Fiesta's "marigold" and "sunflower" pitchers. Marigold is this year's new color in celebration of the dinnerware's 75th anniversary.

Here are few fave facts about Fiesta ware I picked up recently.

1) It’s been in production 75 years. Happy birthday!

2) Between 40 to 45 percent of all brides register for Fiesta.

3) Any purchase comes with a 5-year “chip” warranty. Seriously? Unbelievable. How can they do that for families like mine? Answer: the product seldom chips!

4) It’s the number-one collected dinnerware on E-Bay. That doesn’t really surprise me.

5) It’s still made entirely in the USA, in Newell, West Virginia. (Only the metal parts on Fiesta’s colorful flatware, introduced three years ago, are made in China, but that’s not Fiesta’s fault; it’s due to a lack of American metal companies.)

6) Did you realize all Fiesta ware is ovenproof? Guess I didn’t. And now the Fiesta Bakeware line of cookware can progress directly from the freezer to an oven of 500 degrees. (There’s little flint in the pottery so that it defects the heat.)

7) 88 percent of all customers buy two or more colors with their first purchase. Mix-and-match is definitely Fiesta’s “thing.”

Fiesta’s best-selling color caught me off guard: scarlet. I would’ve guessed an earthier tone.

9) The second best-selling color is “lemongrass.” Sharp, punchy, lovely, and just a couple of years in the line.

10) This company actually receives letters from grateful shoppers saying, “Thanks for being made in the USA.” And: “Thanks for making me happy.” Nice. Again, Fiesta, happy birthday. Available at department stores like Dillard’s and Macy’s.

Old industrial whisks reclaimed as sculptural lighting would make naturals for above-island illumination in the kitchen, though there's no reason to limit their use to the obvious. Over a library table? You bet. A series of them as alternatives to a chandelier in the living room? Why not. The largest shown here (on the right) is priced at $550; the middle fixture, $495; the one on the left, $425.

From left to right: Whisk overhead light fixture, $405; old bowl-turned-lighting, $325; whisk light, $495.

Found Things, 520 E. Grand, Des Moines, IA www.foundthingsdsm.com. Owner Marsha Steele has an eye for good consignors.

Villa Nicetta, Val Demone, Acquedolci municipallity, Sicily: www.villanicetta.it/england. All photographs by Julie Maris/Semel

One of Villa Nicetta's outbuildings-turned-guest room

When our van finally turned down the long, narrow drive of c.-17th-century Villa Nicetta, the race was on. Which would sink first—the sun or me? Day one in Sicily as a guest of the Italian Government Tourist Board’s “Sicila Natura” (eco tours of the island’s vast nature preserves) was drawing to an end. Or so I thought.

Welcome to Sicily, where nothing occurs according to clockwork. Thankfully. The ancient island, I soon discovered, moves to more arcane rhythms.  Tip to travelers: Lose the lockstep and embrace the sway. There’s magic in motion.

Only too happy for release from the van and the refreshment of a shower, I passed on dinner, which would have required another hour’s van ride, each way, to and from the restaurant. Instead, our Italian hosts conversed with the villa’s managers, then assured me of “something light” to assuage my hunger. Hunger?? A five-course lunch at Ristorante Il Grande Pino in Sant’Agata (www.ilgrandepino.it) easily could’ve tided me over till touch-down at JFK the following week. See why?

Butterfly of swordfish with caponata (Farfalla di pescespada con caponata all'antica)

Homemade squid-ink pasta (strozzapreti) with prawns and beans

Mediterranean white fish with fresh bread, tomatoes and basil

Pistacchio flan on vanilla cream

We had starters on the patio before moving inside for a first course of piccolo aperitiva con crudo di pesce. In Texas we call it ceviche. I'll just call it D-lish. Sorry, no picl

So instead of bussing up to eat MORE, I opted out to absorb the beauty of this working farm, starting with the grape arbor outside my room.

These beauties hung from the arbor just outside my door. I love Sicilian snacks.

All kinds of critters on the farm—sheep, horses, chickens, guinea pigs, tortoises, friendly dogs.

There was a lot to absorb. The Aeolian Islands, for example, beckoned from across the Mediterranean, which sparkled at the horizon.

