tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55226317409562924782024-03-08T04:33:28.625-07:00Margo Anton's Mosaic a DayMosaic jewelry and fine art mosaics made in about a dayMargo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.comBlogger643125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-85469552849897106552024-03-07T03:04:00.001-07:002024-03-07T03:04:41.331-07:00One Stop to Go<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4s-m9ajsyNPKdYeB0DvYmK3f1S4jqnPGcwhKUNjzjzbQRf8XWmq9SQdQ_3TrUSeSnpoRV1IEHKQ19x-Lnur98nXXiJVpdsLdfLvs8wxInBHsH-nRdQKI8TdgQ1BN5l9IRz14wKmypzrrxlKz4KFDxCnrXdeV9tKcXWgu-apcSktgttd24dmk4KgerhE/s2061/IMG_0401.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2061" data-original-width="2061" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4s-m9ajsyNPKdYeB0DvYmK3f1S4jqnPGcwhKUNjzjzbQRf8XWmq9SQdQ_3TrUSeSnpoRV1IEHKQ19x-Lnur98nXXiJVpdsLdfLvs8wxInBHsH-nRdQKI8TdgQ1BN5l9IRz14wKmypzrrxlKz4KFDxCnrXdeV9tKcXWgu-apcSktgttd24dmk4KgerhE/s320/IMG_0401.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5hasCI_dwOoWOmBHGSVcd_KC-lNE7u7NcOe49DGBXzcpc9h4y6r9G4EfCSm7l28edl44RQa4EtZqp5MGeM4uE-oQ7Vunhj3YzrV6RniYJvWbrm_WngeAguCAQD6nd-EsEce2UuhHhrDH9VomAgf4mTOaw8AyUv3Dp4HFrdAznrxZ2JM7jrbW6otcvOo/s1799/IMG_0403.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5hasCI_dwOoWOmBHGSVcd_KC-lNE7u7NcOe49DGBXzcpc9h4y6r9G4EfCSm7l28edl44RQa4EtZqp5MGeM4uE-oQ7Vunhj3YzrV6RniYJvWbrm_WngeAguCAQD6nd-EsEce2UuhHhrDH9VomAgf4mTOaw8AyUv3Dp4HFrdAznrxZ2JM7jrbW6otcvOo/s320/IMG_0403.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>28mm by 7mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</b></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>$220 USD</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">’m still in Australia, and I’ve been enjoying a couple of weeks down time in Sydney, resting up after a few hectic weeks of travel and teaching. There’s nothing quite like getting caught up on sleep, video chats with family, and niggling tasks I had been putting off. In mid March, I teach my <a href="https://www.kimgrantmosaics.com/classes" target="_blank">last couple workshops</a> in Australia in Canberra, so there's just one stop to go now!</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve also been taking this time to plan out the rest of the year and get my future events sorted out, including workshops! I’m going to be teaching in a number of different places in the upcoming months, and there are still at least a few places in all of them:</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26ot2WCLvOkOWJrroi0JhTHfPql5pXLIIGrynaV7igKS7Zdmzee_WthLjSO-tur0-KctjTaPfIEkO_PjSSNC1EDroDDyQIHADCw37mt50TCJ5d2SeTGFuGn7NZYGeVUkw614ndH7yLBVcZnJaussl6LR0-aAOa_fihty5rY1iLEmb3CcM4FkLbnD4R1A/s2300/IMG_0462.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="2300" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26ot2WCLvOkOWJrroi0JhTHfPql5pXLIIGrynaV7igKS7Zdmzee_WthLjSO-tur0-KctjTaPfIEkO_PjSSNC1EDroDDyQIHADCw37mt50TCJ5d2SeTGFuGn7NZYGeVUkw614ndH7yLBVcZnJaussl6LR0-aAOa_fihty5rY1iLEmb3CcM4FkLbnD4R1A/w200-h149/IMG_0462.jpeg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Edmonton, AB Canada: April 13/14</span></b></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.margoanton.com/workshops-events/kemporiumsmalti" target="_blank">Smalti FUNdamentals</a></b></p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Learn all about this traditional mosaic material in a 2 day, fun-filled workshop</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBAmBrT5Wn_Gkpi7jwUHB5Whu7O1YaPPX-dN27tqPy9fzQOCWGbLtj1ZgPt1R8mcEby9Y1qENk3c5hVzXIlL61PalNC7rVKlne3Y8nIm6IZIdZzmjFNRMi3Q15fS8ewrP1AeQhy7JwkhuU3iwqIz5q1s6m1xg01d8kKY6zTsAqUbWHr-UrIpo_mYj_DQ/s1440/B9F9AEE2-AE2B-4C8E-88E0-A4AA196256E9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBAmBrT5Wn_Gkpi7jwUHB5Whu7O1YaPPX-dN27tqPy9fzQOCWGbLtj1ZgPt1R8mcEby9Y1qENk3c5hVzXIlL61PalNC7rVKlne3Y8nIm6IZIdZzmjFNRMi3Q15fS8ewrP1AeQhy7JwkhuU3iwqIz5q1s6m1xg01d8kKY6zTsAqUbWHr-UrIpo_mYj_DQ/w200-h200/B9F9AEE2-AE2B-4C8E-88E0-A4AA196256E9.jpeg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /><br /></b></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Santa Barbara, CA USA: May 18/19</b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://santabarbaraschoolofmosaicart.com/schedule/" target="_blank">Spiky, Shardy, Pokey: Shag Rug Mosaics</a> </b></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my signatures, learn all about this unique, textural mosaic style while creating a 5” by 7” mosaic</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66szdXCrUSwJuykgrPtJJ7qmv-05VOlVj-o-H4lR7Eqn33U6dCMXQOKxZSWqhbbW6q57z50dYbwOlydtnWdPFncFxDkw058LFxTPgArEYr4vX6gcCYFu-K_YH-gXRxe5f21NXzDn5wHYiDoyAc-5xZtWbqWeUnUtAdqfiMLhtj1AuBtkowPWsdWe-ock/s1912/IMG_0369.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="1912" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66szdXCrUSwJuykgrPtJJ7qmv-05VOlVj-o-H4lR7Eqn33U6dCMXQOKxZSWqhbbW6q57z50dYbwOlydtnWdPFncFxDkw058LFxTPgArEYr4vX6gcCYFu-K_YH-gXRxe5f21NXzDn5wHYiDoyAc-5xZtWbqWeUnUtAdqfiMLhtj1AuBtkowPWsdWe-ock/w200-h200/IMG_0369.jpeg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Santorini, Greece: June 9-15</b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini" target="_blank">Precision Mosaic Jewelry</a></b></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Set in my beloved Santorini, enjoy a week of Greek hospitality, Mediterranean sunshine, and learning mosaic jewelry techniques. An experience you’re sure to remember for a lifetime!</span></p>
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<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5gkaHR3VrX776AvXR93jtxpCR-_O9zOCAhCOEGJSdTzZd2wUxLm7BEEnaMychk9jlOnFZBESJCGYMC58Y2rSyEwmtzzQrn7KyhEjOrZfVYynnhmUXgiEPRr1_98_V_J-PGt2mCQSkzfGQzpmuqaRpKv3GKaOmhqNPqjzjYfHzxiGZacaaoOo6GXqQ4A/s4032/IMG_9565.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5gkaHR3VrX776AvXR93jtxpCR-_O9zOCAhCOEGJSdTzZd2wUxLm7BEEnaMychk9jlOnFZBESJCGYMC58Y2rSyEwmtzzQrn7KyhEjOrZfVYynnhmUXgiEPRr1_98_V_J-PGt2mCQSkzfGQzpmuqaRpKv3GKaOmhqNPqjzjYfHzxiGZacaaoOo6GXqQ4A/w200-h150/IMG_9565.jpeg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br />Santorini, Greece: September 8-14</b></span><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini" target="_blank">Shag Rug Mosaic</a></b></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spent a full week delving into my shag rug mosaic techniques while falling in love with the beautiful island of Santorini!</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope to see you in one of these places!</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-39496318407187491812024-01-24T17:23:00.011-07:002024-01-29T16:42:52.760-07:00Practice Makes Perfect<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AbQqL00CoheB-4IP09N3YcpF_pp-QI7tyP07m2fLw7jAakPJzfXNWBaff1JqTu3GqakNrA6R_NKJ-ZmMmw5qTvEDWBgyAoZBxNnbGibVUatw5F1GeCVa_sf87kT8FFwzSBmMN-DWqKgbpYhVb3C52XHtGsu0m8wHsE2pk0Tk7Bzd6rsp_4JXDw0yhto/s2081/IMG_0550.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1662" data-original-width="2081" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AbQqL00CoheB-4IP09N3YcpF_pp-QI7tyP07m2fLw7jAakPJzfXNWBaff1JqTu3GqakNrA6R_NKJ-ZmMmw5qTvEDWBgyAoZBxNnbGibVUatw5F1GeCVa_sf87kT8FFwzSBmMN-DWqKgbpYhVb3C52XHtGsu0m8wHsE2pk0Tk7Bzd6rsp_4JXDw0yhto/w400-h320/IMG_0550.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>20mm diameter - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$165 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a> something similar</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While I was visiting my stepmom earlier this month, she asked if I could fix a piece of jewelry that I gave to her years ago, as she felt it wasn't showing off my work to it's best advantage anymore. I probably made the piece about 14 years ago. Taking stock of the situation, I decided I should simply remake the piece.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The old piece (left) has been truly well loved, and worn very frequently. It has had regular water contact, though at some point I believe I suggested she stop wearing it in the hot tub, as the adhesive I used back then—Weldbond—is only water resistant. Yet except for the top protective glass layer of the mosaic gold flaking off a couple pieces, and so therefore the 24k gold leaf also disappeared, and a few chips, there's really not a lot of damage. But it definitely looks old. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Part of that is, well, quite frankly, my work has vastly improved over the years. It was wild viewing the new and the old side by side. I've been pretty focused on the jewelry side of mosaic for about 10 years now, and with that type of focus comes ever increasing ability, though I now finish pieces at a <i>much</i> slower pace to get this level of quality! The old saying "practice makes perfect" comes to mind. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So if you are a mosaic artist, or really anyone trying to get better at something, no matter what it is, keep going. The gains often happen so slowly you think you're getting nowhere, but when you look back later, you will see that you've actually come a rather long way. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to learn to make jewelry from me, and learn all the tips and tricks I've learned along the way instead of starting from square one, I've got a number of <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/workshops">upcoming mosaic jewelry workshops</a> with space in them:</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb 8/9: Adelaide, Australia</span><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb 10/11: Adelaide, Australia</span><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Feb 16/17: Perth, Australia </span><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mar 17: Canberra, Australia</span><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 9-15: Santorini, Greece</span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-11102281913066521272023-12-18T16:27:00.000-07:002023-12-18T16:27:42.079-07:00Heading South for the Winter<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b3A9hiFL7VmOZauiPhWbM88q1ssCNS6oa18d7bLYEQaNZjeINPKC61O99XLZeu_KwJrPjFx9_SRptGO3Y88B-mu0rQ6wSXjA34Ith3mAXtipfPI7lzVkKW41ZAjivGKDmyc7yRco3TXe-CaUeg6E4EEYWA8GPVB7jX5mtCpL9DXo_rJUsN2mVAms/s802/IMG_0373.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="802" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b3A9hiFL7VmOZauiPhWbM88q1ssCNS6oa18d7bLYEQaNZjeINPKC61O99XLZeu_KwJrPjFx9_SRptGO3Y88B-mu0rQ6wSXjA34Ith3mAXtipfPI7lzVkKW41ZAjivGKDmyc7yRco3TXe-CaUeg6E4EEYWA8GPVB7jX5mtCpL9DXo_rJUsN2mVAms/s320/IMG_0373.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3_iElZ0q2zWhgHOmN3eGa5qHUTJLSM-ewqywTYfeugYypfECjunfytLFI76kY1-qVVsE_7m2ZR86JkIEs3YC7vCuxDoj_0KLISnbpqAR2LQ_7c7etfidM6laX4Zp6T8i2rE1e0imPF_hyiqpQBHR9MSGElvuqIwDGpQ50X2zgSeHZjOCk8c585pN/s661/IMG_0375.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="661" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3_iElZ0q2zWhgHOmN3eGa5qHUTJLSM-ewqywTYfeugYypfECjunfytLFI76kY1-qVVsE_7m2ZR86JkIEs3YC7vCuxDoj_0KLISnbpqAR2LQ_7c7etfidM6laX4Zp6T8i2rE1e0imPF_hyiqpQBHR9MSGElvuqIwDGpQ50X2zgSeHZjOCk8c585pN/s320/IMG_0375.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />20mm diameter - Mosaic gold, smalti in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$165 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's probably pretty clear to you by now that I'm not a huge fan of the cold. For the past 10 years, I've been trying to mostly visit winter from time to time, not live in it, a couple years there notwithstanding. So it should also come as no surprise that I've been planning my winter escape, and I can finally announce all the details of my Australia teaching tour for early 2024. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spaces are filling pretty quickly though, so if you're in Australia and wanting to take one of my workshops, I recommend making your inquiries soon. Dates are below, and further details on my <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/workshops">website</a>. There are a lot of jewelry workshops this time round, so if you want to learn the techniques I use everyday to create the work you see here, now is your chance!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF0VC0sUZIyV6MHXFHDT_nKRcozt6CUEqx2jFwQJf5zvX5_TZ48O-npGQ7HqIzmYWYU4DEuabs3XOq0qv2mYSeflTqSfdUQYpgmgsg2nUeRCWMjFU_MB3_EAFTABeUesnmHVK2xPiXOGjjWbtlyS5q-pEIftKMbKHTtyYNUigo8xBI1K7sQTiwOGsAI8/s1080/Margo%20Anton's%20Australia%20Teaching%20Tour.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLF0VC0sUZIyV6MHXFHDT_nKRcozt6CUEqx2jFwQJf5zvX5_TZ48O-npGQ7HqIzmYWYU4DEuabs3XOq0qv2mYSeflTqSfdUQYpgmgsg2nUeRCWMjFU_MB3_EAFTABeUesnmHVK2xPiXOGjjWbtlyS5q-pEIftKMbKHTtyYNUigo8xBI1K7sQTiwOGsAI8/w400-h400/Margo%20Anton's%20Australia%20Teaching%20Tour.