Showing posts with label italian imports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label italian imports. Show all posts
June 10, 2011
November 1, 2010
The Art of the Passeggiata on the Streets of Florence
Despite what one may say about Florence- there are too many tourists, it’s not like it once was, the locals can’t afford to live downtown - locals abound, they love to be out and about, and they love to be seen.
I saw this every day as I walked around the city, even on weekdays, and especially on a perfect fall Sunday afternoon. There are a few obvious differences between the passeggiata of decades past and the one of today. In the 70’s for example, everyone got all dressed up- in their Sunday best- and the stores were all closed. I was a part of that in those years, strutting along in my very high heeled Italian leather boots. But other than that, it’s exactly the same.
Young and old are out strolling with no specific destination. The purpose is to be outdoors and be seen, get a coffee, see friends, window shop, maybe buy a little something, and get refreshed for the busy week ahead. Even people from smaller local towns come to Florence on a Sunday, to pass the time and take a walk.
My friend Pia and I stopped in Piazza Santo Spirito where vendors were selling their wares. It was a combination of farmer’s market and craft fair. Inexpensive, local, and easy.
I’d love to find a way to incorporate this into my life here! The closest I’ve come is to take a walk on Newbury St., although the stress of parking certainly diminishes the experience. Need to keep working on this!
I saw this every day as I walked around the city, even on weekdays, and especially on a perfect fall Sunday afternoon. There are a few obvious differences between the passeggiata of decades past and the one of today. In the 70’s for example, everyone got all dressed up- in their Sunday best- and the stores were all closed. I was a part of that in those years, strutting along in my very high heeled Italian leather boots. But other than that, it’s exactly the same.
Young and old are out strolling with no specific destination. The purpose is to be outdoors and be seen, get a coffee, see friends, window shop, maybe buy a little something, and get refreshed for the busy week ahead. Even people from smaller local towns come to Florence on a Sunday, to pass the time and take a walk.
My friend Pia and I stopped in Piazza Santo Spirito where vendors were selling their wares. It was a combination of farmer’s market and craft fair. Inexpensive, local, and easy.
I’d love to find a way to incorporate this into my life here! The closest I’ve come is to take a walk on Newbury St., although the stress of parking certainly diminishes the experience. Need to keep working on this!
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| Sunday market in Piazza Sto. Spirito |
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Beautiful window in Florence |
August 25, 2010
IVAT Tuscan Glass at SerenaImports.com
Sometimes I get so fixated on my clothes or my home being put together in neutral colors, that I forget how much excitement, lightness and happiness a splash of color from Tuscan glass can add to a table. I suppose that’s what we all had in mind when we saw these IVAT handmade glass bowls and platters in Milan at the Macef trade show. It was mid-January, the sky was grey, and we were indoors all day seeing Italian merchandise all around us.
Here’s a video put together by Serena Italian Imports, especially for you, so you can see the colors and gorgeous design of our IVAT collection:
We hadn’t been too familiar with the IVAT name before the show, and each day the show booth was so crowded, we hesitated to stop. Finally we did, and we’re so glad! Gorgeous, hand blown and hand-painted glass platters and decorative bowls that match, and are gorgeous! There’s a colorful set of IVAT Sinatra Harlequin Bowls, which work perfectly as glass ice cream bowls. They have been selling so well that we hope to even get to the IVAT showroom in the fall, in Arezzo, not far from Florence, to see what other goodies they have come up with. Can’t wait to get there.
Here’s a video put together by Serena Italian Imports, especially for you, so you can see the colors and gorgeous design of our IVAT collection:
We hadn’t been too familiar with the IVAT name before the show, and each day the show booth was so crowded, we hesitated to stop. Finally we did, and we’re so glad! Gorgeous, hand blown and hand-painted glass platters and decorative bowls that match, and are gorgeous! There’s a colorful set of IVAT Sinatra Harlequin Bowls, which work perfectly as glass ice cream bowls. They have been selling so well that we hope to even get to the IVAT showroom in the fall, in Arezzo, not far from Florence, to see what other goodies they have come up with. Can’t wait to get there.
