Let us know what you think of our new Porselli colors?

I bet you are wonder if I wrote Porsche wrong – but I assure you I am talking about the E. Porselli ballet flats, handcrafted right here in Italy.  Same luxury feel, same wonderful comfort, same sporty look . . . but a whole lot easier on the credit card!

We have 6 new col0rs online – and we would like some feed back -

Did we choose the right colors in these Porselli Ballet Flats for SS 2013?

Just a little orange leather bag from Caterina Lucchi

but we have to say that it really kicks *$&?*

It’s easy to say what we like about this designer leather handbag, to start off  it has to be the color!  Basically this color will move from winter to spring to summer and back to winter all without batting an eyelid.  Using the Campomaggi bags distinctive trademark of a washed leather look,  Caterina Lucchi takes it one step further by adding color.  And when we say color – we mean a deep rich color.  This season they have been dipping their bags into orange (be it intense, washed-out or a variation of) – and you know what?  It works!

Another feature that we really love about these bags – besides the multitude of pockets and carry methods? It’s the way that the Caterina Lucchi design team plays with texture. Just look at how the L3232MU shows not one … not even two but four different leathers mixing together. There is a laser cut net leather, then a laser cut daisy pattern, an embossed python print and “normal” vachetta leather. All four mix together bringing movement to a style that could actually be considered – plain (?, I think we can say that, the flap over rectangular tote bag with three inner compartments is not anything new on the market) – however when you mix the leather textures, add the signature Caterina Lucchi tassel, and antique varnished hardware – well now you are starting to talk designer level.

If we really had to pinpoint something that we would change? Well, we could comment on the fact that every single bag is different – and since what you see is NOT always what you get . . . you need to be prepared for the diversities that come with this particular brand.  Since the washed leather effect is done manually (and not by some technological robot paintbrush) there will always be differences in the color – the intensity of the color and the application of the color.

But not only that, Caterina Lucchi is infamous for changing the style – without warning. You might see the bag online with an antique finished chainlink cross body strap – but when it arrives it actually has an all leather cross body strap.  Be sure to ask for details about the bag if these things are important, the Pierotucci Customer service team will give you exact details on the bag that is actually be shipped to you – just ask!

Yet on the other hand, this is exactly one of the reasons that we love Caterina Lucchi Italian leather handbags – it’s almost like owning a one of a kind bag.

Ladybug, ladybug, fly away and bring me some Italian good luck!

Italian folklore, like many other countries, puts the ladybug as a porta fortuna – or in other words the bearer of  good luck. Most probably originating from the fact that it was “simpatico” (cute) with its red and black coloring but, since we know that many traditions usually originate out of some element of truth it is more likely that it has its origins in the important role it played in a healthy garden.

In Italy, when you buy a floral bouquet or little gifts (especially for children) they will attach a little ladybug (or ladybird) on to the package so that you are assured of good luck …. just like the Corno (or chili pepper) attached to the Fortunata Designer Handbag from Pierotucci.

Who wouldn’t want to have a little bit of good luck attached to their brand new leather wallet ? Can you find the coccinella or ladybug in the photo below?

Braccialini: Designer Ladies Wallets with a hint of Spring.

Everything is coming up roses in Tuscany

It is springtime in Tuscany and all you need is a drop of sun and the roses are in bloom everywhere!  It almost seems that roses are as proficuo as weeds in some areas.  It is in my nature to be generally super curious and I will find myself asking tons of questions when I find a reliable source and then I tuck these pieces of info into my brain.  I found most of my American friends and family, when they come to visit,  indulge me and listen to these stories and facts – many of them are probably wondering how it is I can remember all of these curiousities but I had the hardest time remembering how to do algerbra or spell anything with more than two vowels in it. And I am about to share with you one of these interesting little facts.

