Guess I'm finally back on posting since I'm on holidays. So, this year, Christmas found me in another country where I've been since I was about 2 years old for the main reason that I have some cousins who live there. Where else but Greece! Guess it's one of the best countries to celebrate Christmas for it's christian spirit widespread, sweetest and greasy food, night life etc. As long as I'm baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, Greek people wish me all the best and give me presents as it's my birthday! This time I celebrated Christmas eve in a popular club in Thessaloniki where I knew some new friends with whom I spent the rest of the day. I don't want to linger in writing but I can say that I have had the best Christmas of my entire life! Right place, right people, right everything. Here I'm posting some pictures which belong to the lovely afternoon of December 25. 

Viola and Gold.

Sort of a gothic look in a feminine way would be my outfit for my cousin's engagement celebration today. Purple is such a deep color which I have always adored and for sure I added this gorgeous golden necklace from Versace combined with the golden ribbon of the Verde bag. I think the color of the dress also looks way too good with my hair, doesn't it? As long as it's still autumn and the weather is cool, it is necessary to wear tights but I never really accepted the nude ones so I wore some black tights which also fit with the dress and high-heeled sandals. I had a very nice hair and face treatment by a well known hair dresser of my hometown who actually gave me such good vibes. It was such a tiring but fun day! Hope you guys liked this outfit, let me know your thoughts in comments! 

Land of a Hero.

Hello guys! Since my school year started I haven't had enough time to take care of my blog. Anyway, I need to take the time and thank you for all your comments to my latest posts. So, I finally took Molko (the camera) with me in a trip last weekend. I decided visiting Kruja with my mom for I have never been there before. This lovely city is the birthplace of our national hero : Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu (George Kastriot, Skanderbeg). The origin of the name "Kruja" comes from the word "Krojë" which means "Spring" in Albanian. 

It was one of those sunny days of Autumn when you can't get enough of taking pictures. 

Bloody Big Head

As you may already know , Halloween for me is definitely a lifestyle. Since "Alice in Wonderland" is my favorite story, I chose to look like one of the characters I adore the most. Still as a "Burtonist" my Halloween costume was under the name of the "Red Queen" . Except the fact that she is so funny, evil and spoiled she has also red hair just like me so I guess I had less work in coloring my hair this year. Anyway, I also had to wear the matching costume which I found on my own in my closet and the final look was more like a hot lady version of the Red Queen. haha. 

We're all mad here!

On Halloween's eve I always enjoy craving my pumpkin in different forms especially the faces of my favorite movie characters. I have started to do this since I was very little from the classical scary pumpkin king to Jack Skellington face last year. This year I chose another character from Tim Burton movies (of course...) and that is the Cashire Cat from the Lewis Carroll well known novel "Alice in Wonderland". This character has changed many times but my favorite design was from the movie so I did the best I could to reach that spooky look.

My morning delirium

Soft rays of sun hit my eyelids as a calling to wake up. Oh, that awakening...that hard and tiring awakening. It's a little bit cold and I can't even stand the deafening tweets of the birds outside my window calling me too. What is wrong with you guys? I am the queen of my own world, I am the owner of my own bed, I am the keeper of my own mind. So, today I choose to close my gates, my doors and my eyes to set myself free. Goodbye morning time! 

It's exactly then when all the stories in your head start coming and going very fast like they are in a race for something. That's the moment when you try to realize what really happened that long night before...Your head feels so huge and your memory looks like a grandmother who falls asleep when trying to tell a bed time story. You are weak and the blue light of that morning is all you have. Is this a dream or am I making up stories with you and me, my sweetest friend? What if I open my eyes...will you still be there...with me? 

Stained Dress

"Tirana Design week" is an event which brings a series of various happenings in the city in order to increase the public's interest in planning, architecture and especially, design. 

Check the official page : http://www.tiranadesignweek.com/

There are different workshops to participate and I was part of the groups who joined the "Tirana Dress me Up!" one. It was Tirana's time to be part of the project "City Dress me Up!" by Danica Karaicic. This workshop will take place in different countries and its purpose is to involve architecture and fashion design.

