Giulia Mauri

valentines cuties

2012-02-07T22:54:00.003Z

hello my darlings,

i hope you are having an awesome week!

im still recovering for a nasty old cold, and my nose is red like rudolf's!

but… im feeling the looove guys!

here we are, i have a couple of valentines designs.

i know, i know, but better late then never right?!

'Nuts about you' 3 x 4 inches, watercolour

'i love u deerly' 3.5 x 5 inches, watercolour

i shall dig'em up again next year im sure.

made a few cards today, they look real cute. will be posting in the store tomorrow, along with lots and lots of v

alentines kisses.

all right,

goodnight my darlings

x g x

The Portrait Project #1: Announcement

2012-01-27T00:00:00.007Z

Hi guys,

hope you are starting the week end in a great way. Hope you guys have fun.

got a camera? why not spend the week end taking a bunch of cool portrait pictures of yourself?

why?

well, i'll tell you.

im starting a new project as of tomorrow.

i don't know where this is going to take, and why this project is going to end. but i know, that, right now, this is what i want to do.

it's cool, and it's fun.

right then.

i'll be collecting pictures from family members, friends, and total strangers first.

then, i'll turn those pics into portraits.

right now, i don't know how many i'll be doing, for what i know, this might be a long life project, or only a few months. it's really depends how many people are getting on board, and how much i enjoy doing it.

then, will see.

i'll definitely set up and online gallery on my web site, a facebook group/page where you'll be able to join, meet other 'portrait guys', post your original pictures and comment, basically the whole lot. it will be fun.

I want to take full advantage of the online platform available today.

i'll be posting pictures as i go on this blog, post the blog post on twitter, post the picture on facebook, post videos of me painting on YouTube.

(these, rather then email people their photo - sorry guys, one of me, hundreds of you = impossible. Also much more fun to get everyone involved)

if things go well guys, i'll be looking for a gallery somewhere, hopefully the big L,

(LONDON!) that will support my project and host a proper exhibition.

Will see, probably will have to put the work up for sale so i can buy more art supplies with the money and re-invest in The Portrait Project #2.

But I would also like to put all of the images on Red Bubble so you guys can get a nice good quality print for very little money, to keep as a memory. (think ahead, might be a good xmas present for your mum!)

Right you guys, so this is really cool.

great love, to you all, and all of your beautiful faces, i can't wait to see them all.

and have a great week end.

begin taking those cool pics, NOW!

ps. just stick the pics somewhere online & post the link here.

thanks!

tweets: #theportraitproject

a little different

2012-01-23T13:17:00.004Z

hello hello!

how are you all? i hope great.

here in the studio things are going well, and along with my children illustrations im now working on a series of 'serius' artworks for grown ups as well. poor things, i thought they were getting a bit left out! only kidding.

'Imbavagliata' Watercolour, 420mm x 297mm

I have quite a bit do work on in the next few weeks, so i fear i won't be posting as regularly as i would wish, but i will try to.

sending much much love to you all,

giulia

The Artist's Box

2012-01-10T12:53:00.005Z

Hello my darlings,

I hope you are all well and happy.

Here in the uk it has been a little dull and grey, but occasionally we also got beautiful ray of light through the clouds, and today I even say a rainbow! So beautiful!

This is one of my latest creations, it's a wooden storage box i choose to paint in pastel colour, that makes it a little retro' and very arty indeed.

this is a snap turing working in progress.

as you can see my desk becomes a real mess when i'm painting!

i wanted to give this box a little extra sparkle, so i used the golden acrylics for all of the precious details and to give a glow within the scalloped frame.

it really makes it stands out quite a bit.

im so in love with it.

its quite personal and autobiographer so i can honestly say, this is one of those special artworks one just wants to keep of oneself and treasure forever. ;)

much love

I'm back!

2012-01-05T19:07:00.004Z

Hello my dearest, and happy new year to you!

I hope you had a lovely Christmas.

I cannot believe it it is over already! This year it has really come and gone, ever so quickly! Goodness me!

January the 5th now, looking forward to the spring and catching up with all of the projects i left before the holidays. I'm really excited with one of them in particular, and I simply can wait to share it with you at the end of March…

but for now, sending much love my darlings,

and lots of kisses

Holiday note

2011-12-20T01:29:00.002Z

Hello my sweet hearts!

i've been wanting to write for a while but time was really running short this week.

so, i apologise.

I'll be living for italy as 3.30 am today and won't really be able to post until the end of the holidays, on the 5th of January.

The blog and the shop will remain open all of the time of course,

and you can still browse around posts and shop items.

purchases in the shop will be shipped on my return.

I send you all much much love and all of the best wishes for a very lovely Christmas and a beautiful new year.

may it be filled with light, love and joy.

giulia

Bookplates Now in store! + Coupon Codes!

2011-12-10T18:51:00.003Z

Hello my darlings,

I hope you are all well and having a lovely week end!

Here in Britain it has been a beautiful couple of days, with gorgeous sunshine and really nice crispy air. This morning Jason and I went to town to do the last bits of Christmas shopping. We hit the town early to avoid the crowd, and it was so chilli! But it was worth it.

I'm so please that I got it all done in plenty of time this year!

Xmas shopping can turn into a little bit of a stress isn't?

Anyways.

Today I added new holiday discount codes to The Card Tree Facebook page!

Hurry, they valid only until the 18th December...

And this new cutie is part of the big family too:

Bookplates. Yes! Finally!

I've been wanting to do them in ages! and here they are, even better that i've imagined!

The are real cute. i love the pastel tones of the blue-green and the pink. So girly.

These bookplates measure 10.4 x 7.8cm (4

.2 x 3.1 inches), and they are printed on high quality matte finish adhesive stock.

The come in packs of 6, Beautifully packaged in biodegradable sleeve and recycled card.

So very happy with them, and so looking forward printing more designs soon…

much love my sweeties

Raccoon cuties + blue cuties

2011-12-07T00:10:00.008Z

***updated with boxes pictures!***

Hello my darlings,

I hope you are all well and not freezing to death! Here in Surrey it's getting really cold. I don't really fancy the cold weather and I'm struggling to get used to it. But hey, I wrap up in my colourful scarf and hat and try to look at it in a positive and philosophical way.

Perhaps the postman got stuck in a blizzard somewhere

because I'm still waiting for my very important parcel from my printer.

I wasn't really supposed way to talk about this but it has been over 10 days now and I'm a little

put off by the delay of the delivery. There are some very cute things coming up

, hopefully soon!

I won't spoil your surprise, just know that I will be posting new cuties in the store soon.

In the mean time this will have to supply.

I created a Raccoon Stationery set, which you will find in store,

and also Racoon mugs!

I do love this new Raccoon creature of mine. Mugs in the shop are a very new, never-tried-before-thing but I have to say, I do like it, very very much. I'm actually very much looking forward to see all of my creatures lined up on my kitchen counter in the form of cups and mugs! Sweet!!!

At the moment I'm woking on some originals wooden boxes for myself and for the shop.

Inevitably when I do boxes I end up keeping some of them for myself and the studio for supply keeping, secret keeping, doodles holders.

They are just so cute and useful, what can I say... But it is getting a little bit ridiculous with all of these boxes every where. You should see the studio. They are everywhere. But to me they are three dimensional paintings, rather then just boxes.

They have a life and will of their own.

But I will have to be brave this time and put them up in the shop for sale when they are finished, and hopefully before I fall in love with them utterly and completely…

***ps. shall post some pictures of them tomorrow in the day light. it's night time here now and the moonlight isn't quite good enough for picture taking i'm afraid! ***

much love my lovelies

Owl Writing Set

2011-12-02T14:17:00.004Z

Hello my darlings!

This cute little owl wanted to let you know that writing sets featuring her are currently available at The Card Tree!

here they are:

The sets are pastel blue/green, with pink decorative flowers all around…

so cute!

The sets are printed on recycled paper as usual and are packaged in bio-sleeves.

I hope you guys have a great week end...

much love

Pink Bear Writing Set

2011-11-29T13:04:00.007Z

Hello my darlings!

Can you believe it's already the end of november?

How amazing, less then 4 weeks to Christmas! We will be putting our decorations this coming week end, yay!

I'm really excited today, because i completed 4 new writing sets. This one is one of them, that feautures my Love Bear illustration:

And you can find this cutie in the shop!

More will be coming up very soon!

I'll keep you posted, for sure.

much love

Snap

2011-11-25T19:47:00.002Z

hi darlings,

this is just a quick snap of what's coming soon!

I have so many new ideas for my new designs and I can't wait to share them with you!

I hope you week end is going well

take care

love

thrilled

2011-11-21T22:13:00.004Z

Hello darlings,

how are you all?

I'm over the moon today, since we received these two lovely sea urchin lamps in the mail!

They are absolutely gorgeous, and i can't stop looking at them. The infuse a very relaxing yellow light, that makes the room look really beautiful.

so very pleased with them!

much love my dearest!

Tea at Jane's

2011-11-15T13:02:00.016Z

Hello my dears,

Guess what? We recently visited the beautiful home of Jane Austen! Is located in the idillic village of Alton, in Hampshire.

It's a gorgeous cottage, with a large wall garden and nice size rooms, as they would say here!

It was a very magical trip. I've been wanting to see it, since, well... forever.

Going in the autumn meant that there weren't too many tourist around, so I could really spend ages looking at things.

We saw her carriage (super cute by the way),

the table where she used to write her novels from, which looks out of the road (I guess it must have been a path in her time)

We saw her books,

the first edition of sense and sensibility (the written by a lady thing really caught my attention)!

And I admired the original illustrations for Pride & Prejudice. The Above it's a classic!

This was Jane's beautiful piano, and this is a replica of her bed:

This is Jane's silhouette which hang on the wall of her bedroom:

I loved it so much that I bought myself a cup that features it! Yay!

There where two gorgeous replica outfits:

Loved the handmade trims, laces, corsets and buttons.

There where also various accessories and belongings of Jane and her family,

and two beautiful hats

worn by actresses in the adaptation of Sense & Sensibility by Ang Lee.

They showed us a documentary of Jane's life, and by going to see her place i discovered so much more about her. I feel like i can understand a lot more, and most of all, what she was writing about…

I hope you enjoyed this my lovelies!

take care

much love

Birthday

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000Z

Happy Birthday Giulia!

today,

11-11-11

it's my birthday!

