I love taking photos like this one… When I don’t have to do ANY editing whatsoever, none. 🙂
Also, I totally like the orange theme! It seems that I am surrounded with it since I saw it everywhere when I read this week’s theme for DPchallenge.
Enjoy in my gallery of “orange” while I go and eat one 😎
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Orange you glad it’s photo challenge time?.”
This interview is the first one of my project of presenting young and talented people who make jewelry. It is bilingual what makes it unique here at my blog. First part is on Croatian and second on English.
Ovaj intervju je prvi u mom projektu predstavljanja talentiranih mladih ljudi koji izrađuju nakit. Prvi dio je na hrvatskom, a drugi na engleskom.
Bok Rafaela! Kao prvo, reci nam nešto više o sebi i čime se baviš?
Lijepi pozdrav svima. Studenica sam 5. godine na Muzičkoj akademiji, smjer Glazbena pedagogija. U slobodno vrijeme se bavim izradom nakita u svim mogućim tehnikama i od raznoraznih materijala, no nekako je moj zaštitni znak tkanina. Pogodna je za razna eksperimentiranja,“ frkanja“, slaganja – a to je upravo ono što volim kod nakita, da me već na prvi pogled baci u svijet mašte.
Što je sve “Paradaro modni dodaci”?
Paradaro je zapravo složenica nekoliko imena. Pa=Patricia – moja sestra, Ra=Rafaela – moja malenkost, Da=Damjan – moj brat, Ro=Romana – moja mama. Ime, kao što vidite, ima veliko značenje za mene jer se sastoji od gotovo svih meni najbitnijih ljudi u životu.
Ako pričamo o tome koji proizvodi sve čine Paradaro modne dodatke, lista je podugačka. Nakit od tkanine u obliku ogrlica, naušnica, narukvica, špangica, prstenčića, brošića – izrađenih na milijun i jedan način, zatim viseće naušnice od raznih materijala, isto tako zanimljive ogrlice od konopa, konca, perla, lanaca, oslikane tenisice za bebe i odrasle, oslikane majice, poseban božićni program u obliku vjenaca za vrata, adventskih vjenčića, unikatnih kuglica… Na mojem profilu na Facebook-u također objavljujem i radove svoje druge kreativne polovice, mojeg dečka, koji izrađuje kutije po željama te štrikane i heklane ljepote moje mame. Svi smo kreativni i obiteljski uživamo u svijetu mašte.
Kako si skupila hrabrost staviti svoje ime iza svojih radova? Mnogi kreativci i kreativke izrađuju i stvaraju pod pseudonimom…
Moje ime je zapravo dobro sakriveno unutar imena Paradaro – mislim da je zvučno i lako pamtljivo, iako je i moje osobno ime meni osobno jako lijepo i zvučno – hvala mami na tome. Moram priznati da me ljudi ponekad nasmiju kad recimo imam nagradnu igru na svojem profilu, pa se tu nađe svega, iako mi je najdraže PARADORO i pobjednik bez premca, PANDORIN modni nakit.
Što je bila PRVA stvar koju si napravila i koja je priča iza toga, za što je bila?
Prva stvar koju sam ikad napravila je bio broš koji je zapravo trebao biti cvijet koji bih nosila u kosi prilikom nastupa sa zborom. Prvotno sam cvijet išla tražiti po dućanima, no kad sam shvatila koliko je otužna i skupa ponuda, odlučila sam napraviti svoj prvi cvijet. On je još uvijek doma i ima svoje počasno mjesto – što u kutiji s nakitom, što u mome srcu jer je on preteča svega ovoga što je danas Paradaro. Sjećam se da sam ga radila satima i zaista je lijepo ispao, nešto za što bi i danas rekla da je stvarno lijepo, što nije slučaj sa svim mojim početničkim radovima.
Kako si odlučila izrađivanje proširiti i napraviti posao od toga? Gdje (ili kako) dobivaš inspiraciju za nove radove?
