tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12849239548600330152024-03-05T18:59:16.789-08:00The Crafty Ungoddesspiccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-79635134466331290702010-12-23T14:06:00.000-08:002010-12-23T14:15:56.863-08:00Season's greetings!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW3TkNtBAM6z7cGADqoeLkpRqPTCf4kR_UhSUMvND_TwcZVJjrjiDekCxcxaDERg4iExMJosXGOehWACqcClHHw6L7HXA9gzd18_X1lvaufg6ojkp8oqYKkYKIWMvdzj3UNGtBaFJJq8/s1600/DSC02424.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW3TkNtBAM6z7cGADqoeLkpRqPTCf4kR_UhSUMvND_TwcZVJjrjiDekCxcxaDERg4iExMJosXGOehWACqcClHHw6L7HXA9gzd18_X1lvaufg6ojkp8oqYKkYKIWMvdzj3UNGtBaFJJq8/s400/DSC02424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554004690150076706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I admit it. I have neglected this blog for far too long. But I have to be sincere. I have never be completely satisfied with its appearance, its posts and its projects. I wasn't ready to cuddle it and let it grow, even if it is better to say let me, my inspiration and my crafty skills grow.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, while oil season was running very fast and I was picking olives, bottling oil, sell at a fair and prepared hundreds of Christmas orders I have meditated over this little adventure.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I meditated, meditated and meditated again.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love this blog but things got to change. Things have to change in myself, in the way I expect this blog to help me release my creativity.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">2011 will be an exciting year, there's a lot going on and I really want to share everything with you all. The New Year will find this blog a little better in its aspect and with more contents and projects. It's one of my resolutions!</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the moment... I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May Santa fulfill all your desires.</span><br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-9299412025783483432010-09-16T08:47:00.000-07:002010-09-16T08:54:26.406-07:00Print is not dead.<span style="font-family:verdana;">And I cannot agree more. Altough I love blogland and all the amazing girls inspiring me every day through their blogs, there is something in a magazine that gives me a familiar feeling. The printed page has a vintage vibe and you can carry it everywhere. I love to curl in my bed, at night, and read, when the house is asleep and the only light on is on my bedtable.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">That's why I can't be happier to welcome Anthology, a new décor magazine, which, I hope, will replace in my heart the long lost Domino.<br />The only thing that makes me sad is that I live in Italy and it will take some time for me to find it... how I wish I were in the US right now....<br />Check out their video, it's awesome!!!!<br /></div><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14883747" width="400" frameborder="0" height="225"></iframe><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/14883747">Print Is Not Dead</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/anthologymag">Anthology Magazine</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-6303124403124508062010-09-12T09:39:00.000-07:002010-09-12T10:03:23.603-07:00September 6 to September 12<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMg2VPF3wKqgYxLRLnqA6UduTtya9AVJrwVLbh4oZV2V4z9xXTwK5riEObaGRM3MkGDrIhXU6OW79UFdFMgTeszBfIZJ0yPODzodVeTQH8MQMJ9xvlWCE9lCRD1TYxn8chIllb7OprqA/s1600/DSC04579.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516071786357298994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMg2VPF3wKqgYxLRLnqA6UduTtya9AVJrwVLbh4oZV2V4z9xXTwK5riEObaGRM3MkGDrIhXU6OW79UFdFMgTeszBfIZJ0yPODzodVeTQH8MQMJ9xvlWCE9lCRD1TYxn8chIllb7OprqA/s400/DSC04579.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A pretty boring week for my outfits but a very active week in the countryside!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The whole week was devoted to the almonds and carobs' harvests and it is not yet done... we still have a few trees to finish and all the almonds need some sun to dry properly.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I needed a practical and it's-not-important-if-it-breaks outfit but I needed to stand by my SSS pledge. So basically, I used for the harvest activity a pair of bermudas altered by me. I thrifted them as second-hand military trousers in Florence more than 10 years ago and after a couple of summers I decided to cut them and make myself a pair of bermudas. They are perfect for working in the countryside, with those two big side pockets were I can fit all my belongings.</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhCz-msqW8_NhcBiJll0NRMRiszCt3vw29jgSGNbNME9f-pdcJjpes7vYDgd-C_BOHSbHqp0CkTUjbDvLV3xlF9ARApOcTvVHI_NPkMCuYZgKrcZ4yZTxxyPiQfwgPQajXw7kiAQ_bzo/s1600/DSC04595.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516071779231079650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhCz-msqW8_NhcBiJll0NRMRiszCt3vw29jgSGNbNME9f-pdcJjpes7vYDgd-C_BOHSbHqp0CkTUjbDvLV3xlF9ARApOcTvVHI_NPkMCuYZgKrcZ4yZTxxyPiQfwgPQajXw7kiAQ_bzo/s400/DSC04595.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sQbt60cEXwBRGGO-n4SoUTfidfceTX7j6FU3QtXehBVKXdnqlNP8fyp9ih0m6a0Ij-N5V9TdOkUPbjU_p60mQrmXV4boMS9-ldXZ6X3-yyEG6OEo7BV7hvxW1k_ZUTZBusXpCDMtdbw/s1600/DSC04593.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516071768898010962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sQbt60cEXwBRGGO-n4SoUTfidfceTX7j6FU3QtXehBVKXdnqlNP8fyp9ih0m6a0Ij-N5V9TdOkUPbjU_p60mQrmXV4boMS9-ldXZ6X3-yyEG6OEo7BV7hvxW1k_ZUTZBusXpCDMtdbw/s400/DSC04593.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57JguGBTIK_z0Hl5LFY3K2eB5Mfnmfi3a2s5tQN0OfbWwbexU3p9dMCNszJuSodB21KK5BxdGIXMSp6tFZ8CJ-ERQHFEn3REYyavVs4Qsq0bZ3-cc9QmfttsnKrbOIWvhOeMSPNHqVHc/s1600/DSC04576.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516071754772435394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57JguGBTIK_z0Hl5LFY3K2eB5Mfnmfi3a2s5tQN0OfbWwbexU3p9dMCNszJuSodB21KK5BxdGIXMSp6tFZ8CJ-ERQHFEn3REYyavVs4Qsq0bZ3-cc9QmfttsnKrbOIWvhOeMSPNHqVHc/s400/DSC04576.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The evening were spent at home in another pair of bermudas which are at least another 10 years old and were overdyed by me some 5 summers ago when, at a beach party, someone spilled red wine on them... by the way, they were beige... I also resumed from the dephts of my wardrobe a refashioned t-shirt... my first and only attempt at sewing jersey...</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrYMi40cRObo0CTeg1mN_8y_v66s8VbIxZuFvNs8JW5BTxY_Dii3aJffwiysagMzLXyyTnCt1oucuqntrzzPCQxn2hfRjYc7sYCAIJ0-6F5_yyhE8UHONCO3QiOAa2lAC_S9zDHVmswU/s1600/DSC04569.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516071746707043922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrYMi40cRObo0CTeg1mN_8y_v66s8VbIxZuFvNs8JW5BTxY_Dii3aJffwiysagMzLXyyTnCt1oucuqntrzzPCQxn2hfRjYc7sYCAIJ0-6F5_yyhE8UHONCO3QiOAa2lAC_S9zDHVmswU/s400/DSC04569.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The only time I went out was to go to the grocery store and I wore a red dress bought in London in 1997 that I took in and shortened last year but I couldn't take a picture of it as once came home I fed my dog and half of his dinner went on my dress. So, straight to the laundry!!!!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have to say that, even if I didn't sport some me-made garments or gorgeous outfits I am proud of my more than a decade old clothes... I really do think that the age of my clothes is a real part of this challenge, what do you think?</span></div></div></div></div></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-88527719019342579732010-09-09T07:09:00.000-07:002010-09-09T10:42:15.426-07:00A roadtrip to Magna Graecia<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IGAsHXd1JzlmIJm0KHW5fn-EmwFtikrQCWOPMPELaSU0gOB1ad1rHlPVU6esJ452NhsfIUYZQ7WauWj7UTjyH65reB_f0i3j1TUC7Zmkku4WrizyHmupdG-y7vEu0fVZPHb9eCQmkms/s1600/DSC02197.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514923097684583602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IGAsHXd1JzlmIJm0KHW5fn-EmwFtikrQCWOPMPELaSU0gOB1ad1rHlPVU6esJ452NhsfIUYZQ7WauWj7UTjyH65reB_f0i3j1TUC7Zmkku4WrizyHmupdG-y7vEu0fVZPHb9eCQmkms/s400/DSC02197.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last weekend, in order to celebrate my birthday and our fourth anniversary, my boyfriend and I (together with my self-stitched garments) travelled to </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrigento"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Agrigento</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to visit the Valley of the Temples, one of the best archaeological sites in Southern Italy to see the remains of the Greek civilization, more than two thousand years ago.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">As we wanted a little adventure, we stayed in a camping on the seaside and had the privilege to put up our tent under a huge thunderstorm...</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx3mLsqLKKkFLRrxngoYZCFCK_W6ctbXK7w4UZWQf8P9WEtz9nvAzTzkM03b1gNLrVeeyO-YVNd4GYlSGSdP1xESYjb3qeQu_Pg6TC-VTnWEKLXGJTNTIm4bD5sqXQJzFU1q48Z9hZ8k/s1600/DSC02156.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514968651262627922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx3mLsqLKKkFLRrxngoYZCFCK_W6ctbXK7w4UZWQf8P9WEtz9nvAzTzkM03b1gNLrVeeyO-YVNd4GYlSGSdP1xESYjb3qeQu_Pg6TC-VTnWEKLXGJTNTIm4bD5sqXQJzFU1q48Z9hZ8k/s400/DSC02156.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Saturday we went to visit the temples and the nearby museum and then had fun bathing in the waves of the Mediterranean sea. </span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Sunday, before going home, we visited a huge rock overlooking the sea, known here as the Stairs of the Turks (I forgot why...). Due to the composition of the rock, it is all white and it creates a huge contrast with the blue of sea and of the sky... a perfect place to snap some pictures!!!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We had fun, celebrated in the best possible way our years together and learnt so many things on the past life of the beautiful island we live in. But, as today my written english is not very fluent, it's better I let my pics speak for themselves... </span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ffi8uMe9STVlY8oTVgKaGT2sSEgn8GenyRE6hNn-SGedq2tebeJVgjoPhhpMkLlVWdUUC4qIIueqx3lQXhmxHR6Nh-5XmSx7n1bxkRD0ik4hsWjsdxAaNLyPtNxPDP_0r6WQQ2n2tKk/s1600/DSC02163.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514923106748963650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ffi8uMe9STVlY8oTVgKaGT2sSEgn8GenyRE6hNn-SGedq2tebeJVgjoPhhpMkLlVWdUUC4qIIueqx3lQXhmxHR6Nh-5XmSx7n1bxkRD0ik4hsWjsdxAaNLyPtNxPDP_0r6WQQ2n2tKk/s400/DSC02163.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">September 3 - San Leone - after the rain</span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514923115092856914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyjlpY4INXPGr9RZj8MsMNZh9ot9SrmBKggTnUd57RxwnVIHbJO-Yx3No4sBw-soiJsJZjovLDe49FYzt-mpKBYN37PGjGK_o6Vt57HyeyA0DsMw04X5AFL5dkyDjiN0vvhoUkPh848A/s400/DSC02168.JPG" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;">September 3 - some fun in a refashioned shirt</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogjLMbeGhp0gm-BZAYXK3gJnmEOZ5MYd9s8TfDtB3zxF0fiy8DKiuOuKwYI49UHadx0k9IyZMyOAxm-CS1bTQFlpCWh2Bqnw2OYsUpUI9jcBSU1rlHa-sBMuJAfqkwVvDhWPwRj8camU/s1600/DSC02179.