I already had some pressies, and two birthday cakes (what a lucky girl) but I shall celebrate some more when, on the week end mum and I are going to have a joint birthday party together. So I'm going to make a vegan Birthday Cake. I'm still experimenting,since I never cooked vegan before, but hey, this is fun. Plus, I feel i can eat more cake like this, since it doesn't have any butter whatsoever! Nor eggs! I always thought that if you didn't have eggs you could not bake! This couldn't be further from the truth. So this is handy even if you are not vegan and you have just ran out of some ingredients in your pantry!

Yesterday jumped right into it and made these two awesome cakes,

one for me and one for Jason!

This on is the chocolate cake. Which turned out to be an amazing vegan brownie cake. It didn't rise hardly at all but I think that's fine because it made nice and moist, and very rich.

I can hardly believe that this hasn't got any butter in it.

(apart from the vegan butter+sugar topping, which of course is optional!)

it's Amazing! try it.

here it goes:

Giulia's Vegan Chocolate Brownie Cake

1 cup organic plain flour

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup warm water

1/4 vegetable oil

1/2 cocoa

1 tsp vanilla paste or 1 vanilla pod

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Mix well all of the dry ingredients. on a separate bowl, mix water & oil. Gently pour wet ingredients over the dry ones stir well to avoid the formation of lumps. When the mixure is nice and smooth (it's quite liqui, and that's OK) pour over your baking tin and place in the oven, 180* (gas mark 4) for 20 min.

For topping, (optional) mix 3 tbsp of vegetable butter with 1/3 cup of sugar and spread over the cake (once the cake is cool). Decorate with chocolate flakes.

This one is a lemon drizzle one. I used the same recipe of the other cake, but instead of adding cocoa and added lemon zest. I also decorated it with a sauce made from the juice from 1 whole lemon and 1/2 cup of sugar. (could get away using 1/3 sugar i think) then poured it straight on top of the hot cake as i took it out of the oven.

yuppy!

enjoy.

Happy Green Christmas to you

2011-11-09T11:48:00.000Z

Hello my Darlings,

So pleased today to see that my Candy Cane Tote

has been featured in waterlilyjewels's Time for a Green Christmas treasury list!

it's really sweet, i love it!

I still can't quite believe that Christmas is just around the corner.

Have been trying to get my Christmas shopping sorted early this year, because i do get a little bit stressed out about it. I still need to get a about 4 o 5 presents, but I have all of the others. So now in the evenings I can spend some time wrapping them up while enjoying the cosy fireplace...

note

2011-11-08T13:14:00.003Z

The blog is going to change a little bit in the next few days.

I'm really excited about it.

New pretty girly buttons on the side bar and new pages.

So I do apologize for the mess, everything will be normal again soon, i promise!

much love

post-note: thank you so much for your patience! now the blog is finally complete. I hope you enjoy it even more with his new autumn look.

much much love my sweethearts!

Love is in the Air

2011-11-08T08:30:00.001Z

I don't know about you.

But I love just illustrations with hearts in them.

something about them…

pure cuteness, sweetness, and l o v e.

This is my new illustration that I think has all of the above characteristics!

Love Bear 2.5'x3' inches, Watercolour

I can't wait to print this little buddy on some new products.

(I will post an update as soon as they are up in the shop)

much love my dear readers

*29th November update*

Writing sets featuring this illustration are now available in the shop!

Nice Read

2011-11-07T13:31:00.001Z

hello sweeties,

this is the book i'm reading at the moment.

It's really lovely, and i highly recommend it. I also found that Alicia has this amazing blog where she talk about everything, from eco friendly stuff, to rescue dogs and vegan diet.

and i also found this other cute blog today with lots of yummy healthy recipes.

do visit & bookmark :)

Lucky you!

2011-11-06T08:00:00.000Z

Hello my sweeties,

I have been trying to paint decent good luck illustrations for a while now.

Somehow they have never worked quite good as I wished.

But I'm very happy to announce that I now have a very pretty Good Luck - Be Lucky illustration:

Lucky Birdie, 3'x2'inches, Watercolour

Oh! So very very cute.

I'm going to create some stationery & cards with this beauty.

Keep your eyes open, they'll be coming up very soon.

x Lots of love x

giulia

uh la la!

2011-11-04T13:22:00.002Z

what a pleasant surprise i had the other day

When i discovered a sketchbook from last year full of winter cute designs i had completely forgotten all about!

i'm really excited about it and i'm going to dive straight into colouring all of them out in the next few days.

Halloween Memories

2011-11-03T09:32:00.008Z

Hello darlings,

Here a few pictures from our halloween week end celebrations!

We have been very fortunate this year, since we had not one but 2 celebrations!

An Halloween/Birthday party (for moi) at my sister in law's up in Lincolnshire

and also a little Halloween celebration on Monday 31st with just the 3 of us.

We carved 3 more pumpkins and made orange halloween soup.

We also watched Constantine, (it's knida of scary)

i received some really excellent presents for my birthday, they deserve a post for it self!

shall post as soon as i sort out the pics. :)

such a treat to have early presents, that i can already enjoy having!

much love,

have an excellent week!

x g x

Disaster has struck

2011-11-01T09:00:00.002Z

In the kitchen.

Yep. Our freezer has packed up while we where away during the week end.

I have about 10 loafs of defrosted bread,

A large bag of defrosted harsh browns

and 2 tubs of homemade ice cream that will need eating.

Because, I can't possibly get rid of this amazing homemade ice cream,

(which might actually be the last real ice cream i'm eating since i'm going vegan)

To be fair, this ice cream is now become a beautiful homemade pudding sauce, and it's so tasty i will have no trouble at all finished it out.

If you would like to give this sauce/ice cream a go,

here is my improved recipe:

Banoffee Icecream

300ml organic double cream

300ml organic milk

100 gr organic sugar

2 organic eggs yolks

4 medium sized organic bananas (smashed)

4 spoons of caramel sauce (or more)

1 vanilla pod

stir the egg yolks with the sugar, mix well.

add cream and cook until it starts boiling.

take of the hob, add all of the other ingredients.

Let it cool for a while, then pour into the ice cream maker bowl.

Let chill for at least 40 minutes in the icecream machine.

enjoy!

store in the freezer…

(or let it melt and use it as a sauce!)

i am going to try a vegan version of this. one improved I shall definitely share ;)

much love!

Autumn Feature

2011-11-01T09:00:00.000Z

Hello my darlings,

i hope you had a fantastic halloween celebration and that your are enjoying the autumn!

I had a little surprise the other day when i open my etsy mail.

My Snowdrop Robin letter set was featured! Hooray!

The lovely person who put together this colourful treasure was MiniFood!

How sweet :)

have a great day. more twitting tomorrow.

Twilight Fever

2011-10-31T10:01:00.002Z

And here i am, in the splendour of my twilight fever…

Have a great party everyone!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-30T00:09:00.001+01:00

Happy Halloween!

My dearest, I hope you'll have a great Halloween!

Here little baby bunny wants to say hello and show you his halloween costume!

Bho! Halloween Portraits I, 1 1/4 x 1 inches, Watercolor

ohh he is so cute!

Well this year I'm embodying a vampire from the Cullen Family!!!

I know, I know, I just could not resist it!

Shall post some pics of our party

much love my dearest!

x bho! x

Autumn is here!

2011-10-27T00:24:00.001+01:00

Hello my sweeties,

Hope you are enjoying the autumn!

Days are getting shorter, the air feels colder and the leaves are turning yellow, red and orange! yay! That's the best bit.

I love autumn and all of the things that it brings. Bright orange pumpkins, comforting spiced hot drinks, chestnuts on the fire, and lots and lots of evenings in!

Now that I can't be outdoors (i don't like the cold) I know i shall indoors, busy painting lots.

I have a new friend here, mr Raccoon Cute.

Cute Racoon, 3x2 inches, Watercolor

He found some crunchy orange leaves and he made a autumn pillow for him to sleep on!

I love him already.

much love!

Family Portraits

2011-10-25T00:02:00.002+01:00

Hello my sweeties!

How are you? I hope excellent!

I have some new friends to present to you:

Family Portraits I: Granpa, 1 1/4 x 1 inches, Watercolor

Here is Bunny Granpa and here

Family Portraits I: Mummy & Baby, 1 1/4 x 1 inches, Watercolor

is Mummy & Baby Bunny.

Aren't they sweet?

I just love them so much!

Wedding Memories

2011-10-17T23:48:00.008+01:00

Hello my Darlings!

I hope you are wonderfully well!

I'm very well, had the most gorgeous time in my fairytale wedding in Italy this summer and our lovely honeymoon in Croatia…

We got married in the charming village of Cison di Valmarino, famous for it's wonderful views over the vines and the pre-alpes. Amazing...

Photography by Filippo Fontanive

I had the most gorgeous handmade wedding dress, made by my good friend Valery. It was made of pure silk, with a layer of georgette on the top that made it look really romantic and late Jane Austen style.

Photography by Filippo Fontanive

The corset was also silk, embodied (by myself non the less!) with real 'freshwater potato pearls' (what a quirky gorgeous name uh?! so…me.)

My bouquet was composed of ivory roses, (vendella roses), and it had leaves of ivy. I also had roses in my hair under the veil. The veil also had embroided freshwater pearls on top of the clip, that brought extra light to my hair. It looked so so pretty!

Photography by Filippo Fontanive

We had drinks and photograps taken at the local water mill, a truly wonderful magical place. We enjoyed every minute of it even though it was 38* degrees!

Photography by Filippo Fontanive

These are just some of the wonderful pictures that our friend Filippo has take from us. I have no word to describe them other then wonderful! Filippo is such a talented photographer, i do recommend him if you are getting married somewhere in the north of Italy like me! This is Filippo's web site: FilippoFontanive.com

Upon our return to the uk we had another wonderful wedding celebration with family and friends who did not make it to Italy. Again we were blessed with glorious sunshine and we had really lovely time…

I'll post a few more pics soon.

Much love

Giulia x

Closed for Wedding!

2011-08-19T08:45:00.004+01:00

Dear my lovelies,

I'm delighted to announce that on 22nd August 2011 I'm getting married!