You can also see more on her website : http://c-d-m-u.floragoticcelli.com/

Out and about

Summer is finally over and we need to get back to the cold rainy days of Autumn. Guess you know my special needs about the season coming. I hate the heat and sometimes I can't wait to get into long sleeves and jackets. There were some days in Italy when the weather was just perfect. I found myself wearing leather vests and leggings like summer was already gone. So, here are some pictures of my outfit I took in a very calm and dark park that afternoon. I know some of the clothes are just being repetitive but hey, I was still a tourist...you know.
Back to Italy, back to brown hair. 

Unleash the red

After visiting Florence, the Vinci town and hanging around the wonderful landscape of Tuscany, there was one other surprise waiting for me in the city of Empoli. My relatives who live there gave me the chance to meet the best hairdresser in Tuscany for they knew my wishes of becoming a redhead. You have no idea how exciting it was! I stayed there for about 3 hours, feeling like a model, talking and laughing italian. The result was equal to what I have always wanted. What do you think? 

Tourist in Florence

As an Art and Design student, it was very important for me to visit Florence for the main reason that is the birthplace of Renaissance, known differently as the "Athens of Middle Ages" . Some of the world's greatest art masterpieces are located in Florence. Talking about masterpieces of the middle ages there are many names to mention such as : Michelangelo Buonarotti, Sandro Botticeli, Donatello, Filippo Bruneleschi, Masaco and of course, Leonardo Da Vinci etc. So, let's say that this city has the greatest concetration of art in the world. I guess that since now, you already have that imagine in the head of my tears - of - joy - face. 

My sweet pandemonium

I'm still enjoying the best days of my summer here in Milan. Every day I go to visit different places, take pictures, trying delicious food and go shopping. "Shopping is cheaper than psychotrist" they say and this stands the most when we talk about Milan. I finally have found myself in many grunge magazines that do not even exist in Albania. What can I say...I'm spoiling myself a lot. I don't even want to leave this place. Wish I could stay here forever! 

Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life!

So yesterday, I had one of the most exciting days ever! I went do visit the well known EXPO 2015. I'm feeling very lucky to be here in Milan at this period of time only for this! Expo 2015 is the current universal expostition hosted in Italy. The last time Milan hosted the exposition was in 1906. It is held every 5 years in different countries. This year, the main theme was : "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life!" Every country of the world had it's own pavilion to show their food and diet and how this things relate with technolodgy, traditions, culture, creativity and art. 

Here are some fragments of my experience! 

" L'arte milanese "

The second day brought me to heaven, like literally. If you ever have the chance to visit Milan do not just visit around the famous "Piazza Duomo" and that's it. If you are also more interested of art and architecture, you should propably get inside the magnific cathedral. Speaking as a fan of gothic art, you will be just amazed of every dynamic and beautiful detail, for that I can assure you! I had to take hundredes of stairs to get up there but the view was totally worth it. Enjoy the pictures!

From Milan with love...

Traveling is the best medicine to every kind of soul disease! This summer I chose Italy! Italy is the country who holds the birthplace of renaissance art and architecture. It was about time to visit and see these well known places I've heard and study so much about. We traveled by ferry and arrived in Bari which was our very first station. I have been another time in Bari so I wasn't much interested to visit places around but the view from the sea side was amazing that morning. 

Forever Back to Black!

It's not just about the well known Amy Winehouse song, it's a lifestyle! No matter summer or winter, I always choose to just wear something black. Black is a state of mind. It's a happy color to me. It's a way of looking good, chick, always IN and so grunge! So, while I was on vacations I chose a day to take some pictures around the place that I was resting. I took many clothes with me (as usual) but tried to combine some black ones in different material which I guess, look good with each other. I never give up on leather made clothes no matter the weather or season. I can't even wait for autumn to wear more leather clothes and jackets but until than I can handle it with some short skirts and shoes. 

