*** GIVEAWAY FOR CRAFTY PEOPLE ***

Golden glow I'm loving

Who knows me knows that I'm more a white gold or silver type of girl, but I'm loving these warm golden beauties... Aren't they special?
Button Ring (studio mhl) (Ok, technically this is silver and mother of pearl, but I find it has a beautiful golden glow anyway...)

Sungazer Collection Ring (Sundance)

And you? I'm curious: what do you prefer? White or Yellow (or Rose) gold?

In any case have the loveliest weekend friends, don't forget to enter the giveaway if you still didn't (last few days!) and I hope to see you here next week: I'll be sharing a new printable for you... :)

Ciao!

Our NEW white gazebo! Yay!

They installed the gazebo in the back yard, out of the kitchen door! I can't really take credit for it as it was in the original project, but I LOVE IT!
(Yes, I hate those reddish lines/decors on the walls profiles as much as you do. No, I didn't choose it. No, I couldn't avoid it, for the moment. I'm planning to have it removed ASAP).
And yes, the grass in the "garden" is worrying now... We'll need a axe to get rid of it!

So what do you say? Cute? I think yes!
Unfortunately now the kitchen door you can see in the photo doesn't open anymore because the gazebo is blocking it, but that's a little detail, isn't it? :D
Kidding, I trust the construction people will fix quickly the mistake. They will, will they? Uhm...

From my art prints wishlist: Golden Gate + Pretty Swimmers = great match in aqua and red!

I want to share with you some of the prints and art I have in my ever-growing wishlist file (for the walls of the new home, yay!). Hope you'll like my finds!

Let me start with this fabulous pair, I love them together:


Left:
San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge from Anderson Design Group, Inc.
(Love it, also because I've been there and riding the bridge by bike is an amazing experience!)

Right:
"Down, Down, Down" by Jen Corace
(So pretty... It was for a charity project and unfortunately now it's sold out)

Beautiful Today: Golden Plums

Hello!

I'm a little in delay to wish you a nice new week and to tell you something about our weekend...

You have to know my family has a country/mountain house, like 45' from the city. In the last days it was so crazy hot and humid in the city (and we do not have air conditioning nor want to spend for it now: we're leaving this apartment in a few months!) that we literally run there to escape and indeed we found a heavenly climate, breezy, cool, sunny: perfect!

It's good to sit on the deckchairs under this plum tree and chat with friends, read stupid magazines or a really good book, drink something, have a nap maybe...


So last weekend was the second one in a row we spent there with friends. I really have to tell you: the place is beautiful and my mum made an impressive job (really) in making it as welcoming, classy,  unusual as it is. I think I'll prepare a little  house tour... For the moment just to give you the idea I can tell you that the house was bought at the end of the 80ies and slowly and gradually restored and renovated. It's a typical ancient  stones house, but with light aqua green wooden windows  and details made of wrought iron, glass, wood. You'll see more in the future!

Anyway our weekend was lovely: barbecue, excellent weather, reading, good friends, relax... :)

Hope you've had the same or better!

Kitchen: Lighting

Thank you for your sweet comments on our new home! :)

Our biggest emergency  at the moment is the kitchen. We already know that even ordering by July (as we absulutely must do) it's not likely we'll have the kitchen installed by mid septemeber: it takes time and here in Italy everyone is on holiday in August...
Unfortunately, we're still quite behind in making a decision and the prices are rather scary! For the moment, the only things I'm clear about are: I want my kitchen to be liveable, comfortable and welcoming, milk white or cream or a delicate neutral gray or beige, not too "country" but not too "modern" either, must have a fantastic dishwasher (I've been living without it for almost 3 years and no, you DON'T get used to handwash your dishes, NO), and I always wanted the oven at eye level and not on the floor where it typically is. (Consider  that the floor will be made of big boards of  very light wood that we chose for the whole house, a part from the section close to the actual kitchen appliances that is made of 10x10 cm pinkish cream rustic marble. The walls will be light cream. - Yes, I want a lot of bright and light shades of white in this house!).
That's not a very complete and precise picture of what we want yet, isn't it? :(

But since one has to start somewhere, let's talk about kitchen lighting! (And let's drool over some dreamy interior images together!)
I have 3 main options for kitchen lighting: The Romantic Chandelier,  Cute Glass Lampshades, Industrial style... and I'd love to hear what you prefer in general or what you have in your own kitchen!!!

