It was late afternoon. The sea was full. The tide was high. The heat reverberating off the stone walls was stifling. The whitewashed buildings had never seemed whiter. A glass of rosé with lunch had never gone down smoother. 

I headed back to the beach on the eastern part of the town - the quieter part, where only a few young families, couples and lone sunbathers dropped their towels on the rocks, where a few boats dropped their anchors and their sailors under the blanket of blue. I curved around the port - I wanted to see it under the high afternoon sun when it was busiest - few, if any, parking spots were vacant, for boats and cars alike. My eyes ran along the rows and rows of docked boats. 

I can't remember where my love for maritime life emerged from - it has no known origin. It has just always been. It has always filled me with joy to watch boats rock on water, to see them docked, resting, ready. I look at their names, ask myself which one I'd prefer to call my own, where I'd go, whether I'd return. I stand there, imagining the feel of the rope in my palm, what a different life that would be. I'm partial to the blue boats, and all the  more if they are rustic, weather-beaten, with tales to tell. 

In Otranto that July afternoon, the composition of the scene at the port caught my eye. That precarious balance of standing out and fitting in, of being eager yet patient, ready to burst out of the gates, but content to be home. Isn't it a difficult balance to achieve, to stand out enough but not to spoil the harmonious sense of cohesion. That boat stood still, tethered to the sea's core, and gave the scene balance and meaning.

That boat made me look a moment longer. 

This past weekend, one of the most scorching September weekends on record in Montreal, Etsy Montreal hosted the fourth edition of Etsy Fait au Québec, a nation-wide event (called Etsy Made in Canada in other provinces) that showcases the talents of Canadian artists, designers and crafters and encourages the population to shop local.

As one of the leaders of the Etsy Montreal team and as a participating vendor with Veni Etiam Photography, various tasks in planning for this event had filled the pages of my agenda for months. It is always an amazing cause to celebrate (and a bit of a relief) when over 7000 visitors come through our doors and happily discover the creations of over 100 artists. The energy in the room is almost indescribable, the smiles all around are truly contagious, and the feedback that comes from vendors and shoppers is uplifting. The show is a true community endeavor, and puts forward so many important values that strive to make our community - and our future - better. 

During the event, I snuck away from my booth to snap some candid action shots of shoppers and vendors interacting. On my Facebook page, you can find the full album of photos (nearly 200 of them) of the event, with artists' tagged in the images and a full vendor list for you to peruse.

​But if you've only got a minute or two, here's a video compilation of some of the shots. 

As a vendor, participating in Etsy Made in Canada / Fait au Québec is one of my favorite parts of the year. I am always uplifted and humbled by the support, enthusiasm and love my work receives from attendees and fellow artists alike. 

I am not quite sure where the dream came from, this dream to make inspiring art for your homes and your heart. It just sort of snuck up on me, like the best dreams do, I suppose. A couple of years into having launched my business, some of my absolute favorite places have found a place on your walls, in your homes, in your daily routines. What could I possibly say to that? It's amazing. And what could I possibly say about the truly inspiring exchanges I have had with other incredible members of the artistic community? For everything you have taught me and continue to teach me, thank you!

Mi-septembre déjà, bien que la météo soit convaincue que nous soyons en plein été (je ne me plains pas!) Cette période de l'année signifie que le marché Etsy Fait au Canada et son édition locale Etsy Fait au Québec Montréal s'approche à grands pas. 

Plus de 100 artistes, designers et créateurs de la région de Montréal se réuniront sous un toit (historique) pour exposer et vendre leurs produits faits-main de qualité. 

Voici 12 artisans que j'ai bien hâte de rencontrer ce week-end, car j'adore leurs produits et leur vision artistique. 

3. Paskaleidoscope ​

Pour voir la liste complète d'artisans, suivez ce lien.
Pour confirmer votre présence à l'événement (c'est gratuit!), c'est ici. 

Veni Etiam Photography sera présente aussi avec plusieurs nouveautés dans la collection Montreal, la toute nouvelle collection de la Havane, des aimants et des objets cadeau, les tables en bois de bouleau, une nouvelle ligne de produits non disponible en ligne (venez la découvrir en personne!) et des cadres prêts à accrocher dans les grandeurs de mes impressions! J'offrirai des rabais sur mes produits ainsi que sur toute commande spéciale confirmée sur place, donc contactez-moi si vous avez des questions avant votre visite!

