Feather your nest

I've always been a bit of a collector. As a kid, I used to keep little white pebbles (or 'lucky stones' as we called them), leaf skeletons, coral and shells from our beach holidays (along with a few poor little hermit crabs that I used to stash in the car without my parents' knowledge )....and feathers. I always loved finding feathers, particularly white ones, as my Nan used to tell me they were good luck. The gorgeous patterns and colours always appealed to my artistic side, too. So here's a little feather study I did the other day:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsbbFSITBfwSbuhTfsMtOAbuQJP5oSFEv_Y-UAlpAQMLgHMUwIu3vE77oqRqSLFLIuT4UpFxqGEUQni-gA-422Q431Kb6SwsbNnV6PpI1l5eyUf90W49Lmfo9STQt4yDBD0ZX_jIlZn_r/s1600/feather+painting+may+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsbbFSITBfwSbuhTfsMtOAbuQJP5oSFEv_Y-UAlpAQMLgHMUwIu3vE77oqRqSLFLIuT4UpFxqGEUQni-gA-422Q431Kb6SwsbNnV6PpI1l5eyUf90W49Lmfo9STQt4yDBD0ZX_jIlZn_r/s640/feather+painting+may+2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">'Collected'</div><div style="text-align: center;">watercolour on paper </div><div style="text-align: center;">210mm x 297mm</div><div style="text-align: center;">prints available in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75055615/collected-new-watercolour-painting">Etsy shop</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />I'm thinking I may start a series of feather paintings - and peacock feathers are next on my list.I found this pic the other day:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRT4I5pnWTdMpJrj5MVEHxfDx0XAtOB4zoqy1pjqgoHQQLHsFODBM-ZQDubi0xCCmR91q2I1djFGRvmI0l9Tlrdnc5HvxW8Lh64HCCoZxtbJeO4gv6_5c4t1kCngLHpBEOVtSdzA5Rg-I/s1600/feathers+peacock-feather-centerpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRT4I5pnWTdMpJrj5MVEHxfDx0XAtOB4zoqy1pjqgoHQQLHsFODBM-ZQDubi0xCCmR91q2I1djFGRvmI0l9Tlrdnc5HvxW8Lh64HCCoZxtbJeO4gv6_5c4t1kCngLHpBEOVtSdzA5Rg-I/s640/feathers+peacock-feather-centerpiece.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.themeweddingboutique.com/">source</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">They are lovely, aren't they? I personally would never use feathers unless I found them myself - I hate the thought of how some of them are harvested, but they're undeniably beautiful. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know the ultimate bowerbird, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.thesocietyinc.com.au">Sibella Court</a>, is partial to the odd feather or twelve...</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRywlESl-yoiw7mt7-vAN7LAiwnSyBU9NbKrD7RielrF1EUtP6QBeQJUNPrRbvbSvKM-L5WVlYW_NZ60vVbv_gbyrRedvagodl_EdnwUxSA_Ucj2G-GxOyUearJ97JA6DEcAuwJpIDW0-/s1600/feathers+sibella6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRywlESl-yoiw7mt7-vAN7LAiwnSyBU9NbKrD7RielrF1EUtP6QBeQJUNPrRbvbSvKM-L5WVlYW_NZ60vVbv_gbyrRedvagodl_EdnwUxSA_Ucj2G-GxOyUearJ97JA6DEcAuwJpIDW0-/s640/feathers+sibella6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1JWIjCDfTq3U0uLpzo1PzSgx3mAtlkNQbV2EclqN0K42HEKWhiL1vaj-6Ep-DpbEV6TtK686ps19kSAyRXxCII4Gifd_vVw-Z6YP87eOn56XVk6jmPnbiwFUUFN45KIVmmuUOSz0JuxI/s1600/feathers+DSC_3603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1JWIjCDfTq3U0uLpzo1PzSgx3mAtlkNQbV2EclqN0K42HEKWhiL1vaj-6Ep-DpbEV6TtK686ps19kSAyRXxCII4Gifd_vVw-Z6YP87eOn56XVk6jmPnbiwFUUFN45KIVmmuUOSz0JuxI/s640/feathers+DSC_3603.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOnioURoidero84IB7_DukHvxleSKBRrm5SRbzwLAkGD4i7KVxFaDOeu08rD-KnDv0dJzgS9H9rf5Sv9ZHWHrUbkcO8i5Z0uxSQNJpoWkK9JBc6666FmZcP6ooKWD4BVIDwnPwWJu6Ul8/s1600/feather+sibella+court+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOnioURoidero84IB7_DukHvxleSKBRrm5SRbzwLAkGD4i7KVxFaDOeu08rD-KnDv0dJzgS9H9rf5Sv9ZHWHrUbkcO8i5Z0uxSQNJpoWkK9JBc6666FmZcP6ooKWD4BVIDwnPwWJu6Ul8/s640/feather+sibella+court+3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">all images <a href="http://thesocietyinc.com/">The Society Inc</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...so I'm in fine company. What about you - are you collectors? Tell me everything.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Feather your nest

I've always been a bit of a collector. As a kid, I used to keep little white pebbles (or 'lucky stones' as we called them), leaf...