Moram priznati da su se ideje rađale same po sebi, bez nekog pritiska i sličnoga, jednostavno sam postepeno dolazila do potpuno novih i svježih ideja – to je ono najljepše u kreativnosti i mašti, nikada ne znaš gdje će te odvesti. Trenutno sam učlanjena u Udrugu Ružin Krug iz Vrbovca te na taj način dobivam razne korisne informacije i posjećujem sajmove. Inspiraciju pronalazim u raznim zanimljivim materijalima, a ponajviše u mojim izrazito maštovitim kupilicama koje mi uvijek predstave svoje zanimljive želje i ideje. Nemali broj puta baš iz njihovih ideja nastane kolekcija koja se dodatno razvija kako ju radim. Naravno, uvijek imenujem koja je to točno kupilica zaslužna za pojedinu ideju ili kolekciju jer se takve stvari moraju poštovati. Zahvalna sam što moje žene tako vjeruju u mene i svaki put mi predstave novi, još zanimljiviji zadatak ili ideju.
Vidjela sam tvoje vijence za Božić, izgledaju kao da treba puno vremena i posla oko njih. Koliko ti vremena treba za izraditi jedan?
Uuuuuuuf… Vjenčići su prvotno zaživjeli u mojoj glavi kao ideja, koju nisam ostvarila sve dok mi jednom prilikom moja buduća svekrva nije rekla da napravim nešto takvo. Dakle, može se reći da smo obje došle do te ideje te da me ona potaknula. Izrada takvih vjenčića je dugotrajna i osjetiljiva – pitajte moje prste kako se osjećaju kada ih zalijem finom količinom vrućeg ljepila – ali završni produkt je zaista predivan. Malo boli kad znaš da je to baš izvorno tvoja ideja i kad po Facebook-u počnu nicati pokušaji nečeg sličnog, ali nažalost tako je to uvijek bilo i bit će. Teško se s tim mirim, ali što je tu je.
Koji tvoj rad ima titulu tebi najdražeg? I zašto?
Obožavam raditi nakit za posebne trenutke, kao što su vjenčanja, maturalne, krstitke – za što imam poseban program trakica za curice… Općenito jako volim raditi stvarčice za djecu jer onda mogu totalno otpustiti dijete u sebi i raditi šareno, veselo i razigrano. Moram priznati, i sama rado nosim trakice koje bi obično trebale biti namijenjene za curice. 🙂
I za kraj, koja je najbolja stvar u vezi izrađivanja i prodavanja svojih radova, a koja najgora?
Najbolja stvar su moji divni, prekrasni kupci, poznanstva koja završe prijateljstvom – recimo, jednoj posebnoj ženi sam radila revere za vjenčanja pa sam tako završila kod nje na svadbi, pjevala joj Ave Maria u crkvi, a kasnije smo se svi jako dobro zabavili. Život je uistinu nepredvidljiv i može biti prekrasan, a upravo zato sam sretna što se bavim ovakvim poslom, koji zapravo nije posao već čisti užitak, jer uvijek naiđeš na divne ljude koji su ti spremni pružiti toplu riječ kad god trebaš. No, kako medalja uvijek ima dvije strane, ima i onih dana i ljudi zbog kojih privremeno zaboraviš sve ono lijepo. Od onih koji ne uplate naručen nakit, onih koji te zavlače danima pa sve do onih koji te besramno kopiraju, a prave ti se velikim prijateljima. Kako god da bilo, na kraju dana uvijek budem sretna i zahvalna na ovom daru kojeg imam, koji plaća moje račune, hrani me i oblači i zbog kojeg sam bogatija za bezbroj divnih iskustava. Zahvalna sam na svakoj divnoj poruci koju mi moji kupci upute u inbox, na svakoj riječi podrške, na svakoj kupnji. Zahvalna sam i Tebi jer si me zasad jedina odlučila intervjuirati i dati mi šansu da se predstavim široj publici.
Hvala tebi Rafaela i želim ti puno sreće u daljnjem radu!