P.S. Cet article est présenté dans le cadre de #TradeThursday. Les artisans faisant partie du marché participent dans un défi collectif sur les réseaux sociaux où ils partagent des aperçus de leur vie d'entreprise, leur atelier et leurs préparatifs dans les jours qui précèdent le marché. Suivez-nous sur Instagram avec les mots-clés #etsyfaitauquebecmtl and #etsymtl. 

En espérant vous voir cette fin de semaine!

De mon coeur au vôtre.

It's mid-September, although the weather gods are still totally convinced it's mid-July (fine by me!). And mid-September means one thing for certain every year: it's time for Etsy Made in Canada and our local edition Etsy Fait au Québec Montréal.

Over 100 artists, designers and makers from the Montreal area will gather under one (historic) roof to showcase and sell their incredible products with the community, which is becoming increasingly interesting in buying local.

To see the full list of vendors, follow this link.
To RSVP to the event (it's free!), go here.

Veni Etiam Photography will also be there all weekend long with tons of new items in the Montreal collection, the brand new Havana collection, magnets and gift items, coffee tables, a surprise new product (come see for yourself!) and new frames available on the spot in the exact sizes of my prints! I'll have reduced prices on prints and custom orders, so if you have questions about sizing or anything else, feel free to reach out even before the event!

P.S. If you're curious, this post belongs to the theme #TradeThursday, part of the Etsy Montreal Social Media Challenge. The artists who are participating as vendors in the annual Etsy Fait au Quebec (Made in Canada) market are encouraged to share behind the scenes posts as they prepare for the show. Follow along with all of us on Instagram with the main hashtags #etsyfaitauquebecmtl and #etsymtl. 

We all hope to see you there!

From my heart to yours.

Entrepreneurship, like anything in life, involves quite a lot of trial and error. It starts with passion, curiosity and a vision. It requires a leap of faith, jumping into the void, experimenting, listening, adjusting. It takes a lot of motivation, patience and - yes - even a bit of luck.

It is rewarding, empowering, frustrating, liberating, discouraging, maddening, inspiring, head-consuming, thrilling and doubt-provoking. Entrepreneurship is often a journey involving many risks and resilience, a path that curves through unexpected but beautiful territory, a collection of several rights and many wrongs. 

When I launched my travel art shop, I initially didn't even realize that I was launching a business. I was a full-time scientist and had never ventured into entrepreneurship in any form, aside from selling lemonade like your average five year-old.

​I learned by doing, by being and by meeting inspiring individuals along the way.

It's easier said than done when we are consumed with hundreds of other voices each day. But, this remains the golden rule. Just be you. That is when you can be most consistent, most unique and most magnetic. No one else is you, so no one else can quite offer what you offer, in the way that you offer it. In the overwhelming face of competition, learn to shift your focus back onto who YOU are and how that fuels what you create. There is a place for everyone, because everyone has their own unique twist. It seems rather basic, but it takes mental training to hold onto this mindset in the business world.

We are storytellers. We gather, we tell, we live by sharing and consuming stories. It's only natural, then, that stories help people connect with us and what we offer. Stories allow your voice and your personality to shine through. They help people get to know you and want to keep you in their life - whether you are half a block or half a world away from them. It helps them relate to you and trust you. On your website, in your social media posts, in your tutorials, share the stories behind your brand.

When we first create our businesses, we base ourselves on our vision, our talents, our training and our values. We work SO hard before launching our special offering (whether it's a new collection or a new course), it's tempting to just shout out, "Here it finally is! Go get it!" and to want to sink back into our chairs and wait for the rest to take care of itself. But if you speak to very successful entrepreneurs, they will confess that it was not an overnight success. The key for many business owners has been to, simply put, give the people what they want, even if their first launch was something completely different (and often a true flop). 

It's really key to welcome and use feedback from your ideal customers to fine-tune what you offer. Be attentive to how others' react to your work and how they describe your business.

