Trip to Gran Sasso of Italy in Abruzzo

In september I had a free week on work. I didn't have summer holiday so I immediately organized a trip. I like to tracking and hiking in mountains and of course Gran Sasso natural park which is the nearest to Brindisi, 5 hours by car, always attracted me. Of course, Alpes are amazing and they are the most beautiful mountains in Italy but its too far and you have to take a flight and then to rent a car to reach them.

Gran Sasso of Italy is the highest mountain in the Apennines. It situated in Abruzzo region in central Italy.  The three main summits of the Gran Sasso are Corno Grande , which at 2,912 metres is the highest peak in the Apennines, nearby Corno Piccolo and Pizzo Intermesoli, which is separated from the other two peaks by Val Maone, a deep valley.

 We decided to ascend the Gran Sasso the first day after we arrived because it was sunny day without clouds. Local people said that the weather up near summits is very instable so we used this occasion of good weather. We took the chair-lift from Prati di Tivo, with 10 minutes we arrived at altitude of 2,000 meters at place named Madonnina. 

Breathtaking landscapes around..

From Madonnina the path is going up to the refuge (I shown it with the red arrow). It's not so far, but the path is difficult and with inclination

This is the path, not the most difficult piece, so you can imagine

This is the most difficult piece

Breathtaking view

Almost arrived...

Situated below the peak of the Corno Grande is the Calderone glacier, until 2009 the southernmost known glacier in Europe; deglaciation has significantly reduced the glacier's size. Glaciologists now question whether the glacier will survive past 2020.

We decided to not go up to the pass but go all way down to the Prati di Tivo on foot without taking the chair-lift

Returning in our hotel on the way from Prati di Tivo it was a small lake. Without any wind mountains and forest reflexed in water in amazing way!

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Interview with Tomka Sorokina from YaTomkaStore

Today I present you talented artist and my friend who work with polymer clay and other matherials. Her creations alwasy remind me about fairy tails, they are so airily and magic! 

-- Tell me a little about yourself

Hi,  My name is Tomka Sorokina and I live in the most beautiful place on the world near the sea with amazing nature. I love my husband and my two children, I like ice cream and rain, I like to leap over the plashes like a child... 
I like child’s books and illustrations and once I will learn to draw, I promise! But now I happy to create jewelry, teach my husband and being taught by my children. Thanks for them I discover something new in this world every day.

-- What types of items do you sell? What's your favorite material and techniques to work with?

I’m a very compulsive personality. From my childhood I always got lessons of something but after short time lose interest. But since I saw in internet polymer clay jewelry, and it was more than 7 years ago, I hold true to it. After my son was born my creations became something more for me then a simple hobby. It became a job that I like and I dedicate all my time to my shop, of course, time free from my family)

I like to work with polymer clay, mix it with glass, glaze and I always try to invent something new and creative. 
Now my favorits are bracelets with miniature flowers and handmade glass, pocket mirrors with drawing made from polymer clay and transparent butterfly wings.

I enjoy when my people like my creations. I think from this point the story of my store had a beginning. First I gifted my creations, then somebody asked me to make to order and then my shop YaTomkaStore was born. This is small shop with my creations – handmade jewelry and accessories.

-- Where do you get your inspiration?:

Every weekand me and my family we are making little trips. My junior girl is almost a year old that’s why we can’t go far but our trips are always intensive and interesting. I like a see and mountains. The nature around our town is so various that every time I find something new and it inspire me. Often I inspired by my family, my husband is my main critic and encourager. It is thanks him and his backing that I began to make polymer clay jewelry. 

The advantage of being self-employed is that I’m a law unto myself, I control my schedule. It allow me  to give as much attention to my family as they need and also much more)) I can wake up at 5 AM with new idea and began to turn it into reality… I can be awake till very late  until I won’t finish a piece and next day stay with children all day: slug in a bed, see cartoons, read books… Creativity became an essential part of my life and also if I don’t keep my tools in hands, in my head deas are tumbling about 


--  Are there other places on the net we can find you?
I have a small Etsy shop: www.YaTomkaStore.etsy.com

My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YaTomkaStore

Shrimps and scampi tartare italian recipe

Finally I returned after summer... I worked a lot and really didn't have a time for my blog. I'm really sorry )) But now with new breath I'm ready to write a lot of interesting articles!!

Today I present you one particular recipe - raw shrimps and scampi tartare with pink pepper and passion fruit. It's easy to make and very tasty, great for starter!  I ate this plate in one very good local restaurant and after that I tryed it at home. Now I prepare this tartare for every dinner with friends and it always has a success)

You will need:
- raw fresh scampi 
- raw fresh sea shrimps (better red ones)
- passion fruit (half of big one for every portion)
- pink pepper
- scissors

If you are going to eat raw seafood - You have to be sure that you buy from a reliable source. If you do not catch your own seafood I highly recommend that you get to know your local fishermen and fish mongers.  

