New Year, new home..new resolutions..?

Happy New year to you all, first of all!!
I know, it's already mid January, but better later than never..:)
Aaawww..It's been a busy time, so far.The first of December my partner has come home from the hospital.He's doing well, his chest is still sore, but this is completely normal.In this last month we have been flat hunting, we found a tiny flat, we moved in, we refurbished it (well..sort of!But it was totally unfurnished!!), we did very little Xmas shopping and we ate a lot (thanks mum!)!!!It's nice to see that he's put on some weight, after the hospital.
The flat we moved in is really tiny, basically it's a studio flat, but with a separate bedroom.And..ta-da!!! There is a balcony!!!!Not too large, of course, but we can eat outside and we have room for a cabinet for our tools and things.And it is sooo sunny!
So, however small the flat, I'm very,very happy. I think of it as a new start, our new life starting to shape-up.

Here you can see one of my (two!!)favourite corners, so far: just above the shelf lovely pics hanging from pretty little wooden pegs..some candles, of course..I can't do without candles! And our first Cyclamen!!We have a second one now, that we rescued from a Brico shop, where they were letting it die.Now it is a gorgeous, proud boy, I'll show you the pics soon.
Little by little the flat will look nicer and nicer, we're off to a good start and we'll make a cosy nest out of it.I'm also thinking about resolutions, too. It is not really a "new year's resolution"-thing, rather a "new start as an occasion to change things" thing..if you know what I mean.But I won't tell you about it now. Not yet.
Instead..more pics coming up soon :)
Next post will be about crafts, promised, but I was too thrilled about our new little place!
Have a great weekend,
xxx

Fall in Rome

Hi there!
Hope everybody is well :)
As you can see I changed the location on my blog profile..it's now Rome and not London anymore.It feels a bit strange, but..hey, that's life,and changes are just part of it! There has been a lot going on lately.I lived at my mum's for a while, started a new job, drove a car again (!)..but most importantly I have my partner here, now.Permanently.And I can tell you that this feels weird!He's been here with me before, of course, but it's just funny to plan a life together here!It's not for few days, this time..we're trying to settle down, it's real life!it's job hunting, it's food-shopping, it's....real. And I love it, and hope he does too.Just so you understand..I never had to find a room to live in, here.I had my room,I actually had a flat,once! I don't have a clue about how things work in Italy..like job hunting,supermarkets (which one is good, or expensive,etc..).I know I lived here before, but it was a different life, at home with mum and dad.Anyway..
We're having a couple of rough weeks now; my partner is at the hospital, he had an emergency operation and he's now awaiting the doctors to decide whether he's got to stay a bit longer at the hospital, to have another operation, or to go home.
It must be really a dreadful moment for him..he had just arrived, he was looking for a job and suddenly..he's in the hospital,in a foreigner country, all alone all day with nobody who speaks his language. And in pain. I really hope we'll pass through this quickly.
For who's in or around Rome I've got a great news: I'll be at the Piazza verdi Market on Sunday 28 November!!! It would be good to see you there ! I'm making some new lines of jewellery, mainly leather and pearls, in addition to my chain jewellery, of course.
Well.. I guess it's all for today.
I wish you all a great week end,
love xxx

Long time... and time for changes.. :)

It's been over a month since my last post, I've just realized.A month full of things, events, strong emotions and many other things.
I'm leaving.I'm leaving the UK for a while and moving back to Italy.I don't know what is going to happen once I'm there, but I really needed to do this moving.So..I'll leave,while my partner will stay here, so PetiteChacal will double.It will add Rome to London and New York, let's see it this way.I'm trying to understand how I feel about this.Mixed feelings, I guess..I'm thrilled, curious, excited..and sad and heartbroken, and worried. I reckon it all sums up to the natural process that goes along with great changes.I tried to write down pros and cons,I came up with the silliest things, and somehow found a little relief.Let's see the bright side:I'm going to have fantastic food and great wine (;)); I'll leave in the sun! I'll have at hand Italian silver and lampwork beads!!Great supplies!!!! I'll see the sea often!I'll finally walk again my lttle dog, I miss her so much! I'll be somewhere else, and changes are always good (well, changes of this kind,at least), they bring excitement,inspiration,different perspectives.
I'll see my very self in a different perspective, for the simple fact that I'm going back to where I supposedly belong after six years, and I know that I've changed , but just can't measure these changes living the same life as ever.
Being back will help me understand what I've become, as I'll be facing something that in my mind, and in my life, have stayed the same.
So...this was the big news.Concerning PetiteChacal, things won't change much, at least for the moment.Only the shipping may vary (only location-wise,I reckon). I actually think that it'll be good for the business too, to have some different input.Anyone has had a similar situation?What were/are your feelings about it?
I leave you reaching for your handkerchief, and I leave you with some pictures of one of my latest work..
Love you all!
xx PetiteChacal