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-57249620697309501262023-10-24T11:38:00.003-06:002023-10-24T11:42:59.314-06:00Winding Down<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkxgYUe4K57DtzEEdOd21wJrAQN8dBBRNuH-wztb3DICcAaVN7f9s98lamqbxESmJ8L57GO4za1jsixMPY6_bmYfMuDcH7AJkDSImKFDWiqELXv_b0FKhCqslHs36e0X0p4dyY01P8mNflME45ddYuGvDOj9j2YgRrz498SG7TqO6oH08z21cEnx1/s1747/IMG_0390.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="1747" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkxgYUe4K57DtzEEdOd21wJrAQN8dBBRNuH-wztb3DICcAaVN7f9s98lamqbxESmJ8L57GO4za1jsixMPY6_bmYfMuDcH7AJkDSImKFDWiqELXv_b0FKhCqslHs36e0X0p4dyY01P8mNflME45ddYuGvDOj9j2YgRrz498SG7TqO6oH08z21cEnx1/s320/IMG_0390.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazcWXQvvDpZkA3URasQk4e9SJVnWcwPneZbHX78_4wGu8sYIAejbZT3lI7TV5WRPDtlzam0y0QxMec_iYNQ4isRNcK-kJhekaWI0_pUwHvokJhe616sNutxVKI4k8uVLde39FoEY4RWWb7uTAYyZVHLy0pGZ6mogWACPnPjBKpZHUMBAw60GwZZAa/s1757/IMG_0392.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1757" data-original-width="1757" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazcWXQvvDpZkA3URasQk4e9SJVnWcwPneZbHX78_4wGu8sYIAejbZT3lI7TV5WRPDtlzam0y0QxMec_iYNQ4isRNcK-kJhekaWI0_pUwHvokJhe616sNutxVKI4k8uVLde39FoEY4RWWb7uTAYyZVHLy0pGZ6mogWACPnPjBKpZHUMBAw60GwZZAa/s320/IMG_0392.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />45mm by 15mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$275 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This time of year in Perissa is always a little bit bittersweet. The season is ending for another summer. One by one the restaurants, shops, and bars shutter their doors for the winter, and fewer and fewer people tour the island or play in the Aegean waters. With the closure, however, comes a relaxing, like a too tight ponytail that has finally been let down. Workers, many of whom have not had a day off since April or May, are finally free to sleep in, stay up late, and enjoy the island on their own terms. Business owners can finally let go of the stress they've been shouldering for months. Even the beach seems glad to have more exposure, and fewer sun beds.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, with the winding down, comes a looking forward. Winter plans are made, friends are bid adieu, and if you've had a good sumnmer, there's money to be spent. This year everyone has been blessed with the most incredible fall weather too. Here we are, in late October, and it could be mid September with how warm both days and nights have been. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As to my own looking forward, I am heading back to Canada after the first week of November. Almost immediately upon arrival, I will be teaching one of the first workshops I've taught in Canada in YEARS. The basic details are:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mosaic Jewelry with Margo Anton</div><div style="text-align: left;">Date: Nov 12, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;">Times: 10-5pm</div><div style="text-align: left;">Location: Kemporium Art Space, Edmonton, AB</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Participants will work on a pieces of mosaic jewelry, choosing from a selection of bases. This workshop is suitable for all levels. More information and a link to register <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/workshops-events/kemporiumjewelrynov23">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a bit last minute, but based on early interest, the class will likely fill, so if you're keen to join, please let Kemporium Art Space know! The workshop is also timed for holiday gift giving, or you can just make something for yourself to show off at upcoming gatherings. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The venue, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091707820072">Kemporium Art Space</a>, is run by an avid mosaic artist and fine crafter, and hosts a variety of workshops. She's currently working on getting a mailing list up and running, and I'm sure she'd be thrilled if you wanted to join the list and stay abreast of mosaic and other art happenings in Edmonton. If you want to be on the Kemporium mailing list, <a href="mailto:margoanton@yahoo.ca">let me</a> or her know (her email is on her Facebook page) and I'll pass your information along. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-87775223205201671362023-09-06T06:10:00.000-06:002023-09-06T06:10:05.610-06:00Gearing Up<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rMWfWY3hoXXHkUOE3YVaRrg6N6VOpYZYhkBUT2aIN4--h8MVGQGHjVHDfL0z4Ut4Jum084LI07sB-uFKIyxJyCypuGgF7_V-UDJUGnA8Kt0DxL2EIKo6iHTpY2ZPhdlRENSEZEommcMe3efsq_0vLfhOA6ceSqbcDDkHHqK1uMeAco-zFYlIgNPN/s1063/IMG_0382.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rMWfWY3hoXXHkUOE3YVaRrg6N6VOpYZYhkBUT2aIN4--h8MVGQGHjVHDfL0z4Ut4Jum084LI07sB-uFKIyxJyCypuGgF7_V-UDJUGnA8Kt0DxL2EIKo6iHTpY2ZPhdlRENSEZEommcMe3efsq_0vLfhOA6ceSqbcDDkHHqK1uMeAco-zFYlIgNPN/s320/IMG_0382.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VKZItY9CGpwV0fYC8u1otEq4b5k6zTdvNdFMNCUsvWlmXmnf56FxHtxbXGebL2SnqNPizq69L-0T7PLjC225iX5Iwg0SEM8sN9Y88FrTSitCOW4Vcvr19m0mGxQYl6vd20ta_E6_B0rGpfmjTpAuseeLrSY3ncWQzcsgnsObB2zsZ03acSAHAx9S/s1452/IMG_0383.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VKZItY9CGpwV0fYC8u1otEq4b5k6zTdvNdFMNCUsvWlmXmnf56FxHtxbXGebL2SnqNPizq69L-0T7PLjC225iX5Iwg0SEM8sN9Y88FrTSitCOW4Vcvr19m0mGxQYl6vd20ta_E6_B0rGpfmjTpAuseeLrSY3ncWQzcsgnsObB2zsZ03acSAHAx9S/s320/IMG_0383.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />28mm by 7mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$220 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">In a few days, my second Santorini mosaic workshop will begin, and there is always so much to do right before I teach! There's last minute supplies to be purchased, the parties to plan, cleaning to do, and lots of organization. I love hosting though, so this is all mostly enjoyable. I'm so excited to be teaching again and sharing my beloved island. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also have dates for next year to announce:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">June 9-15, 2024: Precision Mosaic Jewelry</div><div style="text-align: left;">September 8-14: Shag Rug/Smalti Mosaic</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're interested in joining me for a week of Mediterranean sunshine, Greek hospitality, and stunning views, all while learning a new mosaic technique, you can find all the details <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini" target="_blank">here</a>. Come play with me in Greece!</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-1536448429831951372023-06-23T14:17:00.000-06:002023-06-23T14:17:06.464-06:00Coleus<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDceOFPQzIG-Bj025uqWh8Aoi4um8fpt825Qzl2w_nArx0TmovfDE5HHb25_3ozVN5_s7dHajwBUMDg22rW2F5IWrv2cq1bOFivFeVRcor38L9riNB0lI7VF5FD5NfVV6LGQ46MU3RIFYJVkWw5Fb5jtqsT3S3GF4c5iuX6yG-KG0VKLi-VRUj4iKT1JQ/s2767/IMG_0400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2767" data-original-width="2767" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDceOFPQzIG-Bj025uqWh8Aoi4um8fpt825Qzl2w_nArx0TmovfDE5HHb25_3ozVN5_s7dHajwBUMDg22rW2F5IWrv2cq1bOFivFeVRcor38L9riNB0lI7VF5FD5NfVV6LGQ46MU3RIFYJVkWw5Fb5jtqsT3S3GF4c5iuX6yG-KG0VKLi-VRUj4iKT1JQ/s320/IMG_0400.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimln53c4-fsHULyEiMFgnl5-IjwsyalaOx-JrpEqIflo4V5iuLB7bgKH38Z4siD9yc8zavmg5-5OV8OEQwqWThjQTpen_ArKU8BFxTT2rLhvF-OZNQsb3kcVLWD1yFsueEpWujJotzuKPexFdYBaQQWMc2w5QyRS5vtOL4clLMjL3v8N5gjda2z-evORg/s1143/IMG_0410.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimln53c4-fsHULyEiMFgnl5-IjwsyalaOx-JrpEqIflo4V5iuLB7bgKH38Z4siD9yc8zavmg5-5OV8OEQwqWThjQTpen_ArKU8BFxTT2rLhvF-OZNQsb3kcVLWD1yFsueEpWujJotzuKPexFdYBaQQWMc2w5QyRS5vtOL4clLMjL3v8N5gjda2z-evORg/s320/IMG_0410.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />16mm by 12mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$250 USD</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="center"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This year on Santorini, I have finally been able to start growing some plants. Of course, in the past, I've only grown plants or a garden in Canada, so it feels like I'm putting outdoor plants outside,and I have no idea what I'm doing. The growing conditions are so different that I find the whole process a bit nervewracking; it's relatively humid here compared to super dry Edmonton. I probably over water. I've already managed to kill my thyme. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But oh my the visit to the greenhouse here was a delight! I bought succulents in hanging baskets, a snake plant, and a prickly lime (identified later thanks to my new plant identification app). But my absolute favourite of the bunch is a drop dead gorgeous coleus, from which I immediately took inspiration for my next piece of jewelry. Fingers crossed I can keep that one alive!</div></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-8584543784319853372023-06-19T10:13:00.014-06:002023-06-19T10:13:00.140-06:00Meet Me in Perissa<div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KRmxkgt-rrM0CZZY1rl_6wlt4t6wbZSSSo_vqEk3UQjs0xBPGj18mxcuh-kmFkmesm48f57XMNXSydkLv5hdbpsitSodSkSM_eGj5X0eg66cSeqI6Ts8bpd9CKiWEc4p_bwXuX0Giktx0YZGEJuyxeC1iYRHPAnbY0dEEGr4kASv0Dvo5FMXBLuq/s1360/IMG_0386.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KRmxkgt-rrM0CZZY1rl_6wlt4t6wbZSSSo_vqEk3UQjs0xBPGj18mxcuh-kmFkmesm48f57XMNXSydkLv5hdbpsitSodSkSM_eGj5X0eg66cSeqI6Ts8bpd9CKiWEc4p_bwXuX0Giktx0YZGEJuyxeC1iYRHPAnbY0dEEGr4kASv0Dvo5FMXBLuq/s320/IMG_0386.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLC5klhBApKDW2Tqn_5__AB0j4EbsE2kKyvPcRaONECvqypNCDwyYIbngSRupI9n-I5BGYKV6IAewxWw-a5OmAILZUul8wXyNzRx6_6n67pE52Vmv40Jlg50VmsfZvfszRKwhpz3RuTYDmm0-4ZAmGJJvqx8xB4Rcyvn-vl13gjf61io-DXa5BmcO/s1489/IMG_0388.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="1489" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLC5klhBApKDW2Tqn_5__AB0j4EbsE2kKyvPcRaONECvqypNCDwyYIbngSRupI9n-I5BGYKV6IAewxWw-a5OmAILZUul8wXyNzRx6_6n67pE52Vmv40Jlg50VmsfZvfszRKwhpz3RuTYDmm0-4ZAmGJJvqx8xB4Rcyvn-vl13gjf61io-DXa5BmcO/s320/IMG_0388.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />18mm by 13mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$150 USD</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A week ago I finished up my inaugural Santorini mosaic workshop! Hosting a workshop in Santorini has been a dream of mine for at least 8 years. However, given that I'd never hosted a destination workshop before, I had a lot of anxiety leading up to it. I also realized partway through that I haven't actually <i>hosted</i> a workshop since 2015. I've taught plenty, but have only had to show up and teach. This time I was host and teacher, so that kept me on my toes. Luckily I've taught for some amazing hosts from whom I pilfered lots of tips and inspiration as to how I wanted to host these workshops. I may have also channelled my mother's incredible hosting abilities, especially with regard to food. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kostas and I worked hard to make the workspace as welcoming as we could, buying plants, adding cushions, and a fresh coat of paint. We hauled heaps of mosaic materials from Australia to give students a big selection of materials. I created a menu varied and interesting snacks each day, an opening presentation, and a welcome packet of materials so that everyone could take advantage of all that Santorini has to offer.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">As Santorini has so many things to do, I kept the workshop days short (and aligned with common tour start times) so everyone had lots of time for exploring, plus the energy to do so. Despite some travel delays for some people, everyone made it mostly unscathed and arrived eager to get to work. Precision Mosaic Jewelry is not the easiest mosaic technique, but these four women made incredible work. They also somehow manage to create pieces that coordinated beautifully as a group, which was a bit mind blowing. Our celebration dinner at the end was a delight, and I finished the week feeling like I'd not only taught students, but made new friends. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Despite starting the week with anxiety, I'm now delighted to say that everyone—including myself—had a great experience. I'm already looking forward to the one in September.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvkUGQ989HHGorDwqhTxbcBmu_WQssztjk5RLcbRPKpRuvBDJfBN0RPbg2jdr2FojcKFnfxq3ItvsEPLMVLk_lp8wK0j6D96n-EzYJWtcb_NEFa4z-MLhrMJ3o7hDoJj-I10Paf1lJsYIcAsUcAk54dJP9m-ON4bwXSLReuPx8WhMz4B1pL9OOgHs/s3092/FullSizeRender.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2598" data-original-width="3092" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvkUGQ989HHGorDwqhTxbcBmu_WQssztjk5RLcbRPKpRuvBDJfBN0RPbg2jdr2FojcKFnfxq3ItvsEPLMVLk_lp8wK0j6D96n-EzYJWtcb_NEFa4z-MLhrMJ3o7hDoJj-I10Paf1lJsYIcAsUcAk54dJP9m-ON4bwXSLReuPx8WhMz4B1pL9OOgHs/w400-h336/FullSizeRender.