If you sell physical products like I do, this is what is so great about being present at pop-up shops or shows. Who are you connecting with? What words are they consistently using? Which products spark conversation or evokes an emotive response in them? If you mostly sell online, consider sending a short survey to your customers or encourage them to leave you a review. Listen to the traits they focus on when they describe you. Then, work to amplify those traits in everything you create and the way you present your creations. 

Whether we like it or not, this is how we roll. Social media with a strategy is vital to getting our message out there, interacting with our target audience, and sharing our story. Without a strategy, social media is ineffective at best and actually harmful to the brand at worst. It can suck up a HUGE amount of time, energy and motivation. To avoid feeling stuck on a hamster wheel, it takes thinking, planning and consistent execution. It is better to create content with a purpose in mind then to spread yourself thin by pouring effort into showing up just for the sake of showing up. 

Some of us might really hate putting ourselves out there online. It's one thing to put together a website or Etsy shop with descriptions about ourselves, our story, our business and our work, but the worst part is that once it is all out there, we still have to repeat it! It took me a while to realize that not everyone would know the text on my website by heart (ha ha!) and shoppers landing on my Etsy shop would probably not even read the product descriptions! It's important to repeat ourselves now and then, so that people who just stumble upon us have a sense of what we are all about. You'll notice that even your Facebook friends (who follow your personal page and regularly see your shares from your business page) may take time to become familiar with you and buy from you!

Trust yourself, what you offer, what your brand is all about and what your price-point is. It's easy to feel imposture syndrome now and then, not only when you are just starting out. But, at the end of the day, trusting your value and expertise will attract others to trust you as well. You are doing this because you believe in its mission. When something happens to shake that belief up, don't let it derail you.

You may not be an expert in ALL the facets related to your work, your craft and your business. That is okay. Actually, it's GREAT! You don't have to wait until you are an expert in order to be successful. It's better to start, dive in and learn by doing. You'll invest in yourself to develop those areas that are further outside of your comfort zone, or you'll collaborate with someone whose strengths are your weaknesses. As sole owners of our businesses, we have to wear so many different hats and do so many different tasks, so we come to expect ourselves to be good at all of them. But, that false belief can be paralyzing and can lead to a whole lot of procrastination. 

It's good to say no. Did I just say that? It took me SO LONG to learn this, in all areas of my life! If something is not sitting well with you, if it is causing you to want to vent, it means it is not aligned with your essence, your priorities, your values or your vision.

Ask yourself: Is this going to bring me closer to my goals? Is this something that will be brand affirming? Will it take me in a direction I'll be happy about? Do I have time for it without burning out or compromising my other priorities? 

Pay close attention when the answer to any one of these questions is NO. And, if it is, please remember that you have your reasons and your reasons are always valid. Although you may be tempted to express them as a justification to the person you are turning down, you don't really need to justify your choices. 

We are constantly learning. That is the beauty (and curse) of life! Train yourself to look at every circumstance, success and failure as constructive, as fluid and as a blessing. Adjusting as you go along is part of the process. Feeling proud of little milestones - even negative ones, like your first bad review or first refund request - is important. Growth is never all positive, all the time. 

Invest in your professional development. Schedule it in. Create opportunities for learning. It is daunting but necessary to take up opportunities that are outside of our comfort zone and that involve a certain degree of risk. Sadly, there cannot be growth without risk. When you don't risk anything, you get too comfortable. If you take a risk to invest in yourself financially or with respect to your time commitment, you naturally strive to succeed to pay back that investment. It helps to add a little extra fire up your butt! 

It's important to leave breathing room in your schedule to create empty spaces for reflection and re-alignment. Carve out the time to revisit some approaches and practices - even the content on your website. Either schedule this time regularly or give yourself mini hiatus every year to systematically evaluate what worked, what worked less and where to go from here. 

From Day One, my shop's motto has been "from my heart to yours", because of all the places, colors and moods I share with you in my words and photographs. But it especially comes from my heart when clients ask me whether I could take a particular photo of a place that means a lot to them. ​

When I first created my business, I knew that customization was an important feature of my art shop - I wanted you to find yourself, your travels, your dreams and decor tastes in my images and in all the options you could select to create a piece for your space. But I somehow didn't imagine that through connections and dialogues with you online and in person, I could also be asked to create photographs of places I had not captured yet before. A place you ask about obviously means something to you - and if it means something to you, it means something to me.

