Italian Stylings from Modigliani

Classic Italian dinnerware, serveware, glassware and pottery; artistically designed & traditionally created by Italian craftsmen.

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Italian Stylings Blend With Spring Wedding Trends

Modigliani invites people to celebrate the everyday -- so when it comes to life’s special milestones, like weddings, we are first in line to celebrate alongside our customers.

Nothing brings us more joy than helping couples select the dinnerware and serving pieces for their future table, or assisting guests in picking the perfect gift from a bridal registry.

Since we also take joy in creating tablescapes and serving unique culinary creations, we also keep an eye on current wedding trends, particular those around our headquarters, Kansas City. We have a soft spot for KC’s own bridal publication EA Bride, as their aesthetic and creativity aligns well with our own proclivity for handcrafted, unique, and artful celebrations.

With the summer issue due out any day now, we are glancing back at some of our favorite spring wedding trends highlighted in the spring 2015 issue of EA Bride (order a physical copy here) and exploring how you can incorporate Italian stylings with these trends.

Bringing Italian Stylings into Spring Wedding Trends

Bright, Fun, and Eclectic

EA’s “A Fair to Remember” feature photographed by Melissa & Beth reveals an ongoing wedding trend: a move away from the more traditional and formal event toward a fun, colorful, and eclectic affair that doesn't take itself too seriously.

In this styled engagement shoot, the bride- and groom-to-be frolic at a fair with a carousel and cotton candy truck as their backdrops. Bright and playful shades of mint, teal, salmon, and marigold mingle with royal blue. The couple sips from glass soda bottles and holds a balloon bouquet. The vibe is flirty and fun.

Echo this wedding trend in your own tablescapes (bridal or otherwise) with our bright dinnerware collections. Pair the POP collection’s Lines dinner plate with the Circle soup bowl.

Or for more centralized color, pair a solid colored plate, like our Laccata Puro, with a mix of tall, rainbow-hued vessels for florals, like the Check Large Twisted POP vase or the coordinating Circle Vase. The mix of complementary colors but alternating patterns will inject fun and energy into your tablescapes.

Bohemian Vibes

The “Glitz and Gypsy Glam” photo shoot by Jana Marie and styled by Amani Skalacki encapsulates another trend: a Bohemian-chic aesthetic achieved by blending bright colors (aqua and coral) with moodier jewel tones (magenta and sangria) and lush greenery. Gold accents add a touch of glamour, while mismatched dinnerware and serving pieces add frivolity to a traditional farmhouse table. Small bites are served atop an ottoman under fabric draping.

You can easily achieve a similar look at your wedding or next gathering with our Italian ceramics. A mix-and-match approach to the table reigns, but make things feel united by picking a few colors to emphasize, then combining plates, bowls, and servingware in that colorway. Our website makes it easy to determine complementary pieces -- just select a collection and scroll down to the “COMPLEMENTARY PRODUCTS” section.

We also love the idea of serving up a smorgasbord of cheeses, crackers, grapes, spreads, and other cicchetti for guests to munch on as they mingle during cocktail hour. We carry a number of serving platters perfect for artful appetizer display, as well as pitchers and carafes for wine, sangria, or liqueurs.

Earthy Colors, Natural Patterns

The July wedding shot by Lark Photography featured in “Magic in the Mountains” exudes rustic-casual elegance thanks to a palette of sunny yellows and oranges, nude-peach, pale grey, gold, and earthy brown. Natural elements like succulents, wildflower bouquets, and wooden boxes lend a charming outdoorsy ambience to the indoor tablescapes, echoing the natural feel of the venue’s exposed beams and wooden floors.

Though largely photographed outside, this real-life wedding can be emulated even in indoor events. Ground your tablescape with earthy colors, choosing one brighter color as your primary accent. Select plates with florals and other natural patterns to bring the outside in -- we’re partial to the Festa line or Terre di Chianti. 

Use some of the larger serving pieces to arrange desserts and small bites, like the shooters and cupcakes this couple clustered among florals and photos.

Make Time to Celebrate “La Grande Vita”

Even if you are not planning any nuptials, we invite you to try your hand at these spring wedding trends. Make the ordinary a celebration in the true spirit of our philosophy, “Embrace la Grande Vita.” Create memorable tablescapes and food to savor. Every moment can be special with a little care.

If you are a soon-to-be-newlywed, we extend our warmest congratulations. Modigliani would love to be a part of your table for years to come. We would be honored to personally help you select the handcrafted, one-of-a-kind dinnerware, flatware, glassware, or serving pieces that you’ll use at family gatherings for years to come. To start your own registry -- or peruse a loved one’s list and select a piece as unique as their relationship -- click here or contact us today at [phone].

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European Trend Watch: Blending Modern, Antique, & One-of-a-Kind

Modigliani values the personal touch above all. We reflect this not only in our customer service -- we relish answering questions and helping customers pick out gifts -- but also in our commitment to bringing truly handcrafted Italian ceramics directly to tables across North America.

We believe in preserving the traditional production of our pottery and dinnerware that our artisans have learned for generations. We value the beautiful quirks that show our pieces are genuinely one-of-a-kind -- the kiss of a thumbprint sealing the hand-braided handle to the body of our Festa pitcher, for example. Because they are handmade and hand-painted, no two pieces from Modigliani are exactly alike -- and that’s how we like it. That’s why you won’t see our artists replaced by automation or machinery; rather, you’ll see apprentices coupling with seasoned artisans to learn the traditional craftsmanship required to produce our high-quality products.

