La Magia del Bianco Magazine - English version

La magia del Bianco MAGAZINE

MAGIC OF GIFTS GREY INSPIRATIONS CHRISTMAS TEA PARTY VALENTINE WEDDING

dicembre 2013-febbraio 2014 1

{The a

Cinzia Corbetta,Architect, interior designer, graphic, she’s graduated at the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan.

She loves retrieving and restoring furniture and objects found in flea markets. Shabby chic, french chic & Provence style lover.

Her blog “La Gatta sul tetto� is concerned with furnishing and decorating, posting her decorations and many tutorials.

Blog: www.lagattasultettomilano.com E-mail: lagattasultettomilano.com

Follow us: blog magiadelbianco.blogspot.it official facebook page E-mail: magiadelbianco@gmail.com

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authors}

Mari Crea, Photographer, decorator and blogger, specialized in fine decoration and trompe l’oeil. Passionate about interior design, shabby chic & scandinavian style lover. Interiors are her main subjects, shooting them for her blog “Creamaricrea”, her publications and this magazine.

She loves also portraiting children & people, shooting at events, ceremonies and especially weddings.

Blog: creamaricrea.blogspot.it E-mail: maricrea09@gmail.com

GRAPHIC, STYING,TEXTS : Cinzia Corbetta PHOTOGRAPHS, STYLING TEXTS: Mari Crea Copyright © 2013 La Magia del Bianco 3

{Contributors} Betti Calani, Florist, as she likes to be called. She grew up on the shores of Lake Maggiore, between woods and gardens of hydrangeas. Her floral creations are very natural, characterized by seasonality and attention to detail. Graduated as European Florist at Federfiori’s school, she teachs gardening at the Association of Garden Teachers.

Sito: www.betticalani.com E-mail: info@betticalani.com

Giada Pinna, Graduated in communication, she worked as trader and buyer for several showrooms delivering furnishing and decoration.

Now she’s a businesswoman mom and owns “Lovin Mama”, a shop where she sells the trendiest giftware and home accessories, carefully selected according to her experience.

She loves the colors and materials.... the useful things, but also frivolous ones.

More info in addresses.

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{Addresses} Lovin’ Mama , via San Domenico, 25, Chieri (TO) Tel: 0039 011 263 60 14 Official facebook page Tessitura Rivese di Beltramo Raimondo e Museo Bottega Storica Tessile Via Circonvallazione 11, Riva presso Chieri (TO) Tel: 0039 011 946 91 13S www.tessiturarivese.it E-mail: customer.service@tessiturarivese.it Maryplaid, Plaid, homewear Sito internet: www.maryplaid.it

Official facebook page

I profumi di Melograno Antico, perfumes.

Sito: melogranoantico.sitiwebs.com Official facebook page E-mail: melogranoantico@libero.it Pasticceria Buttiglieri Snc Di Buttiglieri Giuseppe & C. Via XX Settembre, 10, Chieri (TO) Shabby & Charme, interior decoration.

Via Felice Cavallotti, 39, La Spezia.

Official Facebook page JYSK Sito: www.jysk.it 5

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Magical Christmas H

ere’s the 4th issue of our magazine: it’s winter time! This will be mainly about Christmas, and people who love the home as we obviously do.

So go-ahead with the decorations, tablescapes, packets and conviviality. A “pre-Christmas” tea party, to taste tea and sweets with dearest friends, make simple recipes for family dinner and a sip a hot chocolate close to a fireplace or a stove.

But winter isn’t only Christmas, so we thought about giving a special Valentine to all romantic people. In the end, you can find tutorials and printable material in order to have fun creating your own decoration.

We wish all our readers a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Translation Mari Crea

Mari e Cinzia 7

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Summary 10 18 30 40 50 8

Advent Calendar Magical night Vintage touch Magic of gift Grey inspirations

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30 40 92 112

60 Valentine Wedding 88 Pine cones 92 Charming Christmas 112 Christmas Tea Party 132 Printables

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The Advent Calendar

Styling, Text Cinzia Corbetta Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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hile waiting for the birth of Jesus, the Advent season begins on the first day of December and lasts twentyfour days. During this period, in many homes, you can find a small ritual that involves the kids: every day children get a small gift, hidden in an Advent pocket calendar: a special one made of twenty-four days.

Our calendar is very simple: 24 bread bags, round paper labels chalkboard painted and chalk to write. Even children can help to make it.

Then the parents will fill the bags with small gifts and will close them with clothespins.

In a short time the advent calendar will be ready.

