Valentina

Lace and Pearls | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

20 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #DiamanteCalabria, #ItalianFashion, #ItalianJewelryDesigns, #LaceandPearls, #SoutacheJewelry

Welcome to my Friday Fashion episode.
I have been away from this column for a while, trying to detox from the Internet. While I was in that mode, I studied trends and customs of our society. I found new treasures on my way. The South of Italy strikes again. Yes, the fashion capital in Italy is Milan and everyone who wants to make a mark converges there, but in the deep south of Italy, in small country towns there are people creating distinctive and original fashion.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

(all jewelry and photos are made by Lace and Pearls)

This is the case of Diamante (Diamond), a small quaint coastal town in Calabria home of “Lace and Pearls”. Does it sounds like a good title for a Victorian novel? It is in fact a brand jewelry made with Soutaches and cabochons. Soutache braiding has its origins in Russia and Eastern Europe, when dresses were highly decorated with silk ribbons, strings, rosettes and lace.

Rosangela Manca, the designer of this new fashion jewelry revived the art of braiding Soutache cording and completes each intricate piece with pearls and semi precious stone. Her creations are sold in prominent perfume and jewelry shops on the Italian peninsula.

The designer’s tagline says she “await us in the magical world of Lace and Pearls”. Perhaps we should pay a visit to her shop on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The weather is warm there, food is good, people is friendly, Diamante it is a vacation destination, combining business and pleasure is perfect.

Just a note: in Diamante town, a chili peppers festival takes place in the summer…. Very hot stuff.

(Diamante, Calabria – Italy – Photo found on http://www.hotelroomsearch.net/city/diamante-italy)

Fashion services, image consulting services, and wardrobe restyling services are available with me. contact me, I am here to help. Ciao.
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. To better help people in the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Speaking On Stage Colorfully | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

12 Feb 2016 6 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ColorfulFashion, #ColorfulInteriors, #ColorTalk, #DecoratingWithColors, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #UsingColors, #ValentinaCirasolaSpeaker

I was on stage yesterday talking “colorfully” before a group of over 30 gentlewomen. I want to thank the Berkeley Italian Section Club for hosting my event. I enjoyed everyone of the participants and the tasty lunch.
The topic was: “Color Your World”.

©Valentina Cirasola

They all responded well to colors, in fact the audience came dressed in colorful clothes. It was surprisingly pleasant for me to see the wonderful expression of colors in their outfits, usually, I don’t get to see that many colors in an audience. I explained why colors inspire us and why we should wear them, throwing an arrow against certain colors I consider “boring” but useful nonetheless, in that all colors are beautiful and important in their functions.

The focus of my talk was to explain why certain colors are not at all good to use alone. Beige, for instance, in the interior as well as in fashion, can act as a stabilizer when it is used with hot colors, like orange, red or yellow. Black can act as a grounding agent when a room is decorated in total white or beige and a total black outfit will come alive with small colored accents, such as a colorful pair of shoes.

The eye needs to rest on some colors to feel relaxed. If a room is decorated in a monochromatic color there is no relief and the eye wanders around, therefore even though monochromatic schemes are beautiful in their character, always need some other colors as company. If wearing a total beige outfit, it is necessary to distract the eye of the viewers from the dullness of a total beige scheme.

Many women came up to me at the end of my conversation on colors to tell me how entertaining and informative my talk was. I never expect everybody to agree with me in these presentations. My knowledge comes from my long years of studies and most importantly from my 25 years of work experience in the design field. One woman talked to me about how good she feels in her total beige home with large windows through which she receives a ton of natural light and is able to see the nature outside. She feels relaxed and at ease with her neutrals, if she would color the walls she would feel overwhelmed ~ she said and I agree. If neutral tones are the preference, by all means, use neutrals. I just reminded her that nature has made all colors and perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad thing to add small accent colors in the accessories.