As it turns out both Tuscan vineyards and I share a common like :  Roses.   Anyone who has visited Tuscany might have noticed that at the beginning of each row in the vineyards there can occassionally be found a rose bush.  This is especially true for the older vineyards – like those located around my house.  Some might have thought that is was a gesture of beauty, but I can assure you that the Tuscan farmer has no time for adding a bit of beauty when it comes to something as serious as his veggie garden or vineyard.

When I first started gardening in Tuscany, planted flowers all a long my fence.  I was continuously under the scrutiny of my neighbors – the older they were the more curious as to what the American girl was up too.  Bruno,  as old as they get and with a face that never cracked a smile, shook his head and gave me a look bordering on disgust he said:  ”boh, fiori?”  Of course, don’t they look good?.  ”boh (a Tuscan way of saying I don’t know) non si può mangiare fiori” –  you can’t eat those flowers so, I was just wasting my time.

But not all flower are a waste of time, for example fried fiori di zucca (fried zucchini flowers – need I say more?) and roses.  Yes, back on the topic at hand.  Apparently roses were traditionally planted at the end of the rows in vineyards because they are delicate – more so than the vines.  In this way, if the flowers or the bushes started to show signs of bugs or diease the farmer would be alerted before the problem could attach the vineyards.  The rose bush above is one of my favorites, nestled underneath a olive tree pushes out blooms from May to November non stop – and not scrawny blossoms but long stem red roses!

Not all roses are found in or around the vineyards, like this silver plated Nomination bracelet with a rose motif, this one can be found on line at Pierotucci.com  And let’s just say that the younger generation of Italians are just as fond of planting flowers and roses as they are of planting tomatoes and zucchini plants.

This bush with is spectacular yellow and pink blossoms stands taller than me!  I love the idea of it protecting all of these vineyards.  Of course today – it is more for show than utility because there are lots of other ways to keep an eye on the health of a vineyard.  However, I love it that some farmers still go out of their way to protect these reminants of cultural history.

This pole actually has two different kinds of roses – one is what I would call a wild rose – that the white one crawling up high.  Then there is the romantic white and pink rose – similar to this pink gold rose and silver bracelet from the ROSES collection from Nomination.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures I took of the vineyard and roses surrounding my home in Tuscany.

Make the transition from Spring to Summer with a Leather Jacket

March comes in like a lamb but goes out like a lion, April brings on cold showers and May is straddling winter temps and summer sunshine all the while puffing pollen and other sneeze causing things in the air.  There is no rule of thumb on how to dress in mid season except maybe …. make it flexible.  Last week in Tuscany everyone was working on a “cambia di armadio” which may sound rather intimidating but it actually just means switching their winter wardrobe for their summer attire.  And for some people this can be quite a daunting task (my colleague at work takes a week off just to get it right – but then she uses her spare bedroom as a walk-in closet.) For others this could mean just making sure the wool sweaters get some lavender perfumed slips to keep the moths away.

The trick to the transition is always leave something warm to cover those unexpected temp drops from tropical to Siberia.  Last week I was cutting the lawn in shorts and a halter top and this week its been so chilly I have had to sleep in my pile PJs to keep warm!  One just wants to scream where is the logic here!!  So the obvious choice here is the leather jacket addition which works well in all temps and provides a distinctive fashion statement.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Sometimes its the color or texture of the leather that makes a statement, like this distressed leather Jacket from Michael Kors. Reminds me of the Campomaggi look: rustic and sophisticated all at the same time.I am always a little bit nervous about wearing a suede leather jacket – however you can not deny that when it is smooth and soft, its a pure delight to run your hand over a suede leather jacket.

Probably the easiest look to get away with is a cropped leather jacket – like the collarless version above in beige nappa leather with contrasting tobacco trim or the classic all black designer leather jacket for women with a dual collar.

All the signs of Spring are in my back yard . . .

and not only in my backyard, but also in fashion.  This afternoon for lunch I jumped in my car, dodged all the incredibly slow drivers and made a bee-line for my own private oasis . . . my garden.   I munched down on some rather bland soup (the things we do for bathing suit season) and then moved myself outside to enjoy the signs of spring.