Read more »

Pavilion Style Beach House

<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.realestate.com.au"></a><br />I'm still in the planning stages for our new house design, and one style I keep coming back to over and over is a series of pavilions. It makes perfect sense for our climate - hot, humid summers, and mild winters. We have the space, and I'd love to wrap the house around the pool, so when I saw this house in Noosa, it ticked all the boxes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0EVYIfpTOTWclAAfGNRwAmNM4w63jQvB2fkI7GelBMrVcvxY922gltyuRP3vBAOXU8UAaex0QAoJeVHeSeOnUjYbWcj5E1Tfgyi_Crijj7KCFrQG_JJtwqryx3Q2DmK1eoNbaiEv9dtU/s1600/20110505115154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0EVYIfpTOTWclAAfGNRwAmNM4w63jQvB2fkI7GelBMrVcvxY922gltyuRP3vBAOXU8UAaex0QAoJeVHeSeOnUjYbWcj5E1Tfgyi_Crijj7KCFrQG_JJtwqryx3Q2DmK1eoNbaiEv9dtU/s640/20110505115154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qQeMe6dgHiLnnw0VbqL3vK9n0jA5ZPkvFAsWWxzQVhG3qzf0xwITSQW6uK5rqUMjT63T9JvwKDlpHMh4bs4ic4ScrdiY2ufcjmaiiGhukvhzZR-yXsL4rqtAYeB31recYVPbQsVo8ehc/s1600/20110505115152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qQeMe6dgHiLnnw0VbqL3vK9n0jA5ZPkvFAsWWxzQVhG3qzf0xwITSQW6uK5rqUMjT63T9JvwKDlpHMh4bs4ic4ScrdiY2ufcjmaiiGhukvhzZR-yXsL4rqtAYeB31recYVPbQsVo8ehc/s640/20110505115152.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig67DYfkb0x08LvNaWZqY0bjERcORjpBwEJHUYD-Ja07XQaZy6XomIBw67XLGR95l9YnspM12Zw86jsjvrkcxa81uuFYJ6hoTh9G382t-eTZVBLWMV5LfDMeVOkZEPKS181PPxxTj4lN1f/s1600/20110505115153.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig67DYfkb0x08LvNaWZqY0bjERcORjpBwEJHUYD-Ja07XQaZy6XomIBw67XLGR95l9YnspM12Zw86jsjvrkcxa81uuFYJ6hoTh9G382t-eTZVBLWMV5LfDMeVOkZEPKS181PPxxTj4lN1f/s640/20110505115153.3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hmm, pity we've just given our pool an overhaul..I'm liking those steps - very clever<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkq8Onl2_w6tIiKsYVZgxacTn19Ot5JONbdO64oLKZ08Bnd9g95a9_r9W_vXd6KFMgxX5zhEUGHKr3wt3YRYDl50dEFs9fMsfrajq8Qumb3Xqek-kuaerUbT4qx97hfiHva3cQczsjJnUq/s1600/20110505115154.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkq8Onl2_w6tIiKsYVZgxacTn19Ot5JONbdO64oLKZ08Bnd9g95a9_r9W_vXd6KFMgxX5zhEUGHKr3wt3YRYDl50dEFs9fMsfrajq8Qumb3Xqek-kuaerUbT4qx97hfiHva3cQczsjJnUq/s640/20110505115154.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2UGiMW8NWZCIT1tDyOJmfH-_oK9GCRaAbJ9IP0UGPUkBqZvaX0tpuEZ_b5wxk8auWBhTxksVUGnBSYa0enNMfk12SxSuzrAhob2OVQq2W665sg7jDRWBSJrH5_FniY9qKkLNu1RRmxlL/s1600/20110505115155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2UGiMW8NWZCIT1tDyOJmfH-_oK9GCRaAbJ9IP0UGPUkBqZvaX0tpuEZ_b5wxk8auWBhTxksVUGnBSYa0enNMfk12SxSuzrAhob2OVQq2W665sg7jDRWBSJrH5_FniY9qKkLNu1RRmxlL/s640/20110505115155.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Not exactly my style furnishing-wise, but the wide-plank timber floors are divine<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zT3hV5DchfhcRkKIbJYj2XJRKJJzGyzDzb4J3M6CSbkJ7SiGypRTzYtt_ooXSQJxUDV96T2l0ZiFZxRaVjTegcbnVk3J0M1RyiL2lufpFw9gtO3y8iQaFkE340BIXO9KY0aFqA22nxgB/s1600/20110505115155.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zT3hV5DchfhcRkKIbJYj2XJRKJJzGyzDzb4J3M6CSbkJ7SiGypRTzYtt_ooXSQJxUDV96T2l0ZiFZxRaVjTegcbnVk3J0M1RyiL2lufpFw9gtO3y8iQaFkE340BIXO9KY0aFqA22nxgB/s640/20110505115155.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> LOVE the pivot louvred doors...one for the files for sure<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-qXaicfe3uj917MEkTOZFtzzY-wGPkEAbiyk0ZQm159lxqWbsbQDqJKMlIOxIg36IcBBLXKi9UyaTPGKc5kvK8X-N995IkwJ2b6YgslgrgmVpo_zFown-9ncKcJHO0d7kgD2hYUd66Vi/s1600/20110505133303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-qXaicfe3uj917MEkTOZFtzzY-wGPkEAbiyk0ZQm159lxqWbsbQDqJKMlIOxIg36IcBBLXKi9UyaTPGKc5kvK8X-N995IkwJ2b6YgslgrgmVpo_zFown-9ncKcJHO0d7kgD2hYUd66Vi/s640/20110505133303.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ...and another must-have are those clerestory windows...perfect for Queenlsand summers<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNilXH-cVp23y2QLQwzqQWsdIranMvFpzAEj-XP_GzHwgHTsylTU_mEC1UguZxcOoc8mKXmykf2gFv-gGhBQv1VFFUS5GA_LV9mdfVsLZNBjQZGKRMZKoSVTY7kfk_MGJyuHIML9sUtnb4/s1600/20110505133303.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNilXH-cVp23y2QLQwzqQWsdIranMvFpzAEj-XP_GzHwgHTsylTU_mEC1UguZxcOoc8mKXmykf2gFv-gGhBQv1VFFUS5GA_LV9mdfVsLZNBjQZGKRMZKoSVTY7kfk_MGJyuHIML9sUtnb4/s640/20110505133303.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ok, so ignore the artwork, but I love the way the house wraps around the pool...and I love the Pandanus tree in the middle of the deck too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVPOF88e0mGFvt8-rhQkknwZYejEJw7jmS2KgEEZVaq234sbN21G-T8NeoCPtODlHtiog_5DDUDGfjHk8TEeb5SILdygyya3AhUdRLIwkOITzK-CqPMAi80sRFN4YwNEdHbcOvyNEypf8/s1600/20110505133303.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVPOF88e0mGFvt8-rhQkknwZYejEJw7jmS2KgEEZVaq234sbN21G-T8NeoCPtODlHtiog_5DDUDGfjHk8TEeb5SILdygyya3AhUdRLIwkOITzK-CqPMAi80sRFN4YwNEdHbcOvyNEypf8/s640/20110505133303.2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />So, my plan is slowly but surely taking shape. I like quite a few different styles, and I'm aiming to blend some of them together into a cohesive design. It's like putting together a great big jigsaw puzzle, adding pieces as I go. My biggest dilemma - not being sidetracked by all the fantastic options out there.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll be back tomorrow with a new painting that's just about to be listed in my <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.driftwoodinteriors.etsy.com">Etsy shop</a>. There'll be a little preview on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.facebook.com/originalartbykerrishipp">Facebook</a> later today if you just can't wait until then..... :)</div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">all images courtesy <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.realestate.com.eu">realestate.com.au</a></span>