Rafaelu i PARADARO možete naći na Facebooku – klikni OVDJE
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Hi Rafaela! First, tell us who are you and what are you creating?
Hello everyone. I am a student of Music Academy, currently on the fifth year, direction Musical pedagogy. In my frww time I am creating jewelry in all sorts of techniques and with different materials, with fabric being my trademark. It suits well for experimenting, twisting and folding – and that is what I like about making jewelry, that it throws me in the world of imagination.
What is „Paradaro Fashion Accessories“?
Paradaro is actually made from few names. Pa=Patricia – my sister, Ra=Rafaela –me, Da=Damjan – my brother and Ro=Romana – my mother. You see, the name has a great meaning to me because it is made up from almost all the people I care deeply about in my life.
If we’re talking about which products are Paradaro Fashion Accessories, then the list is long. Jewelry from fabric as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pins, rings and brooch – made in a million different ways, then earrings from other materials, interesting necklaces from ropes, treads, pearls, painted shoes for babies and grown-ups, painted shirts, specail Christmas assortment with wreaths for front doors, unique Christmas decorations… On my profile on Facebook I also publish the work of my boyfriend, my other creative half. He makes boxes by requests. And I share knitting and crocheted work my mum makes. We are all creative and we enjoy in the world of imagination.
Was it hard to put your name behind your work? Many of jewelry makers have pseudonyms…
My name is actually well hidden inside the Paradaro name – I think it sounds good and easy to remember, althought my name is also very pretty to me – thanks mum on that. I have to admit that people sometimes make me laugh when for example I have a giveaway on my profile, so you can find everything… My favorite is PARADORO and the winner, PANDORA’s fashion accessories.
What was the very first thing you made and for what?
The very first thing I have ever made was a brooch which was supposed to be a flower for me to wear in my hair on the performance with my quire. Originally, I went searching for the flower in the stores, but dissapointed with their offer I have decided to make my own first flower. It is still at home and it has a special place – in a jewelry box and in my heart because it is where everything started and the creation of Paradaro. I remember that I was making it for hours and it really turned out nice, something that is not the case with all my work at the beggining.
When did you decided to make something out of it? How (or where) do you get inspiration for new pieces?
I have to admit that the ideas were born by themselves, without any pressure. I just simply and gradually got to fresh and new ideas – that is the beautiful thing about being creative and imaginative, you never know where will you end up. I am currently in the Ružin Krug from Vrbovec and I get lots of interesting and usefull information from them. Also, i visit fairs. I find my inspiration in all sorts of interesting materials, and mostly in my incredibly imaginative buyers who always come to me with their whishes and ideas. Many times their ideas are the thing that starts a new collection which developes as I am working on it. Of course, I always name the buyer who gave me the idea for a piece or a collection because you have to respect that. I am grateful that my women (buyers) believe in me like they do and each time present me with new, even more interesting task or idea.
I have seen your Christmas wreaths , they look majestic and like a lot of work. How much time do you need to make one?
Uuuuuuuuf… Wreaths with flowers from fabric first came to life in my head as an idea, but I didn’t go throught with it until my future mother in law suggested that i should try to make something like that. So, you can say we both got the idea and she encouraged me. Making of this type of wreaths is long and sensitive – ask my fingers how they feel when I pour hot glue all over them – but the finished product is beautiful. It hurts a little when you know that the idea is originally yours and see something other people on Facebook doing something similar, but that will always happen. I have hard time dealing with it, but really can’t help it.
Which one of your pieces has the title of your favorite? Why?
I just love making jewelry for special occassions like weddings, proms and baptisms – for which I have special pieces for girls… In general, I just love making stuff for kids because then I can completely let go of the child in me and work colorful, happy and playful. I have to admit, I myself love to wear pieces like hair bands meant for little girls. 🙂
And the last question, can you tell me what is the best thing about making and selling your own accessories, and what is the worst?