August 17, 2010
Sambonet Stainless Steel at SerenaImports.com
I love stainless steel bowls and platters. There’s something about the clean, crisp simplicity of them that makes these pieces easy and pleasing to use. Stainless steel doesn’t corrode or rust as ordinary steel does, and low maintenance is certainly what we all need in our lives. We’re all familiar with the beautiful luster that stainless steel brings to a table. And the designs are timeless.
We’ve created some videos of our merchandise for you, and here’s the first one, where you can see our Sambonet collection. Hope you like the background music!
Our collection of Sambonet stainless steel contains a variety of shapes, sizes and prices, and each has a multitude of uses. Small bowls can be used for nuts or candy or just decoration on an end table, and the larger bowls can be used as serving bowls for side dishes or a fruit salad.
Some of my favorite pieces of the collection are the Sambonet Linea Q Rectangular bread basket and Sambonet Linea Q Square fruit bowl. They kind of remind me of simple and functional Scandinavian design.
Have you ever needed a house warming gift or hostess gift? These pieces are ideal for that, and the prices are so reasonable. Let us know what you think!
We’ve created some videos of our merchandise for you, and here’s the first one, where you can see our Sambonet collection. Hope you like the background music!
Our collection of Sambonet stainless steel contains a variety of shapes, sizes and prices, and each has a multitude of uses. Small bowls can be used for nuts or candy or just decoration on an end table, and the larger bowls can be used as serving bowls for side dishes or a fruit salad.
Some of my favorite pieces of the collection are the Sambonet Linea Q Rectangular bread basket and Sambonet Linea Q Square fruit bowl. They kind of remind me of simple and functional Scandinavian design.
Have you ever needed a house warming gift or hostess gift? These pieces are ideal for that, and the prices are so reasonable. Let us know what you think!
April 27, 2010
The Unforgettable First Time
So I introduced my boyfriend, who became my husband, to Italy. And he loved it, and we got engaged in Florence, travelled to Rome, visited my “Italian family” at their house in the countryside and all was good.
A year or two later, we’re back to Europe and it’s time to show him Venice-the city, the canals, all the Venetian glass and more Italian beauty. We had travelled extensively in those years, as we both worked in the travel industry at the time- we had been to other parts of Europe, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kyoto. But nothing prepared him for seeing Venice for the first time.
My husband was a relatively sophisticated traveler even then, back in the mid-80’s. Maybe we’re all jaded now, and some people say that Venice has become a sort of Disneyland, but this was around 25 years ago….
Train travel was de rigueur for us in those days, and suitcases didn’t have wheels, or at least ours didn’t. So we get off the train, walk straight out of the station, and lo and behold, waddaya know- water! Well, you would have thought I was married to Gomer Pyle! Golleeeee. You know that delight when you see your toddler realize something for the first time? Well, I felt that same sensation seeing his face. Now he gets it; the lightbulb just went on. And it made me love him all the more.
Enjoy these photos of Venice, brought to you by my friend and fan Jodie!
http://www.serenaimports.com/
http://serenaitalianstyle.blogspot.com/
My husband was a relatively sophisticated traveler even then, back in the mid-80’s. Maybe we’re all jaded now, and some people say that Venice has become a sort of Disneyland, but this was around 25 years ago….
Train travel was de rigueur for us in those days, and suitcases didn’t have wheels, or at least ours didn’t. So we get off the train, walk straight out of the station, and lo and behold, waddaya know- water! Well, you would have thought I was married to Gomer Pyle! Golleeeee. You know that delight when you see your toddler realize something for the first time? Well, I felt that same sensation seeing his face. Now he gets it; the lightbulb just went on. And it made me love him all the more.
Enjoy these photos of Venice, brought to you by my friend and fan Jodie!
http://www.serenaimports.com/
http://serenaitalianstyle.blogspot.com/
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