As for the diary notes : I'm having a great time! I really needed some days off with my friends. We passed some crazy days and nights in south of Albania where I knew some new people and had lots of fun. The atmosphere was just fantastic! We had our own colorful camping place along the blue sea of Drymades beach where we would spend the days and the nights were all ours in order to be dancing and partying hard at a techno music concert. This tiny little moments are what we call happiness, we just need to do lots of it everyday. I really need to escape some times and loose my mind so I can find myself again realizing who I am and what I want. 

Summertime madness...

Dear "Diary" ,

I know I have left you alone for a little while. Truth is, many things have changed in my life forever. Summer is about spending time with your besties and go to the beach and have fun and get drunk and everything. But as I mentioned above, all my plans suddenly changed this summer. I just found myself alone in one of my favorite - relaxing places in Albania. Thanks to my parents, I own a holiday house in Pogradec where the weather is cool, the air is fresh and the view from my balcony makes me wonder and meditate. So, as long as I was alone, I have found myself thinking so much. Well, okay, I have been overthinking almost all the time! I was worried about myself, about my present and future, my feelings, my career, my life. Sometimes I feel like I don't know what I want. But as the Desigual adverts say "La vida es Chula!" and I guess, when it comes to life obligations, the only way to make it through is choosing. I still don't know what is going to happen with me but after these vacations, I guess my mind is clear even though I lost my muse. That's why I've been "offline" all the time. It's been a hard time of loneliness, no inspiration, no motivation. Do they call this madness? But hey, at least I've been reading some good books of the authors I love the most such as : Erih Maria Remarque, Edgar Allan Poe and OSHO (who taught me to love "me" more) and I sort of found myself refreshed and decided to take some pictures with my mum. We both enjoyed it at had some fun while posing. I really wish your is summer was less disturbing than mine but if so, don't forget that time is the only cure. You just need to appreciate more your time and the wounds will be healed day by day. That's what is still keeping me strong. 

Illustration of Edgar Allan Poe's : Annabel Lee poem

I had this graphic illustration final project for my drawing classes. Each of us was free to choose what was going to illustrate. I chose one of my favorite poems of the extraordinary poet, Edgar Allan Poe. It was such a hard work when creating your own characters , imagining all the scenes according to Poe's words and putting myself into that tragic story.  I have used different techniques by experimenting day by day. Anyway, this is my first graphic illustration and I know there will be more others soon because I by this project I have realized I adore so much this design genre. 

Enjoy the story! 

Reportage Photography

Hello guys! As you can tell, I'm passing all these latest days learning and working for my finals. Not so many presentations and exams to take and I'll be finally free for my summer vacations! Well, for as long as I've been studying I have left the blog so behind. But now you know that every exam season I pass, I will be posting more school projects. 

Starting and finishing with the Photography subject... The last and more important project of the subject was the Photo Reportage. This photography genre, usually refers to historical events, chronicles and everyday life. It's purpose is to show a little story without adding words of history. It is necessary to wait for the right time and capture the moment. 

The first exercise was based around Tirana. Each one of us had their own impressions and stories behind the photographs. I, myself was more focused on the artistic parts of the city including : Architecture, graffiti, music, paintings and lifestyle down the city. I'm not going to tell any other word so just enjoy this album! :D

All the good things are wild and free.

Every day I understand how much close is my relationship with nature. I miss it in my everyday life. God, I've become an inner warrior of the polutted air I'm forced to breathe everyday! I hate it so much when many buildings destroy our real world. Earth was given us as a home and we're only destroying it every second. I always need to find green places to breathe like a clean human being, like a member of the whole family of our mother nature. I'm so grateful to visit such places sometimes and then I find myself relaxing and meditating for a little while just to make sure my mind is not collapsed yet. Choose a good friend or your lover or another special one and be part of our wonderful ecosystem like maybe you have lived in the woods from one another life before. It will relax your body and clear your mind from the noise and all the gray clouds all around your head. I really think that human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. 

Why so green?

