Picture leaving the busy city life behind for the peaceful pleasures of central Italy's sun-washed hillsides and the quiet, idyllic villages of Tuscany. Imagine spending hours of leisure time in intimate garden courtyards with shady respites for long, lingering lunches and peaceful afternoon siestas.

New designs this week capture the enduring and endearing qualities of Tuscany -- warm and vibrant, but relaxed, comfortable, and inviting. Let the calming atmosphere of "the good and healthy life" inspire your sewing and home decorating this week.

Flowers cascade from stately urns in designs reminiscent of the iron, stone, or pottery urns found in ages-old garden courtyards.

Sunflowers turn their heads to follow the sun through azure skies, in Jacobean-like designs for thick thread, superb for home decorating. Light and light-hearted vintage sunflowers brighten everyone's days with quick-to-stitch redwork.

Sew a winery's arched window with its view of vineyard rows and graceful spikes of cypress trees swaying in the breeze. Or, create a panorama of the Tuscan countryside by embroidering four panels that depict rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and quiet enclaves of arboreal farms and wineries.

Free project instructions! Match lacy coasters with stemware charms, and sew a summery ottoman slipcover.

While you are in a wine-loving frame of mind, sew lace coasters and matching stemware charms in Tuscany motifs for your next garden party.  Trio designs feature colorful Mediterranean fruits and vegetables in the likeness of stone-carved frames, a staunch reminder of the goodness of healthy eating. And, now that medical science tells us that a little chocolate is good for us, the Dollar Delights are ready to light up our lives with six new chocolate designs.

Relax, get away from it all, eat some chocolate, and enjoy sewing the taste of Tuscany designs this week.