I’m on to a new stint where I am going to try to wake up at
5:30 a.m. and see if I can’t kick it a bit more effectively. I know, what you are thinking that I
won’t be able to handle it, well maybe by confessing my plans to you my lovely
readers I will be more committed.
“They” say if you want to save money, if you tell your friends, you
actually save more money and your friends help and encourage you to do so. Did you know that successful people
wake up early and then get this, they exercise. I have read studies about it.
An Ancient Wall
The Simple Life
I found a spot in the sun on a wall to sit and write and
think for a moment. A friend came
by and as usual he offered a bit of interesting information. He said did you know that wall,
pointing to the wall I was leaning against was build in the 1500’s.
Labels:
design ideas,
inspiration,
simple life
Painting a Chair - Modern
I forgot to mention in my last post, not only am I giving a
Painting Class in Umbria, Italy, but I am also creating an E-Course on Painting
Techniques for Furniture, Walls and Art that can be sent to you where ever, you
are in the world. It will consist
of little films, photographs and writing.
I think it is going to be pretty cool. All I want to do is have fun and encourage others to have
fun too.
I’m working hard on the E-Course, but it isn’t done yet,
soon I hope. In the mean while I
am still have to work and be a Mama and right now, as I write to you in my
peripheral view there is a couch full of clean laundry to fold. The mound is getting bigger it might be
a mountain soon and the volcanic type.
The Italians are freaker’s for ironed clothes. I can’t get to folding let alone ironing. They actually iron underwear. Freakers I tell you. To all my Italian readers, you look
gorgeous, I know.
Labels:
cool idea,
faux finishes,
painting techniques
Paint Class in Umbria, Italy
Today I am complete thrilled and enthralled with two things. The
first is last night we moved our clocks ahead one hour Daylight Savings Time
has begun. Yahhhhh! You know what the means one hour more
to paint in good light and one our more to sit in outdoor cafes.
The second thing is I have finally organized my Painting Class in
Umbria (click here). It is going to be
such fun. You can read all about
it above this post, below the Sette Design sign there is a section titled
Painting Class in Umbria click on it.
Labels:
cool idea,
faux finishes,
painting techniques,
simple life
Party Decorations/Temporary Art
I’m always impressed by the people who create temporary art,
like stones piled high on the beach only for the waves to crash them down, or
building furniture in the forest out of twigs, drawings on the street. Here in Umbria we have the flower
festival in Spello after the designs are complete there is a religious
procession that literally walks over them (Here is the link to the Flower Festival, it's amazing). At the Flower Festival I always leave before the procession,
so maybe I’m still learning to love and understand the concept temporary art,
maybe I romanticize it.
Labels:
cool idea,
inspiration,
painting techniques
It's Spring Dream Big and Little
Labels:
color inspiration,
simple life
Cuteness Power
The Simple Life
Cuteness Power is when something is so adorable and cute
that it makes you just stop and exclaim how wonderful life is. It gives you that giddy feeling like
life is full of hope.
Sette Design |
Labels:
cool idea,
inspiration,
simple life
Painted Bohemian Side Table
Recently it had been a bit discarded and I thought I’d give
it a new look. I think now I
almost love it! I work so much here in Italy painting stores and homes for clients often in the tones of
white, cream, taupe, gray, which I understand is calming to the eye. Yet, it is making me crave some color
and motif.
California Cottage - Gothic Italian Palazzo
Labels:
color inspiration,
design thoughts,
painting
A Feel Good List
The Simple Life
Good Morning
It’s March and Monday in Umbria Italy, presently the day is bright
and sunny. I’m going to give you some feel good homework for the week. I love lists and I love to check things
off my list. Last week I had 27
things to do on my list. I
actually accomplished 17 of those. It was a joy to check 17 boxes off.
Labels:
color inspiration,
cool idea,
simple life
Painting My Floor Kiwi Green
Sette Design |
I want to ask you to take a deep
breath before you continue on, now try not to judge me on the hideousness, the
profoundly abusive, ugliness of the before shot my linoleum floors. If it hurts you to look at for a moment
on the Internet, think what it has done to me and my family, all these
years. O.k I’m being silly…kind
of.