Happily, we aren’t the only ones who prize the unique and handcrafted. We keep an eye on European trends, and according to our Italian artisans and associates, interior decorators, fashion designers, and even chefs are blending classic and modern styles to create truly a singular aesthetic.

2015 European Design Trends

Combining Classic & Modern for a Unique Look

Modigliani’s own Chief Executive Loredana Spagnoletto sums up the trends we’ve seen reflected at home and lifestyle shows like Ambiente and HOMI:

“The tendency for the home and table for 2015 is a blend of classic and retro style with traditional and new materials; the colors are fresh and cheerful, with artistic details. The contemporary design blends with the genuine antique or the piece discovered at your grandmother’s house. The purpose is to get a home that looks elegant and luxurious, but especially original and unique -- a one-of-a-kind home with a great personality.”

We see the emphasis on the traditional and unique in Milan’s HOMI exhibition. In one vignette, rustic tables lend an old-world feel and warmth to an industrial brick backdrop; a Grecian-inspired lamp, ornate black mirror and numerical prints seamlessly blend old and new. In another, industrial pendants hang over an eclectic grouping of apothecary jars, an iron bust, antique books, and a silver and crystal-accented candelabra.

The recent Ambiente show in Frankfurt, Germany shows that these trends are spreading internationally. A gallery wall of gilded mirrors exudes collected elegance when arranged over an intricately-carved wooden bench, bringing in the artistic and unique details Loredana highlighted. The fur shag pillows perched atop and modern-lined tables clustered in add contrast and interest.

Reinventing Design With Color & Creativity

Loredana also notes that designers are trending toward bold colors (like our Primavera line!) and reinventing furniture and materials creatively to make spaces and pieces unique:

“Second-hand furniture, recycled in creative ways and sometimes mixed with pieces of contemporary furniture, add to the unique and individualistic look.  Old, restored furniture coexists with hand-embroidered curtains and a coffee table crafted of reclaimed wood, together with vases made on the lathe. Colorful and cheerful objects and dishes are inserted make the environment dynamic and more alive. Imagination and creativity are a must for the upcoming seasons.”

Our own Modigliani display at Ambiente shows how a creative spin on an ordinary thing -- a manzanita branch -- can add an unexpected element to a traditional tablescape featuring the updated Extra Virgin collection and amber glassware similar to the Villa d’Este.

Bringing Authenticity to the Table

Designers are not the only ones incorporating old and new: in food, Loredana notes, there’s also a “a return to tradition and authenticity, with an emphasis on foods that are healthy, natural and not too processed. For the fanciest parties, the menu will include recipes reminiscent of rural tradition or family memories, all served in dishes that transmit the warmth of tradition and the pleasure you feel when you “Embrace la grande vita!” Slow-roasted herbed potatoes, ancient grains like emmer, and sustainably-grown heirloom tomatoes with locally-farmed mozzarella are all European-inspired dishes that fit the bill.

Food is not the only part of your table that can be attuned to these trends; Modigliani invites you to celebrate the old and new, the handcrafted and authentic, the colorful and the one-of-a-kind, with our handmade Italian ceramics. Our handmade and hand-painted dinnerware, serveware, linens, and decorative ceramics can be mixed and matched, so your only aesthetic limitation is your own imagination. Collections range from modern (La Forma del Sogno-Rosso) to traditional (Frutta Laccata and Galletto), showcasing every shade of the rainbow (our POP and Rosso collections will surely satisfy your color cravings).

We are proud to bring the history and heritage of Italian ceramics directly to North American tables. With Modigliani, you can emulate European stylings in your own home and create beauty in everyday moments. We like the sound, and look, of that.

[italianceramics]

Coaxing Spring With Playful Plaids

Why wait for the weather to reflect what you feel?

At Modigliani, our minds are on spring despite recent snow. Some might say it’s silly to allow our imaginations to scamper off to sun-dappled days prematurely; we say that to embrace la grande vita means to indulge in a little dreaming now and then.

When our thoughts drifted to the warmer season just weeks away, an unexpected pattern came to mind: plaid.

Plaid: Spring’s New Pattern

Though solid green has long been a vernal symbol, we think it’s time for more patterns and colors to have their time in the (spring) sun.

In our new Primavera collection, several shades come out to play: cerulean, sky, and marigold mingle with earthy greens and browns, depicting a quintessentially spring floral motif. The collection also brings a playful plaid to the mix, and we think it’s a pattern perfectly befitting of spring.

It appears we aren’t alone, either. We’ve noticed plaid gracing catwalks and interiors lately.

Plaid, Reinvented

An Unexpected Accent

Small doses of plaid are enough to make a large impact on any space, ensemble, or tablescape. Whether you’re incorporating an antique plaid picnic basket into a vignette, adding a dash of color to your outfit with a lightweight plaid scarf, or using a spring-hued plaid runner to ground your centerpiece, the pattern adds just the right hint of fun and quirk.

Just look at the layered look of the plaid Primavera lunch plate peeking out from beneath the floral salad plate; it shows that a little of the pattern goes a long way.

