Resolutions, horoscopes and tomato bushes

...And so the 2007 will be gone in only 6 hours. Rest in peace.
I finally feel awake after a sleepy year, I'm ready and battle trained. Still a little bit scared and anxious I admit, but I'll be brave. Yes, this is my first resolution for the new year. I obviously made a mental list of resolutions (sorry for the ordinary girl I am...I can't help it, I make lists of everything, it's out of my control!) and "to be brave" could be applied to any point of that list. I would be braver than usual and enjoy life and brave enough to face certain serious things of course, but I would be also brave enough to wear the American Apparel black Lamé Leggings, more high heeled shoes and hot lipstick...

I feel this can be a good year for me even if I don't know exactly why but at least I can count on the horoscope. According to it infact - I'd better to say "according to them" as I read/listened to hundreds of horoscopes in the last weeks - this should be a great year for Virgo. I'll can even meet and marry my true neverending love (?!?).
I should say I'm not an horoscopes addicted at all, I don't even buy Astra (should I, Margherita ;-)?) but I have my astrologers guru, Marco Pesatori and Rob Brezsny and I heart their beautiful, fun, sparkling, clever astrological (and beyond) forecasts.
Just to give you an idea of what I'm talking about, this is what Rob Brezsny wrote this week for Virgo:

"The desert-dwelling creosote bush can survive for centuries on little water. In the Mohave Desert there is a ring of creosote, named "King Clone," whose age has been carbon-dated at 11,700 years. The hardiness of this low-maintenance wonder reminds me of you, Virgo. You sometimes entertain the fantasy that the less you need, the stronger you'll be. The downside of this attitude is that you may unwittingly make it hard for people to give you their gifts. The upside is that you've learned many secrets about how to nurture and take care of yourself. But in 2008, I foresee you making a shift away from the creosote bush metaphor. You're more likely to resemble a tomato bush that gets watered regularly."

May this 2008 be bright and wonderful for everyone :-)

On Polyvore.

It' weird that I haven't wrote anything about Polyvore before...it's probably the most addictive website on the internet. Really: it's insane! I haven't spent too much time on it recently, so maybe I forget and postponed to write this post, but today I read Tricia Royal's post on Bits&Bobbins and now I feel my Polyvore addiction is here, still alive!

I love collages - from the ones made with paper/scissors/glue to the Photoshop stuff - and most of all I always loved paper dolls...dressing/undressing/re-dressing those wonderful paper mannequins with wonderful clothing and accessories...
Polyvore works right this way, but it's much much more than this: you can make wonderful ensembles with almost ANY image you find on the internet!!
The thing I really like is that you can play with fashion, using marvellous dresses, shoes, bags, anything you can think about...having a never ending (virtual) wardrobe for free!
When dreams come true...

I Spy


Gimme The Colors!


My African Diary


You can find me and my sets here
Anyone else on there?

PS: I had no time in these days to upload the pictures of my Christmas gift boxed presents...sorry, they will come soon ;-)

My Christmas days

Christmas is here and I still have to finish my Christmas presents...!
I worked every day all day long last week, having really no time for me and being too tired to be creative. Tomorrow will be the "gift boxing day". I would try something original...will see, I'll take some photos sharing the results with you!

This year I took the Handmade Pledge (more than 10000 people took it too, yay! Read the New York Times article here), so my presents will be all handcrafted. And, wow, this is really fun! I supported others indie designers too, buying wonderful items from them and I'm sure all these gifts will be really appreciated ;-)
I'll post the pictures soon after Christmas!

I'm also proud of my little Christmas tree


this "snow balls angel" and the colorful felt garlands are my new favorite ornaments :-)



I'll be back tomorrow with Christmas Carols and candy canes for everybody!

Dear Santa...#4

I like to wear my jewelry, but of course I also like to wear different things. And there are so many great jewelry makers in the world...this is my current selection of things I love. Dear Santa, bookmark ths page!

The Cat Lover ring from Rickson Jewellery is simply perfect, even if you don't like cats (btw I like them!!!)


Secretary Necklace from Brookadelphia. Cause this is what my soul sings...


Another great ring. House and Tree Ring from J Davis Studio. A little house and a yard... It's all you need!


The adorable Tea Party Necklace from Aloha Dear is perfect with my cake rings ;-)


Ok, this is a classic, an evergreen hero. If It will be not under my Christmas Tree, I'll buy it myself!! I heart the Little Mr T pin from Kezzaroo


Tilly Bloom make great illustration jewelry, "curious jewelry", she call it. The Gone Cuckoo Necklace is actually my favourite.


And finally these: chocolate - theobromine molecule - earrings from Molecular Muse: molecular jewelry...this change all my perspectives!!!

Stealing Beauty

My new Treasury West, Stealing Beauty...

Dear Santa...#3

It's time for fashion, wearable items and accessories. Once again, from Etsy with handmade love ;-)

The Cockroach Dress from Aorta is a little bit too large for me, but I can spend hours in her store looking at her marvellous creations...super talented girl!


A great hair accessory: Iridescent Elegange from Marketa New York


Tool Print Tee from Lucha Workshop. Tools for everyday + first aid items : neat and clever idea!