This summer, a client asked me whether I had photographs of two Montreal spots that were special to her family - the Farine Five Roses factory building and the clock tower at the Old Port.

These were two spots her late father adored, and she wanted prints of them in her home, to remind her of him daily. 

These were two landmarks I had not yet photographed in a way that made me feel like adding them to my shop. It could partly be because I did not feel attached to them in a profound way, or also because I knew many other talented artists in our Montreal community had done such an amazing job at capturing them. But this client asked me to photograph these landmarks in my own style, because she loved the feeling of my work, and she wanted it to be meaningful in memory of her father. So, I set out to find my voice with these landmarks and to prepare a whole bunch of prints that she could then choose from. 

When I showed her the scenes I had collected for her, she was touched. She loved the mood of one of the Farine Five Roses shots, and the composition of the photograph of the Clock Tower. "It's like it's pointing up at the sky, to my Dad," she wrote. That touched me so much, that I dedicated the print's caption (on the insert that accompanies each print) to her and her dad. 

That is the beauty of creating something one-of-a-kind, something that touches someone's heart and represents a piece of their story. Moments like these make me feel really blessed to have this artistic outlet to inspire you. In turn, I am always astonished and grateful of how you inspire me in return, with your own vision, your own story and your words. Thank you for this gift. 

Together, we put together a gallery wall of seven prints for this lovely client, the two commissions being unique to her wall, as they have not been added to my online shop.

Some of the other variations have been added to my art shop and my Etsy shop, and I will have them with me for the first time this weekend at the Etsy Fait au Quebec Montreal show. 

You may also opt for larger wall art on paper, canvas, metal, acrylic or wood. 

If you'd like to connect, just leave a comment on this post! I'd love to hear from you.

From my heart to yours.

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."

This quote by Michelangelo has stuck with me since the first time I heard it in Florence, Italy. The idea that something beautiful already exists before art (and the artist) serves to channel it. I have always thought of my photographic art in that way - so much beauty exists in people and places, and the art form is to set it free.

This week's photo inspiration stems from architecture, and how photography can capture its perfection and its mood.

Tell me: Which is your favorite? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

It was the city in which I found my wings. A city I had hated during my first trip to Italy a decade before. "I hate Milan," I had dared to write on a postcard home. "I'd never live here."

Never say never, right?

It was a time when the whole world - my world - was wide open. A Bachelor of Science in hand, I set out to pursue the most unconventional M.Sc program possible - not only Erasmus, but in three separate European countries: Italy, The Netherlands and Germany. 

Italy and I already had a longstanding love affair, but I had never lived alone in Italy. I had never lived alone, period. Living alone abroad was daunting and exciting and liberating and inspiring in rapid alternation over the course of a single day.

In Milan, I learned to get over my anxiety of uncertainty. I learned to cook fabulous meals, to be inspired by locals, by language, by my own strength and sense of adventure. I learned to love roasted chestnuts because of their intoxicating aroma riding on the crisp autumn wind. I learned that Italians can have gelato in precarious waffle cones in scorching heat while on a vespa in suits and stiletto heels (#notastereotype). I learned to love risotto though I'm not that fond of rice. I learned to laugh from a part of my gut that had not fully known this kind of giddy, profound happiness. I learned about photography - slowly and extremely experimentally - as I played with the first camera I ever owned. I learned that with that camera, a notebook, and my sense of self, I could be immensely happy anywhere. I learned about neuroscience, aphasia, synesthesia and the most obscure concepts in linguistics. I learned to love life, fiercely, without reservation. I learned that long distance relationships are easy and difficult and tolerable and intolerable. I learned that very different people from all corners of the globe can quickly become best friends. I learned to adjust to closed supermarkets and stores on afternoons and on Sundays. I learned that the Duomo looked different every day and in every light. I learned Italian idioms and vocabulary words that, despite my experience with the language, had alluded me until then. I learned that connections with other souls are sometimes inexplicable, random, touching and infuriating, and that people come in and out of your life for a reason. 

I learned all the different lights of all the different days of all the seasons, and I learned that my heart could feel very, very full. 

I learned that I don't at all hate Milan, and that I could and should and would live there, wholeheartedly. 