 

Fragments from petite chacal

This is what I see from one of my windows..I took this photo a while ago, I was simply stunned at the unlikely mix of colours and shadows and the sharp "golden" strike that stands out from the dark.
You see, I sit at this very same window nearly everynight, when I go home after work.
I pour myself a glass of wine, I lit up a cigarette and I sit quietly on the floor, looking out from the window.
I love it.It's a tiny "me time".One of the few I allow myself to indulge in (the other one is my candle-light bath!!). It's my time to think, to let immagination have its say into the rest of my very normal life.I love to look at other people's windows, and lives..and wonder if they are happy, if they're having a good time, if they are in love..if they are here to stay or are just passers by,as it often happens in London..It's just simple and simply irresistible for me: you look at someone's window and you can see a life!Well..in all honesty I don't get to see much my neighbours, most of the times I just stare at the windows, or at the street,or at some detail that cought my attention.. :)It's still nice and relaxing, though..
So, just for a change, I'm not talking about my jewellery, instead about some fragments of life!;)
And you guys? What's your favourite "me time" moment..?

Home and away

 

The first weekend of February I went home for my mum's birthday.It's been awsome spending two days with her, it really paid me back for the tireness of travelling by plane forth and back in two days.We've been cosy and cuddling each other,eating fantastic food and talking about everyday life.I miss my mum.A lot. I'm so proud of her and I really wish I could spend more time with her, doing silly things and going around together for her 1000 errands and chores,people to see,to give a hand to,and so on.When I was back home one morning I opened the door that leads to the balcony and I saw on the step this beautiful Ponsettia leaf.It was just lying on the step, covered in dew (well..maybe rain!) and it was just beautiful. So I caught the moment.Shame that I only had my mobile with me,but..better than nothing.Isn'it beautiful? I miss the time when I was good at stopping and enjoying moments like this,when something very simple just makes you stop and LOOK...Lately I'm always so busy,with my mind in a million things all the time,that I realised I don't take time anymore for what makes you feel good and refreshed.Just that little moment that takes you away from the rest of the world,only you and your thoughts and/or your sense of wonder and fulfillment for something that other probably don't even see..Do you know what I mean?That little moment in which everything is possible just because it's unlinked to reality ,I mean to real things , to what you have to do or where you have to go that day,etc.Well..Maybe I didn't explained it clearly, but I hope it makes sense for you.
Anywho..Just wanted to share a glimpse of my weekend with you.
Oh,and...the little cutie is Maya, mum's inseparable dog.I so love her!She's so proud with her toys in her mouth,and she's always sad when I leave..She's such a good girl!Miss you too Maya! :)

Baby Asian Elephant in Tall Grass

Baby Asian Elephant in Tall Grass

Hii!!!!!How cute???I'll see one live one day :) (I mean,not in a zoo!)
I have this thing for Africa (I know this is an asian puppy,but elephants just remind me straight of Africa)..don't know, I've never been there,but I've always thought that it's one of the very important things I want to see/do before I die.
Other places I want to see before "the big day":Patagonia and Antarctica.
For Antarctica it's been the same as for Africa.I've always known that one day I'll be there,even just for a day.It's like something you feel you have to do and you don't even know why..funny,isn't it?I think it's a kind of call..ever had this feeling, like something is just somewhere waiting for you?I do.I do feel things and it just kills me to know that I might not do/see/try/live them. When I think about this,I mean the fact that you feel bound so strongly to do something without a reason I start wondering whether we're really living only one of all the possible lives,and that maybe we've really been somewhere before,or been something.
I really don't know, I'm still trying to understand the things that really make sense for me, and what are the things I really believe in.
I believe in life,this is something I'm sure about.For the rest ..
I'm not awaiting anybody to come up one day and tell me the secrets of life,the origins of sin,the sense of our living.I try hard to find all of this everyday by myself,though.I think this is actually the main sense of our living, as far as we walk on this Earth. Beside the reasons that each and every one of us can find, of course.Never been a woman with all the answers in her pocket, and I'm just learning to live with it.At my best.I don't know what happens next,don't know if there is another life,another chance,another perspective.If there is, and I've been mistaking all my life about it,well..even better.I'd be glad.For now I just deal with what I have here and now, and it's complicated enough sometimes.. ;)I'd love to hear some opinions on this.
Well..going back to this lovely puppy..I wish all the best to this cutie!