Bright Colorways

Plaid has always seemed at home in fall and winter, partially because the pattern often comes in more autumnal and winter shades like orange, red, brown, tan, white, and black.

But as our Primavera collection shows, plaid isn’t a pattern reserved for woolen throws, flannels, and other fall staples. Designers, including our own Italian artisans, have reinvented the pattern as a spring motif, largely by trading out more earthy tones for brighter colorways. Spring fashions feature bold color pops in plaid patterns. Interior designers are incorporating more vibrant plaid drapes, upholstery, bedding, and more to create a fresh aesthetic. When it comes to plaid, any shade goes, making the pattern transcend seasons!

Mixing Plaid & Floral

Two busy patterns? No problem. People aren’t shying away from combining plaid and floral nowadays. Designers may pair a plaid shirt with a floral skirt or line a plaid button-down with floral fabric that peeks out from cuffs and collars. Stylists place floral pillows atop plaid shams for a collected feel.

Like the combination of floral and plaid in our Primavera line, these juxtapositions work because -- despite the contrast between plaid’s more rigid, geometric lines and floral’s organic forms -- the colorways coordinate, producing a cohesive look.

Celebrate Spring & Plaid’s Rebirth With Our Primavera Collection

We’re happy to add the lovely Primavera line to our selection of handcrafted Italian dinnerware and ceramics. Though evocative of spring, this collection can find a home on your table yearlong -- even, or perhaps especially, in the dead of winter when you need a break from bleak weather. Keep an eye out for this collection at the end of March!

Til then, we’re forgetting the thermometer, putting winter behind us, and pulling our Primavera collection from the shelves to create a fresh tablescape. Hopefully, we can coax the warm weather out from wherever it’s cowering as we gather together to enjoy our meals. After all, primavera literally means spring -- so if Mother Nature doesn’t get the hint, we’re not sure what to do!

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Is It Spring Break Yet?

In dullness and dreariness of February, I find that my mind starts to turn toward escape.

WIth the holidays well behind us and spring still weeks and weeks away, getting away from the chill of the end of winter starts to sound more and more appealing. The smell of the lemon groves, the sound of the sea, and the sights of the vibrant Italian marketplace begin to have an appeal that is almost irresistible this time of year. And rather than fight the urge for new scenery and new skies, why not embrace your wanderlust?

The Spring Break State of  Mind

Whether you are looking back on memories of an amazing adventure or you are dreaming of your next trip, it is so much fun to wallow in your love of travel. Our Veneto collection is a great way to remember your travels, helping to breathe life into the sights and memories of Venice. Each scene depicts a gondolier guiding his boat through the exquisite Venetian cityscape. It is truly a collection that honors the spirit of travel -- in each piece, the scenery undergoes dramatic changes, but the gondolier remains the same as he moves through one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The Next Series Location? You Decide.

At Modigliani, the thing that matters the most to us is our relationship with you. That’s why we want your input. We’re moving the location for our next series, and the question that we want to pose to you is where? Are you excited about seeing our artists interpret the Renaissance architecture of Florence? How about the eternal spirit of Rome? It’s up to you! If you can dream it, we can make it a reality in our next collection. Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter to vote on the location for our next collection. Let’s embark on our next adventure: to embrace la grande vita every day, together!

[italianceramics]

Marsala: Timeless, Trendy and Italian

If you follow color and design trends, we have big news.

Pantone has announced the color of the year for 2015! And we are happy to see that their choice was very Italian!

The Pantone color for 2015 is a major departure from last year’s ethereal and playful Radiant Orchid. Marsala is an exquisite deep maroon shade that manages to be very grounded and earthy while also exuding an air of opulence and luxury. Marsala also plays well with other natural shades like greens, golds and blues, colors prominent in many of our lines.

An Essentially Italian Shade

Marsala is a shade that has deep roots in Italian culture. Long before Marsala was crowned color of the year, it referred to the city in the Sicilian countryside. The city was famous for producing a fortified wine that became known as Marsala, deep and complex in color, sweet and rich in flavor. Marsala wine even became an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine, making an appearance in savory dishes like chicken marsala (yum!) and the delicious dessert/drink zabaione.

The Color of the Italian Spirit

More importantly, the color captures all of the best things about the Italian lifestyle and attitude. It is earthy while being sophisticated. It is sensual without trying too hard. It is versatile, looking extremely luxe in one context while looking warm and inviting in another. This duality is makes Marsala such a fascinating choice for every application from tablescapes to fashion.

Let’s Toast the Pantone Color of the Year!

The more aware that we became of Marsala, the more that we started to see it everywhere, in glasses of wine in restaurants, on dresses in fashion-forward boutiques and, most surprisingly, in our warehouse. When we started looking at the pieces around us, we started to notice that almost everywhere we looked, our artisans had incorporated Marsala into the designs.

You can enjoy the shade in a number of our collections, including Terre di Chianti, a design inspired by Italian landscapes and vineyards, just like Marsala. You can enjoy the wine in our Villa D’Este wine glasses. So join us in raising a glass to the Pantone Color of the Year! Share your favorite Marsala-hued pieces with us on Twitter or Facebook today!

[italianceramics]

High-Contrast Tablescapes: Black and White Gets Bold

In an increasingly busy world, a minimalist color palate can speak volumes.