For all that Milano brought me and taught me, it is my most precious city (after Venice, of course).

If Milan means something to you, too, you can bring it home on canvas, metal, acrylic, wood or paper "Milano Mio" is featured above on a round aluminum disk, ready to hang.

From my heart to yours.

P.S. I'm writing a book of my travel stories. Hit the subscribe button above or follow me on Instagram to be kept in the know!

​Sometimes, it’s not about where you go. It’s just about going.

It’s about changing your pace, your mindset, raising your eyes from your screen, stretching your neck, your back, your legs, breathing … and being.
 
It can be a place fifteen minutes away from your home, a place that is just simple enough that you (I!) won’t feel compelled to take 1364 photos and feel the overwhelming need to sort, edit, post and share urgently. Sometimes, disconnecting becomes urgent, and the only way to truly stop doing is by going.
 
Sometimes, the closest and simplest places can do a whole world of good for the body, mind and soul.

Last weekend, something snapped in me. I had experienced a string of sleepless nights, some mild anxiety and a noticeable (to me, at least) slump in my creativity and focus.
 
My to-do lists have been exceedingly long and complex this month, with tasks for vastly different projects bleeding into one another. A new collection, a new product line, a new season for events and buyers, new ideas for my content calendar, co-organizing and co-hosting a huge event (this one, if you’re curious), scientific deadlines, creative writing, health advocacy volunteer work and thoughts of a brand new project bubbling behind the scenes. Too many tabs open on my computer, too many thoughts competing for brain space. Colored post-it notes have been trying to rescue my ideas before they disappear like muted fireflies into the night, trying to catch them like an open palm tries to catch confetti.  
 
What’s to be stressed about?

​So, by Friday, I had decided that I needed Nature, time away from my devices, fresh air, an open space, the comfort of crickets and sunshine, a body of water and a canoe.

​We set out to a National Park which, contrary to any of the parks we have been to thus far, lies just beyond the urban city limits. Destination: the Boucherville Islands. We packed wholesome food, clothing that allowed for Nature to throw either hot summer or crisp autumn air our way, and we left the burden of time behind us on the mainland.
 
On the canoe, I let myself feel the waves of other bigger boats. I appreciated the infinite ripples on the water’s surface when the breeze picked up. I took notice of the scraggly sea plants under the clear water reaching up to grab hold of us, and let the sun warm my face and my arms as my paddle sliced through the river again and again.

​In sunset light, I walked for a long time, in golden fields livened by a symphony of crickets, cicadas and frogs. The light played on wild flowers and in my hair. In the cool shady spaces between rows and rows of slender trees, I came within a couple of feet from deer - they watched me watch them, each of us curious of the other. I let butterflies and dragonflies circle me, chase me, land on me and continue on their way, with their own secrets carried on their colored wings. 

It is amazing how the heart opens up in nature, hushing the mind a little, making sure the sounds of rustling reeds and crickets silences worry, stress and doubt.

One foot in front of the other, over roots, leaves, footpaths and grass, with the path becoming visible only little by little, revealing itself only at every bend. If a bending path can feel so good in sunset light, it can surely feel good in everyday life. ​

​Last weekend, I threw myself into Nature’s arms, like a little girl running in the fields and befriending butterflies.
 
If there is one thing I have learned over the last two years - in life, academia and business - it is to listen to the needs of your body and mind, and to recognize the need for a shift in mindset and pace when it comes.
 
And if there is one thing I have always known, it is that places call, and that we feel whole when we listen.
 
From my heart to yours.

I remember the early days of dabbling with my camera - it was like I had just (re)discovered basic elements of our everyday existence: symmetry, shadows, reflections, patterns, depth and textures. I have always said that practicing photography has heightened my senses and has propelled me to notice my surroundings differently. As such, some of these simple elements often become glorified in my images, as a form of gratitude for having noticed.

It's always so hard for me to just pick five. So, here's a bonus photo:

Have a wonderful week!

It's no secret to you by now that I love to write. But, now and then, I do love to lose myself in others' words and photographs. 