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514923124800797058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogjLMbeGhp0gm-BZAYXK3gJnmEOZ5MYd9s8TfDtB3zxF0fiy8DKiuOuKwYI49UHadx0k9IyZMyOAxm-CS1bTQFlpCWh2Bqnw2OYsUpUI9jcBSU1rlHa-sBMuJAfqkwVvDhWPwRj8camU/s400/DSC02179.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">September 4 - Valley of the Temples - visiting in a me-made skirt</span></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tb0S1oWQrhzX-0EFXBaAallT1DdS8feRdFVt0B5ZthQUZ_ay5deNpzPuophwfVv_MbhMKxuenbIVh7gY2fsfyGARcGgfpcQnlCtIWnS29B5bishVOWoKhWDFU6m9XN7w2nn7ruvi2MI/s1600/DSC02184.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514927802494300354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tb0S1oWQrhzX-0EFXBaAallT1DdS8feRdFVt0B5ZthQUZ_ay5deNpzPuophwfVv_MbhMKxuenbIVh7gY2fsfyGARcGgfpcQnlCtIWnS29B5bishVOWoKhWDFU6m9XN7w2nn7ruvi2MI/s400/DSC02184.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QxdQmHdZ-r7_BO9_ExUogyMBhEeDDzB4uu0qPZce_3sakfK4fFvCSf0CXT3XDwvLV0UiA6ul3haG5bOhaWn3DLHAghpSTLQ2W-izDsd0vyfI1bwwYQzdJPrhXh05zIWKFJpqyLUVE5s/s1600/DSC02211.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514927791720876114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QxdQmHdZ-r7_BO9_ExUogyMBhEeDDzB4uu0qPZce_3sakfK4fFvCSf0CXT3XDwvLV0UiA6ul3haG5bOhaWn3DLHAghpSTLQ2W-izDsd0vyfI1bwwYQzdJPrhXh05zIWKFJpqyLUVE5s/s400/DSC02211.JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZh2Po8wW1gEWy6mgCOKT_8jDHXLR2x2gSsMvJeLkKZsdCKRkm0yD9qvpq-g0OypMxsXBIesduod4JKq_zOm52dUIHZlA30vwKTgiBlMzWN6TuCqfxs5iwyuo_7gQ56098gfCmPY3dBH0/s1600/DSC02177.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514927783982416962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZh2Po8wW1gEWy6mgCOKT_8jDHXLR2x2gSsMvJeLkKZsdCKRkm0yD9qvpq-g0OypMxsXBIesduod4JKq_zOm52dUIHZlA30vwKTgiBlMzWN6TuCqfxs5iwyuo_7gQ56098gfCmPY3dBH0/s400/DSC02177.JPG" /></a> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514923133820622562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYukTFohkbTK0sR4NAwCMUzJpt_LmIf5SLWQOf8bBsrTkNuqFqk-7gOAAnp7uhDl0zmZGgcMf8xnNKj7aGI2J_61yEyCmQAeX3ggPsRpjcOH9A4i-nAirxeHE9R5Ma4tEicGunKWGr0e0/s400/DSC02189.JPG" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOsbqU3ZMGvlAQ7f4gbZLvfzwr6ceHa7AX09cHdSWUEuZ_h1HmW8W1V2GradsRPDx0-dHRMIuPenFCuW0q4jtn_O2-6a1jl7pmXFE02q0wH4yc8yk2qJRG__M4ChddQVG66EdkZBDcoA/s1600/DSC04550.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514927817520809074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOsbqU3ZMGvlAQ7f4gbZLvfzwr6ceHa7AX09cHdSWUEuZ_h1HmW8W1V2GradsRPDx0-dHRMIuPenFCuW0q4jtn_O2-6a1jl7pmXFE02q0wH4yc8yk2qJRG__M4ChddQVG66EdkZBDcoA/s400/DSC04550.JPG" /></a> September 5 - La Scala dei Turchi</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2htFE6VgWdoH2sGKETYqN7JDPVcICTq5Q2xG6OIIEw8ts8OPeW1OCtFTAhyvx9vZBGpterm1FbFt4AvlB_PRgN2QMyZt1A3sB5vYANZsBTvLHonK__upvaDBG13UgH9GceEP5MawVONw/s1600/DSC04543.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514927810973494514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2htFE6VgWdoH2sGKETYqN7JDPVcICTq5Q2xG6OIIEw8ts8OPeW1OCtFTAhyvx9vZBGpterm1FbFt4AvlB_PRgN2QMyZt1A3sB5vYANZsBTvLHonK__upvaDBG13UgH9GceEP5MawVONw/s400/DSC04543.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCBX0HbRC9_973obP2CZzAPwwAV97iELYL5uctFVDBe6O-yFHyTA87n7EPweS_M3DGuGpDnxJdrs9noKROA6T_n5OmSfjYJ46JmAjvGKTCyGHG8DaikusNexKWxgPPREk2BJ6hoQeYWo/s1600/DSC04561.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514968668290807842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCBX0HbRC9_973obP2CZzAPwwAV97iELYL5uctFVDBe6O-yFHyTA87n7EPweS_M3DGuGpDnxJdrs9noKROA6T_n5OmSfjYJ46JmAjvGKTCyGHG8DaikusNexKWxgPPREk2BJ6hoQeYWo/s400/DSC04561.JPG" /></a> September 5 - La Scala dei Turchi - me-made dress</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDdhG5dUpd0QNoAoi3SxqGWVPHhGxhtqB9Lx53PO_Ceq05veLzVrtvYmbFhotJ0YlckJnFc8uLalTygkLRLU0YSf87YFN2pwhklw8VTkW7zYmG47FjL_u-29h6lFxMn1dEqywMH-yLVM/s1600/DSC04552.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514968660226434210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDdhG5dUpd0QNoAoi3SxqGWVPHhGxhtqB9Lx53PO_Ceq05veLzVrtvYmbFhotJ0YlckJnFc8uLalTygkLRLU0YSf87YFN2pwhklw8VTkW7zYmG47FjL_u-29h6lFxMn1dEqywMH-yLVM/s400/DSC04552.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div><br /></div></div></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-76152328609575151452010-09-01T02:17:00.001-07:002010-09-01T02:45:36.617-07:00MIA & SSS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu0ZR3M_bB-4sLfhBbbAisIHJXDjLL66BHghiGo6xVlQj7fz03pKzUoHKtu4BpYONkl7Mmmqk9y6JApbCWCeHlweBMI5fw923leF_1UTu2-R4UObyNZ2o1ot5N8h_lHfwEG8NgZgzsrE/s1600/DSC02141.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu0ZR3M_bB-4sLfhBbbAisIHJXDjLL66BHghiGo6xVlQj7fz03pKzUoHKtu4BpYONkl7Mmmqk9y6JApbCWCeHlweBMI5fw923leF_1UTu2-R4UObyNZ2o1ot5N8h_lHfwEG8NgZgzsrE/s400/DSC02141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511873409790745954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">I've been "Missing In Action" for more than a month (I didn't even realize that so much time went by from my last post) for two main reasons. The first is that we've been wihout an Internet connection for half the month, the second is that August means holidays!!! We just stayed at home greeting and taking care of the guests that rented our small cottage and had lots of friends visiting. Therefore, blogging, sewing and crafting were almost not allowed, if only for some scarce exceptions (but this is a surprise)!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROioVNTyYX7VoB1xan6ZaV9e-ARV0C68ShWbO-GQ9i_3GWXoB1MjH2W2UpPgLFMKjiagjHHLx81p8UK7-q4wmzZy6iir98sK9tVGE08vMqnve2QDhVDsDoG13BnqnOcuOm64a6PfCA8Y/s1600/Sept1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROioVNTyYX7VoB1xan6ZaV9e-ARV0C68ShWbO-GQ9i_3GWXoB1MjH2W2UpPgLFMKjiagjHHLx81p8UK7-q4wmzZy6iir98sK9tVGE08vMqnve2QDhVDsDoG13BnqnOcuOm64a6PfCA8Y/s400/Sept1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511873974758552258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">Today is September the 1st and it marks the beginning of this new big adventure: Self-Stitched-September.<br />I woke up this morning terrified by the thought that I have only three or four handmade garments ready to wear and that September will be full of adventures and things to do: my birthday (this weekend, two days of travelling), almonds harvest, friends visiting for a week (maybe a trek on Mount Etna) and, on the 27th, a plane that will take me to Switzerland to visit my mom.<br />My sewing pile gets bigger and bigger everyday and yesterday, while trying to finish a refashion, I finally realized that the road to sewing is very long... and I have just started it...<br />Anyway, I will do my best to keep up with this challenge and will use even the smallest refashions and alterations I have in my closet. Isn't this all about sustainability and recycling? Well, the 70% of my closet is made of garments that had been worn before I was even born. And this, for me, is as important as handmade.<br />This is the outfit for today, a long day at home waiting for the gardeners to come (it's noon and no sign of them...).My top was eventually a dress bought in 1998 in Florence, on a Indonesian market stall. I worn it every summer, it was perfect to go to the seaside. Then, two years ago, it broke in the rear and I was lost. It cherished so many gorgeous and happy memories and was so fresh for the hot days that I couldn't part from it. So, after one year lying in the "pile", I cut it on my lower waist and, with the fabric that wasn't torn I made a ruffle that I handsewn to its bottom. Now, it's something like a tunic top that I keep wearing at least three times a week in summer!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY1t3rDCiOGZx8tKtbeOaeF4Kz81KyKK9Xsm3xhN_90mKRcawjZL-z0hRkeFoxs-JzeT36pAYVKcVNHllquvA5GP4GA-56UTSkl0ptAMng6OQboXa2ipeKRuNKDc1mcuaZsmX_rfBBvs/s1600/DSC02140.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY1t3rDCiOGZx8tKtbeOaeF4Kz81KyKK9Xsm3xhN_90mKRcawjZL-z0hRkeFoxs-JzeT36pAYVKcVNHllquvA5GP4GA-56UTSkl0ptAMng6OQboXa2ipeKRuNKDc1mcuaZsmX_rfBBvs/s400/DSC02140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511873416736376034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tomorrow will be better, I swear!</span>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-86193270118750328922010-07-27T08:19:00.001-07:002010-07-27T08:57:14.936-07:00Animals...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love to take pictures of animals. Whether it's my dog, my mom's, cats, donkeys, horses, butterflies, gooses, worms, ants or birds. Here are some of my faves, taken in the last few months! Hope you like them as much as I do!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu0RFiz6EJC-Qqu06WsqodeF-thLLKy6AsKf5z0zBByhYAdoMjQJXFBXcdpNRBsshyDVzEbu4tgTwmuIx-SFxLF4VOOOs4QwOU9lZpkjGMB7PpA4dPcsPM7szMDLlFtuHsiq-LqGSOa0/s1600/DSC04119.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu0RFiz6EJC-Qqu06WsqodeF-thLLKy6AsKf5z0zBByhYAdoMjQJXFBXcdpNRBsshyDVzEbu4tgTwmuIx-SFxLF4VOOOs4QwOU9lZpkjGMB7PpA4dPcsPM7szMDLlFtuHsiq-LqGSOa0/s400/DSC04119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498615315278100690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D5t9ipsjIFfZXna_kli4fibGKkMkPZNiwxzvrJ-BC4Ef0qled6yR0-7L0qIUGsv2smy1HMAJIigBEQYiyGP-ivQGze2eCFYcQsAYrVIcQ0N9SMmH2cSn65aizXdlsQmZVCM-8mrnB6M/s1600/DSC04113.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D5t9ipsjIFfZXna_kli4fibGKkMkPZNiwxzvrJ-BC4Ef0qled6yR0-7L0qIUGsv2smy1HMAJIigBEQYiyGP-ivQGze2eCFYcQsAYrVIcQ0N9SMmH2cSn65aizXdlsQmZVCM-8mrnB6M/s400/DSC04113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498615307727926610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0eFiiNz86mIRWx78wo00_29dG04vRL14ORmSE2K5EyCPKWCq59MIurs4nMO0G1mMcU82mNfcyn9m9jn_aUV6y0v2Rd-NGCGiqbiDpo7wVZw1eCFjBtNLsFWUh6S7x5U2hPQGGdiFT4I/s1600/DSC04427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0eFiiNz86mIRWx78wo00_29dG04vRL14ORmSE2K5EyCPKWCq59MIurs4nMO0G1mMcU82mNfcyn9m9jn_aUV6y0v2Rd-NGCGiqbiDpo7wVZw1eCFjBtNLsFWUh6S7x5U2hPQGGdiFT4I/s400/DSC04427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498615297920895746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJCLucmFyedsD2lrdCl_MwrezgAbf2rul3ukzbGiQJVAo9iGJs131Z6jlCuwaYGeApiYrrzn4KA4sPUwfHEBC-w01xYmb_9BIPQcqwhkOmcRxuPLEHjQBznCV4bRGrkLV70VBYLEnwbc/s1600/DSC03492.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJCLucmFyedsD2lrdCl_MwrezgAbf2rul3ukzbGiQJVAo9iGJs131Z6jlCuwaYGeApiYrrzn4KA4sPUwfHEBC-w01xYmb_9BIPQcqwhkOmcRxuPLEHjQBznCV4bRGrkLV70VBYLEnwbc/s400/DSC03492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498615295830495810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlCtKTni7CMVyZ1AJPNrfLFsDop6VpsPPyJmMwYETd7aZvWhlnmkqnrh1ccThMalRvYhMb9y0mX6qI2iQJorjYY-3kC08i9saFmkGcaxkXIvTuvVJ8JpNKxVqLYZHncz-hMOIa-3qd7E/s1600/DSC02436_picnik.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlCtKTni7CMVyZ1AJPNrfLFsDop6VpsPPyJmMwYETd7aZvWhlnmkqnrh1ccThMalRvYhMb9y0mX6qI2iQJorjYY-3kC08i9saFmkGcaxkXIvTuvVJ8JpNKxVqLYZHncz-hMOIa-3qd7E/s400/DSC02436_picnik.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498615286235030914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMev3YfXxXmeIvVLvoQYgF7oQSJbblx5lR7kyH3q9cCguiMiXvKAW6e5JKqGUnGbLeT5RBZKY0gEGAoBhi0IVrDdtIjd2nu2roPYE68rY3UIROJSaApE6gSTW5BeO8Jr-EeaHG90Q2hs/s1600/DSC01877.