Option 1:

Option 2:
Option 3:

Image credits:

- The nice tape elements in the collages are from Carolin at Sodapop Design . Thanks Caro!

Chandeliers
- Dendelion and Gray
- Ph by Jason Loucas via The City Sage
- Source Unknown via The City Sage

Glass Lampshades           
- Bolig
- Bolig
- Source Unknown via Ludmila (CreamyLife) on Pinterest

Industrial
- Helena - Skarp
- Torie Jayne
- Barn Light Electric via Bliss


Little big news: our new home!

This is our new home. A pretty sky-blue home!

Can't believe it... Just wanted to tell you, friends, maybe more detail in the future and from now on I think you can expect to see here on my blog much more interiors & home decor topics and images... :)

And hope I can count on your help for the many little things we still have to choose and decide until the blue house will be finished in autumn! (Wish me luck...)

Ciao!

* Alphabet Walk: looking for "S" in an antique Castle *

Hello and a warm warm welcome to any fellow Alphabet Walker coming over from One Sydney Road!

Come with me to continue the walk with the letter "S"... As in a fairytale, our walk today brings us to this antique Italian castle.

Once upon a time...

The Castle also hosts a permanent exhibition about ancient craftmanship and everyday life in centuries. There you could see:

Thanks for following me in this charming Castle, wandering around looking for "S"! Many thanks to Piper for organizing this fun blog hop and don't miss to visit the many great bloggers playing this game!

 

Pictures taken by me last Sunday.

*** DailySuze presents: GIVEAWAY for crafty people! Win a gift box full of supplies! ***

[TROVATE LA VERSIONE ITALIANA  IN FONDO AL POST!]

 

I'm excited to offer the first ever DailySuze GIVEAWAY!

 

We all love buying pretty things, right? Get them for free is even better. But in my opinion CREATING THEM YOURSELF is much much better! And the best is creating them yourself with FREE TOOLS AND SUPPLIES! Don't you agree?
In the past months I've been gathering and storing these SUPPLIES AND TOOLS one by one, in various occasions (including a local store running out of business and offering big sales...), planning to put everything together in one box for this little initiative. Most of these I bought for myself also: irresistible (So if you see them "in action" in the photos below it's because I'm using mine to demonstrate. Don't worry: you'll get new items, still in their original sealed packages, if any).
I'm very happy to offer this gift to one of you, friends, hope you'll like it and maybe you will even discover a new type of creative activity you never tried before, I know there's many crafty and talented people among my readers...

 

Please see the detail of the prizes below and discover how to enter to win ALL this: simple directions are at the bottom of the post. I know some of you are on holiday, so I'm leaving this open until early August and I will remind you from time to time...
GOOD LUCK! :)

The prize comes in a cute and practical supplies box. Here's what you will find inside:

Japanese Masking Tape: two matching rolls (I have 2 of this set in my collection, or I wouldn't part myself from this beauty!) ;)
Stencil supplies

Wood mounted stamps: two little pretty circular decorations + Inkpads in "raspberry" and "royal blue"
Nothing special as they are, but great to be decorated! A butterflies garland and a flowers garland.
Great quality permanent markers in various colors.
A clever tool to easily create your yo-yos (not tried personally, but looks very useful!) and some cute fabric to practise.
Mini clothespins in red and green. You don't need me to tell you how many uses they can have!
Heart shaped paper punch. I'm literally addicted to these things! (The heart shape is 1 inch/2,5 cm wide approx)
Pearls in various sizes, great as accessory for gift wrapping and more...

 

Sooo... Here it is! Quite impressive collection isn't it? :)

 

HOW TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ALL THIS:
1) Just leave a comment here below. I'd love if you could have a look at my little shop here and if you let me know in your comment which is the item or style you like best: marina stripes, cute floral patterns or tropical shapes.
But please don't feel obliged to! This giveaway is just for fun and to celebrate the fact that you are here with me, so your comment entry can also be a simple "hello".
2) Follow my blog for 2 additional entries! Please leave 2 separate comments letting me know you are a follower. (It's easy! Follow with Feeds, see the orange icon in the right column? Or with Google Friends connect again in the right column or you can add me directly to any reader you use)
3) You can Tweet or post on Facebook or blog about this giveaway for an additional entry (please leave separate comments for each with a link to your Tweet/FaceBook/Blog post).