Here are 5 books that I keep handy on my shelf and LOVE to flip through:

• 52 lists for happiness. I LOVE THIS BOOK! I can't get enough ot it, or its sequels. This book's mission is actually to inspire you to fill its pages - it is a book of lists, as the title suggests, that prompt you to contemplate what brings you joy, to reflect on your past experiences, and to invest in your values, passions and goals. When you read Moorea Seal's table of contents, her 52 lists may seem daunting at first. But, the truth is, they are extremely rewarding to explore. At the bottom of each list is a little "take action" bubble, which gives you the impetus to do something with the list you just thought up -- something that will align you more clearly with what brings you happiness and makes you feel fulfilled. I have tremendously enjoyed sitting in my little urban garden each morning and taking 10 minutes at a time with this book. I like to open it up a random page and see whether the list speaks to me at that moment. Focusing my thought and my energy onto this exercise of reflection has left me feeling content, fulfilled and empowered each time! You have to try it! Find out more about 52 lists for happiness and 52 lists for Calm (for soothing anxiety and creating a peaceful life). 

• Falling Cloudberries. I have always had a weak spot for cookbooks, but those written by Tessa Kiros are just dream-inducing. I first discovered Tessa's series of cookbooks when I landed on her book called Venezia, which is essentially THE perfect combination of scrumptious recipes, dreamy storytelling and gorgeous photography. Fun fact: it was Venezia that made me fall in love with the art of food photography and changed my way of looking at things very early on, when I first began to experiment with a camera. Falling Cloudberries is replete with Tessa's family recipes that blend cultures and generations. As usual, the photography by Manos Chatzikonstantis makes you drool as much as the ingredients do. I highly recommend all her books, but I find this one has a great variety of recipes at different levels of complexity. Find out more about Falling Cloudberries.

• How to Be a Wildflower. My Mom gave me this book and it is literally filled with inspiration, childish wonder and fresh air. Katie Daisy is an illustrator who is deeply inspired by the natural landscape that surrounded her during her childhood. Wildflowers, creeks, cornfields, hummingbirds, fireflies, and star constellations are alive and well between the colorful pages of this magical book of illustrations and quotes. As you flip through its pages, you can feel the summer breeze, smell the earth, the trees and the flowers, you can see the golden light of the setting sun in the cornfields, and the movement of the fresh linen hanging on the line. Katie has captured childhood and nature in her pages. She calls it a field guide and encourages you to travel with it and record your own inspirations, even giving you space to press flowers between the pages. Reading it, you can't help but feel more aware, more grounded and more connected to nature and life. I loved it so much, I bought some of Katie's prints for my garden. The book makes a wonderful gift for anyone who loves nature, illustrations, quotes and the simple joys in life. Find out more about How to Be a Wildflower.

• 111 Places in Venice that You Must Not Miss. If you know me a little bit, I don't have to go into extreme detail about why I love this book! I stumbled upon Gerd W. Sievers' book this summer and I was instantly hooked. For someone who has known and loved Venice for decades and has even studied Venetian art history, I was over the moon about how this book has made me discover new interesting facts about my lagoon city. It goes sestiere by sestiere, dedicating two pages to a place - sometimes a monument, an architectural detail or a food - and interwoven in its description are elements of history, culture, myth and legend. It is written in a style that is enjoyable and easy to follow; you can easily pick up where you left off. Photographs and practical information (about opening times, vaporetto stops and other visitor tips and trivia) make the book a multi-purpose guide for Venice lovers. Find out more about 111 Places in Venice that You Must Not Miss.

• The Mindfulness Pocket Book. This book is the perfect book to own if you want to improve in your practice of mindfulness on a daily basis. Gill Hasson has filled this book with meaningful, realistic exercises to help you to slow down, to notice, to feel aligned and peaceful and in control of your perspectives and reactions. What I love about this book is the way the content is organized - it is concise, impactful and super easy to immediately get value out of its pages. You don't have to read the chapters in order and, although it is a small book, it is so rich that you can learn from revisiting its content more than once. It is also filled with quotes to reflect on. I have gifted this book to friends and family, and I love keeping it accessible so that I can refer to it often. Find out more about The Mindfulness Pocket Book.

I hope you found a little bit of inspiration in this post!

Tell me: Have you read any of these 5 books? Which one is up your alley?
Leave me a comment and let me know. I love to hear from you!

From my heart to yours.

