Ciaotraveler

A writer (Kate Bosworth) and her husband are visiting on the Island of Ischia, Italy when she meets a younger man in the new movie, "And While We Were Here" filmed in Naples and Ischia.  See more... I used vintage photo and card techniques for this picture.

Rachel Ashwell at her Malibu Home I wrote this post two years ago but now I want to bring you up to date. Rachel has a new business venture, Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture and a new Prairie style. Her new book will be out in the Fall of 2013.  Here's a look... One of  my fav Brit designers, Rachel Ashwell, founder of Shabby Chic, mentioned in my Euro Shabby Chic post, has rented this wonderful Malibu beach "shack" home.  In the last two years, she closed 15 stores, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said goodbye to her house in the tony Malibu Colony.  I had no idea there was trouble for the chic shops but glad to see her getting back into her creative style.   Los Angeles Times.

                                                                                      People Mag   When I first saw the exquisite photo (top) of Nicole Kidman, I knew it had to be taken for a special movie or photo shoot.  Yes, she's playing the extraordinary life of Princess Grace and she surely looks the part.  This must be the perfect role for Nicole...she's lovely, talented, and star royalty.  The story is about the termoil between Prince Rainier and the French President, Charles De Gaulle.  The movie was filmed in Monaco, Paris, France, Belgium,  Genoa, Italy...see more...

Lovely florals from Hidden in France

Have you seen the The Dove Chocolate commercial featuring Audrey Hepburn?   The creators of this commercial used special techniques projecting Audrey's face over a model's to have her in this new commercial for Dove chocolate.  Some aren't happy about it but her two children love it. They say Audrey would often sneak a bite of a dark chocolate bar, but it had to be dark.  They love the commercial.  See the video and an article here...

I'm been fascinated with maps since I was a child.  I had a huge globe where I pointed the places I'd go in my lifetime...Here are a few of those maps and my photo adventures... I love this Ligurian sea map home to the beautiful ports of Portofino and the old historic Cinque Terre cliff homes.   I grab a stunning yellow leather bag from Etsy for my Ipad and I'm gone...

Moms are worth a space in any post...a few of my favorite florals in honor of moms...

This looks like a beautiful English cottage estate but it really belongs to Larry David, the producer/actor who recently sold this mansion in Pacific Palisades, CA.  Its worth checking out the large rustic kitchen... here Redfin Realty

An English Easter...

                                                                                                                                               1280x960 You may use my photos as screensavers.... Portofino. Itlay Enjoy!

  The movie about Pompeii....the poster lettering is done in Pompeii Red,  one of the most essential colors in Italian painting history. See more on Pompeii....

Lakefront traditional elegance on Lake Como here          Wall St.Journal See my Lake Como photos and George Clooney  here See more Lake Como villas in my "explore contents" tab

This luxury villa is located in Positano along the Amalfi Coast in Italy. See this beautiful expansive sea villa  here ... (Wall Street Journal) For more beauty of Positano look here

In honor of that wonderful lovers day coming in February, here are a few things I've seen lately... lavendar gift box by Etsy crafter Signora Luna, Harrod's Chocolates, Belgian Godiva Chocolates and Euro cottages, floating Hydrangeas from Country Farmhouse. Continue below...

  The art of letters...while traveling in Europe, I notice many buildings are identified by some of the most artfully designed lettering and numbering as part of tradition.  These monograms are made from granite or stone and embedded into the alabaster or stone walls.  Above is the California Hotel (right) in Positano and the beautiful logo for the Resort La Palma in Capri (left).  Home owners will often put the name of their family villas on a gate or stone wall.  I thought it would be fun to look at some monogrammed items using letters that have been a popular trend.... The old man who brought flowers daily to the stone wall marker in Under the Tuscan Sun.

This year I found many retailers featuring Euro Travel inspired o rnaments for the tree.  Above is Pottery Barn's German glitter tower and a frame ornament that I put my photo inside.  See creative ornaments...

Paris

A tasty look at the best place for foodies in Italy here . Featured in Italy Magazine.