Black and white with a splash of color is having a moment, especially in tablescapes. The trend is one of the oldest color combinations in design history, but also one of the most modern looking and the most striking. Season after season, this high-contrast design trend manages to keep tablescapes looking both fresh and classic.

A Timeless and Elegant Color Story

Black and white are highly-contrasting colors, making them visually striking without being too harsh. Within the context of this color combination, the unexpected addition of an accent color makes color the story of the design scheme. So adding a touch of crimson to your black and white design makes even a small amount of red the dramatic focal point of your dinner table. And the fact that this color story always looks fresh year after year means that you don’t have to worry about dated-looking tablescapes.

Changing Accent Colors

One of the biggest advantages of choosing a black and white color scheme is that it allows you to easily shift the look and feel of your tablescapes by swapping out accent colors. The classic color combination of black and white with a red accent can be transformed by switching out the red for blue or green, giving your tablescapes a completely different feel with minimal effort and without having to invest in a whole new collection of pieces (not that there is anything wrong with collecting new pieces!).

La Forma del Sogno-Rosso: Transforming Tablescapes

The powerful combination of black and white design with a striking red accent is the defining characteristic of Modigliani’s most modern collection La Forma del Sogno-Rosso. Join us in celebrating the timelessness of this minimalist color combination by shopping our collection and sharing your favorite tablescapes with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Embrace L’Amore

Anyone can make a reservation at a restaurant. It’s convenient. A dinner date at a restaurant requires minimal planning and not much effort. Finding parking might be the biggest challenge you’ll face all night.

And while we are all for convenience, isn’t there something much more romantic about making an effort?

Why You Don’t Need a Reservation This Valentine’s Day

Isn’t it the telltale sign of a true romantic to plan the details of a meal, to select a recipe and think about the way it looks and smells, to consider the preferences of your dinner date? It takes a very dedicated romantic to make a shopping list, to visit a market to select meat, herbs,vegetables and wine. In my opinion, it is proof of very extraordinary love and dedication to another person to come home from a long day at work and to ignore the lure of the TV, to put down the phone and to turn on some music and cook them a meal.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we think you should skip the dinner reservation and make the most of your dinnertime together at home.

Top Tips For an Ultra-Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner at Home

It’s about much more than taste. Some of the best tasting dishes in the world (hello, chili) simply don’t look great on the plate. To take your Valentine’s Day dinner to the next level, you should consider the visual presentation. For more ideas for creating dishes that look and taste enchanting, check out our blog on cooking with edible flowers.

Invoke your culinary muse. Mine is Nigella Lawson. She cooks classical Italian cuisine with a twist. She takes her time. She knows what she likes and gets a lot of pleasure out of her time in the kitchen. Choose a TV or cookbook chef you really connect with. If you run into trouble, ask yourself, “What would Nigella do?”

Don’t stress. Nothing can ruin the enchantment you’re trying to create in your kitchen faster than being  cranky, stressed out or frazzled. If you don’t have time to try a dry run of your recipe beforehand, read your recipe several times so you have a clear road map in your head. And if something goes wrong, laugh it off! A sense of humor is an attractive attribute in both a cook and a date.

Do as much as you can ahead of time. There is nothing wrong with chopping your onion a few hours before you cook. In fact, doing so might save your mascara if you have a particularly pungent onion. The more you can get accomplished before you start cooking, the easier a time you’ll have of it.

Try this recipe for roasted beet risotto. It is gorgeous, unexpected and almost heart-stoppingly romantic (that pink!). And you can roast the beets and chop the onion ahead of time, so there’s almost nothing left for you to do except to stir your risotto and look like a rock star in the kitchen.

Savor the Flavor of a Romantic Dinner With the One You Love

Final tip? Enjoy your culinary creation. There is nothing more delightful than being with someone who really luxuriates in the small pleasures of life. Join Modigliani this Valentine’s Day by sharing a home cooked meal with someone special. We would also love for you to share the delicious details and photos with us on Facebook and Twitter. Or take a moment to have a look at our daring and delightful la Forma del Sogno-Rosso collection (perfect for Valentine’s Day dining and gift-giving). Let’s embrace the romance of la grande vita together.

[italianceramics]

Old World Craftsmanship Meets Sleek Modern Design

Ready for something totally unexpected?

The trademark of Modigliani is a respect for the past, an appreciation for the romanticism of the simplicity of Italian life. Most of our designs look to the past for inspiration.

This one is really special because it looks to the future.

The pieces in our line La Forma del Sogno-Rosso are graphic black and white with a pop of red. With sharp lines and boldly imagined craftsmanship, these pieces are simple while being impossible to ignore.

The Form of a Dream

With this collection, the emphasis is on design. La Forma del Sogno-Rosso translates to “The Form of a Dream.” And this is the perfect name for a collection like this. The asymmetry built into the collection gives it a surreal, dream-like quality. La Forma del Sogno-Rosso is a collection that is, like a dream, unpredictable, surprising and delightful. The abstract design is playful, encouraging you to play with your food a little, while the colors keep the pieces elegant and timeless.  

Very Italian After All

Innovation is part of the Italian spirit. La Forma del Sogno-Rosso does not recall the Italian countryside, but it is defined by the fire and passion of the Italian artisans who design and create it.These are pieces that spark conversation. These are pieces that make you look twice. These are pieces that will make you remember the meal you shared together. 

