ORGANIC BEAUTY

A dream dress by Balenciaga that I dream of owning one day, I love how the creases and overlapping have an organic, soft and bold element to them. The colour is so soft and unusual.

Photo source:Jak & Jil

KNIT ME

My yarn cards...knitwear samples  to follow

LES PATCHWORKS DE LIS CARPENTER

Lis Carpenter, when I think of a significant mentor for me this year, I think of Lis. Lis is an American living in Milan and has done so for 10 years

I was an intern for Lis for six months this year in Milan in her " bottega " where she sources fabrics and creates.....all things beautiful for the home.

Lis for me was a rock, but most certainly a colourful one. Entering into her bottega everyday day for six months was more than a pleasure, but a creative, fulfilling, challenging, growing and significant experience in my "career life".

The environment in the studio is warm, much like Lis, I think you just have to look around and what you see around you very much expresses Lis...colourful, patterned, original, organic, real, raw, bold, quality, well thought about and creative.

I asked Lis if she could answer a few questions for me and send me a few photo's of some of her work...here's what she wrote.

Give me a breif low down on your career.....
Bio-non-dégradable: Lis Carpenter “Cucire è sempre stata la mia passione ed ora è anche il mio lavoro. Dopo una carriera nella moda e nell'arredamento con Ralph Lauren a New York e Giorgio Armani a Milano, ho voluto tornare alle cose più semplici fatte con le mie mani. Così, nel 2009 ho aperto il mio Atelier nel cuore di Milano in un quartiere pieno di attività artigianali. I riferimenti e le ispirazioni che mi guidano provengono dai luoghi dove ho vissuto e soprattutto l'America rurale e Venezia, la Serenissima. Amo moltissimo la pittura rinascimentale del XIV e XV secolo, i quilt di Gee's Bend in Alabama, i motivi delle stoffe di Fortuny, i patchwork del Kentucky, la semplicità del design Shaker e i blocchi storici della Zucchi Collection of Antique Handblocks.”
Sewing has always been my passion and is now my work. After a career in fashion and home furnishings with Ralph Lauren in New York and Giorgio Armani in Milano I wanted to get back to the pure and simple pleasure of creating with my hands. Così, in 2009 I opened my Atelier in the heart of Milan in a very funky neighborhood filled with artisans, craftspersons, vintage shops and authentic "characters". My inspiration and references come from the places where I've lived, especially rural America and Venice the Most Serene. I love 15th century Renaissance paintings, the Quilts from Gee's Bend in Alabama, Fortuny fabrics patterns, Kentucky patchworks, the simplicity of Shaker design and the fabulous historical printing blocks from the Zucchi Collection of Antique Handblocks.

What inspries you?  see above

Favourite food?  any green vegetable, preferably bitter, with lots of fresh garlic, good olive oil  and hot red pepper

What are you reading right now? just started "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Three best cafe's in Milan?  The very best is "Paolo's Ponky Bar" on the corner of Marco D'Oggiono and Cicco Simonetta. Completely authentic! Spritz and live music, good espresso and above all 100% humanity with humor and heart. "Cioccolati Italiani" is great for a good coffee and ice cream on the corner of Via dei Amicis and Conca del Naviglio. Then "Bar Magenta" on the corner of Via Carducci and Corso Magenta - good beer and sandwiches, good in the daytime, evening and late night.

What could America learn from Italy? Definitely how to cook, loosen up, be less competitive
and how to dress. Americans on holiday in Italy are such sore thumbs. Flip flops, t-shirts and shorts just doesn't cut it!


Thankyou Lis!!

 A curtain created from old family linens..

 A bed head board cover created with a patch-work American flag

 Swiss table centre pieces

September on Cresita Drive 250 x 250 cm
You can find her on http://www.liscarpenter-milano.com or visit her bottega in Milan, all details can be found on her site, or check her out on facebook search "Les patchworks de Lis".

ZINGARO

gypsy |ˈjipsē| (also gipsy)
a member of a traveling people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and traditionally live by seasonal work, itinerant trade, and fortune-telling. Gypsies are now found mostly in Europe, parts of North Africa, and North America, but are believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent.
• the language of the gypsies; Romany.
• a person who leads an unconventional life.
• a person who moves from place to place as required by employment.



So, you often hear aboout people's style being referred to as gypsy, boho, earthy.....is it really relevant to the meaning of the word gypsy when described as a style?

What do you think about the images above and their style?

* Images all come from  " The Selby is in your place" book by Todd Selby

WE ARE MESSENGERS

http://wearemessengers.com/

For all the stationary nuts like me..

THE BOOK DEPOSITORY

Have you heard about the book depository?

If not, beware, it's dangerous and it involves your credit card eeeekkk!!!

It's a great online book store, reduced price books, with FREE SHIPPING WORLD WIDE!

They're based in England and have most books you can dream of......

It's also so lovely receiving a package in the mail!!

A few I have purchased over the past year...

So the website is http://www.bookdepository.com/ what are you going to treat yourself to?

PINOCCHIO

Pinocchio is a fictional character that first appeared in 1881, in The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, and has since appeared in many adaptations of that story and others. Carved from a piece of pine by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a small Italian village, he was created as a wooden puppet, but dreamt of becoming a real boy. The name Pinocchio is Italian for "Pine Eye".

My poor Pinocchio that always falls off my desk, but he's so CUTE!

NATURAL BEAUTY

I could've scanned almost every page in this book

"Simple home" by Mark & Sally Bailey

CLEVERNESS

Boho....what do you think when you think of that word?

The word Bohemian according to the dictionary on my apple says..

unconventional, nonconformist, unorthodox, avant-garde, irregular, offbeat, alternative; artistic; informal boho, artsy, artsy-fartsy, way-out. antonym conventional.

Well, check out what these two talented women are up to.....

Creating one off stunning necklaces made of all sorts of treasures, old horn, coins, old rosary beads....to name a few.

I have about 10 of these necklaces from their collections and still love all ten of them.

Have a look...

http://bohojewellery.co.nz

Some of the few I own

 P.s you can buy online!!!

THE SELBY

http://theselby.com/

One of my favourite favourites...

pronto.prego.a presto

pronto, prego e a presto.

My favourite words in italian, maybe it's something about the ring of the "pr" that the sound makes on your tongue, they were also the first words I learnt besides Ciao and pizza, so I've decided to use them as the name of my Blog.

A blog I thought to myself this morning,whats the deal with all these blogs, it's become like having a facebook account, a whole new online world,well... after staying up until 3am last night scrolling through numerous stunning interior blogs, I realise that it's another way to be connected and have an outlet, whether it be creative, visual, reviews, opinions, articles...a place to display ones,well ones whatver one decides to display.

So, welcome to pronto, prego e a presto, enjoy whatever this ones self may display...