Chatting with Ciao Bella!
I know I'm late to the game but I've just recorded my first podcast interview. I have mentioned my friend Erica Firpo's podcast CIAO BELLA on social media before. It's fantastic and I'm not saying that because she's a close friend.
This description of Ciao Bella sums it up perfectly.
"Italy's 21st-century creators - contemporary artists and artisans, heritage brands and innovative aesthetes, chefs, experts and more who are defining, redefining and evolving Italy.
Fashion. Food. Art. Travel. Design. Innovation. Tradition. And more. Cocktail conversations and behind-the-scenes visits that will make you want to pack your bags and go!"
I'm thrilled to be in the company of other Italy based creatives and to discuss what it is we love (and sometimes don't love so much) about this country.
In this episode we talked about working in Italy, interior design, Reno Italiano, and the beach house project I recently finished in Anguilla, BWI.
Erica and I met at Ciampini Caffe, one of our favourites places in Rome. Of course while we were there, construction started on an apartment above us.
The Design Files - The Authentics
The Authentics: A Lush Dive into the Substance of Style by Melanie Acevedo & Dara Caponigro, is gorgeous book that takes us into the beautiful homes of dynamic people who work in a variety of creative fields.
Ms. Acevedo is a well known photographer. Ms. Caponigro was one of the founders of DOMINO magazine and is currently the Creative Director of F. Schumacher & Co., the legendary fabric, wallpaper, and rug company.This is a book I will reference time and time again. Some of the names are famous in the design world, like Kelly Wearstler, Miles Redd, and Nicky Haslam, or celebrities such as actress Peggy Lipton and hair stylist Sally Hershberger. There are landscape architects, jewelry designers, chefs, etc. All have an unique point of view.Some of the rooms or gardens might be a bit "much" but I love that in a homogenized world there are people who surround themselves with things that they enjoy regardless of popularity.
Visually, this coffee table book is a knockout. It has thick quality paper and is beautifully photographed.The interviews with these talented creative people were very inspiring. It's easy, thanks to social media, to see the same images again and again. At first everyone is excited and then the same people start to complain that the image is played or trite. The Authentics create their spaces in a way that speaks to their interests, loves, and passions. That approach will never go out of style. 
My Tamu's Cafe Interview
Last summer I was interviewed by the lovely Tamu McPherson owner/creator of All The Pretty Birds.Those who follow fashion know what a big deal Ms. McPherson is in the industry. She's a smart, dynamic, woman with a strong style POV. Tamu is also kind, down to earth, and hilarious.When she said she wanted to interview me, I'll be honest, I had a minor panic attack. I DO NOT like being in front of the camera. I had to do an interview for the behind the scenes extras for our film JUMPING THE BROOM's DVD. I believe I watched it once after the studio sent me a copy of the film.Also, it was an extremely hot day in Milan and my monthly friend had arrived. Grrrrrr. I felt like a Weeble. I thought we were tapping at her house which had AC. Nope, we were also going to walk around Milan.
Despite the Caribbean blood that courses through my veins, I'm not a fan of hot weather. I'd say mid/high 70's (F) is my jam. It's in the mid 90s in Rome now and the sun here is on another level. Seriously.My dress had long sleeves but thanks to Tamu's expert sleeve rolling, I was cool as a cucumber. I bought the La Double J dress to celebrate a new project. Little did I know that my biggest client would be leaving Rome (thanks Trump...literally). No regrets though. Last Thursday evening I wore to the dress to events at Chez Dede and the reopening at Le Méridien. People kept asking me where I got it. It's the perfect dress for a dinner date too. Wait, I don't have any of those coming up. Never mind. Back to the subject at hand, the interview.Tamu broke it up into two parts. In Part I, it seems like I did ALL the talking. Tamu, for time, edited out her questions. In Part II we hear more from Tamu. There are Italian subtitles. We talked about working in Italy and what it's like to be a WOC living here, among other things.I move my hands around a lot. I take after my father's side of the family. They're very expressive.PART IPART III have to thank our glam squad. Just kidding. We didn't have one. Tamu and I did our own makeup.Grazie mille, Tamu!
How pretty are these arrangements from Frida's Flowers?
Guest Post - Studying Abroad in Rome
Ciao Bloggisti,This is the last post from our intern, Ariella. I asked her to write about her overall experience studying in Rome. It was a pleasure to work with Ariella and we wish her the best as she continues her studies at Cornell University.I have spent the last four and a half months exploring Rome. I've immersed myself in a new culture, started to learn a new language, admired the art and architecture of this amazing city that continues to create history, and meandered through its confusing yet welcoming streets.The illusions and expectations of studying and living abroad in Rome were surpassed by the realities of my temporary new home. The only real challenge seemed to be the difference in the food markets, which I quickly understood. How fun and interesting to be able to select and purchase food that looked real and smelled as it should. The shadows of dust and dirt reminded me of where the food actually came from, as opposed to very manicured and polished plastic packages of foods that all looked the same and had no aroma.Stopping at every cafe along the way as I discovered my neighborhood and others I explored, I found my comfort zone. While homesick for family and friends for a short first week, I'm now faced with the fear of returning as I know I will long for the place I will be leaving behind. I suppose it's good to leave with the feeling of wanting to return as my mission feels unfinished. I fantasize about returning for an extended period of time and can even imagine living here in the future.Rome has surpassed my expectations and has given me much to think about. I have enjoyed the people, the culture and lifestyle, and the way one moves through this city. It has been so interesting to see how such an old city with all its monuments and history has been able to have continuity despite the politics and introduction of globalization. This is evident by all the current problems of immigration, unemployment, housing, circulation etc. It's obvious that to preserve and yet become a place where the locals and visitors can enjoy this eternal city, introducing and maintaining infrastructure in the existing urban fabric has been quite a challenge.It has been a privilege to live and learn in this setting with Rome’s varied colors as they age and as the sun rises and sets through the changing seasons, giving us different perspectives of an everlasting place.