Pavilion Style Beach House

I'm still in the planning stages for our new house design, and one style I keep coming back to over and over is a series of pavilions. I...

Read more »

We're going to the sea!

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes! tomorrow we all will <span style="font-size: large;">leave</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">for a week</span>, destination: the <span style="font-size: large;">sea</span>!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, you can laugh about it, but</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it will the first time in my life that</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will spend an entire week at the sea.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I actually don't know how to packing...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I'm a mountain girl, or at least</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a backpacker, but it seems  that</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as a mum I have also to become</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a beach girl...or at least try to!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Sì! Domani <span style="font-size: large;">partiamo per una settimana</span>,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>destinazione: il <span style="font-size: large;">mare</span>!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Ora, potete ridere se volete, ma sarà</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>la prima volta in tutta la mia vita che</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>trascorrerò un'intera settimana al mare.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Non sò nemmeno come si fanno le valigie...</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Bhè, sono una ragazza di montagna, </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>o al massimo una viaggiatrice zaino in spalla,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>ma sembra che come mamma </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>dovrò essere anche </em></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>un tipo da spiaggia...</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>o quantomeno provare a esserlo!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxwZ8kFTcf6_tH5pdINaYKoL3ZJ8ABls0eZvLlIFk2wcoBLo8IO0DO-3LzTKXMGe_EeVbaQnD4HUJP_CtV-ELcF-a-T03VIrMXNGOm8INh7P1fF2qEAwVpgs7x1N2_cdPJaQS-M21qoU/s1600/relax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxwZ8kFTcf6_tH5pdINaYKoL3ZJ8ABls0eZvLlIFk2wcoBLo8IO0DO-3LzTKXMGe_EeVbaQnD4HUJP_CtV-ELcF-a-T03VIrMXNGOm8INh7P1fF2qEAwVpgs7x1N2_cdPJaQS-M21qoU/s640/relax.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://pughs-news.tumblr.com/">photo credits</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ok, I joke about </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">my sea dis-like, but</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I think that <span style="font-size: large;">a relaxation week</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">is just what I - all we - need</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">right now.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So take care, see you in a week!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Ok, io scherzo sul fatto</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>che non mi piace il mare,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>ma penso che una settimana</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>di relax sia esattamente quello di cui</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em> io - noi - abbiamo bisogno ora.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Quindi statemi bene,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>ci vediamo tra una settimana!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3hwLDEuZqrO3V4HFPEa3DH7acREJkozuyCBbrBj9aE3WP-6fkhXV-t-H-xgsQAEiol3TrAa1tXXXYsOsRMvEW-URhyphenhyphenBsd8V64XZ24yNpN3oF7GW37By69ljw1LJlaxiNNUS0yg4jT7w/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3hwLDEuZqrO3V4HFPEa3DH7acREJkozuyCBbrBj9aE3WP-6fkhXV-t-H-xgsQAEiol3TrAa1tXXXYsOsRMvEW-URhyphenhyphenBsd8V64XZ24yNpN3oF7GW37By69ljw1LJlaxiNNUS0yg4jT7w/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

We're going to the sea!

Yes! tomorrow we all will leave for a week , destination: the sea ! Now, you can laugh about it, but it will the first time in my life that ...