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMev3YfXxXmeIvVLvoQYgF7oQSJbblx5lR7kyH3q9cCguiMiXvKAW6e5JKqGUnGbLeT5RBZKY0gEGAoBhi0IVrDdtIjd2nu2roPYE68rY3UIROJSaApE6gSTW5BeO8Jr-EeaHG90Q2hs/s400/DSC01877.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498613712092729362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkbLpy2TT7lxx4dGhC30kqC9OCWCWmwom7sf6erBJfAQzr7WgVCgTPKbc6IFxmDE5EbgLE-S8vPof9r4QpMynor6-KHeJbbD_Qmvb9hZG8O71vRoXA2vJRJ5Jyp4mtIQhUONoBcw3k3g/s1600/DSC01821.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkbLpy2TT7lxx4dGhC30kqC9OCWCWmwom7sf6erBJfAQzr7WgVCgTPKbc6IFxmDE5EbgLE-S8vPof9r4QpMynor6-KHeJbbD_Qmvb9hZG8O71vRoXA2vJRJ5Jyp4mtIQhUONoBcw3k3g/s400/DSC01821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498613708696333458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogmwwD5VAsEUBJGwqYFjtnT1z9ZbOoQ2bx_j4B0EA_ycr2i9294Q4lx8NrkbjiuWHRTpsWnbbHGlcW9paqSqnvFH68GTuZDOl5h3_EjgYDXDgECI6S49R0Y5P2_YI8yO-Q-3UrfYVJ6k/s1600/DSC01755.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogmwwD5VAsEUBJGwqYFjtnT1z9ZbOoQ2bx_j4B0EA_ycr2i9294Q4lx8NrkbjiuWHRTpsWnbbHGlcW9paqSqnvFH68GTuZDOl5h3_EjgYDXDgECI6S49R0Y5P2_YI8yO-Q-3UrfYVJ6k/s400/DSC01755.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498613703730729650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CF9Hc87C3nwalTWQzxxCk7hr06q51Cbdih2ARuY8jlEKlliFdFNMGql34kPZdssVGcAJkPHQi-p2nqeWWw2Nugmxs3u58Aq9gJxJyTTbu6bMAzxGU4KF_k2QjORuCeS8w1dzGUR96jI/s1600/DSC01408_picnik.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CF9Hc87C3nwalTWQzxxCk7hr06q51Cbdih2ARuY8jlEKlliFdFNMGql34kPZdssVGcAJkPHQi-p2nqeWWw2Nugmxs3u58Aq9gJxJyTTbu6bMAzxGU4KF_k2QjORuCeS8w1dzGUR96jI/s400/DSC01408_picnik.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498613695869639330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GF8v1qKCMAjIkxT_whWclM6rPJyjmllAIxls3pykB8dcuD4VpF6oYiw2a3qqGAIIUT9ZFD5KhQ2hI1PygNYlD7Fu5LuZLh2rVBug02YVOJLnnUMIApXWP95yVv6d58GMxF9azKc-7qA/s1600/DSC01288.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GF8v1qKCMAjIkxT_whWclM6rPJyjmllAIxls3pykB8dcuD4VpF6oYiw2a3qqGAIIUT9ZFD5KhQ2hI1PygNYlD7Fu5LuZLh2rVBug02YVOJLnnUMIApXWP95yVv6d58GMxF9azKc-7qA/s400/DSC01288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498613687934049394" border="0" /></a>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-18022981666998290082010-07-21T06:28:00.001-07:002010-07-21T06:53:45.676-07:00A cooking mini tutorial: making tomato sauce<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Pr8eJ50cmypylu7O3tEhnmzGIjCF7QP-_0kVb413jwBy39KMD1FYee8egJ8G1azJsdqfWJeUCYJPvj5FadswKnpWBwvN76oBC9pKvbRykdZI8MahL18MIsPl-YtDnV7tnbUqzTsQ5pk/s1600/DSC01963.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Pr8eJ50cmypylu7O3tEhnmzGIjCF7QP-_0kVb413jwBy39KMD1FYee8egJ8G1azJsdqfWJeUCYJPvj5FadswKnpWBwvN76oBC9pKvbRykdZI8MahL18MIsPl-YtDnV7tnbUqzTsQ5pk/s400/DSC01963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496351977712553746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've wanted to post a tutorial for a long time but I have always felt a little intimidated. It's not for an ungoddess to teach something, right? However, as I have spent the last two weeks making this, I decided to devote my very first tutorial to the making of tomato sauce. Plus, I am Italian and my country is the place where you can eat the best "spaghetti al pomodoro".</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just follow the numbers, it's really easy!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMLC644_h6ybbzoWSjSSlnEvVQI25Gm8NOUIuuyXYtj0FuOw5D32sVGhWKHybCXaN3QQY9-Ndb-TvmD7o-R-RPG9kfLJKgGtcKOEOWYTfh0WIe0Jn_DTE0IbKVSpPqJwzFG5O4aKnlj4/s1600/Collage1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMLC644_h6ybbzoWSjSSlnEvVQI25Gm8NOUIuuyXYtj0FuOw5D32sVGhWKHybCXaN3QQY9-Ndb-TvmD7o-R-RPG9kfLJKgGtcKOEOWYTfh0WIe0Jn_DTE0IbKVSpPqJwzFG5O4aKnlj4/s400/Collage1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496351173937368914" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">1. pick or buy some very ripe tomatoes, they should squeeze a little when touched;<br /><br />2. cut them in halves or quarters (it depends on the size of tomatoes) and put them in a strainer to drain (just a couple of minutes or you will loose some salsa);<br /><br />3. put them in a very big pot and add, only if you wish, onion, basil, salt and pepper. Let them boil at least for 10 minutes (boiling time it's up to you, it depends on how you like your salsa, I usually let mine boil from 20 to 40 minutes). Put them aside and let them cool for an hour;<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdN-eK7FYnK_mxXp2whyphenhyphenNsONgAOSBNT_qcX_JcsjDHUfAjH7feCt2Xerra7aiH6NoAMWYH25o4THbCLNMbGfnr_z6lLY964_BNb22Mu9cRGNDzbjkrfqMK-BND8V29AXJ48WYhCjwKpI/s1600/collage2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdN-eK7FYnK_mxXp2whyphenhyphenNsONgAOSBNT_qcX_JcsjDHUfAjH7feCt2Xerra7aiH6NoAMWYH25o4THbCLNMbGfnr_z6lLY964_BNb22Mu9cRGNDzbjkrfqMK-BND8V29AXJ48WYhCjwKpI/s400/collage2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496351181138637762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">4-5-6. put them in a food mixer (I dont' know the English name for the one I used in the pictures) and reduce them to a sauce. If you plan to use your salsa immediately then you're done, enjoy your pasta! If you wish to preserve it for the winter, keep on reading;<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ISsSPwWY7MqPtbbXaqH2MVRLml4Mw_QZ8gZkRLK-1LoNBRRKrEeb6cSjpf_NlXIYaQDuJ-rFj9yrNKNrDuf5bnJ84dk2CB6TeFN8F0BwjrRUvNYb3AD57SVIJ0ilFLKD_VLZg6zrw2Q/s1600/collage3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ISsSPwWY7MqPtbbXaqH2MVRLml4Mw_QZ8gZkRLK-1LoNBRRKrEeb6cSjpf_NlXIYaQDuJ-rFj9yrNKNrDuf5bnJ84dk2CB6TeFN8F0BwjrRUvNYb3AD57SVIJ0ilFLKD_VLZg6zrw2Q/s400/collage3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496351184912276162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">7. prepare the bottles, they should be clean and dry (we have recycled beer bottles for a year);<br /><br />8. put the sauce in the bottles, filling up to the 2/3 of the bottle collar;<br /><br />9. cork them as beer bottles are (we have a tool made specifically for this) and put them in a very big pot. Cover them with water and let them boil for 20/25 minutes (to sterilize them). Let them cool in the same pot, it usually takes 12 hours;<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmCFcpF5nH5_LK-2fzLeiDKscleHLYN6LObUtZxWetVSrbvzqjvWOyU3_eVgUGnlixyVI7AO5CY3r0-vWR87TQjMhUWKWloVNnktuLABaZjhS1_neD4rtq_CXrJfMyKJj81ywId6Ln9E/s1600/collage4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmCFcpF5nH5_LK-2fzLeiDKscleHLYN6LObUtZxWetVSrbvzqjvWOyU3_eVgUGnlixyVI7AO5CY3r0-vWR87TQjMhUWKWloVNnktuLABaZjhS1_neD4rtq_CXrJfMyKJj81ywId6Ln9E/s400/collage4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496351190714230354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">10. prepare some nice and fun labels... I know, this is the fun part!!!!<br /><br />11. store them in a cool and dry place. They should keep from 6 months to 1 year;<br /><br />12. enjoy your salsa on your pasta or wherever you wish!!!<br /><br />I hope this mini tutorial was clear and I excuse myself if some words were not correct... I am not an English mother tongue and do my best to write correctly.<br />If some of you have other ways of making salsa, I would love to read your recipes... so, don't be shy and say hello!!!!<br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-6664763720374904932010-07-19T11:05:00.000-07:002010-07-19T11:30:57.436-07:00Pattern Challenge: Popover Sundress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3BxYMZf9qYQY1j2fJ4XKG2-37Gq6FJ2hgzFh31ppnEsoDNGAlQRADJHW-lmExcVGWH0rfReP_8xffHEVZO8Y_AieCp5i15A-bYqdeTKb7HGWrBhyphenhyphenCSxEKocZ8BW_ac0BY-3q6N12OQQ/s1600/emma1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3BxYMZf9qYQY1j2fJ4XKG2-37Gq6FJ2hgzFh31ppnEsoDNGAlQRADJHW-lmExcVGWH0rfReP_8xffHEVZO8Y_AieCp5i15A-bYqdeTKb7HGWrBhyphenhyphenCSxEKocZ8BW_ac0BY-3q6N12OQQ/s400/emma1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495683663233776098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">Last month I decided to take part in the <a href="http://comeandseetheseitz.com/2010/02/02/join-me/">Pattern Challenge</a> hosted by Sarah of <a href="http://comeandseetheseitz.com/">Come and See the Seitz</a> and, after some reflections and procrastination, today I finally finished my first garment.<br />I have wanted to make baby clothing for some time and, as I don't have any children, I took the chance to make this cute little sundress for a friend's daughter. Her name is Emma and her favourite colour is pink, hence my fabric choice. I love the sweet little details you can sew on a baby dress, all the ribbons, small buttons, little animals... your imagination can really run free!!!!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZi5rgujadjNDT5glkRUaclJm1WtnNH6B1RxX-GDdPIe8Duv36_7XFtDEfeNil1cTJo1BuNugf_R6qrzvDkXAMmyPGix0gTRK5FRFM6hsgDnLJVoBhx0niswmMMYLazqQ9n2s9kGDwxM/s1600/emma2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZi5rgujadjNDT5glkRUaclJm1WtnNH6B1RxX-GDdPIe8Duv36_7XFtDEfeNil1cTJo1BuNugf_R6qrzvDkXAMmyPGix0gTRK5FRFM6hsgDnLJVoBhx0niswmMMYLazqQ9n2s9kGDwxM/s400/emma2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495683669954290578" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I used the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/popover-sundress">Popover Sundress</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> over on </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.burdastyle.com/">BurdaStyle</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and I must admit that while reading the instructions for the first time I felt a lot intimidated but the actual process was fairly easy and very accessible to a novice seamstress. I had some problems in sewing the bias ties on the curves for the arms but in the end it took me no more than two hours.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR3OEpTPh-cOOKsq0HRsK0e8gNJxoZMlJSJtQ71nno4syusBc8yiKE_0ZRfnCpKbBoqs6cMdyilCa3-WfpMoCBkObpegSMiSZdQEEu9w0fniaSTmXTmrdEflCH7VJH8trKjyx1XQloKs/s1600/emma3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR3OEpTPh-cOOKsq0HRsK0e8gNJxoZMlJSJtQ71nno4syusBc8yiKE_0ZRfnCpKbBoqs6cMdyilCa3-WfpMoCBkObpegSMiSZdQEEu9w0fniaSTmXTmrdEflCH7VJH8trKjyx1XQloKs/s400/emma3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495683674996002562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf06hl6H9KQxoRIAYMfM7ZQt8sEMmFFbFAWPVTFRvP9NJ3NQkVRBjAweirPsUQgF0GMqU9Gl0eFeO3iWWUgFPpQXM2KGCL3iV9ErCT8SnyubrWfaZQL4Y2WWV4Aoi1UMFzyxrBr8Hqv4/s1600/emma4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf06hl6H9KQxoRIAYMfM7ZQt8sEMmFFbFAWPVTFRvP9NJ3NQkVRBjAweirPsUQgF0GMqU9Gl0eFeO3iWWUgFPpQXM2KGCL3iV9ErCT8SnyubrWfaZQL4Y2WWV4Aoi1UMFzyxrBr8Hqv4/s400/emma4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495683683940317762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn8ABT818_pwzSQ6vkiVgQDCXbmIXiPuZURPRpbp98IIE4oxPHyt4-bdUjLdcG7FkYFba0gtpqz9e60jhM0zsrwlrq9v0fSXDlZ_kCBNhDxI_WIi_QRgN5PDoBkau0iczFqsbD9UzxUs/s1600/emma5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn8ABT818_pwzSQ6vkiVgQDCXbmIXiPuZURPRpbp98IIE4oxPHyt4-bdUjLdcG7FkYFba0gtpqz9e60jhM0zsrwlrq9v0fSXDlZ_kCBNhDxI_WIi_QRgN5PDoBkau0iczFqsbD9UzxUs/s400/emma5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495683689323197666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">I used some satin cotton thrifted on my beloved market stall in Avola where I purchased like 3mt for 2€... the yoke was made with some scraps, the button came from my boyfriend's mom stash and the ribbon came from the lovely Alli of <a href="http://www.onepearlbutton.com/">One Pearl Button</a>. You all know that recycled items can give life to great things but everytime I make something like this I am delighted and shocked by what you can make with next to nothing!