In Tuscany, we are begining to wonder who will bring the flowers

For the last couple of months in Tuscany it seems like its been February, March, April and now May Showers!  And according to the saying all this rain should have been producing flowers and not more showers.

There are those of us who suffer from allergies and normally sneeze our way through the colorful array that spring will display – but even us stuffy nose suffer-ers are beginning to long for those May flowers especially after almost four months of constant precipitation.  The truth is, we are all beginning to wonder when these Tuscan flowers are going to make their presence known

The best we have to offer at Pierotucci Italian Leather Handbag Factory is the colorful and fragrant CAMPO dei FIORI Collection on a soft and supple nappa lambskin leather, featuring a spray of pink, blue, yellow and purple colored buds looking like they just woke up under the Tuscan Sun.

50 shades of Green, with Italian flair

This torta  just looked too delicious and fresh not to post with our 3rd installment of 50 shades, Italian style.

It looks like 6 shades of savory delight with a repeating layer of … my imagination says whip cream.  And my tastebuds say Perfect!

Perfect, exactly like the next 10 pairs of Italian leather gloves for women featured in this blog post.

It’s blah, cold  and rainy today in Tuscany so these wild shades of green are just what you need as you dress to go strolling around Florence or Rome.  Sunday’s Italian Style.  They have turned it into an art form to wake up late, eat hardy (pasta, pasta, secondo, dolce, vino, more vino and but of course un espresso) then dress to stroll the centro (better known as  the city center) here they will excel in socializing, watching, checking things out and well, just being seen is an accomplisment in itself.  Many times for the guys they do this with their ear attached to a radio to listen to their favorite team (win!)

So the Pierotucci selection of Italian leather gloves in green are the perfect touch to  brighten up a brown leather jacket or a black shearling.  And with this dip in temps – hopefully a little green will encourage spring on its way.

Hands down, these are absolutely the best one of a kind styles

Everyonce and a while you will see a style – and just know it is all about you and better yet when you know that you will be the only one who has it!

Normally this glove designs would never make it to our ecommerce site because they are one of a kind.  What I am saying is they cut only one pair AND its available in one size only

But, we must admit that this year of craftman offered such great variation of styles, colors and sizes  that we thought it would be fun to shop for some of these wild combos.

Here are a few of our favorite options.

A feminine ruffle accents this 4 button length pair of gloves.

Classic black is always a must in your wardrobe.

Ox Blood colored leather has been a hit with lots of top designers.

This fur accents makes me think of sleigh rides and snowy fields – how about you?
How about a little bit of fun with these metallic gold colored gloves in Italian lambskin leather?

Metallic colored leather in silk lined gloves.

These are definitely unique – and make me think immediately of Breakfast at Tiffany’s….

Suede leather opera gloves, style Audrey Hepburn.

Ever Thought About Visiting This Place, Where the Sun Shines More Than 300 Days of the Year?

Santa Barbara, my home. A lovely place on the southern coast (although typically referred to as the central coast) of sunny California. This is where the sleigh bells will ring for me this Christmas. In less than 48 hours I will be California bound, driving down the famous highway 101 with the ocean breeze caressing my face, throwing me into a fit of pure joy.

It’s the best of both worlds really, splitting time between Florence, Italy and Santa Barbara. Florence with its old world charm, the romantic streets of cobble stone surrounded by rustic colors of terracotta and traditional green shutters lining every stone building. The family owned shops, trattorias, and cafes with their handmade leather goods, traditional local dishes, and their perfected cappucinos. And don’t forget the wine bars whose walls are lined with endless bottles of some of the best wine in the world.

 Then, of course, there is Santa Barbara. A little corner of the world unlike any other. With its red tiled rooftops and beach town vibe, this city is as charming and mediterranean as they come. One of my favorite places for an absolutely one-of-a-kind and spectacular view of the city is from Stern’s wharf. It’s a view that’s breathtaking. Imagine sitting over the ocean, on the pier, eating a bowl of freshly made clam chowder soup with the salty breeze running through your hair. Out in one direction you see the vast, blue Pacific Ocean with boats, fishman, and very often the sight of dolphins and humpback whales. You take a glance in the opposite direction and you have the sandy coastline decorated in an endless abundance of palm trees that follow the boulevard, one right after the next. Beyond the immediate coast, the city is picturesquely set against a mountain range, ever so perfectly tucked away between the mountains and the water. Sounds great right?

Like Florence, Santa Barbara is a striking little town, much of which can be reached by bicycle. If you’re staying downtown having a bicycle is the perfect way to get around. There you’ll find the lively and picture perfect State Street, the main avenue for shopping, filled with boutiques, cafes, department stores, and a number of restaurants boasting all types of cuisine. I can’t resist a day of shopping with my coffee in hand strutting down State Street, especially with all the unique and lovely boutique shops there are to take advantage of. It also turns into the main area where all the night life can be found. Everything from your back door pub to your nightclub for dancing is either on or right around this street. And for those who like something a little more low key, you can always have a cocktail on one of Santa Barbara’s most scenic rooftop terraces.