Sette Design
Sette Design power |
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4618391/?claim=ue9n3hudwhv">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
I can paint flowers freehand all over a wall in a couple of hours, but I will not confess how long it took me to get the Social Media icons on this Diario di Design. Lucky for me, I don't really know long it took, I'm pretty sure there were naps and cappuccinos involved and insecurity and days if not weeks passing by.
The Magic of Spello
The Simple Life
Here in Umbria if you don’t like
the weather wait 20 minutes.
That’s what they say I think in the Northeast of America too. We do not say that in California, so it
pisses me off. I’m always getting
fooled.
This week in Umbria Spring has
sprung with glorious green fields and pink and white budding fruit trees,
Mimosa galore puffy and brilliant, shocking yellow. The birds are going crazy, chatting away, they have so much
to sing about. We all have so much
to sing about!
Labels:
Color,
design ideas,
inspiration
Tin Can Planters
Labels:
cool idea,
design idea,
inspiration,
simple life
Valentines and Some Quotes on Love
Happy Valentines my darlings.
Here are some great quotes about love.
Want To Make Your Life Easier?
The Simple Life
Want to make your life easier? I know is that a trick question?
This last week I created this Vanilla Raisin Brown Bread and
believe me it has changed my life.
I’m a single Mom and I work for myself, so it becomes pertinent to have easy snacks for school, something quick to grab to give me enough energy to keep painting a ceiling or
having something around incase “someone”(tall, big BF) wants a midnight
“mirenda”.
Labels:
cool ideas,
inspiration,
simple life
A Simple Valentines Idea
Valentines is just around the
corner. I love to make valentines
for the ones I love. In America it can be a message of love for anyone who might be important to you. In Italy Valentines is viewed as something
you do just for the “one” you love, not your mother or child or best friend.
Labels:
Color,
design idea,
inspiration
A Lesion in Paintbrushes
The Simple Life
I have a friend and mentor who
is a master painter, she recently gave me all these gorgeous paintbrushes. She is in her 80’s and is still going
strong with a passion and love of life that is not found often.
Labels:
design thoughts,
painting techniques,
simple life
Soon it will be Summer
summer in Italy |
Soon it will be SUMMER
It will be so hot that you will
walk around barefoot.
The streets will be empty
because you could fry an egg on the pavement. YOU WILL SEARCH FOR SHADE.
The idea of turning on the oven
will disgust you.
You might decide to eat only ice
cream for dinner.
Imagine, you will come home from
work and instantly want to take all your clothes off and pour yourself a cool
cocktail.
You will be so suffocating hot
that you will look forward to winter, to see your breath in the air and wrap your hands around a mug of hot chocolate
smothered in whipped cream.
You will be begging for the cold
blue air of Winter and think it will never arrive.
Well guess what it has arrived!
storm clouds |
With affection,
Natalie
Architectural Elements - Corbels
I love the idea of architectural
elements lying around in interiors and in the garden. Rome is full of them with ancient Rome present in daily life. You might be walking down the street
and come across a dirt space and a huge Roman head or column just there –
gorgeous and shocking.
I once drove over the boarder to
Mexico from California with girlfriends to go shopping and what did I come back
with but a huge concrete ball. I
kept it for years lying around my various apartments. I wish I still had it now here in
Italy. If you put a piece architecture in your space it makes the space look interesting instantly. Corbels, columns, architraves, pieces of stairs, a newel or chunk of a banister, capitals, arches, leave them on a beautiful floor or lean them up against a wall, put a bowl of floating flowers and candles and there you have a scene of tranquility and antiquity.
If these Corbels were for me I
would have painted them a great color like sapphire blue or ruby red. In San Francisco I had a pair that were attached as a true architectural support under a square archway and I painted them a chalky rich pink. Man did they look great! In this situation I must do what the client wants alas.
There were previously messed up
in an electrical fire blacken with smoke, but no real damage done. They are made out of terra cotta.
Corbels before shot |
I painted them taupe in acrylic
and then dry brushed over them in oil color (raw umber).
The project took a few days for
drying time, but the actually working time was minimal. It was fun because it was such a quick transformation.
Corbels as book supports |
I am wishing a Happy Sunday to all
my lovely readers around the world.
Kind regards,
Natalie
I'm linking with these fun parties:
Labels:
design idea,
faux finishes,
painting techniques
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