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Colours of my kitchen

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you remember the wall I've called the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> "</span><a href="http://home-shabby-home.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-kitchenwork-in-progess.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">enormous white</span></a>"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in my <span style="font-size: large;">kitchen</span>?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I've started to decorate it!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Vi ricordate il muro che avevo chiamato</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>"l'immenso bianco" nella mia <span style="font-size: large;">cucina</span>?</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Bhè, ho iniziato a decorarlo!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQaaJa9vZ081mMBR9FVhxztW377oGnputEFakIh9KLKaE5fRQFOCuS_5KoLsuK6UkHqefYQHFWZy6lwfayVYkHlNu04zscU3wEjzJXOlShDJUXko9Rc8tm5iw55LIGudzA_DrYZkpCfo/s1600/cucina_country.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQaaJa9vZ081mMBR9FVhxztW377oGnputEFakIh9KLKaE5fRQFOCuS_5KoLsuK6UkHqefYQHFWZy6lwfayVYkHlNu04zscU3wEjzJXOlShDJUXko9Rc8tm5iw55LIGudzA_DrYZkpCfo/s640/cucina_country.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I know I'm a little bit late,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but the last months have been a </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">little bit busy, as many of you know!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Sì, lo so, sono un po' in ritardo,</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>ma gli ultimi mesi sono stati</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>un po' turbolenti,</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>come molte di voi sanno!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV9oKeN3RgLaEFW4Ub_kY452szf0hsp0c67a_H5ieUfE_XDpGOKopovpq1a-dWgy1dRUE43j2m5tqol_bw43vYy7d9C0I7vBe0bdlcpG5V0W5G0q536IE8uW3rs_Yx0Ruf4CFzxEa6y8/s1600/cucina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV9oKeN3RgLaEFW4Ub_kY452szf0hsp0c67a_H5ieUfE_XDpGOKopovpq1a-dWgy1dRUE43j2m5tqol_bw43vYy7d9C0I7vBe0bdlcpG5V0W5G0q536IE8uW3rs_Yx0Ruf4CFzxEa6y8/s640/cucina.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBpRu_-C3fgaS4vr4C5RiaDzZABN0CfMDNm0EOoAChL2yfkfmO_xihw4jXPNPrU-Nj2tDiQfDZsWAuGCJlVOD9vKjbSz_iywrc-T3OIJ7fhQLK_ubafmqlGyuUBhIgGchhuma3TiMLgI/s1600/cucina3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBpRu_-C3fgaS4vr4C5RiaDzZABN0CfMDNm0EOoAChL2yfkfmO_xihw4jXPNPrU-Nj2tDiQfDZsWAuGCJlVOD9vKjbSz_iywrc-T3OIJ7fhQLK_ubafmqlGyuUBhIgGchhuma3TiMLgI/s640/cucina3.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, I'm pretty satisfied with the</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">first shelf, but the second one,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the one I've bought at an antique</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">market some while ago,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it's not OK like this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Allora, sono abbastanza soddisfatta</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>della prima mensola,</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>ma per quanto riguarda la seconda,</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>quella che ho comprato ad un </em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>mercatino qualche tempo fà,</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>non ci siamo proprio.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeS271qnpFhacd-y_zFrHL8Kqy0sN_XPpuukUZUvEvhysXWYGnqVDsSdUqURJZV-Lu2g1a_K78xWR-VY7rUrcB2hsJYZBEy4XBTRxZigulDTDUpxjYgUlFnY1dNF6Uq576F7OLMxUL-Y/s1600/cucina1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeS271qnpFhacd-y_zFrHL8Kqy0sN_XPpuukUZUvEvhysXWYGnqVDsSdUqURJZV-Lu2g1a_K78xWR-VY7rUrcB2hsJYZBEy4XBTRxZigulDTDUpxjYgUlFnY1dNF6Uq576F7OLMxUL-Y/s640/cucina1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've already create a <span style="font-size: large;">shopping list</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to decorate it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mugs, jars and tea towels!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Ho già creato una bella<span style="font-size: large;"> lista della spesa</span></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>per decorarla!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Tazze, barattoli e strofinacci!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrZS2vmjL4IGRyXVhYXnqaWUR52HRFs5Gb7Io_nX0DdLYpZEECyDbWbTyzsnS9nug63Om_Mt3XcMHH9OoNc7wjdr3ovhTKoO1r99cx0kiJlZTIKf5e346gk5rGbMyRzSIYP8o9bo8mkI/s1600/cucina4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrZS2vmjL4IGRyXVhYXnqaWUR52HRFs5Gb7Io_nX0DdLYpZEECyDbWbTyzsnS9nug63Om_Mt3XcMHH9OoNc7wjdr3ovhTKoO1r99cx0kiJlZTIKf5e346gk5rGbMyRzSIYP8o9bo8mkI/s640/cucina4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see I've chosen </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for my kitchen </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a base of <span style="font-size: large;">neutral tones</span>,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with some <span style="font-size: large;">touches of red</span>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Come potete vedere ho scelto</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>per la mia cucina</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>una base di <span style="font-size: large;">toni neutri</span></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>con alcuni <span style="font-size: large;">tocchi di rosso</span>.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd9FtB9svbjUlFDz2ciFZCfUcTELs9mPAYVm7sXGF3q3E2NDMEJdcLccIssx5T3pw1fv2cmMGiN6r07-RnwTV7c8SZEm5dDfusodC-WVPDU30On662irWvFb6zb24ldNFsMbc_aoYvzo/s1600/cucina6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd9FtB9svbjUlFDz2ciFZCfUcTELs9mPAYVm7sXGF3q3E2NDMEJdcLccIssx5T3pw1fv2cmMGiN6r07-RnwTV7c8SZEm5dDfusodC-WVPDU30On662irWvFb6zb24ldNFsMbc_aoYvzo/s640/cucina6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also created a little</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pelmet on the top of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the window to hide </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the rolling shutter box</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(so ugly!!!!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Ho anche cucito una mantovana</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>per nascondere il cassonetto</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>delle tapparelle</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>(così brutto!!!)</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU63Pk4VjWuXEQ_JiNE4Np1G56aIcSzfhSh-Y7th5hO1RZVldZe9khTRNOcHraLg6diZp_PgnmLgADbD_xPi_ARc__fR_wMDt6AK7FwZxtySITcEK4ddOlNiGZDRwYILXulDVLqPDEyU/s1600/tende_cucina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGU63Pk4VjWuXEQ_JiNE4Np1G56aIcSzfhSh-Y7th5hO1RZVldZe9khTRNOcHraLg6diZp_PgnmLgADbD_xPi_ARc__fR_wMDt6AK7FwZxtySITcEK4ddOlNiGZDRwYILXulDVLqPDEyU/s640/tende_cucina.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've used a textile from</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ikea, so for less than 9 €</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've done it!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Ho usato un tessuto di Ikea,</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>così per meno di 9 €</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>ho fatto tutto!!!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFNdz1mSS_dMlSMef1ULJ1HVbZaH_NEDD6800kYWUrroKlwXk60nqQ8mdysoBnqkZHqWbTtMRt2UAQDcqWX1v2JbdAtvBJ-Y9zYe0ND0HQC5mdhXkH_vjKXNI3BY22thsWKGu6qn-uRw/s1600/making_of.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFNdz1mSS_dMlSMef1ULJ1HVbZaH_NEDD6800kYWUrroKlwXk60nqQ8mdysoBnqkZHqWbTtMRt2UAQDcqWX1v2JbdAtvBJ-Y9zYe0ND0HQC5mdhXkH_vjKXNI3BY22thsWKGu6qn-uRw/s640/making_of.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's all the <span style="font-size: large;">news from my kitchen</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">untill now!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will post about the decoration </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of the seconf shelf </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as soon as all my shopping</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">will come home!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Queste sono tutte <span style="font-size: large;">le novità dalla</span></em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">mia cucina</span> fino ad ora!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Posterò della decorazione della</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>seconda mensola</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>non appena tutti i miei</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>acquisti arriveranno a </em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>casa!!!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Colours of my kitchen

Do you remember the wall I've called the  " enormous white "  in my kitchen ? Well, I've started to decorate it! Vi ricord...

