Besides treating us like royalty...Valentina and Paola gave my sister Lynn and I some wonderful gifts...
...Gray candles wrapped with sheet music and tied with hemp twine with a religious medal accent... and little white heart soaps in linen bags with the Les Cotrions name and pretty logo...
Also included in the gift bag (all elegantly tied up with black lace ribbon ) were a cookbook filled with traditional local recipes and a CD of special Italian music....so thoughtful!
We visited Paola's home.....she is in the process of remaking her garage into a loft type living area...with a garden terrace on top and a large showroom below which is used for staging and photographing items for their online shop and will be open to the public on certain dates or by appointment. As you can see, it is a lovely, open and airy space. I love all the stone and texture and beautiful linens...
Their product line includes new items, antiques that they have searched for locally and in the brocantes in France as well as beautiful handmade items that they have created themselves. These two ladies are truly talented with a sophisticated sense of style...To check out their online shop click here....
Vale pointed out this shop which is famous for the secret family recipe they use to make their delicious and unique bread...
I loved this table-scape in one of the little shops.....
....Here are some other images and store front snapshots...
As you can see....Lucca has lots to offer in the way of retail therapy....
Hope you're not getting too tired of my carrying on about our trip to Italy... it was such a special time for me and I have a few more posts left to share...
Take care,
:) Laura
omg! it just continues to get better and better. i now await each evening to check out a new post. i immensely love this mini holiday. thanz again, laura
ReplyDeleteLaura, this is my first chance to visit since you got back, but from all your gorgeous pictures I would say you had a wonderful time! Thank you for sharing...I will now go backwards and look at your previous posts, Rose :)
ReplyDeleteOh how I wish I was not so afraid of flying over the sea for 14-16 hours. I will have to bite the bullet someday to be able to go and visit such beauty. I know you had the time of your life there taking in all the beauty. I hope your thursday is a good one.
ReplyDeleteSheila
Wonderful!
ReplyDeletePlease carry on,
yours Traude (not getting tired of your Italy-Stories at all!)
Wow i think you had a nice shopping holiday !
ReplyDeleteI like the Italian music also !
Love from Holland Peet
je vous envie les filles!!!
ReplyDeleteje craque pour le magasin de ficelles.....
amitiés
manon
Oh I'm in love with Italy! Everything is just charming. More, more, more!
ReplyDeleteI'm speechless Laura! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Vale
Oh Laura, what a flavour of Italy......your photographs really show all that Italy has to offer. I love the candles and the food and the wine and, of course, the clothes, the raffia and twine and that wonderful interior shop...I want everything in the window!!!!.....what a splendid look at Lucca. XXXX
ReplyDeleteCarry on!! Carry on please!!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving all of this.. just sorry I am a bit late .. still need to see your last post! Well this is all delightful and I am terribly envious as you know, but also so happy you had this great experience! Travel is like nothing else in life .. more than just the memories..And Italy of course ... my favourite!!
Thanks for you kind comments. I've stopped coughing but think I will leave the cleanup for the weekend. Here there is another coming [hope not!!] xx Julie
OOOHHH whah!!!! Back!
ReplyDeleteI just scrolled to the very bottom of your page. Maybe I've never been there before.. Love your little montage.. and that religious statue is wonderful [does it have a sister i can have? haha ]
Quel magnifique reportage, de cette Italie que j'adore!!! Je te fais un gros bisous et à bientôt...
ReplyDeleteDomi
Hello Laura! When it comes to shopping you won't hear me saying I have enough quickly and I love these shops in Italy! The leather, the delicious food, the antiques...ah you could only hear me saying: more, more, more!! Have a great day and enjoy the memory of this fabulous trip!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip! Your photographs are exquisite. I love reading about your experiences as well, and how cool that you made new friends, through blogging - right? Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLooks so wonderful. I love the displays of twine and corks. Very textural! The clothes are so gorgeous. I'll take that wool coat even though it's 104 here today. Thanks for the visit to Italy!
ReplyDeletewonderful photos! the louvered shutter idea & the table scape, along with the window dressings. Yay.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun, I am jealous! Hey, be sure to visit my blog today...just for you my friend.
ReplyDeleteCan you hear me laughing?
ReplyDeleteOh Shopping! I loved it all! Did you get any string? I just love the spools!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Lisa
I am in love...I was lucky enough to spend a day in Lucca many years ago, and I now want to go back! Enjoy!!!!
ReplyDeleteChelsea
OMG, I WANT TO BE THERE!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. Your pictures give a real sense of the place. Thank you for sharing. Sending smiles.
ReplyDeleteThis a surely a town I would love to shop in. Vales home is as lovely as she is and her blog.
ReplyDeleteThe food and especially the cheeses would have been hard to resist!
xo,
Carole
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI'm lookin' at these wonderful pictures, browsing back through some of your other gorgeous pictures and wondering what the heck are you waiting for??? You have a TON of resources for your painting...:-) Get started, right away, tomorrow, first thing in the morning...quickly, hurry! You have sooo many beautiful pictures, memories-to chose from...good luck! Tami E.
Now I am seriously saddened that I only got as far as Pisa on the day we planned to go to Lucca in May ( on our fabulous Med cruise. Guess we will just have to plan another trip.
ReplyDelete