(All photos by Seeds found via Pinterest).
Visit my Pinterest boards. https://www.pinterest.com/vcvalentina

Neutral tones found in nature are beautiful and they are far from being all beige and dull, as you can see from my photos. They are delicate, soothing, relaxing and lively. “Live in colors, change you life, change your energy”. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990, specializing in kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15 and on RAI – Italian National TV. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Carnevale Will Be Over Today | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

10 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #CarnevaleCostumes, #CarnevaleFood, #CarnevaleInPutignano, #ItalianCarnevale, #PugliaTravel, #PutignanoCarnevaleMuseum

(Farinella)

Carnevale will be over today. Celebrated all over the Christian world, Carnevale ends with celebration of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), rich food, dances and laughs, giving the way to Lent fasting.
In my homeland of Puglia (Italy), Carnevale in Putignano is as famous as Venice Carnevale. For over seven centuries Putignano was a protectorate of the Pope and for about two centuries the town was under the dependence of the Knights of Malta, a very powerful religious organization. Its inhabitants were always into agriculture work, which produced the renowned healthy Puglia’s country food. In addition people of Putignano produced quality hand-made crafts like cotton and felt creations and the most exquisites internationally known wedding gowns. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

(Birth)

In the last fifty years Putignano became known for its Carnival floats. The symbolic costume of Carnevale in Putignano is “Farinella”. The name of Farinella comes from an ancient farmer’s dish made of chickpeas flour and roasted barley mixed with sauces or it accompanies fresh figs. Flour in Italian translates in farina, thus “Farinella” means light flour. The costume even though takes origins from an ancient dish, it is really a fairly new creation, invented in 1953 and it almost looks like its counterpart Neapolitan Pulcinella costume. The figure represents a happy joker dressed in a patched up costume of many colors, it has a blue collar around the neck, hat and shoes with small bells attached. It looks good on kids. Carnevale ends on the Mardi Gras day with the parade of colorful floats more than twenty-two feet tall, hand-made by skillful local artisans, followed by the symbolic funeral of Carnevale represented as a pig.

(Putignano, Puglia – Italy)

(Chiacchiere – Carnevale Cookies)

The typical cookies for this event are Chiacchiere, meaning chitchat, very friable type of cookies that make noise when we eat them and sound as if we are chatting. Chiacchiere cookies are like cherries, one pulls the other and can never have only one. I take my traveling groups to visit the Carnevale Museum in Putignano, open all year. There we can admire the handwork of the artists who invent the characters, or imitate them, as some of the visitors do.

(Happy travelers in my group)

If you are thinking of going to Puglia, check out my Puglia page: https://valentinaexpressions.com/trips-to-puglia-2/
Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola will host one or two trips a year to Italy with the intention of showing Italy with the eyes of a designer born in those parts and let people experience the ”wheel of emotions” they don’t even know exist. She will take her groups to the non-commercial Italy, areas not beaten down by massive tourism. Valentina will guide the tours through art, architecture, fashion, food-wines, shopping and special adventures organized for people who want to live it up! Check out her books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Home Trends In 2016 | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

09 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #2016ColorTrends, #2016HomeTrends, #CologneInteriorDesignShow, #DynamicLighting, #ErgonomicFurniture, #InteriorDesignHomeShow, #SmartFurniture

Some people go on vacation to relax and to get lost, I go on vacation to live in someone else’s culture for a while and to learn as much as I can. During my latest trip to Europe I learned about new home trends, living customs of new generations and novelties in the design world.

At Cologne, Germany interior design trade show I saw homes designed for the Millennial generation. The show dedicated to home interiors presented trends that will shape furniture, furniture functions and interiors sector with unique ideas for every room, every style and requirements, from the basics all the way to designer items and luxury furnishings.

As homes are becoming smaller due to high-priced real estate, the millennial need self-assembly furniture, furniture with multiple functions and ergonomic functions. The preferred material, believe or not is natural wood. I was so happy to see that versus furniture made of pressed sawdust put together with poisonous glues as we have seen up to now. Wood represents warmth, stability and sustainability.
“Smart” furniture with the addition of technical functionality will perform highly in various tasks for a high-speed modern lifestyle . However the “affordable furniture” by being fashionable, practical and versatile offer expressions of individuality.