Streets of Violet -Handknit Asymmetrical Scarf from Bombshellstudios. I love the color of this one, but there are other great scarves in this store...


Birds Hair Stick from QueCraft. Glorious item!!!


Vintage style beret in this wonderful chili color, from Crochet by Lori Leigh

Fruit Tarts ready to go!

I finally have all the stuff ready for the local boutiques...Consignment, consignment, here I am!
These are two necklace from the Fruit Tarts Collection, I could eat them ;-)



Hope to sell all of them for Christmas!!!

Dear Santa...#2

Here we go with the second round! This time my Etsy Christmas wish list is all about photography and photomontage...

Jump from Wilsonke. And I'm ready to jump in this picture!


NYC, an empty train...just magic... on the B train, NYC from agirlcalledjack


A master piece and a must have for me: The Ghost Letters. I adore Madelaine's art.


Great light here. Buck from 1977


Calobee has great photos in her store; I choose this one, The Forgotten Bride, my new favourite of hers.

Cakes on my mind (and also on my hair)

Italian post is making me crazy in this period...I know it's holiday time, but I'm still waiting for parcels sent from USA on early October!!! By the way post is always extremely slow in Italy, so...
Yesterday I finally received the metal bobby pins I ordered 2 month ago and I made these miniature cake hair pins.

They're all available in my store

Dear Santa...#1

I surely can write a never ending Christmas wish list this year. Tons of wishes and handmade stuff on top :-) Once again, Etsy is a goldmine!!!
This first wish list is all about art prints...

Little Robot is definitely a great shop. This A Cage For Two is so powerful...curse or blessing...I can't decide.

The girls of Peechy Cheek are so fascinating, vintage style meets modern age, Holly Golightly and the digital era!




Connectedness from Groundwork


The Twins from Eekdesign. Two sister (the third and fourth in her "Seven Sisters" print series), red dresses, a swan...three of my obsessions. And it reminds me a little of Peter Greenaway of course :-)


Yay for digital!!! Pin the birdhouse from Margin


A Classified Selection from MarmeeCraft. I adore her style.


And now some more paper love...they're not prints but still wonderful artworks!

Peter, Peter, Cake Eater from redroostercraft


The marvellous Delicate Heart from Wool and Water


And last but not least, the beautiful Fish Head Popup Card from Crankbunny

Cyber Monday

So today is Cyber Monday...a myth??? We'll see, hopefully!
For now I had no sales in my store but it's still morning in the US...go with holiday shopping!!!
I listed 3 new charm necklaces, pewter and polymer clay charms. This one is my favourite, I love gingerbread men!


Oh! And this is the first picture of my first mini hamburger :-)



Ok, back to work now...polymer clay cookies are still waiting for me ;-)

Etsy European Street Team

Ok, I know, I am a lazy girl... I'm on Etsy as a seller since last February, but only a couple of days ago I joined my first Etsy Street Team,
the European
one of course :-)
I'm very pleased cause it seems to be a nice group of talented artists. I promised to be an active member of the team, so first thing I spent yesterday and today (well, today was an on/off presence cause I had to work on new stuff!) chatting on Etsy with other sellers and I also have a new treasury, all European:


So...hooray for Europe

New cookie brooches and charms necklaces are in the oven right now, with a miniature hamburger - my first attempt...so hopefully I'll have some pictures to post later today or tomorrow. And only if they'll look good!!

Guilty Pleasures

My comfort food.
Can't live without lemon tarts...

...and shoes, of course :-)

Things to do on a rainy day...

I've been simpsonized!
Say Ciao to Anna Simpson...

...and let me introduce South Park Anna (thank you Aarika for the link!)


:-)

Bake me a cake!

I really don't know why I became so obsessed with food in these years, but here I am...! I'm not that big eater at all, I think mine is an "eye obsession". The things I like the most about food are shapes and colors and this is weird cause I don't like - better, I really can't - eat artificial colored food! Maybe in a previous life I was a food stylist, who knows it...!

I recently found this wonderful blog and I'm amazed by the deeply talented Anne. She's not only a great cook, but she can make wonderful photos of her desserts too! I can't stop watching them on Flickr; each new photo from her is an instant fave for me.
I tried some of her recipes (the chocolatey cupcakes were perfect!) and I have a lot more on hold...I'm sure I'll give them a try soon :-)


1. Vanilla Cupcake, 2. Leche Flan, 3. Blueberry Cream Tart, 4. Chocolate Chip Sweet Rolls, 5. Black Forest Cake, 6. Pretzels, 7. Banana Caramel Tart, 8. Fortress Cake, 9. Linzer Sables, 10. Lemon Lime Cream Cheese Pound Cake, 11. Chocolate Cupcake, 12. Strawberry Mirror Cake, 13. Love Buns, 14. Orange Yogurt Cake, 15. Petit Fours, 16. Bostini cream Pie

Thank you Anne, keep going on with your great work!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!
No parties around here so, as The Oyster Boy, I decided to go as a human :-)


And this is last Halloween in New York
Upper Side...


...and Queens