Share the Dream

Modigliani is passionate about sharing our vision of creating a space where art meets craftsmanship to elevate every meal into a warm and exciting celebration. Let us help you surprise and delight your guests with these handmade expressions of the adventurous Italian spirit. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook to tell us how you’re bringing the exciting Italian dream into your everyday dinners.

[italianceramics]

Updating the Olive Collection for the New Year

My New Year’s resolution? To get better at keeping secrets.

Why?

Because there’s something I’m excited to share with you, but I can’t yet! 

The best thing about the New Year is that it is a time to focus on renewal. It’s a fresh start. You get to make resolutions, maybe take a yoga class or work on kicking a bad habit. The New Year is a time to take advantage of new opportunities.

But it’s also a time to look back and reflect on what you loved about the past year. You get to remember the good times, the celebrations, the time you spent with family and the fun you had with friends.

Here at Modigliani, we’ve been thinking about ways we can celebrate the past and look forward to a bright new future with you. We’ve come up with an offer that gives you a chance to do both with us!

Out With the Old

In honor of the New Year, we are updating our classic Olive collection. This has always been one of our favorites because it is impossible to use these pieces without thinking about Tuscany and the memories we’ve made there. For those of you who already love this collection or those new to the collection that want a little piece of it before it is gone for good, this is your chance to get the napkin holder, tea pot or espresso cup you’ve had your eye on. And the best part? The entire collection is half off (while supplies last, of course)!

In With the New

The Olive collection is being spruced up and returning as our new Extra Virgin collection. While we can’t show you everything, we thought we’d give you a sneak peak at the pattern (Did I mention that I’m not very good at keeping my New Year’s resolutions?) below.

Resolve to Embrace La Grande Vita

This New Year, our resolution is to help you to make everyday a celebration. And we promise to keep it. Tell us about your New Year’s resolutions on Facebook and Twitter, and be on the lookout for a more complete look at our newest favorite collection, Extra Virgin!

[italianceramics]

Returning to the Nest: College Kids Coming Home for the Holidays!

With Christmas finally behind us, the pace has slowed down (a little) around here! It’s been great having family back home, especially now that that the holiday rush is over and we can spend more time outside of the warehouse.

It’s been livelier around the house since college break started. Our daughter, who just finished up her finals, was looking for a way to wind down from the craziness of studying and taking tests. She concocted a really fantastic meal -- and we got to reap the benefits!

A Winter Meal to Remember

The main attraction was duck breast that was pan-seared to give it just a little crust on the outside while keeping the center juicy and moist. She also made sweet potato gnocchi from scratch, garnished with sauteed spinach and leeks and topped with parmesan. And then she whipped up a little palate cleansing salad from arugula and blanched carrots. The earthy duck with the sweet gnocchi and the peppery arugula was so nicely balanced and comforting. I was really impressed!

Handmade gnocchi and duck breast is a pretty special meal, partially because it takes a lot of time and care to make and partially because it’s proof of how special these few days that we get to spend all together really are.

Make Time For the People You Love

We know how hard it can be to let your kids go off to college, but that separation makes moments and meals like this even more special. Eating this amazing meal reminded me how important it is to make the most of the time I get to spend with her while she’s on break from college. The little moments that you spend with your family are precious. Don’t forget to make the most of them! Join all of us at Modigliani in embracing la grande vita by sharing your one-of-a-kind holiday memories on Facebook and Twitter.

[italianceramics]

Making Our Own Light and Laughter This Holiday Season

Out of the darkness of winter, we choose to make light.

This Sunday is the winter solstice. It is the shortest, darkest day of the year. The sun rises late, sets early, and night lingers longer. So at this time of year, it’s dark when I leave for the warehouse in the morning and dark again by the time I get in my car to drive home.

When you really think about it, it does seem strange that in a time of winter dark and gloom, almost all cultures have their biggest and most joyful holiday celebrations. Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali and Kwanzaa are just a few of December’s most important holidays, and though they might seem totally different from one another, we think that the closer you look, the more similarities you might see!

Light in the Darkness

Given that December is the darkest month of the year, maybe it is no coincidence that this is the time of year when so many cultures choose to celebrate with light. The nine candles on the Menorah, the seven candles of the Kinara, the Advent wreath and even the abundance of LED lights illuminating Christmas trees and homes are all examples of the ways that different cultures come together to shine light in the darkness of winter.

One of the most important reasons (and one of the easiest reasons to forget when you’re sitting in your car waiting for your windshield to defrost) that we see so much celebration of the darkest day of winter is that it marks the turning point for the year. After the winter solstice and the holidays that celebrate it, we slowly but surely start to get more sun and the promise of rebirth and spring.

A Long History of December Celebration

There are a stunning variety of winter holidays (take for example Boxing Day, St. Lucia’s Day and Omisoka, just to name a very very few) that are celebrated by people around the world, but the more you look into their origins and celebrations, the more you realize that all of the winter holidays have more in common than you might expect.