The millennial want natural material in terms of fabrics, curtains, bath/bedding products and any home fabrics made of grasses and wood fibers. Well-being and visual appearance is a consideration of the new generation, in other words, they want to sustain the environment and still be able to have something beautiful in their homes. In the Sleep segment, the show presented highly functional mattresses designed with new scientific knowledge that will give relief and ease good sleep. “Holistic” is the definition of a home for new generations.

Formal living and dining rooms will disappear in favor of friendlier great room where family and friends can relax, eat and drink together seated on comfortable sofas and chairs. To minimize cleaning time and devolve that time to comfort, home spas and relaxation is one of the areas this young generation looks to get help with gadgets and smart solutions, don’t we all?

(All photos by IMM)

Dynamic lighting, which changes brightness, coloration and temperatures tones is a big revelation. Depending on the tasks performed at any given time, dynamic lighting will be brighter to stay attentive, dull and warm for relaxing, or soft for falling asleep. Of course there are many colors for bathing in chromotherapy.

Home gardens might disappear altogether in place of wood decks. The millennial want to entertain in intimate outdoor spaces, but don’t want the maintenance of grass and temperamental plants. The exterior will be an integral part of the interior without the barrier of walls and glass, at least in good weather, thus we will see more retractable glass walls, made of foldable doors and smaller backyards designed into vignettes, versus gigantic field of grassy lawn.
Colors, colors and more colors will fill the interiors of the future. This make me super happy. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer with a passion for kitchens and cooking. She especially loves to design all those rooms with a “make me feel good” tag attached, such as kitchens and wine grottos, outdoor kitchens and outdoor rooms, great rooms and entertainment rooms. She is a public speaker and a mentor. She is also the author of two Italian regional cuisine books and a book on colors, all-available here in this site on the Books page and on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Winter Food | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

21 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #ComfortFood, #LowCaloriesFood, #PugliaFood, #StuffedCabbage, #ValentinaCirasolaAuthor, #VegetableStuffedCabbage, #WinterFood

Fire is on, red wines show their characters through the ruby coloration, days are mostly grey, in some parts of the world even snows and in my home it’s time for comfort food, winter food, healthy food, warm and filling food with whatever the market offers. Today, I am presenting stuffed cabbage with tuna, chickpeas, spinach, brown rice, eggs and spices. It seems to have had a good response among my friends. This is a good recipe to get rid of leftovers, it can be done with other ingredients as well, such as ground meat, mashed potatoes, white rice, quinoa, all vegetables with cheese and no grain and so on, all depend on your fantasy. It is also low in calories.
Set aside a couple of hours of your time, if you are fast in the kitchen it might take less time.

I am not going to give you quantities, this is a free-form specialty, more ingredients you assemble more baking pans you will fill up. It’s all good stuff. Keep in the freezer the portions you don’t use in one dinner for those days when cooking is not on your list and still want to offer the family something delicious to eat. A large cabbage will give you a good number of large leaves to stuff.

In salted water parboil all the cabbage leaves, one by one for about 3-4 minute each. The salt will prevent discoloration through the process and your leaves will stay a vivid green even after the baking. Lay them on a towel to dry.
Wash the spinach in the quantity you need and sauté with garlic and olive oil. Drain the juice that forms and save it for later. Squeeze the spinach of all juices and pat dry.
Boil the brown rice or cook it in rice cooker, I mixed in saffron, parsley and olive oil.
If you don’t have chickpeas already cooked, the canned type is OK too, but drain the salted juice in the can and wash the chickpeas in abundant current water.
Drain the can tuna from the water and crumble it with a fork. Fresh tuna is better of course.
****
Now, in a very large bowl assemble all the ingredients: brown rice, tuna, chickpeas, spinach, 2-3 beaten eggs and some spices you like. Add a small amount of Parmigiano cheese, just for binding, season to your liking with salt and pepper. Mix well. Eliminate the hard spine of the leaf, it doesn’t bend well and set aside for a different dish later. With a spoon fill each cabbage leaf, roll and make a package. In the bottom of a baking dish put a small amount of that juice obtained from sautéing the spinach, align each package, on top add tomatoes sauce (passata) or peeled tomatoes, a swirl of olive oil and a small amount of Parmigiano cheese.
Bake uncovered at 400˚ F until the top is golden brown, maybe 20 minutes, depending on your oven. Serve warm.

