Happy Easter !

Miniature Woven Cerpet

Lebanon- is a sovereign state in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus is west across the Mediterranean Sea. More : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon

 Many thanks to Bilal ;)

Old Ladies in the Paintings of Inge Löök

Inge Löök is an illustrator and a gardener who was born in 1951 in Helsinki, Finland. Currently she is living and working in Pernaja, Finland. Her amazing illustrations are mainly inspirations from her own life or surroundings. Till date she has added 36 different paintings of the aunties. Have a mesmerizing look at Reckless Old Ladies in the Paintings of Inge Löök and get inspired.It was in the mid-70s that Inge Löök started working both as a graphic artist and as a gardener. At the same time, she started illustrating books and other printed material as a freelancer for various employers. Today, she feels that her drawing requires the gardening tasks to balance her every day life. When it rains and it’s dark outside it feels fine to stay inside, but not when the sun shines and it’s warm. Everything in life is about balance. It’s a great joy and fortune to do what one really enjoys. http://www.ingelook.com/

Pliant-wood bookmark "My fox"

                                                           
With a book one can escape easily, without running away, just as with music. Whereever You are. Inbetween of light pages awaiting bookmark is like a wood-scented ticket to some hidden place, to some slower time. Your fingertips follow it and suddenly You appear somewhere else, reading under a tree on a hill high above the sinking valleys or maybe somewhere in the lowlands, among verdure close to a sage. Where is safe. Whereever You want it to be.

Small wooden gifts with cosy feeling from Lithuania :)

Pliant-wood bookmark "Incantation for life to return"

With a book one can escape easily, without running away, just as with music. Whereever You are. Inbetween of light pages awaiting bookmark is like a wood-scented ticket to some hidden place, to some slower time. Your fingertips follow it and suddenly You appear somewhere else, reading under a tree on a hill high above the sinking valleys or maybe somewhere in the lowlands, among verdure close to a sage. Where is safe. Whereever You want it to be.

Small wooden gifts with cosy feeling from Lithuania :)
 http://etnodesign.eu/en 

Art deco

Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Masterpieces of Russian painting. The State Tretyakov Gallery.

The State Tretyakov Gallery possesses a unique collection of Russian art which includes masterpieces which span a period of a thousand years.

The Gallery was founded by a Russian merchant and patron of the arts Pavel Tretyakov. He donated his collection to the city of Moscow in 1892. The State Tretyakov Gallery has since become a world-famous museum. Nowadays it contains more than 170,000 works by Russian artists from early religious paintings to modern art.

Kramskoy, Ivan Nikolayevich
An Unknown Lady

 The viewer is intrigued both by the model and her name. We see here depicted a young woman in a carriage against the background of the Anichkov Palace in St Petersburg. The woman is not particularly beautiful but she is impressive and “chic.” Her costume corresponds to the latest fashion of the time and indicates that she belonged to the “ladies of the demi-monde.” Not without reason the critics called her “the coquette in a carriage,” “the dear camellia” and “one of the offspring of big cities.” Kramskoi emphasizes a certain demonism in his heroine’s features - the sensuous lips; eyes that seem to be hazy, under a veil, thick eyebrows forming a broken arc. The topic of the beauty of sin became fashionable among the next generation of Russian artists. The painting is unusually bright, densely painted, and relaxed. Kramskoi clearly tried to shine with his outstanding painterly mastery.

Shishkin, Ivan Ivanovich
Morning in a Pine Wood

The Morning in a Pine Forest turned very popular, being reproduced on various items, including the "Clumsy Bear" chocolates by Krasny Oktyabr. According to one poll, the painting is the second most popular in Russia behind Bogatyrs by Viktor Vasnetsov. Shishkin's similar paintings are the Forest in Spring (1884) and The Sestroretsk Forest (1896).

Vasnetsov, Viktor Mikhaylovich
Heroes (Bogatyri)

Having revived the images of Old Russia's legendary defenders, mighty in their spiritual power, such as Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich, Vasnetsov attempted at the turn of the 20th century to bridge the heroic past of the Russian people and its great future. Concrete as the images might be, the heroes are seen as a mythical epitome of the creative power of the Russian land. Mighty figures on horseback rise like mountains or colossal trees. The hooves of the heroes's horses tread on fragile young growth of fir and pine trees: a metaphor for intergenerational continuity. By turning to a pictoral hyperbole, Vasnetsov imparts to his heroes true qualities of Russian nature. Ilya Muromets epitomizes solidity, wise deliberate ways and tapping of experience and traditions of the people. Proud fighting spirit and desire to defend the motherland are embodied in Dobrynya Nikitich. And the image of Alyosha Popovich reflects a poetical, contemplative streak of the Russian soul, sensitivity to all manifestations of beaut.

