......Or a least it was!  This weekend in Piazza Santa Croce, the city of Florence held the annual Fiera del Cioccolato artigianale. It was like heaven on earth!  There was more chocolate than one could possibly imagine, (and trust me I can imagine A LOT of chocolate!) I was incredibly impressed with the imagination of the chocolate chefs and the designs they came up with.  If you can think it they made it out of chocolate.  There was everything from delicious truffles in every flavor imaginable to chocolate disguised as mushroom, cheese and even cheeseburgers!  

And then there was my personal favorite........The chocolate Kebab!  Geniale!  A tiny piece of sponge cake with shaved  hazelnut chocolate whip cream and your choice of strawberry, coffee, or mixed berry sauce (we went with the strawberry) And check ou the chef! I would have been smiling too with all the people who were lined up to try it out!

It was complete decadence and deliciousness!  Lets just say that my hubby and I felt it was our duty to try as much chocolate as humanly possible so that we could offer an honest evaluation!  (we were complete gluttons) but hey it only happens once a year and it was the perfect way to warm up on a cold and rainy winter day. In fact those chocolate coconut cookies that they are grabbing here were for us, and that was after the light, dark and white truffles, but before the kebab, and tons of free samples being handed out everywhere.

If you weren't in Florence or didn't get the opportunity to check it out I took lots of photos and I'll let you live vicariously through me for a while!  You can see the full photo gallery by clicking here or on the "photography" page above.  These are just a few of my favorite!  It was totally worth the tummy ache! 

Many of us come to Florence Italy for very specific reasons; for some it is to study art and history for others it is the language, or the food and wine, (not a bad reason) or simply to enjoy the many pleasures of this amazing city. Often times however, we find something we were not expecting and remain much longer than originally planned.  This could not be more true for Joy Franklin of A Thousand Joys.

After receiving her B.F.A in studio art from Adrian College in Michigan where she focused on ceramic and porcelain, Joy came to Florence to further her studies at SACI (Studio Art Centers International) where she began experimenting with mixed media and terra cotta, which literally translates to cooked earth and has its beginnings right here in Tuscany. As an extra course Joy took a jewelry class at Art Fuji Studio and immediately fell in love and “knew it was what I wanted to do with my life” 

And speaking of love…….only two weeks after her arrival, Joy met her fiancé Francesco (they are adorable together!) and then as she says, the rest in history!  (it happens to the best of us!)  That was 5 years ago.  From there Joy moved on to become a teacher assistant at Art Fuji Studio, which also allows her to spend time working on her own jewelry designs. 

Joy has set up her shop on Etsy, which she calls A Thousand Joys (such a great name!)  Here you can read a little bit more about Joy in her own words including a wonderful explanation of how she came up with the name for her designs, which is more than meets the eye. (Very clever little Joy!)

“Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers camping in the U.P., collecting rocks on the beach and seed pods in the woods. I could spend hours examining the things I collected, studying  all the tiny little details. It amazed me how the littlest things in nature could be so beautiful and intricate.  So complex that it makes you realize everything has its purpose.

 Art has always been my life. I cant live without creating with my hands. My passion for art started with clay. I graduated with a B.F.A in sculpture in Michigan, then furthered my studies in New York and Maine. And then I decided to study in Italy where I fell in love with jewelry making.

  Living in Italy for the past 5 years now, my obsession with nature and all its detail makes sense. I live in the heart of the Renaissance where their obsession with the details of nature cover every door, window and ceiling. I love historical ornament because it celebrates the minute beauty of life. I try to capture this in my own work and hope that it reminds you to appreciate the "thousands of joys" that are hidden in nature.”

.........ahhhhh it all makes sense now! 

Here is the link to Joy’s Etsy shop.  You can also become a fan of A Thousand Joys on Facebook. 

All of Joy's pieces are hand crafted using sterling silver.  Her process involves drawing out a design (she says this is ALWAYS her first step) and then she hand cuts and shapes each piece individually, no molds are used and even though some designs are repeated they are never exactly the same making her work unique and of superior hand crafted quality.  

 I have personally known Joy for a few months now and have had the pleasure of participating in a few craft fairs with her and I can say that she truly is a "joy" to be around!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed meeting this very talented artist and friend. 

A presto! 

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Hope you are all easing back into the week ok, just think only 4 more days until its the weekend!  I will be featuring a new artist later in the week, but for now here are a few photos of some new ideas and designs that will be coming this month from Bread N Butter.  

So I was recently asked to create a headpiece for a friends wedding and it took me several tries to get it right (sorry Kel Hope I didn't cause you too much stress!) But in the process I learned so much! (Thanks for the push Kel) through all the experimenting and research I learned how to take components and thoughts of other designs I found and make them my own signature style.  I try never to underestimate the importance of looking at other artists work, I find it fundamental to the evolution of my own! and I now finally realize why all my teachers in were ALWAYS giving me names of others artists to look at that shared the same concepts as me!  Good to know that education is finally paying off!!! 

I am still working out the details of attaching this particular piece, but my thoughts are adding it to a headband covered in satin ribbon somehow.  The two blue flowers are made from ultra-light polymer clay which is literally as light as paper, pretty amazing stuff, and the cream rose is fabric. I then incorporated a few sparkly beads in there too for a little shine and dramatic effect.

I know the photos aren't the greatest, I really didn't intend for them to be used, but I thought what the heck!

So please let me know what you think!  I am looking for advice on attaching them as well as your intial thoughts!  So please leave me your comments below.  I hope to have this piece and many other new items available on my Etsy shop by the end of the week.

Also be sure to check back on Thursday for my featured artist of the week.  Hint, hint, it will be a Joyous occasion!

Thanks for stopping by.