I'm therefore closing the store and the blog until the middle of September.
Sending much love and best wishes for a fantastic summer.

Giulia

x

My wedding designs...

2011-06-17T11:56:00.007+01:00

Hello my darlings,

This is what I have been up to the last few weeks.

I've been designing my very own wedding invitations!

I cannot believe how cute they are!

I've chosen to paint a seaside them because Jason and I met on a turtle holiday in Greece.

Sea Turtles 3'x2' as the main theme and

Starfish 3'x3' for the small details in the invitation

The invitation is composed of an invitation card with pocket, wedding celebration card, RSVP cards for our ceremony in Italy and our celebration in the UK, wedding Day Plan & wedding web site. I've printed them on recycled white card and wrap them in recycled brown kraft envelopes. I also put a little ribbon on the card and decorated them with glitter for extra cuteness.

So nice!

I'm back with more boxes...

2011-06-16T19:01:00.008+01:00

Hello my sweet hearts,

How are you all?! Oh my goodness I cannot believe that my last post was back at Easter!

So much has happened since then but I hadn't had the change to update the blog at all. So I apologise for that my little darlings!

So I start today by posting a few pictures of one of the latest Paper Mache' I've been working on. This is a wedding memory box for Ellen & Steve:

The burgundy and Ivory matches the colours that they have chosen for their wedding.

So, I've painted two love doves on the front, with an horse shoe, and their names on a victorian banner, and sparkles and pearl details all over…

So gorgeous! I love it!

The box is burgundy on the outside of the box and inside is ivory.

There is also a 'Best Wishes' heart at the bottom of the box, which i find so sweet.

I'm totally going to make one of these for my wedding memories too!

More coming up very soon. Stay tuned!

Lots of love

Giulia

It's Easter!

2011-04-24T14:30:00.001+01:00

Happy Easter my sweethearts!

I trust you are having great fun with your family & friends, enjoying all of the lovely meals and little Easter Treats this day has to offer.

Little Blue Birdie also wanted to wish you a very Good Easter!

Little Easter Birdie 2.5"x 3" watercolour

Today Jason and I are celebrating Easter with a lovely veggie barbecue (my favourite!) and a Easter Hunt…

Love to you all

Giulia

How about a little mystery?

2011-04-20T09:49:00.000+01:00

Surprise Owl 2.5" x 3" water-colour

Just saying hello

2011-04-18T09:34:00.000+01:00

Little blue birdie just popped by the blog to say hello to you all!

"Hi" Little Blue Birdie 2.5" x 3" water-colour

And to wish you a gorgeous Monday!

Easter Owl

2011-04-17T09:23:00.004+01:00

Hi ya!

I hope you are having a lovely week end.

Here in England is sunny and spring like, absolutely gorgeous.

I'm so very pleased with my new little easter friend that has join my little cute owl family!

Here it is in all of his cuteness:

Easter Owl 8"x 9" watercolour

Have a lovely Easter week

love

Giulia

Little blue birdie

2011-04-15T15:10:00.002+01:00

Hello my sweeties

I hope you are all well! I have a new cutie to share today...

Little Blue Birdie 2.5" x 3" water-colour

I just adore her!

Days in Surrey have been absolutely gorgeous for the last two weeks. 20°+, awesome! I spent all of my spare time outdoors in the garden and with Twist. Jason has put up a beautiful greenhouse and I'm very excited about all of the things we will grow in it…

The last two days have been a little chilli again, so, that's why I'm now indoors doing my homework...

Teddy Bear Sweetheart Writing Set

2011-03-30T22:43:00.005+01:00

Hello my dearest Sweethearts!

I have something for you today, a very very special cutie...

brand new pink writing set for girls of all ages out there!

Sprinkled with fairy dust for extra girlyness…

and as usual, printed on recycled paper and packaged in bio bags because we love the environment!!!

Hooray for teddy sweethearts!!!

An Easter Cutie

2011-03-21T20:52:00.000Z

Easter Owl 2"x 2" Watercolour

My new baby...

2011-03-20T20:41:00.001Z

I love her so much! She is a cutie!

Best Friend 2"x 2" Watercolour

Promise

2011-03-19T20:43:00.001Z

Sweet...

the promise 2"x 2" watercolour

Love Message

2011-03-18T20:49:00.000Z

Message in a Bottle 2"x 2" Watercolour

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you

2011-03-17T18:49:00.000Z

Have a lovely day…

and be lucky!

Hare St. Patrick has left some gifts for us!

Hooray!

Tales of a Puppy

2011-03-16T18:17:00.000Z

Once upon a time there was a puppy named Twist

who dig 6 massive holes in the garden

with her friend Lily….

Then spend the next 2 days resting and sleeping…

It was a sunny day in March...

2011-03-13T17:53:00.010Z

Hello my darlings!

How are you all? I hope great! Here in the South east has been gorgeous these last few days.

I spent most of yesterday in the garden, potting out primroses, tet e tete daffodils, and all of the lovely bulbs, roots and seeds I was telling you about here.

I have great plans for our garden. It's so very over grown every where, has been let go for years and years.

Now it's time to bring it back to life! Yesterday I started to clear our the compost area, which was awful! Full of all sorts of rubbish that people have just left there and through in from the road. I even found bits of old carpet, a smashed window and an exhaust! How is that possible?!

Also we are planning to build a fence so that our little doggy won't escape into the woods or the road. We would really like to make a natural coppice fence but my expert Mr Jason is telling e that there aren't quite enough hazel trees to do that right now, so we might have to content ourselves with a 'normal' fence…what a shame.

Yesterday I also received the most lovely surprise, a letter from my dear old friend Martina.

She sent a lovely letter with Woman's Day wishes, a twig of Acacia dealbata (the traditional Italian Woman's Day Flower) and a homemade biscuit!!!

So sweet!

I was the perfect day…!

I also up in the moon for the latest and most beautiful found from the local charity shop,

this gorgeous wooden box with KEY! Yes! I'm madly in love with keys, as you know.

And I've been wanting a box to put my diaries in since I was a little girl! Yes, another dreams comes a reality.

I cannot believe how organised I'm becoming. I already have all of the birthday presents sorted for the next few months! How cool is that? I usually get really stressed out with presents. Getting the right thing is not always easy and I also have to make sure I have the gift with plenty of time so I can post it to my family and friends abroad.

I'm very impressed with myself. Becoming more organised it was one of my new years resolutions, and I was really hoping I would stick to it.

One of the gifts I was so very pleased about was this little cutie.

I embroidered this baby bib for my best friend Elena's baby, Angelo.

I really like to make gifts, handmade gifts are certainly the best ones.

I've been working on some new mini totes for my spring summer collection and I'm hoping to share them with you very soon… I'm just so thrilled with them!

In the meantime, is got really damp and cold, and I'm going to spend the rest of the evening by the fire with Twist, a warming mulled berry punch and some pancakes for my tea.

with love

Pancakes + Art in March

2011-03-09T10:09:00.011Z

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

I hope you are all having a great week so far!

Here in South East Britain has been absolutely glorious.

Sunshine and a real feeling of Spring in the air!

Yesterday it was Pancake's day and for the first time, they came out just as I wanted them.

Small but thick American style pancakes. Delicious!!!

We had some with agave syrup & lemon, caster sugar & lemon, agave syrup and caramel, agave syrup and caster sugar, basically all of the possible combinations!!!

The recipe was so good, that I want to share it with all of you.

So, real simple. In my recipe book this is supposed to make 12. but it only make 5 realy thick ones, which I think is much much better!!!

1 cup of milk

1 1/2 cup of plain flour

2 tbsp baking powder

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp oil

1 egg

pinch of salt

Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl, the mix will be quite thick. I really don't bother with mixing the eggs or sugar first… just mix all together it's easier and quicker and is all the same anyway…!

Put some rice bran oil (the best to be used on high temperatures) on your heavy bottom pan then place the equivalent of a ladle full of mixture into the hot pan and wait around 30 seconds before turning. (Heat around mark 3-4)

I kept the ready pancakes in the oven at 100'c to keep cozy until the other ones where ready to eat!!!

Enjoy my darlings!

Also today…

I can finally share my New Vintage Series!

A series of pet portrait of my favourite handmade characters!

Mousier Hedgehog

(from my hedgehog series you all know)

The Postman Owl

(from it's raining love)

Narwhal the sweetheart

and...

a new friend too…

which does not have a name just yet.

Anyway, you will be seeing this originals up for sale in the shop soon!

for now,

have a wonderful day and see you soon

xxx

hugs x kisses

New Hedgehog Writing Sets

2011-02-20T20:31:00.012Z

Hello my sweeties,
hope you had a smashing week end...

I was working this week end but I enjoyed the evening at home by the fire. Here it's still cold enought to have a fire and keep cozy indoors!
Last week we went to see Black Swan

and since I love Tchaikovsky and the swan Lake I really enjoyed it.
It was very very dark, more then I imagined it to be and I did have bad dreams for 3 nights in a row! But it was good. I appreciated the beautiful choreography, costumes and music so very much.

In the last week I've been working on these writing sets which can now be found in my shop.

"Just to say..." set

"Hedgehog love"

"Thank you for..." set

"Across the miles" set

These lovelies are printed on recycled paper and come with bright red cherry envelopes.
The sets are wrapped up with biodagradable packaging and shipped anywhere in the world for free!

xxx

Love

A window into the spring

2011-02-06T18:20:00.009Z

Hello everybody,

I hope you are all well.

I'm enjoying these February days; the evenings are getting longer and they are giving me more time to spend outside, running, walking and gardening...

We have redone one of the beds and filled it with snowdrops, which looks beautiful!

Yesterday I also bought some new cottage garden bulbs and seeds, to plant in the spring. I got Lily of the Valley, Allium (purple) Echinacea (white and magenta) Gypsophila (baby's breath), Chamomile, Forget me not, Harebell, Butterfly Bush, Ageratum & Alyssum... All of my favourites! I cannot wait to see what this bed will look like in the summer!

Not so bare, that's for sure!

I've been working on some new illustrations, (although I have to say, not so much as I would like!) but a little is better then nothing at least.

Here they are some new very pretty designs of Spring Owls. I love owls! The other day as I was coming back from work in the car I saw a beautiful white owl flying just in front of the car about 3 meters in the air. It was amazing!

