Home Decoration, Swedish Guests, Quilting and Sketches.

In my last post I focused on Athens street art. On my return home another kind of painting was well underway: our house was being redecorated inside and out. 

Question : is there any housekeeper out there who finds their house is absolutely spotless when large items of furniture are moved away from the walls?  It’s embarrassing to see how much ‘oose’, or furry dust, can be lurking in these little nooks and crannies which rarely see the light of day. 

 Then there’s choosing the colour: several little drops of unwanted ochre had my rich bordeaux turning to a boring brick-brown - eugh! Tired of whites and mushrooms, I wanted a splash of colour; but was the yellow too bright, the pink too Barbie?

                                          

What I was grateful for are the new materials that are environmentally friendly. In the past strong fumes could reduce me to a moaning mess as sinusitis kicked in – an allergenic reaction to specific chemicals in the paint. This time we had walls, doors and railings done without any symptoms. There are some EU-imposed regulations that I heartily approve of.

    

  

 

During the project, you can see the state of our balconies both downstairs and upstairs – I promise you they don’t usually look like that!  And when there is such upheaval, you have to take it in your stride, take a detour round about or ….  hole up in a room that’s been done, keep out of everyone’s way and snooze.
Well, that’s the philosophy of Mr Mao who has taken over the sofa. 

        

When Vasilis, our master-decorator, first arrived he brought some meat scraps and immediately endeared himself to Leondaris who then felt canine inspection of whatever was being taken out of the van was mandatory! And there are always accidents: note the badly bruised nail - a badge of busy-ness.

                    

 

Just fifteen minutes after our intrepid painters, Vasilis and Christos, left, our Swedish family guests arrived, with strict instructions not to touch specific walls and railings. As you can see Moschos, the Greek father, has a penchant for   ‘interesting’ shirts –  this season’s clearly being Inca-inspired.    

They first came to visit us here in 2000, again when workmen had just completed tiling the pool and left the cement between the tiles to dry. Charlotte was linguistically strict with her sons: while they were guests here they were allowed to speak only English or Greek - no Swedish whatsoever.  

Angelos the elder, eyed the situation: pool: great, empty: silly.   Clearly wondering why my husband had not effected the next obvious step, and observing his mother’s instructions, he asked in a piping Scandinavian lilt: ‘Where is the water?’  

  This year they were able to take full advantage of the facility – under the watchful eye of Leondaris.   Fifteen years have passed since the wee lads first came to the Cottonfields. Angelos has just completed his Master’s degree and is looking for gainful employment, while Andreas has just embarked on his graduate studies. They are two very charming young men with excellent skills in English and Greek. Mum’s insistence on task-based learning has certainly paid off.
We wish them all the very best in their future studies and careers.                    

                 

 

 Here is a post-decoration shot: the pink contributing a bright background to the quilted wall –hanging  which is a favourite possession created by dear friend, Jean Rutherford, master- ( or is that mistress-?)   quilter. Her home is a grand gallery of all her master-pieces. You can also see the beautiful quilted cover she made that was draped on my bed when I visited her and Maxwell in Mississauga in Ontario. 
 I’ll take commissions for a fat fee!!

       

 

My art work does not match that of Jean’s in any respect, but here are two pieces of my recent work. They are pencil sketches as I think we had enough colour this summer. 

 

 

 The first is of Tonka, my great-niece’s horse in New Zealand. This does not do him justice as he is a dark, dashing creature.

The second is my niece’s moggie, Kubrick. I have mentioned him before and predict he is going to become really well-known in future: watch this space!?