The giveaway will be open until Monday August 2nd at Midnight (CET), I will randomly pick a winner and announce her or him on DailySuze in the first week of August.
(The winner will abe also contacted via e-mail, so don't forget to leave your e-mail address or I won't be able to send you the prize in case! Your e-mail will not be published).

GOOD LUCK!

NOTE: the objects of this prize have been store-bought by me and are my personal possessions that I'm happy to give away for free. The respective trademarks of the objects are not involved anyhow in this little initiative.
[PER VOI CHE PREFERITE LEGGERMI IN ITALIANO!]

Ciao a tutti! Vi presento il primissimo Giveaway offerto da DailySuze! Emozione!

Negli scorsi mesi ho raccolto qua e là questi STRUMENTI E MATERIALI, approfittando di sconti ed offerte, progettando di mettere tutto insieme in un bel pacchetto per una fortunata lettrice. Finalmente eccolo qua! So che ci sono molte persone creative fra voi e credo proprio che l'opportunità di vincere questi piccoli attrezzi vi farà più felici che se fosse un oggetto finito, dico bene?
Molti di questi oggetti li ho comprati anche per me: irresistibili (quelli che vedete "in azione" in alcune foto sono infatti i miei. Non temete, voi riceverete prodotti nuovi, ancora chiusi nella loro confezione originale se ne hanno una, in ogni caso ovviamente mai usati!)

Potete vedere i dettagli del premio riassunti qui sotto ed immagini più grandi nel post in inglese. Partecipare è semplicissimo, vedete sotto! Tante possibilità di di vincere e avete tempo fino a inizio Agosto.

In bocca al lupo!

Ben 9 differenti premi in una graziosa scatola in plastica e metallo:
1) Due bellissimi rotoli del famoso japanese masking tape
2) Due ghirlande in legno (fiori e farfalle) da decorare
3) Mascherina e spugne per stencil
4) Due timbrini con bei decori circolari + inchiostro per timbri nei colori "lampone" e "blu reale"
5) Un pratico strumento per creare yo-yo (le tipiche "rondelle" in tessuto) e un pacchetto di stoffine per fare pratica
6) Un perforatore da carta a forma di cuore (il cuore viene largo circa 2,5 cm). Li adoro questi cosi!
7) Mini mollettine in rosso e verde
8) Piccoli indelebili in bei colori, scrivono quasi su tutto
9) Un vasetto di perle in varie dimensioni e per tutti gli usi!

Bello no? Mi sento un po' Babbo Natale fuori stagione... :)

COME PARTECIPARE PER VINCERE TUTTO QUESTO:
1) Semplicemente lasciate un commento a questo post. Se avete due minuti, mi piacerebbe tanto se faceste un giro nel mio piccolo Etsy shop qui e indicaste nel vostro commento quale stile vi piace di più: righe "nautiche", fantasie provenzali o fiori tropicali. Ma non sentitevi in obbligo! Questo concorso è esclusivamente per divertimento e per festeggiare il fatto che siate qui con me! :) Quindi, lasciate un commento, e un semplice "ciao" sarà sufficiente
2) Diventate un follower del mio blog per 2 ulteriori possibilità di vincere! (Lasciate 2 separati commenti per farmi sapere che seguite DailySuze). Seguire il mio blog è semplicissimo, se vi va: potete farlo con Google Friends Connect nella colonna a destra, o con i feeds (vedete l'iconcina arancione sempre nella colonna a destra?) o aggiungermi nel reader che preferite. (Siete già un follower? Be' allora vi meritate due possibilità in più comunque!)
3) Twittate o postate su FaceBook o sul vostro blog questo giveaway con un link a questo post per avere altre possibilità di vincere (lasciate un commento separato con un link al vostro Tweet o Facebook o blog).