And this new easel you see it's not just an easel...

da - da!

It's the coolest case ever!!! So, so clever!

I only got it the other day from a charity shop for only £4 and it's brand new!!! How lucky is that! The same day I also found this new Calligraphy set that works just like a pen, and it's so quick to use, not involving getting your fingers black with ink and best of all, you can take it anywhere you like!!!

Finally I'll be able to write my journal using proper calligraphy!

I'm so happy!!!

I also started a new painting, and this one is going to be a very magical one, for our bedroom.

With a very old tree in first ground that has a magical passage door! and the sun rising at the back on the misty forest. I'm really just at the first stage now, but I'm hoping to have it done by the spring.

And... there is more.

Here, my latest dvd: North & South.

I found it on amazon while looking for romantic movies, and it had great reviews and 5 stars.

Well, I had to try it. I have been trying to savour it, because there are only 4 episodes, but I can tell you, it has been so difficult. Once you watch one, you just have to see the following one as well! From the second episode onwards you will absolutely love Mr Thornton, and on the very last episode, especially the last 15 min. you will be madly in love with him! So I also rate this dvd with ***** and recommended it to all!

Have a good one,

Love

Giulia

The four months update in a post...

2010-12-13T21:04:00.032Z

Here I am. Finally!

Where does time goes?! I've been trying to write for ages, but life seems to get in the way.

It's almost midnight, but I cannot possibly postpone this update any longer!

This was going to be the tree months update but it is now become the four months update...!
hilarius.

I guess you won't get bored because it will take a little while to read it all!!!Lets's work backwards shall we?

Right.

First and foremost, Happy New Year to you all my darlings!

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season break!

We had some lovely Christmas time this year. I really enjoyed all of the Christmas decorations, which we had up since the fist week end in December (!)

Here is a picture of the tree and our presents! They are so many I can't even get to the tree...
This year I made my very own first Christmas Wreath:

I'm so pleased! I bought the base from the garden centre and then added dried orage slices made by my mum, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, frosted berries, a ribbon and a bell. I'm definately making another one next year!

I really enjoyed the build up to Christmas this year.
Christmas carols in the morning when you wake up, christmas hats and socks, red pj's, the delights of the season such as 'pandoro', homemade mince pies, mulled wine, hot chocolate and spicy christmas teas... and... my very own new seasonal recipe:
festive apples.
You've got to try these, they are so tasty and great pudding when family + friends are around. also, so simple and recipe can be aggiusted to your taste very easily.

Giulia's Festive Apples

Apples (pealed and with applecore removed)
puff pastry
1 tsp of caster sugar
1 tsp of agave/marple syrup
pinch of cinnamon

So now you have your pealed apples, strech the puff pastry around them, put the agave syrup inside and sprinkle the cinnamon on top. Wrap the pastry around the apples, and seal with drop of milk. Spinkle with caster sugar, off in the oven at 180° for 20 min.
Serve hot with custard cream (optional but warmly recommended!)

I've created some pretty new illustration this season and they have been so popular,

I'm so happy about them. I shall definitely bring them out again next. Here some of my new friends:

Miss Tree Fairy
Looking very pretty with her tree-shaped cocktail dress and festive holly in her hair...
Mr. Christmas Pudding
Looking all tasty with icing on the top...

Miss Mistletoe Fairy
Showing off her Butterfly Fairy Wings

And my favorites...
The Smiling Trees! One has a star on the top, one an angel and one a fairy.

Just before Christmas we had two amazing snowfalls. The landscape was totally transformed, so so beautiful. It really brought the Christmas spirit to life.

Twist also enjoyed playing in the snow, she chase it and eats it... she is so funny to watch!

We spent Christmas at Jason's parents house with all the family. There is always a wonderful Christmas atmosphere and it's so easy to get into the Christmas spirit.

Althought this is what happen to me on Christmas Eve!

I was so tired from the very intese working month that I completely collapsed by the fireplace.
But this is so great about holidays, you can sleep lots and lots and recuparate the energy and relax, not having to worry about anything at all!!!

After a wonderful night sleep, We woke up to find that Santa did leave lots of presents for us!

I was so pleased with all my pressies.

I received a lovely Mirrow for the bedroom, one mirror for the lounge to go on top of the fireplace, a large set of handamde candles, a handmade chopping boad (personalized with my name!), cosy socks, a hamper, cookies, herbal teas, the inception dvd, the gladiator sundtrack cd, the wayne's world soundtrack cd, cool t's, and more. So lucky!

When we got home we cracked on with some decoating in the fireplace half in the lounge and we put the new mirror up! it look so lovely!!! (the half was grey before).

We are going to paint the rest of the walls in cotton white like we did in the bedroom. Is going to look so nice... I shall keep you posted with more pics.

Back in November I celebrated my Birthday, on the 11th.

The event I look forward to every year... I had a party here in the Uk with Jason's family, then I went to italy and had another party there with my family and friends! What a lucky girl...

This is a picture I took at my sister in law's. She put up color lights and made a sign for me (it's on the mirrow - can you see it? This picture is a bit dark, sorry)

The Autumn was so beautiful here in Surrey, we had a wonderful specticals of leafes and fairy mushrooms and lots of frosty and sunny mornings.

Walks were so nice.

At home we celebrated Halloween, of course!

And we had lovely treats too:

These are choc. apples!

right... I have a few more pictures to add, such as the christmas stall, snow pics, georgia's finished boxes and more but I will do so in the morning, now it's time for sleepy sleeps! better go to sleep before befana finds me still awake!!!

See you very soon,

love Giulia

December...

I'm Still alive and kicking!

2010-12-10T14:36:00.006Z

Hello my dearest darlings...
how are you all!
I am still here, alive and kicking!!!

These have been 3 crazy months for me, and I really haven't had any time for my self or my blog. So I do apologize for the much delay of this post!

I have so many nice pics and new artwork to share, and I'm hoping to do so in the next few days and update the blog with all that you've been missing such as:
our new house, decorating progress, halloween parties, my trip to italy, the xmas fair, the snow in England, and lots of very cute NEW artwork.

I cannot belive that it is almost Christmas.
I'm so excited about this time of the year so I'm offering a extra 5% discount voucher (as well as free shipping!!!) for all of my customers who will shop in my store this Dicember.

The voucher is then valid until the Christmas cheer is all nicely wrapped away for next year by the Tree Wise Men at the end of the 5th of January (at Midnight).

So be sure to make your purchases before then!
Sending all my love and warmest hugs and wishes
to all of you,
a big fat kissy kiss kiss.
X

Images you can share!

2010-11-16T00:05:00.006Z

Hello sweethearts!

I have created these images for you to grab and share!

aren't they cute?

code:

<div align="center"><a href="http://giuliamauri.blogspot.com" title="Giulia Mauri"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JPO76EMdr8/TsMGTp3odAI/AAAAAAAAC9w/Ju_4F65h9Ig/s320/IllustrationButton2-150.jpg" alt="Giulia Mauri" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

code:

<div align="center"><a href="http://giuliamauri.blogspot.com" title="Giulia Mauri's Blog"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D_Tw1mr-EqY/TsMCZlEngwI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/c2qJBF6v-Ek/s1600/IllustrationButton150.jpg" alt="Giulia Mauri's Blog" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Please do feel free to grab them!

Much love,

Giulia

I'm Moving!

2010-10-06T22:16:00.002+01:00

Hello my darlings!
I have a very exciting news. We have moved out of our apartament and into a cute detached victorian lodge house. I'm so Happy. This is all so exciting!
I will post pictures soon.
love
Giulia

Paint at Breakfast, Paint at Noon

2010-09-15T22:01:00.009+01:00

Yes.

I'm the sort of person that will put the bush before the spoon. Absolutely. Painting is the most importat thing in my life.
But I'm addicted to multitask, and I love eating while painting.
More then anything, I get hungry. Really hungry. I starve!!!

Quick, feed the artist! New artwork is on demand!
I've been working on these pieces at breakfast.

My favorite one is the angel.

I love the light behind the angel. It's so very magical.
I cannot wait to print some cards!
I also almost completed Georgia's boxes, and they are the cutes little things!!! Very pretty and sparkly...

Memorabilia Boxes Custom Order

2010-09-06T09:00:00.011+01:00

Hello People!
Look look, I'm so excited about how these Memory boxes for Georgia are coming along so beautifully:

I painted them soft pastel yellow and girly pastel pink. So adorable.
I'm still thinking of how I'm going to make the measuring meter for Georgia high record. mmmh... mumble mumble... thinking, thinking...

I was so pleased with Georgia's boxes that I decided to start the Order Boxes's Project, finally!

I've been wanting to make them in ages. The ones I'm currently using are just not big enough.
I'm still not sure if the should be plain, or if I should be painting unicorns on tem... I guess It will just happen the way it supposed to happen right? Anyway, for now I just approched the smalles of the boxes (Gift Tags Box) with a pretty design of a banner across the top like so:

I'm thinking it will propably hold one of my favorite quotes on it. I don't really want to write "gift tags" on it in case I change my mind regarding the use of the box; better to leave things open to future developments...

I have to say, I have been very good with my Morning pages lately, sometimes I even make time for evening pages!

Althought poor little Twisty Dog cannot understand why we have to sit in the field for an hour sitting around doing nothing.

She holds the ball, drops it on my diary, and when I say: "No, it's finished Twist", she twists her head like: "What did you say?! Balls game never finishes!!!"
That's the collie in her...

I like to take my trainers off and walk in the green grass, until the weather allows it.

The other day I went in the opposite field to write and watch the sun going down. It was really beautiful. But it gets quite chilli in the evenings.

I always give Twist a run around the field before we go, and the other day we found all of these angel feathers! So lucky! Now their new home will be inside inside the diary.

xxx

Morning Pages

2010-08-31T10:50:00.009+01:00

This morning is misty and fresh.
Inspiration is pouring out as I speak and I almost can't keep up with it.

Perfect mood to update blog! I love this. Realize I need to catch up with all the lastest!
These are the new window flowers for the season. I'm so delighted with them. aren't they gorgeous?

I feel that soon there will be an explosion of color and more and more flowers will blossom.