Hello guys! It's been a long time no posting but the finals are coming and you have no idea how busy I am with all the projects, homework and exams. Wish I had more time but one of the good parts is that I'll have more stuff to show you! Starting from this post, we had to make a photo reportage around the city of Tirana. We stopped in different corners and everyone of us had their unique topic on what to focus and express from the pictures. Anyway, I'll tell you more about the project when I post the photographs soon. Meanwhile, a friend of mine took some pictures of me during the work and I was just thinking: Why not to post them? 

My Heartagram day!

This day is the day when I turned to a 20 year old lady! Holy crap, I'm so old! haha. But, anyway I can tell that it was one of the best days of my entire life! When it comes to birthdays all the eyes are on you! You focus on the people you love as much as they focus the more on you and then you finish the day thinking how blessed you are. In fact, this birthday lasted for the whole week! I had so much people to surround myself with so everyday I partied my own way with different groups of buddies. I enjoyed that time a lot and got many presents! God, I love birthdays!

The most beautiful part of it was getting the tattoo I have dreamed about for ages: Heartagram! The Heartagram is the trademarked symbol of HIM, created by Ville Valo on his twentieth birthday. He has stated that the heartagram is a "modern Ying Yang" and is meant to represent the juxtaposition of 'good and evil', 'light and dark' , 'life and death' and 'love and hate' . It combines a heart with a pentagram and it stands for HIM as a band, as an entity and for 'love metal' in general. This symbol is sported as a tattoo by many HIM fans though...and sure I'm one of them! 

Eyes like a shutter, mind like a lens.

 Days have gone by and I have collected many projects to show. Every Wednesday we take different lessons and we got so much to learn. I have to mention that except the fact that we learn how to take good pictures, we also get to know more about the Photography history and evolution. I have known many famous photographers of all time and learning more and more about their special techniques, ideas, styles and their way of expressing and making art by using their artistic soul and a camera. 

One from the projects was about the four portrait lightning patterns every photographer should know.

1. Split Lightning

Just like it's name, it splits the face into equal halves with one side being in the light and the other one in the shadow. Often used to create dramatic images. Mostly used for musicians and other artists portraits.

From South to North

As you can understand it by the title, my two latest posts have been full of pictures from south Albania and not within three days I've been in northern Albania, visiting with the city of Shkodra with my class. We had to visit the "Marubi" Photography Exhibition center which is located there. This National Photo Gallery was created in 1970 after Gege Marubi donated to the state his personal archive of the three generations. This collection of 500.000 negatives starts with an inverted refugee story. Pietro Marubbi (1834-1905) from Piacenza in northern Italy, fled his homeland for political reasons, settled in Shkodra in 1856 as an artist and taking the name Pjeter Marubi ( as an Albanian name) . Two years later he took the first-ever photograph in Albania, set up the first photo studio of the country, and made a living making portrait photos of the local upper class families and the odd revolutionary. With such an large amount of negatives covering every major event in the region between 1858 and 1959, this is one of Europe's most valuable photo collections.

Summer breeze through my heart...

First of May gave all of us a day off. Unlike the other countries, we don't protest for worker's right but we just give ourselves a little holiday. So, the first of May brought me to south Albania. The weather was perfect and I hadn't seen the sea so far. Besides, I had to take some landscape pictures for my Photography homework so I guess it was the perfect place to photograph. I also had missed that kind of relaxing feeling. I love the sound and smell of the sea. I might buy a house there and stay for hours watching the sun fall and not getting tired of it. I feel so unlucky to not live in coastal towns. Anyway, I stayed there all the weekend and moved in many places around Vlora. Had my first day at the beach for this year and it was awesome except the fact that the water was a little freezing. For all you people who live abroad, if you're still wondering where to go this summer, you can visit south Albania! There are many places and things you'd enjoy, especially the beaches and night life! Pinky promise! 

When Photography is not just a hobby...

Just found myself wondering how many times I have mentioned myself being very busy on working on my photography projects so, why haven't I published some of my work yet? Sure they're not perfect...I mean, I am NOT a photographer. I'm just a design student photographing what I am told to and what I want to. I usually photograph stuff which are meaningful to me and have a sense of attraction. Sometimes, the most horrible thing can be part of a beautiful and interesting picture. It depends on your way of thinking and knowledge of course. Photography is Art. Art is a feeling. But anyway, I'm not just going to continue writing stuff like this cause I'm never going to finish haha. The pictures can say a lot. Here it is all my work for the Photography subject until now. Enjoy! 