If you have leftover stuffing, turn it into a frittata and you have another good meal assured. Buon Appetito!

In my home cooking is an important everyday experience. It doesn’t matter what our profession is, when it’s time to eat we change hats and turn into demanding chefs. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Copyright © 2016 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved
Valentina Cirasola is the designer who cooks. She has a deep interest in food that led her as an autodidact in the studies of food in history, natural remedies, nutrition, well-being and learning food of the world. She wrote two books on Italian regional cuisine and one book on color theory, in which she included one recipe for each color. Get your copy of Valentina’s books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Monochromatic Appeal | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

20 Jan 2016 2 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #DecoratingTips, #DesigningWithColors, #DesigningWithMonochromaticColors, #HomeRemodeling, #MonochromaticWhiteInteriors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns

Working with a monochromatic color scheme seems easy for those who know how to do it. In decorating with one color only it is important not to keep it boring, to put the accent on details and to play with light effects in a large way.
The house showing in my photos dates 1987.

Entry Gallery After

Living Room Bar Before

Living Room Bar After

The interior of every room was made entirely out of oak wood inside and out, wall panels, windows and shutters, floor, kitchen and bath cabinets, interior doors and beams. It was a very dingy, dark and not practical home for today’s needs. The only firm demand was to turn it into a very bright, airy, contemporary and functional home. The Clients liked subtle colors such as golden beige and were open to other color suggestions as long as they were not bold. After studying various tints and tones of subtle colors, this was the last scheme chosen. Clients envisioned a very white home, but this color scheme for the interiors and exteriors really got them excited.

All the walls in every room, including kitchen and baths cabinets have been faux finished with an elegant metallic effect that is only noticeable by getting closer to the walls.

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Inside Kitchen Before

Inside Kitchen After

Master Bath After

Earlier, I talked about putting the accent on details when working with monochromatic colors. The existing beams overhead were overwhelming and felt like a heavy lid. I put LED lights inside of them and the ceiling came alive when illuminated at night or grey days. Each pillar of this home had a brass band at the bottom. I left it there and with the new cream color those bands created an elegant accent. It looks done on purpose to break the verticality of the pillars.

Getting rid of all the oak obstacles and details, making each space open and livable was a real pleasure for the clients and me.
What really made this large space was the floor. I selected a large planks chestnut hardwood floor to run continuously all over the house. The very dark brown of the floor grounded the décor and helped this 10,000 square feet home covered in cream colors not to look aloof and floating in the air.

Dark wood furniture mixed with a few satin metals, glass tables, and a few antique pieces satisfied the needs of both husband and wife in different age group. They said “Now we can breathe! ”. The intercommunication system between rooms was a necessity.

As you can see there is no need to live in dull colors, even mortally boring beige can be attractive, sophisticated and exclusive. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior-Fashion Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15 and on RAI – Italian National TV. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

The Animal In A Pool Of White | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

14 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #AnimalPrint, #AnimalPrintAccessories, #AnimalPrintFurniture, #MonochromaticWhiteInteriors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns, #WhiteInteriors

Fashionable white interiors look clean, spacious, larger, pristine and they seem to give out more light than any other colors. Many people I know love to live in contemporary white, flat, no depth, or in shabby chic white where a bit of antique patina is playful. However beautiful in some people’s eye, white is a tiring color. Our eyes to feel comfortable need to find a resting point on shadows and colors, otherwise will wander aimlessly.