I consider myself to be a very lucky girl! Now if only I could take these two worlds of mine and collide them into one, it would be in my idea of paradise. But for now, I’ll settle with one at a time. If you’re in Italy looking for a winter escape, Santa Barbara is the place for you. And I suppose, if perhaps you’re simply reading this from the East Coast or somewhere else with frosty winters, Santa Barbara is a wonderful, not to mention warm, winter escape. Otherwise, to all my Santa Barbarians, come venture to Florence and see what I mean about experiencing the very best of both worlds.

To everyone, warm wishes this holiday season from sunny Santa Barbara!

Let the Crazy Out of the Box this Winter With the Help of…

Black. I’m a firm believer in this magical color. So, it’s time to find your winter style and trust me, it DOES involve the color black. I know how easy it is to get bored of jeans during the cold winter season. Pants and jeans become a daily routine when you have to bundle up. But why not try something a little different? Add in your touch of color, whatever tickles your fancy really, with some fun, printed or downright crazy leggings. Now is a time where you can push the boundries of fashion no matter your age or personal style. So why not add a bit of edge to your winter black this season. Go metallic or animal print crazy and have a blast. Fashion is meant to be fun afterall and an expression of how we feel on the inside.

The Trick to Keeping Warm This Winter is a Pair of Lambskin, Cashmere Lined Gloves

Cold hands, warm heart. At least that’s how the saying goes. But I have decided this winter I would like both to be warm. Every morning I walk out the front door to my apartment in Florence, the cold biting away at my fingertips and eventually it takes over my entire hand leaving me to feel like I very well might lose them to the cold. So along with all my winter warming methods, like my big mug of morning hot chocolate and my fluffy down jacket, I decided it’s time to add proper, warm as they come, gloves to the list. With a little research and a lot of trying on I finally found the best possible gloves for the cold. Allow me to introduce you to my new black lambskin, cashmere lined gloves. Who knew something so small could make such a big difference. Every time I slip my hand into my new pair of gloves I fall in love all over again and curse myself a little for not getting some sooner.

I’m lucky to have lots of options here in Florence. So, after I had properly scowered the city and of course done some google research I decided to go the lambskin route. There were several reasons why I chose lambskin leather gloves. For one, they are made with extremely soft leather, not at all stiff or rough feeling. Plus, lambskin insulates the best of all leathers. They’re also cashmere lined, making them so soft and luxurious feeling. It really helps keep my hands warm and cozy in the cold air. While sometimes it’s important to be practical in order to stay warm I didn’t forget about athestics so for a bit of style I chose the ones with just a touch of fur at the wrist. Makes me a feel a bit like an old time movie star.

But really, getting back to the facts, since 10-20% of body heat is lost through the hands, I will be taking these amazing portable hand heaters wherever I go this winter. And what’s even more great about them is that they’re small enough to stick in your pocket or handbag so that you’re never without them. Thank you very much to whoever thought of socks for your hands. Do as I do, pair your gloves up with a nice thick scarf and hat and never let the cold get to you again.

The one winter object I couldn’t live without?

Nothing gives me  winter shock more than going outside and having to open the car with my barehands ESPECIALLY when the themometer is blaring COLD!

So if I were forced to choose it would be gloves, gloves and more gloves

In fact, on the top 5 winter wardrobe musts – gloves would probably fill the top three slots.

Truth be told, I have already pulled out my pre-winter gloves. Call me a whimp if yo must. But even though the car is not yet on frost factor, when I slide into the drivers seat, slip in the key and grap the steering wheel I have this sensation like a little kid sticking wet hands on a metal pole in sub-zero weather.

A couple years ago my sister gifted me a beautiful set of velvet-like black gloves, I just love the way the slide all over the steering wheel . . . not that this is a good thing, especially in the already scary Italian morning rush hour traffic!  So my alternative driving gloves include Italian suede leather gloves.  This way I have a velvety look to them – but the grip of an Indy 500 driver!

Watch out Tuscany, I know it’s just a mental thing, but once I put on my driving gloves . . . I feel as if I am the queen of the road – and a pretty sexy one at that.

What’s on your must have winter list?

Not everything that blooms in Tuscany is a

sunflower. . . and I am here to tell you that

though many like to combine these two things as if it were the only flower that ever bloomed in all of Tuscany (yes they do bloom and it’s for a very short period in July and some part of August.) Sunflowers are by no means the only flower in all of Tuscany.  You can also find orchids, iris, fired zucchini flowers (yum, but off the subject) and ….

my all time favorite wild flower – possibly because Fall is my favorite time of the year –  the yellow ox eye daisies.  These beauties sprout up along side the road and fields of grain. They are bright and colorful.  The shade of yellow is every so slightly towards the orange side, giving it one of those classic fall colors.  And they are resistant. If you pick them and pop them in a vase, they will last …. for what seems like forever.

