Delights of a lifetime! Delizie di una vita!

It was both fascinating and moving hearing the story of this group of friends and then illustrating it for a 60th birthday present - thank you so much for asking me! The finished piece is this sumptuous table, one of the advantages of age is having such a great story to tell.
Sentire il racconto di questo gruppo di amiche per poi illustrarlo in forma di regalo per una che compiva sessantanni era affascinante ed emozionante - grazie di cuore per avermi chiesto! Il pezzo finito è questa tavola suntuosa, una dei vantaggi dell'età che avanza, una bella storia da raccontare.

Two private commissions/Due commissioni private

Some time last year I was contacted by a lady who lives in England and often comes to Italy for work. She had seen my maps for La Repubblica on one of her trips. A close friend of hers was about to have her 50th birthday and her ex husband was coming up to 60. She sent me some details of the places and events she wanted to include and together we worked towards defining the content. It was interesting for me as some of the stories were intertwined. Here are the final maps.

L'anno scorso sono stata contattata da una signora che abita in Inghiterra e viene spesso in Italia per lavoro. Aveva visto le mie mappe per La Repubblica. Una sua carissima amica stava per compiere 50 anni e suo ex marito 60. Mi ha inviato alcuni dettagli dei posti e gli eventi che voleva raccontare e abbiamo lavorato insieme per definire il contenuto. Per me era interessante perché alcuni parti delle loro storie si intrecciavano. Qua trovate le mappe definitive.

Christmas 2015/Natale 2015

Back in the studio today, where for some reason there's no
heating and the temperature is that of a woodland glade!
Like being in this piece I did for La Repubblica a few days ago!
Tornata in studio oggi dove, per qualche motivo, non c'è 
riscaldamento e c'è una temperatura da bosco! Come essere 
dentro questo disegno realizzato qualche giorno fa 
per La Repubblica!

Lunigiana print edition - edizione di stampe Lunigiana

The prints are done - an edition of 25 - the first ones have already been delivered
and anyone interested can contact me in the studio, or Giulia at the Ex-Macelleria
gallery in Pontremoli. The format is 30 x 40cm, slightly larger than A4 so they fit
comfortably in the A3 Muji frame that I often use!
L'edizione di 25 è stampata - le prime stampe sono state consegnate e chi è 
interessato mi può contattare in studio oppure acquistare direttamente da Giulia 
a Pontremoli nella galleria Ex-Macelleria. Il formato della carta è 30 x 40cm quindi 
molto adatto per la cornice Muji A3 che utilizzo spesso!

Gardens de-constructed at Villa Pavesi Negri

A one day exhibition near Pontremoli in what looks like
a rather wonderful villa.
These are the collages I did for Cristiana Serra Zanetti's
garden proposals in Gardenia magazine.
They're quite fun because they mix flowers and vegetables
in a way that's reminiscent of that most wonderful French
garden, Villandry. I remember falling in love with idea when
I visited there a few years ago, driving through France on
my way to London.

Help I'm lost - Tapirulan exhibition in the Violin Museum, Cremona

"Aiuto mi sono perso" in Italian is worth a visit; it's an exhibition about the
province of Cremona featuring the work of 52 illustrators.
It's on until 18 May, open every day 10.00am - 6.00 pm. Organised by the
Tapirulan Association www.tapirulan.it, it's accompanied by a catalogue
which is also a guide to the province of Cremona, and an extra bonus is
that the exhibition is in the Violin Museum in Cremona http://www.museodelviolino.org/.
If you can organise to see a concert in the recently opened Auditorium, even better.
A circular stage and curvy shapes have been built into the existing rationalist building
by the architects Arkpabi and the accoustics are meant to be fantastic!
This is my map of the Province, some incredible names here, but not much
help for getting around, so as the organisers say: "Bring a compass or a navigator"

Ponte Lambro

Just back in the studio after the second part of the presentation this morning at the primary school in Ponte Lambro. We're working on two themes with 4 classes - history with the 5th years and nature with the 4th years. I have made a basic map which each class will work on, adding the information relevant to its individual research. At the end of the project we'll compare the 4 maps and see the different routes that each class has taken. First job is adding where each person's house is. This morning I delivered the maps, we learnt about soap and then made some - great fun! We're meeting up again next Monday to talk about the history of Ponte Lambro its launderies and washer women and men.

Tapirulan time again

Back on the magic carpet again (more fun than conveyor
belt and much more fun than treadmill!), this time off to
the Garden of Eden of all places! It's hard to believe that
a year has passed. Actually I nearly didn't make it to
number 9 because I've been busy but, luckily I squeezed
in, through the giant box hedge, at about 8.30pm on the
last day - here's mine, showing the empty garden that
everyone has left, while the other 700 or so are here:
http://bit.ly/1cR7WZA

'Piano piano' as they say here

Here's what's been happening recently in
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci:
I'm working on the map and key to the first 99 things,
there are several comments on the Politecnico blog
(http://smartplanpolimi.wordpress.com/) and Ivana has
started making a video!!
Meanwhile, back in the square, some of the numbers
are fading, others are practically hidden by beautifully
coloured autumn leaves and some are as bright as the
day we put them there!
This must be 'work in progress'.

Pupi Solari

I was very excited to be asked to participate in the book
project celebrating Pupi Solari's birthday recently.
Here are the pieces I did, one of the wonderful house and
garden in Liguria and the other showing a dinner party with
all Pupi's favourite food, friends and family!

Milan and Trieste for La Repubblica

Hot chestnuts, Bric à brac, and my pictures

For anyone who happens to be in Lunigiana
this Sunday, 28th October, this should be fun.
The place is Filetto di Villafranca.

La Repubblica today

La Repubblica today

stormy weather, group exhibition in pontremoli