Forgive me for the history lesson here, but case in point: the ancient Romans who lived in Italy celebrated a December holiday called Saturnalia. On the surface, it sounds a little bizarre, but at the heart of Saturnalia are some traditions that are surprisingly familiar. The Roman winter holiday was described by Gaius Valerius Catullus as “the best of times,” a time of feasting when “seriousness was barred.” Executions were cancelled, flights of flamingos were released over the city, and female gladiators fought dwarves (yes, really). But Saturnalia was also a time for the activities we’ve come to associate with the holidays -- celebrating in the home, forgoing normally formal and plain clothes in favor of wearing bright colors like red and purple (the ancient version of ugly Christmas sweaters!) and exchanging small gifts. Sounds familiar, right?

We Are All More Alike Than Different

Here at Modigliani, we love that the holidays are an opportunity for us to learn more about our neighbors, and in doing so, about ourselves. The kids are home from college on winter break and we are excited to hear about all of their new adventures while we enjoy our old family Christmas traditions! Now is the time for us to enjoy the little things together (like brightening your home with the very merry Natale pieces shown above, which you can learn more about here). Now is also the perfect time to think about the ways that your friends and family can make new traditions and embrace la grande vita together this holiday season!

[italianceramics]

How to (Actually) Enjoy the Holidays

I have a confession to make.

I adore this time of year. The holidays are beautiful and exciting. It’s so much fun to focus on giving that one gift you know will bring a smile to someone face, treating friends to a special event and cooking for your family from out of town. And of course we are pretty busy packing,wrapping and shipping in our warehouse singing at the top of our lungs to Christmas carols!

But I have to admit that I do get a little bit frazzled this late into the holiday season.

The baking, the gift-buying, the endless parties are all fun, but they are also so time consuming. No one wants to admit that all of that fun requires a lot work. And no one ever wants to mention the extra house cleaning you have to do to make your home presentable. The extra washing up after the dinner party. The tediousness of waiting in line to return gifts that aren’t quite right.

When did something that was used to be so much fun turn into so much stress?

And what can you do about it?

Admit that you can’t do everything. An essential part of managing holiday stress is recognizing that you physically cannot do everything. You cannot whip up sugar cookies for the bake sale while talking your daughter through Christmas shopping for her new boyfriend while seeing your neighbor’s son make his theatrical debut in “A Christmas Carol”. While you might really want to accept every invitation, you have to be realistic about what you can actually accomplish.

Make healthy lifestyle choices a priority. It’s impossible to enjoy the holiday season when you’re exhausted. That’s why it’s important to make time to take really good care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, eat well and make relaxation a priority. And (this is so agonizing but so true) this is not the time for you to blow off your Pilates class. Exercise clears your mind and helps reduce stress. Also, the more you work out, the more cookies you can eat. Just saying.

Learn to say no. Many of us have a hard time saying no when friends and family members ask us for our time during the holidays. But saying yes when you really should say no could leave you stuck seething and resentful in the corner at a party. Stressed and annoyed is not a good look on anyone, by the way, no matter how pretty your party dress happens to be.

Prioritize pleasure. One of the most beautiful moments of my holiday season last year involved bundling up and taking 10 minutes with a hot cup of Hazelnut coffee on my back patio after a big snowfall and throwing an orange tennis ball for my chocolate lab Scout.  But you could get a massage, pour yourself a glass of really nice Pinot Noir, or linger in a bubble bath. Taking time to give to yourself means that you’ll have more to give to the people around you.

For all you do, a treat for you. Here at Modigliani, we know that holiday joy doesn’t just magically appear. It takes serious effort! That’s why we want to give back to help you enjoy yourself just a little bit more this holiday season. When you spend over $100, you get an ornament, over $250 a Natale mug and over $500 a Natale cake plate. It’s our way of saying thanks for everything you do this holiday season!

[italianceramics]

Hope for Healing This Holiday Season

When you’re close to the finish line in a race, it is not a sign that you need to slow down. It’s a sign that you need to speed up.

Rett Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that strikes girls at an early age. A dear friend of our family has been afflicted with the disease, making us so grateful for the fact that researchers are on the verge of a cure. With therapies that promise to actually reverse the symptoms of Rett Syndrome almost at our fingertips, we wanted to do something to raise awareness and help researchers push a little closer to the finish line.

Piastra Angelo: The Art of Compassion

An Angel for Change

The holidays are a time to think about what we’re grateful for and to consider ways that we can make the lives of others a little easier. We saw a really beautiful opportunity here to increase awareness and support for Rett Syndrome. We collaborated with our Italian artisans to create the Piastra Angelo, or the Angel Plate. We are so proud that our artists were able to create a piece of such simplicity that speaks so powerfully about hope and kindness. This is the first plate in a series of four.

Reasons to Hope

Now seemed like the perfect time to act on behalf of our Rett angel friend and all of the girls affected by the disease. Celebrities like Julia Roberts and Clint Black have raised tons of money and awareness for Rett Syndrome, which has helped to advance the cause to where it is now. Amazingly, researchers have recently been able to reverse the disease in mice, bringing hope to so many families affected by the disease.

What You Can Do

When you purchase our Angel Plate here, 100% of the profits go to Rett Syndrome research. But if you want to look for other ways to help end the disease, there is so much you can do. RettSyndrome.org gives you the opportunity to donate directly to research or to plan your own fundraiser to raise money and awareness.

This holiday season, we want more warmth, more love and more light. We want to make sure that all of our friends are able to embrace la grande vita with us. Share the ways you’re making the holidays brighter for those around you with us on Facebook and Twitter!

