This week I’m inspired by Italy, particularly the Colosseum. I have been fortunate enough to have visited Italy a few times. I can’t seem to get enough of the place. I’m already itching to go back. Maybe it is my roots…although I am only 25% Italian, up until I got married, I had had an Italian last name, so I always felt very Italian. I am very proud of my Italian heritage. I love the way the Italians live. They are very family-focused and cherish the simple things in life like a great glass of vino or a plate of juicy deep fried mozzarella-stuffed zucchini blossoms….mmm. Now I’m hungry!
I have a lot more Italian inspiration on the way this week, so stay tuned!
Last year around this time I took a watercolor class at one of my favorite places, Terrain at Styers, with my wonderful friend, Matt, the designer behind Wyndetryst Design and Photography. It was one of those influential moments in my life that I couldn’t quite comprehend the impact of until months later.
During that class, I tapped into my passion for watercolors. While I did grow up loving my fine arts classes, I had sort of lost touch of it. I went to school for Graphic Design and have been fortunate enough to be working in that industry for the past 8 years. But I always felt as though I was missing something with Graphic Design. Now I know it was the loose quality and unexpectedness that comes with painting.
At the time I took the class at Terrain, I had already been brainstorming starting a business in the wedding industry, but hadn’t quite figured out what I could bring to it, and in what form. It took about 6 months to put the pieces together in my head. Watercolor, weddings with a personal touch, and graphic design (finally) became my vision for Hand-Painted Weddings on a full moon in December. I am so happy it did! I couldn’t be happier doing this work!
The painting that I did that inspiring day in Terrain was of some potted Begonias (see above). Ever since then I have had a soft spot for colorful leaves. I soon purchased myself a pot of Caladiums (the green and pink leaves) which I also painted. The Caladium plant sits by our bedroom window and is by far the happiest plant I take care of.
This week I am inspired by cobblestones. I am lucky to live in one of the most historic cities in the U.S., Philadelphia. It still awes me that I am a mere walking distance to “our nation’s oldest residential street,” the nation’s first hospital, the Liberty Bell, the Constitution center, and much more! There are numerous cobblestone streets in Philadelphia!
There is something about walking down a cobblestone street that simply brings a person back in time. Whether you and your partner are history buffs or you both love walking the streets of a historic city, such as Philadelphia, cobblestones would be a beautiful theme for your wedding!