So when Pierotucci talks about the 7 classic colors of Tuscany which make up the Pierotucci collection of Toscanella Italian leather handbags and accessories one might think that the yellow hue refers to those bobbing sunflowers but I perfer to see it as the classic yellow heliopsis (aka black eyed susan), which resembles the sun and has yellow petals (that darken towards the tip) with darker centers or eye.  When you look at any of the Toscanella Italian leather tote bags or handbags you can see how this warm yellow is reminiscent of the black eyed susan’s.  In fact, this vegetable tanned yellow colored leather shows darker and lighter hues depending on the lighting.  And when combined with the terracotta colored edging its clear there is a call back to this lovely wild flower.

This shade of yellow is as versatile as a classic black or dark brown.  Surely, it’s not to be considered a neutral color but this color matches well with so many of those standard Fall colors (shades of brown, biege, orange, dark green and black). Just think of adding a pair of Porselli ballet flats or a canvas and Italian leather belt to those othersie droll fall colors and see what happens.

It is exactly the perfect color for accessorizing.  Combine this color with some neutral  Fall colors and you have not only a splash of color – but a personality statement.  A bold color that has forever represented excellence  - simply think of a gold medal!

It’s also a color which has also traditionally conveys the idea of warmth and cheerfulness . . . which are exactly what one is looking to say when those fall temps start to shift.

In otherwords, I am here to say that though sunflowers are spectacular AND meticulously cultivated in Tuscany it is perhaps the wild beauty of a yellow daisy that truly captures the rustic elegance of the Toscanella Italian leather handbags.

Traditionally speaking this is the end of the Italian Vacation

Normally the last week of August signals the “re-entry” of thousands and thousands of Italians.

Re-entry translates into coming back home, going back to work and soon, back to school. Some, like myself, made the move a little early…but many will be piling up their cars – packing their luggage and heading towards a sweltering hot house which has been closed up for 2 to 3 weeks, everything covered in dust bunnies and spiderwebs and ! Traffic will slow down, exit ramps from the major highway will back up (sometimes even 20 km of cars lined up!!) and people will start trickling into the cities and towns.

When I first arrived in Italy, I was struck by the concept that everything has it’s “time” and with the passing of the years have truly come to appreciate, and actually look forward to, the way things fall into seasons. Sometimes with the dawn of technology we lose track of enjoying the feel and taste of each moment as it happens. Everyone in Italy just seems to know melon and proscuitto / tomato and mozzerrella are for the summer or leather jackets and boots are for the fall. Maybe coming from Miami, where there were no season (well of course there are seasons, but they are MUCH less noticable) makes me even more keen to this flow.

So now begins the season of vino novello, porcini mushrooms, figs and speck and changing your wardrobe to include earthy Tuscan colors, Italian leather (of course it’s Italian leather … we are in Italy) and wool sweaters. With the searing temps we’ve been experiencing lately I believe the wool sweaters will be on “stand-by” but the everything else is on its way.

This weekend I will be watching the first game of the season (soccer season will officially begin on Saturday) with a group of friends . . . looking forward to the upcoming delights like the first fresh pears of the season, the perfume of people canning their tomatoes and the dream of chestnuts, polenta and the first wine of the season…..

Marzo Pazzo is just a tad bit late

but those April Showers are just on time!

Ya’ gotta love the rain. I mean it is the harbinger of a spring well done bringing with it color, flowers, those intoxicating smells of green leaves and just turned soil. The Italians call March “pazzo” or crazy because it seems like it can never make up its mind.  Though I must say, Marzo was very confident this year.  It provided us with plenty of splendid sunny days and some of the warmest temps we’ve ever had this early in the year.  It looks like its craziness is being dumped on April. This morning I woke up to rain pounding on the roof of the house, 30 mins later (yes I hit the snooze button several times) I opened the window to sunshine and singing birds. It didn’t take long for this item, a compact (reliable) umbrella would have been … to say the least … useful because 30 mins later I was dodging the raindrops to make it to my car with 10°C.  THEN 30 mins after that I was only dodging the puddles that had accumulate at the office and considerably colder temps.

All morning I have been either squinting at my computer screen because the sunshine was causing too much of a reflection or reaching for the light switch because I couldn’t see a thing.  And now ? Its thunder-storming, complete with lightening, power black outs and sheets of rain! Never a dull minute and all of April is supposed to be like this.  My guess is May is going to be spectacular with its colors and flowers.

But in the meantime these mid season changes in precipitation, sunshine and temps plays havoc with our physical and mental state of mind.  I am combating this by looking at some spring colors with a warm lining!  Starting with my hands, I know if my hands are warm and cozy with a pair of gloves that I feel as if I can take on the world.  Not only is the wool lining warm – but I love the color in these gloves,  it looks like the first green buds on the trees.

- and when you feel good with a pair of leather gloves then it is easy to make the next step to playing around.  I always thought it would be so lovely to play around in the rain.  The pattern and color in this raincoat just remind me of SPRING, it just seems to beckon to me to come and play in the puddles.  Of course if I did that I would also need a lovely pair of stomping rain boots!