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Thank you!

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for all your sweet comments</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about my last post.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I cannot say anything more than </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">thank you,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">thank you, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">thank you</span>,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the deep of my heart!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now all I want is to enojy my belly!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Grazie per tutti i vostri commenti di ieri.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Non riesco a dire nient'altro se non</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>grazie,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>grazie,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>grazie</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>dal profondo del mio cuore!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Ora tutto quello che voglio</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>è godermi il mio pancione!!!!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here in Italy is hotter and hotter,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">summer is arriving</span>,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I always associate summer</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with the<span style="font-size: large;"> smell of  lavender</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can't wait for my lavender plants</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(still so little, to say the truth)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to bloom!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Qui in Italia fà sempre più caldo,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> l'estate stà arrivando</span>,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e io associo sempre l'estate </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">all'odore </span></em><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">della lavanda</span>.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Non vedo l'ora che le mie piante di lavanda</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(ancora piccoline a dire la verità)</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fioriscano!!!</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjnfNV78lpZA4wWHY-IbGtzzSFAdDXm_shIotVm-p0TxQDl-hrfISv2lFVHw1VQNNZJOV6MEUbrh82LRPK0Lw4TaOl9hSF1nna5rGkBfKkXF8YgN7h9JgQfWNi6t-Yze19U0DMRmVmTc/s1600/lavanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjnfNV78lpZA4wWHY-IbGtzzSFAdDXm_shIotVm-p0TxQDl-hrfISv2lFVHw1VQNNZJOV6MEUbrh82LRPK0Lw4TaOl9hSF1nna5rGkBfKkXF8YgN7h9JgQfWNi6t-Yze19U0DMRmVmTc/s640/lavanda.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.jeannedarcliving.dk/_ul/default.aspx">photo credits</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4el_p78qpYFEzo4BOiva-v_xP5JyFKGI5hi2F1VwY_MIhrpaLJh6D3zf1QFEsbi3LUwu7ib3qON3IXmGXCEIfb3IxJn8w_jlqQaXWUj0bAEqkanukUGCQziQSpaLNyjlaTlKf18XxA8/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4el_p78qpYFEzo4BOiva-v_xP5JyFKGI5hi2F1VwY_MIhrpaLJh6D3zf1QFEsbi3LUwu7ib3qON3IXmGXCEIfb3IxJn8w_jlqQaXWUj0bAEqkanukUGCQziQSpaLNyjlaTlKf18XxA8/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Thank you!

Thank you for all your sweet comments about my last post. I cannot say anything more than thank you, thank you, thank you , from the deep of...

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Blue and white times two

I know my posts often feature blue and white, but what can I say, I love it. So here's the latest painting in my blue and white china series - "China Blue".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Z52hn0mSSvjUlycQaHjEJUqBYDJBUKhhPMn_g_1JzrC2nD7VDyxc-qPukBZc6kur3WRng14ndzidRxotOuUiVy5Esb0H8QPqwVtmn28UBHv1w0DiuPbfRJB5-9qq5vDCmbvbJXGD7Mx/s1600/fuze+china+blue+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5Z52hn0mSSvjUlycQaHjEJUqBYDJBUKhhPMn_g_1JzrC2nD7VDyxc-qPukBZc6kur3WRng14ndzidRxotOuUiVy5Esb0H8QPqwVtmn28UBHv1w0DiuPbfRJB5-9qq5vDCmbvbJXGD7Mx/s640/fuze+china+blue+watermarked.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">"China Blue"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">watercolour on paper</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">8" x 11" (210mm x 297mm)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">original on hold, but prints are now available on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.etsy.com/listing/74635482/china-blue-new">Etsy</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But this isn't the only new blue and white piece around here. On the weekend, I was shopping with Mum and stumbled across this beauty:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_jmrOehIxW_Bowup0-_WfeIfGEC-JlaM_wfo3e7EEUZ-IHrxjTD43NofzGjOKpZL4fiEvYu2Pnxyaqsuxm37d_hrTWk1Q1FGaGgmEGB_mmVPg2Y5AoCDhBBgevB-avb6Gsc_kUJTMVP8/s1600/blue+and+white+vase+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_jmrOehIxW_Bowup0-_WfeIfGEC-JlaM_wfo3e7EEUZ-IHrxjTD43NofzGjOKpZL4fiEvYu2Pnxyaqsuxm37d_hrTWk1Q1FGaGgmEGB_mmVPg2Y5AoCDhBBgevB-avb6Gsc_kUJTMVP8/s640/blue+and+white+vase+resize.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not sure if you can tell from the pic, but this vase is pretty big...almost 60cm high. I spotted it in a market stall, and couldn't race across fast enough to snap it up. And even better, I paid the princely sum of $26 for it - total bargain. Of course, mum is trying to steal it off me, but for now I'm not parting with it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28QRFvfgW9kJUFCHAxhxw0tw4rTL_XyMlRINSVJ0jNZ-g-zWs8YtZ5afGBDCY3af5oQF5Uy825FRq7IJIkasBQsJdjcs1U_mN-GAlAI-kiyJqAWZZlNc97WUHYo6iZQj2R1Y7ENPKYzNl/s1600/blue+and+white+vase+detail+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28QRFvfgW9kJUFCHAxhxw0tw4rTL_XyMlRINSVJ0jNZ-g-zWs8YtZ5afGBDCY3af5oQF5Uy825FRq7IJIkasBQsJdjcs1U_mN-GAlAI-kiyJqAWZZlNc97WUHYo6iZQj2R1Y7ENPKYzNl/s640/blue+and+white+vase+detail+resize.jpg" width="335" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">there are four panels around the vase, each with a different scene. Gorgeous.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So, what do you think of my bargain buy? I used to go antiquing every weekend, visiting junk shops and garage sales, until my shed was full to the brim (actually, it still is). This was my first buy for quite a while, so maybe I should get out there again. Probably best if I don't mention that to the Mr, especially with a reno on the horizon.</div></div><br />That's it for me today, I have some serious work to do. Catch you soon,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Blue and white times two

I know my posts often feature blue and white, but what can I say, I love it. So here's the latest painting in my blue and white china se...