The most exciting recent event was our 7th Anniversary on the 16th which we have celebrated with gorgous meal (Jason made me my favorite, pizza!) Sweet sparkling wine, cinema (Inception - incredible) cards and presents... Lots of them!

Jason always wrappes them in the most beautiful and expensive wrapping paper and ribbons, which makes the opening presents experience even more amazing! I received the Woodstock Chime, It's so enchanting and magical. I have it right on the window and occasionally the breeze moves it gently and creates the sweetest sound that was ever heard...
I also received The Artist Way by Julia Cameron:

And with a great birth name like mine, it had to be a great book. Right?! (giggles)
And it is, indeed. I'm just at page 12 of The Artist Way and I'm estatic! What a fantastic start.
I have already learned so much about why sometimes as an artist I feel blocked in the creative process. The solution as come right away to my rescue: Morning Pages! Basically a daily morning diary to write down anything on my mind and get it all out before I start my creative day in the studio. Great idea. The rule is, not to read the Morning Pages before 3 months time and always write everything that is bothering me. I'm up for this! Bring it on!
I recently discovered my old green diary on the book shelf and realized that has been ages since I last wrote on it. So I decided to start again, and this time use it as a morning pages keepsake.

Now I'm even more excited to meet Julia Cameron and to get my book signed.
Now, I have more to write but I must get on with some things. Jason's Birthday is in 2 days time and I have lots to plan and prepare for.

Until the next time,
here is a kiss
x

Bits of This, Bits of That...

2010-08-26T21:55:00.006+01:00

Hello Everybody,

It's the end of the day and I'm putting my feet up to watch BBC's Grumpy Old Men on the telly with a cup of tea and my laptop. I love Grumpy Old Men and Grumpy Old Women! They just say what everyone else really things and does not have the courage to say!!!

Looking back in my blog I realized I had not posted any pictures about the latest Flower show!
So here they are, just a few of them, taken in the 5 minutes of sunshine that we had!!!

That day I took a decision.
I'm never, ever, going to do a show in August ever again (in England). It's just not worth it really. It was basically windy and raining the whole time, and it was a nightmare trying to keep things dry. What a shame. I like having a stall and meet lots of people, but I don't like getting cold in the rain waiting for people to turn up!

I have a couple of days off now and I can't wait! I have so many things I want to catch up with. I had a commission for some keepsake boxes for a little girl named Georgia. I know that I'm going to have fun with this! I have already designed them and Now I'm at the painting stage. Will post some pictures for sure. Then, I' going to decorate our window sill with purple pansies which I got yesterday. I can't wait, is going to look wonderful!
Saturday we are celebrating Jason's birthday and I can't wait to see all my in-laws again. It's a shame we only staying for one day really because the best part is really the sleep over. I like to have chats with my sister in law and we always end up to stay up late and watch some scary movie!!! it's good fun!

Until Tomorrow,
Giulia

Custom Works

2010-08-25T22:57:00.000+01:00

Just a short note to let you know that I'm now taking Bookings and Commissions for custom paintings and illustrations!!!
Yay!

You can email your request at info@giuliamauri.com

xxx

Tales from the New Forest

2010-08-22T22:02:00.014+01:00

Hello dearest creatures of the forest!

I hope you are all well.
Goodness me, can you belive that is already the end of August?! This year is going so fast indeed!

Nice to be back in the studio and catch up with messages, emails, orders, and more.
It's so nice to get away for a little while, but is always nice to come back to Studio Sweet Studio!

A little bit of a epilogue of the week:
We had a lovely mini-break in the New Forest, to celebrate our 7th Anniversary. And what a delightful village we stumbled upon; Lyndhurst. There are so very adorable retro stores which really takes you back in time.

There was a colorful sweets shop, just like the old days.
I love the jars and bags filled with treats. Unfortunately most of them have gelatin and gluten yuk! so I didn't buy them. But there was a rack filled wih Vegetarian Treats too!!! So we go some of those instead, even if they weren't in pretty jars and stripy paper bags. The cola bottles were particularly sticky... I would not attempt to bite them if I were you...!

And there was a lovely retro gift store with soaps, creams, signs, boxes and all good things, so i took the opportunity to buy some Christmas presents for me and others.

Of course we could not miss the opportunity to eat real on the cone ice-creams an they had flavors like raspberry ripple and toffee crunch! Yum!

We had lovely pic nics in the National Park and soon we found ourselves surrounded by ponies and horses! They are so beautiful and inspiring creatures. I got lots of pretty pictures that I will use as model for my unicorn paintings.

Twist was really good with them and didn't bark at them at all!

After that we went to the beach, and although the weather was cloudy and windy the water was really warm, so Twist had a lot of fun swimming and retrieving the ball in the sea.

Afterwards we visited Exbury Gardens and the Steam Railway. It was the first time for Twist on a Train. She was fine! curled down on the floar and enjoyed the ride.

and surprise surprise...

We even met Judy Dench! She was sitting just in front of us!
What a lovely lady she is. And there was her friend Maggie Smith too! Wow. All of a sudden it felt like we were on a movie...

We end the day in the National Park with chinese take away,
watching the sun going down.

I cannot wait for my next mini break...

New Bags in Store!

2010-08-22T21:37:00.003+01:00

Hello my dears!
Just a short post today to let everybody know that there is a new bag design in the store:

featuring the illustration:

Is Raining Love

Welcome to Fairy Land

2010-08-04T00:09:00.009+01:00

Hello my darlings, how are you all?!
I'm so excited to be writing to you on the road.We are really having the best time in Lincolnshire with my Brother and Sister in Law.

Yesterday we went to Sandringham House in Suffolk, the which is the Queen's Winder residence. Oh raah, very posh...!

We explored outdoors grounds of the palace (can't go indoors with our delightful 4 legged friends) and we had a pic nick in the woods.

We have even found a fairy passage to a secret garden!

Twist and Lyric are getting along so well togehter far beyond what we had expected. As you can see they walk along fine, side by side! Finally all those dog classes are paying off!!!

Then we head on to the beach! And we are were all SO excited because Twist has never seen the sea before. What an adorable puppy! She loveed it. Jumping, running, playing, chasing & rolling... So sweet.

Hooray for the Beach!

x Giulia x

A few Happy Notes before the holidays

2010-07-29T23:13:00.010+01:00

Hello my darlings, how are you all?

I'm so very happy today.

First of all, I'm so excited about my new collection of Hedgehog Cards:

Which, I'm happy to say, will be in the store shortly!

Second, today we are going away on Holiday for a few days. Yay! We will be seing Mum and Dad, Nan, and also my sister and brother in law and their little doggy... we are going up north!!! I think will be cooler up there so I'm packing my bag with jumpers and big socks, wellies too because it looks like rain. We will be going to doggy classes on wed with Lyric! yay! Twist is going to have so much fun with her new northdeners friends!!! I hope she understands their accents...

I shall definately be cheking emails and convos, (can't sleep otherwise) but won't be posting any packages because we'll be on the road! All orders will be posted on my return on Satuday the 7th August.

Third but not last - I'm also so so thrilled: I got tickets for the I Can Do It 2010! Conference in London on September the 24th-25th-26th!!! I missed it last year but this year I'm going, and is going to be... incredible!!!

I'm going to be seeing my living idle Doreen Virtue!
Can you believe that? I have a great deal of books for her o sign!!! yay!
also I will be seeing Luise L. Hay, Julia Cameron (The Artist Way), James Ratfield (Best Seller Authur of The Celestine Prophecy) and the sweetest coach Cheryl Richardson ( I love her!!!)

I also hope to have a glance of Wayne Dyer, Robert Holden and Colette Barron Reid. It will be amazing!!! Would be so nice to hang around with some friends from the Hay House & 4AngelTherapy community too.

Sending love and special holiday wishes to you all,
Giulia

Butterfly Festival

2010-07-27T11:45:00.007+01:00

Hello There,
how are you all? I hope really well, thank you for tuning in!
it has been a truly wonderful week end at The Butterfly Festival!

Jason's gazebo looked absolutely stunning as so did all my new illustrations,

cards, bags,

notepads, paintings, and boxes! So very exciting...
Twist was with me all the time during the day and she has been a real angel. Resting in the shade and keeping me company... ohh what a pup!

Now I very much look forward to my next show at the Flower Show and Summer Fair, Saturday 14th August in the charming Oakwood Hill Village. (RH5 5PU) Come and see me!!!

I have sold out of many items in the store but i will do a big update before i go on holiay on Friday. I will keep you posted!!!
Until then...
goodbye,
Giulia

Special Surprise and New Hedgehog Paintings

2010-07-22T17:15:00.009+01:00

Hello Hello...

just so excited tonight to share a few pics of my day.
This morning I woke up to a wonderful surprise. Jason has completed the gazebo for Saturday!

It's awesome!!! Twist likes it too...!
And...

I completed my small hedgehog paintings today, they are so cute... I love them so much.

Hedgehog on the phone...Hedgehog going to a party...

Hedgehog in LOVE (me).

x

Have a wonderful goodnight sleep,
See you soon.
Giulia

Taking a little break...

2010-07-21T22:16:00.006+01:00

Hello my darlings,
How are you? I hope very well. I'm back writing in the blog again today, after another gentle angel nodge... hi hi...
I drawn a card from my angel deck this morning and it said Creative Writing:

Funny thing is that Doreen has drawn the exact same card today! How amazing.
You can see her reading here. So I decided I cannot put off my writing anymore, nor delay my blogging, no sir...

I started off the day with my walk with Twist as usual. I snapped this pic, I thought it was so cute.

The weather has been so fine and warm. We have been enjoying walking in the woods before breakfast. At the end of the walk Twist knows she is going to be fed and she rushes around, does not want to play with the ball no more, and she tries to get home as soon as she can...!
She is so funny, reminds me of simple pleasure in life. Playing, sleeping, eating.

I took take the evening off from shop-work: printing, cutting, glittering, packaging etc etc. for orders and summer festivals. Tonight there was my favorite show on the Hay House Radio, Angel Theraphy so I really didn't want to miss it! While listening I got drawing again, so nice, I missed it!
So here they are, my sweet little woodland creatures! That are going to be part of a new series of cards in just a few week available in the store.

so so cute... I cannot wait to fill the page with a spash of color...

Goodnight
time for dreaming now.
love
miss g x

Working on...

