Textured Wood Creates Authentic Weathered Look

I celebrated a BIG birthday this last week! 4-0 if you can believe it, I hardly can. We spent the holiday on the southern coast of Italy. It was truly magical and I'm feeling all kinds of blessed being able to spend this year in Italy! I will for sure share more next week, but for now wishing you and your family the love, light, & happiness in 2019!

The Handmade Hangout #240

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Cerused White Oak Dresser & Merry Christmas from Italy

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas! We spent ours in a little town in Southern Italy, called Siderno. Traveling over the holidays can be difficult, even when you're somewhere fabulous like Italy. We usually hunker down in a full service hotel somewhere. Here's some photos of our Christmas in southern Italy.

The Handmade Hangout #239

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Ombre Cedar Dresser Using Stain & St Agatha's Cathedral

I cannot believe it's almost Christmas, can you? Although it's hard to be away from family, it's incredibly cool to be spending the holiday in this ancient country! Around every turn it seems you find an ancient artifact or relic. Here each city has its main church in the town center. And in the town of Catania, on the island of Sicily, there's the Cathedral of St Agatha. 

The Handmade Hangout #238

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Refinished Farmhouse Coffee Table & St John's Church in Syracuse, Italy

While staying in Catania for two weeks, we were able to take some day trips. One of these day trips was to Syracuse, Italy to check out the famed St. John's church. This site is where St Paul came in 59 AD. History goes like this, St Paul was working in Jerusalem as a missionary when he was arrested by local Jews. He exercised his rights as a Roman citizen and as such was being extradited to face trial in Rome. On the way, he was shipwrecked in Malta and then stopped in Syracuse where he preached at what is today's St. John's church- *I don't get the name either. 

The Handmade Hangout #237

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