Serov, Valentin Aleksandrovich
The rape of Europa

 The rape of Europa is a popular theme in global art. The story is borrowed from Ancient Greek mythology. Europa is the daughter of Phoenician king Agenor. Having turned into a bull, the king of gods Zeus abducted beautiful Europa. The work is produced under the impression of the artist's trip to Greece. Serov turned to monuments of Crete-Mycenaean culture, introducing into the picture's imagery a vessel in the shape of a bull head from the smaller palace in Knossos on the island of Crete, fresco paintings from the Knossos palace with the motif of flying fish and other monuments of the archaic period. Serov draws a comparison between the academic image of antiquity and archaic Antiquity. A unique treatment is also evident in the interpretation of the theme: the rushing forward bull turns back against its will: the uncouth abductor of beauty has underrated her power. Serov's Europa, unlike the frightened heroines of works by old masters, is self-composed. She has a perfectly symmetrical face of Greek Persephone; she embodies the perfection triumphant. The bull's horns take on the shape of a lyre, whose invisible strings seem to give voice to the sky and the sea.

 Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Cast iron pot with a spoon

 

In the Ancient Russia usually lunch was served on the table in the common dish - in poorer families were simple clay pots or cast iron boilers, and in the noble houses - beautiful clay and metal dishes. The peasant huts during dinner the whole family gathered around a large pot of porridge or soup. Serve each separate bowl was not accepted.

 

Russian culture is very rich in various traditional crafts. Many of them are associated with the production of an unusual and very beautiful dishes. For example, for many centuries throughout Russia is famous for the famous Khokhloma painting. This dish is made of wood, and then painted with four colors: black, red, yellow and green. Skilled craftsmen bring to the bowls, cups, spoons, and other products of the finest designs. From under their brushes out unusual flowers, red berries, unusual birds.

  

Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Shalom

Shalom is a common Jewish word. This greeting and literally means peace for you. The word can be used to mean hello and goodbye.

Israel is a sovereign state in Western Asia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel

 Many thanks to my friend Hazel :)

Saint Petersburg

reverse side

Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг) is the second largest city in Russia. It is politically incorporated as a federal subject (a federal city). It is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. It was named Saint Petersburg in 1703. In 1914 the name of the city was changed from Saint Petersburg to Petrograd (Russian: Петрогра́д;), in 1924 to Leningrad (Russian: Ленингра́д), and in 1991, back to Saint Petersburg. In Russian literature, informal documents, and discourse, the word "Saint" is usually omitted, leaving "Petersburg". In casual conversation Russians may drop the "burg" as well, referring to it as "Peter": Russian: Питер (Piter).

 Saint Petersburg is often[quantify] described as the most Westernized city of Russia, as well as its cultural capital. It is the northernmost city in the world with a population of over one million.The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint Petersburg is home to The Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world.A large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks, and businesses have offices in Saint Petersburg. More...

 Many thanks to my friend Inna :)

Beautiful :)

Distaff

Shapely the paper bookmark with nationally symbolic carvings, and a white card, which will be able to write a greeting or greeting a fellow, and maybe the most meaningful to write down a quote or slogan.

 

Distaff  is a tool used in spinning. It is designed to hold the unspun fibers, keeping them untangled and thus easing the spinning process. It is most commonly used to hold flax, and sometimes wool, but can be used for any type of fiber. Fiber is wrapped around the distaff, and tied in place with a piece of ribbon or string. The word comes from dis in Low German, meaning a bunch of flax, connected with staff.
A spindle is a straight spike usually made from wood used for spinning, twisting fibers such as wool, flax, hemp, cotton into yarn. It is often weighted at either the bottom, middle, or top, commonly by a disc or spherical object called a whorl, but many spindles exist that are not weighted by a whorl, but by thickening their shape towards the bottom, such as Orenburg and French spindles. The spindle may also have a hook, groove, or notch at the top to guide the yarn. Spindles come in many different sizes and weights depending on the thickness of the yarn one desires to spin.

Spindles, or rather distaff, have become one of the Lithuanian folk characters. Various their writings, carvings surprising creativity and ingenuity. When the sun almost all cultures assumes particular importance. Lithuanians also prayed it, revered. Various wayside shrines and monuments are often decorated with old-fashioned sun motif. Lithuanian folklore sun often personified.

Saraswati.Bookmark in 24 Karat Gold-Plating

Bookmark Luxe by Anand Prakash. “Luxe” is a limited edition of chic and trendy range of stationery, invitations, gift bags, journals, recipe books, gift boxes, letter writing sets, scrapbooks, photoalbums, telephone diaries and business cards.  Each piece is handcrafted from recycled brass metal and is avant garde in its look and feel.  All items can be customized as per your specifications.
 https://www.facebook.com/anandprakash.page


Saraswati  is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning.She is a part of the trinity of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. All the three forms help the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to create, maintain and regenerate-recycle the Universe respectively.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a goddess is in Rigveda. She has remained significant as a goddess from the Vedic period through modern times of Hindu traditions. Some Hindus celebrate the festival of Vasant Panchami (the fifth day of spring) in her honour,and mark the day by helping young children learn how to write alphabets on that day.The Goddess is also revered by believers of the Jain religion of west and central India, as well as some Buddhist sects.
Saraswati who is revered as a goddess of knowledge, music and arts is also found outside Nepal and India, such as in Japan, Vietnam, Bali (Indonesia) and Myanmar. More...

 Many thanks to my friend Aurelija :)

Paris

Many thanks to my friend Marina :)

Golden feather

Golden feather is a symbol of honor and respect .

Many thanks to my friend Marina :)