<br />I hope that sweet little and terrible Emma will like it!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbpKsvanUaNE8bcUcQeeeAQt7BRBNfWZCfFcx-30rPDZmJGGM7DR-YhY-VUb4OWR4bCjx01iD7S0uqO_w3jZBsCsyScg-adz82QrslsjZElw4I_ndk1JLEA8DvkRAGPGldn2UJiBh-xo/s1600/emma6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbpKsvanUaNE8bcUcQeeeAQt7BRBNfWZCfFcx-30rPDZmJGGM7DR-YhY-VUb4OWR4bCjx01iD7S0uqO_w3jZBsCsyScg-adz82QrslsjZElw4I_ndk1JLEA8DvkRAGPGldn2UJiBh-xo/s400/emma6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495685754410200722" border="0" /></a>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-83335028533854451122010-07-16T09:05:00.000-07:002010-07-16T09:21:28.574-07:00A package all the way from California.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKqUm7Gc3fnISE_eHECtl8BTZZDp1fubkD4HzjrCt80kuXaMDT8J406gLyPyOq8LC7Bbn9CgpVViOMufjPFgU3obwaLDnLdhRhcgfjzwHzQTHP4Oj3fWhEALn4stL_PV2OiFf8VOCRAM/s1600/DSC02025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKqUm7Gc3fnISE_eHECtl8BTZZDp1fubkD4HzjrCt80kuXaMDT8J406gLyPyOq8LC7Bbn9CgpVViOMufjPFgU3obwaLDnLdhRhcgfjzwHzQTHP4Oj3fWhEALn4stL_PV2OiFf8VOCRAM/s400/DSC02025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494537474143173474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">Last month I took part to the Christmas in July International Gift Exchange, hosted by the super talentend Linda of <a href="http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/">Craftaholic Anonymous</a> and today I received my package, all the way from California.<br />Needless to say, I love the headband and hairclip, I can't wait to wear them to the next beach party...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLyORlpG08EBLQkuR-AHENnjqX37fTRPNnSNe3OBH-8bseClmtJBAB1t3UoSj3OmXXhVfA776rbYuy4ZUhoABr85Dird97Q4AtL106TJ5Y2gmh0j7ElB8MR5dM35TrsuMCS4-X-tZE70/s1600/DSC02024.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLyORlpG08EBLQkuR-AHENnjqX37fTRPNnSNe3OBH-8bseClmtJBAB1t3UoSj3OmXXhVfA776rbYuy4ZUhoABr85Dird97Q4AtL106TJ5Y2gmh0j7ElB8MR5dM35TrsuMCS4-X-tZE70/s400/DSC02024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494537467030312514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuH3BGf86S7c-dp-9tFQ9xrzN5wyDwJwFUvTGwEPiXDt1fc6NOkyzzusJoHYOwZAnSUcXo6iFatvUFCRcullpIEPZMzRjVt-Qr07i7FCdiux5Tjkckr1jeuxDmzRMUIVmPwC3xr54pac/s1600/DSC02023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuH3BGf86S7c-dp-9tFQ9xrzN5wyDwJwFUvTGwEPiXDt1fc6NOkyzzusJoHYOwZAnSUcXo6iFatvUFCRcullpIEPZMzRjVt-Qr07i7FCdiux5Tjkckr1jeuxDmzRMUIVmPwC3xr54pac/s400/DSC02023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494537466448343826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN3nYMNUUKuWPxFMgMR86ZThTnHCtVfnvjDKhYAEamgtp95GCmIAAPj5kknPZGzDSgo9SSuFqwZNnc6-C7IEFWOtNi3wKM_BE1BPOimAV9vqBmeS40UiBcjd9w3dqSoFrpA-q89ykY_o/s1600/DSC02022.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN3nYMNUUKuWPxFMgMR86ZThTnHCtVfnvjDKhYAEamgtp95GCmIAAPj5kknPZGzDSgo9SSuFqwZNnc6-C7IEFWOtNi3wKM_BE1BPOimAV9vqBmeS40UiBcjd9w3dqSoFrpA-q89ykY_o/s400/DSC02022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494537451505275874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">Thanks Heather for your loving thought and the gorgeous creations you sent me and thanks Linda for this wonderful idea!!!!!<br />Please excuse my hair and t-shirt but I just got back from the beach and was so excited to share that I didn't even thought of changing for the pictures!!!!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgft4JCAKL9YzK_WsKLOEO6waQfiF8imWcxRrUwgrn78ZY1KiPkFotkLRQfMBn16QyYFU3aWordSGBycY3wsgtLy94ckL-V7ULIzn2rzh8MTRKwcnEFRQDnJADPRJudK7ErWuYg1qt64lk/s1600/DSC02019.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgft4JCAKL9YzK_WsKLOEO6waQfiF8imWcxRrUwgrn78ZY1KiPkFotkLRQfMBn16QyYFU3aWordSGBycY3wsgtLy94ckL-V7ULIzn2rzh8MTRKwcnEFRQDnJADPRJudK7ErWuYg1qt64lk/s400/DSC02019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494537481797911906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbRv3N2U6hnY2rGyci-1hrMPpGEKTxoEKGCQwyEJo6phiNZSe6xIenEFDxWD_aD-lszq3M4BB7zvjGbLKyUvu06jmorBZ9J9RPwhKL2e9BTSqV27g-w5NB6f9U7nfJhTqPYFPAmr_8fM/s1600/DSC02026.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbRv3N2U6hnY2rGyci-1hrMPpGEKTxoEKGCQwyEJo6phiNZSe6xIenEFDxWD_aD-lszq3M4BB7zvjGbLKyUvu06jmorBZ9J9RPwhKL2e9BTSqV27g-w5NB6f9U7nfJhTqPYFPAmr_8fM/s400/DSC02026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494538311963584386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ukRpEAe8AXqgVxI1hLZaubi2tnp_KlQc86RxSmvKBP_UjCadIaRWvcFJub-MHxGH7gWx9wBTQ9NNIk5TkoRORklTxdQzBf9j7hoSw99jcX8qWHD5TSDYHbCaCYuwiYGul8EJ5nexx4w/s1600/DSC02019.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ukRpEAe8AXqgVxI1hLZaubi2tnp_KlQc86RxSmvKBP_UjCadIaRWvcFJub-MHxGH7gWx9wBTQ9NNIk5TkoRORklTxdQzBf9j7hoSw99jcX8qWHD5TSDYHbCaCYuwiYGul8EJ5nexx4w/s400/DSC02019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494538301868952642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you wish to see what all the other ladies made, there's a </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2010/07/christmas-in-july-gift-exchanges-linky.html">linky party</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">!!!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope the package I sent over to Magda in Portugal will be arriving very soon....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">p.s. </span><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://required2beinspired.blogspot.com/">Natasha</a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">... I will be posting my wedding outfit attire very soon... I just need to iron the dress!!!!</span></span><br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-55762192571903892872010-07-15T02:44:00.000-07:002010-07-15T03:06:36.271-07:00Wedding Attire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkVuaMA66_RaMqb6fXBa7IxAk3ErQ8yNLTHvyECzykeqP5ixSve6HyObwMl3N0Nnxoha6X2F470PKqUu58WPaOi8y1FxrjDxOsbT56sjWOEV5BYqOkCqU-xTQJdHAPYVnkUig4YPTd00/s1600/damirwedding1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkVuaMA66_RaMqb6fXBa7IxAk3ErQ8yNLTHvyECzykeqP5ixSve6HyObwMl3N0Nnxoha6X2F470PKqUu58WPaOi8y1FxrjDxOsbT56sjWOEV5BYqOkCqU-xTQJdHAPYVnkUig4YPTd00/s400/damirwedding1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494070687976919426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Friday night, boyfriend and I flew to my hometown to attend one of my best friend's wedding. As we have known each other for 23 years, he chose me as his witness (in Italy there are no bridesmaids or groomsmen, the couple chooses from one to three witnesses that after the celebration will have to sign the marriage act granting the truth of the union). I needed the perfect outfit. I needed to be elegant while understated, so that the bride would be the only center of the attention.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHzwWZJv3ejLmiFzGbembw3gXfvhnTa8-mY41W00JkCd-SltwToPeDZfNCrMk65q1Uy32YEWgVp2e7un3i2Smxb98RafTBrJ61lysTydYwCGBtVs3JI9Jhpxyp6QoLAm5VHOP2Ry4dZc/s1600/damirwedding3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHzwWZJv3ejLmiFzGbembw3gXfvhnTa8-mY41W00JkCd-SltwToPeDZfNCrMk65q1Uy32YEWgVp2e7un3i2Smxb98RafTBrJ61lysTydYwCGBtVs3JI9Jhpxyp6QoLAm5VHOP2Ry4dZc/s400/damirwedding3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494070696248756626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">I chose a vintage handsewn dress that was my boyfriend's mom. She wore it in the same occasion some decades ago. The dress is gorgeous, it is made of the softest and wrinkle-free silk I have ever seen and I loved the fact that it was blue, my favourite colour. I needed to buy shoes to go with it and I was lucky enough to find a teal satin silk pair that match perfectly the colour of some flowers on the dress. The only problem at that point was the bag. I know that you don't need your bag to match the shoes but I loved that colour too much not to repeat it in my bag. The only thing to do was... making the bag!!!!!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pOXLrI8eFh_UXZ_atzf0FyLKHWQ-EirM4trnMkvwrhNxgXAvXZhN9w1xzI7_Td3heeFJX715SVFUV6RsXgWZ9NqApAJSN46mgcedun4oaOOjCV2zsheM8OXBZWob7h7Lre8Ak_1G-RQ/s1600/damirwedding2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pOXLrI8eFh_UXZ_atzf0FyLKHWQ-EirM4trnMkvwrhNxgXAvXZhN9w1xzI7_Td3heeFJX715SVFUV6RsXgWZ9NqApAJSN46mgcedun4oaOOjCV2zsheM8OXBZWob7h7Lre8Ak_1G-RQ/s400/damirwedding2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494070693124297890" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I went fabric hunting with my boyfriend's mom anf found a silk cady in the very same colour!!!! I used a pattern from an old book and after a few hours of ironing, steaming, sewing and sweating, I had my bag ready to go!!!! I was so proud of my little work!!!</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhnH9EDwrsragaW08iA3g4xiHjQjaQIptDgYZI-7vUnmZJhxyEXKHck2w8aqhGJcZSuGViJUISbpblfO2POxwCQXgh1MjH4_LZM5v9MswmW4LH4fx1hrF939-BPUiMSO_cud3ladh4d0/s1600/damirwedding4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhnH9EDwrsragaW08iA3g4xiHjQjaQIptDgYZI-7vUnmZJhxyEXKHck2w8aqhGJcZSuGViJUISbpblfO2POxwCQXgh1MjH4_LZM5v9MswmW4LH4fx1hrF939-BPUiMSO_cud3ladh4d0/s400/damirwedding4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494071579876451762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">I really have to say that this time my crafty skills really saved me from hours and hours of shopping, looking for the perfect bag in this heat... moreover, I was proud of being there, right next to my best friends wearing something that represented me fully: a handmade dress and bag.<br /><br />I had to use Picnik on these pictures... the sun is so high today that the colours were too sparkling... but if you wish to see the exact colours, the following picture wasn't picnicked...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXyF2cP_oaKykdsvWEOyTMLGz3vreLHa1Ky8f9W1rSL62bviFR3vrO5MZikvx6CPqY2ioh0XqrJJtb__NO85A4R5fVqZqweaUHFsSNpMIzNXI0kFUIqDi-rxAUJxM_MM7BaN5KFR2SNI/s1600/DSC02012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXyF2cP_oaKykdsvWEOyTMLGz3vreLHa1Ky8f9W1rSL62bviFR3vrO5MZikvx6CPqY2ioh0XqrJJtb__NO85A4R5fVqZqweaUHFsSNpMIzNXI0kFUIqDi-rxAUJxM_MM7BaN5KFR2SNI/s400/DSC02012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494072101259074082" border="0" /></a><br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-32101628519263578902010-07-06T02:03:00.001-07:002010-07-06T02:29:20.420-07:00Let me introduce you to...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I know I promised projects and pictures but I spent the last week showing around a friend of mine that came to visit from Rome and, when she left, mostly at the seaside... the sun is so hot and the heat is so unbereable... the only way to win it is going to the beach... I really have to say that this is not a bad fact after all....</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">However, apart from my long afternoons on the sand, I really want to introduce you to my newest friend: the goose named Giosuè!!!