The very first project was about photographing textures. Any kind of texture. It is not difficult though. All you need to do is catching the right angle. It mus be flat and clear. You shouldn't use the flash when photographing so keep notes to take pictures on bright days only. Here are some of my other favorite ones:  

Love Terrorist

Busy days come and go so very fast. Sometimes I just cannot believe is already Friday! I should feel excited about that though. You know what excites me the most? When busy days allow me to enjoy myself or also have some fun while working on something. Most of my days are dedicated to my photography classes which contains many home/class work. As you can tell, I have to photograph two, three or four times a week to have some really good pictures. When I achieve my "photo goals", I enjoy the rest of the time taking pictures of myself and friends. I mean...why not? If not now, when? haha. 

The view from the afternoon

Do you guys feel the same when you're done with the school and the afternoon is all yours? I just looooveee it. Is one of the best love affairs I'm given after hard working days and nights. I usually hang out to take some pictures or just have a coffee with some wonderful minds. I find myself walking a lot in different places but at the end of the day my feet hurt so bad but I sincerely feel so satisfied of all the things I've been going through without any regret. And I was just having on of those relaxing afternoons after school on a comfortable outfit I'd like to show you. 

Dark chest of wonders

Finally dyed my dreads! Yeah, it is red...I was confused in choosing between red and green but to be honest, I've always dreamed of having natural red hair. Not more than my prom night ago I was still thinking of dying my hair red but I knew it would never look like natural and it's color would change it's tonalities day by day which is so stressing. I don't know...maybe one day I'll dye it. Until then, I can do whatever I want with my baby dreadlocks. It was fun cause this time I dyed them myself! It is very easy to do it...You only have to take the color and squeeze it to the dreads until you make sure the color is fully steepen inside the dread. 

Find Art & be part of it!

Hey, hello guys? How are you all doing? What are your week days like? I'm really sorry to mention "This photoshoot wasn't planned" but I rarely find the time to take pictures...like seriously. I'm only lucky to find myself taking pictures when photographing for my school projects. Then when I find interesting places to create a story I put myself in as part of it. Got to feel lucky when pictures are good enough for the blog! This time I chose to take some pics in different locations of Tirana and one of those I like the most is the Pyramid! You already know my relations with the image of pyramids but this one is completely different. Once used as a museum of Albania's dictator , after years used as a private place but know all you see in the walls of it is only: Graffiti! 

It's fun reading teenagers notes that have been there for ages. I also find attractive all those creepy images or initials written in many different ways. Graffiti must be known as an art, not vandalism! All the artists drawing stuff on the walls are only trying to give messages...they're not doing any crime for art's sake! 

 I have always liked the idea to know how to graffiti. I tried once to draw Heartagram, it wasn't that bad though but not cool enough! lol 

Bittersweet...

Just wondering how would I describe my life in a word...my state of mind, my daily routine, my entire soul or the way I express out my all. Bittersweet? Maybe, maybe not...why so? Why not? I mean, we're all waking up early everyday while wishing or screaming out loud if you only could sleep more! Then you go out to deal with life. You deal with a good or a bad job, good or bad people, good or bad vibes and feelings. I , myself am a little bittersweet. I crave to get what I want no matter how bad or good is it. I go follow the river of my own desires, dreams. I choose to follow my heart every day! Maybe that's the essence of it all or the meaning of the phenomenon called "Life on Earth" . We all have to express ourselves for who we really are! I may look weird, a little strange, wild or I don't know but...I always accept myself for being me and express out my inner world in all the needed manners or ways.Why to judge? What's your price when judging? I think, people don't need advice. Sometimes, all they really need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen and a heart to understand. 

Welcome Easter Bunny!

