It’s always good to be home, even when you’ve had a wonderful trip.  We haven’t really taken any pictures of our new home.  I thought this might be the right time for you to see what I came home to:

While I was gone, Dan had bushes pulled out, a tree cut, an old fence torn down and our banana trees dug out.  Now we have some landscaping decisions to make.

I also thought you might like to see some of the things I brought home with me from Italy.  I brought a selection of scarves…pashminas, silk, wool.  Of course, beads and some jewelry.  An Italian leather purse, an Italian cashmere sweater, and some Carlo Dono bead tools (not pictured), sold only in Italy.  It doesn’t look like a lot, but it managed to fill up my suitcase.

There are so many interesting things in Venice.  There are small shops that sell original clothing designs, shops that pop up near the markets…that’s how I got my sweater.  Pashmina scarves can be bought for 5 or 6 euros each and in every design and color combination you can imagine.  There are art galleries, print studios, museums, and street markets.  They all offer inspiration and ideas for those of us who love creating.  Venice gave me a lot to think about.  It will be fun to see how I interpret Venice when I go out to the studio to make beads!