{Floating Candles with Jasmines and Roses}

As promised in my previous post, more details about the three centerpieces I used as table setting. Floating Candles with Jasmines and Roses. Also Gardenias, but they too belong to the Jasminoides family. In the 'Old World' we've been taught that for a perfect table setting a center piece should never be towering high above the table, thus obstructing eye-contact for a lively conversation with your table companions. As a host, setting a table with a tall centerpiece conveys a message that the flower arrangement is of more importance to you than easy eye contact and lively conversation between table companions. Those tall pieces are fine on a side table, against the wall. Or even better in a hotel or restaurant, in areas where people are not seated down but are standing around, while conversing and nibbling on some hors d'oeuvres. 

Here I used three vintage cream color on cream color Wedgwood gardenia bowls with floating candles, gardenias, jasmines and roses. They thus become perfect vases! Check for link below, for availability at Replacements Ltd. 

Next post you will get to see the different jasmine varieties and gardenias that I used.

Is any of you using fragrant flowers as table decoration?

Matching candle holders that I've purchased on several trips to Europe, these lace work ceramic holders I found at 'de Bijenkorf' in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, a leading Dutch Department store, like Neiman Marcus in the USA.

In the dark, those candle holders work very well with the lacy cut out design.

An arial view... My hand crocheted placemats I've shown already in the previous post. 

Also the yummy recipe from the spicy corn and lentil soup you find in that post as well.

But this overview gives you a good idea about the center pieces with floating candles as well as other candles.

Creating such an atmosphere by daylight is not easy, neither for capturing it all on camera...

Pure romance: lace, candles, fragrant flowers... creating a bit of a thousand and one night atmosphere.

We might bring back to table more of a world-wide blend than the average person, as we've worked and traveled all over the world. Thus integrating the beauty that we've encountered on our journeys.

Maybe it will give you some different ideas too... Just let me know what your opinion is.

The floating candles are also in the shape of a rose.

Very exotic!

The fragrance does take your mind away to exotic places... For us also creating numerous fond memories!

Love the lace work ceramic candle holders... Did also buy some at 'de Bijenkorf' in The Netherlands for gift giving. We use mainly true Dutch Bolsius candles because of their great quality. They are available in the UK but I have no experience with the USA as we purchased ours always on trips home.

Those flowers make a still life...

One floating candle did burn out and its wax has floated onto the green leaf. Those rose candles are not from Bolsius however, they were a sweet gift from a dear friend. She knows how much I do love roses...

Below is a scanned page from an old Victoria Magazine with floating candles...

Fragrant Candles from Annick Goutal - Photograph Luciana Pampalona.

Related links:

{My Lace Crocheted Placemats} | previous post by me showing floating candles

Setting a Pretty Table | Learn from Mariette on my website

Charme d'Antan | Learn from Mariette on my website
Wedgwood Cream Color on Cream Color for 10 Inch Gardenia Bowl | Replacements Ltd

{My Lace Crocheted Placemats}

Today I've set the table for you, using my handmade Lace Crocheted Placemats. They're done in a French DMC Cébelia thread in white, using a Neue Mode pattern. Cébelia is a 3-ply 100% combed cotton and double mercerized for a smooth and silk finish, which makes it easy on the crochet hook as well. For the inside I have used a Swiss cotton damask in a woven stripe pattern, bought in St Gallen, Switzerland. The table is set for serving a yummy spicy corn and lentil soup, using a recipe from Tammy, from T's Daily Treasures blog. Link to the recipe on her blog you will find below. I also used floating candles with fresh gardenia, jasmine and rose blossoms for center pieces. Will show that more in detail in my next posts. Now my crocheted lace...

This is the placemat with the crocheted lace edging that I did hand crochet. 

Inside is made out of Swiss striped cotton damask and the napkin is also from striped cotton damask.

French Baccarat crystal Piccadilly glasses and Wedgwood cream color on cream color Gardenia bowl for the floating candles with flowers.

Four placemats and three Gardenia bowls with floating candles and gardenia, jasmine and rose flowers. Replacements often has them available, see link below.

Does any of you use floating candles with flowers? 

Detail of crocheted lace edging, using the flash of my camera for better view.

Anyone reading my post, who also crocheted placemats in combination with fabric?

No flash used but I turned the light above the table on for a more yellowish and soft light.

But you get the idea...

More in detail...

My version of the spicy corn and lentil soup, using lentils from Trader Joe's and sweet golden corn instead of creamed corn. 

Recipe follows below...

 These lentils are perfect for this recipe! 

