Christmas is over

Christmas is over, and while everything is back to "normality", I can show you what I did for Christmas present.
This year I decided to have many simple and lovely presents, I also wanted to buy much handmade!!

La Tenaglia Impazzita is run by an Italian artist. Giulio is specialized in mosaics, amongs his marvellous masterpiece there are some beautiful objects that are much more affordable for my pockets. I chose a photo frame. It was the marvellous present for a family, and they really appreciated the artistic touch of this simple object.

One of my dearest friend is an avid reader of Jane Austen novels. On Etsy I found the perfect shop for her present from now on!! Pemberley Pond is run by Laura and Luisa Lodetti, two Italian illustrators. They hand-decorate marvellous notebooks, posters and bookmarks. recently Austenians chocolate is available in her shop. And I can assure the taste is fabolous!!

Christmas is also a time for remembering of ourselves, to have time to relax and every year I make myself a present. Wnadering etsy's marvellous shops I stopped by RickyandNina in UK, to buy a beautiful vintage box of stamps. They arrive in perfect time, in a safe package.
I hope my next sale come soon, in order to use them to decorate packaging.

Thinking about stamps I decided to give a stamp to my sister too. She liked them quite as much as I do, but I wanted something particular for her, so I asked to a French artist to make something special for me. Aurélie made a particular stamp shaped as a bassoon in very short time.
I wanted a Bassoon because my sister plays that peculiar instrument. t is not very popular, and so anytime she finds anything related to it she is enthusiastic!! And she loved the stamp at first sight!

Buying handmade you can be sure that your presents are unique. You also say to those who receive it that you care for them.

Another great advantage is buying online: few moments to decide what you want and you'll get it without any effort!
I'm very happy that etsy made me in contact with these extraordinary word full of extraordinary people.
Christmas is over, and my present are full of life!!

In Padova

I can't draw. And I don't like it. Even when I was a child, I hated the moment our teacher used to ask us to draw a picture. Because I can't do it.

But every time I pass by this little shop I can't avoid stopping in front of it, and I would like to enter it once. Now, I don't dare because I know that there is nothing for me inside, but stopping in front of the window I wish I could draw and paint, just to enter. I know that in a place like this probably there is an old shop assistant, one of those who perfectly knows everything about art. One of those who knows everything about Giotto, for example and can explain you how to make a perfect picture. Because in these old little shops, assistants are always like this, I'm sure!

This shop is in the very centre of Padova and it is one of my favourite place, because when I stop there to look at the window my mind can wander and imagine things, because like many old things is something rare and beautiful.
And still, I can't draw, and I don't like it.