The best thing are my beautiful buyers, acquaintances which end up as friendships – for example, I was making wedding pieces for a lovely lady and end up on her wedding singing Ave Maria in the church, and had fun later. Life is truly unpredictable and it can be beautiful, and that is the reason I am happy for doing this job which actually is not a job but pure pleasure, because I always come across amazing people who are willing to give you a kind word whenever you need. But there are days and people who make you forget the good stuff. From people who don’t pay what they have ordered, to the ones that stall you for days up to the ones who are shamelessly copying you, and they present themselves as big friends. Anyway, at the end of a day I am always happy and grateful on this gift I have, which is paying my bills, feed me and cloth me and beacuse of which I am richer for numberless wonderful experiences. I am grateful for every wonderful message that my buyers send in my inbox, on every word of support, on every sell. I am grateful to you too because for now, you are the only one who decided to interview me and give me the oportunity to present myself to a wider audience.
Thank you Rafaela and I wish you luck in your future work!
Copyright © 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this iterview can be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher.
It is May. I have to write this to remember it, because I am sitting at a laptop covered with my blanket while outside it is raining and wind is blowing so strong I hear the rumble and creaking of the windows and in the pipes…
And it is freaking cold!
But… The flowers I got as a present don’t mind any of that. They are blooming and defying the coldness. The fact that they are inside helps.
I hope you like a bit of pink in your life today.
I am feeling crafty and in a search for a project away from the computer. 🙂
This is a part of One Word Photo Challenge.
I wanted to do this post for two months now (?)… I don’t know. For a while. It was in my mind because I wanted to share with you some more of my photography not strictly related or encouraged with Weekly Challenges and because of the person who inspired me (and who I promised to) to put my focus on the theme of clouds.
I am always looking up. Not a surprise that I have been described as an idealist and a person who walks on clouds. Somewhat true, but wouldn’t it be amazing if one could actually walk on these beautiful, white, fluffy cotton-like shapes above us? If we could day-dream about being there, on top, bathed by sun when they are black and blocking sky view for days… If we could sneak in the middle of a storm and watch the lightnings beneath our feet?
Instead, growing up ruined our imagination by telling us that the clouds are just clusters of condesed water drops that float around, and like an air they disappear.
Sky, clouds, sun, moon and stars are my never-ending inspiration. Not two are the same; alike yes, but not the same.
Who is the person that inspired this post? Ben from Flights. Camera. Satisfaction. was among my first connections here when I made my blog. To be exact, he was the fourth person I followed – I checked. He is an amazing photographer and muy simpatico persona and I am very happy he got to use this platform to show off his work. He was a person behind one of our WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge theme, that just tells you how innovative and well adapted in the blogosphere he is and has really something to show. So, Ben, I am happy we connected. 🙂
All the photos have been minimally touched in the editing process. On some, I just added my blog name.
Paleo diet caught my attention recently when I came across an amazing blog with lots and lots and lots of recipes based on Paleo. I think this recipe is not from her blog, but she definitely got me interested. So I searched for more.
What is Paleo? I am to lazy to explain myself so I’m gonna let the internet do it for me:
“The Paleo Diet, the world’s healthiest diet, is based upon the fundamental concept that the optimal diet is the one to which we are genetically adapted.”
“The paleolithic diet is a modern nutritional plan based on the presumed diet of Paleolithic humans. It is based on several controversial premises, the most important of which are: first, that human genetics have scarcely changed since the dawn of agriculture, which marked the end of the Paleolithic era, around 15,000 years ago; second, that modern humans are adapted to the diet or diets of the Paleolithic period; and, third, that it is possible for modern science to discern what such diets consisted of.”
There. Basically, it is about avoiding food that has been processed like sugar and flour. For the record, I am not now convinced that I eat like my two-legged ancestors did, but this type of diet seems to me very healthy and – YUMMY! 🙂
You should just see what you can do with Paleo… I was exploring it a bit, always adding my own touch and that is what I like about it, you can do whatever you want. You can play with Paleo but still keep your favorite food and you can go full Paleo hardcore and eat only approved food. Your choise. The whole experience is weird for me because:
A) I don’t like cooking
B) My family loved it and quickly adopted some meals and some were eating something they hate differently cooked.
