I’m feeling wonderful! I’ve enjoyed life at a much slower pace this past month or so. Now that I no longer have to create so many artworks for next season, I have more time to spend on the other things I enjoy doing, whilst living on Crete. Much as I love making my Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings, I’m also loving that there’s no pressure anymore. In November I only completed 2 artworks, to replace those I sold on Etsy. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings
Excited to be Planning My Winter On Crete
This is the time of year for reflecting on the busy summer season I’ve just had and looking forward to all the joys that the winter brings into my wonderful life. I love the winters here on Crete as much as I do the summers. It always seems as though summer finishes and winter begins in such a few short days. The temperatures have dropped from the mid 30’s consistently through the summer months, to the now much more comfortable early 20’s. The heat saps your energy but now I’ve been feeling all my energy returning and I am enjoying making plans for all the amazing adventures I will have.
So here I am..sitting on my amazing balcony, writing up this post. For me it is the perfect climate up here, calm and comfortably warm. When you live in hot temperatures for so many months, you start to crave days like this. And thank goodness we have them! The change is utterly refreshing and more than welcome! These temperatures are perfect for being outdoors. I live amongst all the beautiful nature I could wish for and still after 15 years, I am always blown away with the sheer experience of it all. I never forget how lucky I am…
I am thrilled to share that I’ve had yet another successful season of selling from my stall and display by Almyrida beach. Considering all the days I missed, I am more than pleased to have sold 139 Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings to tourists and visitors to Crete. This is more than enough for me now.. as I strengthen my resolve in continuing to create more balance in my life. Less hours creating my artworks and more free time to travel and explore my awesome environment. I simply can’t do this if I am working all winter. Albeit such pleasant work… it’s time for a change. However, I can’t ever forget that without my Art, I would never have experienced these wonderful 15 years. Selling my Seashell Mosaic artworks has enabled me to live a simple yet most wonderful life here on Crete.

Tropical Goldfish in Seashell Mosaic Collage Painting – 20x20cms, sold from my beach stall in September
For the last two weeks the sea has been so rough that it again flooded the centre of Almyrida. This coincided with my last couple of selling days. Last week I set up at a different place further along the edge of the beach, for more shelter from the wind. I noticed the seawater some distance away but didn’t imagine it would get any worse and it was far enough from me not to be a concern. Or so I thought… Within the space of two hours the water had reached my table and display boards. I packed up as fast as I could and pitched up again in my usual spot. I have never set up twice in one day! But back where I felt comfortable – I sold well and instantly all the effort was worthwhile.
During these past weeks I have enjoyed some lovely days out with Debbie at Stavros, Kissamos and Skaleta. These wonderful days were a mixture of beach relax, some seashell collecting and lots of exploring on foot. We’d take our little low deckchairs, a parasol (if it wasn’t too windy to put up) and our rucksacks. Late afternoon we’d go and find a nice taverna to eat and then round up the day with a long last walk on the nearest beach. Perfect!
This week I went on the first walk of the season with David’s group. We walked all around the outskirts of Kournas village. We were quite a large group of about 15 and so I was mostly chatting with people I’d not seen since last April. We had a really nice lunch afterwards, at a traditional taverna in Kournas village.
I have really enjoyed some fun nights out with friends. There have been the usual live music gigs at Vangeli’s and a party at Nikita’s. I have also enjoyed spending time with my Norwegian friend Solveig, who joined us at some of the music nights in Vangeli’s, as well as keeping me company sometimes on my selling days, like Lisa does after work on Mondays. Other people I know sometimes sit down to join me for a chat and it’s part of the socialising I do on my selling days .
I was also thrilled to meet up with a wonderful family I first met at least 12 years ago, through my Art. They have been consistently good customers and have become special friends too. It’s been at least three years since I’ve been able to meet Paul, Sheila, John and Adelle and so it was a delight to catch up with them again, over drinks on my balcony followed by lunch at Elpis in Plaka village.