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Magical Night Styling, Text Cinzia Corbetta Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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t’s Christmas Eve and the whole family gathered to celebrate the longest night of the year, a magical night for children and for adults who love the Christmas feeling.

Dinner is almost ready and the preparation of the table is an important moment: opening the boxes that hold the finest linens, grandmother’s cutlery, serving dishes and tableware.

In our setup, we used a milky white pure linen tablecloth with an elegant ecru high edge, rattan placemats for a rustic touch, and red glasses.

The bone china white dishes and household cutlery complete the table equipment.

Decorations are all natural and inspired by Nordic countries.

We use small boxwood wreaths as placeholders and the centerpiece is a wooden reindeer coated in silver.

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A strip of Tuja branches runs around the table like a green forest populated by magical presences: tealights and small red apples.

Dinner is ready: we turn on the candles and Christmas tree lights, turn any other light and the atmosphere is charged immediately with magic. Merry Christmas!

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Vintage touch Styling, Text Cinzia Corbetta Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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n an old office, on a 50’s desk, time has stopped. Old writing tools tell us of a time when everything was slower, when handwriting or typewriter were used to communicate and classify.

At that time the paper smelled of cellulose, ink stained fingers and buttons of the typewriter, that emitted an unmistakable sound. Writing was almost a sensory experience, not only a visual one, as nowadays, in the digital age. The magic of an handwritten text and the raw elegance of a typed sheet is something of unique and once-off.

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The magic of gifts Styling, Text Cinzia Corbetta Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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eople, especially children, always look forward to exchange Christmas gifts.

The well-wrapped gifts are traditionally placed under the Christmas tree, and they carry colored notes and joy in all homes. Our presents are wrapped in simple white and brown parcel paper, stopped by colored ribbons, fabric strips and threads of string.

Each package is different, embellished with various decorations and marked by a label with the recipient’s name penned with a beautiful handwriting.

Even gift packages can be an object of design, they give more joy if you prepare them with care.

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grey inspirations Styling, Text Cinzia Corbetta Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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any people think that gray is a sad color, but it’s a very chic one instead. This color reminds us of soft and warm wool blankets and it harmonizes perfectly with the white snow and the brown wood and chocolate.

We prepared a delicious hot chocolate with whipped cream and traditional Christmas cookies, so we could enjoy them on a cold December, evening beside the crackling fire in the stove.

The smell of chocolate joins the pine cones, stronger and pungent: a look at the decorations and the candles, and a sweet sensation wraps us ... soon it will be Christmas!

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Valentine’s Wedding Styling, Cinzia Corbetta Photography, Text Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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et married during the winter is dangerous: cold temperature, rain, even snow are possible, even likely, but to choose Valentine’s day, the most romantic day of the year is a fantastic idea.

The dominant color is red passion, the mood is tartan, that’s a very trendy one during this winter 2013-14. Stunning floral displays, hearts of each material, glass and gleaming metals for this simple, but elegant setting. The happiness of a young couple is a dream that comes true: love is in the air.

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Project: Mari Crea e Cinzia Corbetta Potographer: Mari Crea Styling: Cinzia Corbetta and Mari Crea Sationery: Cinzia Corbetta Floral arrangements, candleholders, metal and glass hearts: Betti Calani Table setting, wedding cake, marshmellows: Lovin Mama Almond candy: Buttiglieri pastry Vintage gown Tartan plaid: Maryplaid Location: Piedmont country house Models: Benedetta Rimola and Riccardo Filimbaia

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This bouquet is very natural. it seems almost casually and quickly assembled but it isn’t.

This bride’s bouquet is glamourous and fashionable, with the colors of the tartan plaid used by the winter bride to heat her shoulders. Big red gerberas and ruby rose buds are softened by graceful white anemones and vanilla carnations.

Hypericum and Leucodendron berries give lightness and freshness to the red bouquet. We “stole” the green twigs to our cedar of Lebanon.

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The pine cone looks like a rose Text Betti Calani Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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any years ago, I parked my car in a small city alley and when I got off, I was surprised by the amount of small and large wooden roses that covered the whole street, forming an original dull brown carpet.

So I decided to bring home these delicious cones. I didn’t know them very well, I saw them only in a few Christmas decorations.

I was young and I wasn’t accustomed to the natural world that now fills my whole life.

Where these beautiful wooden roses come from?

They are produced by the “Cedrus Libani” (cedar of Lebabon).

This tree is a mighty and majestic symbol of power and strength since ancient times.