You have to buy shrimps and scampi, or only shrimps, or only scampi - it depends what you find. I bought 7-10 medium shrimps and 3 medium scampi per person. To clean I use scissors. Cut the head of the scampo then the tail, and after that cut along the middle part first belly then back. In this way carapace will be devided in two parts and you can easily take the meat. In the same way but making only one cut I peel shrimps. 

When you peeled all shrimps and scampi, cut them in small parts and mix. Cut the pink pepper in half and get out the seeds. Mix the passion fruit seeds with crostacean meet and leave in refrigerator for half an hour. Put all in one plate so everybody can take or make portions on small plates, then overstrew with pink pepper.
The combination of pink pepper and passion fruit is really great and delicate. 

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New colors of hand dyed vintage doilies

 I like to exsperiment and mix colors, try to buy new brands of colors. There are new colors I hand dyed recently.  It happen again - I bought a whole box of doilies!!!  So I can make so many colors as I wish) It makes me happy)
All these vintage hand dyed doilies you can find in my shop > Crochet vintage supplies

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Fine Embroidery's lampshades

I already wrote in my blog about FineEmbroidery - Featured seller - interview with FunEmbroidery.  Its owner, Lana, is an embroidery designer with many years of experience. Her specialties are unique embroidery, custom monograms, OOAK suede accessories and stunning 3-D embroidered artworks.

Today, I would like to tell my readers about a new direction of her work - unique lampshades sewing by hand. 

Are you familiar with that feeling when walking alone on a cold, windy winter night you accidentally glance inside one's window and see a little cozy place with a nice lampshade on? The light from the lampshade is warm and welcoming. It is mesmerizing and inviting one to enter the home, be warmed up with a cup of tea and be comforted with an apple pie. 

All of Lana's lampshades are special. Each one has its unique form, embroidery decorations, beaded fringe and tassels. Lana is using vintage lamp bases and finishes her work in various vintage styles that so many adore. 

For example, this lampshade is done in Victorian Style:

It is made out of deep honey color fabric in the shape of a tulip. It is decorated with 3-D embroidered butterflies whose wings and antennas are flexible and can be rearranged to give it a real feel. Finally, there is hand assembled glass beads fringe. A lamp with such lampshade offers soft and warm light inviting one to cozy up in an armchair with a cup of tea and a good book to read. 

Next lamp is done in the Art Nouveau Style:

A delicate, sugar color alabaster lampshade of mid past century is harmoniously matched with a flower shaped lampshade made with vintage dupioni silk of two colors: pearly cream and soft pink. It is further decorated with a stylish embroidered dragonfly which was specially created for this lampshade in the Art Nouvean Style. This touch emphasizes the feminine side of this design. 

Further, the lampshade's romantic feel is achieved by adding silk tassels of delicate peach color. This lampshade would look lovely in a girly boudoir especially if matched with white and pink décor details of the interior. 

Next lampshade is made in the Hollywood Regency design:

An early 1960th lamp base is decorated with two chain hanged crystal plates that are imitating a balancing scale of justice. The lampshade's classic form is covered with vintage dupioni silk of milky white color. This sample is decorated with amber color embroidery of Damask pattern which was specially created for this lamp. The decorative fringe is highlighted with vintage style beads of deep honey color. This piece would be a perfect dining room decoration. Its crystal plates could serve as candle holders or dessert/fruits serving plates. 

Lana offers lampshades in different stiles and for every taste
- for a kid’s room

For a living room

For a luxurious bedroom -

Lana's lampshades will make your home more comfortable, will add glamour to the interiors and show your personality and impeccable taste.

Pumpkin soup photo shooting

I already wrote about my special Spicy pumpkin soup-puree recipe. So autumn is here again even if we have still +25C outside and it means that it's time to cook my pumpkin soup again)) 
But this time it became a protagonist of the new fall photoshooting with small pumpkins, acorns and other autumn gifts.

Thankgiving photos are also here

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Altered Couture feature my article - Drawn to doilies

It began some time ago when Altered Couture editor contacted me and offered to write an article with DIY and inspirational story about my t-shirts. Also she asked to send some of my them for photoshooting. I was so anxious these monthes after I sent my t-shirts and finally 1 of August, the issue date of magazine, is arrived and only few days later I received my copy of Altered Couture Magazine. Photos are amazing and I'm happy to show them immediately here

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And these are t-shirts, you can see them in my shop

Grey t-shirt with upcycled vintage crochet doily back - size XXL

Light Yellow Tshirt with upcycled vintage crochet doily back - Size XS-S

Light Yellow Tshirt with upcycled vintage crochet doily back - Size XS-S

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