Summer fragrances and tastes!

I have a large amount of lavender...all picked up in the cloisters of the foundation where I work...

















...and a lot of lemons...a scented harvest from a friend's garden ...

















...she hasn't a plant of lemon but a very big tree....




















I 've made some biscuits with lavender and lemon peel...a recipe found on the web...they are delicious with coffe and tea...iced tea of course!

















I've a lot of rosemary too...I made some salted biscuits with parmesean and rosemary...great for aperitive!

















May be I didn't choose the right day to bake...it's so hot...

























...now I've something delicious to taste during my breaks and to offer to friends in the garden!

New projects

I finally painted the old etagere we bought in Nice 3 months ago...I've chosen a grey paint with white patina...this is my grey time! I like this colour!


















...I've a big amount of lavender...I made bouquet, wreaths and all kind of things with it, but I'd like to try something new...so I made a scented water...now I've to wait a month before using it, but I'm looking forward to spray it on my laundry...I'd like to smell the Summer scent all the year!



















...finally I printed some adhesive labels for the bottle...the photo isn't clear enough, but I'm satisfied of the result!

Birthday in the garden

Today is my birthday...a long day on the beach with my children and then a family picnic in the garden...a nice and fresh evening after a hot day!

































I'll have my party on Wednesday...I'm not very interested in birtdays anymore but...friends are friends and I like to spend my time with them...and not only with them!

Zinc!

I'd like to add a new category to my web-shop...garden products! I've only few items now, but I'm working to create new things and may be in the next future...I'll be ready!

...zinc buckets as planters...

















...a zinc tray for a drink in the garden...

















...the grass I sow It's getting more and more similar to a lawn...it isn't for sale!

















Enjoy the Summer!

Fresh tomato sauce

My little plant of tomato has finally its fruits! I adore pick them when they're red and hot under the sun! A fresh sauce for pasta...tomatos, basil, fresh garlic, almonds chopped in the marble mortar and extra virgin olive oil!

















...a plate of pasta puts me in a high spirit!

















I've some projects...some old stuffs bought at the last flea market. I've to find the time to make them up, but I'm very busy at work and I usually escape to the beach in my free time! I'll show you next time!

Summer!

It's Summer! Hot and sunny days! I bought this small deckchair for children at a flea market...I replaced the old fabric and I've sewn a sort of dress in a check fabric...a little pillow in toile de Jouy...I like it in the garden, but my children are grown up...a new item for LC...

















...this is my new rose...its name is Niso Fumagalli! I didn't know that all the roses had their own names...its flowers are white, delicate and scented...I hope to see it growing and blossoming during the Summer... I still have to discover if I have green fingers!

















...a colourful bouquet I've received as a gift...

















I need some colours in my life! I virtually give it to you all! Your visits and comments make my days! Happy new week!

Lavender

We have a lot of lavender at work and I pick some branches before the gardeners cut it off! I've used it to make some decorations...the same objects I decorated with rosemary...

















...the zinc crown...



















...the heart wreath...

















...a small bouquet...

















...and a very big one....

























Some more lavander to pick in these days and some other decorations to make with it...I adore lavender scent and it's very relaxing...I'll spread it all over my home!
Happy week end!!!!

Le jardin fleuri

I named my garden...I'haven't been very original in the choice!!! But it sounds easy...and it's easy to write too!!!

I've painted a wooden plate and I stenciled name and address...

















...also on a zinc tray...

















...on a bucket...

















...and a laurel wreath on the zinc box...

















What has been difficult for me it's been cutting the words on a plastic sheet! Unfortunately I've a bad calligraphy...It'd have been much easier writing on the zinc!
Now I've to buy more flowers...it isn't very florid yet!

New old items...

I bought these new old items for LC at the last antique market...I painted the old wooden shelf in taupe with white patina....


















...the old metal light sconces are now painted in grey with a white patina...I find them lovely with little lampshades...they're a little bit rusted and that's gives them a charming touch...

















I love hunting at the flea markets...I hope to find something more at the next one!

Le jardin d' herbes

My garden is a small one...I've arranged this little corner as a "jardin d'herbs"...zinc pots and little plants I hope to see growing up...

















...lavender....















...thym and lemon-thyme...

















...Lavender cotton...

















...sage, mint and calamint...













...it isn't an herb, but...the last flowers of the ancient white wisteria!
Wish you a nice and sunny week-end!

Transparences...

These are the last items I'm adding to my web-shop...

...two old candle drip rings...

















...I etched the glass cloche with a heart...




















...and the two pharmacy jars one with a laurel wreath and the other one with a heart...

















I've painted and decorate this little picture using a stencil and a stamp bought in France...
Have a nice a sunny new week!

Rosemary

Getting inspired by the last issue of Jean d'Arc living magazine, I picked some branches of rosemary in the cloister of the Foundation where I work...

...I dressed my crown...

















...made a little bouquet...


















...and an heart wreath...



















...finally all togheter with a lavander bouquet!

















Wish you a scented week end!!!

Garden decor

Still working in the garden...the zinc table was in the attic..it was used by me and my friend Paola to paint when we started with Les Cotrions...now it's used as a potting bench...


























...the white rack was in the kitchen, now I use it for hanging tools..

















...the old enamel basin was bought at the last flea market for our web-shop...I like it with plants...

















...I hung one of my bird-cage on the wall...it's been very hard...the ancient wall is built with stones and it's so difficult to drive the nails ....

















...the white Wisteria stopped blooming and it forms now a sort of green tunnel...

























Some more work to do...I'll show you next time!

The place where I work

I've decided to show you some photos of my work place. I work at an art foundation which promotes modern and contemporary art. We have a specialized library and we organize exhibitions and conferences. The foundation is settled in the Monumental Complex of S. Micheletto in the historical centre of Lucca. It's a marvellous place hidden among the narrow streets of the medioeval town.

...one of the cloister..
















...a little fountain ...

























...rosemary...















...lavender...


















The complex hosts several institutions and most of the rooms overlook the two cloisters with their beautiful gardens rich of plants, fruit tree and ancient camelias.

























Today it's the anniversary of the republic and national day...
Happy birthday Italy!