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The worst month of my life

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that is all over I can talk about it. I feel I have to talk about it, to finally relieve myself and tell to me:"It's all OK, now".</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On May 5th I received the results of the Ultra-screen,  a prenatal testing used to analyze if there is Down Syndrome risk. And the results were not good. The doctors suggested me to make amniocentesis. This exam was fixed for the May 19th. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I spent all this period...I exactly don't know how. I tryed to keep my mind always busy, not to think what was happening, not to think that my baby could be not healthy. I said it to none execpt my family and my really best friends (whom I can count on one hand). I'm a reserved person, and this was really a too big and personal sorrow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then, last Thursday I did amniocentesis. I spent this last week end with the fear of the results and, t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">his morning, I received them.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was cheking the phone every 5 minutes and when finally it rang I felt the world was stopping. My hearth was running so fast I thought the doctor could hear it clearly. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The doctor said to me that it's all OK, my baby is healthy, he has nothing wrong and he is a boy!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I cryed...I'm still crying... I've cryed out all my sorrow, all the sorrow my hearth has been filled with in these last 20 days. And now I feel like I have been waking up after a nightmare.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I know this is not a typicall post of mine, but I really needed to write it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Ora che è tutto finito, posso parlarne. Sento che devo parlarne, per concedermi sollievo e per dire a me stessa:"Va tutto bene, ora".</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Il 5 maggio ho ricevuto i risultati dell'ultrascreen, che è un esame prenatale che serve ad individuare il rischio di sindrome Down del feto. E i risultati non erano buoni. I dottori mi hanno suggerito di fare l'amiocentesi, che ho fissato per il 19 maggio.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Ho trascorso il periodo tra queste due date....non sò neanche io come. Ho cercato di tenere la mente sempre occupata per non concedermi il tempo e il modo di pensare a cosa stava accadendo, che il mio bamabino forse non era sano. Non l'ho detto a nessuno, tranne la mia famiglia e i miei migliori amici (che si possono contare sulle dita di una mano). Sono una persona riservata, e questa era veramente una sofferenza troppo grande e troppo intima.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Poi, giovedì scorso ho fatto l'amiocentesi. Ho passato l'intero week end con il terrore dei risultati e, questa mattina, li ho ricevuti.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Stavo controllano dil telefono ogni 5 minuti, quando finalmente ha squillato ed io ho sentito come se il mondo si fermasse. Il mio cuore batteva talmente forte che pensavo lo potesse sentire anche il dottore.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Il dottore mi ha detto che è tutto Ok, il mio bambino è sano, non ha nulla che non vada ed è un maschietto!</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Ho pianto...Stò ancora piangendo...ho buttato fuori tutta la mia sofferenza, tutta la sofferenza che il mio cuore aveva accumulato in questi 20 giorni. Ed ora mi sento come se mi fossi svegliata da un incubo.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Sò che questo non è uno dei miei tipici post, ma avevo veramente bisogno di scriverlo.</em></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixKagmplNJ1wq91wHLPZhanuRYQ3_Zr92ETK7ZtQdPHAHH8Zb_3261kFhVUscu8EeIONLZe9V8Yq-M5gW2rOoyI6fmMRDgT8Vg_0vhnICzQnvOXlnfD9r_8FDO5BlB-rDxlbzk7KxNg0/s1600/baby_boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixKagmplNJ1wq91wHLPZhanuRYQ3_Zr92ETK7ZtQdPHAHH8Zb_3261kFhVUscu8EeIONLZe9V8Yq-M5gW2rOoyI6fmMRDgT8Vg_0vhnICzQnvOXlnfD9r_8FDO5BlB-rDxlbzk7KxNg0/s640/baby_boy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*photo by me*</span></div>

The worst month of my life

Now that is all over I can talk about it. I feel I have to talk about it, to finally relieve myself and tell to me:"It's all OK, no...

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My kitchen makeover on Apartment Therapy

The lovely <a href="http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com/">Kerry</a> was kind enough to let me know that my kitchen makeover was again featured on <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/renovation-inspiration-10-kitchen-before-afters-147041">Apartment Therapy</a> (oops...totally missed it!). I know many of you would have already seen my re-do, but for those new to my blog, here's a recap:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_UHGvK4FGvJaxjgosEG2x2wLhtCDz8fi-IwBr8SpwHzlDe2LuZC5qukfBcLWlwQsozYvJE9SuM-Rj_OKQFRJaN_y3U9op9ws4B3975glCHY7o4bqbbYUqRmCDqVNKmEbhiQcNs4R42K2/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-22+at+6.12.56+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_UHGvK4FGvJaxjgosEG2x2wLhtCDz8fi-IwBr8SpwHzlDe2LuZC5qukfBcLWlwQsozYvJE9SuM-Rj_OKQFRJaN_y3U9op9ws4B3975glCHY7o4bqbbYUqRmCDqVNKmEbhiQcNs4R42K2/s640/Screen+shot+2011-05-22+at+6.12.56+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/renovation-inspiration-10-kitchen-before-afters-147041">Apartment Therapy</a></div><br />For my original posts with all the before and after pics, and a breakdown of the project, pop on over <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/at-australia/before-and-after-kerris-country-kitchen-118281">here</a>, <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/05/diy-kitchen-makeover.html">here</a> and <a href="http://driftwood-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/05/diy-kitchen-makeover.html">here</a>.<br /><br />As an interesting aside, I'm always curious to see the comments left on posts like this. The majority of the kitchens featured all had one thing in common - the painting of timber/timber look cabinetry, and it seems that it can be a contentious issue. I noticed that a number of comments questioned the choice to paint:<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">..."why does everyone slather white paint to cover their natural wood cabinetry? some do make sense, but #8 looks like gorgeous wood to me. it seems like a shame to cover it up."</span><br /><div class="meta" style="color: #777777; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;">posted by <a href="http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/users/222016" style="color: #007994; text-decoration: none;"><b>Linda Y</b> </a>on <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/renovation-inspiration-10-kitchen-before-afters-147041#cid-1265591" style="color: #007994; text-decoration: none;" title="Link to this comment">May 18th 2011 at 2:51pm </a></div><br />Now don't get me wrong...I love timber. I love the detail in the grain, the texture....but I have no problem painting it if need be. In our kitchen, the cabinetry combined with exposed brick, pine ceilings and dark stone floors, making the room dark, dingy and uninviting...and completely depressing. I've noticed that men, in particular, hate the idea of covering wood with paint...maybe something to do with the old 'man cave' theory?<br /><br />To me, having an inviting, bright and airy home, filled with natural light, is the ideal. One of the most telling comments on my makeover was that many people had never noticed that we have a skylight in the room. The dark surfaces totally absorbed every last ounce of light. Now, the room is light and bright, and my only regret is that I didn't do it years ago.<br /><br />So, I'd love to know what you all think about painting timber. Are you all for it, or do you think it's totally taboo? Or maybe you think it's a fad, and we'll all be reaching for the paint stripper and varnish?<br />Over to you!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

