As the weather cools here...and having a few short minutes this morning...I did a little "autumn change". Would love to know what you all think about the new Laura Fair home page...
I journeyed recently to attend Tendence, the international trade show for home furnishings, decor, and gifts in Frankfurt, Germany. And I mean journeyed...planes, trains, automobiles, buses and trams for that matter to reach my destination, but all worth it. Having gone to scout for trends and fabulous new products from companies all over the world, it was also a great excuse to catch up with good friend, Tracy, of the magazine Home Accents Today. To give you an idea of what we saw...here is a copy of a 2007 article she penned on the show.
I am always struck by how I feel in different countries after living in Italy for the last 6 1/2 years. I was surprised to note that I felt no attachment to Germany...at least not in that way I feel for Italy. Of course, the bustling city of Frankfurt is the polar opposite to my little town in the Italian countryside, but nonetheless, European all the same. I will say that Frankfurt has some fabulous shopping, quaint streets and restaurants, a beautiful waterfront, and we even stumbled upon a street food fair. Not a bad way to spend a weekend...even if work was involved...and always better to step away with some inspiration to boot.
A walk in a sunflower field with girasoli bigger than my head; an international gathering of friends for a wine tasting...rose', syrah, sangiovese, merlot, cabernet; a sunset drive across the valley with fresh breezes in my hair; an extravagant festival dinner celebrating the frog...yes, I ate them again this year; playing a game simply to donate to children only to win a leather jacket and a turquoise blouse; the freshest pistachio gelato; a short visit with my puppies...who are not so much anymore after a year; fifteen cinghiale, wild boar...mamme bambini babbi; rounding the corner of our driveway to see yet another two little ones; a midnight snack with our two toddler falcons...yes, another story I have yet to tell you. Where I live...anything seems possible...just look at what can occur after 6:00 in the evening on a random Venerdi, Friday. Too good to be true. As my sister so wisely said to me...time to get out the gratitude journal...and oh how grateful I am to soak up every minute, be able to write about it, and savor the memories in low times.
My first official day at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market has come to an end. Oh what a day it was...packed to the gills with meetings, dreaming of new product, seeing old friends, catching up, and of course checking out the new Laura Fair product launches! These little message boards are from Lone Elm Studios and come in 3 styles complete with little silver birdie magnets...aren't they cute?
We stole away...for a very short trip to the seaside...al mare. It was everything I wanted in a little place that has not changed since the 1940's. A little place that had its heyday in the 1920's. Imagine cabana boys and cocktails and colorful umbrellas and bikinis and long lazy afternoons on the terrace and mellow nights full of sea breezes and huge plates of mussels. As if you could not tell...I cherished every minute of the sweet time away...however brief it was.
I have been looking through my photos today and it dawned on me...some incredible images have been caught by my camera, but they are not making here for you all to see. For one reason or another, time, etc. I have not had the chance to post them. I decided some photos are just too beautiful to be kept to myself and don't even need an explanation. This has brought me to the idea to pledge to post an image every week with or without description just to give you an even better idea of the day to day life. Holding myself to posting weekly is going to be interesting...but here's to the start of "daily life".
As I promised...here is a glimpse of those fields a fire in which I spoke earlier. Ohhh those papaveri, poppies, beauteous aren't they?
Fortunate enough to chaperone una gita, field trip, with my little ones from school, I was led by the fabulous MAEC: Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca in Cortona through the ancient Etruscan tombs that surround our town. Something a select few get to experience I must say.
I got the chance to enter the super secret room where those very shards found are painstakingly piece together to make history. And the bronze cast jewelry. Absolutely fascinating, almost life changing, as I had brief dreams of throwing away the design career and becoming an archaeologist.
But you all know...that would never happen, but knowing the influence and inspiration is not very far away is great.
Over the past month or so, I have been very concentrated on growing and promoting Laura Fair by getting all LinkedIn and facebooked up that a short time ago, I truly felt the need to unplug...to take care of those bits of me that need to breathe fresh air, pick up a paint brush, live outdoors with the puppies, go for lazy drives, take pictures, all to be inspired to design even more. To top it off, we have been absolutely blessed with an unbelievable Spring...I should even say Summer as the temperatures are nearing heights we normally feel in June...so that I have done just that for a while...unplugged. Thus to indulge myself with a little computer time, and to celebrate my 2 year anniversary of sharing on this blog...here is a little glimpse into the last month...
March brought us a feeling of May...a blessing for my creativity I must say. I highly recommend a little unplug every once in a while and I promise I will be back soon, as I still have many things to share with you...but for now...it is time for me to get back out and play!
