see you in 2010.

we're off to spend the Christmas holidays in New Zealand.

The Ashley Pouch

The Ashley Pouch, handmade with all vintage fabrics and trims.

A one off that can personalised with initials

Christmas comes early...

Unfortunately I was so preoccupied with making sure everything was cooked and not forgotten I forgot to take a photo of the table laid up with all the deliciousness that is Christmas food, so we only have a before shot. We had a wonderful afternoon and evening with too much food, wine & grappa, the sausages may have been burnt to a crisp, and the gravy a little too salty, but that's not too bad for my first Xmas dinner. It was a couple weeks early, but with Mum & Dad and lovely friends to share it with Christmas really did come early x
Now it's Turkey soup till New Zealand...

Christmas Delivery

Christmas in Verona

Verona looks really beautiful this year, no expense spared on the decorations, although I have a feeling that we may be seeing them for the next 5 years.
The shooting Star has arrived in Piazza Bra, Bauli is sponsoring the trees and it's raining stars in Piazza Erbe.
Outside my bedroom window is a street filled with blankets of fairy lights...will try for a photo this week.
Xmas is coming early for us this year as I'll be in New Zealand for Christmas, so Mum & Dad are coming for a festive spread in Verona, my tree is up, Turkey is in the fridge and Christmas pud is on it's way (thanks Mum)

Indulgence in the mountains.

Another year on and Karuna and I decide to make the trip back to Bormio for some much needed pampering and relaxing. This year we actually managed to spend our first night of the weekend in the hotel rather than stranded in Switzerland. Find time to squeeze in a massage, spot of lunch, mud bath, sauna, turkish bath...and cups of tea...natural steam cave sauna...endless pampering. A perfect birthday weekend.

today

:: today i am thankful for ::

moments shared with the ones I love

new friends & old friends

grace and humility

a place to call home

unconditional love

the soundtrack to life

a free spirit

creative freedom

people with open minds

this journey that we call life

Preparation

remembrance sunday

a long weekend

Paignton Beach and Pier, nothing quite like a walk along a British Beach in November to make Autumn your favorite season to enjoy the seaside. It has to be one of the things I miss most about living in the UK, there is nothing quite like it.

Velo Veronese

Our Sunday walk this weekend took us through the Velo Veronese region, with some spectacular views of the lake, it couldn't have been a more beautiful fall day. With the vineyards harvested and preparing themselves for the winter, the Olives groves stand proud and wait for the month of November when harvesting usually begins. However my highlight was seeing an eager farmer with what looked like giant pickle fork manuvering his way through his grove and reaping his reward of a dry hot summer.

delightful indulgence

Whenever possible on a Saturday I head to Flego for breakfast in Verona, it has the best brioche marmellata and cioccolato in town...and finally after a summer of going the server is finally recognising us...a break through?? possibly. Maybe next time no recogintion...but this seems to be the Veronese way.
Much to my excitment they had Macaroons, which to my eye are little pastel coloured sandwiches of delight and indulgence, only four found there way home with me, but were primped and eaten only as a macaroon should be.

Kates on the move...

After months of passing Marc Quinns 'Kate Moss on Thursday' on my way to work through Porta Borsari she is on the move. She caused a stir when she arrived back in May and leaving was a moment to pause for many Veronese on their way to work.

Via 20 Settembre

Saturday morning was spent wandering Via 20 Settembre, this is the place in Verona for us expats when we fancy cooking up a curry or anything remotely 'non Italian'

Although having said that I am becoming a little obsessed with finding tinned toms in beautiful packaging.

My cupboards are filling up....all I need to do now is learn to cook a delicious sugo di pomodoro.

Loved the red barbers chairs...I have a feeling it's a mens only club in this barbers.

east coast, west coast treats...

New York City

LA

I know I haven't updated my blog properly for a couple of weeks...I've been state side, started off in LA -  Rosebowl Flea Market weekend! Always something delicious to be found...then headed to NYC...this is always a treat as I get to see my beautiful friends...

If you find yourself in the Lower Eastside you must eat at Allen & Delancy, had a fantasic evening and great food! Another day of more shopping, then headed off to Williamsburg...this is Stef's turf! Aperitivo at Hotel Delmano (Berry & 9th)....those cocktails went down way too easy, dinner at Sweet Water Tavern...the must eat is the burger it's amazing and those fries (just like Mum used to make) caught some groovy 80's sythesized music at Zebulon (http://www.zebuloncafeconcert.com). It's was so great to be in this city, but put me in any city with this group of friends and I'm happy.

Venezia 1920's and 30's

Just a little something before I go away to the States for a week. These images from Italian VOGUE (Sept issue)...the girl on the right in her highwaisted pants and skinny belt is just amazing. A hair cut may be in my near future.

taking some sun

5 days in liguria, boat trips, fresh pesto, seafood, a couple religious ceremonies, 5 euro ice-cream in portofino...what more could a girl ask for?