Jet-lagged and showered, I was ready to settle in with a book when summoned by the villa’s managers for my “something light.” I joined them in the villa’s slightly newer (18th century) restaurant, originally built as a mill. Its rustic ambience was set by the massive but  sculptural original millstone, which maintains a place of artful  honor as the focal point of the large space—empty, but for me that evening. “Something light,” turns out, meant a tableful of platters…an extravagance…a feast…an embarrassment of riches, with my hosts hovering. Fresh ricotta from the sheep I’d been visiting; chargrilled squash plucked fresh from the garden; ditto that for the caponata, vegetable toppings on the wood-oven-cooked pizza, and plates of assorted veggies both fresh and grilled; olive oil pressed from last year’s harvest from the grove outside….You get the picture. As I finally pushed away from the table, the 30-something daughter-in-law of the manager, Italian-English dictionary in hand, suggested we “run on the beach.” Why not?

So instead of crashing as planned, I rode with my new friend and her husand in their Fiat to Acquedolci, where we strolled the boardwalk and watched the surf break in the moonlight. (At this area, the Mediterranean is called the Thyrrenian Sea.) We stopped at a cafe across from the beach for a granita al limone (refreshing!) and some chic-Sicilian-people-watching. My friend’s mother and father and her two young children joined us. I don’t speak Italian, and my espresso mates spoke no English, but we communicated—through laughter with an occasional hit from the It-Eng dictionary.

When I returned to the villa, things were quiet. My journalist colleagues were back from their dinner and sound asleep. I have no idea what time I went to bed—only that it was past midnight. I was on Sicilian time, loving every minute.

Well, no more. I’m no expert on what else is out there in the electric fireplace market, but the Classic Flame products I viewed are worth sharing. Take a look for yourself. There’s plenty for the pure traditionalist, as well as more streamlined  designs for the traditionalist who loves a little modern in the mix. If you’re in a home that does not already have a fireplace, these are worth considering. Or if you’re like me, with two fireplaces but none in the bedrooms, these present an option to a major remodeling.

"Artesian"

"Everest," which debuts next week at the Las Vegas furniture market, is crafted from marble. Its upscale material and classic design deliver this electric fireplace out of the realm of kitsch and straight to cool.

"Gossamer" is ideal for a French bedroom without the luxury of a built-in woodburning fireplace. Retail: $1,599

As a person who loves oxymorons, how could I not delight in "Baxter"? Heat and refrigeration stand side-by-side, in perfect harmony. Plus, this hard-working furnishing is a media center, too. Retail price: $2,399

"Anaheim" has a nice ebony finish and polished nickel hardware for currency.

I like the clean lines of "Captiva."

Now to Tresanti's wine fridges. "Chianti" is a clever work of engineering, as well as a handsome piece of furniture.

"Meridian" is apartment-friendly with its compact width and greater verticality.

BIG GREEN PURSE by Diane MacEachern. Avery (pap) $17.95

No, I haven’t read this book. YET. But I’m ordering it today from my Daedalus Books catalog (where it’s on sale for  $4.98!). Here’s what the Daedalus folks, whom I’ve grown to trust, have to say about it: “Environmental author and speaker Diane MacEachern offers this simple but revolutionary message: the fastest, most effective way to change the industries that pollute the planet is to mobilize the most powerful consumer force in the world—women. In this empowering, enlightening book, she shows how women can harness the power of their purse and shift their spending to commodities that have the greatest environmental benefit. MacEachern targets 20 commodities—cars, cosmetics, coffee, food, paper products, appliances, and more—where women’s dollars can make a dramatic difference, and provides easy-to-follow guidelines.

I’m not usually a fan of how-to anything, but this time I’m willing to take the $5 gamble. Seems a small price to pay for saving the world.

Pierced copper mantel

Copper is one of those good things I only came around to later in life. As a kid, it was my favorite crayon in the jumbo box (so sparkly!), but the metal itself was something better left on the wrists of arthritic grandmas. Even as a young home design editor, I didn’t quite get it as a decorative element outside the context of an Arts and Crafts house. But after neighbors installed copper gutters, I had to do the same. What previously had been bland conduits for channeling water away from the house suddenly weren’t so boring. They were jewelry. New, they glinted in the sunlight, but without any brashness, as though rose petals had softened their complexion. Then they weathered to that subtle verdigris patina that suggests the character of a house well-lived. I was smitten. A recent project of Des Moines interior designer Kabira Cadogan (www.iN2iTDesignStudio.com) reminded me that copper’s possibilities as a pick-me-up for the home aren’t limited to exteriors. In her vibrant design of a new house for a young family in an historic neighborhood, she turned to copper as an accent material and instant gratification for warmth, color, and character.

