(A) Vera Bradley at Ancora del Chianti

Nick and Jennifer stayed with us last summer only for a few days and regardless the short time we spent together, we discovered a lot of things in common: the same vision of life and mission which is: “Follow your dreams” . 
Nick e Jennifer sono stati da noi la scorsa stagione per pochi giorni e nonostante il poco tempo passato assieme, ci siamo resi conto di avere la stessa visione del mondo e lo stesso motto: “Segui i tuoi sogni”.
 
They told me about their projects for the future and as soon as I told them about my new passion for sewing: how it started and the blog TandemBags with my neighbour/friend Sabine, Jennifer suggested me to browse at Vera Bradley’s creations.
Mi fecero partecipe dei loro progetti per il futuro e come io riportai della mia nuova passione per il cucito: come è iniziata e il blog TandemBags con l’amica e vicina di casa Sabine, Jennifer suggerì di dare un’occhiata alle creazioni di Vera Bradley.
 
I later realized the true meaning of her words… Infact Vera Bradley is now an american design company best known for its soft, brightly patterned fabric bags. Neighbours Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia Miller started this company in 1982 with five hundred dollars out of Miller’s garage. In just three years, the company expanded into a multi-million dollar company. Read More on Wikipedia 
Ho realizzato in seguito il vero significato delle sue parole… Infatti Vera Bradley è adesso una azienda americana multi-milionaria specializzata nel design di borse di stoffa morbide e dai motivi vibranti. Le vicine di casa Barbara Bradley Baekgaard e Patricia Miller fondarono la società nel 1982 con 500 dollari nel garage di Patricia. In soli 5 anni, si espanse in una azienda da milioni di dollari. Leggi ancora su Wikipedia..
 
I was shocked when I read their/our story and … why could not Jennifer be prophetical?
Rimasi scioccata quando lessi la loro/nostra storia e….perchè Jennifer non potrebbe essere profetica?
 
To my big surprise, this is the Christmas gift I received from  Nick and Jennifer an original Vera Bradley Bag in Deco Daisy colour and it will be my good luck charm. Here their note after my thanking.
Con mia grande sorpresa, questo è il regalo che ho ricevuto a Natale da Nick e Jennifer e queste la loro risposta alla mia lettera di ringraziamento.
 
” Hi Laura, Buon anno! We are glad you like the bag. It is the least we could do to show our appreciation.  We really enjoyed our stay in your beautiful home and hope to come back to Italy before too long. Nick and Jen”
 
More pictures on our Flickr Page
Altre foto sulla nostra Pagina Flickr

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Happy 2012 – Felice 2012

“A Merry Christmas to Everybody!
A Happy New Year to the World!” 

 ”Un Allegro Natale a Tutti!
 Un Sereno Capodanno al Mondo Intero!”


Charles Dickens

Filippo and Laura send their greetings for the coming holiday season.
See you again in 2012!

Filippo e Laura inviano i loro migliori auguri per le prossime festività
e vi danno appuntamento nel 2012!

More pictures on our Flickrs Page

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Christmas Cookies

Quick, delicious and decorative Christmas cookies to do at home!
Biscotti di Natale veloci, deliziosi e di sicuro effetto sull’albero!

Ingredients /Ingredienti
for 3 baking pan     per 3 teglie:

cane sugar 220g zucchero di canna
eggs 2 uova
melted butter 250g burro fuso
flour 500g farina
one pinch of salt 1 un pizzico di sale
tea spoons of cinnamon and/or ginger 4 cucchiaini di cannella e/o zenzero

Baking pan ready for the hoven

Melt the ingredients in the order of the list and have fun with the cookie cutter. We used a straw for the hole.

Amalgamate gli ingredienti nell’ordine della lista e divertitevi con gli stampini per biscotti. Per il foro abbiamo usato una cannuccia.

 

Baked Cookies

Put into the hoven at 180° C and bake for about 20 min. Be sure they all have the same thikness otherwise they can burn: have a look here!

Mettere nel forno a 180° per circa 20 min. Fare attenzione che lo spessore dei biscotti sia lo stesso altrimenti succedono guai: possono bruciare ..come a me! 

Red ribbon decoration

Add a lovely decoration and …that’s it!!
Aggiungere una piccola decorazione e il gioco è fatto!

Pictures on our Flickr Page

Pubblicato in Hobby/Decor, Our Life in Chianti, Recipes from Chianti | Contrassegnato , , , , , , , , , , | Lascia un commento

The Winner of Photo Contest 2011

"Harmony of Soul"

 

Laura and Filippo are honoured to announce that

the 10th Anniversary Photocontest Winner is

Tatiana from St. Petersburg

Congratulations to Tatiana for  the photo above who expresses “A perfect moment” at Ancora del Chianti: the harmony of soul after a day of visiting while admiring the Chianti landscape from our garden.

Tatiana wins 2 complimentary nights at Ancora del Chianti in 2012 for her or her friends and 3 bottle of wine and 1 bottle of oil.

Special mention also to:

Andrew from Bolton, UK and Pascal from Berlin, Germany who win 1 complimentary night at Ancora del Chianti in 2012 for her or their friends and 3 bottle of wine and 1 bottle of oil.

The winning pictures will appear also on our (coming soon) new website.

Many thanks to Tatiana, Andrew and Pascal and the others guests
who partecipated to the photo contest with enthusiasm and brilliant sense of humour.

Pictures on our Flickr Page.

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See you again on 22nd March 2012

Red Leaves at Ancora del Chianti

Ancora del Chianti will open again on 22nd March 2012

Many thanks to all the guests who shared their holiday time with us
and especially to the ones who partecipated to the Photo Contest
with enthusiasm and brilliant sense of humour.
We will let you know soon who is the winner.

Ancora del Chianti is closed now and this is finally the time to cultivate our own hobbies with dedication and passion: Filippo will take care of the vineyards and the olive trees alongside a diligent participation in the Panzano Philarmonic Band where he plays the trumpet; Laura will dedicate her time to bricolage, including painting and creative sewing. Her winter project is to create originally designed cloth bags from remnants and recycled material. She will let you know as soon as new models will be  ready!!

Laura and Filippo are waiting for you with pleasure
starting from 22nd March 2012.

Have a lovely winter!!

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