2010-07-19T10:27:00.011+01:00

Hello to you all!
Thank you for tuning in!
Oh my gosh, it has been so long since I last posted news in the blog. So there is much to say!!!
The Butterfly Festival is just around the corner and I've been working lots in the studio making lots of eco goodies to be sold there.

Lots of writing sets

Lots of cards

Lots of notelets

lots of notepads, eco friendly bags, original paintings and box paintings etc.

I'm so excited!
The Butterfly Festival has kept Jason very busy too. As a matter of fact Jason is building me a unique + handmade + eco friendly + totally cool gazebo.
It's absolutely amazing.

The other day I went to his outdoor studio to take some working in progress snaps to share with you guys:

Now the structure is up and we are impatiently waiting for the white-cream unbleached cotton tend cover to arrive!!!

While printing cards I'm also designing a few more very sweet charachters, meet my new animal friends: tiger and panda!!!
Aren't they cute. Tiger also likes to wear angel wings once in a while.

I hope to see you at the Buttefrly Festival this week end!

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th
from 11am to 5.30pm

@

Juniper Hall,
Old London Road,
Mickleham,
Dorking,
RH5 6DA
Surrey,
(England)

And see you next Monday the week end update and pictures!

x

Giulia

Giulia's weekly tale

2010-06-15T21:52:00.017+01:00

Hello my friends, how are you all?
I'm well, and since it has been a while since my last post, I have much to tell...

My parents came to visit us at the end of May, it has been such a joy to see them! We had lovely time together, one day we also visited Clandons House, a palladian style country house that is full of antiques delights, gardens and views. I loved it. Infact I felt a little bit like Elizabeth Bennet...!

Also, last week I got a totally different haircut. It looks really pretty! I'm so very delighted with it. I haven't had a fringe since I was 12 so it's all really exciting for me. So as you see, in this pic I have been painting a little.

remember the dear cutie unicorn?!

I have decided the colors, and I switched from bright green to pastel green, which looks definately much better.

I also painted the saddle and the reins hot pink... so girly. For her hair i decided to go with yellow gold. I am far from finished with this painting, so I shall keep you posted on future updates.

So now it is ufficial, I will be at the Butterfly Festival like two years ago. Remember?
I'm so looking forward to it. It's on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of July. Be there.

On Friday and Saturday we have been to see Jason's parents and to celebrate Father's day. We begun our day visiting the Garden Centre, were they had displayed some gorgeous roses.

We also went to the pet shop and bought a some very smelly fishy treats for her to cheer her up. Poor little baby, she has a cut on her paw pad and she could not come with us. After those treats she felt like she needed a drink!

Then we prepared for the barbeque, and I had veg sausages peanuts veg burghers, avocado, potatoes, onions. yum yum. so tasty. we also had the strawberries and cream that nan prepared. yum.

After a nice walk, pressie and bird watching the camera nest in the garden, currently hosting a couple of Great Tits and their 7 babies, (so cute), there was the football.

So Ang and I decided to remain the in the peaceful garden with Twist and play Monopoli! I love Monopoli and I can't never find anyone to play with me! So I was so happy. The first part of the game it was really good and I won a lot of money and go out of jail cards, but then towards the second half of the game i lost everything! I was totally bancurupt. Thank god it isn't a game with real money!
Very exciting: a new treasure box has come to life, magic woodland fairy box is here!

It's so very pretty, with dots, sparkles, quotes, pearly dops, hearts, cuties.

Should be up in the shop by morning. (I'll link the link)
Time to go to bed and dream of faries. Lots of love and see you soon.
Giulia x

Latest Features

2010-06-09T20:42:00.008+01:00

Hello my darlings,
thank you for tuning in today.
It feels very nice to be back in the studio, sit at my desk and catch up with paintings, emails,
enquiries and orders. I was so pleased also to find my work featured on Etsy this week,

Here the cute Message in a Bottle:

Here the Lavender Floral Writing Set:

And my fairy illustrated cards:

Such a good start of the week!
I'm working on quite a few project right now, of pretty things which will be lauched in the next few weeks and of course, at the Butterfly Festival this July!
I'm so excited I can bearly sleep at night.

So speak to you soon
until then, have a lovely day,
Giulia

Updates on me... I'm still alive!

2010-05-26T22:26:00.001+01:00

Hello sweetie pies,
how are you all? I hope very well.
I have not been so healthy in the last three days unfortunately, I've gone down with a nasty cold.
I can't belive this, the first cold in months... But I have to admit that I have been neglecting my neti pot routine for quite a while now. But since now I'm ill, I'm started again, every morning and every evening. yak! But it sure helps... a small sacrifice for the highest good! I really don't like colds!!!
All my flat mates got this cold it about two weeks ago and Jason got it on Friday.
So I really thought I got away with it!
I woke up Sunday morning tiny bit of headache, tiny bit of stomachache, but didn't really think much of it, carried on with my life... But came seven o'clock in the evening, and I could merely stand up on my feet! On Monday morning when I tryed to say "Goodomorning" to Jason and noticed that I didn't have any voice left, I start to be really worried... I really don't want a throat infection right now!!! I had this terrible feeling, so I booked an appointment with my GP to get it all checked out and started my fighting back cure like last year, eating garlic, manuka honey, sage tea, goji berries, lavender oil, banana and fresh ginger smoothie, sea salt baths, drinking lots and lots, and sleep lots and lots. Luckily, the doctor said that I have just a viral infection and I won't need any antibiotics. Thank God! I hate antibiotics. Especially after all my efforts to rebuilt my immune system since last year! It does literally take months to rebuilt because antibiotics kill everything.

Anyway, such is life hey?!
As I'm stuck indoors, I thought I might be able to paint at least. But no... when ever I try to stand up, I get vertigo and stomachaches, So I just stayed in bed all the time, trying to watch fantasy movies such as The Princess Bride (amazing!!!) and Labyrinth, inevitably falling asleep half way through!!! I have some lovely books to read but I really can't focus much on anything right now.

Since I have to stay indoors and rest to get better I thought I might be able to complete the Unicorn painting that I started last week,

It's already so beautiful... But I just felt to tired for that.
So a admired paintings that are hanging the room. Looking at them has given me so much happiness: They are so pretty, magical and relaxing!

Especially, the Little Unicorn Princess painting:

and the matching Unicorn Box:

I feel sorry for little Twist who has not gone on a walk for three days poor thing and she has missed her Puppy classes and a lot of fan with her doggie friends!

She has been really good indoors with me, most of the time she is sleeping and chewing her toys. Good girl.

I hope to shake off this cold by the week end, my parents are coming to visit us and would be such a shame to be ill when they are here. I haven't seen them since Christmas so I'm really looking forward to this! And Twist can't wait to meet her grandparents for the first time either!

love,
Giulia

Princess Cards in Store now!

2010-05-14T10:11:00.007+01:00

Hello Princes and Princesses,
How are you all? I hope very well. I'm very happy to share with you this new illustration

which is now in the store in the form of eco friendly card sets:

So very pretty! They are printed on recycled white card and come in packs of 5, with matching recycled paper envelopes in biodegradable sleeves.

And, they are decorated with fairy dust...
These will make a reat birthday/thinking of you/just a note card!
You can find them here.
And a dollar from every sale of these and all the other products in the shop will be devoted to the Shark Marine Conservation Bite Back.

Sending you lots of love and
Have a lovely week end,
Giulia

Make a Pledge to Save the Oceans

2010-05-11T21:44:00.003+01:00

Hello my Dears,
I'm so excited about this!!!

You can now pledge to save the Oceans for Oceana here in this blog!
For every pledge Oceana will gain $1 so please take part!

You can find the pledge on the left hand side bar of this blog, about half way through the page.

Thank you for your support,
Giulia

Original Fairy Painting

2010-05-11T12:39:00.004+01:00

Hello my sweet little darlings,
I'm so very happy to let you know that the Original Fairy Painting
is now in the store!

yay!
Love Giulia

Caching Up...

2010-04-30T23:08:00.019+01:00

Hello my sweety pies,

I have been so busy lately that I hardly had time to write... I need to catch up!
So..where to start? Well. Three weeks ago the weather was so fine and warm that I spent every morning outside

with little (not so little anymore) Twisty-Twist.

I usually take some picnic because when I draw and paint I get so hungry!
And enjoy the sunshine... It's not yet warm enough to wear skirts yet, but it's still very lovely.
This week however, it has been very cold indeed. I had to wear my big woolly jumpers and woolly socks too! Incredible.

I'm having so much fun designing new illustrations to fill my shop blog and facebook page with! All these new illustration are part of a fairy series, so they are all so magical and pretty.
Just looking at them brings such a joy in my heart!

This is the first little unicorn of the collection, isn't he adorable?
I'm definately going to frame it because every time I see it, it puts a smile on my face.
Unicorns cards are now available in the shop!!!
I love writing letters and cards... So I'm making a pretty stationery set for my special corrispondence as well...!

Soon after painting this unicorn I had the inspiration of painting another one right away:

This one is painted in a box canvas with acrylic colors. I completed it last night so I will soon post pictures of the finished artwork, hooray!
This is another fairy painting, a pretty girly Butterfly Fairy and a pink banner on the top for a inspiring quote, which I'm still meditating about. I might well be:

"You can only fly as high as the dreams you dare to live"

because it is one of my favorites... I'll have to wait and see what comes up for it... You can advise me if you have some ideas, use the commet box to pot your thoughts or write to me at the usual fairy email letterbox: info@giuliamauri.com

And this my darlings it's another little Dragonfly Fairy, and she is the dearest little thing.
At the time being it is hang on the wall right by my side bed, and I look at her before I go to sleep at night and when I wake up first thing.

However, this is only momenteraly, because she will be find a new home soon, in the Art Shop!

I'm so grateful that the days are getting brighter and longer because I manage to do so much more with my time. This is a picture of the beautiful moon I've been watching rising lately:

I'm also happy to announce that I have made another donation in favor of all the creatures of the sea the other day, my darlings, it is another $40!
I'm so so happy, and I want to thank you all for shopping at The Card Tree and helping me to help the environment!

Oceana it's such a great organization, and I advice you to visit their web site and get involved! To help and spread the world you can add their logo and link on your blog too, or writie an article or sign their petitions, or all of these things! They are all for honorable causes to save our beloved animal kingdom.

