Italy – everything that inspires creativity, reading, hiking, sightseeing, conversations with friends, discoveries, and heartfelt experiences; oh, yes, and gastronomy!
Once upon a time, we had a Polski Fiat (model 126p). It was red, and I loved it. As a little girl, I would curl up in the back seat, which didn't even have seat belts. We would bump along wherever we were heading: to school, to do the shopping, to work. Polish-Italian, or rather half-Italian! Later a radio-cassette player was added, and the ’small-border-crossing’ passport (yes, residents of border towns may still remember) made it possible to "travel" to the shops of the neighbour town of Yugoslavia.
It was almost like Italy, as you could get hold of some Italian stuff, mainly Toto Cutugno and Italia Hits cassettes. Of course, we listened to them over and over again, bouncing back and forth in that tiny car. To be honest I grew up listening to Italian pop music in an Italian car! The real turning point came in high school in the early 90s: I got into an Italian class! And Italy slowly drew me. I traveled to many places, explored, wondered, tasted, and listened to the buzz of the streets, the friendliness and laughter of the locals. Pop music was replaced by classical music and in the world of food I must have gluten-free. Life is a roller coaster, but it's still beautiful.
This is the life that appears in my own collections, this is the feeling I paint on the scarves. That is why my creations are named after Italian towns. Tiny villages, popular attractions and distant places are connected in them. Each entices you to travel to Italy, because "la vita è bella."