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Chas Bastien</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xdzwHdo8wNjQO9-pRRvK7qsh42IZ3bS9fSQ3cwBZ5iBYR02I5ik6UMMVuJqI3T7jyZkSvRH5CUqS-TliEMNwIvAbHK3HQuN4nLuiO-L1DU_HRlKniReQK8tFUzH_N83bcqP-PVOiJcl9wZ7qgKdHYJ-WFbRcZkr02nJXGjMXtYOaTC3wnaVZbifz/s3024/IMG_4891.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xdzwHdo8wNjQO9-pRRvK7qsh42IZ3bS9fSQ3cwBZ5iBYR02I5ik6UMMVuJqI3T7jyZkSvRH5CUqS-TliEMNwIvAbHK3HQuN4nLuiO-L1DU_HRlKniReQK8tFUzH_N83bcqP-PVOiJcl9wZ7qgKdHYJ-WFbRcZkr02nJXGjMXtYOaTC3wnaVZbifz/w400-h400/IMG_4891.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First projects</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_JXrxWdeNcAbCVrd2z_zA1ElBIazVVT5H01lNOe1_K4_J-eSq11QSV0VmMR5__QrsnOZxFy35YbfoExQtL0qsEr6jgfgic-j3Kptos2qjvHfR1O-AY6JLCzEhggwDFnmGeBUSZdZI-Gsz9HcS1LmNx2p6nUI0aPcywlZvB1bYyGZlSS4uH5pXjGt/s3024/IMG_4895.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_JXrxWdeNcAbCVrd2z_zA1ElBIazVVT5H01lNOe1_K4_J-eSq11QSV0VmMR5__QrsnOZxFy35YbfoExQtL0qsEr6jgfgic-j3Kptos2qjvHfR1O-AY6JLCzEhggwDFnmGeBUSZdZI-Gsz9HcS1LmNx2p6nUI0aPcywlZvB1bYyGZlSS4uH5pXjGt/w400-h400/IMG_4895.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Roof Garden Workspace</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFB3KosXQ918un6ZWG2zfvCPK8ni7HR4RCKZi5ZdMKo5L1_ibsV-skezfRlna8aVkejp2Sn663-8QQFvYqfFNuW0rqkgi_Mh5jwKojSvTk7tHpX4rcKG8Ylghiu5UKKQvyhjHl2PiXJCRhlNzzH6Gdf36uqyYEYk3bJ7DnnAQnQYtqOg7UowQJwOm/s2666/IMG_4919.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2666" data-original-width="2666" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFB3KosXQ918un6ZWG2zfvCPK8ni7HR4RCKZi5ZdMKo5L1_ibsV-skezfRlna8aVkejp2Sn663-8QQFvYqfFNuW0rqkgi_Mh5jwKojSvTk7tHpX4rcKG8Ylghiu5UKKQvyhjHl2PiXJCRhlNzzH6Gdf36uqyYEYk3bJ7DnnAQnQYtqOg7UowQJwOm/w400-h400/IMG_4919.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Projects</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2AznCwCk0JhxO3rQAtBhHW58LQQb6z1045xTFnPrIff_iTJVriR-qUBK-2LDF1-Ca96upinDh3tz-p7939oYJrwJ5Px9JY63J4awecq8r3audCfXEw9PysZe5dUVoxBgoYCp_nLhTtQlFkkCHdAt7h3nkVR5rsadOK8nU-3PHUmhhvf3qiKs-vqA/s4032/IMG_4916.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2AznCwCk0JhxO3rQAtBhHW58LQQb6z1045xTFnPrIff_iTJVriR-qUBK-2LDF1-Ca96upinDh3tz-p7939oYJrwJ5Px9JY63J4awecq8r3audCfXEw9PysZe5dUVoxBgoYCp_nLhTtQlFkkCHdAt7h3nkVR5rsadOK8nU-3PHUmhhvf3qiKs-vqA/w400-h300/IMG_4916.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farewell Dinner</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>If you are interested in meeting me in Perissa next year for a workshop, please let me know, and I'll add you to the list of the first people who will be notified when I have dates (expected within a couple weeks).<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-56139335661803732282023-05-22T10:24:00.001-06:002023-05-22T10:24:56.266-06:00Waiting for the Sunsets<div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA8Gm4tBJ4l9v_I-VUBHX36Gt7Z4Ov9eMIsVjoz5y0NNkAynCUPodjjoDCXRs1-veER_nl0c0xcXAIyCc6QQxlBZHC82txB4MBhzKiqUSHb8zzfcer1yPKHclpBzyWXf7pKOb41QjOcleNbtBO6XMi_fXLGNFFoG32dAZ25pJdgzFPWhxyv2jeuax/s1912/IMG_0369.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="1912" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA8Gm4tBJ4l9v_I-VUBHX36Gt7Z4Ov9eMIsVjoz5y0NNkAynCUPodjjoDCXRs1-veER_nl0c0xcXAIyCc6QQxlBZHC82txB4MBhzKiqUSHb8zzfcer1yPKHclpBzyWXf7pKOb41QjOcleNbtBO6XMi_fXLGNFFoG32dAZ25pJdgzFPWhxyv2jeuax/s320/IMG_0369.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweamudNdwlWrESE-cupj5HcVoC3uBQ-tDMqvEsH-nBOmGoGf27yJsNhU0kV5VMb7L5ArR5eSkDFC2V4s8GCcjNgjB3WooC-tARI3buRcmD4U0rYQ-jpAHCkIPlzIqLc_c2ZGRMydFv7GxYDgdND_dwVPN-7Yi45y1FUG87HxvHd7Fp7RWprLD8mo8/s1507/IMG_0371.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="1507" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweamudNdwlWrESE-cupj5HcVoC3uBQ-tDMqvEsH-nBOmGoGf27yJsNhU0kV5VMb7L5ArR5eSkDFC2V4s8GCcjNgjB3WooC-tARI3buRcmD4U0rYQ-jpAHCkIPlzIqLc_c2ZGRMydFv7GxYDgdND_dwVPN-7Yi45y1FUG87HxvHd7Fp7RWprLD8mo8/s320/IMG_0371.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />65mm by 20mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$325 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been busily preparing for my Santorini workshop coming up in less than two weeks, but surprisingly, the weather is simply not cooperating. Usually by now in Santorini we have bright blue skies, barely a cloud in them, and MAYBE one more rain shower to go through before nearly four months of dry heat. Nope. No such luck. These last two months here have been more akin to Greek winter than Greek spring, with lots of cloud, cool temperatures, and so...much...rain. Not only is this slowing down my preparations, but the poor tourists right now have come hoping for a beach holiday and they are sorely let down! And of course, all this cloud means there is pretty much nothing in the way of sunsets either. Sigh. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you can't make it to Santorini for a live workshop with me (surely the weather will be better by June!), I have two online workshops available through <a href="https://mosaicartsonline.com" target="_blank">Mosaic Arts Online</a>. And through May 28, ALL their workshops, including my <a href="https://mosaicartsonline.com/p/creating-smalti-mosaic-jewelry">Smalti Mosaic Jewelry</a> and <a href="https://mosaicartsonline.com/p/shag-rug-mosaic-with-margo-anton">Shag Rug Mosaics</a> are 10% off. Simply use code SPRING23 in the coupon box during checkout to receive your discount. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-72409956686223801822023-04-27T08:13:00.001-06:002023-04-27T08:13:40.339-06:00Too Cold to Swim <div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MdLqYbNwdjBq16ZXVfJwPxy8hshtkoxFPd7WeOXX1wpHfH5E6G9SV9RpLX5VaTVs7s8ufFt7pOBaIcUUM413_37rPNLueinBu7AHDpAKGAZbM7V78P_v2P76nQQUdNGXFf8PBVrnttriHHy2qT7aaU6f-qDqf4WnECR2S4QOraG55Q7DrP60shDU/s1867/IMG_0364.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1867" data-original-width="1867" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MdLqYbNwdjBq16ZXVfJwPxy8hshtkoxFPd7WeOXX1wpHfH5E6G9SV9RpLX5VaTVs7s8ufFt7pOBaIcUUM413_37rPNLueinBu7AHDpAKGAZbM7V78P_v2P76nQQUdNGXFf8PBVrnttriHHy2qT7aaU6f-qDqf4WnECR2S4QOraG55Q7DrP60shDU/s320/IMG_0364.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhECa41xuErx0DshU0uRPRxJns8kgZpbhnGea3uhEU6cRY2K1TUwYE1yEywWSL7ds7ba5SSrVsCVMQGXVFY8-eDA2QvQkm9h11_FQmig8SWus9ApPNaH13IueQSr1_WMQOphEe8ihovxuXyp4Lj0fYDdwwnZ1ySErgZzu2cOrWiXJKuotD74poiVOA/s2746/IMG_0366.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2746" data-original-width="2746" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhECa41xuErx0DshU0uRPRxJns8kgZpbhnGea3uhEU6cRY2K1TUwYE1yEywWSL7ds7ba5SSrVsCVMQGXVFY8-eDA2QvQkm9h11_FQmig8SWus9ApPNaH13IueQSr1_WMQOphEe8ihovxuXyp4Lj0fYDdwwnZ1ySErgZzu2cOrWiXJKuotD74poiVOA/s320/IMG_0366.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />14mm by 10mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$220 USD</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since arriving back on Santorini, life has been very busy. My love always hits the ground running upon arrival, gearing up for the new season ahead, painting, decorating, cleaning, and making repairs to his restaurant that has been shut up over the winter months. I leap into prepping and stocking the house, which has also been shut for 5 months, making it a pleasant place to be. So. Much. Laundry. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to the seasonal prep work, I also launched right into creating the many custom orders I received while touring Australia. Those behind me now, I can finally start making to sell here again, including this pair of earrings! It's truly been months since I was able to do that and build up a bit of stock! Don't let that stop you if you were considering a custom order though, I truly have such fun making people something special that is exactly what they want.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On top of all this, preparations are under way for my inaugural Santorini workshop, starting in just over 5 weeks. I am so very excited to be welcoming people to "my island", to share my knowledge not only of mosaic, but of this unique place. So this has entailed lots of emailing, materials gathering, document writing, and presentation creation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I keep telling myself that I'll take a day off sometime soon, but that never seems to materialise. Ah well, it's been too cold to swim anyway.</div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-44864295401000878762023-03-15T08:25:00.001-06:002023-03-15T08:27:35.353-06:00Down Under-neath<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQvLe5CaQqjpMglDc59nVlJ97M6W4gSgYtBwgA1CqwGBR-Wj6KksHrKNS4B00gbtCVZeEpOwEQ5vkdSoVlYf3m8HERdvM5CNpysnebF8kpILXRmN3aMRXQXepNaBpONVM0w6ffL1UKhMtbs5AdtHDe237X_xY02L6_6T6KjdS5MCNCN9ZHCZ0I0_E/s1022/IMG_0240.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1022" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQvLe5CaQqjpMglDc59nVlJ97M6W4gSgYtBwgA1CqwGBR-Wj6KksHrKNS4B00gbtCVZeEpOwEQ5vkdSoVlYf3m8HERdvM5CNpysnebF8kpILXRmN3aMRXQXepNaBpONVM0w6ffL1UKhMtbs5AdtHDe237X_xY02L6_6T6KjdS5MCNCN9ZHCZ0I0_E/s320/IMG_0240.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />40mm by 20mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$295 USD</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">A week ago I wrapped up a whirlwind teaching tour in Australia. After a nearly three year hiatus from teaching in person, it was wonderful to get back at it! My students created unbelievably good work, and I couldn't be more proud of them all. I did manage to sneak in a bit of fun here and there though, as all work and no play makes for really dull blogs: wine tasting, crab eating, visiting dear friends, and spending a wee bit of time with my beau. I got to love up some pets, eat incredible food, visit a botanical gardens, and enjoy a couple pints at my favourite rooftop bar in Sydney. It was way too short, but after such a long time away, my visit was sweetness itself. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbzy4HW-TPAYUOO8HtvBpQRsMGol7XTHxLMba6F774gJJ9lD5jRRY7dwcD5pk21UgypN-z_FXpI3-vNRGKOAXkV-MUKpRmr82vMoy9Cj9XUOPer2rC-E8BHX0PWmRvxiTfJI_37dr0KH1Dw7oMxHelGgtmuJxsVSqJwYNSv1OcBnZ4s6dF4bIZnqI/s4032/IMG_4152.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbzy4HW-TPAYUOO8HtvBpQRsMGol7XTHxLMba6F774gJJ9lD5jRRY7dwcD5pk21UgypN-z_FXpI3-vNRGKOAXkV-MUKpRmr82vMoy9Cj9XUOPer2rC-E8BHX0PWmRvxiTfJI_37dr0KH1Dw7oMxHelGgtmuJxsVSqJwYNSv1OcBnZ4s6dF4bIZnqI/w400-h300/IMG_4152.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crabs!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZP4MEPCbwpjvT46miSnASD2PQMRM-tZTUzMSPxbEMmIfszGg_7gyMJJeUn4aUhM-Do8w_CLId9kxdZ6EmspJuB2AKte4ZRIOZCFkkgrzwWpX3GuZa6uSCxZok9sBB3MLsNXwJvYr_gGI2zE3YC0gVKUFvDoiPkred9uDBelsjLt4Ds1RsAaaVyB7/s1912/IMG_4231.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="1910" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZP4MEPCbwpjvT46miSnASD2PQMRM-tZTUzMSPxbEMmIfszGg_7gyMJJeUn4aUhM-Do8w_CLId9kxdZ6EmspJuB2AKte4ZRIOZCFkkgrzwWpX3GuZa6uSCxZok9sBB3MLsNXwJvYr_gGI2zE3YC0gVKUFvDoiPkred9uDBelsjLt4Ds1RsAaaVyB7/w400-h400/IMG_4231.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine tasting and mosaic ring glamour shot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURNt5L97XQlGNo-XxDTx6-fhIO1LWDPC4yFpTTXosm2VMdXw-2UZsOEto-Gi1HsA_-315rTCKCpRruU8284yBFkkYVsa5-JJlQyrE3lOz_6rK-BT1HDjvhVU5G7roJRqNdocpY2pnKH2iQcww_GrICweUZxFhdqdGFWwU0J2fcTwBwqFkCTHUc8BC/s2922/IMG_4295.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2922" data-original-width="2922" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURNt5L97XQlGNo-XxDTx6-fhIO1LWDPC4yFpTTXosm2VMdXw-2UZsOEto-Gi1HsA_-315rTCKCpRruU8284yBFkkYVsa5-JJlQyrE3lOz_6rK-BT1HDjvhVU5G7roJRqNdocpY2pnKH2iQcww_GrICweUZxFhdqdGFWwU0J2fcTwBwqFkCTHUc8BC/w400-h400/IMG_4295.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulous student work!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRvlquS1yN18UAR0x6NGOOMVGoRxez4ogPuxaJrYQnvkhV30KTHcLP6Pe2-7Rhhc_3Ge8GEg4VB9bjs2Bxg8MDRlRn9xuUDKrfH8_yV_pDmSAvNuwI7jndxDlGRW94LXo2-VV_B54JrzLMLz20VM_ZLaYQfKaA4ON-ejQT4YNZs06L35_YyilXAO1/s4032/IMG_4380.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRvlquS1yN18UAR0x6NGOOMVGoRxez4ogPuxaJrYQnvkhV30KTHcLP6Pe2-7Rhhc_3Ge8GEg4VB9bjs2Bxg8MDRlRn9xuUDKrfH8_yV_pDmSAvNuwI7jndxDlGRW94LXo2-VV_B54JrzLMLz20VM_ZLaYQfKaA4ON-ejQT4YNZs06L35_YyilXAO1/w400-h300/IMG_4380.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Glenmore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU8CNJIDi5wM7sprOVDCXBDzAJwWcpnQJlf_JL8UmLx4b1ohu8tUIQRDFYznkcUkJSe68JKMQwGYt0n-zNi8dXVvgSFCNdMTdj2fsMEsvW02BSFRwHWXnZERDmw6PjkkJk4LZo6uxm29Q9wWrFc8_GuKPtxbSAbxGzwd8hQs1BBhCT1vUWqC5bk4O/s4032/IMG_9973.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOU8CNJIDi5wM7sprOVDCXBDzAJwWcpnQJlf_JL8UmLx4b1ohu8tUIQRDFYznkcUkJSe68JKMQwGYt0n-zNi8dXVvgSFCNdMTdj2fsMEsvW02BSFRwHWXnZERDmw6PjkkJk4LZo6uxm29Q9wWrFc8_GuKPtxbSAbxGzwd8hQs1BBhCT1vUWqC5bk4O/w300-h400/IMG_9973.