Chocolate Strawberries - The Simple Life #3

chocolate strawberries


 “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

-Confucius

Do you believe in that quote? I think it is definitely something we could talk about if not argue about, but then we would be making it complicated...no?

I don’t know the right way to do strawberries dipped in chocolate is, but here’s what my girls and I did here. 

I washed the strawberries in 1 part balsamic vinegar and 10 parts water, dried them off.  Strawberries are actually really dirty and can have a lot of chemicals on them.

Abar (125 mg) of dark chocolate .  If you get 70% cacao or more it becomes a super food and it is good for your brain.

Then we mixed a little chunk of butter and a dollop of milk and melted it in a metal mixing cup that was deep and small.  I believe in whole foods.

Then we dipped in the strawberries and that’s it.  It’s that fun and simple.

The girls of course begged to eat them right away so we ate some and put the others in the freezer to chill.

this plate is from a ceramics line I designed and painted long ago


Keep it simple then a little beauty creeps in.

Un bacio,
Natalie

I'm linking to:



Gold and Silver Leaf Tutorial




This is a really fun post because there are so many phases of this little table project that I feel are nice just left where they are.  Knowing when to stop is key for whatever you are doing.  When I was in Art School in NYC I was the one others came to, for me to critique their artwork and to tell them when to stop working.



My plan here and remember plans make us happy, was to do some silver leaf and then distress it.  Leaf comes in silver, gold and copper.

I started by painting this table gray with acrylic paint.  I already liked it simple as it is here, 2 coats, I let it dry many hours.



Then I painted on the silver leaf glue (water-based mission) you can get it at the art store along with the leaf packets, here in Europe they cost about 5 euros for 20 sheets.  So it is not as expensive as everyone thinks.  The glue costs about double that, but can last for years and many projects.  With the glue you must let it dry about 20-30 minutes.  It should be tacky to the touch.  You want to get the whole surface covered.  I work fast, but if you feel nervous I suggest you just do a section at a time.



I put the leaf on with an old make-up brush.  It must be a very light soft brush or it will break the leaf of silver.  I also suggest you do it outside in a non-windy place because the silver leaf gets all over and this drives me crazy.  It is impossible to clean up because it flies away and if there is a little bit of glue on it can stick to your floors.

press on with soft brush


piece them together


If the gray paint surface coming threw bugs you, just add more leaf on top, either right away or with more glue and time.

I think it looks gorgeous without the distressing, modern and clean.

silver leaf modern look


Then I mixed raw-umber oil paint with a tiny bit of flax oil (olio di lino). But you can also dilute it with turpentine, just a tiny bit either way.  I used a dry brush and first brushed off the oil paint on a piece of wood.  

don't get too much on the brush

Then I brush it on the silver leaf and wipe it off (soft cotton cloth) where it is too much.  The more you work the surface the less brilliant the leaf will be.   I brushed over the legs of the table too.

antiquing - dry brush in oil paint


In theory I should have waited a few days for the oil color to dry.  I put on a coat of clear finish, water-based polyurethane soon after, before the oil paint had dried.  I’m not too good about having patience and I like a little risk, if it was a big piece or for a client I wouldn’t have risked it.

So I styled the photo of this table bold and intellectual and feminine and romantic.  Which way do you like it best? 

This book is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
it is supposed to be great


silver leaf table


Sweet regards,
Natalie 

I'm linking with these lovely parties:




               

Happiness - The Simple Life #2



simple life

“They” say that if you display in your home objects that you love and that have attached to them sweet memories it makes us happier.  Isn’t that just a simple and a gorgeous way to live.

a corner of happiness


I notice even that act of displaying them makes me happy.  Here’s what my desk looked like before and believe me, I even cheated some because it was worse then this.

niete speciale


Also if you wake up in a bedroom that is visually unimpeded your day will be better.  Our brains like the freedom that our eyes see. I’m pretty good about the bedroom being free of clutter.  I even make my bed, which is another simple thing to do that makes us happy.  The Italians believe in opening the bed and widows up for a good half hour to air it all out.

crazy joy


My problem is I dump my clothes on one big chair.  I can’t seem to stop doing this.  I even have a dear friend in California who is a psychiatrist and he so mean and told me that I would never change that fault.  So far he has been right (10 years and counting) I can only seem to correct that problem for a few days at a time.

purple and lavender crystal door knob from my childhood bedroom


Here’s a great quote. 

“People change and forget to tell each other.”
-Lillian Hellman playwright (1905-1984)

a stone from the Adriatic

I still hope I will change and then when I do, I’m intentionally not going to tell my friend.  I will just secretly know he was wrong.  I’m so glad he never said anything mean about my maturity level, or I might have to conger up a plan about that!

This leads me to one last point about happiness.  Having a plan makes us happy.  I wonder if this works if it is a stupid plan?

Cheers,
Natalie

I'm linking to:

Quick Therapy For Those Afraid of Color

this is not my kitchen, but I wish it was
- dark red and dirty pink love it!


There is a design movement out there that thinks no color makes good design.  Everything is white, gray, cream. I know I am treading on thin ice here because I am probably talking about 3/4 of YOU, my beloved readers.  But I do like to shake things up every now and then.  Basically design movements are all just a reaction to what came before, same as with fashion.  I'm laughing recently because my 14 year old daughter is all over "high waisted pants".

Here in Italy you can't imagine how many spaces I have painted neutral colors, my clients are so happy (relieved) to to pick "Tortora" Taupe.  And Taupe can be grey or brown or lavender so it is a good neutral.  Guess what this reflects, how scarred we are and of course people are scarred look at what we have been through with the world economy and years of war and violence.  These colors make people feel safe, I understand.  But I believe that color makes us feel happy and happiness reimburses it's self.

Here is Nat's quick therapy for those of you afraid of color.

You can start by eating something that is very colorful, then imagine something in your life that color.  What might it be, a dresser, a wall, bathroom towels...

blood-red orange slices

You can go out and buy an accessory that is totally crazy for your style and see if people react more joyfully toward you.  When women wear red or pink subconsciously men think it is sexy.  Why because in the animal world the blush is a sign that the female is ovulating.  We are all just animals, keep that in mind.

I bought this travel bag this week.  It is not a great color for a
 dish-water blond like me but it makes me so happy it's ridiculous


Pick something colored that does not go in the house for a tester.

in turn I believe guys who like color are sexy, confident and fun


Throw a colored blanket over your couch and see if there is a family revolt or if actually everyone wants to sit there.  If you live alone, take note how you feel.

change is good


Add colors that you like.  Do you like warm tones or cold tones?

kiwi-green and blue-gray


And lastly it is a fun idea to add color to your Foyer this way the rest of the house can stay neutral and you still have a welcome when you get home.


What does everyone out there think of color?

Natalie

I am linking with:

French Country Cottage
Savvy Southern Style
Romantic Home
The Shabby Creek Cottage

Beauty in the Simple Life





I’m always trying to live more in the simple life.

It’s been my desire since I was a girl.

It’s a long-ass on going project.



It has to do with slowing down and embracing more moments of peace.

Then breathing in a conscious gratitude for what that moment brings.



On a design level I’m trying to pare down, encourage color and reflect a vibrant, happy life in our home.  

It seems so simple and easy when I say it this way huh?

With affection,
Natalie

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