Midwinter Wishes

Ciao,

Dear hearts..

I have been working since we stepped off the ship..

and when I arrived home

 my desks were already covered with

works in progress..

and art cards that I had started 

before I left on our European adventure..

my cards this year

were created with antique stamps 

and 

seals

and they stand up quite nicely..

In my busyness,

I have been remiss in getting out

to visit all my blog friends..

but 

finally the tree is done..

the presents are wrapped

the cards have arrived ..

and baking is the last thing on my list..

a little Carrot Cake

and Italian Cream 

of course..

and then..

I can take some time 

to put my feet up..

read to my heart's content..

and maybe go to the studio

to experiment..

dream..

and plan..

which is the perfect consciousness

to put forward 

in

Midwinter..

incubating ideas 

to germinate this spring..

Happiest of Holidays..

to you one and all...

my gentle readers, 

faithful followers..

and 

sweet lurkers..

xox

Mini Hinge Book Tutorial

Ciao..

dear ones..

So many people have told me

that they either hate hand stitching 

or they are unable to do it..

but would love to make books..

so here is a little video

to bypass stitching by creating
a mini hinge book..

Have fun with this one 
I wish you happy book making..
and 
I will be back on Tuesday
with my
annual
Holiday Post..

Ciao, Ciao!!

November Journal Pages

November was really amazing...

for so many reasons..

we had a lovely 

European adventure

and enjoyed each and every minute

in London...

more photos will come to show you the sights we saw..

and the things and people we met...

but first things first.. 

I really had to get November Pages

out to you, as I am late.. due to travel of course..

When we left Southampton,

we journeyed by ship to Boston..

and there was a terrific storm in the pond as they say..

so we were forced to travel far out of our way..

to escape the terrible waves and wind..

However.. we still felt the impact of the storm..

and for 13 days we had rough seas

and stormy weather..

the best weather was a grey day and choppy seas..

we finally saw sunshine in Boston, though it was very cold..

and then sun shone on us as we neared

our port in Florida..

So I decided to paint my pages this month and to share

the experience..

I am fortunately a good sailor, being married to a Navy Man..

I learned long ago ... that he does love the sea...

Ingredients: Gesso, paint pens, acrylic paint, metallic gelato, colored pencils

Next week, I will continue with the travelogue..

and 

hoping that all your

holiday plans 

are 

Merry and Bright!

xox

Making Art in Tuscany

After three magical

and 

very busy days in 

Paris..

I was really ready to put my feet up, 

sit at the kitchen table...

and 

write thoughts and glue

images

into my journal...

The front porch of our cottage, looking down the driveway at Il Colle, Agriturismo

We stayed at a beautiful

Agriturismo

which is an

Italian farm 

that welcomes guests 

When I return to Italy

I feel as though I am home..

it is really inexplicable..

it is just a part of my DNA..

fortunately the weather was blustery and rainy

so I did not mind 

catching up in my journal and drinking some great 

Chianti..

The view from our back porch..

above

and below 

on the grounds of the farm..

the iconic Italian Cypress trees..

Our host, Giovanni

was very kind, welcoming 

and 

so charming..

He and his family bought the farm a several years ago

and have turned a crumbling farm 

into a beautiful and productive

wine and olive oil farm

and resort..

The farm before renovation, courtesy of Il Colle, Agriturismo in Greve, Chianti

A view of the vineyard... at Il Colle, Agriturismo

Our cottage, before renovation and after..

The whole family work the property...

seven days a week..

His Grandfather still drives the tractor 

at 92.. 

The Pool at Il Colle, Agriturismo, sits hilltop and has a spectacular view.. 

the dedication and love of the land and this life 

is so intoxicating ...

that people always want to

buy the property..

Love is palpable..

We ate nightly at a little 

restaurant in the town..

and tried new foods

which was wonderful..

Giovanni is planning to build a restaurant on his property

so that guests will not have to leave the mountain..

that would be favolo!

and then it was on to 

Florence..

Firenze...

At the corner of each street is a shrine or a painting.. art is everywhere in Italy..

My very favorite city..

a city I live ..

in my dreams..

The Arno River, Florence Italy from the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.. 

I will have part two of my

Italian adventure..

very soon..

but next week I will have my

November Art Journal 

pages to share with you..

and then we will continue with the 

Travelogue..

for those of you who adore

traveling

as I do..

Ciao, Ciao!!

Travel Journal Flip Thru and Photo Mounting Technique

This week, 
dear hearts.. 
I was

finishing 
up the travel journal

and working on my 

art journal pages 
for November...

this video shares 
the technique I used

for 

adding my personal photos to the

old antique photo album pages..

and I added a little something to 

the 

cover..

Have a fabulous weekend, 

dear readers and viewers..

I so appreciate your kind

attention...

xox

Strolling Paris..

So...

my dear readers..

yesterday got away from me

so 

thank you 

for your patience..

my travelogue begins in

Paris

we flew in and we stayed very close to the 

Eiffel Tower

and the

Rue Cler..

where we had breakfast and a yummy

Coffee Cream

and then off on our way..

walking an average of 10,000 steps a day..

My friend Paula sent me here..

Au Petite Bonheur La Chance...

Tiny 

and stuffed from floor to ceiling..

with so many different things..

antique school cards, books and papers...

Medicine bottles and small porcelains, dolls, masks..

and tons of fabrics and ribbons..

but only sold by the yard...

unfortunately I am a claustrophobe 

and with 7 other people in the shop...

I had to make my purchases and get out quickly..

I would have loved to peruse it on my own time!!

I could have spent the day in there...

Next on my list was 

Charvin Paris

a manufacturer of paints.. 

this had long been on my list.. 

and I was wanting a tiny travel paint set...

It was so charming and nostalgic, I felt as though

Monet could walk in in any moment..

the smocks were so evocative of times gone past..

I ended up purchasing

a small travel paint box and got to choose my colors..

which was one reason I wanted the box, to have my personalized set..

If you go, make sure to ask..

we ended up strolling

together and I took some shots for you of the beauty of 

Paris..

Notre Dame

and the 

Louvre

below 

and as you can see the weather was moody

and chilly...

but the 

Tuileries 

was still beautiful...

even though so many flowers were spent..

and the cold north wind did blow..

You know me, I can find beauty..

wherever we go..

and if you go,

I know you will find it too...

no matter the season..

See you on Friday

with a new video..

I will be finishing and flipping through my travel journal..

C4N!!

Book Cover Series-142 Bis Gallerie

Ciao, dear readers..

We are back!

 and I will have a travelogue for you on

Tuesday

as usual...

But.......

I wanted to let you know that

my 

Holiday Collection 

is in the 

gallerie

and has been priced..

We are also delighted to tell you 

that 

we are offering 

FREE SHIPPING

on all my

HOLIDAY PIECES

A Cultivated Life and As Above, So Below..

Book Cover Series

Mixed Media

Until Tuesday,

my dear ones..

xox