[italianceramics]

How I Embraced My Inner Artichoke

Artichokes are a lesson in patience.

They are a very strange vegetable, requiring quite a bit of preparation. Eating them can be an interesting endeavor (it’s very tough to look elegant when scraping artichoke flesh with your teeth). And really, when everything is said and done, there isn’t much to them.

Or is there?

Is it possible that the humble artichoke transcends its culinary value? Is there something you can learn from cooking and eating them? I think so!

Slow Down

Believed to be native to the Mediterranean, the artichoke helps bring the more relaxed Italian attitude to our frantically busy American kitchens. In other words, artichokes help you (read: force you) to slow down. In today’s fast food culture, food can very easily become another aspect of our addiction to instant gratification. A trip through the drive through, a greasy burger downed while driving, and onto Starbucks for our next fast fix.  

  But you can’t really speed through an artichoke. The very nature of the vegetable resists the modern urge to power through meals and move onto the next thing. In fact, as prickly as artichokes can be without mindful preparation, you might really pay for skipping the little steps like removing the sharp tips before you get on with your cooking.

Play With Your Food

One of the best things about eating an artichoke is that it is a process. You can build a whole meal’s worth of conversation around the journey of cooking and eating one. There is so much interactivity involved in all of that disassembling, dipping and scraping and  making your way to the delicious heart. Because artichokes force us to take a very hands-on approach to our meals, they require you to be present and to participate.  As adults with no kids around anymore, sometimes we forget that food is for more than eating. When eating artichokes, I find myself remembering that food is for fun!

Turn Every Day into Art

If you saw the artichokes pictured here in their raw state, you probably would never imagine that the inside was full of that amazing lavender color. This meal was so beautiful that it would (almost) have been worth the all of the snipping, slicing and sauteing just to watch the artichokes cook, to see the delicate lilac of the raw vegetable deepen into purple. Something very special about that, reminding us about how the smallest moments in life can also be the most exquisite.

Here at Modigliani, our passion is helping to bring out the beauty in the little moments of  life. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook and let us know how you make the everyday extraordinary to embrace la grande vita!

[italianceramics]

Unexpected (and Amazing) Uses For Espresso Cups

It began when I ran out of ramekins on baked potato night.

And it has become a bit of an obsession.

I confess to serving up my sour cream and shredded cheddar not in the proper serveware, but in the only (clean) containers of the proper size that I had on hand that night -- espresso cups.

And, rebel that I am, I’ve never looked back.

Beyond the Bean

  As much as I love espresso, I can only drink so much. But the dainty delicacy of espresso cups, I can’t get enough of. So, I asked myself, why not get creative and figure out ways to use them all the time?

As “Close Enough” Measuring Cups

The average demitasse espresso cup holds two and a half to three ounces of liquid. So if you’re like me and like the idea of eyeballing the amounts of the ingredients that you use when you cook but you have the unfortunate lack of ability to estimate accurately, using espresso cups for measuring might be a happy medium for you. Also an excuse to show off what a cool, devil-may-care chef you are to anybody who might be watching.

“Leave Them Wanting More” Soup Cups

The problem I run into when I serve soup as an appetizer is that a big bowl seems to stunt my enthusiasm for the rest of the meal. And if it’s something like a creamy potato soup, forget it. A bowl of that and you can now keep your grilled salmon and salad. So if you’re serving rich fare (I’m looking at you, cheddar beer soup) but still want to be able to chow down on the rest of your dinner, consider dishing it out in espresso cups.

Whip Out Some “Dinner Party Dazzle” with an Amuse-Bouche

Deconstruct your espresso cup set and you find yourself with a perfect opportunity to show off just how creative you can be the next time you have friends that you’re looking to impress. You could, for example, fill the espresso cup with a goat cheese mousse and then line the saucer with sliced fruit and crackers. Then prepare to be bombarded by compliments.

Embrace the Unexpected

My espresso cup revelation sparked a minor revolution in the way I saw the world. When you’re able to look at things from a different perspective, you open yourself up to experiencing more love, more laughter and more fun. But shifting out of your ordinary mindset can be tough when you’ve been doing things the same way for so long. That’s why it pays to be very deliberately unconventional sometimes, even if you are like me and you have to learn to embrace change in baby steps.

Like serving baked potato toppings in espresso cups.

Hey, it’s a start.

Connect with us here and share your surprising uses for your favorite Modigliani pieces.

[italianceramics]

Open House, Open Heart

Our hearts are a little more open and a little more full of gratitude after yesterday’s Thankful Thursday Open House.

Festive Collaboration

The week before Thanksgiving seemed like the perfect time for us to open our showroom and share the things we love. It also seemed the perfect time for collaborating with one of our favorite stylists, Amani Skalacki.

If you don’t already know Amani, you’re missing out! You may have seen her work in EA Bride magazine. She’s made her reputation as stylist by being passionate, creative and enthusiastic. She’s also incredibly talented. She’s the amazing stylist behind Skala (need proof of how great she is? One glance at her website should convince you: http://www.skaladesigns.com/).

And we were lucky enough to get her into our showroom to work her magic. She had full access to our storeroom and she was able to put together a display that showcased the beauty of our handcrafted Italian ceramics pieces in the context of her playful aesthetic. While also decorating for the holidays! Impressive!

