Quality craftsmanship born from traditions in Florence italy

Post & Co leather belts are handmade by master craftsmen in Tuscany, honouring the quality and the integrity of “Made in Italy”. A selection of quality Italian made material such as belt buckles, tanned leathers, strong canvas and cord are combined with Tuscany artistry to create a wide selection of designer belts for men and women. Any imperfections in the products, leather or colour are evidence of the hand crafted tradition and the products individual quality. These leather belts are perfect complements to the Pierotucci Italian leather handbag collection, including the FORTUNATA tote bag and TOSCANELLA cross body.

Ladies Italian #LeatherJacket in Monaco Blue

A new Italian #leatherjacket from #Pierotucci just in time for Summer 2013.

What is the Cuoio Collection from Florence Italy?

It seems almost impossible that the same supple leather that is used to make leather jackets and gloves can be applied to create rigid boxes for holding pens, business cards, cigars and reading glasses.  But using the antique traditions of the Cuoio Collection that have been passed down from father to son for generations, skilled artisans can create a hard sided box like a piece of art from cuoio leather. This is a tradition which can easily be dated back to Caterina de Medici  when she apparently  made these leather boxes “all the rage” in the 1500′s in Paris when she included them in her trousseau.

These boxes are examples of  beauty and skilled craftsmanship,  evident in the simple lines, the seamless appearance and the smooth texture of the leather.  Perhaps the most stunning aspect of these uniquely formed leather goods is that they are produced in exactly the same manner as they were over 50 years ago – no high tech, no fancy computers and no synthetic material or colors. Though some would be apt to mix the work of “pelleteria” – that is the cutting, assembling and sewing of leather bags, wallets and belts with that of “cuoio sagomato” – they would most certainly be making a gross error. The raw material may be the same – but the similarities definitely stop there.

+ The unfinished leather is cut to the predetermined size and is then soaked in water.

+ Then one edge of the leather will be thinned out so as to make a cleaner seal where the sides lap over on the final product.

+ Depending on the size and shape of the final product, the wet leather is then molded to a wooden form which is commonly called a “last” and tacked on with small nails or tied so that the leather stays in place.

What is a last?  It is a shoemaker’s model for shaping or repairing a shoe or boot.  But not only a shoemaker, it can be a model for shaping or repairing any type of leather article.

+ The leather is folded and smoothed over the form to make a snug fit and then the edges are glued together with a special glue mixed into a starch paste.

+ Once the leather is formed to the molds they are baked at low temps until thoroughly dried.

+ The now formed leather will be cooled and then the seals where they were glued together are washed to remove any excess glue. Any left over glue will alter the final color of the product.

+ Then the ropes are untied or the tacs are taken out and the dried leather is carefully pulled from the form. Excess leather is cut off at this time and now is the time when defining curves are added.

+ The leather case is now painted with the appropriate color. It is then smoothed with a heated roller and finished with a buffer until it shines.

+ The edges will then be sealed and the exterior of the object is painted and embossed with the Pierotucci name.

To my Darling Wife with Love from Pierotucci

It is our opinion that Jerry H. from Texas must be one of the most patient and caring husband anyone could wish for.

He came to our store with his wife and she tried on a jacket (probably more than one!)   BUT they opted not to buy right away, they wanted to “shop around”.  However, it was love at first sight and even while browsing all of Florence, this lovely model was the one she couldn’t stop thinking about.  In the end, she went home to the States empty handed.

Her husband secretly contacted us, sending a photo of her modeling the jacket while visiting the Pierotucci Leather Factory asking our help in identifying the jacket and the size . . . and thus the saga began.

The emails flew back and forth: size and color were the main topics – plus a little bit of good Texan humour from Jerry!

IT HAS TO BE GREEN !  Green is her favorite color.

Even though this jacket came in a light gray color in our store, how could we ignore his plea?
We solicited our tailor to find the right shade of green and he did.  A sensual dark shade of emerald
green in a gorgeous vintage inspired leather – Jerry was enthusiastic, and we must admit we were starting to get caught up in the excitement of the his gift giving.

Next step was confirming the size - obviously Jerry couldn’t go taking body measurements . . . at least not without a good excuse

This was going to be a big Christmas surprise and he knew he was taking a chance.  He told us :

Hey, I usually surprise her with diamonds. Tough to mess up on those!

We were determined that he wouldn’t mess up with this gift either.  She’s petite he told us.  Jerry was insisting she would need a size 40 (What a sweetheart! If only my DH would insist that I am a size 40!)  However our experienced customer service knew that this jacket was cut small and insisted on finding a way of getting some body measurement.  With some careful Mission Impossible work,  Jerry managed to get us her measurements, and we matched them up to one of the girls in the office. Our customer service department has found this to be the best way to assure a perfect fit . . . try it on someone with similar height, weight and body measurements!

The jacket was put into production!

