Oltre il Ponte (Over the Bridge)

        The other day, I made my first venture over the river to the other side of Firenze. Whereas my side is full of bustling activity, commercial chains, the big mercati, and people shoving leather bags in your face (not to say that it is not all absolutely wonderful), the other side of the river is quieter, less commercial, and full of little artisan shops. I went with my interior design class to look at tiny furniture shops, antique shops, showrooms, interiors, and exteriors in order to find inspiration and provide a basis for true Italian craftsmanship and design. What struck me is that “craftsmanship” as an art and as a concept is still very much alive in Florence. Shop after shop there were people young and old specializing in hand-made furniture, furniture restoration, hand-made tiles, metal and gold leafing, anything and everything you can imagine. It took me back to what Tina said in her cooking class: “In Italy, the most important thing is to have passion for what you are doing.” Nothing could have hit home more as I walked through these tiny, eclectic, family-run shops located in beautiful medieval and renaissance palazzos. I got to see people working with their hands to create. And what they are creating is more than an ebony chair, a refurbished 17^th century desk, a shawl made out of tiny glass beads, a terracotta slab, or an ornate piece of gold-leaf molding. They are creating the things people live their lives in and around, and they are doing it with passion. I connect with them not only because I am an artist in the stereotypical sense (sketchbook in hands at all times), but like Tina said, the same is applied to cooking. Everything I create as an artist, or a designer, or a cook, or whoever I am, I do it with passion, and that is what makes my life taste better. 

Just liked this
(on the side of the road covering construction)

Faucets outside the Riccardo Barthel workshop

Aprosio & Co glass jewelry. her process

Inside the Ponziani antique studio

Hand made terracotta tiles outside
the Riccardo Barthel workshop

17th century carrying throne from Ponziani