Today’s my birthday and I’ve been thinking a lot about time.
There’s that Billy Joel song Vienna and that lyric that keeps coming back to me: “Slow down, you’re doing fine…” And maybe that’s exactly what Italy was trying to teach me.
When my family left for a month in Italy this summer, I had zero intention of working. I didn’t have a content strategy or a business plan. Heck, I didn’t even bring my business credit card. But somewhere between the eating, strolling, discovering both the mega landmarks and hidden gems, coffee-filled mornings, gelato + spritz-filled afternoons, family adventuring, and those chill late afternoon hours they call Aperitivo, I started painting.
Fortunately, I did happen to tuck my little art box into my suitcase with a few sheets of paper, just in case I felt pulled to create, and I’m so glad I did. With my art box in tow and my makeup bag nearby (because why not stay on brand?), I found myself sitting still, romanticizing the moment, and painting what I saw and felt. One tiny painting became another… and somehow I came home with 10 little painted memories of Italy. The best kind of souvenirs money can’t buy.
And funny enough, I didn’t paint the famous landmarks. I wasn’t interested in recreating the postcard version of Italy. I wanted to capture the little moments. The simple somethings that stopped me in my tracks. The wonderfully ordinary details that somehow held the entire essence of being in Italy. They weren’t created to sell anything. I was simply painting moments I wasn’t ready to forget.
And eventually I thought: What if I could share this feeling?
Not just the artwork, but the story, the place, the memory, and that deliciously Italian reminder to slow down and romanticize your life a little. And THAT is where my “10 Months of Italy“ followed by a print-of-the-month snail-mail club entered my consciousness.
For roughly the cost of a cocktail each month, I will provide you with a small collectible print from the series, a personal letter from me telling you the story behind it, and little collector perks and goodies along the way. It’s also one of the most approachable ways I’ve ever offered to start your own Lipstick Lex collection.
Am I nervous? YES. 😂
Will 10 people subscribe? 50? 100? Will anyone get on this little train with me?! I genuinely don’t know. But maybe turning 42 is teaching me that I don’t need to pursue every idea. Just the ones that make me say: HELL YES. And this one does.
And the first stop??? VENEZIA! 🇮🇹🚂
Hop aboard! xo,
Lex