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wFSsgvGVthwD4eutS_mFyOjyQNwNuJ7n_ve01N-nw5ZT6FIghnOwAyq5ea4LQJx4PxiErPd782N8milRnfXSjPYmGOfRYh9FjwYaJfVY-s1x7-fN4ymy33HS4YAkO01HEtl_c1p9NLM/s1600/giosue1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wFSsgvGVthwD4eutS_mFyOjyQNwNuJ7n_ve01N-nw5ZT6FIghnOwAyq5ea4LQJx4PxiErPd782N8milRnfXSjPYmGOfRYh9FjwYaJfVY-s1x7-fN4ymy33HS4YAkO01HEtl_c1p9NLM/s400/giosue1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490720901233479506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">A few months ago a friend of mine had a baby and a couple of weeks ago they decided to throw a party in his honour and I didn't want to show up barehanded nor I wanted to buy something. My friend is like the most green-sustainable-ecoconscious-fairtrade person that I know (she even lives without a tv, she made one with a box and she puts her head inside to make her baby laugh) and I knew that she would appreciate something hand-made and completely rcycled.<br />So, whenever I need to make something for babies I head to <a href="http://www.thelongthread.com/">The Long Thread</a> which has the most awesome tutorials!!! I chose <a href="http://thelongthread.com/?p=173">Lucy Goosey</a> but I decided to name it after the baby, so... Giosuè the Goose!<br />I used some heavy striped cotton (the remains of the <a href="http://craftyungoddess.blogspot.com/2010/02/vickys-dog-bed.html">dogbeds</a> I made for my mom in March), some blue and white cotton (the remains of a tablecloth I made last year) and some red cotton (from my boyfriend's mom stash). I then embroidered his name with stem stitch and, as the red cotton was starting to fray, I used blanket stitch to prevent it.<br />I am so so so happy with the final result, I really do think this is the best thing I ever made and even the goose seemed to be happy hiding in the most charming corners of my garden...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeiz8eAsPrGi0W-yvOClsPEfreudTOvBIafyYRWtp0dZ6eyfCUBLt1CxdRL32x-Zs0vLUIzGDi3PuYGMMPPfqFHcVQc_CzO3klfIgIZCoBHyJS2TzIc-W-4ROxjpJxv0ru18zdVW_Q5A/s1600/DSC01830.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeiz8eAsPrGi0W-yvOClsPEfreudTOvBIafyYRWtp0dZ6eyfCUBLt1CxdRL32x-Zs0vLUIzGDi3PuYGMMPPfqFHcVQc_CzO3klfIgIZCoBHyJS2TzIc-W-4ROxjpJxv0ru18zdVW_Q5A/s400/DSC01830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490720928639716514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lu4iuR3DLvod6TgW0NYuMV8idr1s-8swDIGrdwvpYCpwaVU__IkhVtD97RnVygLlVz45rWWguYBZ8oq80mYN6bFevk4C7J4DsAjkxke0HxQTGHiB5wQc7Dq06shDFsul42Rm0XQ2I7c/s1600/DSC01829.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lu4iuR3DLvod6TgW0NYuMV8idr1s-8swDIGrdwvpYCpwaVU__IkhVtD97RnVygLlVz45rWWguYBZ8oq80mYN6bFevk4C7J4DsAjkxke0HxQTGHiB5wQc7Dq06shDFsul42Rm0XQ2I7c/s400/DSC01829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490720904805548706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4ziuig6Gkz6RErcFclfKiMTvC_H3egdeeqtcVYHmEye82bP07-6XU_m5u5HJZ-F7NjkOu9n4H8wsqoY4Ku_OzxwUZsGj2J0TTeFcVhDB6UySesiQxouqfoowuZnFtuwUlv8U0aGyh8Y/s1600/DSC01831.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4ziuig6Gkz6RErcFclfKiMTvC_H3egdeeqtcVYHmEye82bP07-6XU_m5u5HJZ-F7NjkOu9n4H8wsqoY4Ku_OzxwUZsGj2J0TTeFcVhDB6UySesiQxouqfoowuZnFtuwUlv8U0aGyh8Y/s400/DSC01831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490720933495522802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYHD7wTZOAZPK-naf0xSTzkHzawRJbAba7XYS3OBbZEfuYPbqHoTcm0tQYCvc5DZRv-BdwVEI9a18f_JYFa5StIYVcBOpHMfnHxsicVnPFKk587MsfJZ8e-uG7oTR2FTDGTnyF4iEEug/s1600/DSC01828.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYHD7wTZOAZPK-naf0xSTzkHzawRJbAba7XYS3OBbZEfuYPbqHoTcm0tQYCvc5DZRv-BdwVEI9a18f_JYFa5StIYVcBOpHMfnHxsicVnPFKk587MsfJZ8e-uG7oTR2FTDGTnyF4iEEug/s400/DSC01828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490720908429010178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuviYfTRAvBTXq0Z17R8Y0BHfYfJlfSjyPq3NbO8-C8eRU9SQ9p1J_agiY0PLXzzbWEn31GCyBIpHR3mTsUrb1K_4geUutQ7HaSQIQO4IhM3zDw3WLTSCAZlR3TonUAG-Tgy2lGFx6c4U/s1600/DSC01839.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuviYfTRAvBTXq0Z17R8Y0BHfYfJlfSjyPq3NbO8-C8eRU9SQ9p1J_agiY0PLXzzbWEn31GCyBIpHR3mTsUrb1K_4geUutQ7HaSQIQO4IhM3zDw3WLTSCAZlR3TonUAG-Tgy2lGFx6c4U/s400/DSC01839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490722441727834274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqk3teX9S4CZul2IMKjlyAARd1dn8QGx4vowFPk76iWGxENjW0DqZK-S7onnxCAjTqj76stSh4A61zlG1rPlSD8pjWfrN5xjna0xtWyvdyWoSJi37ti6hSYxk6OFHiuLrzYcrHPZeQDXU/s1600/DSC01838.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqk3teX9S4CZul2IMKjlyAARd1dn8QGx4vowFPk76iWGxENjW0DqZK-S7onnxCAjTqj76stSh4A61zlG1rPlSD8pjWfrN5xjna0xtWyvdyWoSJi37ti6hSYxk6OFHiuLrzYcrHPZeQDXU/s400/DSC01838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490722439199252434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA9VdJpxiBwxU_K0Wg8eN5eQxTPkVwsfW5hOynOxbdgFIhbfk3VpVejH0DHkxXLjjC4NCRD1ERbvhXBQ9Jyqaiib6W87pjSiuIxy_IbBUdsN8AyWE22ExXWvKPKWap3zzBTPA4ojN1-U/s1600/DSC01832.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA9VdJpxiBwxU_K0Wg8eN5eQxTPkVwsfW5hOynOxbdgFIhbfk3VpVejH0DHkxXLjjC4NCRD1ERbvhXBQ9Jyqaiib6W87pjSiuIxy_IbBUdsN8AyWE22ExXWvKPKWap3zzBTPA4ojN1-U/s400/DSC01832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490722435597461266" border="0" /></a>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-54852293007690761282010-06-23T05:43:00.001-07:002010-06-23T06:36:22.890-07:00Being back... loud and proud!!!I disappeared in the past weeks due to a lot of things to do. I took up, as a consultant, an event planning job that completely ate up all my free time for more than ten days. Now that the event has taken place and was a huge success, I am working on the last finishing touches of my cottage renovation, before the first guests arrive this Saturday.<br />I have to say that being back in the swing of things for the event plannig was extremely fun. I chose freely to leave that world when I moved to Sicily looking for a quieter life but doing it from tim to time is useful for my brain, for making new acquaintaces and for some stress which, taken in the right doses keeps you alive (at least, this is how I see it).<br />For the cottage I can't wait to share pictures with you all but I need a few more days of painting...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz28/CraftaholicsAnonymous/gunbutton.jpg" /></a></center><br />Anyway, the great news is that, while browsing through my Reader trying to catch up with all your lovely blogs, I discovered that I have won the "<a href="http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2010/06/you-know-youre-craftaholic-when.html">you know you're a craftaholic when...</a>" post which I had blogged about <a href="http://craftyungoddess.blogspot.com/2010/06/craftaholicisms.html">here</a>. This said, I'm very proud of my new button which I will display for a long time in my right column! That post was so much fun, it made me laugh to tears and I could certainly see myself in more than one "craftaholicism"! If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend you to do it!<br />I managed to make a few things and hopefully will be able to share them in the following days so... stay tuned!!!piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-40076881025794670292010-06-08T00:08:00.001-07:002010-06-08T00:13:47.029-07:00#2 - Picnic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUNGcQoQJrvKNXUIpBr9rU50E5Q0qMQDWvdd3Wq_1tcPFWJ_ZnYO-bKGysrkrzC935jJ7nWMFphWEppyH9OQzjnDjjgUSMiN_1wqTDEOeU34AcQT2W0h5EA5xg7Pdiiopw1FciHbgZ_Y/s1600/picnic1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUNGcQoQJrvKNXUIpBr9rU50E5Q0qMQDWvdd3Wq_1tcPFWJ_ZnYO-bKGysrkrzC935jJ7nWMFphWEppyH9OQzjnDjjgUSMiN_1wqTDEOeU34AcQT2W0h5EA5xg7Pdiiopw1FciHbgZ_Y/s400/picnic1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480296375321687074" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />The best inspiration usually doesn't come at 10pm while watching some really trash tv after a long day of work that eventually ended at 9... But I decided that the best was to pick up a pencil the same. I didn't want to give myself some excuses for not drawing yesterday night. Therefore my picnic is far from what was really in my mind. But sometimes the will and the effort to complete an assignment are more important than the final result. Or I guess so...</span> </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQb3gcPbBMCdzsk-Rl19OfhcAnUDY0N4NbBIGLSPr7Ou6AeOurYoX5qsutR28gjs4Yv9XE6SS4OezC1PHiFA6aLQ0dcljuqj2jh8wcAxGdsjWtS01EDnMYQukXEqADklS4MyxT3KCg-E/s1600/picnic3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQb3gcPbBMCdzsk-Rl19OfhcAnUDY0N4NbBIGLSPr7Ou6AeOurYoX5qsutR28gjs4Yv9XE6SS4OezC1PHiFA6aLQ0dcljuqj2jh8wcAxGdsjWtS01EDnMYQukXEqADklS4MyxT3KCg-E/s400/picnic3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480297451670741538" border="0" /></a>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-24435063742138347312010-06-06T11:51:00.000-07:002010-06-06T12:07:49.204-07:00#1 - Ivory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Bu8s5DqaQGljy-Az84iYm0evfA-Fkwl4BAG7OOe_SkYewO0nCOSmYHPotRefqSi6aIsgS-Poxp7_EJECwjMAfaYDY-36Mx4uP0tL3bw0W_bs6NQNXc7hyQssxL0KHTy1zgGlSM2G0ts/s1600/ivory2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Bu8s5DqaQGljy-Az84iYm0evfA-Fkwl4BAG7OOe_SkYewO0nCOSmYHPotRefqSi6aIsgS-Poxp7_EJECwjMAfaYDY-36Mx4uP0tL3bw0W_bs6NQNXc7hyQssxL0KHTy1zgGlSM2G0ts/s400/ivory2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479736589399419378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://creativebootcamp.blogspot.com/">Creativity Boot Camp</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> has officially started. I had to chose a medium to work with. I was initially drawn to photography as it is one of my most beloved passion but I thought that, using my camera almost everyday, I could try something more difficult. </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a child I loved to draw, I had a lot of crayons (some of them are still here with me) and stared for hours at the colours and their combinations. So I decided to be very brave and went for drawing. For the next fourteen days I will draw something starting from the inspirational word given from Maegan.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today's word was Ivory. I immediately thought of elefants, of their massive shape and of Africa. Maybe simple but I'm happy with the final result. </span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtGXtyHTGYftLzha9gaguJ9taQPc2O5y-voxIb8mPQG6FrCvXHJjDjTDCE6ywYT_mxpmGE5P_ABBPzQRa05n0ppTsrKkRjJB0TfmSaPGpfVnhT-Kn477JsrY1rqcUQFzubbWEXfmhAMg/s1600/ivory1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtGXtyHTGYftLzha9gaguJ9taQPc2O5y-voxIb8mPQG6FrCvXHJjDjTDCE6ywYT_mxpmGE5P_ABBPzQRa05n0ppTsrKkRjJB0TfmSaPGpfVnhT-Kn477JsrY1rqcUQFzubbWEXfmhAMg/s400/ivory1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479736595104185794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can't wait to see tomorrow's word!</span><br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-56722261142947815452010-06-03T02:46:00.000-07:002010-06-03T05:11:38.186-07:00Projects, projects, projects...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I came home from my journey a little more than a week ago and it took me all this time to go back to my normal routine. I love to travel, it's definitely my favourite passion (apart from crafting, of course!) but I need a little time once back home to recover and reflect on what I experienced.