But Jerry was anxious to make this the best Christmas yet

“What about gloves to match?”

We knew that getting the same colour green would be impossible since the quality and type of leather used for the jacket is different from that of a soft pair of gloves so we suggested a complimentary color – a rich chocolate brown classic style kid skin glove. We had some more fun and games sorting out the size of the gloves, with Jerry sending us a picture of her “worn” gloves! But his endless funny comments kept us all in the holiday spirit.

Customized Italian Leather Jacket

NOW THE WAIT.

The jacket was finally ready to be shipped.  As nervous as he was about getting the right size, he told us he would not peek but wait until Christmas Day.  He decided to let his Darling Wife open the box and they would both look at it together.

The result? They were ecstatic. Jerry sent us photos of her wearing the jacket next to the Christmas tree and she looked like a million dollars.

Beverley and Donna

Well we did it !!!!!!  It looks great and she LOVES it.

I thank you sooooo much for all your help.

Definitely a great big  Grazie mille! 

I am sending a few pictures I just took.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Another success story from Pierotucci!

Soothing the heart with 3 relaxing activities in Florence Italy

For more than one reason February is associated with red and hearts – Pierotucci is embracing the challenge to show you something red every day. Just a little reminder to Go Red for Women and take care of your heart.

A good rule of thumb is to indulge but not to exaggerated . . . however when in Florence, Italy – surrounded by all this “bontà” its hard to remember what is good for your heart!

The rich history and abundant pieces of breathtaking artwork is a constant – and even if you wanted to avoid the “stress” of seeing yet another display of artistic talent . . . you would have to walk around with your wool cap covering your eyes.

Another “delizia” that is next to impossible to avoid would be gelato . . . like anyone really wants to avoid eating yet another cup filled with this creamy delight.  Though not much into colored food … in this case you have to admit that it looks pretty yummy.  Even in the land of “gelato” we are always looking for something new to delight our international taste buds.  The photo caught our attention and the ingredients kept us reading more.

photo from the Drizzle and Drip blog – click on it to find out how to re-create this delicious treat.

And of course the last (on our list) of things that are soothing to the heart: shopping for a new leather handbag.  No place like Florence offers you the feel of Italian leather, the quality produced from centuries of craftsman perfecting an art and the thrill of excitement over innovative designs.  Roaming the streets and window shopping can be just as tantalizing as visiting a real leather factory where they still cut and assemble bags like they have been doing throughout the last couple of hundred of years in Italy.

Become aware, check out the site http://www.goredforwomen.org to learn more about heart disease and symptoms of a heart attack.

Two new ways to keep Tuscany and Florence in your heart

When I am being a tourist, thus totally immerging myself in the culture,I love to find new ways to remind myself of the adventure once I am home and back the the same ol’ same ol’. One of my new favorite things to collect are images of the town, countryside or city – for example water colors or ink drawings done by one of the local artists.
Hanging out in Florence I have found something even just a bit different, even if a little more pricey.
Following a tradition that has been passed down from family to family since the late 1500′s – these pietre dure mosaics are indeed a memorable way to remember my travels around the city center of Florence.

This image here reminds me of the time I spent at Lerici, along the via for Cinque Terre.  Quaint little stone buildings dotting the coast of Italy.

Did you know that the New Year Ball in Times Square weighs

11,875 pounds

it is not a “ball” but a icosahedral geodesic sphere which means it has triangular faces meeting at each vertex to form a sphere

is 12 feet in diameter

is illuminated by 32,256 Philips LEDS

is a permanent feature in Times Square

and

is covered with Waterford Crystal 2.688 triangles

And did you know that in Florence Italy, it wasn’t until 1749 that the people of Firenze began to celebrate the New Year on 1° of January? According to the Catholic Church the 1° of the year was 25 Marcdh until the Grand Duke Franceeco III of Lorena made a law changing the civil year.

Happy New Year’s Celebration to one and all!

Elegance means knowing your fashion, your colors and your best friend

My best friends, with the onslaught of cooler temps, are my wool or cashmere lined leather gloves.   I wouldn’t want to be alone without them on a crisp winter day.  This means I keep one pair stashed in my car, another in my leather purse and the remaining gloves are in  my closest.  I have at least one (if not more) to match each and everyone of my winter coats.  I mean, doesn’t everyone?

I actually have them organized more by the season than by color.  For example.  Unlined leather gloves or driving gloves are great to keep stashed in the car when we change seasons from summer to fall.  I prefer the leather because it gives me a comfortable grip on the steering wheel and keeps my hands from getting dry and cracked.  I am so much better at remember to keep a pair of gloves near by than remembering to keep the handcream within reach…

Then I have my silk leather gloves, no these are great for spring and fall – not only are they the perfect light weight fashion accessory but I always see them as rather elegant and sophisticated.  I just love putting on a pair  to make me feel like I am in the lap of luxury . . . and so very chic.  I am not at the level of etichette that makes simple silk gloves (no leather involved) part of my daily wardrobe, but I do kind of like the idea of taking them off and just having them in my hand when I talk . . . it makes me feel a little bit like Doris Day or Audrey Hepburn.