A presto

On my way to my studio every morning I pass by this great little shop filled with all things handmade. I always stop and take a quick peek at what's new and I often find inspiration for starting my creative day.

Mrs. Macis has a unique collection of women's clothes jewelry and accessories.   Just looking in the window makes your day better.  Everything is just so feminine and colorful.  Even on a cloudy day like today you can find a little bit of sunshine!  Every item is made by Carla Macis herself, making her one busy lady as her shop is always full of great new stuff.  She creates wonderful jewelry from leftover or found fabric, or just about anything she finds interesting, ultra feminine dresses, and the sweetest knit hats to keep you warm and cozy on these incredibly chilly winter days. 

Carla's use of color and whimsical designs are reminiscent of the the eclectic boutiques of NYC's east village. I met Carla for the first time this morning and decided to stop and take some photos and have a little chat. Not only is she a lovely women who was very happy to share her shop with me but she is also incredibly talented and very humble.  Thank you Carla for taking the time out of your busy day! 

If you are in Florence or will be visiting soon you can stop by Mrs. Macis shop on Borgo Pinti 38r

from 10:30 -13:00 and 16:00- 19:30 Monday - Saturday.  If you are a fan of Anthropologie (like me), you will love Mrs. Macis! 

There's Carla!  Such an adorable lady! Oh and I almost forgot, you can become a fan of Mrs. Macis on facebook!

Ok, so I’m not doing so good with my New Years resolution to update my blog more often…….

But in my search for contemporary artists in Florence I am on my way!  I thought  I’d start with those closet to me, so I would like to introduce you to my good friend and very talented artist Christine De Melo.  Chrisitne is American and like many artists came to the city of Florence to study the history of this incredible city and brought along her the influence of several cultures and the various cities, which she has called home.  

Mother Nature: Collage, Acrylic, paper, fabric, glitter on canvas board

Chrisitne was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts by Portuguese parents making her first generation American and giving her duel American and Portuguese citizenship and grew up speaking only Portuguese at home.  After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a degree in Art History and just a few courses shy of a minor in painting, Chrisitne moved to Sao Paulo Brazil where is lived for 3 years.  Bright vibrant colors, traditional festivals and summer evenings on the beach watching Capoeira have all contributed to and inspired this new body of work.  Christine moved to Florence 3 years ago to work as a historical tour guide where she also began using her education in art history to research and write historical fiction, which she is generously making available to read online at http://hubpages.com/hub/SABINA .  (I had the exclusive privilege of reading this novel last spring and enjoyed every moment of it.)

Untitled: Acrylic, paper, glitter, fabric, on canvas board

In addition to sharing her knowledge of the city of Florence through this novel Chrisitne also contributes her past experience as a make-up artist by offering beauty tips at http://hubpages.com/hub/European-Fashion-Beauty-Tips

The Magic Garden: Acrylic, fabric,  glitter, paper, on canvas board

Putting it all together, American upbringing, Portuguese parents, 3 years in Brazil, 3 years in Florence Italy, Art, Fashion and Beauty, makes for a distinctive lively pallet with lots of layers, textures, and colors. 

Mother Nature 2: Acrylic, paper, glitter, fabric, on canvas board

Being the gifted writer that she is I have left the following info in her own words:

dob: 20 November 1969

education: Art History BA (Summa Cum Laude) UMASS Dartmouth

profession: tourism

passions: writing historical fiction and creating artwork (painting, drawing)

Red Poppies: Acrylic on wood

years in florence: from 2003-2006 I lived in Florence "part-time" (spring and autumn). When not in Florence, I was either in Naples, FL or in Sao Paulo, Brazil where I had my apartment. In 2007 I moved full-time to Florence and have been here ever since.

background: My parents claimed that I was drawing as soon as I figured out how to hold a crayon (age 3). That's all I wanted to do as a child. I remember getting stuff like games and dolls but I was not interested in anything except drawing and coloring. I would strip the clothes off my dolls, look at them and draw female figures based on their bodies. I loved to design fabulous outfits and costumes and grew up wanting to be a fashion designer. As the years passed I experimented with colored pencils, pastels and charcoal. In my senior year of high school, my art teacher gave me a gift of watercolors. Later, I took a watercolor course in the Art Institute of Naples, FL and even had a show. When I decided to go back to college (after a career in the fashion/beauty industry), I enrolled as an illustration major, then changed to Art History. All my electives were drawing or painting and that is where I began to use acrylics (13 years ago). I love to paint-  especially on discarded items like old canvases, wood panels and boards. Since I believe in recycling, I find it challenging and rewarding when I can put my imagination to good use and turn trash into treasure.

inspiration: Color, pattern and texture are the three basic characteristics of my work. I am also interested in good composition and the handling of negative space.

I am inspired by many late 19th century artists, architects and designers.

Painting: Klimt, Schiele, Gauguin, Degas, Lautrec, Matisse

Architecture: Gaudy

Design: Clique and Tiffany 

Recently, while in Vienna, I was delighted to discover the work of late 20Th century artist Hundertwasser who shares my love of nature and the philosophy that biomorphic shapes are naturally occurring whereas the straight line is not. His architecture (like Gaudi) is rounded, uneven, whimsical and simply marvelous. Since architecture is language, one cannot help but smile being inside a space like that. In Barcelona, I got that same pleasant feeling inside the houses designed by Gaudi. As an artist, I want the viewer to truly enjoy my work and be emotionally uplifted by them. I do not want my work to come across as superficial or naive- especially since living in Brazil exposed me to all the horrors and poverty a third world country has to offer. I do not want to ignore all the problems that are going on in the world today, I simply want to give people a sense of joy and hope.

Christine at work in her studio, I'll be sure to post a follow up to show you how this painting turns out!