Tag Archives: Paris

Weekly Photo Challenge: Culture

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If you are a regular reader, you might remember how excited I was last year when I got to visit Louvre for the first time. I don’t remember how old I was when I first time heard about Louvre but I do recall wanting to visit there around 5th grade. Man, I was sophisticated already back then.

Around that time I won an art competition too. Just sayin’.

Okay, it was only a local competition but my work did go to the regional show and was displayed at a library designed by Alvar Aalto. Hah! It’s still hanging at my grandparents house. When I say hanging, my grandma was too lazy (or cheap) to buy a frame for it (it’s largeish watercolour painting) and just nailed it on the wall. Yes. Really.

That’s how much high culture is appreciated in my neck of woods.

One of my favourite subjects at school was history. Since the history education proceeds in chronological order, one of the first cultures I was taught about was Ancient Egypt. The interest has stayed with me so naturally one of my favourite section at Louvre (or British Museum) is the Egyptian Department (not the official name but too lazy to Google) and who wouldn’t be impressed by this:

Sfinksi

See, I DID have a point to the story :D Other interpretations of this week’s Photo Challenge can be found HERE.

Thrifty Finn. Feeling all smart and cultural and all that jazz. And if you are keen on craft related giveaways, you find one HERE.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Up

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Royalty of department stores, Galeries Lafayette
Religious royalty in Louvre
Royal queen=kuningatar
Medieval royalty in The Jardin du Luxembourg

Up. Upper. Upstairs, downstairs. The royalty. This is my interpretation of the theme UP on this week’s photo challenge. I used Pioneer Woman’s Seventies and Sharpen photo actions. They are my favourites just in case you haven’t noticed :D

If you are interested, click HERE to see what other people have come up with.

Thrifty Finn- dreaming of Paris and Louvre and, and, and…

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: A Day in My Life

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Oh, how I wish this challenge had come up in couple of months time. But alas, it’s on now, so I don’t have anything super cool to share. However, you will get a brief glimpse of how I’ve occupied myself during my prison sentence/sick leave (can you sense how the walls are caving in?).

So, my morning ritual takes a while. You know, deciding if today is really worth putting clothes on. So far, on most days, I’ve managed to convince myself that the effort is worth the result.

Then I usually log on FB, check if I’ve sold anything, see my blog stats and then e-mail. Still nothing exciting. But when these onlining things are done, my more interesting life begins. First, I go through my sellable items and see what are most likely to sell. Sometimes there are Wild West Sales in the group I frequent and then you don’t have to take individual photos but can gather them like this:

Paasiaisvillis1 How convenient. On WW-sale you don’t have to price them either. People can bid on them whatever they wish and  you don’t have to sell if you think the price is too low. However, sometimes people want to see close ups:

Punaliina2 This one is either by Tampella or Finlayson and already sold. It’s in mint condition and I sold it in quite a low price. Why? Because it’s been in my sewing stash for couple of years already and I wanted to get rid of it. Good quality item but did nothing for me so it could go.

After I’ve done with the Totally Going To Sell-things, I usually switch on the What Else Could I Get Rid Off-mode. I’m currently redoing my wardrobe (because the Future Is Open And Must Get Serious About Careers And Stuff-thing) so I’m going through all my clothes and eyeing them critically. As in: Would They Hire Me In This? One particular item is giving me a headache. It’s definitely not a professional (unless you work on Rue St. Denis in Paris) BUT it’s pretty and I love the colour AND I do need going out clothes too. But the big BUT is that it’s began to fray:

AsosScallop1 The dress has a scalloped hem and there is a fray there too. Any suggestions on how to mend this would be greatly welcome. Anyhoo, back to my day. Sometimes I need to be adult and call places (doctors, insurance companies etc.) which usually end up me either in tears or mad steaming. Both and/or in that order. Then I need something calming so I eat some chocolate. If that’s not enough, I might do some crafting:

Valentinefebruary Yeah, yeah. It’s beautiful, I know. Incidentally, guess how many Valentines I managed to send? :D Am I predictable or what?

Now, you may have gotten the impression that I’m always home. And that’s totally not true. Sometimes I get invited to parties where I go as far as having fun. Last party was in January. It was my sister’s birthday where I almost didn’t go because I didn’t want to risk anything happening to my knee before the operation. I’m glad that I did go because I got some fun photos (that I may or may not use for blackmailing sometime in the future) and I got to drink some Ron Ron Juice. Yes, my sister hosted a Jersey Shore-party. Here’s my cousin pouring herself some of the said drink:

RonRonJuice Beware: It gives you a killer hangover. The kind that gets you wishing you were dead the next morning. Fun times!