Lately, I've made it a priority to pause and make a mental note of the simple joys that make a difference in my day. It helps me become better attuned to what influences my mood, my mindset, my health and my productivity. 

On Instagram, I shared one of my simple recipes for a positive day:
(click on each item to learn more about it)

• Strong morning coffee in my #LoveIsLove heart mug
• A perfect book of lists by Moorea Seal to open on a random page and feel empowered and inspired
  
• ​A blank to-do list, ready to host the day's ambitions
• ​My favorite notebook which houses my outlines and notes for my book, my blogs and my scientific aspirations
• The blue pen I carry e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.

What are some of your tools for a positive day? Leave a comment and let me know. 

From my heart to yours.

In my long history with Venice, it had never rained while I had been there – not a drop. When it did rain, I would always miss it. My train would pull into Santa Lucia to find only the faintest trace of rain; puddles and high waters. The damp marine air would greet me, and I would chase reflections, like a child holding onto something that did not exist. 

If you are a Venice-lover like me, "Gondola" is waiting for you in my art shop on fine-art paper, metal, canvas, acrylic or wood.​​

From my heart to yours!
​
P.s. I am writing a book of travel stories and my favorite places. Sign up here for news.

One of your favorites, whether you are a traveller, dreamer or interior designer has always been "Sunday in Burano". The composition is balanced and the colors are gentle, and it fits harmoniously with a variety of decors.

I remember the day I stood in that piazza. It was a quiet October morning, sprinkled only with the sounds of church-bells, locals sweeping their doorsteps, kids kicking a soccer ball against walls and Italian voices engaged in quiet discussion. Since I was given my first camera, I have always loved photographing local life, especially when the scene has the quality of a painting. So, when I saw him cross the piazza, I had to reach for my lens. When I look at this photograph, I think of Venice, of my love for color, and my journey as a photographer.

​I admit, it's one of MY favorites, too. ?

Find it in my shop on paper, canvas, metal, metal disks, acrylic ​or wood. 

​From my heart to yours!

I’ve never tolerated endings well.
​
I have always been the type to put off finishing a book or a movie. I can’t stand goodbyes of any kind – parting with someone I love causes a part of my chest to flutter and constrict and ache in a way that nothing else does. And leaving places – leaving places has always been especially difficult. Even when I was little, I struggled with leaving a place behind. Everyone around me would be ready to return home, while no amount of time was ever enough for me. I’d try hard to fight back tears, which would well up fiercely at the thought of me having to walk away. I learned that what helped feel better was to convince myself that I could return as soon and as spontaneously as I wanted. I thought that it would get easier with age and maturity. But of course, the older I got, the more my love for places became interwoven with my love for certain people or certain pivotal moments, and leaving became even more difficult in a uniquely complex and raw way.

When I was about eight or nine years old, I remember staring out at the sea with my Mom during one of our family travels. We stood quietly, side by side, watching the trees sway in the wind, and she forced me to “make a memory”. I can still hear her voice asking me to focus, to record the scene in my mind, and to remember. Then I would have the power to return there whenever I wanted, just by calling up that memory. 

Before I ever had a camera – before I ever thought about thinking about wanting a camera – I got into this natural habit of “making a memory”, etching a landscape, a light, a feeling of a place into my brain.

That way, even if I leave a place, it never leaves me.

​This week, I thought I would share five photos that I have taken in moments where I paused for a moment to truly feel and truly remember. 

That day I spent hours staring out at the horizon and at the surf in Corfu, listening to my iPod play some of my favorite music until the tide ate up the beach and evening fell.

That light I fell in love with – the way it used to hit the mountains and my face, the way it would make the church, the vineyard and my street glow, and how it would make me breathe deeply and freely. Every day, I felt grateful for my life in Italy. 

I could have stayed up there for hours looking over Her, training myself to identify the hundreds of churches by their steeples, and imagining the past and the future of my lagoon city.

Those afternoon hours I spent staring out into the painting-like waves in the changing light, letting the sounds of Basque and seagulls fill my ears. 

Quite possibly one of the most magical of places and the most magical of days, where ancient olive trees, precious land and inspiring locals taught me about life and passion. 

These are moments and places I can feel at my fingertips. ​Thank you, Mom, for teaching me to record a moment – with or without a camera.

From my heart to yours.