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Didi the shoulder cat</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you missed out on my Australia 2023 tour, rest assured that plans are in the works for a return in early 2024. If you can't wait that long, I still have space in my upcoming <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini" target="_blank">workshops on Santorini</a>. And as always, I have my online workshops, Smalti Mosaic Jewelry and Shag Rug Mosaics available at <a href="https://mosaicartsonline.com">Mosaic Arts Online</a>. </div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-48895583377835742542022-12-12T15:54:00.001-07:002022-12-12T15:54:21.448-07:00Into the Blue<div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFme4VmUXx-zVOp88BjoNF7FB2YyQT6sllMiDxVO50pWAk4aMjCSsHEV-SWcmQ5KqgXwqz_L1WhQ7Hosx5Uxe_gHWR4jCgAahmy_ADA2FwVPZnkRMUuGmCKewY3QMpkTq6WM1ZKuHqczbuPju2rs2ADCFUpqJvRszOZNzMmjHVj_Ptv_8azGirydNQ/s1181/C46F6C1B-2A98-4F73-8F96-597E5B21CA13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="1181" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFme4VmUXx-zVOp88BjoNF7FB2YyQT6sllMiDxVO50pWAk4aMjCSsHEV-SWcmQ5KqgXwqz_L1WhQ7Hosx5Uxe_gHWR4jCgAahmy_ADA2FwVPZnkRMUuGmCKewY3QMpkTq6WM1ZKuHqczbuPju2rs2ADCFUpqJvRszOZNzMmjHVj_Ptv_8azGirydNQ/w320-h320/C46F6C1B-2A98-4F73-8F96-597E5B21CA13.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eedf4Um35e05zV0KPB5P6getKHEw5lJvD_fxirLW2lt4LlSzsfd-Q0xzR1W5zxQB1w5qja1EP2aOI0B1qqEDAqYxgTdQntCcxcykJPTt51OaeAtn4OsF45Pl8vrR8rEiupUWPs2WNAMRabSJ0mL3b7tlZIkt2ZExe_tiwvaAbVwZFL9T5jZy95yT/s1440/0311E2EB-B0BE-4D9C-AB6D-6F5A5FF29121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eedf4Um35e05zV0KPB5P6getKHEw5lJvD_fxirLW2lt4LlSzsfd-Q0xzR1W5zxQB1w5qja1EP2aOI0B1qqEDAqYxgTdQntCcxcykJPTt51OaeAtn4OsF45Pl8vrR8rEiupUWPs2WNAMRabSJ0mL3b7tlZIkt2ZExe_tiwvaAbVwZFL9T5jZy95yT/s320/0311E2EB-B0BE-4D9C-AB6D-6F5A5FF29121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></strong></span></div><div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">45mm diameter- Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">About a month ago, I had an exhibit opening in New York. I was one of five glass artists chosen to be part of <a href="https://urbanglass.org" target="_blank">UrbanGlass</a>'s exhibition, <a href="https://store.urbanglass.org/collections/urbansparkle?page=2" target="_blank">UrbanSparkle</a>, which opened during New York Jewelry week. I wasn't able to attend the opening, but am really thrilled to be a part of the exhibit, which runs until mid January. I created a brand new body of work for this exhibition, all based around living by the sea. I almost—but not quite—got sick of the colour blue. Obviously this piece is one of those twelve pieces I created! I'll post more in upcoming posts. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Life is finally gearing back up again after almost 3 years of a much slower pace than I am used to going. I am pleased to announce that I have an <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/workshops">Australian teaching tour</a> lined up for 2023. I was in Australia when the pandemic hit, and had quite the change of plans, finding myself headed back to Canada rather than to Greece, so I'm excited to be finally heading back to reconnect with old friends and make new ones! Spaces are filling quickly though, so if you're interested in attending any of these workshops, I recommend you don't delay in signing up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.margoanton.com/workshops" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax_HdkRfNxw5BZVEh4QPJAadif48dcnimSMFn0jSBRFxV24WrPhsRrsGbjY00bZNjwzmCM4kh6LGoleo4NRPmjUAnbobP7LOdb5RiMJZTwTnpk0zoA7WmKeI7NdFe8aPofxcV98PgSKhfpQMIvdN5xFXdwaHkXVOOuBmzkz76b2srXZSM6_ByHMmL/w400-h400/5A1D4409-C6BA-43FD-9AE6-33B4EF504C06.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope to see some of you in Australia, and if anyone just happens to be in New York in the next month, check out the UrbanSparkle exhibition!</div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-74185379546236026742022-07-29T12:42:00.003-06:002022-07-29T12:42:58.113-06:00Authenticity (plus 2023 Santorini Mosaic Workshop Dates)<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdhSryx8LfHcLy79vCxEAx7-c3oLAGq51jD27algPe8eR00v8tN14lyqBa5bUctJ9NbAEZ98dwsc4_2sx6DnOMDYfIbrQDcTAlyNXGhH6iccAkrmbDSyHS7lOsYmuOslAo1YzWBbl2PtDBmMg_BTs2irm2SHk7Yp7VANIEpk41SM0vwJRAwjHrmsf/s2158/54ADC374-13A7-427F-A8E9-2A6C42B83DD6_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2158" data-original-width="2158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdhSryx8LfHcLy79vCxEAx7-c3oLAGq51jD27algPe8eR00v8tN14lyqBa5bUctJ9NbAEZ98dwsc4_2sx6DnOMDYfIbrQDcTAlyNXGhH6iccAkrmbDSyHS7lOsYmuOslAo1YzWBbl2PtDBmMg_BTs2irm2SHk7Yp7VANIEpk41SM0vwJRAwjHrmsf/s320/54ADC374-13A7-427F-A8E9-2A6C42B83DD6_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQMY5gxQbMclWb9b1VTV0Hp0h67svsyKbF8XlUN0z-l6cVAiyCrxclDzUd8OkT2MKanaY_1L4FUj_BRgY24EZK3EMTvR9jNFEXE7uY1OG4GhLynil9TlOc-9y0QlyknamDFx1tHD-YKSmIjjC8uu_O5z01kXv7IEYe8krJZ-yM3BlQwX5YQB_QvRf/s2010/E910F8C4-771E-4F14-980C-C0742B3DCFAC_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2010" data-original-width="2010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQMY5gxQbMclWb9b1VTV0Hp0h67svsyKbF8XlUN0z-l6cVAiyCrxclDzUd8OkT2MKanaY_1L4FUj_BRgY24EZK3EMTvR9jNFEXE7uY1OG4GhLynil9TlOc-9y0QlyknamDFx1tHD-YKSmIjjC8uu_O5z01kXv7IEYe8krJZ-yM3BlQwX5YQB_QvRf/s320/E910F8C4-771E-4F14-980C-C0742B3DCFAC_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />28mm by 7mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$220 USD</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">So my planned workshop in Santorini for this year unfortunately didn't receive enough interest to go ahead. Naturally, I am disappointed about this, though given the state of air travel in Europe and the number of bags just disappearing into some luggage void and never arriving, perhaps having a number of people coming from abroad and depending upon suitcases arriving promptly was not going to go as well as desired. I did however receive lots of interest for 2023, and learned a great deal about what offering a workshop here entails.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the things that became clear to me is that I was trying to follow a destination workshop model—one with included accommodation—that doesn't really fit for Santorini. Many of the workshops abroad take place in destinations that while fabulous to go to, might not be a destination one would choose if not attending the workshop. Santorini is not that kind of destination though, it's currently the darling of the travel world, seemingly on everyone's bucket list. As such, no one coming to the workshop wanted to leave their nearest and dearest behind, which started making the workshop accommodation arrangements no longer feasible. I comprehended I was needing to look at a workshop model that didn't include accommodation, so people could choose what they wanted. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But a venue was still a problem, as the accommodation was also to function as the location for the workshop. So I put on my thinking cap, and while wearing it, realized something else. The workshop location of Megalochori that I had picked for 2022 isn't MY Santorini. It's a beautiful traditional town, but unless I'm hitting my favourite winery there, or visiting friends, I never go there. It's not a place I know like the back of my hand like I do my village. MY Santorini is Perissa. It's not got the stunning cliff views of other main tourist towns, but it has a really cool black beach, numerous good restaurants, low key night life, and decent transportation to the rest of the island. While not as centrally located as Megalochori, I think it offers more on it's own, and it's truly easy to get to other places from here. Around the time I was trying to figure this out, a buddy of mine brought a group of coworkers here, and while they liked visiting the famous tourist areas of Santorini, they were were all glad they had stayed in Perissa. I realized that if I'm inviting people to MY island, it make much more sense to bring them to the place where I know all the details, all the people, and where my recommendations and suggestions come from a place of authenticity and love.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And just like that, the venue became obvious. The workshops—yes, I plan two!—will be held on the rooftop terrace of my boyfriend's restaurant, Sirocco, literally what my front door opens onto. Before I became a nomadic mosaic artist, I used to have a teaching studio that was just out my back door, so to now be teaching just outside my front door is a like coming full circle. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This changed format allows participants to have the ultimate flexibility to come with a spouse, their family, a friend, or solo. They can stay where they want, either in Perissa or further afield and commute however they like. Perissa is flat as well, so is more ideal for folks with any knee or hip issues. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I'm pleased to announce my new and improved Santorini workshops: now with even more authenticity! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mosaic Jewelry: June 3-10, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;">Shag Rug Mosaic/Smalti Mosaic: Sept 10-16, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Details available <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini">here</a>. </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-86248724978994159392022-06-02T07:35:00.007-06:002022-06-02T07:36:16.523-06:00 Sunsets Never Get Old<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YkIJHbL6-QnkU6SrNhCDORNAF2l93-lArrJUNIWMu_lzQiQDCG9ou1nouGBahfaR6hFbW3a0JffIdyjvIdf0pCSHiyHwTB6hHOSo4tXZAE0oT26HuIdmnWAPk-SndscRw8uLUobWSm_V_GH6js9ELGcsyOg3KwHbStL9-Czk5zX1DRxlPRiYBHYe/s2937/40D00A1F-F5C3-49CF-8D93-A5B51762A01A_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2937" data-original-width="2937" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YkIJHbL6-QnkU6SrNhCDORNAF2l93-lArrJUNIWMu_lzQiQDCG9ou1nouGBahfaR6hFbW3a0JffIdyjvIdf0pCSHiyHwTB6hHOSo4tXZAE0oT26HuIdmnWAPk-SndscRw8uLUobWSm_V_GH6js9ELGcsyOg3KwHbStL9-Czk5zX1DRxlPRiYBHYe/s320/40D00A1F-F5C3-49CF-8D93-A5B51762A01A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmKOJ_VZjrlXjqZGixG-mANNqsrVfqADLG8Xf6nhkB67GC7yqcczi6MqHuz3AOoJZgle4aKZ13PVmDbJiS-4mMnYhNQ9INiNkWGBxJOJFkY4eE_BbYm32Q8_setahgtX_N7OG78Gc-L3_keujS-DTgqv2eNgYvEdbG5lG4N3xlxIe-Udyb7nnBRtO/s1689/5763585F-7429-4664-B508-8AE2BFC76E1D_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1689" data-original-width="1689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmKOJ_VZjrlXjqZGixG-mANNqsrVfqADLG8Xf6nhkB67GC7yqcczi6MqHuz3AOoJZgle4aKZ13PVmDbJiS-4mMnYhNQ9INiNkWGBxJOJFkY4eE_BbYm32Q8_setahgtX_N7OG78Gc-L3_keujS-DTgqv2eNgYvEdbG5lG4N3xlxIe-Udyb7nnBRtO/s320/5763585F-7429-4664-B508-8AE2BFC76E1D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />45mm by 15mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$275 USD</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Watching sunsets is something I do pretty much as often as I can. It honestly never gets old. Santorini is of course famed for it's sunsets, though I don't think one has to go all the way to Oia to enjoy it (where you'd be enjoying it with thousands of others packed into the streets). I prefer to find a cafe on the cliff edge, overlooking the caldera—the volcanic crater formed by the eruption 3600 years ago that created the iconic Santorini views—and watch from there. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLWornpFNVmd2EObRIaFIrjnPAiFCrZrnvN4D-29vmnMhW92nBZCAHYU5xWmLzIrtZOD70cV3c9VGQBIXV9zZx9iQ4kzEwqV-Xlv3j9ItA6mxgG-6Uc0fz1-_ZvnuW5lwXGzttbbiwSzv-3Ddm48ztNkjU1-aBHRacKf_SdjrzVD3RNk6OTxsnhNR/w640-h480/CFC0CC73-8486-4996-BDE2-66F0DC34E38D.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I saw this pretty great one in April, shortly after arriving on Santorini, and this piece is based on this particualar sunset. If you would like to see such stunning vistas, and create your own mosaics on Santorini, there are still spaces in my upcoming <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini">workshop</a>.