TIP: For easily separating those Trader Joe's Steamed Lentils, use this SUPER Rösle® Turner for Nonstick Pans (Rösle® Pfannenwender für beschichtete Pfannen). Using the end side of it for breaking up, than hash it with the flat side. Works like a gem and fast. One of my most favorite kitchen tools!

Below I will provide a link for this Rösle® item #10680 

This is the placemat in the Neue Mode magazine. 

Instead of striped fabric I used woven striped damask.

That was a Dutch version of the Neue Mode magazine.

Now, let's eat the soup as it is no longer piping hot and the smell of the fresh cilantro is calling us to the table. Delicious and healthy soup and rather easy to make. I find the plucking of the cilantro the most tedious of all. But I do use the entire bunch of it as we both LOVE it.

Cilantro (Coriander or Chinese parsley) functions as a natural diuretic and is a great detox herb as well.

Related links: 

Spicy corn and lentil soup recipe from T's Daily Treasures blog

Setting a Pretty Table Learn from Mariette 

Creating Heirloom Pieces Learn from Mariette
Rösle® Round HandleTurner for Nonstick Pans

Wedgwood Cream Color on Cream Color for 10 Inch Gardenia Bowl Replacements Ltd.

{Merry Christmas 2011}

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and Happiness that will last all year long. Peace, warmth and the joy of being with family. Those that cannot be near us, we keep in our hearts. Let distances vanish as we embrace the world in PEACE and LOVE. Thanks for visiting and reading my posts, thanks to all 148 countries, wherever you are, whomever you are. We are a small world after all.

“I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.” —Charles Dickens quote

The beautiful high-end Merry Christmas pillow from Miss Rebecca at A Gathering Place, that I won last year! Something to cherish for years to come...

Point a la Ligne Christmas Rose candle and a vase of our own garden's fragrant Paper whites in a Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse vase.

Silk brocade tablecloth is underneath. You can read about it in one of the related articles links below.

This is a beautiful lacquered brass window decoration from Jech Kunstgewerbe, Blaustein/Germany. Below under related articles you will find more from Jech Kunstgewerbe from the Easter Season.

Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad

Joyeux Noel

Frohe Weihnachten

Buon Natale

Related articles

{I WON THIS HIGH-END MERRY CHRISTMAS PILLOW!} | previous post by me

{Silk Brocade for our PRINCE OF PEACE} | previous post by me

{2nd Advent & Great Family Time} | previous post by me

{MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010} | previous post by me
{Our Garden's Winter Blooms for Christmas} | previous post by me

{Easter Season} | previous post by me showing more lacquered brass window decorations

{German Marzipan Stollen 500 years of Christmas Tradition}

For years while living in the US we have been enjoying the authentic German Marzipan Stollen, a 500 year old Christmas tradition. We bought our Oebel Marzipan Stollen this year at World Market in Atlanta. My surprise was big for also finding German Marzipan Stollen at our new, local T.J. MAXX store. We did buy them there often while on the road as consultants in Connecticut. But it sure makes us feel more at HOME with local supply now. Do you know this delicious German Tradition too? If not, you ought to buy one now, even 'after Christmas sales' can give you this great experience.

Enjoy this Marzipan Stollen with tea or coffee and I guarantee, you will be hooked!

So plan to add this to your Christmas to do list.

Served on a Rosenthal Sanssouci Roses Ivory plate.

{Use Bobèches with YOUR Candles!}

We have been talking all along about the Advent season and with Christmas just five days away, I thought it interesting to share with you the use of bobèches with your candles. Using tapers for our festive Christmas dinner and candles all throughout the home for the winter season, it makes bobèches a very wise investment. They are not expensive at all and will reward you for catching the melted wax before it will get to your fineries. Sure, they are not only for Christmas—this is something that is needed year round. With New Year's Eve coming first, Valentine and on and on for parties and dinners served at the home. Especially in a downward economy, we tend to entertain more at home. Have a look at my bobèches below. They're all from glass and of course there are some rare antique crystal ones from e.g. Baccarat, France but let's keep it within budget! Don't forget to scroll all the way down for a special Birthday girl; one that I ADMIRE!

Naturally, I will be showing you more angels too... One is clinging onto the candle and there is a cute one sitting in front of the Royal Selangor pewter candle holders, which we bought in Singapore. A cute sheep stands by...

The silver metallic thread lace doily is hand crocheted by a former neighbor in The Netherlands, she is from Turkey. Such art work I do treasure a life time, as it also is labor of love.

The cute angel was given by our extended family as a Christmas gift.

These two bobèches do have a gold edge, found them on August 28, 1996 at Read & Barton in Vero Beach, FL.

The silver tray was handmade for us in Kotagede, Indonesia.