This trimester I will be donating the percentace of all my sales to the Shark Marine Conservation, Bite Back and after that, well my darlings, we start all over again with Sharkwater! Hooray! It will only be a year since I started this project, but look how much difference we have made together so far!
Thank you to you all,
Lots of love and many blessings,

From Giulia

Typing Days

2010-04-14T23:34:00.004+01:00

Hello Everybody,
a wonderful day to you.

It's already Wednesday and it feels more like a Friday! I actually can't wait until next week because I really want to go puppy classes with Twist next Monday and learn more about the doggy world. We are now on the new level of puppy classes, Ruth actually put us with the adult dogs! Twist is really really good now, and much much better to be with. Anyway, where I was at? Right. Feels like a friday and the end of a working week for most people, which means, I'm so tired lately! I think it must be the season and the temperature change as well. What I need is some super foods I think!
So because I'm so tired and (I spend most of my free time in the garden reading and potting) I'm not getting much done on the illustration side... rather more on the dreamy side.

Lately, my mind is full of vision ideas and busy busy busy with stuff. At night I dream dream and dream and sometimes I worry so much too. Dreams happens also because I have this huge Labradorite Crystal with at all times. It's so gorgeous, (I must post a pic soon). Of course I got it from the wonderful Mystery Mountain in town - shop of which by the way, I can't keep off, because I love it (and also partly because is one of the few shops where dogs are actually allowed in!)

So... where was I at? Right the dreamy stuff.
Yes, so it felt like the right time to bring out my typing machine and catching up with my correspondence and dreams writing, which I admit I have let a little bit behind since... well Christmas I think! It's amazing how much you can fit into an A4 with the help of this little guy. :)

Saving paper and saving the planet one letter at the time. Of course I don't have to say, I only ever use recycled paper? and I'm afraid... I do despise anyone who doesn't. I'm an Indigo guys, and also, a November girl, which is a very strong combination don't you think?

Must go darlings, bed calls.
But will write more in the next few days. Hopefully about something a bit more substantial.

Love
G

Flower Fairy Reports...

2010-04-09T22:41:00.010+01:00

Lastest news from the garden!

These last few days have been so beautiful that we have all spent as much time as we could outside. We basically rebranded the whole plot and also all our window pots! And it's so nice to start fresh. After picking a very large crop of veggies from last year,

Jason was able to digg over the plot and digg in lots of organic horse manure that it's sure gone make our veggie amazing just like last year. We have sow lettuce, radishes, spinach, under our mini polytunnel and onions under the mesh tunnel. Hooray!

This morning I also bought a new memeber of our green family: a little Ribes rubrum bush (white currant) I love white currant! So delicios and sweet... no need for anything else with it, just delicious eaten straight from the plant. What's all this nonsense about black currents? (hideous thing) red currents? (bitter things) and goosberries? (disgusting things) Nope, not for me! Forgive me, but it's just that to be able to eat them in pies and stuff you must put so much sweetener and sugar, it just ends up to be a really unhealthy food (just like rhubarb). To be truthful, if I really want to be uneathy, I just eat a chocolate brownie, or a sugar doughnut.
For one thing though, birds love these berries! So it's great to grow for the birds...

Today we also potted these tomatoes in pots. We have 3 varieties, some san marzano plums and sweet mini cherries. They look adorable! And right now they are all cozy wrapped up in the green house. So looking forward seeing them growing.

Meanwhile, flowerwise,

These are the plants I choose for our windows this spring, and they look so pretty. I love looking at them.
Work wise, I haven't really had the time to post the new cards I made, (they are so cute, i'm telling you) but I will do soon.

For now,
Goodnigh my darlings. Take care and please, spend some time in the garden!

Giulia

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T21:04:00.003+01:00

Hello everybody!
Oh my gosh, can you belive it? It's Easter already...
A very Happy Easter to you all!

I hope you having lovely time.
We are enjoying hills and spring walks these few days that Jason is at home with us.

On Easter Sunday our friend Chris is coming for lunch, and I can't wait, because I haven't seen him in ages! Also Twist really wants to meet Chris.

Twist is looking very girly & festive today in her pink bandana that Auntie Giorgia sew for her at Valentine's!

I'm digging in my Handmade Easter Egg that Jason got for me, how very cute and sweet...

I also took this pictures or Easter pressie that I sent to my mommy a few weeks back,
I think is so cute, She will love it...

Mini eggs are such a joy, aren't they? Yes, much better then the ones wrapped up in foil. You can also buy the paper tube for only a few p more, so you can recycle the packaging.

Love them...

xxx

Late Night Studio - Spring Artworks

2010-03-29T21:51:00.001+01:00

Hello my Darlings,
I hope you are all well! Thank you for tuning in - this evening I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of my lastest illustration in progress, which I'm hoping to complete in the morning and to hve in the store by the end of next week!

(from left to right:)

'Daffodil Fairy' and 'My Cool Daddy'

'Mermaid'

Also since last week I had several messages on Etsy about my new notepads
(thank you s much to you all! ps: I love you)
So. people have asked me a little bit about them so let me do a little F.A.Q.

- Yep, they are a limited edition of artwork so that's the reason why there are not so many in the store.
- Yep, every piece can be personalized to your taste! You can have any of my illustrations on the font and even your favorite quote at the back.
-Yep, they come beautifully wrapped so they make a great gift!

If you have any more questions about these or any of my other work don't hesitate to contact me. I usually try to answer all of the messages within a couple of days.

Must go my darlings, need to rest my artist eyes for tomorrow morning!
More artwork coming soon... Giulia is a busy bee these days!

x

giulia

Late Night Studio

2010-03-25T20:37:00.010Z

Good evening precious stars!
Just a short note to update you about what's going on in the studio this evening:

The fairy cards are in own the store - you can click on the images below to view them:

I'm also working on a couple of cute artworks that I hope will be turn into cards by next week!

And this is my favorite of all:

I can't wait until tomorrow and spend another wonderful day in my studio.
These days I go to sleep thinking about painting and I wake up thinking about painting. When I have "lunch" I'm actually holding the fork in one hand and the brush in the other. Funny...
Lots of love and night stars,

Giulia

Fairy Tale World

2010-03-25T08:59:00.011Z

Hello my Darlings!
How are you today? I hope very well.
I'm great, and very much excited about latest illustrations...they are the cutest little things!

This is Princess:

and this is Butterfly Fairy:

They are so adorable, and make lovely fairy cards:

To reward my self for the very well done job I got myself this pretty piece of design by Kenneth Grange (genius):

My very own white Anglepoise 75!
Absolutely stunning if you ask me. Last night I staid up late to try it while painting, and is incredible! Came with a very modern energy saving light bulb which is incredibly bright and easily lights up the whole studio! Is not actually as white as in this picture, rather a soft off white, which by the way, is just perfect for me.

I also got myself this Reeves Art A2 Workstation:
Which is just what I needed to avoid getting a bad back (I tend to bend over my work a lot
to get all the details right...) no more. From now on Giulia is going to paint with a straight back. All my new cards will be in the store shortly in packs of 5 and 4 mix and match! Check back this evening to heart them!

lots of love,
Giulia

Illustration: Get Well Soon

2010-03-20T19:18:00.005Z

Hello my darlings!
I have to thank you for your kind thoughts and messages and prayers! Twist is much better since Wed. This water sprayer is my new best friend and Twist wrose enemy!

So now, if she barks to her shadows or eat my plants, we spray her!
Simple and effective. Why did I not think about it before?!

I've been busy in the studio lately, creating some lovely illustration for the new season.
And this is one of them:

I can't wait to make some lovely cards with it! Is extremely cute, this little bunny trying to figure out this paper banner... oh!

More artworks coming soon.
Happy First Day of Spring!

Giulia
x

All things that grow...

2010-03-16T21:42:00.007Z

Hello my darlings!

How are you all? I'm SO tired. Twist is determined to drive me absolutely NUTS.
yep. She is a naughty puppy. Even if I take her out for several walks everyday, play almost every minute, she will still bark at shadows really loud and not listen to any of my commands.

I'm so tired, sad and frustrated. The only joy I have these days is watching want's left on my adorable still living plans which I so care about (she destroyed most of them... my heart is broken. )

This is the bulb that I potted 3 weeks ago: I sent a twin one to my mummy for woman's day! Her is in bloom as well right now... how cute is that!

These are my teté-a-teté that I potted about a month ago and they are situated in the kitchen wondow sill. I love them so much. They are in a goreous willow basket decorated with a heart at the front.

And this in the first fungo from Jason's funghi's growing tray. I hope many others will follow.
I could not resist drawing a little window and door on it, it look so magical!

Now, I will go to enjoy my well deserved sleep afet another exausting day with nightmare Twist.

lots of love
and keeps your thoughts positive for me please.
a couple or prayers would be greatly appreciated.

xxx
kiss kiss kiss

Giulia

Fairy Writing Set

2010-03-15T15:35:00.004Z

Exciting fairy news today my darlings...
New writing set in store now:

it's so girly! Is made with recycled paper that cointains red shredded english stamps inside, so cute!

Comes with matching envelopes and is wrapped in biodegadable cello bags, ideal for gift giving!

Fairy Cards in store this evening and... Twist has discovered the confort of my bed!

2010-03-12T23:29:00.004Z

Hello Hello Hello!
I could not wait until tomorrow to post these NEW cards that I made this evening for my "fairy series" a real celebration for my illustration Fairy Mother, that I painted last week:

I've been wanting to make fairy cards for ages! And now they are finally come to life. It feel so good, and it has encouraged to make more too!

Right... I leave you with this, and I go sleepy sleeps with my Twist who today has discovered the confort of our bed. Oh dear...

x fairy kisses x
& Happy Mothers Day!

mini Illustrated Notepads - in Store

2010-03-12T17:54:00.006Z

Hello everybody,

i'm so excited to write this evening because I can't wait to share all the new cuties I made during the day! So, lets start from here:

This is a new series of Mini Notepads, very useful little things to take you your purse or handbag and take note of all the clever things that would otherwise be lost forever! I adore making lists, and these notepads are just perfect for that!
And... did I mention that they are also eco friendly?

yep.
They are made with high quality smooth white recycled paper on the inside and ribbed brown recycled card for its cover...