  Over the course of three days, she transformed our space into a whimsical and warm holiday wonderland. Who thinks of trimming a Christmas tree with espresso cups? Amani, that’s who.

Helping Others During the Holidays

When you focus on what you’re grateful for, you seem to find yourself in a place where you’re more open to giving to others. Our Open House was also an opportunity to display one of our favorite pieces, the Angel Plate. We commissioned the plate to honor and help fight Rett’s Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that strikes young girls. And all of the proceeds go towards fighting the disease, so if you’re looking for gift that’s beautiful and meaningful, you really couldn’t make a better choice. Amani created a gorgeous display to highlight the Angel Plate and it fit in perfectly with our holiday theme.

Opening our Doors for our Neighbors

So obviously we were excited to show off her work. We opened our doors twice Thursday, once in the morning to share coffee and biscotti and then again in the for happy hour in the evening (who can resist wine and cupcakes, right?). We were so proud to be able to host old and new friends in our newly decorated showroom and to share the things that excite us with the people that most matter to us.

Gearing Up For the Holidays

Our Thankful Thursday Open House was an opportunity for us to connect to the people who inspire us -- the life-loving, warm and funny customers who make the art of Modigliani possible. We are grateful for your support and inspiration. Tell us what you’re grateful for on Twitter and Facebook! Let’s embrace la grande vita all together this holiday season.

[italianceramics]

Enchantment on the Plate: Cooking With Edible Flowers

Chefs around the world (including, of course, Italian chefs) have been cooking with edible flowers for centuries. And for good reason. Not only are edible flowers surprisingly delicious, they also add a sumptuous pop of color that enlivens any dish. Anyone who has ever tried fried squash blossoms, or fiori di zucca, can attest to the fact that flowers can be unexpectedly savory. Edible flowers are also valuable a powerful source of antioxidants like Vitamins A, E and C, and they’ve historically been used to treat a wide array of diseases.

Satisfy the Hunger for Everyday Magic

But cooking with flowers isn’t just good for you. It is a life-affirming ritual, a commitment to turning an ordinary meal into a celebration of life. When all of the kids have left for college, many of us find ourselves with a lot of extra time in the kitchen with only ourselves to feed. Without having to cook with their picky palates in mind, we also have more chances to experiment with our meals, making this the perfect time to charm and amuse ourselves by trying something new. Cooking with edible flowers tells your friends and family that this mealtime is full of moments that are special and meant to be savored, even if it’s only an average Tuesday night.

A fantastic way to start cooking with edible flowers is to start with something easy. Dried culinary lavender is a great entry into the world of edible flowers, straddling the line between blossom and herb. It’s also readily available in supermarkets with a well-stocked spice section, and a small amount will last you through dozens of culinary experiments, from lavender scented lemonade to a lavender-cocoa spice rub for lamb chops.

Roasted Lavender-Thyme Cherry Tomatoes

As winter closes in, tomatoes aren’t quite as exquisite as they were a few months ago -- a problem that is easily addressed by slow roasting them with herbs and dried lavender buds.

It’s as simple as preheating the oven to 400 degrees and halving a cup of cherry tomatoes.

Toss the tomatoes in a bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil (eyeball it), a teaspoon of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Add in a tablespoon of fresh thyme and a teaspoon of chopped dried culinary lavender. Toss to coat. Stop to notice that it already smells amazing. Transfer to a baking dish and crumble 2 ounces of goat cheese over the tomatoes. Place in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes.

The roasted tomatoes are great on crusty bread or crackers as an appetizer. Or, if you’re anything like us, you serve it over a bowl of angel hair pasta drizzled with olive oil!

This is the perfect easy dinner for two. The acidic sweetness of the tomato is the perfect compliment to the fragrant lavender. We dare you not to love this.

Edible Flower Salad with a Raspberry-Shallot Dressing

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, another easy but striking way to incorporate edible flowers into your meal is to add them into a salad. You can choose any type of edible flower you prefer -- or, if you’re like us, whatever type that you can get your hands on at the supermarket.

This is as simple as warming up two tablespoons of seedless raspberry preserves in a small saucepan over low heat until melted. Take the saucepan off the heat, add in ¼ cup champagne vinegar and a couple of teaspoons of dijon mustard. Combine, then whisk in ⅓ a cup of olive oil. Set aside.

Wash and chop a few handfuls of kale, then arrange in a serving bowl. If the texture of kale strikes you as a little tough, you can soften it by adding a few drops of olive oil and massaging it into the leaves with your hands. Top with the warm dressing.

  All that you have left to do is wash your edible flowers and arrange them on your salad. The simplicity of the salad is a nice way to highlight your slightly exotic ingredient, but you could always choose to toss in whatever other ingredients you’d like. If you have any goat cheese leftover from your roasted tomato recipe, we certainly wouldn’t judge you for adding some into your edible flower salad!

Celebrate With Us

At Modigliani, our passion is for sharing life’s most important moments with the people who are most important to us -- the awe-inspiring, funny, caring customers who make the art of Modigliani possible. You inspire us. That’s why we want to see what inspires you. Post pictures of these or any of your favorite, most enchanting dishes (edible flowers are totally optional) to Facebook or Twitter here. Let’s embrace la grande vita together.