</div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-54988100630487387822022-05-31T11:26:00.000-06:002022-05-31T11:26:56.689-06:00Syros<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O7M09LgGxD8E6I2Y84ABQKRtXTIviQXr5W7F-U0FTIMXx_KyXvZ0LuTYVZmsJg1JRV5dguclG7PCKc-g3itCzwbotFjIJ8MCnEUz74cBVMk_Mt5Z0ihyYRsqIR2wBJaFV_lCzjEgx8E/s889/CC870AB8-A123-425A-AE67-77AD3178CE5D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O7M09LgGxD8E6I2Y84ABQKRtXTIviQXr5W7F-U0FTIMXx_KyXvZ0LuTYVZmsJg1JRV5dguclG7PCKc-g3itCzwbotFjIJ8MCnEUz74cBVMk_Mt5Z0ihyYRsqIR2wBJaFV_lCzjEgx8E/s320/CC870AB8-A123-425A-AE67-77AD3178CE5D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div><br />16mm by 16mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$165 USD</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So a couple weeks ago I found myself on a ferry to Syros. Now Syros isn't a Greek island I had always dreamed of visiting, but visiting there made one dream come true: permanent residency in Greece. As of May 19, I am able to stay here indefinitely. I do plan to keep up my nomadic ways to a degree, particularly now that travel is getting easier, but now I don't have to count my days in and out of the country, which was one of the more annoying aspects of having a relationship with a man here the past few years. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Syros was a lovely island though, with a charming harbour front, and a number of attractive colonial buildings. Compared to my sometimes scruffy village of Perissa, it was terribly gentile. Having only one specific thing to do (the appointment at immigration), I then spent the rest of my time wandering from cafe to bar to restaurant, drinking coffee, wine, eating, and reading at a pace of a book a day. It's been some time since I've just whiled away a day or two in that fashion. I felt very Greek! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVbLUja3XT0_2m_QfkSGJobUhbhXTFGAcXNsjRHRCrPIDp2YcFo1T6k9WZwlWIMFMEngkBlTjPbOGbwfFh5P1-k6f1jMFVdv4eU76XpapVe3O5VvZDwDfwKO9FqgYiTy0XNlgMSxWRI2dCHNQwdt3Gy-SWkzPq-LVhJ1s4Va8_wQK5nZ4UF5XRmpJ/s4032/814BD1FD-4096-4DD1-AB20-808E711FD35E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVbLUja3XT0_2m_QfkSGJobUhbhXTFGAcXNsjRHRCrPIDp2YcFo1T6k9WZwlWIMFMEngkBlTjPbOGbwfFh5P1-k6f1jMFVdv4eU76XpapVe3O5VvZDwDfwKO9FqgYiTy0XNlgMSxWRI2dCHNQwdt3Gy-SWkzPq-LVhJ1s4Va8_wQK5nZ4UF5XRmpJ/w640-h480/814BD1FD-4096-4DD1-AB20-808E711FD35E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely harbour front</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5taXG8rtXCTAQrHRxrSWyDtIWBq9uaqYrg0MQmlGnbOd1dJvxKXBEr3fuE8rI6XqA5kNUqXWS8iSYXhAnxyCMXYWejyYuYMf06IDm4fDAw_LT80f4olyFS1F0lxbAI_7TaxL_J4mk7vJCOMkfLhdCPoKict4cEv8oCTqPr0eV8ZtU0WLhthAJ4Nf/s4032/FADF0DF0-9478-44EA-8E38-FDFFAE0975BE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5taXG8rtXCTAQrHRxrSWyDtIWBq9uaqYrg0MQmlGnbOd1dJvxKXBEr3fuE8rI6XqA5kNUqXWS8iSYXhAnxyCMXYWejyYuYMf06IDm4fDAw_LT80f4olyFS1F0lxbAI_7TaxL_J4mk7vJCOMkfLhdCPoKict4cEv8oCTqPr0eV8ZtU0WLhthAJ4Nf/w640-h480/FADF0DF0-9478-44EA-8E38-FDFFAE0975BE.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very little is better than a freddo cappucino while looking at some water<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In less good news, registrations for my <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini">Santorini workshop</a> are going VERY slowly. I'm getting nervous that I will have to cancel shortly if I don't get more uptake. So if you are considering coming, but haven't yet contacted me, please do drop me a line, even if you haven't decided for sure yet. And I'd be ever so grateful if you'd share the workshop with anyone you know who might be interested. </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-80387079331517071332022-04-29T12:06:00.003-06:002022-04-29T12:06:30.974-06:00Paska<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LYXlu1wYuiv5LSFScvsxlDMQSjXleEVgQiWRL2D8JHDnOvz_mnnJEmXh4Y2f0Ryvad1v-Trg-ilkeC9kOBBKLL2GpN43JDokp7QxNGN5nL5vMEckowgdneook8I0u5n4CW4LNYT8404/s2048/A6B97B98-6645-4AAE-A444-7B7F74BA4C47_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1861" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LYXlu1wYuiv5LSFScvsxlDMQSjXleEVgQiWRL2D8JHDnOvz_mnnJEmXh4Y2f0Ryvad1v-Trg-ilkeC9kOBBKLL2GpN43JDokp7QxNGN5nL5vMEckowgdneook8I0u5n4CW4LNYT8404/s320/A6B97B98-6645-4AAE-A444-7B7F74BA4C47_1_201_a.jpeg" width="291" /></a></div><br />14mm by 10mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></div></span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$220 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been 5 years since I've managed to be in Greece for Greek Easter, called Paska in Greek, so I was pretty excited last weekend to be here (Greek Easter differs from Catholic and Protestant Easter, usually falling later, though occasionally they coincide). The Greeks have a lot of traditions surrounding Easter, and I was keen to be a part. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The smell of roast meat filled the air as we walked to the party we had been invited to. Devout Greeks eat no meat or meat byproducts, nor fish for the 40 days prior to Easter (called Lent in Catholic and Protestant traditions, but called Megali Tesserakosti, which roughly translates as Great 40 Days), so Greeks tend to roast a whole goat or lamb on Paska to break this "fast". We were greeted with plenty of "Kronia Polla" (Good year), Christos Anesti" (Christ has risen), and "Kalo Paska" (Happy Easter). Our friends were roasting a goat, which I was told came from Akrotiri, an area of the island that is about 8 km away. The eating and drinking began!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As did the egg fights. I am used to this tradition in my family. Much of the point of Easter egg dying in my family was so we could have battles with the eggs. The Greeks traditionally dye their eggs red, the red symbolizing the blood and sacrifice of Christ and the eggs symbolizing the rebirth. I had meant to get some dye, but the usual thing of waiting too long and then the grocery store ran out of dye occurred. The dyes in Canada never seem to achieve the deep red that the Greek dye gets. Luckily our hosts had not procrasinated like I had, so I at least got to have a couple egg fights! Amusingly, they also didn't in fact like hard boiled eggs, but DID like egg fights, so they made loads of these stunning red eggs just to play with them. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ajwxp2OWHPUjuBqn0DN1deud8XxR7OgkgdpKmQWi5fQGTnWjr0slD-o3hWYEYTY9sIKQgMr5QvVEQzbSo_Y1O5d7s1BJ2T-XT8m1ht6ZvbtYYwP-D3vjVlHRHfLxzX-gYr5AH36_HXkmcd59e9JFzNhqdr0V5cqOucOHefHKIBjn5WoqRO0Ilw6O/s4032/B4C3E023-8B4F-4668-BE80-97D74A4DA807.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ajwxp2OWHPUjuBqn0DN1deud8XxR7OgkgdpKmQWi5fQGTnWjr0slD-o3hWYEYTY9sIKQgMr5QvVEQzbSo_Y1O5d7s1BJ2T-XT8m1ht6ZvbtYYwP-D3vjVlHRHfLxzX-gYr5AH36_HXkmcd59e9JFzNhqdr0V5cqOucOHefHKIBjn5WoqRO0Ilw6O/w480-h640/B4C3E023-8B4F-4668-BE80-97D74A4DA807.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>After a large meal, plenty of beer, far too many fire crackers for my taste, and plenty of Greek sunshine, we finished up the day with a visit to out local Beach Bar. And so a Kalo Paska was had. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you want to see Greece for yourself, there are still spaces available in my <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini">Santorini Mosaic Workshop</a>. I can't wait to show the participants this stunning Greek island. </div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-6471057089690862232022-04-16T11:03:00.002-06:002022-04-16T11:03:17.634-06:00At Long Last: Special Announcement<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq545gNI2Z1DpFSmU91G-bHUzlK7W0cYU1dZ7jHByV_8cpk_pssG-szNrwFy4SnphvEF064bKGRXtDnWAGma_DhjtSi6K_C20MddlRgTXeXPNwIaKBapHh9ezfaLNHR_-F-ZAc59R4ewE/s1522/598A8915-7DA2-431B-8242-AF9FD6289E05_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="1489" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq545gNI2Z1DpFSmU91G-bHUzlK7W0cYU1dZ7jHByV_8cpk_pssG-szNrwFy4SnphvEF064bKGRXtDnWAGma_DhjtSi6K_C20MddlRgTXeXPNwIaKBapHh9ezfaLNHR_-F-ZAc59R4ewE/s320/598A8915-7DA2-431B-8242-AF9FD6289E05_1_201_a.jpeg" width="313" /></a></div><br />18mm by 13mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$135 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At long last, I have finally done something that has been a dream of mine for probably 7 years now: I have organized a destination mosaic workshop here on Santorini. The dates are September 18-25, 2022. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know this isn't loads of notice timewise, so I've kept the price as low as possible and will run the workshop with as few as 4 people. I'm hoping the the lure of the Aegean blue sea, drop dead gorgeous views, and the opportunity to stay in a traditional cave house will be more than enough enticement. For all the details, <a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">email</a> me for an info sheet or visit my <a href="http://www.margoanton.com/santorini">website</a>.</span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-56074525016435394502022-03-17T17:27:00.001-06:002022-03-17T17:27:25.868-06:00Full Circle<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpHhFpilzNjX_8pwtou4cUCMslZ58K232s2HPOxYIVaan4Mj_jpv57clvKy0jPH55wU7Mb48kxOgjvvm4DP3N4UiGru1tJWXM6HsIRMt4mNda3em_hgYzq-_8ox8ZEkCukiRxmfVRSpo/s1036/83BBCFBF-5EF5-4B2B-B65A-D1F7A34AEAF2_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1036" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpHhFpilzNjX_8pwtou4cUCMslZ58K232s2HPOxYIVaan4Mj_jpv57clvKy0jPH55wU7Mb48kxOgjvvm4DP3N4UiGru1tJWXM6HsIRMt4mNda3em_hgYzq-_8ox8ZEkCukiRxmfVRSpo/s320/83BBCFBF-5EF5-4B2B-B65A-D1F7A34AEAF2_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnoBGwJ_LjO-GOZTmLAuBUVVD0K8qkLP_3I_GBOtGY1Cp-JxAgl7VDY1vgzhIo2tvXEREl4dkx35ePvGQlONiqEHj8QCDEHdAYWzE7PmtCOYivH8nr1U-2cohQakuyfz3V2mffb5FT90/s1119/13EFC9C1-2860-412D-85AA-AD4A0B338144_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnoBGwJ_LjO-GOZTmLAuBUVVD0K8qkLP_3I_GBOtGY1Cp-JxAgl7VDY1vgzhIo2tvXEREl4dkx35ePvGQlONiqEHj8QCDEHdAYWzE7PmtCOYivH8nr1U-2cohQakuyfz3V2mffb5FT90/s320/13EFC9C1-2860-412D-85AA-AD4A0B338144_1_201_a.jpeg" width="287" /></a></div><br />16mm diameter - Mosaic gold, smalti in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$150 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy St. Patrick's Day! Over the past couple of years, this day has come to have a rather different meaning for me than being Irish for a day. Two years ago today, I arrived in Canada at the start of the pandemic, not knowing what the future held nor how long I would be here. These past two years have impacted me in more ways than I think even I recognize. Everyone has been through hardship. Everyone's lives were uprooted. Probably my hardest thing to cope with has been not being able to plan.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yet, now I sit in an airport, two years to the day of when I arrived. Yes, I have managed to get to Greece in each of 2020 and 2021 (and some side trips within Europe in 2021), but those were visits to my beloved, not a true returning to my nomadic life. This time feels different; I have a feeling that normalcy—at least my weird version of normal—is returning. Checking in for my flight was not the ordeal of previous pandemic flights, in fact, I don't think I've had many smoother check in experiences, even pre pandemic. I have the sense of having come full circle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This time, also, I am leaving for an indefinite amount of time. I don't know precisely when I'll be returning to Canada, much to my sister's sadness, and mine too in many ways, to be honest. I've always known that my nomadic life means I'm perpetually homesick, no matter where I am. It's the blessing and the curse of having homes and loved ones in so many places. And now, I have a loved one in Greece, and if all goes well, I'll be getting Greek residency this spring. Wish me luck!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hmmm, St. Patrick's Day may be a particularly appropriate day to embark on journeys, methinks, what with all the luck wishing. </div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-4968578281922591862022-03-14T11:46:00.001-06:002022-03-14T11:46:46.985-06:00Ephesus<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz8dK8APzgzkx3nXRGEMEspTSjARGOzAedPvmmJ9voByN6TNP7kk8RxLea4Y4NSq5TvYYbxp2CU7lGt7tOpdK4rxfRYF1QK69xu9mUq01BK35QYek3bXHgaBJpatERDzoWk73M92psKveJcb1VHw6fgZVf1UtQXlqXkFQ2FJtt936yNDQPERlpq-nt=s2056" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="2056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgz8dK8APzgzkx3nXRGEMEspTSjARGOzAedPvmmJ9voByN6TNP7kk8RxLea4Y4NSq5TvYYbxp2CU7lGt7tOpdK4rxfRYF1QK69xu9mUq01BK35QYek3bXHgaBJpatERDzoWk73M92psKveJcb1VHw6fgZVf1UtQXlqXkFQ2FJtt936yNDQPERlpq-nt=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />28mm by 7mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$220 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Much of what is now the country of Turkey was once under the control of ancient Greeks. The most famous Greek (later Roman) ruin in Turkey is the port town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus">Ephesus</a>. It was already famous in its time due to the nearby Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but now tourists—often from cruise ships—flock to see the Library of Celsus, the incredible Terrace Houses, and the ancient theatre which could hold 24,000 people. It's an unbelievable archaeological site.