The copper mantel's piercings imbue the living room with a whimsical character.

In the context of the living room's Sticks handpainted furniture and exuberant palette, the pierced copper mantel is more idiosyncratic and edgy than it is old-fashioned.

The designer’s use of copper becomes a transitional tool, weaving the rooms together. She decorated the dining room with a copper chandelier, then repeated copper in the kitchen.

Dining room's copper chandelier

Copper trim creates a grid on the stone backsplash.

If you’re thinking my way, Colorado’s the place to be. And if you’re REALLY thinking my way, no trip—ski or otherwise—is complete without a shopping component. I can’t wait to get to the Rockies to visit my friend and colleague’s boutique furniture shop in Salida, Colorado. Owner Susan Fox is a contributing editor for TRAD HOME, and she’s a peach. Her shop’s The Green Plum—“green” meaning antiques and gently used pieces (what’s easier on the planet than that?), and “plum” as in great hand-picked new products. (Think cherry-picked.)

Salida is a historic town in Central Colorado’s upper Arkansas Valley, and it’s a sight in itself.  In fact, it has the largest historic downtown district in the state, and Susan’s shop is smack in the center. The swift-running, trout-rising Arkansas River runs right through the heart of downtown. I don’t know about you, but for me, shopping cool boutiques in a pristine natural setting instead of a congested mall surrounded by acres of concrete is worth a trip in itself.

The Green Plum is packed—make that beautifully and cozily filled—with antiques like a French trestle table and chairs still in their original leather. As a traveler, you may want something more portable. Antique botanical prints stylishly reframed by Susan are the best.

One item I plan to fill my carry-on with are her scented soybean candles—the fragrance is just the right balance of scent and unobtrusiveness. But the ultimate dose of delicious comes later. After the candle has burned a while, blow out the flame, and dip your fingers into the melted wax. It’s the ultimate pampering (and it’s the manufacturer’s intent, lest you fear this is some hair-brain idea I’ve invented during down time). Trust me, you’ll like it.

If you can’t make it to Salida this spring, no worries. Its white-water rafting, trout-fishing, and hiking make it a multi-seasonal destination. For the full story and pics, visit

http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/marketplace/rockymountain-shopping_ss1.html.

"Dauphine" from Pierre Frey

A wide striped effect results from “Dauphine’s” embroidered rows of branch coral motifs alternating with leopard spot patterns on a neutral linen ground. The color is on trend, while  the combo of animal and botanical motifs merges two of the most popular trends of the last several seasons.

"Empire" from Pierre Frey

"Brunch" from Pierre Frey

Both of the above are cotton prints—my personal faves because of the clarity and whimsey of their design.

Davidemedri, from Cesena, Italy, uses traditional Byzantine mosaic techniques to create breathtaking bling including a handmade mirror-tile console table (3,500 euros), and mirror-tile mirrors (1,150 euros). Unfortunately, no pics, but you can visit info@davidemedri.it

Oops. How did he get in here? Federer is actually my favorite tennis player, but you have to admit Nadal looks good.

That’s what so great about how the Old World embraces color. They have no problem upholstering an 18th-century French settee in an up-to-the-minute fuchsia or grape.

New "Kavana" from Spanish fabric house, Alhambra

The color you just saw was all over Paris showrooms and booths at Maison. What’s interesting to me is that such a bold hue is too often mistaken as brash in America. Quick, whistle for the design police. Good taste has been violated and all that.

I think it’s time Americans started flexing our color muscles. Beige can be beautiful, but there’s so much more out there awaiting us.

This warm bright citrine, also from Alhambra, appeared in various shades and tones across Paris showrooms:

Look for wonderful, evocative colors from Manuel Canovas—”absinthe” and “mandarine” speak for themselves, while “petale” is a pink-tinged lavender and “pensee” is a lavender with more of a purple-plum cast. “Nattier” is Canovas’s new green-blue—the color of Angelina Jolie’s jade at last year’s Oscars.

New this season from Manuel Canovas Collection 2010