Alison Day Designs

Sunday 3 May 2015

Weekend Wonder

Work in progress, by by Alison Day

After my recent visit to Sicily and an inspirational visit to an artist's studio-shop in the little town of Monreale, I decided to have a go at a mosaic technique I saw being used there.

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Marble Marvellous

A peep into an annex of the Cattedrale Monreale, in Sicily, opened out into a curvaceous romp of Baroque figures, pillars and motifs—what a feast!

Photos by Alison Day

Monday 27 April 2015

Gotta Go

Sign on the door to the ladies in a restaurant in Monreale, Sicily.

—When you've gotta go...

by Alison Day

Sunday 26 April 2015

Primavera Prosecco

Lunch on a balcony, in the little restaurant: Dietro L'Angolo. Overlooking the town of Monreale (Sicily), with its lemon groves and the hazy blue of the sea.

Glorious! — Sun, Prosecco aperitif, wine, fresh fish and olives.

by Alison Day

Saturday 25 April 2015

Silk Floss

Walking through the cloisters of the Cattedrale di Monreale (Sicily), I came across this unusual looking tree. At first glance its huge fruit could be mistaken for avocados, but a look at its comical, baobab-shaped and prickly trunk told me otherwise.

The Silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa), originates in the tropical forests of South America. Belonging to the same family as the baobab, it can grow up to 25 metres in height. The young tree has a green trunk, which turns grey as it matures and is covered with thick conical thorns, which store water for use in dryer times.

The fruit are woody, oval pods containing black, bean-sized seeds from which vegetable oil can be obtained, whilst the soft, fluffy, cotton-wool substance has many uses: stuffing, packaging, paper ropes etc.














© Alison Day 

Alison Day Design 






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Friday 24 April 2015

Handy Bag

Window shopping in Palermo, Sicily and the humour behind design.