New tattoo!

Only a couple of friends know about this little tattooI just had yesterday.
It all happened in 2 days, but I've been having this idea in my mind for about 5 years.
Last time I was taking Japanese classes in Milan, (before moving to Padua and then back to Milan...) I discovered the haikus of Issa. I kind of fell in love with them.

A haiku is a sort of short poetry of 3 verses, usually has seasonal and nature references in it.
I find this "condensed" poetic art extremely beautiful. Little, significant moments frozen in only a few words.

I fell in love with this one, which is some kind of proverb, and on my birthday I finally found a drawing I loved to put together.
So here it is.
Meet my new friend.

The snail is about 5 cm so all those details you see, are the tiniest thing ever.
This little creature is on my left shoulder, and I hope I won't wait this long to give her company on the other side.

I really needed something to keep reminding myself that this long climbing will actually bring me somewhere beautiful and that both journey and arrival can be amazing, if I keep believing it.

Inspirational bracelet tutorial

I am often asked how I started beading.
As most people, my first approch to beads was a handmade loom, made by my mom with a shoe box.
When I grew a little older, I learnt with a 70's book how to do flat and round peyote stitch.

For about 15 years and more I haven't been doing anything else. I wasn't aware of the huge beading community existing online. I guess faster internet and websites like Flickr and Pinterest have made it all so much easier.

I have lernt so many techniques and stitches, but in the end I always come back to peyote stitch for one reason or another: I need to make a beaded toggle, or some tubular beaded beads to cover something, or I just need to relax and "switch off" my brain doing something simple.

Lately I have been making these cute bracelets

they are so versatile and easy but give great satisfaction.
So I made a tutorial.
Because many people ask me how I started to understand if they are still on time to start, so I just want to tell you: sure! There is always plenty of time to start!

People who don't know about beadweaving also don't know that some of the most talented beadweavers are not exactly young girls (they surely are at heart) and just started a few years ago.
Excellence is a habit!

You can find my tutorial here.