This notepad is decoraded with one of my illustrations "Love is in the Air" that also has sparkles on it!

And this one is decorated with my illustration "Is Raining Love"

And then handstamped with this very inspirin quote from Henry David Thoreau, which is one of my favorite 'dream' quotes:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined."

More stationery coming soon to the shop so keep your eyes open!
Lots of love and have a great week end...

Giulia

Afternoon Nap

2010-03-09T22:08:00.003Z

Today, after making mommy tired (and also a bit angry i think), I finally got tired and found a sunny spot to sleep on... goodnight everybody, I'm going sleepy sleeps...

Twist x

Magical Mermaid

2010-03-08T15:02:00.004Z

Hello my dears,
I hope you are all well!
This is my latest illustration for the series Magical Fairies and Mermaids!

She is lovely, and she is holding the Meditate oracle card in her hand and she is surrounded by beautiful ocean creatures and adorned with sea shells and star fish.

I really like her, and I can't wait to find a place for her in my shop!
lots of love,
Giulia

2010-03-05T11:13:00.005Z

Hello my darlings, how are you all?
I'm well and enjoying this beautiful fine weather outside!
Today my spring illustration has been featured on an Etsy Treasure by julieblanchette:

isn't wonderful?
Great way to start the week end...

Seing you all lots of love,
and talk to you soon!

Giulia

Fairy Mother

2010-03-02T22:39:00.003Z

Hello my darlings,
just a short note today to share my new Fairy Mother illustration that I completed last night.
She is just so pretty and I can't wait to print some eco friendly cards and writing sets and add them to The Card Tree collection on Etsy!

Lots of magic kisses

xxx

From pencil to color...

2010-02-26T15:01:00.008Z

Hello my darlings!

It's nice to finally be back to my studio and dedicate my self to my blog updates!
In the last week I've been working on some gentle soft illustrations for my illustrations store on Etsy - the theme that came across was rabbits rabbits rabbits. I love rabbits! And with the Easter just around the corner Rabbits Illustration make perfect sense, right?

This are the pencil drawing I did on Monday evening:

a very clever Rabbit Chef

and

a very Fairy Birthday Party Rabbit...

of course these sweet darlings would not come alive without these beautiful pastel colors, so here they are completed and ready to be printed on writing sets, notelets and notecards!

how pretty and how exciting!

I'm so proud and happy about these new art work that I've stated a series of fairies, little magic girls, princesess and mermaids.

Must go and paint...
See you later,

love
Giulia

Hello Hello

2010-02-22T18:54:00.006Z

Hello sweety pies,
how are you all? Hope really well!
This little one wanted to say hello to you all!

And I just wanted to recommend this wonderful audio book which is just helping me so much to understand the doggy world:

Genius. I love listing to it in the car. Cesar voice is so reassuring and relaxing!
Must go painting and of course, looking after my little one.
Lots of love,
Giulia

I'm very good

2010-02-12T21:52:00.004Z

I'm very good.
Today Mummy and Daddy took me in the car to see Grandma and Grandad, Great Grand Ma, Autie Vicki, Uncle Luke, Cusin Lyric. I was in the car for an hour and I was really good all the way there. Infact I slept all the way and the car was like a lullaby! I can't wait to take another trip with Mommy on Monday. She is taking me to Puppy classes!!!
Hooray!

paws, Twist x

Air Balloon Writin Set

2010-02-08T14:47:00.005Z

Hello my Sweety Pies!
thank you for visiting me today.
I painted this air balloon illustration

for my new range of soft-dream-like stationery sets:

i really like them, so pinky, pretty & girly!
It would be a perfect little girl preset for children's secret girly letters!
It printed on 100% post consurmer recycled paper and is wrapped up in a biodegradable cello sleeve.

You can find it right here.
Lots of Love,
Giulia

Pretty Pink love Illustration

2010-02-06T17:30:00.006Z

Hello my darlings,
Happy february everyone!
February... the month of love. I made this cute illustration to celabrate this season!

And I printed off som gorgeous letter set that are in the shop already!

I really like it!
I keept one a set for my special corrispondence and I can't wait to use it!

so cute!

Lots of love,
Giulia

News: Free Shipping at The Card Tree

2010-02-01T16:11:00.000Z

Hi everyone!
Exciting news at The Card Tree...
You can now enjoy FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE on every item in my store!

Hooray for mail!
Loe, Giulia x

Robin Snowdrop Illustration (& a little bit about us)

2010-01-25T16:35:00.001Z

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all keeping well. Here in England it's still cold, wintery and christmassy.
The dark mornings still lead me to listen to carols at breakfast time. The other day I even found myself singing 'Santa Clous is comin to town' out loud! Well, they do say that it should be Christmas everyday, don't they? So perhaps for me it's true.

Twist and I went to see the sheeps in the opposite field to our house. They are so sweet. Twist like them! She is doing really well with her training and growing pretty quickly!
I spend most of my days with her, which is really lovely. On Monday we are starting puppy classes and I'm so excited about that too!

She is is already sitting, waiting and going down but we doesn't quite understand 'heel' just yet. After all, she is still so tiny and will have lots of time to learn these things...

Regarding the shop, I have updated it with new writing sets and this is one of them:

That has a pretty illustration painted by me of a Robin and a Snowdrop

simple and elegant. I love it!

You can find it in the shop.

lots of love,
Giulia

I'm arrived!

2010-01-16T13:09:00.001Z

Hello!
My name is Twist, and I've arrived today to my new home!

I'm a 12 weeks old little girl, I like to play, eat and... sleep.

See you soon,
paws,

x Twist x

Lavender Writing Set

2010-01-12T10:44:00.007Z

Hello darlings!
today I added more pretty handmade writing sets in the shop:

These writing sets are made using recycled paper embedded with lavender heads,
so pretty and unique!

I wrap them up using biodegradable corn starch bag:

Really perfect to give as a present. You can find them here!

Giulia

It's ready!

2010-01-11T19:55:00.006Z

I'm so proud...
today I completed Twist's cozy winter coat!

I have to say... I took a little bit of practice...
and a lot of help from my knitting book and 'getting started' knitting cd! (I love it)

But I have to say, I'm rather impressed with my work!
And this knitting hobby it started to be a bit addictive...
I knit in the morning when I wake up, in the evening before going to sleep, in front of the telly, etc. Sometimes I even forget to drink my cup of tea while knitting and I remeber to take a sip when is already cold!

I already started a new knitting project. It's a slim fashion purple scarf for myself. I love scarfs. I have quite a collection already, but I love to wear a different one every day.
This time I'm determined to learn a different knitting stitch. And while my book doesn't really explain advanced stitching tecniques, on you tube there are lots of resurces available to study.
I will soon post my new scarf for you to see!

Now I'm back to my work and my shop orders...
lots of love and more snow angels!

Giulia

UPDATE:

This is what it looks like o her:

I love her little wet nose on this picture!

x

Every couple needs a Pup...

2010-01-10T19:59:00.009Z

So,
after 6 and a half years together and three weeks of engagement, Jason and I decided to 'take it to the next level' and getting a pup (so called joy of our life):

This little girl, who's name is Twist...
She is currently in a rescue home with her gorgeous brothers and sister, but we will pick her up on Saturday! Hooray! I'm so excited to becoming a mummy...!

In the past week we had wonderful Christmas like weather all over Britan.

By the way, now on telly they call it 'frozen Britan' well, come on?!

Does this sound a little bit tragic to you too?
Snow come 2 o 3 times a year (if we are lucky) why don't we just enjoy it?!

Jason and I built these snow scuptures together! A love arch and 'twist' the snow dog! So pretty!

As it's really cold outside, so I'm putting my knitting craft at the test making a cozy coat for my little girl!! I hate dog coats, but she is only little and she really needs one after all.
I chosen a italian merino black cozy wool, so it won't really show on her, but will keep her warm in the snow. I have to post a picture of it when it's completed!

The other day I received a parcel from the US with this lovely handmade gift from my Antie Giorgia: a snowman table cloth! It's so jolly and wintery! Perfect. She also sent us some homemade cookies... and as you can see, they did not last very long as they were so delicious!!!

You must be wondering... did you work a all this week?! Well... Of course, i did my dears...
I've been busy painting lots very pretty girly and curly illustrations that will soon be in the shop as writing sets, cards and more...! Keep your eyes open to see them in the next few days.

until tommorrow then...
lots of love and snow angels to you.
x

Giulia Mauri

valentines cuties

The Portrait Project #1: Announcement

a little different

The Artist's Box

I'm back!

Holiday note

Bookplates Now in store! + Coupon Codes!

Raccoon cuties + blue cuties

Owl Writing Set

Pink Bear Writing Set

*Snap*

thrilled

Tea at Jane's

Birthday

Happy Green Christmas to you

note

Love is in the Air

Nice Read

Lucky you!

uh la la!

Halloween Memories

Disaster has struck

Autumn Feature

Twilight Fever

Happy Halloween

Autumn is here!

Family Portraits

Wedding Memories

Closed for Wedding!

My wedding designs...

I'm back with more boxes...

It's Easter!

How about a little mystery?

Just saying hello

Easter Owl

Little blue birdie

Teddy Bear Sweetheart Writing Set

An Easter Cutie

My new baby...

Promise

Love Message

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you

Tales of a Puppy

It was a sunny day in March...

Pancakes + Art in March

New Hedgehog Writing Sets

A window into the spring

The four months update in a post...

I'm Still alive and kicking!

Images you can share!

I'm Moving!

Paint at Breakfast, Paint at Noon

Memorabilia Boxes Custom Order

Morning Pages

Bits of This, Bits of That...

Custom Works

Tales from the New Forest

New Bags in Store!

Welcome to Fairy Land

A few Happy Notes before the holidays

Butterfly Festival

Special Surprise and New Hedgehog Paintings

Taking a little break...

Working on...

Giulia's weekly tale

Latest Features

Updates on me... I'm still alive!

Princess Cards in Store now!

Make a Pledge to Save the Oceans

Original Fairy Painting

Caching Up...

Typing Days

Flower Fairy Reports...

Happy Easter!

Late Night Studio - Spring Artworks

Late Night Studio

Fairy Tale World

Illustration: Get Well Soon

All things that grow...

Snap