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Those two weeks were great, I spent gorgeous days with my family and had the chance to see how my brother is doing up there in Northern England (btw, he's doing great!). I also got to know better some friends and had a fantastic time in London! We hanged mostly in the East and I discovered good places to eat and to shop. The fave from the weekend was definitely the Columbia Flower Market: I saw so many beautiful plants and flowers and so many gorgeous furniture for gardens that really made me want to move there immediately, only to be able to buy tons of that stuff!</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I came home with loads of inspiration and I have a long list of things to make, do, mend, refashion, recycle...</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Therefore, in order to be more productive with all this projects, I signed up for a few things here on blogland...</span><br /></div><br />First coming up in chronological order is <a href="http://creativebootcamp.blogspot.com/">The Creativity Boot Camp</a>!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://creativebootcamp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af351/madelinebea/bcbutton1.jpg" alt="boot camp" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It is "<span style="font-style: italic;">a two week intensive e-course designed to take your creativity to the next level. The course will consist of daily creative conditioning exercises to shift your life patterns allowing for a full embracing of your creative selves leading to higher levels of creativity</span>". In other words, I'm looking for some more inspiration and tips and tricks to transform my creative energy in finished projects. And I am also looking for finding some courage and bravery to start a long loved project.<br /></div><br />Then, there's the <a href="http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2010/05/christmas-in-july-international-gift.html">Christmas in July International Gift Exchange</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/cm/thedailygreen/images/hw/tdg-gift-guide-pckg.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.thedailygreen.com/cm/thedailygreen/images/hw/tdg-gift-guide-pckg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I will make and receive a handmade gift... I already met via email the girl who's going to send me her handmade goodness and my gift will be coming straight from California... I can't wait to see what will arrive! I am waiting to know the name of the girl I actually have to send mine!<br />I love the feeling of waiting for the post to arrive and also the slight embarassment of giving to an unknown person something made with love. I'm always thinking "will she love it???". If you too love swaps, there's still time to <a href="http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2010/05/christmas-in-july-international-gift.html">sign up</a>!<br /><br />Here comes the tough stuff... I really want to learn to make my clothes and become a better seamstress so I signed up for two really demanding projects...<br /></div><br />The first is <a href="http://comeandseetheseitz.com/2010/02/02/join-me/">The Pattern Challenge</a>, organized by the lovely Sarah of <a href="http://comeandseetheseitz.com/">Come and See the Seitz</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://comeandseetheseitz.com/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 161px;" src="http://comeandseetheseitz.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/pattern_challenge_resize.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's very simple: I need to find a few sewing goals, make them, blog about them and share pics on Flickr. Easier written than done. I'm still thinking about my goals. I need to make myself at least a couple of summer dresses, one blouse and a couple of skirts and I also have a neverending pile of clothes to refashion... So, once my ideas are clear I will devote an entire post to my goals and start to sew immediately after that!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The last project I embarked is certainly the most challenging for me. I signed up for the <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/2010/05/join-me-self-stitched-september.html">Self-Stitched-September</a> from the super amazing Zoe of <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/">So,Zo...</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/2010/05/join-me-self-stitched-september.html" target="_blank"> <img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/zozowahine/sss01.jpg" border="0" height="80" width="170" /> </a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I loved her Me-Made-March and May projects and I craved to be part of that, seeing the beautiful outfits she put together only with clothes she made for herself. So, when she said if anybody was interested in join her in September, I didn't even think of what I was doing.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am going to take the light version and will wear at least one item of clothing or accessory made or refashioned by me everyday for the whole month of September. I have three full months to prepare... I really need to work hard but the Pattern Challenge will be of some help.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's going to be a fun summer, I know! I just think... will I be able to bring my sewing machine to the seaside???? Mmmmm... better learn how to hand sew!!!<br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-4333009369460753582010-06-02T10:36:00.000-07:002010-06-02T10:39:37.098-07:00Craftaholicisms...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just a quick note to tell all of you to check out the awesome blog </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/">Craftaholic Anonymous</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> today. The post is titled </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2010/06/you-know-youre-craftaholic-when.html">"you know you're a craftaholic when..."</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> so be prepared to recognize yourself and laugh out loud!!!! Plus, there's also a very little contribution from me!</span><br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-18878145755559477022010-06-01T07:32:00.000-07:002010-06-01T07:53:53.372-07:00Julie's ATC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/piccolasamurai/4660187720/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2FSAi7o3efd_Zq5K00Q1kBDMsoL9WnDFZAxPgdTPwm520yW600qQuyGXU6ag2iZABQs-6JKTQi8k0hU-vJkW_w2fsjeE3qLwcD_9Jdj7zZTEN-1bDT_syJKANrwdAH0Sm5FNoKc5wj4/s400/julie_atc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477816388966343538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Hand Embroidery Network ATC Swap is now over and I have finally received my partner's embroidered card... it's so cute... I love the yellow background and the buttons! Julie is really an embroidery beginner and she did a great job! Seeing it yesterday really made my day!!!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/piccolasamurai/4592870888/in/photostream/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1l22WH_mMZLx7wWRGYV_mu9yNcaSmiPEgzK7pRQfJtisstft9i1GJZ-cFLaX10koM1ePJIPVQYTstHheHfhNR9B5CGo8goU5KDkcLk5LnTsyXBNac8rdBk-05pA1WfEV-bJkVPsuC0I/s400/DSC03775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477816383576231730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the ATC that I sent her. I wanted to work with complementary colours not only in the threads but also on the fabric. I love the pairing of yellow and fuchsia together, they really are gorgeous! The design was taken from a Publisher's clipart... not very technologic but I loved the butterfly! I also added some sequins to give the work more light and a backstitch green frame to give it a definite look.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the first time I take part in a swap and I must say that it was fantastic! I had to work on a schedule not to disappoint my partner and was able to stay in the timing. Plus, I had a reason to wait for the postman...</span><br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-20626818543364832312010-05-17T03:01:00.000-07:002010-05-17T03:33:04.335-07:00Le Jardin des Plantes<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSfpBESZ410DZJkC5Ln5bVvkNtN14koO0c6a-davKrNQoJZ0NlAkYDN3kNGxiacxNz3-m2h1ZhIIcUTmhTx-mRTdtRKblqfEJaCQhRG14z9xWn_TbJoAoYkbON5IX4-W7F4hlQ4-Oy0Y/s1600/DSC03816.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472184100927832018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSfpBESZ410DZJkC5Ln5bVvkNtN14koO0c6a-davKrNQoJZ0NlAkYDN3kNGxiacxNz3-m2h1ZhIIcUTmhTx-mRTdtRKblqfEJaCQhRG14z9xWn_TbJoAoYkbON5IX4-W7F4hlQ4-Oy0Y/s400/DSC03816.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">My trip is going great and I am having the best time ever!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am now on the train towards Leeds (free wi-fi, amazing for Italians) and, while watching the beautiful English countryside go by, I am catching up with your blogs and mine also!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have so many things to share, this trip has been very inspirational and I am sure that Yorkshire will be the same!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">While in Paris with my mom, we went to visit the Botanical Gardens and that was like a dream came true!!! They are big, full of blooming flowers and just perfect! We had a long and interesting walk and I have now lots of ideas for my own garden!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Words cannot express nature's beauty so... it's better to let the pictures speak for themselves!</span></div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH41erCJa-EKcHWT7EYJc9NEEfXgDWs2TlaH1rSJWUE6SDylxxSb4MpMcxDfVDNOZ4L8MffAJFLonLeFczhhzqrzzn5-zZUOSHyac7tqnGsDB6Gj96NdiN4Z-K5PKLSkoUAYQ1WGICYlk/s1600/DSC03833.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472184130725229970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH41erCJa-EKcHWT7EYJc9NEEfXgDWs2TlaH1rSJWUE6SDylxxSb4MpMcxDfVDNOZ4L8MffAJFLonLeFczhhzqrzzn5-zZUOSHyac7tqnGsDB6Gj96NdiN4Z-K5PKLSkoUAYQ1WGICYlk/s400/DSC03833.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm91V5LVnUdm9wiYgmVF-TbSDzgNzB_6JruC5hfWEbItJ-yamocrj6C696nCq33D6mcDzdHXIKpqx7gwdj4qzuwsij60Y6F-BRH56ZBD27UPwWzf-Hw939TqUuNCYfhA1X3bxqI38dtI/s1600/DSC03829.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472184128783529650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm91V5LVnUdm9wiYgmVF-TbSDzgNzB_6JruC5hfWEbItJ-yamocrj6C696nCq33D6mcDzdHXIKpqx7gwdj4qzuwsij60Y6F-BRH56ZBD27UPwWzf-Hw939TqUuNCYfhA1X3bxqI38dtI/s400/DSC03829.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpz-6pYB1oUnJ5n4N109dFTTnpxyCezGBDH5_2B_Z4xbbEvZM0YwuxqZgN3JqFOt1DCJWE0kZ-d9sP5DhUgTvtfbYOfJ3x3oqIpmheiew5RIvFVwDudUqLU1TiegmFZW2ubeCAJ55bl4/s1600/DSC03828.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472184119043233650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpz-6pYB1oUnJ5n4N109dFTTnpxyCezGBDH5_2B_Z4xbbEvZM0YwuxqZgN3JqFOt1DCJWE0kZ-d9sP5DhUgTvtfbYOfJ3x3oqIpmheiew5RIvFVwDudUqLU1TiegmFZW2ubeCAJ55bl4/s400/DSC03828.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrx9wPa-bI5u7fuPh0HvtJ_vYd39oLZYWdJPZnDmm-AMQ12aDs2loKlIIGT6IvG5MojYHMMvDEwreVvCSsK16-Kxh_JBqEVikBmo8lbf9guf60qo7_tQg864RC_onCFC-4kmhycGYJ2wc/s1600/DSC03806.