Under the Tuscan Sun Inspiration Board

Okay, this is about to be a jealous-making post. Because tomorrow, bright and early, I’ll be jetting off to Bella Toscana for three weeks in some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful scenery on earth. Picture every Tuscan vineyard you’ve ever seen in a film? Yup, exactly like that. I can’t wait! I’ll be working hard under the summer sun, but I’m actually looking forward to it – and to my ‘farmer tan’! ;) As promised, the blog will continue as if nothing has changed, but please be patient if emailing me, because I am officially off the grid. In fact, that’s something I’m almost as excited about, since for the last few years I’ve been constantly connected to some kind of electronic or social media, and it’s time to switch off and just be in the moment. So to celebrate my trip (YAY!), I’ve created a Tuscan-style inspiration board. There were a lot of ways I could have gone with this – understated olive leaf and grey, lavender and green… But one of the things I love about Tuscany is its warmth and abundance, and the fields of sunflowers I saw for the first time from a train window many years ago. These flowers are gorgeous, but they can be overpowering, so I’d just use single blooms for the bridesmaids and then in sporadic arrangements in the reception venue. Include materials such as terracotta and linen, and the straw covered bottles that traditionally hold chianti (called a fiasco, how fun is that?). Fabrics are floaty, and an open sided marquee with long tables is a must (or just set up under the trees). Tuscan olive oil is the best (believe me, I plan to eat lots of it!) and makes the perfect favour. So there you go. And here I go! See you in a month!

Colours: Sunflower yellow, olive green & Tuscan terracotta