Autumn change

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...

Tendence

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.

After six

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.

Unbelievably...Sunday morning as I am writing this, a friend arrives at the door with more than a handful of truffles, tartufi. Irresistible...now I know I am having pasta for lunch.

Market Time

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?

I also got some insider news that I cannot wait to share...Laura Fair Enamelware with Golden Rabbit is going to be selling on QVC! Yes, I know...how cool is that? The Red Damask and Beach House Collections will be featured and when I have more info on airtimes...I will be sure to tell you. All in all a great day...what more can a girl ask from her first day in Atlanta?

Happy Day America

Sullivan's Island, South Carolina

July 4, 2011

Al Mare

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.

Daily Life

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".

Just a little commentary on this one...after a very long wine tasting led by Dino, these rings of scattering light had all of us absolutely entranced...