(Photo: Oscar de la Renta Collection Leopard bombé chest of drawers)

I am not particularly fond of a white interior, it doesn’t speak nor does appeal to me. I am realizing that my clients who have lived for long time in a white walls house with white or beige furniture are calling to change their colors. White is bright and creates no interesting games, that’s why is tiring and after a while people hoped to have used colors from the start. Nowadays to help patients heal faster in a cheerful environment even hospitals paint colors on the walls and nurses wear colorful uniforms.

A monochromatic white colored interior works well if it can be broken with textured walls, or contrasting accent walls, colorful art and interesting fireplaces, geometric mirrors with different frames and various warm metals, a well-designed hardwood floor or even all these items together.

Found on: matt.ahomestools.com

Guild Master

Happywall.com

Hemphill’s Rugs & Carpets

(All photos credits given to the respective owners)

I love the rhythm that animal prints create. If you like all white walls with white furniture and don’t want to change anything, at least introduce colorful and lively animal prints in a few accessories such as lamps, pillows, a throw cover, a carpet especially on stairs or a stand alone dresser, maybe some candles or dinner plates. I am not saying to cover your home in animal prints, do it with taste, sparingly, add some greenery, some live plants in corners, then all will appear chic and more cheerful.

Once you get into colors, it’s hard to get out. Colors are contagious for your happiness.
If in doubt on the color to choose, please contact me, I can arrange an interesting palette of colors for your personality. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

As a designer in business since 1990, I am interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. I am always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces I design. Featured on Vogue Italia magazine, Gentry and many prominent magazines in California. Appeared on RAI, Italian National T.V. Find copies of my three books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

January In White | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

09 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #CityWhiteCoat, #HowToWearWinterWhite, #WhiteFauxFurHat, #WhiteWinterCoat, #WinterWhite, #WinterWhiteColorScheme

Welcome to my Friday Fashion episode.
In this cold month of January I cannot carry on thinking of spring just yet. I want to live in the moment, enjoying this season, feeling the cold wind on my face and wearing cozy clothes on grey days. Welcome every change of season.

January is the month to wear white and not because we are going to a ski resort, but because it is a cozy color to roll in. A city winter white coat should be ample, loose fit enough to give you space to wear a sweater or layered clothes underneath with a large collar or hood to embrace you in warmth. I like my coats with a few deep pockets and frogged closures. Fabrics for a winter white coat should be light and warm for easy wear. It should contain mixed wools, cashmere, merino, alpaca, or a mixture of all and it should be scotch guarded on for easy cleaning.

A white coat is versatile, easy to wear with jeans, any regular pants or fuseaux (leggings). With a white coat I would not wear white shoes and bags, it’s January after all. The accessories should be the accent. For a sober look, colors can range from warm beige, saddle, tobacco to grey and black. For a more playful look other colors can find their way in the mixing. White coat over white garment is the classic combination, perfect for brunette or red hair women, but not for blond women.

Long time ago I wore real fur hats, now I wear ecological furs. I like that feeling of sinking my head in the soft fur even though it is faux. Gloves and scarf will add the finish touch. I just ordered my houndtooth long gloves and now I am ready to face the cold weather.

4HtPerWhite3

MonroeandMain

Stay warm and cozy. Make time for a stop at a café for a hot cocoa. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. To better help people in the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Ditch The Black And Dress In Red | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

31 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #NewYearEve, #PropertiesOfRed, #RedDress, #RedFashion, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #ValentinaCirasolaDesigner, #WhatToWearNewYearEve

Welcome to my Friday Fashion episode.
In less than 24 hours 2016 will be here and we will celebrate the new energy of the baby year. My suggestion for this end of the year is RED.
“Red is predominantly an action color since the beginning of time. It has been found in caves of primitive people as the main color to express a desire to hunt (…). Many primordial tribes and cultures have used red as the color for body paint to express beauty or admiration and have used it for their rituals. (…)
Red is a winning color for active people who like to lead (…)
Red has the power to increase enthusiasm, to stimulate energy, to increase blood pressure and heartbeat, to encourage action and confidence.
Red demands attention and will bring out the extrovert in you (…)”. This is an excerpt from my book ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors.