Il giveaway rimane aperto fino a Lunedì 2 Agosto a mezzanotte. La settimana successiva estrarrò a sorte un vincitore e lo comunicherò qui su DailySuze (il vincitore sarà anche avvisato via e-mail, quindi mi raccomando, lasciatela o non sarò in grado di spedirvi il premio in caso di vittoria! La vostra e-mail non sarà pubblicata).

Tutto chiaro? IN BOCCA AL LUPO!

NOTA: questi oggetti sono stati normalemente acquistati nei negozi, sono di mia proprietà e ho deciso di regalarli per gioco. I rispettivi marchi degli oggetti non hanno nulla a che fare con questa piccola iniziativa.

*** A Romantic Terrace: FREE PRINTABLE tags and more ***

[IN FONDO AL POST TROVATE LA VERSIONE IN ITALIANO]

Hello!

Once again I'm excited to show you a beautiful set prepared by Laura @ TrenDiNozze: I'm particularly happy about it because once again I've designed for Laura the graphic decor.

On TrenDiNozze you can see all the gorgeous images of this romantic table for two, on a terrace in the charming Bologna - Italy.

If you like the inspiration as much as I do, here's a little piece of it, FREE for you!

At the following link you can download a PRINTABLE .pdf file containing: 

  • Oval Labels (perfect as tags if you punch a hole in the middle top of the frame)
  • Round Labels (perfect as tags if you punch a hole in the middle top of the frame)
  • Oval Cupcake Toppers model (just fold in half horizontally and glue to a stick and voilà! Use a-toxic glue if they will get in contact with food!)
  • Bonus: Mini Labels! (good for mix-n-match with the other elements but also alone as envelope seals)

All this in the very same peach+cream and aqua+cream stripes that you can see in TrenDiNozze photoshooting, with the same dark charcoal frame. I've also added some blank cream elements, for you to hand personalize with your names or messages...

It will take you some patience with scissors, but it will be worth it! :)

Enjoy!

(And any inquiry or problem, let me know!)

Click to download: Romantic Stripes Set FREE PRINTABLE

Pssst... Another free party printable is here. More to come!

NOTE: these printables have NO commercial purpose and they are free for your personal NON-commercial usage. If you like them and you want to spread the word you are very welcome, but please credit me and do not re-distribute directly on your site: please link back to this post. Thanks.

 

IN ITALIANO per le amiche di TrenDiNozze!

Ciao e benvenute se è la vostra prima visita!

Se vi è piaciuto lo shooting di Laura sulla romantica terrazza bolognese (io lo ho adorato, e non solo perché le ho realizzato la grafica!) perché non portarvi a casa una scintilla di quella magica ispirazione?

Al link qui sotto potete scaricare GRATIS in .pdf STAMPABILE su comune formato A4 un foglio che contiene:

  • Etichette Ovali (potete usarle così come sono o basterà un buco al centro della cornice in alto per aggingere un nastro)
  • Etichette Rotonde (potete usarle così come sono o basterà un buco al centro della cornice in alto per aggingere un nastro)
  • Modello per Cupcake Toppers (pronte per essere piegate in due in orizzontale e incollate ad un sostegno. Mi raccomando, usate colla non tossica!)
  • Bonus: Mini Etichette! (carine da mescolare agli altri elementi, anche per i vostri pacchetti regalo più speciali, oppure perfette da sole per sigillare le buste da lettere)

Il tutto proprio con le stesse righe pesca+crema e azzurro+crema che avete visto nelle foto di TrenDiNozze, con la stessa cornice in grigio scurissimo. Ho aggiunto anche alcuni elementi "vuoti" in crema, da personalizzare a mano se volete con i vostri nomi o messaggi...

Ci vorrà un po' di pazienza con le forbici, ma ne varrà la pena!

Buon divertimento!

(E se avete dubbi o domande, scrivetemi pure!)

 Cliccate per scaricare: Romantic Stripes Set FREE PRINTABLE

Pssst... Qui un altro free printable per i vostri parties. Altri in futuro!

 

NOTA: Questi printables NON hanno alcun fine commerciale e sono gratuiti per il vostro uso personale NON commerciale. Se vi piacciono e volete spargere la voce: fantastico, grazie! Ma per favore attribuitemi il dovuto credit e non ri-distribuite direttamente sul vostro sito bensì linkate a questo post. Grazie.

 

(Photo: courtesy of TrenDiNozze)

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