Then, of course, there is the end of fall and all of winter.  Here it is a toss up between my 100%  wool or cashmere lined gloves and the temptation to go longer than a 4 button length glove.  If you are going to be wearing a winter jacket and gloves to keep you warm, then there is no use in having the cuff of the coat rising up and leaving a nice chunk of your forearm exposed!  I would even go a little longer but . . .  well my friends already tease me about my gloves as is…

If the weather is a bit drastic outside . . . and I absolutely must face the great outdoors, then I will most probably search for my fur lined gloves.   The inside is just as soft and supple as the nappa lambskin aka kid leather, on the outside. And even if they are just as warm and cosy as my cashmere lined gloves – they definitely give me the “illusion” that my hands are warmer now than every.

The Color Purple

Even though my creation below centers around fashion, I have to admit that this quote made me smile.  It’s true.  Every time I pass a field or landscape that manages to incorporate the amazing color of purple I feel particularly pulled to admire it.  Just think of a sunset – beautiful to be sure – then add streaks of purple, it then becomes amazing.

There is something so natural about the color purple yet we hardly ever identify it as one of natures beauties . . .

The Color Purple di naturalitalianwoman contenente tarina tarantino

Pierotucci
pierotucci.com

Flat
pierotucci.com

Handbag
pierotucci.com

Clutch handbag
pierotucci.com

Forever 21 rhinestone jewelry
€2,90 - forever21.com

Purple jewelry
€5,45 - shopbees.com

Tarina tarantino
€53 - tarinatarantino.com

Yves Saint Laurent purple eyeshadow
€23 - barneys.com

Estée lauder
€46 - nordstrom.com

Barry M matte nail polish
€4,94 - asos.com

I was just born lucky in Florence Italy

Some days the universe just continues to serve up one wonderful surprise after another, and I must say today I was just drinking it all up in Florence, Italy.  I had (HAD makes it sound like I was suffering) to go into the beautiful historical center of Florence for work today to pick-up a document to export one of our handcrafted mosaic artworks to its new owner.

Italian law requires that all artwork which leaves Italy must have a document which certifies that it is what it says it is . . . in this case contemporary art.  It is one of their attempt to stop the illegal outflow of priceless antiques and works of art.  All of our stone and glass mosaic artwork pieces are made here in Florence and are considered contemporary pieces of artwork because of the time frame which they were made – even if they are inspired by pieces like the Sistine Chapel!

Like most goverment offices all over Italy, the department I needed to visit was located in a historical building.  In this case, it was in a small building on the Palazzo Pitti grounds.  The core part of the Pitti Palace dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. 

And like most offices in Italy (even though I made an appointment for 9 AM)  I had to wait an hour to get my authorized docs.  BUT. In this case, there was a wonderful quirk.  Since I was already on the grounds of this vast, mainly Renaissance palazzo, I was invited to spend my time waiting in the equally famous Boboli gardens, which were enlarged in the 17th century to their present extent of 45,000 meters² (11 acres).  Now it would be pretty impractical to think I could visit the entire garden (without making my boss a little suspious of my tardiness) but I did jump at the possibility to spend an hour roaming as far as I could.

It was a miracle of all miracles that I actually had my camera with me (because I never seem to have when its the right moment) and was able to capture some of these beautiful sights.  The day was splendid with a clear blue sky, relaxing temps and just the hint of a breeze.  Of course taking these photos was like documenting the fact that I was goofing off during work hours . . . but I guess I could insist that it was all for research…  In any case, I will worry about that only if they read my blog.

As I walked along the pebbled paths, I have to admit, I was impressed.  Not only by the luscious garden and the fact that it was so well maintained (especailly with the well noted drought that we have been experiencing here in Tuscany)  but by the  awesome complexity yet simplicty of the garden . . . it is . . .  IMMENSE.  I also couldn’t help but notice that many of our mosaic art pieces seemed to be inspired by this very same garden.

   The mid-16th century garden style, as it was developed here, incorporated longer axial developments, wide gravel avenues, a considerable “built” element of stone, the lavish employment of statuary and fountains, and a proliferation of detail, coordinated in semi-private and public spaces that were informed by classical accents: grottos, mympheums, garden temples and the like. The openness of the garden, with an expansive view of the city, was unconventional for its time.  And if fact, you can see several stunning views of the Florence skyline from the just the small corner of the garden that I was visiting.  If you are going to be visiting Florence, and want to escape a bit of the hectic streets then definitely check out Boboli gardens - bring a good panino and find yourself a secluded corner to just absorb the sounds of the city (like the church bells) that filter into this green oasis.  Or you could simply check out some of our stone moasics, and get a piece of Florence to have home with you all the time.