My Italian Wedding

Today is our wedding anniversary.

On September 30, 2000, I arrived with a water taxi at the island of Torcello. Torcello is the oldest island in the lagoon of Venice. Unfortunately the weather changed overnight and it rained cats and dogs.

"Acqua alta" urged me to make a big jump with my tight wedding dress on my way to church.

This was the scariest step I did that day… And I remember all Italians saying "matrimonio bagnato, matrimonio fortunato" (wet wedding, happy wedding).

Today is not only my wedding anniversary - but also my father's birthday.

He walked me down the aisle. Happy Birthday Daddy !

Oh, and while the guests were waiting for me in front of the church, one of my German single girlfriends met my future husband's 4th degree Italian cousin - and they are together since that day and happily married with a cute daughter - now a 5th grade (or so) cousin to our son.

And that's it.

Since here I am married !

Me & Writing & Design Blogs

I am a writer! At least once in a while, when I am blogging or when I am writing for a magazine like

tbjhome. It is a monthly English lifestyle and interior design magazine that is distributed together with

That's Beijing, the essential monthly guide for life in Beijing. It was fun working with the editor and with the bloggers Danielle, Grace and Jennifer (see details below). Thank you for the cooperation!

I love to work from home, anytime, best time for me is nighttime.

Here is the article, two pages - click on the pic to enlarge:

I proposed to the editor to introduce some creative design blogs to our readers instead of recommending design books. They liked the idea, and gave me even two pages. However the editor said they only want design blogs that have their own domain name because blogspot is blocked in China (censorship).

So I choose from my favorites:

the style files by Danielle de Lange, The Netherlands

design*sponge by Grace Bonney, New York U.S.

and The Peak of Chic by Jennifer Dwyer, Atlanta U.S.

At the end the editor decided to at least mention three more of my favorite design blogs that are on blogspot (if anybody in China faces access difficulties, go via pkblogs.com):

Absolutely Beautiful Things by Anna Spiro, Brisbane Australia

Decor8 by Holly Becker, Boston U.S.

and Designers' Block by Di Overton, National Park Northumberland U.K.

As thinking green is important for our environment, I was looking for a green blog and found

inhabitat. This blog, founded by Jill Fehrenbacher, New York is entirely devoted to green design.

Two more inspiring blogs were suggested by the editor:

Core77 - the industrial design super site

and NOTCOT - a visual filtration of ideas + aesthetics + amusement

And what does this have to do with our Palazzo in Pizzo ?

Well, it is mentioned in the magazine as well, sort of, shortly, in my bio.

As I know lots of other bloggers from pictures, I feel like I owe you a picture of me. And as it is published in this Beijing magazine anyway, why not publish it on my blog?

Here it is:

Bye for now.