Yaay!
Ok, so about this snack I made. Well that’s a lie, I didn’t make it alone, but ok, I made it. 🙂
It is Paleo based recipe with bread – forbidden in Paleo diet. Ugh, I hate the word DIET because it is not a diet but just different way of preparing meals and eating different groceries what we don’t eat normally.
I always add something that is forbidden on Paleo list, like potatoes or bread, which makes my meals Paleo-ish. 🙂
What I did for this snack that I was thrilled with and eat my part in 5 minutes humming at the same time b/c of how delicious it was?
Here:
Ingredients: 6 eggs Process: Boil the eggs. How many eggs will you make depends on how much you’re going to eat. 🙂 Keep adding mayonnaise (or tartar) until you have enough stuffing for all eggs. Put the bacon or salami (or meat) previously cut into squares in the mix and put in the albumen. Grab few slices of bread if you want to, we bought black bread with seeds. I added on the side few big spoons of yoghurt with some oregano on top and it was super delicious!Paleo eggs with stuffing
mayonnaise (quantity per wish)
tartar sos (quantity per wish)
some type of salami or meat or sausage or bacon
red pepper powder
bread
When done, remove the shell and cut in half. Carefully remove the yolk in a plate or container. We divided three yolks into one container, three in other because we wanted to make one stuffing with tartar sauce and one with mayonnaise. So, put the mayonnaise (or tartar sauce) with yolk and mix with spoon. Add a little bit of salt, and a little bit of red pepper powder. Taste to see if it is salty enough.
That’s it! Enjoy! ❤
This is an entry for Fiesta Friday!
I had to do this today too… Mostly because I said I would post it on Saturday, thought I would do it on Sunday and well…it’s already Monday. Monday, Bloody Monday.
As most of you already know, my birthday was two week’s ago (for those of you who don’t, check out the challenge we did on the right – in sidebar). And I wanted to celebrate it with a cake, since I haven’t made (had) a cake for my birthday… Well… …..since… I don’t know. Long time ago. So, I wanted a Ferrero cake, which is not a surprise if you have been reading stuff about me which I have to write when I get an award – talking about this. Yes. The very demanding and very delicious Ferrero cake it was.
I had to borrow two extra pair of hands (kisses!) or I wouldn’t have made it in such sort time before the get-together.
I will write down a recipe, as soon as I translate it on English.
After two or three hours (I lost track of time) it looked like this. If you’re wondering – it tasted heavenly. 😀 The biscuit was soft because of the warm milk I poured on it when it was baked and the filling was from mostly Nutella. And.. Nutella. That needs no explaining. 🙂 If you’re thinking: “Hey Iva, why is the last one with candles on just one piece?” That is because when I remembered to take a picture of the cake with candles, that was actually all that was left of the cake. 😉
Update! Recipe:
For the biscuit:
2 glasses of sugar (I used a glass that contains 2,5 dL)
1 glass of rough flour
1 glass of smooth flour
½ of baking powder
1,5 spoon of baking soda (bicarbonate)
¾ glass of cocoa (with no sugar)
1 vanilla sugar
2 eggs
1 glass of milk
½ glass of hot water
For when the biscuit is baked:
½ glass of boiled milk cooled down
mixed with 2 spoons of sweet cocoa
For the cream:
400 grams of Nutella
500 grams of mascarpone cheese (I used whey b/c it’s cheaper)
200 grams of toasted hazelnuts
8 big cookies with hazelnut, we have Napolitanke and they look like this:
Process:
Mix the yolk from 2 eggs with sugar, pour the milk while mixing and then pour in the hot water. Mix the albumen separately until it is like whipped cream and add to the mixture slowly mixing with spoon, not with electric machine. Put in the oven, preheated to 180 Celsius and bake approximately 40 minutes. You can check with a toothpick when the biscuit is done, just put the toothpick in and if nothing stays on it – it is done.