It's Easter time! Such a lovely time of the year that makes me feel so happy when coloring eggs, decorating my house full of little bunnies, birds, ladybirds and candles. Easter is a very important day just to remind us , we all have a second chance just like Jesus was risen. A Christian or not, a God believer or not, it feels good to try to believe in something extraterrestrial, in something much more muchier than our human powers. It's always a good idea to pray for the people you love just to make you feel better. It does make me feel better! That's why I always get excited when these celebrating dates knock on our doors. So, this post is totally dedicated to my Easter days at my home. Hope you like this new colorful interior design! It reminds me of the kinder garden era...you know, I feel a little younger as well. lol

Trip me as I speak...

Sunny days + fresh air + good mood = Spring! Ding - Dong!!

Yup, I'm just enjoying this lovely weather almost every day! Sometimes I feel sad when spending most of the day at school while I could be somewhere else photographing over and over again until the sun would go down. My friend once noticed me, she had found the perfect place to take some pictures a little far from the center of Tirana...Guess what? For months we've been waiting for this day! We've been waiting for the weather to make it's magic and turn her black and white face into a rainbow! 

Comfy but Metallica!

Love it or leave it, she with the deadly bite

Quick is the blue tongue, forked as the lightning strike

Shining with brightness, always on surveillance

The eyes, they never close, emblem of vigilance

Purple Haze

 Grey skies - tiring - sleepless - bad hair - no make up - days BUT still got enough powers to take a couple of pics. First of all I'm so happy I'm done with the final exams and have already finished this important chapter with some good grades! The tiring days were so damn worth it and I kind of owned a higher level of self-esteem which grows me stronger day by day. The pictures of this post were taken one of this days when I was getting to know more about the second semester and then on the way home I met this guy who insisted to take some pictures of me. It wasn't planed and I wasn't in my best looking conditions but anyway I couldn't refuse. We found some random corners of different quarters and kept shooting. In addition, it is almost spring and I find it fun to take pictures of the first flowers blooming...well, as long as it doesn't become too mainstream! lol

What you imagine, you create.

 Hello guys! It's been a long time I haven't post anything but I had to take my finals so couldn't find any time for a photoshoot. So, I thought it would be a good idea to post one of my final projects I had to present these days. As you can tell, this post is totally dedicated to my sculpture and ceramic experience. This subject was part of my school days since it started and now I'm done with it. One of the main reasons we apply this subject is learning how to model real objects in the future. Is about giving life to something which is only part of your mind or just drawn somewhere. It was fun for as long as it lasted. I hope you guys enjoy my work! 

This lady of the flowers...

"It seemed to last for hours,
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers..."

Emotional winter

Have you ever felt so cold you wished you could stay home for a lifetime? No alarms, no traffic jams, no storms to mess up your hair, no annoyance from the rain but just you and your bed together transformed into a good dream where the weather is so ideal you can even smell the peaceful greenness surrounding the eternal YOU. Well, I've been passing a very tiring week accompanied by an awful weather which makes me feel blue since I start the day. I really get to be addicted by the "mood" of the weather. I might get even more tired, stressed, sad and sick if the weather is in that bad mood. But I guess, sometimes it's all just something located in my mind which makes me just lazy and filled with boredom. I think I really need some happy pills sometimes. haha. Anyway, I decided to take some photographs one of these days just because when I woke up I saw the first rays of the sun and believe me, there have been days I had to wake up by the darkness of the grey clouds like the night hasn't left yet! 

Special needs...

Remember me when you're the one who's silver screened

Remember me when you're the one you always dreamed

Remember me whenever noses start to bleed 

Remember me, special needs...

Inner world into order.

Hey guys! How are you all doing? This post is all dedicated to my great excitement about my new hair! Lately I got my first dreadlocks done! Oh my gosh they're so cute I want to keep them forever or even want to make more and more! I've always dreamed about turning all my hair into a bunch of dreads but then when I think about my curls I get a little heart broken. Can't lose them, they're part of my existence! So I just decided to make two locks of dreads and admit to take care of them. Haven't named them yet! lol.