Postcard from Croatia & Hungary

Had a great time, visited Budapest and bought 2 beautiful vintage bed throws. Ate Goulash at Lake Baleton. Wandered through Croatian villages and chilled at the beach. Stopped off for supper in Venice on the way home. Perfect.

this week I loved..

laughing with my Mum

an English fry up (cooked by Dad)

playing with Woody at Dartmeet

a walk along the Cornish coast

teasing my friend about her new boyfriend

BBQ'ing at home in Somerset

sleeping with a duvet

eating 2 huge cornish pasties

dartmoor ponies

"a dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." 

josh billings

New little treasures

A few images of the new little treasures that found their way back to my house Sunday afternoon, after a blistering morning spent walking around my first Italian flea market. The markets I've been to up until this point have all been a little disappointing and incredibly expensive,  but this one is a treasures itself. Set in and around the grounds of a Palladio Villa which is worth the visit without the market, the Magnolia lined streets are filled with stalls. I was very excited to find a guy who sold all old stationary, the labels were my last purchase of the day, but I have a feeling he will be my first stop when I return in the Fall with slightly cooler temperatures.

pride & joy brunch

I wanted to share with you my pride and joy of this weekend...an almost perfect Spainish tortilla.

Normally with these things I end up deciding to make them into a mash, but this somehow decided to play nice and was then enjoyed with a nice cold prosecco.

Breakfast.

Breakfast. London

Breakfast. Liverpool

Eat Sleep Pamper.

I had the the most relaxing weekend this weekend...headed off to Parma on Friday night, for a concert of Lawrence D 'Butch' Morris. http://www.conduction.us/main.html. We then drove SW to Salsomaggiore which is known for it's Terme, weekend of pampering was indeed the only thing required. Saturday morning breakfast in fluffy robe followed by wonderful 1hour Ayurvedic massage, quick dip in the pool...exercises optional (thanks Ku) 1 Eastern Vapours Hammam, which consisted of being rubbed, scrubbed and steamed and finally Ayurvedic facial peel, I'm suffering for this now. 

Sunday was spent driving through the food valley  in Emilia Romagna, buying fresh produce...Parmesan from the local farmer, Red wine from a castle on a hill, and Fresh Milk from a fake cow.

Lunch was at another castle on a hill Castello di Fellino, as always we ate to much but the Melanzane alla Parmigiana was worth the food coma.

Saturday stroll...

It's Monday morning,  sat at my desk and I'm still feeling the weekend...in the backs of my legs and shins. We hiked our way up through the Dolomites on Saturday, west of Cortina. It was a fabulous day, it also had the added excuse for me to don my favorite hat, bought whilst hiking through Zion National Park 2006 which was a very special trip for me.

The Dolomites are such a beautiful mountain region for hiking....

"Their extraordinary fame has made them into icons and their exceptional beauty is so acclaimed that no one feels the need to ask why they're considered beautiful, it's simply evident"

Exhausted  (well I was) and hungry we arrived at our refuge for lunch, ham, egg and potatoes followed by a well earned cold beer. Backpack back on and off we go again. A 6 hour hike  = another cold beer at the bottom and one back at our friends house then early to bed. Planning our next hike now, hoping to book a stay over in a refuge next time...sleeping bags and all!

Blue skies...

Just had a wonderfully relaxing weekend in Liguria. Sunday was my first afternoon at the beach this year. I hope you're weekends where lazy too.

Aperitvo in Piazza Erbe...

...and sometimes I complain about where I live...

I dream of...

Italy is full of surprises, and it continues to grow on me I'm trying to nurture and love it a little more everyday, it especially helps when you discover something that you didn't expect to find.

Nestled in the foothills of Monto Baldo near Lake Garda there's a 15th century home which we now know is CasaPiu B&B. This is such a special place that I kinda want to keep it my secret, but then it is a place that needs to be enjoyed and shared with people you know will fall in love with it too. 

NB Plan a long relaxing weekend here with fresh breakfast under the sails & chandeliers.

Dolce Vita...or just work?

My first visit to Roma and it had to be for work, unfortunately I didn't get to see anything, ate the same food for 3 out of 4 meals...hotel...venue...hotel...restaurant...hotel...venue...train station,  I'm sure Roma has got more to offer than that! I'll just have to save it more my next visit.

We presented our new SS 2010 line...first stop was Roma for Design presentation and catwalk....then on the train to Firenze for Pitti. Prepared stand for Pitti then got out of there before all the fashionistas turned up.

I do love what I do.

Thought I give you a sneak peek as to what I've been up to at work today...somedays it's just fun.

It's getting close now to the end of our season SS10....samples are arriving...some looking beautiful, others disappointing and not quite we expected, but that's part of the process particularly when working in Italy and with Italian suppliers, it's a strong learning curve for me, especially when coming from Abercrombie, where communication, structure and process were fundamental...words which are now being used a little more often since the Brit arrived!

Any how I am very excited about a new mini collection that we've called 'Artist Studio' it's a slight departure for Franklin from it's graphic driven, athletic line but still within vintage, it's allowed me to create a product that I am personally very passionate about and that I hope can really inspire a new direction for the Franklin woman....

Sunday

Sunday consisted of newspapers, brioche and snoozing.

Shaping in Sephora...

I've had a lovely day today...just me & Verona. Decided to treat myself, I discovered a couple of weeks ago that we have a Sephora, many a happy hour was spent at the Sephora in Columbus with Kim & Ashley testing everything and discovering a new beauty product we couldn't live without. I miss the girls on days like today, but having somewhere I can go and think for a second they're there gives me a smile.

I was greeted by a sales assistant and struck lucky and met Carla, she's moved here from Miami/Lima, not only did she give me my first ever eyebrow shaping she gave me a little spring in my step - I realise now the purpose of it, it was to give me something I needed...but it wasn't perfectly shaped brows, it was an afternoon spent feeling functional and helping me find a place in a city where I often feel like a visitor. Already booked my next appointment with Carla and a coffee.