I recently helped move Lisa to a new apartment in Neo Chorio. The place is lovely but needed a deep and thorough clean before she could move in. So I picked Debbie up one Saturday morning and Lisa collected Solveig and between the 4 of us we got her new home shipshape. After working tirelessly for over 4 hours, we packed up and went straight to the large main taverna in Armenoi, for a much needed late lunch and refreshments. But from the moment she moved in, Lisa has had problems with the electricity supply. It was cut off due to unpaid bills. It’s a long story ..yet she is still without electricity – despite the bills having since been paid. Poor Lisa… it’s not easy living here without electricity and she has all my sympathies. Yesterday she stopped by mine for a cuppa after work and explained the latest about the situation. Luckily I remembered my power pack. The one I used to extend the life of my portable fan during the hot selling days by the beach. It is perfect for extending the life of her iphone. I am just pleased that I could help.
In the here and now, I am wrapping up this post so that I can continue my plans for another awesome winter on this beautiful Island of Crete. I continue to live my life to the full… It brims over with all the things I love doing and I am never ever bored. What a wonderful life!
Hottest Summer on Record For Greece and the Islands!
Since my last post it has continued to remain extremely hot here on Crete. Although other islands, including the mainland, have suffered even higher temperatures – Crete’s have hovered around the mid 30’s for what seems like forever! It is officially the hottest summer on Greece’s meteorological records. From my point of view, this being my 16th consecutive summer on Crete, I have certainly found it to be the most consistently hot one I’ve ever experienced. It is, of course, absolutely fine if you are on holiday here, but it’s a different story when you have to live and work in it. Continue reading
A Hot Month For Temperatures & Sales
June turned out to be a very hot month with temperatures exceeding all records. I usually set up my beach stall twice a week – weather permitting. But during a heatwave, when the cooling breezes are just not there – I stay away! In contrast I have recently missed another selling day because it was just too windy! Yet despite only selling on 6 days, sales figures for June have been the highest since 2015 and I sold a total of 29 Seashell Mosaic Collage Paintings. Continue reading
Creating Special Memories With My Family in Spain and in Yorkshire
I had the best time in Spain with my siblings, Karen and Mark and Brother-in-law Mike. We spent 8 days of pure quality time at Karen and Mike’s wonderful villa in Algorfa. This really was a special time for all of us. Karen and I used to holiday once a year with our sister Leonie and our Mum. Sadly we lost both our sister and Mum in 2017 and 2019 respectively and so I have not had this kind of holiday since 2017. Continue reading
More Day Trips Exploring the Stunning Coastlines of Crete
As is usual, these past four months I have put many long hours into creating my stock for summer 2024. In this short time I cannot possibly produce the volume of artworks I sell during the summer months. I endeavor to make the more time-consuming and difficult designs in the winter and the smaller, simpler designs I can replicate in between and during selling days. I can certainly work mosaic whilst at my beach stall but I cannot paint or do any sand work because it is often too windy, too hot or both. Continue reading
Beachcombing Season Off to a Great Start in 2024
The weather for the remainder of January was mostly fine, sunny and warm and so my beachcombing season has started with much enthusiasm. Having said that though, Debbie and I were disappointed to find very little at Georgioupoli in January. However I did stock up on the specific small flat grey pebbles which I use for the walls and steps in my cat designs. Last summer alone I sold 25 of them! Continue reading
Spending Time with Visiting Friends and Making Some New Ones!
I am sitting comfortably on my balcony writing up this post and reflecting on these past weeks. It’s the middle of October and it’s a gloriously sunny and warm day. October appears to be making up for the disappointing weather we had in September, as it has been like this for most of the time so far. During September I had 2 ‘no sales’ days because of the weather. On one particular day I went down to set up my stall only to find the sea had flooded the centre of Almyrida! Consequently and for various other reasons, September sales were as disappointing as the weather. Continue reading
August is Always a Good Month for Sales
We have been very lucky not to have experienced any further serious heatwaves since I last wrote in this blog. I know other parts of Europe and particularly Spain, have suffered with very high temperatures during August. For the most part though, I have been comfortable on my selling days at the edge of Almyrida beach and this is all due to the constant breezes coming off the sea. Continue reading
The New Norm – Learning to Cope With Frequent Heatwaves
We are in the middle of a heatwave being experienced all over Europe and other parts of the world. It seems to be dragging on and on… My heart goes out to all the people and wildlife affected by the wildfires raging across the Greek islands and other parts of the world. Sadly this is going to be normal from now on, as the direct consequences of mankind’s total abuse of our planet and world governments’ refusal to do anything or make the necessary changes – despite knowing about climate change for many many years. Continue reading