Now two sterling silver candle holders with fluted bobèches have joined the Royal Selangor pewter ones.

Inside the candle holder you see one of my Hugger Brand Candle Snuggers for holding any candle straight, safe and secure. You can find them in a previous post: {Hugger Candle Snuggers}.

The two Royal Selangor pewter candle holders.

 Royal Selangor is established in 1885 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Two Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse candle holders and two silver plated tall ones with tapers and bobèches.

Each of them also holds a Hugger Candle Snugger.

Candles are Dutch Gouda. Yes, Gouda is a city that produces fine cheeses and candles!

Soft look without flash...

Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse is a beautiful pattern with gold edging too.

Again soft look without flash...

Do you love candles as much as I do?

Please do visit dear friend Celia from Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista as today is her Birthday! 

{Hugger Candle Snuggers}

Hold any candle safe, straight and secure! Package comes with 8 rounds, to be placed over opening of candle holder and pushed down with base of candle. Snugger will secure candle safely, and in desired position. These are available in packets of 8 at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics. Ships to any country and 2nd or 3rd is for same shipping price!

Now available on line at Biedermann and Sons ←(click it)

←

Sorry Sold out!

Related link:
{Use Bobèches with YOUR Candles!} blogpost by me

{4th Advent}

The final Sunday of Advent is there and soon we have Christmas! Another short and speedy year... Are you having the same experience too? Especially if one is not feeling totally fit, it kind of slips through your fingers. There is no halting to time, we are forced to move forward with the masses. But again I'd like to show some Advent photos to you.

Inside our veranda, in front of the shaded windows. Shadows from the live oak cast onto the linen shades due to the sunshine we had on Saturday. The green cotton Zweigart Aida tablecloth now with a Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse plate for the brass spiral candle holders.

In the back is a group of angels looking on, all from South Tyrol, Italy.

The one on the left is a ceramic one and was a gift from Italian friend Maria from Ristorante da Maria and the others are all wooden angels from Italy.

Our healthy Sago Palm makes it look more exotic, like our years living in Indonesia where we spent Christmas in the tropics.

Seen is also the Lampe Berger with Cherub from our private collection.

All the angels - cherubs

Wishing you all a Happy 4th Advent!

Related articles

{3rd Advent} previous post by me
{2nd Advent & Great Family Time} previous post by me
Christie's Mandalay by Masons

{3rd Advent}

• It is already the 3rd Sunday of Advent and we're speeding fast towards Christmas. 
• During the 2nd Advent week, we were still together with daughter Liz... 
• Thank you so much for the warm comments you left on yesterday's post about 'Our Daughter Liz'.
• She's safely home now and we better focus on the remainder of the year. 
• We never seem to be ready for it, but anyway let's share some 3rd Advent photos with you. 
• Creating a warm and cozy atmosphere works wonders for the colder season.

• Used our cotton Zweigart Aida tablecloth with the German Arzberg porcelain votive candle holders in white with real gold.
• My sister Diny was so kind for getting these for me in The Netherlands, when I found them in a Dutch magazine.
• Having our own magnolias, does also provide leaves that I sprayed with gold paint.
• Added Nandina berries with a few Ilex berries as well.

• Cotton Zweigart Aida tablecloth with Christmas bells around the border is from Bad Münstereifel, Germany.
• Wine table we did bring back home from our last trip to The Netherlands. It used to be mine and I'd given it to my brother. 
• They renovated their living room so it came back to my parents place. We can use it here.
• Nosegay from spices, seeds and hazelnuts, made in South Tyrol, Italy.
• Need help from Austrian, Italian readers for the NAME of this handmade bouquet.
• Thanks Johanna from Silber-und-Rosen-Shop for the name: In the Salzburger Land "Gewürzsträusschen".

• Our magnolia leaves tied with raffia. 
• The big candle is still from our 25th wedding anniversary, it was a gift from dear friends.

• This fireplace is from The Netherlands, Doensen Sfeerhaarden & bouwbedrijf  in Venlo.

• Green, red, white and gold with the black fire place makes for a warm and romantic setting.
• Nice way for a 3rd Advent.

• Hoping to get some help from my Italian and Austrian readers in regard to this special nosegay. 
• What is it called? Johanna from Silber+Rosen did already answer that above...

• Do you have a traditional Advent wreath or what are you using?

• Raffia and Nandina berries work fine with the gold sprayed Magnolia leaves.

• What is this called in Austria and Italy?

• There are almost no holly berries on our Ilex trees this year.

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Wishing all of you a very warm and meaningful 3rd Advent Sunday and a great week ahead!

Stay warm and healthy...