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...

Papaveri

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?

Gli Etruschi

Hard to believe that we have reached my beloved Maggio...the month of May. The skies are stunning and the ground is a fire with poppies and wild orchids (photos to come, I swear). I took a little time this morning to gather myself and look back through my hundreds of photos, sometimes the only way I can remember all of the things I have seen. I happened upon some special images of a lovely February day...the day I tried to unlock the secrets of the Etruscans, gli Etruschi.

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.

The Etruscans lived here in Tuscany far before the Romans and have even been credited with building the foundations of Rome. Found in tombs and on city walls, the earliest inscriptions date back to 1000 B.C. I learned that much of the language has never been deciphered and texts were not left behind. Historians have gathered their knowledge of these ancient people through their discoveries of sacred burial tombs, strange melon shaped mounds that dot the landscape of the valley surrounding Cortona. The Etruscans are extremely well known for their cast jewelry and their pottery. In fact, the valley still to this day houses priceless treasures...farmers have been known to stumble upon a primitive shard of terra cotta while simply plowing a field. Enough about the history, let's get to the good stuff.

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.
(For a tourist plug of Cortona, when you visit here (you know you will)...make sure you visit the MAEC, it is so well done and you will not be disappointed.)

Secondo Anniversario

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!

Sogni d'Oro

I am absolutely elated to finally reveal the entire collection of Laura Fair bedding for Girls and Boys with Rizzy Home. I did a little sneak peek on the facebook page, but finally here they all are together:

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.
Sweet dreams little ones...sogni d'oro!

Grace

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.

(This fresco is just one of the millions of things I have grateful to have in my home...this graceful angel hovers above me while I work every day.)