Self-Promotion - How do it Without Alienating Everyone?
Yes, the title is a question not a statement. This is a road my entrepreneur/freelancing friends and I are trying to navigate.I was thinking about this while walking home after meeting up with some girlfriends.
They are a dynamic group of women.However, one thing I have noticed time and time again (especially when I worked in Hollywood) is that so many of my female friends tend to downplay their success. They say they're lucky or get embarrassed when talking about their accomplishments. Meanwhile, my male friends and colleagues would proudly discuss their success and many would take credit for things they didn't even do.Perhaps there is a fine line between bragging and just stating the facts. What is it?Is being too humble holding us back? I'm not saying we need to go to a Trumpian level of bloviating but the constant self-deprecating, aww shucks thing needs to stop.Even my friends who were born with a sliver platter, hustle. True, their family's influence helped them get in the door but they stay in the room because they're great at what they do. Luck is only a small part of their success.Recently, the very talented Felicia Sullivan asked me to be part of a series she's writing on successful female entrepreneurs. At first, I wondered why would she want to interview me. My friend Erica knocked some sense into me and I did the interview. Then she told me I had to Tweet about it a few times over the next few months. I haven't. Why not?The fact that there's a popular hastag called #humblebrag speaks volumes. Why be passive aggressive? A agent friend in Hollywood told me that there's nothing wrong with with tooting your own horn as long as you also toot the horn of others. Nobody wants to see or read a feed that is me, me, me, 24/7.When I think about the self-promotion that turns me off, it's because the person only talks about themselves. Always.So I say go ahead and tell the world about the great things you're doing. How will people know unless you have a publicist? Maybe some people won't think these things are that great, special, or interesting. That's okay. It's something you're proud of.I'm going to work on my own self-deprecating responses. I now know I won't succeed if I only dwell on negative things or what I haven't accomplished yet in my career. As 2015 draws to a close, I am thinking long and hard regarding how speak about my work and my business.And yes, I'm going to retweet this interview:When I first visited Rome in 2008, Arlene took me to the most incredible Italian restaurant–one I would never have found on a map. We were introduced by a woman who was interested in adapting my memoir for film. Although the project fell through, I’m thankful for having met Arlene and for our long-distance friendship since, punctuated by my occasional visits to Italy.I admire Arlene deeply, embarrassingly so. She left a job, country, and life in pursuit of something other. She wasn’t tethered to age as a means of trapping one in one’s vocation, rather she set out to find her place in the world. Up until a few months ago she was a successful writer/producer and now tell stories in another form: interiors. I love women with verve, women who take risks, break ranks, and live without apology. Arlene is all of these things, but in the end she’s a truth-teller. I only hope to be as successful as I move through my acts. Let her story inspire you. –FSWhen I first met you, you’d recently emigrated to Rome from the U.S. Truth be told, I admired you, how brave you were to leave a successful career behind for something other. This was a time before we’d read articles about expats and second acts. Your career has spanned politics, film and entertainment—but tell us how you returned to your first love: decorating. Why did you leave producing behind?Arlene Gibbs: What timing. Until two months ago, I had two careers going on, screenwriter/producer, and decorator.When we first met, I was writing full-time and developing a few projects as a producer. Everyone told me it would be impossible to be a screenwriter/producer based in Rome (especially without a trust fund). Even after our movie Jumping The Broom was released, and importantly was a hit, I heard the same thing. Nothing changed. Nobody cared. It was a “niche” film. When I pointed out to a producer friend that there were plenty of successful British screenwriters who worked in Hollywood but lived in London, I was told, “Yes, but they are British, white, and male.”To your last question, it took me forever to see the light. Earlier this summer, one of my dear friends, who lives in Rome, said that the universe was screaming at me and I was ignoring the signs. This friend is usually not that crunchy. I needed to heed her advice.Then I read this quote from JJ Martin, an American fashion and design journalist who lives in Milan, and everything clicked.
The best advice I’ve ever received was to look at everything that comes your way as an opportunity. Do not underestimate the power of chance and fate. Do what you love, what opens you up, not what closes you down, and makes you act like an asshole. Be responsible, be loving, be caring. That’s what I advise to anyone starting out. If you truly love fashion, it will come to you.
She’s talking about fashion but it could be applied to any creative endeavor. I wasn’t an asshole when I worked in Hollywood, my former assistants still speak to me, but I was not myself. I became a very bitter person.I was recently hired for a decorating project in Los Angeles. It was my first trip back since making my big decision. It was a great experience. I returned to Rome feeling positive instead of depressed.The rest of the interview is HERE.Thanks again, Felicia!