So this is the life of Thrifty Finn. If you are interested, click HERE to see other interpretations of the theme.

P.S. Funny story. My sister, totally getting on in the theme, did an entire Jersey Shore-makeover on herself. Trashy clothing, weaves, nail extensions. The works. Of course, piece de la resistance was to be her fake tan. She, never having done this before, did the tanning thing with a self-tanning lotion. She added some and when she didn’t see immediate results, added some (a lot) more. I swear to gods, she kept changing colour in my eyes. It was a lightish orange-brown when I arrived at the party and by the time we got to the bar, her tint was bordering purple. A la Cristian Ronaldo. Like I said. Fun times.

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Guest Designer @ Paper Crafting Journey

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In January I applied for a position as a DT for Paper Crafting Journey. I didn’t get it but Wendy (founder) suggested I could be a guest designer. Naturally I said yes. The sponsor to this challenge is Sassy Studio Designs and I chose the image Paris. For some weird reason ;D

Anyhoo the theme for this week is bingo. My card is following the top line. Except I forgot the bling.

*hungs her head in shame*

bingo line, paper crafting journey

And at one point making the card I had bling on it but in the end decided to change it into a washi tape banner! Oh well…Here’s my card:

ThriftyFinnPCJGuestpostcardscan I had a little (?) colouring mishap with the hair. I had changed the ProMarker fine tip extension from a red marker to the cinnamon and didn’t do the “doodle cleaning” thing to erase the red leftovers. Now there’s a red patch in the hair! Another mistake is that I used my brush tip copic to colour in the shoes and stripes which resulted in some interesting effects. Stupid thing to do when I HAVE a matching ProMarker. I was just too lazy to change markers after I finished the beret…

Some guest designer I am. I think I have to take this as a learning lesson. If you are interested in this week’s challenge click HERE. You have a chance to win 4 digi images from Sassy Studio Designs. I’m also entering this card in following challenges:

My Grafico Challenges: #145- Anything Goes
Digi Makeover Challenges: #76- Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash: Challenge #90- Use Your Oldest Designer Paper (the lace paper)
Creative Inspirations: Challenge #202- Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge: Challenge #63- Waving In Breeze
Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #14- Anything Goes

Till next time!

Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 In Pictures

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I’m going to be honest. I really hoped this year would be better than the year(s) before but fat chance for that to happen. My dislocating knee once again guaranteed whole lot of staying indoors and praying for the snow to melt and the knee to heal enough for me to walk. Last time my knee dislocated, it was March and it took 4 months of rest and then intensive physiotherapy for me to walk somewhat normally.

*crazy eye twitch*

Anyhoo. This year wasn’t a total disaster. After all, I had PLENTY of time to craft :D . I went to Paris (again) as well as visited Tampere after many, many years. I even got to go to Lapland twice. Once to celebrate my cousin’s birthday and the second visit was for my godson’s Communion.

I became a Design Team Member for the first time. Thanks Jenn@Craft Your Passion!

I got asked for papers when buying booze fine wines! (What does it tell about me when this has been of the high points of this year?)

I’ve thrifted a lot and discovered the fine art of re-selling. I joined a gym and lost weight! I’m only a large now! Practically a model!

I got HUS (the regional health services) to admit that my knee is somewhat limiting my life and yes, an operation is a necessity. So on 15th of January I’ll be heading under the knife and my knee will be fixed permanently. The thought that in few months I can walk again makes me all giddy.  I’m going to go out every weekend to DANCE!!! My iTunes is filled with killer house tunes and I need to dance them ALL! ALL I SAY!

This was my year summed up verbally. Here are the pics, since this is a photo challenge:

Cousins <3
Oh Paris…
My first challenge card
Favourite Christmas card
Tampere
My Christmas tree
In May I looked like this. Going out.
Washiiii!!!
Niko’s balcony
One of my favourite embroidery samplers
One of my favourite purchases this year
Vintage dresses on their way to a consignment store…
In a War Someone Must Die
Christmas present
Galeries Lafayette in Paris
Louvre
In a car. In Lapland. On my way to the Communion
Girls Night Out
My knees
Embroidering in a car.
Vintage curtains I sold
Mini album I made for my god-daughter
Leopard ballerinas I had to sell because they were too big for me

You can find more interesting galleries at Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Picture. And keep your fingers crossed that year 2013 will be better for Thrifty Finn. At least it has a hopefull start!

Happy New Year to You from Thrifty “Cynical, sarcastic yet carefully optimistic” Finn

 

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