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR8qQqFrFIiDyEBiVAgT2F70IWCLTfUHpteoaGEzvTyoN06xsw8V8T85nUMBvkzxQS5a_TuzVF5pTqSXXLoIkkZOVnfkgQq8hLYNNr47jlZM3Yw58QGKJJNqdtcAYcFZGyTQmfraCvp9LtbW43Y7WplEqbgqyR8A-R3GDKQoykfATFzgJdxkMMH7qa=s6016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6016" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgR8qQqFrFIiDyEBiVAgT2F70IWCLTfUHpteoaGEzvTyoN06xsw8V8T85nUMBvkzxQS5a_TuzVF5pTqSXXLoIkkZOVnfkgQq8hLYNNr47jlZM3Yw58QGKJJNqdtcAYcFZGyTQmfraCvp9LtbW43Y7WplEqbgqyR8A-R3GDKQoykfATFzgJdxkMMH7qa=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much remains of the Temple of Artemis, sadly</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMctypAU0lqWZXDHkuwfb6VkOpcZ_u9WUGcAayXshFaR8owdFwO9_zpj7ELUirGAkEkp9rLybUWwez_X5l3negjloB92LPvIM2Miy8rQ48pMC_iAZgP1Y9oDCKxrUoRngx-MTT9xg4uO88WB5OcIf1tN1es62ffBKQAcUcsOJI2QgIBzg1Zo06JaO1=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMctypAU0lqWZXDHkuwfb6VkOpcZ_u9WUGcAayXshFaR8owdFwO9_zpj7ELUirGAkEkp9rLybUWwez_X5l3negjloB92LPvIM2Miy8rQ48pMC_iAZgP1Y9oDCKxrUoRngx-MTT9xg4uO88WB5OcIf1tN1es62ffBKQAcUcsOJI2QgIBzg1Zo06JaO1=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Temple of Celsus, with pendant</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had been to Ephesus back in 2014, but on a tour not of my choosing, and missed the Terrace Houses, which have vast, excellent floor mosaics (and a separate ticket, so some tours give it a miss). Since Kostas is generally keen to see archaeological sites, I figured our trip to Turkey was a good time opportunity to finally see this part of the site. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Very few "ruins" can really give you a sense of what it would be like to live back in the time—ruins like Pompeii and Herculaneum are the extreme exception, rather than the rule. But in the Terrace House at Ephesus, I once again could imagine the people living, entertaining, and working. The mosaics were stunning, and the frescoed walls divine. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0CvrMcxPXtw0OkgbGqFKkdIvU-qR1weTEK-dbKaSIM9RcpKmmTC2UsesI-0WfnOLgGyQnFn-u_54id2a3-qc6Uk2fHqf_OvaBw7pydBDwAmMKuLuT5Hy_PvWRkc62JRFvWPaBD7Eth5d0D4tN2o77j9JHea1PSbtFANcKG-YneaM2tCJ9b9olCF_K=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0CvrMcxPXtw0OkgbGqFKkdIvU-qR1weTEK-dbKaSIM9RcpKmmTC2UsesI-0WfnOLgGyQnFn-u_54id2a3-qc6Uk2fHqf_OvaBw7pydBDwAmMKuLuT5Hy_PvWRkc62JRFvWPaBD7Eth5d0D4tN2o77j9JHea1PSbtFANcKG-YneaM2tCJ9b9olCF_K=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at these wonderfully grand rooms!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNsifik6cEclk5EvQDPX_rdCPPuvgJQVM9jcYagHUd6b5M-A3EoLeI-X7RldPEZtKokErP8AXIc2eut1fPMtXDVIniMKxG9fkMpdgAm87qmV01Jh12RtToc8BbzGbobwOTgil6ccQJYJXOEB5KW4LkhaERh9Pp6tVAllNy6UVsEaZvPYPwViVOc_ke=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNsifik6cEclk5EvQDPX_rdCPPuvgJQVM9jcYagHUd6b5M-A3EoLeI-X7RldPEZtKokErP8AXIc2eut1fPMtXDVIniMKxG9fkMpdgAm87qmV01Jh12RtToc8BbzGbobwOTgil6ccQJYJXOEB5KW4LkhaERh9Pp6tVAllNy6UVsEaZvPYPwViVOc_ke=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They truly have done a spectacular job with this area of the site</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>If you ever plan a trip to Turkey, visiting Ephesus should absolutely be a top priority. 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</div>Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-7920905017280423972022-03-08T05:30:00.001-07:002022-03-08T05:30:00.273-07:00Yeni Raki<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm1l9ZCLmv5GCc4i1sC9AMxBUIraLURa43PYeyzs2eL1yo5jWhzIn6KX6Fj6JpsMwVBify6x3vLn4ObVrl31ZE6HXaq5Sya_Qmrr_H7x8RTFkEPh1fA1_CH3nJAXlkyke-uWXUbJJrYE/s2048/9D582062-5E20-44B0-9DA7-8AD105A4EBCB_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm1l9ZCLmv5GCc4i1sC9AMxBUIraLURa43PYeyzs2eL1yo5jWhzIn6KX6Fj6JpsMwVBify6x3vLn4ObVrl31ZE6HXaq5Sya_Qmrr_H7x8RTFkEPh1fA1_CH3nJAXlkyke-uWXUbJJrYE/s320/9D582062-5E20-44B0-9DA7-8AD105A4EBCB_1_201_a.jpeg" width="286" /></a></div><br />20mm diameter- Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$165 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">A confusion of names exists in the Eastern Mediterranean: the Greeks have ouzo and raki, the Turks have raki. Ouzo is a not terribly sweet anisette flavoured spirit, raki is distilled wine pomace (the organic leftovers from wine production) and is basically moonshine. Turkish raki, however, is essentially the same as Greek ouzo and bears no resemblance to Greek raki. Both Greek ouzo and Turkish raki are usually drunk over ice, mixed with water, and are meant to be served with mezedes or meze, which are small plates like the more familiar tapas. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu6yD5I9s7iPu4j9kA7nhhrhR8rNgt8ZP5TLWe1Ut_4uv1ZZ9qgcZ9oX_iE8izgdeTQQuMb49AVqjxA09oZRDjvjC7FFnmKZHq3wOid1syobIop75Am9BWIUy9nbrER9unJUMkjAI1dT89q3aadwCNZ21U24ffUUJMJKLqZ91fAUkQnYBUHMHojXN5=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiu6yD5I9s7iPu4j9kA7nhhrhR8rNgt8ZP5TLWe1Ut_4uv1ZZ9qgcZ9oX_iE8izgdeTQQuMb49AVqjxA09oZRDjvjC7FFnmKZHq3wOid1syobIop75Am9BWIUy9nbrER9unJUMkjAI1dT89q3aadwCNZ21U24ffUUJMJKLqZ91fAUkQnYBUHMHojXN5=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious raki goodness</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Kostas and I are pretty much "when in Rome" type travellers. With a few exceptions, we drink whe local tipple when we are on vacation. We drink the arrack in Sri Lanka, don't try to find wine in Thailand, and find that most countries produce at least one decent beer. Thus, raki became the beverage of choice on our travels. Nightly, we would scout out the best meze places and order our raki with 4 or more delightful Turkish dishes. So many of the dishes were under 30 lira (around 3 euro, $2.50USD or $4.50CAD at the time) that it was hard to not just keep ordering, and we were usually starving after walking 10 or more km during the day. The sheer deliciousness of the food also made ordering conservatively a difficult proposition. I love Greek food and happily consume it daily, but the Turkish mezes seemed to have more variety and depth of flavour, while still having that Mediterranean vibe. Shockingly, my Greek man was the first to assert this claim! <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinfj_6FQlCGeQbzMddRvYLXZvKuoqsEQcPEvxeKx-Q1W-PPJBzO_mhWTOU8-WDX1yl7VYPOckdX9d6BgLfLjX1E9BVJLZFFdFrE0PMV2q4ZLskNIGS6hjFsht1c-a0NoMi1xipNadqrFSZLasE7lgeCmvgljt2MjJEdk63FUdCeOvyy_e9lC_uJjGC=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinfj_6FQlCGeQbzMddRvYLXZvKuoqsEQcPEvxeKx-Q1W-PPJBzO_mhWTOU8-WDX1yl7VYPOckdX9d6BgLfLjX1E9BVJLZFFdFrE0PMV2q4ZLskNIGS6hjFsht1c-a0NoMi1xipNadqrFSZLasE7lgeCmvgljt2MjJEdk63FUdCeOvyy_e9lC_uJjGC=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last night...sigh...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5ktcNan9yAWsiExPgJa5l2qRHEEXgUOaLcdrxvb8yAWhunf2CkGVSeNoOnD_Noay6VV1Mics3JzBBva-0lxaGnU4Lg2NtAUpjBcPdhMqcA5e9H4DQALcXlpkgeGeUrsX771syesn95qvGdYRqyBKpNwsWJckw75SXIeFOvBBYhag_cGCkxYidJtle=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5ktcNan9yAWsiExPgJa5l2qRHEEXgUOaLcdrxvb8yAWhunf2CkGVSeNoOnD_Noay6VV1Mics3JzBBva-0lxaGnU4Lg2NtAUpjBcPdhMqcA5e9H4DQALcXlpkgeGeUrsX771syesn95qvGdYRqyBKpNwsWJckw75SXIeFOvBBYhag_cGCkxYidJtle=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our most ridiculous over order: the prices were not indicative of dish size at all</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Between back to back trips to Italy and Turkey, I ate extremely well for the better part of 3 weeks. I'm getting hungry now!<div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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</div>Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-35147802006881465602022-03-04T06:00:00.004-07:002022-03-04T06:00:00.202-07:00Istanbul (Not Constantinople)<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgZ_5iI9WOwMLZctusPtiWcaHp3wLAiFkPDmFzfCwfew1ngemzyFgNv1xIk7Y0hHN-OIMKKXMr3nSsUQsJGSXbYKIrtRjJ-KvlubSc0U5tRCa8SZn-fiARCksewr3kDObtA4BdY_zdzg/s1141/39D1C168-A904-4175-B3AC-D5CCE530DD40_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1141" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgZ_5iI9WOwMLZctusPtiWcaHp3wLAiFkPDmFzfCwfew1ngemzyFgNv1xIk7Y0hHN-OIMKKXMr3nSsUQsJGSXbYKIrtRjJ-KvlubSc0U5tRCa8SZn-fiARCksewr3kDObtA4BdY_zdzg/s320/39D1C168-A904-4175-B3AC-D5CCE530DD40_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />10mm diameter mosaic - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$180 USD Size 8</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My turnaround time following the trip to Naples was a very small window for me. After three whirlwind days back in Greece, Kosta and I headed for our end of season vacation, this time to Turkey. On our first end of season trip in 2018, Kosta and I had a longish (8hr) stopover in Istanbul, and enjoyed ourselves so much that we vowed to return for longer.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a LOT of walking. Kosta loves to walk and get the vibe of a place, and so we walked everywhere, constantly. I'm talking 20k steps a day kind of walking. Luckily my love was amenable to late afternoon beer breaks (this gal needs to rest her back frequently still), or we might have had a mutiny. But I tend to agree with his travel strategy, if you have the time and energy, you do experience more of a city if you go by foot than public transport. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyy48ldQLL4AzSKRTwOJe_4ELzEy9s7FEyIeHgyDSVQK41dsEHXw40r0vcfl637DKk6cv6ASYJ4Knj-ZMdh4foiMB9rfVLj3blkR5hP11XKtP51_KlzswmO_wU-B7ym-1V7RGlpbMpe0oPgw9-7Aa0r7u7fHGzeU68vDj-hOPx65b3IiPjERflUtvp=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyy48ldQLL4AzSKRTwOJe_4ELzEy9s7FEyIeHgyDSVQK41dsEHXw40r0vcfl637DKk6cv6ASYJ4Knj-ZMdh4foiMB9rfVLj3blkR5hP11XKtP51_KlzswmO_wU-B7ym-1V7RGlpbMpe0oPgw9-7Aa0r7u7fHGzeU68vDj-hOPx65b3IiPjERflUtvp=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We timed the return from Asia to enjoy the sunset (aren't we clever?)</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the best part about Istanbul's (very excellent) public transportation system is all the ferries and boats. Straddling the Bosphorus waterway, and also at the edge of the Marmaris Sea, Istanbul is a city defined by the water. I love being on a boat, so we took advantage of these ferries as much as we could! One day saw us take ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul—the city is half in Europe, half in Asia—for a wander there, another day we took a ferry cruise up the Bosphorus almost all the way to the mouth of the Black Sea. We were blessed with sunny weather, stunning views, and Kosta got to a walk up a big hill at the turn around point, where we had a 2 hour stop.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4cxDtmOgvDD_qXxTurshz6NaOv-wtA8D9KU0qdEEcPfmdbROaK5J32cBA4i7QQ8-0YBuNCFUWcr8bp8Z5RQ5MbNwwibKIzqQRHBkT9Ni7eVd_PvgPW4LZWD2K3_eKJmc42Vk1WrDEvW-PbMPr_1I0zgtZQ-t3Mg9sRm6t5OAr6SXfCtmxWna5Pcbx=s3862" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3862" data-original-width="2896" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4cxDtmOgvDD_qXxTurshz6NaOv-wtA8D9KU0qdEEcPfmdbROaK5J32cBA4i7QQ8-0YBuNCFUWcr8bp8Z5RQ5MbNwwibKIzqQRHBkT9Ni7eVd_PvgPW4LZWD2K3_eKJmc42Vk1WrDEvW-PbMPr_1I0zgtZQ-t3Mg9sRm6t5OAr6SXfCtmxWna5Pcbx=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouth of the Black Sea beyond the bridge<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Like so many places I have been, Istanbul also deserves a return. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0Edmonton, AB, Canada53.5461245 -113.493822943.454212585892357 -131.0719479 63.638036414107638 -95.9156979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-67947070620798508712022-03-02T15:21:00.000-07:002022-03-02T15:47:18.268-07:00Sightseeing and Shenanigans <div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoGTwMJ6yti5HTE__t7teDo0JqIMrdNqO0zt5dwX6z-erqmchc_qnQ5jUn0fujD5F5LQlgRCiBljliHrw_k68jy2ae6W3Kj4gcN1xNDEVnU6cL3fQ6dJqiIWrnugEx2QZXQKMg0F_36A/s1007/5FBB79AD-92DB-4BD6-863E-258FF37A3880_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoGTwMJ6yti5HTE__t7teDo0JqIMrdNqO0zt5dwX6z-erqmchc_qnQ5jUn0fujD5F5LQlgRCiBljliHrw_k68jy2ae6W3Kj4gcN1xNDEVnU6cL3fQ6dJqiIWrnugEx2QZXQKMg0F_36A/s320/5FBB79AD-92DB-4BD6-863E-258FF37A3880_1_201_a.jpeg" width="287" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VR_hKg8Hu4s9CL-QicDLtDyKX5_QbAomULRG4pXbwmoPsPuJOdARxGNhBHpY_ZJc-ctV8YcU4q4TXhH8vaRubAbBz6yfR3CMJ4N6pE-mtCFHwU8MAQZsfEI4nONVlZAdqeie9iibpI4/s1228/F3F0ED32-4767-4482-BA6F-16C33FE0FA7C_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1227" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VR_hKg8Hu4s9CL-QicDLtDyKX5_QbAomULRG4pXbwmoPsPuJOdARxGNhBHpY_ZJc-ctV8YcU4q4TXhH8vaRubAbBz6yfR3CMJ4N6pE-mtCFHwU8MAQZsfEI4nONVlZAdqeie9iibpI4/s320/F3F0ED32-4767-4482-BA6F-16C33FE0FA7C_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />16mm by16mm - Mosaic gold, smalti in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$165 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last Naples post, I promise! But I couldn't move on to other tales without telling you about one last fabulous thing about Naples: the sightseeing. Blythe and I only had three full days and two half days, so we had to plan carefully, especially since certain attractions are closed on certain days, some are weather permitting, and there was public transport to navigate as well. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Attractions being closed on certain days had been a frustration for me in 2014, when the National Archaeological Museum—the one attraction I wanted to see—was closed on the only day I had planned for Naples. I was NOT making that mistake again! So we crossed that sight off the list the first day. To say it was worth the wait would be an understatement. The Roman mosaics, unearthed from nearby Pompeii, are some of the finest examples I've seen, though sadly the famous Battle of Alexander mosaic was away for restoration. We also enjoyed the cheeky "Secret Cabinet" of Roman erotic art artifacts (phallic windchimes, anyone?).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDT1OdaH-L2vVsw_Wrv78I1i4jNGxRSb78XFiXNiFgIsTc7C1Isg664bUQ5nIIOKMsAbFmicHWYZix_dqzSkKxot9L2Ewi6er-TLmUZy7j6blPz6Gp2okSeHBZXI4I8ur5SWcZEZDke04ckA-bU2Zv3DlyO4QSfNqe9m4xfts84ahIT8HHC_a4qVZ9=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDT1OdaH-L2vVsw_Wrv78I1i4jNGxRSb78XFiXNiFgIsTc7C1Isg664bUQ5nIIOKMsAbFmicHWYZix_dqzSkKxot9L2Ewi6er-TLmUZy7j6blPz6Gp2okSeHBZXI4I8ur5SWcZEZDke04ckA-bU2Zv3DlyO4QSfNqe9m4xfts84ahIT8HHC_a4qVZ9=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fine fish (mosaic) fresco</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQTmBwEmHoc79_PGrkwYptp18gcsOJGXlzYzJrwROHuZKf9y5rO3gb9L9xIu7NwQsWZx3SkTedAV5Os8NkDShlYaqLtuGZSl0ubl29DXE2eXndnCP1yMRuCy_DeuaOsvhBuk5BklAuWUzUiYP4uzp2WKr3KbxV-IcEzEK3B-GUTa5uzgWRviPZQv_3=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQTmBwEmHoc79_PGrkwYptp18gcsOJGXlzYzJrwROHuZKf9y5rO3gb9L9xIu7NwQsWZx3SkTedAV5Os8NkDShlYaqLtuGZSl0ubl29DXE2eXndnCP1yMRuCy_DeuaOsvhBuk5BklAuWUzUiYP4uzp2WKr3KbxV-IcEzEK3B-GUTa5uzgWRviPZQv_3=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how these tiny pieces make the pieces I use in my jewelry look huge!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of Pompeii, a visit to those ruins was naturally on the list, on our third full day. For those not as ancient history minded as me, Pompeii is the most intact Roman town ever excavated, owing to its being covered in a layer of ash and pumice when nearby Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. I visited these ruins in 1996, as an excursion from the archaelogical dig I was working on, and was amazed by how much more had been excavated. What I love most about Pompeii, owing to its intactness, is that you can really imagine people living and working there. There are wagon wheel ruts in the streets, fast food stalls, mills, theatres, public baths and toilets, and even a brothel with lascivious wall murals. Pompeii is often known for the tragedy of its demise and the plaster "casts" made from the voids left where people perished and decomposed, but I really loved how easy I could imagine the life there, far overshadowing the disasterous end. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFhaM5k0AFIUiN44m-wznoijKSGW1yxPb5kZTFxrJ_DvvXCnT2oAX0TlT2CYgFKRuUuKEYXq72Xd3wAFV93vF-lEUWNDTPEInjNsnTj1pkvC0Y1xdFaxIPv_kCUvRCR-pojjqsvbRNpBQ30Q18fOXTF7DYpPqSA_lCihTy0TbLlkpY4HbfiAvG7q0j=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFhaM5k0AFIUiN44m-wznoijKSGW1yxPb5kZTFxrJ_DvvXCnT2oAX0TlT2CYgFKRuUuKEYXq72Xd3wAFV93vF-lEUWNDTPEInjNsnTj1pkvC0Y1xdFaxIPv_kCUvRCR-pojjqsvbRNpBQ30Q18fOXTF7DYpPqSA_lCihTy0TbLlkpY4HbfiAvG7q0j=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Would you like to buy some stew?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2aj17_EMtL0zRH95mmk6p4wd7qaLgLbu9f_tL66-Zf7w4_O-omyYsjmqWHVxQW-qBi2W3At-rlP6uy3Xt4IVDf0emIE6Fulqv5IOq5rTtPR8CTGH_Z5S_m6ksbMXLCz00EDUCZlvPL7kjtLzhy0bBXHRHahTM0F_Npm6OaLERCJtVGT_az9xDG8TT=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2aj17_EMtL0zRH95mmk6p4wd7qaLgLbu9f_tL66-Zf7w4_O-omyYsjmqWHVxQW-qBi2W3At-rlP6uy3Xt4IVDf0emIE6Fulqv5IOq5rTtPR8CTGH_Z5S_m6ksbMXLCz00EDUCZlvPL7kjtLzhy0bBXHRHahTM0F_Npm6OaLERCJtVGT_az9xDG8TT=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me being "Fauny" in the House of the Faun<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We weren't all sightseeing and go, go, go though, as we both believe strongly in "la dolce vita", and really, there's no more apropos place to experience that than Italy. So another day had us heading to Sorrento, a posh sort of town on the Amalfi coast, just south of Naples. You know those movies where some guy in a bespoke suit is driving a convertible sports car along a cliff clinging winding road? Yeah, that's the Amalfi coast. A lovely wander was had, but the highlight was sitting on the pier, enjoying a glass of wine. The moment was so perfect we even had a second glass. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK5RexAuB-6JddaTgyqDQQXxuMFTqZpysdUk0m7gZyJRkVARDtwjfeIVkFQyfHeOUaKng67U6ROoO_7V6a1tSzmwNCCkHykrshP7FEGD7eIqgRnC5bhM0E7dr2wVG6H4AgOiZ7jCq-pz3BSurJlo11cZkZZTRs3Ro14nSf4xKq2obJBTv6FB0yvI4w=s3951" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2963" data-original-width="3951" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK5RexAuB-6JddaTgyqDQQXxuMFTqZpysdUk0m7gZyJRkVARDtwjfeIVkFQyfHeOUaKng67U6ROoO_7V6a1tSzmwNCCkHykrshP7FEGD7eIqgRnC5bhM0E7dr2wVG6H4AgOiZ7jCq-pz3BSurJlo11cZkZZTRs3Ro14nSf4xKq2obJBTv6FB0yvI4w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the good life...</td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everyday in Naples, Blythe and I walked by an always busy trattoria (restaurant) that we ascertained we had to try. After the day in Sorrento and endless walking, we decided it was the night. We arrived, however, to find to our dismay the terrace was packed, and even the few tiny tables inside were taken. The adorable young waiter was undaunted, he would get us in, if we could only wait a few minutes: "Wait, I bring wine!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He brought not only wine for our wait, but also came bustling up with two bar stools, which he parked across the lane from the restaurant. And that's how we ended up drinking wine in an alley in Naples. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7dNW6aouMXWjjaWN8RQiA5i7cusFRL_rApIpb01LbZx2g2yZEzP68zLy_RC7nC0eY9Nlff6hNK78bCNfYkoQCBcFZtZX4tUfZ61xx3cDrHvFLgpvFR-7j_T48fJA6o19XJfsSmWgNTCyQefoJoERMUx_0f8lPamTNVzH5cMbLMGX-_rRehEB_-SZS=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7dNW6aouMXWjjaWN8RQiA5i7cusFRL_rApIpb01LbZx2g2yZEzP68zLy_RC7nC0eY9Nlff6hNK78bCNfYkoQCBcFZtZX4tUfZ61xx3cDrHvFLgpvFR-7j_T48fJA6o19XJfsSmWgNTCyQefoJoERMUx_0f8lPamTNVzH5cMbLMGX-_rRehEB_-SZS=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being blonde and cute in Italy has its benefits<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Grazie, Naples. You were more than I ever imagined. </div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-86462527895803988732022-02-11T11:42:00.000-07:002022-02-11T11:42:09.711-07:00Mangiamo!<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-USs5_rX2jhCV0xP2jeDAE7fd1WV4-ioOp9SSXyJFFyDs-pilJN8Jo1ZKwNpnSWXxcFL35635at93qrJDTQY5Ym7wYUikmb3KEu38o0deAyjAeZ_zDYC8F27BHaG8-TJQb8HwsRl1gYY/s2654/02FB36D4-2E7A-4E4B-99A4-7D03D9839A29_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2654" data-original-width="1185" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-USs5_rX2jhCV0xP2jeDAE7fd1WV4-ioOp9SSXyJFFyDs-pilJN8Jo1ZKwNpnSWXxcFL35635at93qrJDTQY5Ym7wYUikmb3KEu38o0deAyjAeZ_zDYC8F27BHaG8-TJQb8HwsRl1gYY/s320/02FB36D4-2E7A-4E4B-99A4-7D03D9839A29_1_201_a.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujFt4E4o_N5e2LbfwjNfZorVSa9LnX3b9xzUSKUVagfp79ZybA2pqR3yicN125zWJXW6birvQfAHqcC8PUAMGr76jNa7YJCInfx3ZL2uP2v6g_HC23Gm1YWTUTJ6HxPC8ySqTAy85Mwg/s2048/D98EDE93-11BF-4572-B93D-1840A3553CFA_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1724" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujFt4E4o_N5e2LbfwjNfZorVSa9LnX3b9xzUSKUVagfp79ZybA2pqR3yicN125zWJXW6birvQfAHqcC8PUAMGr76jNa7YJCInfx3ZL2uP2v6g_HC23Gm1YWTUTJ6HxPC8ySqTAy85Mwg/s320/D98EDE93-11BF-4572-B93D-1840A3553CFA_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />65mm by 20mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$325USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ostensibly, Blythe and I chose to visit Naples because of the fabulous history, the National Archaeological museum, the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the easy access to the Amalfi Coast. But let's be honest here, we actually went to put delicious food into our mouths as many times a day as our stomachs could handle.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've eaten in a LOT of countries, had food all over the world. While I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite cuisine over all (because why the heck should one have to choose that?), I will say that the food in Naples was hands down some of the best I've ever had. Delicious pasta, ridiculously good pastries, charcuterie boards to die for...oh, and did I mention it's the birthplace of PIZZA? </span>Eating like professional athletes carb loading for the big race, w<span style="font-family: inherit;">e quickly—and wisely—settled into a rhythm of one meal of pizza, one meal of pasta per day, plus snacks if we could handle it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFlbPaLkZr357rJAPHBgYIY4RiRd_5Cbor2RdXhL8w2NP1zR995T2hIqrTilvej_5-yCi16oLvQk8-j6bIdmabnbQl7Cw0N7NCQAI7kxAKOTyIPihPLV2ssXmpQB_EVMkkXeXsXfNsUPGCobOSJN3sg0ShQZ6km2JZrKdrzDsh73Nm6p6iz5DMB9-D=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFlbPaLkZr357rJAPHBgYIY4RiRd_5Cbor2RdXhL8w2NP1zR995T2hIqrTilvej_5-yCi16oLvQk8-j6bIdmabnbQl7Cw0N7NCQAI7kxAKOTyIPihPLV2ssXmpQB_EVMkkXeXsXfNsUPGCobOSJN3sg0ShQZ6km2JZrKdrzDsh73Nm6p6iz5DMB9-D=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snacks! Sfogliatta (flaky pastry filled with ricotta and dried fruit) and an Aperol Spritz</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbJKQELcEK4QBlQQs1qGwgL_PUm78047CUVBKGAgIO4wrYEpWrHs7Fj5am6qjSCH_lxxGix3VqQLAVM1OUFNMJYlMn4aX3G81N78KsJaqZRriBZfWSMqn5FY7sqU_Zrc5dw4oEpWiGYrDTQgZbHhUeKNvg5CBm_YK9uezVKhDFryG06EqGIsR8EBL-=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbJKQELcEK4QBlQQs1qGwgL_PUm78047CUVBKGAgIO4wrYEpWrHs7Fj5am6qjSCH_lxxGix3VqQLAVM1OUFNMJYlMn4aX3G81N78KsJaqZRriBZfWSMqn5FY7sqU_Zrc5dw4oEpWiGYrDTQgZbHhUeKNvg5CBm_YK9uezVKhDFryG06EqGIsR8EBL-=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ragu that started the carb fest</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The pastas and snacks were dreamy, but the pizza in Naples is an art form. They take their pizza so seriously that menus list whether or not a pizza is D.O.C: </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(48, 42, 44); letter-spacing: 0.36000001430511475px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Denominazione di Origine Controllata. This means the pizza is certified as TRUE Napolitan pizza, and must be made in a wood fired oven, using very specific, locally produced ingredients, and a very particular technique. This certification is only for two types of pizza: margarita and marinara. As delicious as these two are, we branched out to try the various pizza specialities made by some of the world's best pizzaiolos. Hands down our </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(48, 42, 44); letter-spacing: 0.36000001430511475px;">favourite was star shaped, ricotta point filled pizza made by <a href="https://www.pizzeriadaattilio.com">Pizzeria Da Attilio</a>, so good that I have attempted to replicate it at home a few times already. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(48, 42, 44); letter-spacing: 0.36000001430511475px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyf3oIE4cE_2nL1GXPJY15BdGJU3KBv9NPRlAKf5iUXmqf2Rc_EOhrQugEYYz4eIk825dCAOHuHMqHsCbPSeKOeHqh4U76pY0VnkeQIQ56XxLPgCfwZd4tjXV3DiKLp1VTfi7J9JBu33nC_NDzn05WuCCqNOjGFcqWub9mShuY_Hntqs7SqgRtxGIM=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyf3oIE4cE_2nL1GXPJY15BdGJU3KBv9NPRlAKf5iUXmqf2Rc_EOhrQugEYYz4eIk825dCAOHuHMqHsCbPSeKOeHqh4U76pY0VnkeQIQ56XxLPgCfwZd4tjXV3DiKLp1VTfi7J9JBu33nC_NDzn05WuCCqNOjGFcqWub9mShuY_Hntqs7SqgRtxGIM=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star shaped, ricotta point filled, sausage pizza (drool)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgj_xL8uTqkEkhMzEYUKhtkcoO67aGXaT_j3yRbooQJE_-0fg2HB74hiXwUgPLVkbvGOiJH_JlX5ADJuiP8yhMholTD-Kz8VgROMmf-gJOwsOn8ENkg9K72zJ39iqBkyxC4AEd6YR52VKn3VJAuk3w2sdueofc__YHuLahigypoBqvdKa2yrKtDG4jF=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgj_xL8uTqkEkhMzEYUKhtkcoO67aGXaT_j3yRbooQJE_-0fg2HB74hiXwUgPLVkbvGOiJH_JlX5ADJuiP8yhMholTD-Kz8VgROMmf-gJOwsOn8ENkg9K72zJ39iqBkyxC4AEd6YR52VKn3VJAuk3w2sdueofc__YHuLahigypoBqvdKa2yrKtDG4jF=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oven our pizza was made in is mosaicked!