Big Al already has "Surf's Up" (above) on order...cannot wait to see it in his little room. For those of you heading to the High Point Furniture Market this weekend...be sure to stop by the showroom for a look in person. They will be in Showplace space 3515.
Do you ever get to the point where you cannot turn on the news for fear there will be yet another heartbreaking story to be heard? This past week has been a killer for me...so much devastation, so many tears, so much concern for the future, and wondering...what can I do about it? What an inspiration the people of Japan have been for me, for all of us. A deep and profound reminder to get out of my own head and start living with the compassion in my heart.
A poppy mix of floral beaded designs debuting with Golden Rabbit enamelware this season...my Laura Fair Ashbury Collection...designed with the trendiest colors of the moment, turquoise and green with a touch of honeysuckle pink.
And as luck would have it...look how great the NEW Ashbury dinnerware harmoniously coordinates with the Blue and Green Spring Damask patterns. Look out for the Laura Fair dinnerware in specialty boutiques starting in April.
Primavera is approaching...the almonds are blooming...the sky is clear...the birds are chirping (including the pheasant perched on the table in the front yard)....this happens every March, Marzo, here in Tuscany. We experience the most beautiful touch of glorious Spring.
If you know me, you know that I was completely against facebook when it was first launched. I had many friends asking me to join...I always said a very firm "no"...why would I want to put my life out on the internet? But then, slowly slowly, I found that my friends were not sending as many emails as before, or were not calling me as much. I was totally out of the loop and could not understand why...that is, until I joined facebook. Now I not only use it almost daily to find out the current gossip and even weather in Georgia and beyond, but it makes me feel closer to my roots. I love seeing faces from all parts of my life on a daily basis, learning what everyone is up to, and keeping abreast of all my favorite people and products out there in the world.
While I am oh so patiently waiting on the paint to dry for one of my newest Laura Fair projects...I thought I would learn a new word in Italian so that I might write a little update on the last weeks here...fanciullezza or infanzia...childhood...as in reliving one's. 
Yes, I went to the circo, circus! And I saw camels, goats, yaks, horses, zebras, lasso toting cowboys, showgirls, magic, clowns, and even an elephant. I ate popcorn and cotton candy and laughed and clapped and whistled and sat in awe with my mouth open wide. And the dachshunds...just another of my adventures...to a dog show where you can only imagine the sounds of all the little yippee dogs and the smells of the big ones...hee hee. 
We drove over the mountain to the tiny hamlet of Pierle to attend services honoring this former hermit made saint. The little church was packed to the gills with people who came from miles around to honor him. Even the high priest from La Cattedrale di San Donato in Arezzo was in attendance.
(A little comment...I did order roasted sea bass for lunch and had nary a problem with the bones...I had to giggle a bit when I thought about the coincidence, but note that I am a believer.)
Home again. There is always a reentry I must go through when returning from the US to Italy. An adjustment of sorts. Language changes, weather changes, food changes, hour changes, you get the picture. I have no idea if this happens to others who share their lives between two different countries...but a metamorphosis of sorts must occur with me to get back on track.
Nephew Big Al is continuing to grow and now walk and even talk...is a one year old supposed to do this? My sister and her husband hosted our Christmas to perfection with family meal traditions and "Flo stockings"...thanks you two. I traveled around the Carolinas searching for mountains and snow...as you all may know, it was not all that hard to find. I rang in the new year with crostini, rose spumante, and a dance party. I swam with sharks and brightly colored things...or at least I had the sensation. I braved the cold for my special Laura Fair reception at one of my favorite places on the Savannah River, the Morris Museum of Art. I was so happy to see old friends and new faces and to meet some amazing children...I should say teenagers...who blew me away with their confidence and grace (and even called me ma'am!) I fell down...twice to be exact, in the treacherous ice storm of 2011 in Atlanta...and nervously drove through it to make client meetings. All worth it as good things are coming down the line amici...I am beyond happy with the results and will update you on new product soon. Now I am back to it...refreshed and revived with ideas and inspiration...of course some walks through the countryside did not hurt either.
I am so happy to tell you all about something really special. I have been meaning to mention it for a while now, but my holiday goodness got in the way. Now that the new year has begun, it is time to get back into the swing of things.
Happy New Year, Buon Anno a tutti...I hope that all of you had a very festive holiday! Just in time to assist me in my battle with writing 2011 instead of 2010, here is a little peek at our new Laura Fair Perpetual Calendars with matching Month and Day Patterned Glass Magnets debuting for January 2011! They are made of antiqued metal and come in a box set in two coordinating colors. Shown above is the celery green version, and there is also one in turquoise blue! Cannot wait to get my hands on one so I can get my studio life organized...