The first of which are the purple iris flowers that are blooming around the front border of my yard. In Italian these are called gigli  (one of those very difficult words to pronounce) and in the Florence area tradition wants them to be purple – the official Florentine color FORZA VIOLA!!) They also come in yellow and white, but since I live with a die hard Fiorentine man, they had to be ALL purple.  Here are the first courageous blossoms.

Tuscan Garden and the Viola Iris

Leather messenger bag in purple

Then there is my pear tree, just a wee little thing but with tons of flowers . . . all right tons maybe an exaggeration, but you can’t help but hoping that this years crop will exceed last years (1 pear).  This creamy white bloom reminds me of one of the new FORTUNATA handbags that just arrived in a limited Edition series.

Fortunata Tote, Designer Handbag in color Bright White

If you look real hard – and with maybe a bit of imagination – you can see my blossoming rosemary bush.  This makes the best ever roast potatoes.  This plant is always admired by my envious neighbors because it is incredibly old and very prosperous.  The blooms have a faint lilac color, reminiscent of the Chanel inspired handbag by Cosci.

Rosemary roasted potatoes and Chanel, now that's a strange match

Cosci quilted lilac colored leather

Then I have a cherry tree, which is just beginning to show its flowers – the thing about this cherry tree is that it looks adorable, has so many lovely flowers and even looks like it is going to stun us with a huge harvest only to end the season with 10 (yes, you can count them on one hand 10) cherries  and even those are hard to come by if the ravens and sparrows have gotten up earlier than you.

I have two apricot trees, one is a lovely, sweet, docile domestic tree that has light pink flowers (about two weeks ago) and large plump apricots – its only a baby so its production is a little limited.  Then I have a wild apricot tree that produces flaming pink flowers, grows like crazy entwining itself in the fencing for the dog area and producing a ton of very small but sweet apricots – perfect for making jam and salsa.

Apricot Blossoms in bright pink - vibrant and trendy

Fortunata Trendy Pink Designer Handbag for the Spring

I also have a fig tree, which doesn’t have any flowers – and at the moment it doesn’t even have any leaves.  This tree always has fruit that becomes ripe as I am away for vacation – missing out on that delicious sweet delights.

Wild violets in my front yard

I always thought of violets as the ones you see in the florist shop with the thick fuzzy leaves yet I had to change my mind when I moved into my Chianti home about 4 years ago.  One spring day while soaking up the sun, my neighbor invited me into her tiny little plot of land, saying how she hated to cut the lawn,  though I couldn’t figure why it looked awful…until I saw the carpet of green and purple – wild violets.  Wow! – I was ohhhing and ahhhhing, when she looked at me and said “you have them too.”

It is one of those things that sometimes you get so used to seeing something that it doesn’t even register.  Four years ago there were little patches in my front yard and  now (because they spread with an incredible deftness) they are decorating my entire corner.  This afternoon DH walk out to soak up a little sun and he says, where did these come from  (what did I tell you – they were there all the time but you only see what you want to see).  With a little smile (yes I could say it was a smile with a smudge of superiority in it) I nodded and said they were always here.

I wanted to show you all – but my camera just didn’t capture the delicateness and tenderness of the flowers so  I had to borrow an image – but I swear those that you see in my front yard look just like the photo – except that they are everywhere!  It’s gorgeous and selvatico (wild) at the same time.

Not only is viola (purple) Florence’s city color – but it is also the color of our soccer team which, may the gods help us, needs to start winning!  (FORZA VIOLA – which means go purple team!)

And keeping in with the theme of purple, here are two bags in nappa leather featured in this heart warming color:

Italian leather messenger bag, in puple colored nappa

and if you need something just a little bigger to carry around your stuff:

Italian Leather Handbag style satchel ion purple colored nappa