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(48, 42, 44); letter-spacing: 0.36000001430511475px;">Not unsurprisingly, while my replication attempts have been decent, they don't begin to compare to the real thing. We're just gonna have to go back, sooner than later, because my taste buds NEED this experience all over again. </span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-3726062005824019142022-02-07T11:40:00.000-07:002022-02-07T11:40:28.065-07:00Bella Chaos <div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD77B50ylUeKnwpLki6Y0jLpay0-ZWTgc66dSAj76Sm7XXmEfzUkK_d-SHi8qDA2ieqEgYl08PQ8Vk_WUS_WFEkoy5DyG5xTT_x2ONnR1kysqTmhm6GWpykZa6bsQ5dStOqR6FpDVXVU/s1322/1386CECA-6384-43A4-B185-6024896849DE_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1322" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD77B50ylUeKnwpLki6Y0jLpay0-ZWTgc66dSAj76Sm7XXmEfzUkK_d-SHi8qDA2ieqEgYl08PQ8Vk_WUS_WFEkoy5DyG5xTT_x2ONnR1kysqTmhm6GWpykZa6bsQ5dStOqR6FpDVXVU/s320/1386CECA-6384-43A4-B185-6024896849DE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBLoGPahzVEv3xEWfdTdFRVx1mpQdLSb7WXyP0ScvYqFUqf0JJaLrojh4LQaLX2LpbII_T1h_0Tjuq_8MBZ_fJ9MHA9GLJr_mODUFcvk1K2NjJEQaPc0Yhd9QTVnyBq9cp54N4GmxrTA/s1320/98020CFF-2738-4668-A4DA-86F11D6D67BD_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="1149" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBLoGPahzVEv3xEWfdTdFRVx1mpQdLSb7WXyP0ScvYqFUqf0JJaLrojh4LQaLX2LpbII_T1h_0Tjuq_8MBZ_fJ9MHA9GLJr_mODUFcvk1K2NjJEQaPc0Yhd9QTVnyBq9cp54N4GmxrTA/s320/98020CFF-2738-4668-A4DA-86F11D6D67BD_1_201_a.jpeg" width="279" /></a></div><br />16mm by 16mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$165 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I actually did manage to get around a fair bit in the autumn in Europe before I returned to Canada—but have neglected to write about it! My friend Blythe and I decided to meet somewhere in between Santorini and Paris for during her October school break, and we decided that Naples was ideal. I could get there on the very last direct flights of the season, she had a transfer, but we arrived within 10 minutes of each other, and neither of us had spent more than a few hours there. Add in attractiions like Pompeii, Herculaneum, the National Archaelogical museum with its collection of Roman mosaics, and oh, PIZZA and we were convinced a great time would be had.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I admit, despite the attractions, I was still somewhat apprehensive. I have not typically done well in large cities as of recent years, and don't do well with chaos in general, and Naples certainly has a reputation for the latter. Naples in the 90's and early 2000's was also known for crime, dirt, and corruption, and was considered not particularly safe for travellers. Travellers as such tended to use it as a merely a gateway to the coastal towns along the Amalfi coast or that jewel of Italian tourism, the island of Capri. But travel writer Rick Steves—who once himself turned right back around and got on a train upon a first bad impression of Naples—assured me that Naples had changed. And so, while optimistically hoping for the best, I was also mentally prepared for challenges, frustration, and potentially a difficult experience.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I was unprepared for, however, was to fall madly, hopelessly in love with this chaotic, vibrant, gastronomically unbelievable city.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Italians use the phrase "bella chaos" (pronounced kah-os) to describe Napoli: beautiful chaos. I would never have expected to be so enamoured by chaos. But this frenetic, bustling, city charmed the heck out of me. The narrow streets in the historic old centre are packed with throngs of people all day. Pizzerias, coffee bars, and 1€ aperol spritz joints all via for your attention, beckoning and cajoling you to stop a moment before embracing the chaos again. Souvenir shops hawk themed socks, ceramics, jewelry, and every variety of item that they can make chili themed. While the food I ate in Naples wasn't always spicy, as such a symbol might suggest, the lifestyle sure is picante, so it's an appropriate homage to the city no matter what! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I did discover something about chaos, and my tolerance of it while there: the chaos in bella Napoli never seemed threatening. I suspect that's why I've often shied away from hectic cities or simply become hugely overwhelmed by them, that there was something under the surface of the chaos that was unpleasant. In Naples, the mayhem is more a energy, an excitement, a mood. And embracing it, rather than fighting it, made our stay all the more delightful.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The food—oh the food!—is a topic for another day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-44749593419634504952022-01-27T10:51:00.000-07:002022-01-27T10:51:08.377-07:00Holding Pattern<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdygAU7n6KA098zoxXyY3W9_p3GiSWsKA6iZxiwJAzfD4UuVmyjuAeehzyjSnvOedKMyx3kA13P1HPHeWicdONT47kkT1OL0pRrwj-Y2dXcvVAIsWVflrYbDpg6YVCLq5lmXNt5ZcsTmw/s2048/17F15248-7219-4919-8DBA-354C310C286D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1831" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdygAU7n6KA098zoxXyY3W9_p3GiSWsKA6iZxiwJAzfD4UuVmyjuAeehzyjSnvOedKMyx3kA13P1HPHeWicdONT47kkT1OL0pRrwj-Y2dXcvVAIsWVflrYbDpg6YVCLq5lmXNt5ZcsTmw/s320/17F15248-7219-4919-8DBA-354C310C286D_1_201_a.jpeg" width="286" /></a></div><br />16mm by 12mm - Mosaic gold in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$250 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does anyone else feel caught in a holding pattern these days? I feel like I'm spending a great deal of time simply waiting for some motivation. I <i>did</i> manage a large project at the very beginning of the year (more on that in early April), but now it seems I </span>muddle along trying to get bits done here and there, and accomplish little. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm struggling to launch anything new (despite having ideas), or do much more than make a bit of jewelry. However, this is not sustainable for the finances! Everyone around me seems to be launching new things, moving forward, and I seem a bit stuck. I'm trying to remind myself that I've felt this way before, and that it eventually passes, but there's been a LOT of this feeling during the last couple of years, and my patience is wearing thin. So if you have any spare motivation lying about, would you please send it my way?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One thing that has finally come to fruition this week after many months of back and forth and waiting (sound familiar?) is my partnership with <a href="https://www.bohemianelement.com/shop" target="_blank">Bohemian Element</a> to bring my custom sterling silver mosaic bases to the public. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU72FP54Xj1-D9UeHe1NLj3QxEpavmQv-Srkv86WCZ2U_sJOJq_gidfpKx2uLTWJ8Rvqglb6KUGWx9S5GwEXRa69qigmxaRkm1os3mTQYDNfmyHbgmOaFWAGZc4aTj32q0oQRoQOUqP-4d91JA2ce1SqyR2IHJ88TTtCfXiJmbjO4A8f693_7XLEpB=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU72FP54Xj1-D9UeHe1NLj3QxEpavmQv-Srkv86WCZ2U_sJOJq_gidfpKx2uLTWJ8Rvqglb6KUGWx9S5GwEXRa69qigmxaRkm1os3mTQYDNfmyHbgmOaFWAGZc4aTj32q0oQRoQOUqP-4d91JA2ce1SqyR2IHJ88TTtCfXiJmbjO4A8f693_7XLEpB=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selection of the high quality jewelry now available </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot of effort was put into finding a new supplier and getting the specifications just so. Even with all of that, the first order came in </span>incorrect, <i>slightly</i> more shallow than I requested, so we are turning our disappointment into your gain and selling this batch off on a great sale. <a href="https://www.bohemianelement.com/shop">Bohemian Element</a> has so much more than mosaic and jewelry supplies, and offerings run the gamut from rocks and filati to buttons and textiles. If you are a maker, crafter, or artist, you are sure to find something to add to your creative stash. </div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5522631740956292478.post-54831958076249140052021-12-08T12:08:00.003-07:002022-01-27T10:51:29.574-07:00Paray le Monial<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlk3J72_QQbJCrrJZfxtcBcSOzhFn4REejOAtk31WyA8SXPqupxiq4vnonOj5uGXyEhgTfY2Eb5XzHIcqOhukH-Eym4V_pLoacYZ9gleMAv955UE_MIHNh52makpvoUDY6hP1eAvP1sg/s1867/0EE25F5E-EDFA-42C7-AAD3-ADDC7586016E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1867" data-original-width="1867" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlk3J72_QQbJCrrJZfxtcBcSOzhFn4REejOAtk31WyA8SXPqupxiq4vnonOj5uGXyEhgTfY2Eb5XzHIcqOhukH-Eym4V_pLoacYZ9gleMAv955UE_MIHNh52makpvoUDY6hP1eAvP1sg/s320/0EE25F5E-EDFA-42C7-AAD3-ADDC7586016E_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFvbj-V_zfMFL9UyGRfmyU_Q7DCkoI2I-1YLWjK2m3SCNL2UTR8zPAA-5F3X0aGVjbakNakPlyUDoQT9U5Q8RAI5txVdB7lVihAuG-ncJQaqpGzE1WS1QUC4DaCN6724FCfs7gVTbSyY/s1802/91FEBC44-C427-4E64-8697-899FC8AD7882_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1781" data-original-width="1802" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFvbj-V_zfMFL9UyGRfmyU_Q7DCkoI2I-1YLWjK2m3SCNL2UTR8zPAA-5F3X0aGVjbakNakPlyUDoQT9U5Q8RAI5txVdB7lVihAuG-ncJQaqpGzE1WS1QUC4DaCN6724FCfs7gVTbSyY/s320/91FEBC44-C427-4E64-8697-899FC8AD7882_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />45mm diameter- Mosaic gold, filati, turquoise in sterling silver</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">$425 USD</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="mailto:margo@minervamosaics.com">Email to purchase</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Earlier this year, I had a career pinnacle moment when I took part in an exhibition in Paray le Monial, France with 11 other Canadian mosaic artists, hosted by the <a href="https://maisondelamosaique.org" target="_blank">Maison de la Mosaique Contemporaine</a>. Unlike many of the other exhibitions I've had a piece in before, this one was an invitational, and the exhibition was designed to showcase the best in Canadian mosaic making. I was incredibly honoured to be asked, and was amazed to find out that the exhibition was actually an historic event: never before had there been a mosaic exhibition held in Europe with no Europeans represented.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The "From Canada" exhibition had been scheduled for 2020, but for pandemic reasons, was moved to 2021. However, despite the large delay, none of the artists were able to attend the July exhibition opening in person, and so had to attend this massive career honour via Zoom. I felt very blessed to be one of the three out of the 12 of us artists who managed to get to the closing of the show in September. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Housed in Saint-Nicholas Tower, a former parish church first consecrated in 1535, the exhibition was absolutely stunning. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful presentation of all our work. In the center of town, it was obvious that there had been thousands of people who saw the work over the summer. It was such an experience, and such an honour!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4NdOuWivtLZB8ZJ7yMZv3TyFu0_db9h43rvKNY0vYB6wS4qEapBcQhc6mL_kfd1kNgKnnS1m7U6lrMcv8m7JbrfVZ1Brsmr5_8y0Wklh7f-ZsCZU51fZ-CnAAG48fXFqZ8TR1moG7A4/s4032/5E1AA7E9-EEBD-4EE3-B104-1C786FA7B79B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4NdOuWivtLZB8ZJ7yMZv3TyFu0_db9h43rvKNY0vYB6wS4qEapBcQhc6mL_kfd1kNgKnnS1m7U6lrMcv8m7JbrfVZ1Brsmr5_8y0Wklh7f-ZsCZU51fZ-CnAAG48fXFqZ8TR1moG7A4/w480-h640/5E1AA7E9-EEBD-4EE3-B104-1C786FA7B79B.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour Saint Nicholas, which housed the exhibition</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfY3JQcyM2dpDD95funslVHIVsXw3h1H91ejQNM-vlE-yfhjQJ3AjGrVN8CgFgmWvvNu-ESjxCyasfYRXxoZNuHq2ic4Zn1yQ9PvBwPotweFhfVygB5zvLpgIHd8_dvF1ixxGMFwge40/s4032/62C9C392-06AD-45E4-8167-D81537BA6FD9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfY3JQcyM2dpDD95funslVHIVsXw3h1H91ejQNM-vlE-yfhjQJ3AjGrVN8CgFgmWvvNu-ESjxCyasfYRXxoZNuHq2ic4Zn1yQ9PvBwPotweFhfVygB5zvLpgIHd8_dvF1ixxGMFwge40/w640-h480/62C9C392-06AD-45E4-8167-D81537BA6FD9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy artist in front of her wall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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Margo Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738508094316050447noreply@blogger.com0