Did you know that our family is half Italian? The current generation were born in Australia but prior generations were all born in Rome, Italy!! Needless to say, we have always cherished our Italian family background and hold deeply within us a passion for Italy.

It has been a dream for us to one day retrace our steps and re-connect to our heritage - which includes wonderful women who were seamstresses and fashion designers also. Wonderfully, this year has been the start to bringing this dream to life as we went back to Italy and designed a new women's collection of clothing - all manufactured in Italy using the most beautiful linen that only the Italians can make; exquisite quality in wonderful delicious colours and prints. We can't wait to share our designs with you and are so excited for all that's to come.

Having been to Italy many times we decided to explore an area we've never had the time to truly experience - TUSCANY!! Having only ever been to Florence (one of our favourite cities) and Siena we decided to finally lose ourselves in the Tuscan hills and see what treasures we could find. We explored the Chianti region... following winding roads through charming towns and idyllic hillsides, neighbouring towns and of course Florence. We got lost in walled cities and down narrow stone streets.. We ate our way through miles of pasta and enjoyed glasses of delicious chianti wines at sunset... We browsed through stores and fell in love with Italian perfumes, soaps and home wares... We wandered aimlessly and happily - always in the air the smell of coffee and tobacco and fresh bread baking.... We traipsed our way up cobbled streets and stumbled into forgotten churches to breathe in the silence and talk to angels.... We explored, laughed with locals, played with children, marveled at incredible views and enjoyed the magic that is Tuscany and Italy!

Our favourite places were the city of Florence and the beautiful town of Lucca. Other treasures were San Gimignano and Greve in Chianti. We didn't have time to visit Siena (another walled city) although we've been there before and highly recommend it! Here are some photos from a beautiful journey through Tuscany....

One of our favourite Disney songs... and such a beautiful song to accompany daydreams. Never give up on your dreams!!

The second star to the right

Shines in the night for you

To tell you that the dreams you plan

Really can come true

The second star to the right

Shines with a light so rare

And if it's Never Land you need

It's light will lead you there

Twinkle, twinkle little star

So we'll know where you are

Gleaming in the skies above

Lead us to the land we dream of

And when our journey is through

Each time we say "Goodnight"

We'll thank the little star that shines

The second from the right

 

Written by Sammy Cahn

Is it just us or has this last year been tough? Actually, if we're being honest, it's possible been longer than that... an increasingly challenging wave of emotions and pressures and failures and struggles and loss and family upsets. We certainly reached the end of 2017 exhausted and feeling confused about how to move forward and which direction to go in.

But one thing was certain - we needed to look inward again, give fuel to our passions and heal our tired souls. And since the beginning of this year that has been our focus. Here in our internal world of Miss Rose Sister Violet we have been focusing on health for 2018 - both mentally and physically. We have looked deep within ourselves and searched for all the broken places in our hearts that needed healing. We have dived to the depths of our souls and searched for all the dying fires that need rekindling. We have peacefully listened to our minds and let them tell us where they are lost, scared, tired, fragile and wounded. We have stopped ignoring our bodies and their tireless ongoing struggle to put up with all the neglect and abuse we throw at them - finally promising to reverse unhealthy habits we have adopted in response to stress and exhaustion. We have made a promise to ourselves that this year health comes first. It MUST. Because without health - there is no way to enjoy the rewards we dream of. And without health there is no way to be the most true versions of ourselves.

So... we wish to share with you our friends all that we find along our healing journey. Inspirational tidbits.. healing recipes... healthy habits... books... art... quotes... anything and everything that will help us all back to a place of loving ourselves and being healthy and strong - in mind and body.

Lets all be kind and loving to ourselves and others, be gentle in all we do and give love to our minds, bodies and souls.

Lets find time to stop and breathe... heal ourselves... and remind ourselves what we love about ourselves and life - and then LIVE that life. Now is the time - to turn inward and find ourselves again. To become healthy, strong and happy. To be selfish so that we can again be selfless. To become strong so that we can again give the best of ourselves to those we love and the world. To find our sparkle again and SHINE like the diamonds we are!

Here are some wonderful quotes to inspire and motivate....

New to our YouTube channel... a collection of pieces from our Spring Collection....

All available now on our website to enjoy xxxxx

The nights have been warm lately... and afternoons long.... and if you listen carefully you can hear a distant Fairies' song....

From "The Fairy Song"..... by Rose Fyleman, 1919.