My kitchen makeover on Apartment Therapy

The lovely Kerry was kind enough to let me know that my kitchen makeover was again featured on Apartment Therapy (oops...totally missed it...

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Happy week end!

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To wish a great week end</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to share with you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">this poster.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've found it in a blog somewhere,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but I don't remember where!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read it carefully,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it worth it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Per augurarvi un buon week end,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>voglio condividere con voi</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>questo poster.</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>L'ho trovato in un blog, </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>ma non ricordo pù dove!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Leggetelo attentamente,</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>lo merita!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYkJtEWPaZrUz1fMHtNwSrlB5YUyiGNx96qxzvHaKsJpilppFVf73Hi-TB3UcPTrB1rwBtYNdJ6B03HpcDWaPxGiTuohHajPZpmJRw5N79XckqxuhrzbZCFJJCR8pnJQ20E5KBGlWB7E/s1600/thisisyourlife%255B3%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYkJtEWPaZrUz1fMHtNwSrlB5YUyiGNx96qxzvHaKsJpilppFVf73Hi-TB3UcPTrB1rwBtYNdJ6B03HpcDWaPxGiTuohHajPZpmJRw5N79XckqxuhrzbZCFJJCR8pnJQ20E5KBGlWB7E/s640/thisisyourlife%255B3%255D.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Happy week end!

To wish a great week end I want to share with you this poster. I've found it in a blog somewhere, but I don't remember where!!! Read...

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Inspired

Sometimes, inspiration can be hard to come by. I've had times in the past when painting has been a torturous process, and I've come to learn that often, it's other stuff going on in our lives that blocks creativity. Stress, upheaval...you name it, it can wreak havoc. Of course, these things can act as a catalyst for some artists, but for me, it's rarely the case. Lately, it's been the opposite - I have so many ideas, there's just not enough time to paint everything I'd like to. But that's quite a nice problem to have, so I'm not complaining. Here's an abstract I've just finished...a little departure from the detailed watercolour pieces.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kF0utSae0bjw-qvYAaRhG88JICTDxKSTjc6mPHnpakwx9ZpHLzGAcCOwZ5HlMSCv6lp7Z9IDz7ZhNnu3qIKR_8FRDLNybS5RbethHLIiiogFz6AHgtComfjGXePGQsp_Uj4dES3v80Du/s1600/in+motion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kF0utSae0bjw-qvYAaRhG88JICTDxKSTjc6mPHnpakwx9ZpHLzGAcCOwZ5HlMSCv6lp7Z9IDz7ZhNnu3qIKR_8FRDLNybS5RbethHLIiiogFz6AHgtComfjGXePGQsp_Uj4dES3v80Du/s640/in+motion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">'In Motion'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">mixed media on canvas</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">500mm x 400mm (20" x 16")</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(this will be listed on </span><a href="http://www.driftwoodinteriors.etsy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Etsy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> as soon as I sort out shipping costs - in the meantime, if you're interested please drop me a line and I'll give you a quote)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not sure how well you can see the detail in this pic, but the circular patterning is in metallic gold. This is a smaller piece, and the first in a new series. In an upcoming post, I'll show you how to combine different works - abstracts on canvas, framed prints, watercolours etc to create a really unique and personal gallery. It's always nice to see rooms that have been put together over time, and it's also perfect if you can't afford to splash out on large artworks - a collection can be added to when time and money allow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, back to painting. I'd no sooner put the finishing touches to this piece when I saw this pic over on Jessie Lauren's gorgeous <a href="http://jessielaurenblog.blogspot.com/">blog</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GH3IRKiwgxDS2P-sErjyEgRfWR8lsFOR_vHw540iXCKCdYxpdyYoG_ajD8SfT2vy6-tiZuY1bAx2Ql2EGhIhNTpnI6815Og8wRHDClXTuQKrbFm9j9zPF7Rb6VZt83AH4B9TTp00Dfoy/s1600/blue+and+white+room+via+apartment+therapy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GH3IRKiwgxDS2P-sErjyEgRfWR8lsFOR_vHw540iXCKCdYxpdyYoG_ajD8SfT2vy6-tiZuY1bAx2Ql2EGhIhNTpnI6815Og8wRHDClXTuQKrbFm9j9zPF7Rb6VZt83AH4B9TTp00Dfoy/s640/blue+and+white+room+via+apartment+therapy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">via </span><a href="http://apartmenttherapy.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Apartment Therapy</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...which reminded me of this....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq5eR-0f7acX4yLuuhuDncik5VfgneuROOU6ioopPsEaK1QaUTh3colmt-ks0wKkKdQDyVRTXkTU22FTTVrAhiceehjQK_mSE4nA2JA82SZrFViduW3axE93KPGeIIydkIA8C-lehzibl/s1600/elle+decoration+august+2010+kathy+adam+architect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq5eR-0f7acX4yLuuhuDncik5VfgneuROOU6ioopPsEaK1QaUTh3colmt-ks0wKkKdQDyVRTXkTU22FTTVrAhiceehjQK_mSE4nA2JA82SZrFViduW3axE93KPGeIIydkIA8C-lehzibl/s640/elle+decoration+august+2010+kathy+adam+architect.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">via </span><a href="http://elledecoration.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Elle Decoration</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...which led to this - a large diptych in moody blues. It's not quite finished yet, but here's a teaser:</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtozKMci_Mlmk4hHewzFYdiNxpR-UzsW_Q3qOyPT7PYCnLhkV9zg2fFZBfYCCkux6T5vThxfDVfxhlHCH0Bg8fg9gW72tU3UVDaXwolS2v9-oiQnDlfx5WlcxqcOeQTb4oACPYkFTKB5MR/s1600/glacial+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtozKMci_Mlmk4hHewzFYdiNxpR-UzsW_Q3qOyPT7PYCnLhkV9zg2fFZBfYCCkux6T5vThxfDVfxhlHCH0Bg8fg9gW72tU3UVDaXwolS2v9-oiQnDlfx5WlcxqcOeQTb4oACPYkFTKB5MR/s640/glacial+detail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">'Glacial I & II'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">mixed media on canvas</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">Diptych - each canvas 700mm x 700mm (28" x 28")</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, for those of you who've wondered about the process of creating art, I'm sure I'm not your usual case study! I'm terribly fickle at times, and probably a little scattered in my approach, but hey, that's just how it is. And it never gets boring, so that makes it fun too - there's always something new catching my eye. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope you've all had a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow with the reveal of this latest piece.</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Inspired