With all these attributes Red is the perfect color to welcome the New Year. If you are going to a formal party with dinner and dance I suggest a layered red dress short in the front and long in the back. Anything with high-low length the rage this year.

For conservative women who want to look very chic without revealing much, one shoulder and a flowing dress is a good solution.

(Kerr, One Shoulder Red-Aliexpress)

For a less formal party wear a crisp, smart short red dress, close toes pump and a studded pave’ with pearl or glitz.

(Vuhera.com)

(GM Collection-Imelda Seashell Pave’)

I don’t believe in the perfect black dress, muffin tops and large body size will still be there. Black is slimming only for women who are already slim. If I go to a party and everybody is dressed in black, it feels more like a funeral than a party and I want to leave. Why not then stand out with originality and pick one of 5000 Pantone colors that look good on you?

However if you must wear black or beige, I suggest one of Nordstrom layered beaded fringe tops or an eyelet lace top. This year lace is allowed but no sexy transparencies.
In my country in Italy, we believe all women of all ages must wear a pair of red undies for good luck at New Year’s Eve. Go ahead, you have one more day to get that pair. Have a blast in red and a splendid 2016 all the way through. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

The Coldness Of The Day After | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

28 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #ChristmasInItaly, #NaplesItaly, #NaplesNativityScenes, #NaplesSanGregorioArmeno, #NativityScenes, #SanGregorioArmeno

Christmas decorations are down, twinkling lights are off, people have fallen into the Pacific Ocean, so it seems. This is the scenario two days after Christmas, the neighborhood is in a spectral silence and no sign of life anywhere. Christmas is over along with the stress, the rush of this month and the screaming sales. Walking in my neighborhood feels cold and lonely.

Nativity Scene

Ancient City View

Figurines

Butcher Store Scene

Modern Scene

(All photo credits given to the respective owners – found on: Trip Advisor and napolidavivere.it)

If I reel my memory back in my past and my life growing up in Italy I see a totally different view. In Naples, one of the things I enjoyed doing was to stroll down Via San Gregorio Armeno, one of the most artistic area of the city where an array of shops offer Christmas nativity scenes (Presepi) designed and built all year around. The street takes the name from San Gregorio Armeno, a monastery-church built in the 10th century over the remains of a Roman temple located in the same area.
The street is full of people looking for particular objects or the small missing piece to the nativity scene at home. Each artist creates his own detailed figurines made of clay or wood. Besides the typical religious figurines of Jesus, the Madonna, St. Joseph and the three Wise Men, there are figurines representing caricature of political figures, well-known people, actresses and actors, famous sport people, reproduction of food, animals, household objects and of course architectural details, such as fountains, pediments, balconies, columns, stairs, courtyards or even entire homes with lights and sounds inside. The nativity scenes reproduce ancient views in Bethlehem faithful to history, or modern views of today’s cities and they are all hand-made!!!

The street is joyous with laughter, loud voices, colorful people, creative store owners and visitors who stroll down the street to digest the long Christmas dinner, which in Italy lasts three days. However during the year all artists in that area continue to work on their nativity scenes adding new pieces and creating new themes. It will never feel cold and deserted the day after Christmas.
In every Italian homes in Italy, Christmas decorations and nativity mangers go down after Jan. 6th, celebrating the arrival of the three Wise Men to the grotto where Jesus was born bringing him precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Jan. 6th closes all Christmas celebrations with gifts given only to kids to symbolize that event.

I only wish the art of San Gregorio Armeno will survive through today’s technology. It is a centuries old art handed down from father to son and it is there to enjoy all year round. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina will host one or two trips a year to Italy with the intention of showing Italy with the eyes of a designer born in those parts and let people experience the ”wheel of emotions” they don’t even know exist. She will take her groups to the non-commercial Italy, areas not beaten down by massive tourism. Valentina will guide the tours through art, architecture, fashion, food-wines, shopping and special adventures organized for people who want to live it up! Check out her books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w