Cool the biscuit down and cut it in half.
Now, the cream. First, take the skin of the hazelnuts by warming them in hot water (if desired) and fry them just a little in a pan. Mill the cookies and hazelnuts with a machine or a mixer. I left 50 grams of hazelnuts for the decoration on top. Mix all the ingredients together. Divide in thirds – 1/3 for the first layer, 1/3 for the second and the rest for all around the cake.
Put the first half of biscuit in mold again so it would not soften and lose texture because now you will pour the milk with sweet cocoa over it, to make it juicy. I turned it upside down because it is more straight from the bottom. Pour just how much milk you think it needs, and don’t forget that you need the same amount for the second half. Put the cream on the first half. Put the second half of biscuit on top and repeat pouring the cocoa and milk mixture on. Now put the second layer of cream on. You can remove the mold and start applying the rest of the cream all around the cake. I had some leftover, but it quickly vanished. 😉
I have decorated the top with the ground hazelnuts I have left aside for that purpose and with few of Ferrero Rocher’s bought in store.
Bon Appetit! Dobar tek!
This is an entry for Fiesta Friday!
For This week’s challenge Reflection I also had an entry created for the challenge Perspective, so lets have fun!
I had a lot of fun with perspective theme. they should have made it monthly 😦
Week passed too fast. Was it last week? Or week before that?
I don’t know, I was busy with…you know, life. 😀 And Iva’s ABC… I mean, that was super important. 😉
Aaaaaanyhow. I managed to do what I wanted today. So, join me!
See the photo above? Beach, shell… Nice, right?
Except it’s not! Haha!
It is this:
Ok… Moving on… More fun awaits. 😀
Fun little gathering of teddy bears and stuffed animals? Yeah, they look so fluffy… (Do not count how many fluffy animals I own, and no, they are not only mine.)
But!
We have an intruder!
Ok, you are probably getting good at this. So lets spice it up a bit.
Awwww… So nice. The sea at night and boats are in the harbour. Lucky me for being there.
Except!
I was not!
Surprise:
And what is in the featured photo?
I’m gonna let you guess… And then post the answer. Because that’s how I roll. 😎
I was busy busy busy in the holidays, as everyone else. And I had a plan to post some things on blog which I managed, but I did not had time to properly sit down and go through my Christmas photos. Especially the decorations I made! I posted about amazing Do It Yourself ideas for the holidays…and I have tried one! 🙂 – The rose from orange/clementine one, of course, hehe.
It ended up being very easy to make so we continued to make them for decoration even after Xmas. And by “we continued making them” I meant that I forced everyone to peel oranges like this. Poor people. 😀
I love how this decoration is visually very appealing with its bright orange color, plus the scent of freshly peeled orange fills the space… I recommend using it while the orange season is still here.
I know you are dying to see how I incorporated peeled oranges into decorations for holidays, so I’ll grant your wish. 😉
My oh, my… Is this perfect for this week’s theme or what? I have been taking the same photo to make a ful circle of four seasons, and now I have a trio. Just waiting for the fourth photo, waiting for spring. 😉
Bigger photos:
Finally! I have been waiting for snow through November, December, holidays…. 😦 Then, the weather reports said it will snow on 16th. it didn’t. So, this time they announced it, I was sceptical.
But, on the friday morning (24th) I woke up to some rain/snow, and from the photo collage above – you can see how it progressed. 
The photos are taken in few hours of difference and that’s what makes it so amazing to me. How snow in just a few hours can change everything. From the traffic, scenery to the general mood.
The day started as nothing special and ended in having so much snow for an army of snowmen to be made. And we do take our possibilities seriously!! 😀 Snowman has been made and he stood proud for a day among other snowmen made that day and one dick. I am sorry, despite the snowmen, my blog is not for children. 😉
I hope you will enjoy the gallery of my photos from friday and saturday as much as I enjoyed making them. I’m sending love and snowflakes 🙂 ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅
Loving Iva | Liberating My Creative Soul 