Sometimes, inspiration can be hard to come by. I've had times in the past when painting has been a torturous process, and I've come ...

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A family brunch

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIy1dfYgEHxlgYgGvfALVzqvhUwC2e9YSu1Sq_oExrMgesAz6nkG2djerL4SzHGux7TeBPN5fND46eI_QmFCp9IVdbYAu4LqXNDY7Xcbva05jpq7t0e0dv1FBUwUbnJVA1Gdqp2IsQR4/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIy1dfYgEHxlgYgGvfALVzqvhUwC2e9YSu1Sq_oExrMgesAz6nkG2djerL4SzHGux7TeBPN5fND46eI_QmFCp9IVdbYAu4LqXNDY7Xcbva05jpq7t0e0dv1FBUwUbnJVA1Gdqp2IsQR4/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What about get up</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on Sunday morning</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in a home like this</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and have and informal</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">family brunch?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Che ne direste di svegliarvi</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>la domenica mattina</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>in una casa così</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>e fare un bel brunch con </em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>tutta la famiglia?</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizznQTfQDmXeNaJ5RWNlCuq2qud451lGW8IlFb-kKVpK4lTE0vHqBXLFqjrCK7zjd4dhyphenhyphen3QeDiBO6KXL_l7JzD326qW8_g6jD0PHtNMS2TFHBKiNF_Vdp01dlpQAWamDtJdg6oAVJQrnM/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizznQTfQDmXeNaJ5RWNlCuq2qud451lGW8IlFb-kKVpK4lTE0vHqBXLFqjrCK7zjd4dhyphenhyphen3QeDiBO6KXL_l7JzD326qW8_g6jD0PHtNMS2TFHBKiNF_Vdp01dlpQAWamDtJdg6oAVJQrnM/s640/4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf5iggbFiK7ZZmM1hAYXt-7dj-N9oFZYqGaQKfR84paImAuwiHExkkrmX76Pv1hATCB9xMH7hgSfZLasRsv08r8g2QbLinPe3d-KLRjaWwvEfavVy7mjLinM399m-43Ff3Q8qIzHB9y8/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf5iggbFiK7ZZmM1hAYXt-7dj-N9oFZYqGaQKfR84paImAuwiHExkkrmX76Pv1hATCB9xMH7hgSfZLasRsv08r8g2QbLinPe3d-KLRjaWwvEfavVy7mjLinM399m-43Ff3Q8qIzHB9y8/s640/2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even a small wild flower</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">can give the table</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that relaxed-chic appeal!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Persino un piccolo fiorellino</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>può dare alla tavola </em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>quel senso rilassato-chic!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7j9aiKSUA04SSkwwG19p1j81xuKh9hQ1NLc_xsB2oxdi6LWOvDmULJaBKIKyIHWooZZferxdkGtepAweK7SJ2XKH3I4lydWGKYzJKKZFhSjnuqIMkgcE2qlqRsoWKgvh6rqaJsSGzbU/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7j9aiKSUA04SSkwwG19p1j81xuKh9hQ1NLc_xsB2oxdi6LWOvDmULJaBKIKyIHWooZZferxdkGtepAweK7SJ2XKH3I4lydWGKYzJKKZFhSjnuqIMkgcE2qlqRsoWKgvh6rqaJsSGzbU/s640/1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPueZ1pWapS8bB86A_MNkcg7tjaFgq81dWhRgCKKmvsmLH7_QUEUOoC6PEKy9mBO0ppHBiZ7-2wkmpekyemgRNJggShm39ac_BgoCG03G1jD-yKFV62BlegTQHDmrqqnJB6jIwriIGlIk/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPueZ1pWapS8bB86A_MNkcg7tjaFgq81dWhRgCKKmvsmLH7_QUEUOoC6PEKy9mBO0ppHBiZ7-2wkmpekyemgRNJggShm39ac_BgoCG03G1jD-yKFV62BlegTQHDmrqqnJB6jIwriIGlIk/s640/3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://wohnidee.wunderweib.de/">credits</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ21xmhW_w/TITTbYCWPNI/AAAAAAAACMg/YuvHRvkTR58/s1600/firma.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

A family brunch

  What about get up on Sunday morning in a home like this and have and informal family brunch? Che ne direste di svegliarvi la domenica matt...

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