It’s said that the columns of King Salomon Temple were built 89

using this cedar wood. Also the Phoenicians used this fine and solid wood to build boats, and ships.

The Cedar of Lebanon belongs to the family of Pinaceae, ranked as conifers.

It’s a native of northern Anatolia, Syria and Lebanon. Now it grows naturally along the rocky slopes and limestone and it reach 40 meters height, sometimes even 60 meters.

Branches take on a “candlestick”posture that go up with an angle of 90 °.

In Europe, this cedar came in the 17th century. In 1683, some specimens were planted in London, at the Chelsea Physics Garden.

Blue green needle-like leaves are grouped in small bunches on woody branches Male flowers are gray-green and female ones are yellow.

The fruits, pine cones, are large and conical, but as they accrue they open as a roses.

During the winter I use these beautiful wooden roses which are perfect in my style of natural flower arrangements.

They can be stored in cardboard boxes, and used every year in the Christmas decorations, as Christmas balls. You can make beautiful wreaths, place cards, close a gift bag or use them to tie the napkins by gluing to a red ribbon, for example.

You can decorate your table with these pine cones along with tealights.

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In Italy you will find the most beautiful and oldest specimens here: Two in Massari Park, in Ferrara One in La Maddalena Island, Sardinia.

One in Monfalletto Estate, La Morra, Cuneo One in the boarding school Pagani’s Park near Campobasso One near the train station of Chieri, near Torino.

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Charming Christmas Text Cinzia Corbetta Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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e are at Anna’s home, a bright apartment in an ancient building in the centre of La Spezia. Anna is a smiling woman, who greets us with his beloved shitzu Oliver (affectionately known as Olly) that, curiously, follows us in every room.

At first glance we are struck by the plentiful light, even though we are in December.

The dominant white and the considerable height of the ceilings give us a sense of lightness and freshness. The apartment looks as a French one, with touches of English and Gustavian style: final result is very elegant and refined. Anna has designed the renovation project, she took care of all the details from distribution of spaces to furnishings.

“The project has been designed by an architect on my precise instructions”, Anna said.

Doors and windows were remade complying the original style, while the floors have been replaced by boards of bleached oak.

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The house grows around the living room, where Anna put the Christmas tree, decorated with fabric hearts, tulle bows, tassels and strings of pearls.

“I made all the decorations, I purchased something in a South Tyrol Christmas market, and something comes from my shop (Shabby & Charme, La Spezia). I tried to change something every year: I don’t like red color, and I only use it in the kitchen... in the other rooms I use mainly light colors”Anna tells us, showing her Christmas decorations.

A beautiful english fireplace stands in the living room between two large windows. It’s decorated with traditional Christmas stockings and romantic white roses.

In conversation area we can find blue and white porcelain and objects.

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The cabriolet armchairs were bought at the flea market in Nice, France.

They were in very bad condition and Anna has personally restored and coated before covering them with a checked blue and white, Gustavian style, cloth. The sofa, with classic lined cloth, is by Bodema.

In the kitchen, we enjoyed a delicious tea with pastries served in Green Gate cups from Anna’s shop. Here, red is starring color of decorations and accessories.

Even the kitchen impresses us with the brightness and good taste.

Anna explains: “Kitchen furniture are entirely a project of mine.

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It’s all drawn by my son and made by a factory near Chiavari.�

The table belonged to the great-grandmother of Anna, while the beautiful Ligurian cupboard was purchased from an antique shop in Genoa.

We keep on sipping our tea, enjoying every detail of this beautiful home, and we feel that Christmas is close, a beautiful charming Christmas.

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Christmas Tea Party Styling, Text Cinzia Corbetta Photography Mari Crea

Translation Mari Crea

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raditionally, Christmas is a family celebration, but the gift exchange involves also friends and co-workers.

With a little imagination you can have fun creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere in your home, to exchange gifts and greetings with your dearest friends.

We set up a special tea party, with plenty of cakes, sweets, candies, meringues and decorations.

We were inspired by romantic English tea with a touch of Scandinavian Christmas style, so we chose a blue color for an unconventional Christmas and we added a little bit of traditional red.

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Copyright Š 2013 La Magia del Bianco 140

The Magic of White. Shabby chic style in Italy.

Authors Cinzia Corbetta & Mari Crea The first book about shabby chic style in Italy How to find it: www.lagattasultetto.mi.it/contatti/dove-acquistare-la-magia-del-bianco/

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Thank you! we wish you a merry christmas and happy new year magiadelbianco.blogspot.it facebook fan page E-mail: magiadelbianco@gmail.com

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