Archive * No. 048: Whimsy in Sicily

Aug 16

Paris

We have spent the last two weeks across the pond! We started our Europe trip with a quick visit to see Riley’s mom. It was super hot the whole time, but it was sweet to see her and check out her Parisian apartment!

We visited two different design-y spots I want to share, Merci, a curated concept shop, and Mimi, a jazzy coffee bar.

Merci is a masterclass in branding. They put their logo on tote bags, scarves, and lots of other little souvenirs, and they do a great job applying the brand without the applications feeling forced or logo overload. Inside there was a wall of kitchen tools and shelves of glasswares, as well as alot of great clothing and accessories to pick through. Great stop for a souvenir!

Collage of a Paris design boutique with Merci shopping bags, kitchenware displays and a sheep figurine, Ebel Studio travel report

Inside MIMI is a jazz coffee bar with walls lined with classic records. We had a great pit-stop here, and although there was no DJ working when we visited it still had a fun vibe. Also someone in there had a really sick hat (see below).

Sicily

Next we stayed in a villa near Sciacca, Sicily. My family had their flight cancelled and got put back a travel day, which was a huge bummer but gave me and Riley a day alone on our wedding anniversary so grateful for that silver lining. The villa had an infinity pool and was surrounded by olive groves spanning to the coastline. It was so beautiful.

We spent a day on the water and it was a great way to see much of the surrounding coastline and Italian architecture.

Collage of two women on a boat, a bowl of fresh fruit and a hillside Sicilian town, Whimsy in Sicily travel report

Collage of narrow Sicilian village streets, a coastal view and two women smiling, Ebel Studio Whimsy in Sicily

Lone white lifeguard tower on an empty Sicilian beach under a cloudy sky

Sciacca Ceramic Arts

Cortile Carini was an alley in nearby town of Sciacca that featured mosaic works by a local artist. I found this so inspiring I loved the whimsy of it all. All the walls are covered in broken plates, shells, marbles, and miscellaneous recycled materials pressed into the walls.

Collage of a hand-painted ceramic plaque, a stone staircase and a woman photographing a doorway in a Sicilian town

Collage of two smiling women beside a colorful broken-tile mosaic wall in Sicily, Whimsy in Sicily travel report

Collage of a carved wooden face sculpture on a yellow wall and small ceramic ornaments on a pink wall in Sicily

Whitewashed Sicilian window framed by a seashell, colorful ceramic tiles and handmade decorative details

Another local ceramic artist known for his vibrant, storytelling mosaic pieces is Gaspare Cascio. Born in Sciacca in 1938, he was part of the first generation that brought back the old Sciacca pottery tradition. He paints mythical Sicilian stories and everyday life. I love his style as it feels very Italian - folk art.