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472180969627938226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrx9wPa-bI5u7fuPh0HvtJ_vYd39oLZYWdJPZnDmm-AMQ12aDs2loKlIIGT6IvG5MojYHMMvDEwreVvCSsK16-Kxh_JBqEVikBmo8lbf9guf60qo7_tQg864RC_onCFC-4kmhycGYJ2wc/s400/DSC03806.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtVoCIG4TLnhrKMaBnxvETMCeDtTYHQaLlHR0S6EIalMD9vbJxwYaFBuXMiOXCIlGOcM3gYEp0TQmv9CvhWpOvtP_74c1_oTGe2x2b39ZpW9WMeeA43oliEEnIhxHmDOu4GsdhqxWI4k/s1600/DSC03798.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472180963001142002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtVoCIG4TLnhrKMaBnxvETMCeDtTYHQaLlHR0S6EIalMD9vbJxwYaFBuXMiOXCIlGOcM3gYEp0TQmv9CvhWpOvtP_74c1_oTGe2x2b39ZpW9WMeeA43oliEEnIhxHmDOu4GsdhqxWI4k/s400/DSC03798.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa8rbDvxbLTO0w5xX7e5fk9UhhOT2SnFRYxAMvtwr-4UMjM7MyVsHklv7uq2s7cFqmHVQ10SjHuwzGz9wQ1fGKW9jZkP2LrdLKs5ErpHW0uSzhXSVc3t17jmIzltcO-xzDVsB-fjjZFo/s1600/DSC03797.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472180954924835490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa8rbDvxbLTO0w5xX7e5fk9UhhOT2SnFRYxAMvtwr-4UMjM7MyVsHklv7uq2s7cFqmHVQ10SjHuwzGz9wQ1fGKW9jZkP2LrdLKs5ErpHW0uSzhXSVc3t17jmIzltcO-xzDVsB-fjjZFo/s400/DSC03797.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLGrXdzaTXlOsiG35rlQ4SMDlZZWallilv6TyEr4TbLyBchbtTX30iMeWWn4WK-xeQRGUgq7e-hnZrpBoR9ESAnWhjcWUntLSl9QcL79wEiG6Nx5awJtoPF3hbkyMur_p_zD-eskZMp8/s1600/DSC03790.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472180950162344210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLGrXdzaTXlOsiG35rlQ4SMDlZZWallilv6TyEr4TbLyBchbtTX30iMeWWn4WK-xeQRGUgq7e-hnZrpBoR9ESAnWhjcWUntLSl9QcL79wEiG6Nx5awJtoPF3hbkyMur_p_zD-eskZMp8/s400/DSC03790.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7BMsNpzt_i42bdtF4PCYQSZqJ2TlEllDoppfIFoDVOlMfsib5THCNfbct78pf8f7ML_2WupV3nUN_68Jo-8-E56LL4FH9Huz8yuIx032NzFzmcbicBwhE_g9ycKGcvUEameqB9rfWXM/s1600/DSC03823.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472184113989553618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7BMsNpzt_i42bdtF4PCYQSZqJ2TlEllDoppfIFoDVOlMfsib5THCNfbct78pf8f7ML_2WupV3nUN_68Jo-8-E56LL4FH9Huz8yuIx032NzFzmcbicBwhE_g9ycKGcvUEameqB9rfWXM/s400/DSC03823.JPG" /></a><br /><p>Stay tuned because there's more to come!!!!</p>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-72454835821322195812010-05-11T12:45:00.001-07:002010-05-11T12:45:55.023-07:00Il pleut doucement sur la ville<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/piccolasamurai/2210430800/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/2210430800_c8d9e0f8d7.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/piccolasamurai/2210430800/">Il pleut sur la ville</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/piccolasamurai/">piccolasamurai</a>.</span></div><p>I made it to Paris! I'm enjoying this beautiful city with my mom even if it's raining and the weather is so cold it makes me want to take my winter coat with me!<br />Thanks to all your travelling wishes, they were useful!!!!!!<br />I will try to keep you updated with my travels!</p>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-38544108158184910702010-05-09T11:50:00.000-07:002010-05-09T12:02:12.705-07:00Waiting for the cloud to dissolve...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zN4agQoc-IiB1u5tkBpsWnNNc5xLLxc7uVH3gl9p7u4-0QCBhFS5f85nuCOxS_z3P78RpAbM3ZAGo3QqOR75Qez06vnr4GNhQrZuZ_Z0dO0F2vdnzZfQ085WhO_C0BHTrggoTE6BrGM/s1600/Pillows.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zN4agQoc-IiB1u5tkBpsWnNNc5xLLxc7uVH3gl9p7u4-0QCBhFS5f85nuCOxS_z3P78RpAbM3ZAGo3QqOR75Qez06vnr4GNhQrZuZ_Z0dO0F2vdnzZfQ085WhO_C0BHTrggoTE6BrGM/s400/Pillows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469346837856453330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The best way to dissolve my anxiety over the ash cloud? Crafting of course!</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, instead of reading every 10 minutes all the Italian and French online newspapers looking for news, I took my sewing machine and made two different pillow covers for our small cottage couch.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The red one is very simple, it's just a fabric case, with no embellishments and no zipper. I overlapped the end on one side and I am still thinking of adding a few buttons... but I need to buy them, as I cannot find any I like in my drawers.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The other one, made with a thick striped cotton is my nemesis for today! I love it! I put a grosgrain ribbon I've had for at least 6 years in between the two sides and sewed all together. And I also managed to attach an invisible zipper!</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These were very easy to make but I am nonetheless very excited in sharing them and I am very happy with the final result!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqesUNUUtnqfljefHqpM9lJa8SVFZ2YLqvtAYcNUueV3HhFYzAU0r1CwgX5WtfY1QA2y-GX_375uTSmLhuoEmRQ74gAiIZHSJ7VDp9bx1hZgh3e9JutaYfpOZ0O9EZ2La-7CmawEElX8/s1600/pillow_detail.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqesUNUUtnqfljefHqpM9lJa8SVFZ2YLqvtAYcNUueV3HhFYzAU0r1CwgX5WtfY1QA2y-GX_375uTSmLhuoEmRQ74gAiIZHSJ7VDp9bx1hZgh3e9JutaYfpOZ0O9EZ2La-7CmawEElX8/s400/pillow_detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469346833152603874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">p.s. to tell the truth... I checked internet for news on the volcano every 11 minutes instead of 10... I couldn't help myself!</span><br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-58520557141580160412010-05-08T11:13:00.000-07:002010-05-08T11:40:52.171-07:00A European Journey... Eyjafjöll permitting...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA26UuvoI6K4JpXdHYdPuSQMYC6ilQa68bYcpM4hhAJsPFATCh72q4LVfOE4rKOps3-5SF7cc1rcw402_Pp87ZqqJl15IgE-bChhLR4qBTKL8lxO-6Nb8N_kMtEVGuUt-xgoC7E24XnY/s1600/europe_map.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 390px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468968904075127474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqA26UuvoI6K4JpXdHYdPuSQMYC6ilQa68bYcpM4hhAJsPFATCh72q4LVfOE4rKOps3-5SF7cc1rcw402_Pp87ZqqJl15IgE-bChhLR4qBTKL8lxO-6Nb8N_kMtEVGuUt-xgoC7E24XnY/s400/europe_map.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is the exciting news I wanted to share with you all today!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Tuesday I will be leaving for a 15 days journey across Europe!!! From Catania to Paris (three awesome mother-daughter days), to London (a friend's weekend), to Leeds (visiting my brother), to Milan (family and friends) and then back home.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">But my feelings tonight are a bit different... the Iceland volcano is erupting again and travel flights could be difficult in the next few days. The red alert is for tomorrow but, when I travel, I tend to get a bit anxious before leaving... I really really really do hope that everything goes well and my flights will be regular!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Will you please keep all your fingers crossed for me? I would be so grateful... maybe a giveaway when I come back?</span></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-3745214133373680672010-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:002010-05-07T06:26:37.840-07:00Impulse buy: Jelly Gladiators<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkBaAUXVGfkQ4YB1UZkHAKI-BPjsyg1Xz4goZeIhoRWF096lB7Pqnw-WcohOBVZmP2rJhOV_KXBEb8L96ni_EZbWwiMHM0VbEPqKr9wlC2dKC47mhe_-zHUncJoO5kfmPCbbjgg5Jf_o/s1600/DSC03766.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkBaAUXVGfkQ4YB1UZkHAKI-BPjsyg1Xz4goZeIhoRWF096lB7Pqnw-WcohOBVZmP2rJhOV_KXBEb8L96ni_EZbWwiMHM0VbEPqKr9wlC2dKC47mhe_-zHUncJoO5kfmPCbbjgg5Jf_o/s400/DSC03766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468516197921047810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have never been a gladiator sandal kind of girl. I always thought they were too fashion-y for me.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">But when yesterday I saw these beauties in a shop, I couldn't resist from buying them immediately. I can already picture me on the beach wearing them, paired with a vintage dress... and this moment is just 15 days away... parting me from the first trip to the beach is a beautiful journey across Europe... but this is another story that I will share with you tomorrow!!!</span> </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWhGsyfdknMfldT2RefahbEx40mJJdm2FfOQjSgjeetQQG-XKfAYeJZS-e-Rb1mY7UTaoKAcD8eT0roPXXmM5OxFCGUsGNR3CzMvQ_WlwkrN_6vAj5HN0uVVPeT7hT_8JRiWb71FJA5w/s1600/DSC03769.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWhGsyfdknMfldT2RefahbEx40mJJdm2FfOQjSgjeetQQG-XKfAYeJZS-e-Rb1mY7UTaoKAcD8eT0roPXXmM5OxFCGUsGNR3CzMvQ_WlwkrN_6vAj5HN0uVVPeT7hT_8JRiWb71FJA5w/s400/DSC03769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468516217582189202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDXE6tq9f4rb9qiw20K06I_FI83ynox3mYzTXYKpU2apo2bnkGrRK-gxGuFT_bMIXhA915GPgQ2oRHENFfXYkyY-JJchJ_3XuRDdrSp2RElB-lAp3ZRnddFOMXzFp_Ez9hzK45OruTaI/s1600/DSC03767.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDXE6tq9f4rb9qiw20K06I_FI83ynox3mYzTXYKpU2apo2bnkGrRK-gxGuFT_bMIXhA915GPgQ2oRHENFfXYkyY-JJchJ_3XuRDdrSp2RElB-lAp3ZRnddFOMXzFp_Ez9hzK45OruTaI/s400/DSC03767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468516209679828754" border="0" /></a><br />Do you ever feel the urge to buy something you never ever thought to wear?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpbSqlGiY0IfuST-gIagfXhHotACUgeAFAmoUZSVYYjIdDbhC5RKLrmAkCYOHH9lsMNbidYJDA2lCcFg4yCxFAGF26cCDtI3hPYt-inhvMzzOXJMUZprfDHtM1Pfjr0RvNJh_Ufl_bhw/s1600/DSC03770.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpbSqlGiY0IfuST-gIagfXhHotACUgeAFAmoUZSVYYjIdDbhC5RKLrmAkCYOHH9lsMNbidYJDA2lCcFg4yCxFAGF26cCDtI3hPYt-inhvMzzOXJMUZprfDHtM1Pfjr0RvNJh_Ufl_bhw/s400/DSC03770.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468518771520443874" border="0" /></a>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-2104022353207827312010-05-04T09:04:00.000-07:002010-05-04T09:37:04.624-07:00A new home for my ID<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Remember my last <a href="http://craftyungoddess.blogspot.com/2010/04/guess-what.html">post</a> where I asked you to guess what I was making with some doilies, linen and polka dot cotton? I finally finished my new ID holder and am very proud to share with you all!</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibXwf_ZKjdmSLzZ3NooJQNNq6hBA9ccErjIhyphenhyphen7YHFF4zsY7Y2lHjy17jfeNI0ExyshmGyUkxIFFmXSzlXCxN65QnQvmJpKNdTu9bfK8Ig4mBPL_4Y9mC6CaQzVqWNcjx-AdnGCSe7mDU/s1600/ID+holder.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467447817730801714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibXwf_ZKjdmSLzZ3NooJQNNq6hBA9ccErjIhyphenhyphen7YHFF4zsY7Y2lHjy17jfeNI0ExyshmGyUkxIFFmXSzlXCxN65QnQvmJpKNdTu9bfK8Ig4mBPL_4Y9mC6CaQzVqWNcjx-AdnGCSe7mDU/s400/ID+holder.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've had the same ID holder for the past 15 years. It was a gift from my mom and I love it dearly but, after years of use it is now a bit battered and will feel better in one of my drawers.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I couldn't find a better challenge! I knew I couldn't find the perfect case where I live and I wanted to make myself something special, as I always give all the things I do to friends.</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp9j9Sv8KuUGJuXgK14FgmyiMlYaStXMzR33NZ0Uo0Vv8WgJopkBCS83GTbExWf5P52UaiSDKvdlL2FD35XMwV4kcMapsmVfBDnsW3Nu35VgUKTtTfWNwLtK5HlA29y4W3WuFfMF5-qA/s1600/id.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467447814817772482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp9j9Sv8KuUGJuXgK14FgmyiMlYaStXMzR33NZ0Uo0Vv8WgJopkBCS83GTbExWf5P52UaiSDKvdlL2FD35XMwV4kcMapsmVfBDnsW3Nu35VgUKTtTfWNwLtK5HlA29y4W3WuFfMF5-qA/s400/id.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So I grabbed a few doilies, some vintage linen and began hand stitching them on the fabric.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I added some polka dot blue cotton for the lining. I love the contrast between the vintage exterior and the modern and funky lining. Using a vintage wallet as pattern, I ironed some interfacing to the linen and then sewed all together.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BcZGPKBng03hAE2ShXx79fxwxfCbG9E9Ug-oo7IVnZUFZ-MG7A5ZnbbyuBmsfamD5yBMJ9Az6cGNOa7Cau-znqmmTtfnsTfH7np-1XA5QizHPWbKpzvuBxUeKQw_nXZSD7IQ0XOBAOM/s1600/ID+holder+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467447801582873026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BcZGPKBng03hAE2ShXx79fxwxfCbG9E9Ug-oo7IVnZUFZ-MG7A5ZnbbyuBmsfamD5yBMJ9Az6cGNOa7Cau-znqmmTtfnsTfH7np-1XA5QizHPWbKpzvuBxUeKQw_nXZSD7IQ0XOBAOM/s400/ID+holder+3.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The stitching on the lining is far from perfect but my sewing machine wasn't working properly... I hope it's something temporary. I also embroidered my initials on the cover, it looks so stylish!</span> </div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93A1KKQTVgoHdKpi0WxbIAnkDyqq1YzSseDtPDqNf8TPavqQT2E6ZZ-e4ZBD4POy3QwcyTaa6YpuTkC0As9caJNXlQXAmvtIwUut4RJV9FPWesoCsZaLW2FqYDVqwE5AVqiXTpXLyF-k/s1600/id4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467447790403338530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93A1KKQTVgoHdKpi0WxbIAnkDyqq1YzSseDtPDqNf8TPavqQT2E6ZZ-e4ZBD4POy3QwcyTaa6YpuTkC0As9caJNXlQXAmvtIwUut4RJV9FPWesoCsZaLW2FqYDVqwE5AVqiXTpXLyF-k/s400/id4.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The only problem is it's too beautiful to just throw it in my bag... I will remember to put it in one of its pockets! Otherwise, seen the mess inside my bags, I doubt it will last 15 years!</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">p.s. thank you girls for the awesome comments on my last </span></em><a href="http://craftyungoddess.blogspot.com/2010/04/unfolding-chairs.html"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">post</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">!!! They absolutely made not just my day but my whole week!!!!</span></em></span></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-31720031085442500022010-04-27T07:00:00.000-07:002010-04-27T07:25:40.606-07:00Unfolding chairs...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Dm8jhFlUYho93nDGvIsmTClZVR-7Ip8rc4UDzxnoSBWdOSkR19txvy4AwITI2WYlIZaHjxXFtMHpIDJEGY8HDU6Wu-bETFJGNoY_GGYR-WNysrk-XxxZdfkWJF20rVfA8A_sFSLYwVA/s1600/chairs1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Dm8jhFlUYho93nDGvIsmTClZVR-7Ip8rc4UDzxnoSBWdOSkR19txvy4AwITI2WYlIZaHjxXFtMHpIDJEGY8HDU6Wu-bETFJGNoY_GGYR-WNysrk-XxxZdfkWJF20rVfA8A_sFSLYwVA/s400/chairs1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464821333638735778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm so proud and happy to unfold this brand new project today! I have worked on it on-off for the past two weeks and, to tell the truth, I wasn't sure of its result...</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBCpMgwNLdJYQb6JvCkv_ES6EkVhCpgX2GA18hIFTSwkYBVMnXxCHcyZAqhOEU33qt0-fyg78AoZz3ncXUB3jAVASY8lXMcztGfCT4NC41YbjrWssKnWIXEKs5VnTG2pyk7FOL2PrwOk/s1600/chairs2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBCpMgwNLdJYQb6JvCkv_ES6EkVhCpgX2GA18hIFTSwkYBVMnXxCHcyZAqhOEU33qt0-fyg78AoZz3ncXUB3jAVASY8lXMcztGfCT4NC41YbjrWssKnWIXEKs5VnTG2pyk7FOL2PrwOk/s400/chairs2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464821342452631714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For a year and a half, boyfriend and I have shopped wherever possible to find the perfect chairs (and table, of course!) for "<a href="http://www.plant1olivetree.com/inglese/dependance.html">La Dépendance</a>", the small cottage we rent during summer. We wanted something beautiful, sustainable and durable. But we were also looking for a bargain and for easy to store during the winter items.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq7iaZx8ZrBiuzG7Tju7UMiacO2N68rCaEniHUlas2hAeunfbXsMvdhvhEM0h7QfB0w1pWRbHEEDOjtSUxlAjvyGyAF-ECp0mX2JhKTo1k16Oya6gQUgVQz-GHLOs36tK7RwmGlbsUG0/s1600/chairs3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq7iaZx8ZrBiuzG7Tju7UMiacO2N68rCaEniHUlas2hAeunfbXsMvdhvhEM0h7QfB0w1pWRbHEEDOjtSUxlAjvyGyAF-ECp0mX2JhKTo1k16Oya6gQUgVQz-GHLOs36tK7RwmGlbsUG0/s400/chairs3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464821346660146898" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Three weeks ago, while doing our grocery shopping, we spotted a folding table and chairs. Beautiful, affordable and, last but not least, made from a fair trade company with FSC wood. A dream came true. As soon as I saw these beauties (I know they're pretty basic chairs, but I have seen so many ugly ones that these are just perfect) I knew I had to make the best seat cushions ever!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktKiF7H_DlMIJDb_HKzf2orWl9sWzdIJXF_4oy805Tbq-Dvy3bqo-h3s1xNZm5ILIDy0qVVnrYZyzPKp35nV9OF57p7PCs5z_8aOI4Gash9dKVuM9NYaGCV4tb6GmP98lGCHtd6Ivr_I/s1600/chairs5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktKiF7H_DlMIJDb_HKzf2orWl9sWzdIJXF_4oy805Tbq-Dvy3bqo-h3s1xNZm5ILIDy0qVVnrYZyzPKp35nV9OF57p7PCs5z_8aOI4Gash9dKVuM9NYaGCV4tb6GmP98lGCHtd6Ivr_I/s400/chairs5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464821365185309410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Easier said than done, as always my mind figured out a great project that took long efforts to become reality... I used a striped cotton that I thrifted this winter at a market stall in Avola, some foam rubber, velcro, two spools of thread and a lot of patience!!!</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDZDYPeMxhuTEccFoToJqjdlxFYBJpswUANyNH84gLEhAQIA2qxFDPhAw_Xtv4lgiCLY_PSr_AhihnHgngfqheJiETRw1nj46lp6WBx803KjlRJ2AYw17D6k_1l0uO6SLqz9MIXXxofE/s1600/chairs4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDZDYPeMxhuTEccFoToJqjdlxFYBJpswUANyNH84gLEhAQIA2qxFDPhAw_Xtv4lgiCLY_PSr_AhihnHgngfqheJiETRw1nj46lp6WBx803KjlRJ2AYw17D6k_1l0uO6SLqz9MIXXxofE/s400/chairs4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464821356645540386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They are far from perfect but they look great and they will do a great job during summer!</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">From now on, our guests will have a nice table to eat, read and play outside!!!</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">p.s. if you'd like to see more of our small cottage, click </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.plant1olivetree.com/">here</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and take a look at what I do daily...</span></span>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1284923954860033015.post-69053761754773287572010-04-23T00:08:00.000-07:002010-04-23T00:34:04.109-07:00Wild flowers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ygulpZtPaeWFikaXEuP7l12_J6KKOjZVOrYzEIFkpCcuT1_pBo9HAttq5JrBGh3PCvAhDvaHnYxPUmH4kkFZOenEk12bcPjzR6ZKPeUrVQMTZu6M6PWhs9Spl5gbba9HUpsvHpuEN1w/s1600/wild_flowers.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ygulpZtPaeWFikaXEuP7l12_J6KKOjZVOrYzEIFkpCcuT1_pBo9HAttq5JrBGh3PCvAhDvaHnYxPUmH4kkFZOenEk12bcPjzR6ZKPeUrVQMTZu6M6PWhs9Spl5gbba9HUpsvHpuEN1w/s400/wild_flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463228043290211442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">Spring in the countryside is definitely the best season of the year. I should add that, in fact, Spring in Sicily starts at the end of January and the countryside has already been blooming for a couple of months. Anyway, time doesn't matter.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEEQu76r7G7fXC4QudMcjnP5mO8SwlTt45V5SEB6LIJf-r8N6dWRdiiebzi8Aa8L-APjcDceks0oFP_vuEICGi45pmLY5YxS-YYN-oeuvz4Q703KXUtunBxySW_HiR7SPHIrrNUzUqKY/s1600/spadacciola.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEEQu76r7G7fXC4QudMcjnP5mO8SwlTt45V5SEB6LIJf-r8N6dWRdiiebzi8Aa8L-APjcDceks0oFP_vuEICGi45pmLY5YxS-YYN-oeuvz4Q703KXUtunBxySW_HiR7SPHIrrNUzUqKY/s400/spadacciola.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463231144517192930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;">My favourite spot of the day, during this season, is my morning walk with Billy, my partner in crime (e.g. the dog). While he sniffs, barks and marks the territory, I wander and wonder, loosing myself in my thoughts. It's the perfect way to start the day, I rearrange my ideas and draw inspiration from this beautiful countryside.<br />As it is full of flowers, I often come back home with some of them, picking randomly or by colour.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0udOxBn09yxJPFeXRUg9yjlz-8rMpAvcfQqowDb4chyphenhyphen8h7l5PbwsqcM-FXKdNO8cQep6kEDsLENKLV9h-M1ucupkB82ywRLpUD7bQla0W85qSMhFS26eHQHgfH5L9G_tLTj5HiSYglk/s1600/fiorigialli.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0udOxBn09yxJPFeXRUg9yjlz-8rMpAvcfQqowDb4chyphenhyphen8h7l5PbwsqcM-FXKdNO8cQep6kEDsLENKLV9h-M1ucupkB82ywRLpUD7bQla0W85qSMhFS26eHQHgfH5L9G_tLTj5HiSYglk/s400/fiorigialli.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463231140665028658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm sure many of you do the same thing but this is how I do it:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 - take your dog on a morning walk</span>;<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 - pick the flowers you like most</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">(do not pick endangered species)</span>;<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3 - shake them to leave ants and insects where they belong (wild flowers are full of sooo little creatures)</span>;<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">4 - walk back home trying not to be eaten by all those ants</span>;<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">5 - arrange your flowers in a vase</span>;<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">6 - enjoy them for a lot of days, they will bring so much happiness to your house!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOXei0u5_N-_VDM9Truc2HZqun5AdXYTwb0GYJExBZQNQjYkEJIzMIUCt9G7w68KYWGhFGfw8BdslOPdg_kPj4vipUh-vwz0cseBlJKmM3ho9AU5koGgVqi6nt9c4VunNivQwZ_-EK3c/s1600/fiori.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOXei0u5_N-_VDM9Truc2HZqun5AdXYTwb0GYJExBZQNQjYkEJIzMIUCt9G7w68KYWGhFGfw8BdslOPdg_kPj4vipUh-vwz0cseBlJKmM3ho9AU5koGgVqi6nt9c4VunNivQwZ_-EK3c/s400/fiori.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463231130820422834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">p.s. try not to do that while it's raining... as I did this morning... some of the poeasy of the moment could be replaced by a sniffing nose....</span> :-)<br /></div>piccola samuraihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15416337894853844727noreply@blogger.com1