{My Very 1st Blogpost: Romancing the Home}

As usual, I forget my Blog Anniversary!
Maybe it is because of such a sad period in my life, you can read more below blog post from previous links...
Anyway, now in 2014 on November 23, I had a total of 1,205 blog posts written.
So let's go Back to Basics and show the beginning.
On November 23, 2009 I started blogging and here is my very first post:

Autumn is the time of year to turn inward again, for making the home into a warm nest where we savor the memories of summer and sunshine. All about Romancing the Home...

A few last Midas Touch roses from the garden in a lovely silver vase adorned with a silver rosebud (that will at least last all winter long!) while indulging in a cup of hot chocolate with a Bon-bon, while reading an invitation to a winter wedding on February 13th... How romantic the outlook; just a day before Valentine's Day!

After all, these special moments will pull us through the dreary winter. With the memories of warm sun rays kept alive inside our hearts, we will get to springtime again.

Romancing the Home... Indeed, trying to extend the season of roses all year long!
The yellow roses on the tablecloth are hand embroidered by me...

Detail of the silver rosebud vase with rose...

{Post # 484 and my blog is 2 years old today!} | previous post by me with the sad story...

{Our Yellow Midas Touch Roses & my Embroidered Yellow Roses}

Not only real yellow Midas Touch roses but also my yellow embroidered roses that I cross stitched on a rayon damask tablecloth.

• That was part of my trousseau at the time I first got married. It is French 3 Suisses.

• This is almost heaven; coffee with chocolate, silver roses, real roses and my hand embroidered cross stitched  roses...

• Why not join me for a cup of coffee  & chocolate, over reading the mail...?

• This silver teaspoon with rose is one of my favorites.

• My Giovanni Raspini silver rose

• Pure bliss with yellow roses in a bud vase with roses in silver!

• We MISS our Midas Touch roses...

• Are they not a dream?

• Whomever created these silver roses on that bud vase I admire...

{UNIQUE Giovanni Raspini, Italy | Cord with Tassels and 925 Silver Angels}

Are you looking for a very special gift; this unique Giovanni Raspini, Italy | Cord with Tassels and 925 Silver Angels is it. Only 2 more available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

Beautifully boxed and a precious gift are these tassels on a corded rope with 925 silver angels.

Leave it to the silver masters of Italy...

Detail of these incredible tassels on a corded rope and Angels...

Sold out...

This box contains a corded rope, without the tassels, and 925 silver angels. Only 2 more available at Spectrenoir.

Again, artfully created by silver master Giovanni Raspini, Italy.

Related link:
{Giovanni Raspini Heavenly Scented Sachet & Silver Angels} | previous post by me

{Art Emotion from Giovanni Raspini, Italy} | previous post by me

{Giovanni Raspini Heavenly Scented Sachet & Silver Angels}

Are you still left on a rope and in search for a unique gift? What about this Heavenly Scented Sachet & Silver Angels from silver master Giovanni Raspini, Italy? Straight from the heart of Tuscany! That would no doubt make a unique and lovely gift! This item is available at Spectrenoir. Only two left...

Gorgeous 925 silver Angels are climbing the rope above the tassel.

The Sachet is such a heavenly scented one, it would freshen up any drawer or room... up to the lucky owner.

In 2009, before WHITE became the rage, this was shown in the Italian Bride magazine.

They come in a very pretty and sturdy gift box; making them a regal gift.

This one has no tassels and the 925 silver angels are a little bit bigger.

Also available at Spectrenoir and for this the same; only 2 left...

Related link:
{Art Emotion from Giovanni Raspini, Italy} previous post by me

{STIR UP ANGELIC TEA FOR TWO}

May I invite you for a TEA FOR TWO? Just thought you would like that... For the occasion I made some special handmade chocolates in the shape of an angel and a rose. Stirring up an angelic tea party!

Also I would like to show you this very special high end solid silver spoon by Giovanni Raspini, Italy. A very unique solid silver spoon with two angels, I want to share with you today. It would become a lovely heirloom piece for your family, if this spoon, with twin angels, is given in honor of a new born baby or any occasion involving LOVE. Like I said before, Giovanni Raspini makes High End Silver Gift items that are equal to the Tiffany & Co quality and style. I feel fortunate for being able to bring their unique boutique style items to the American, Canadian and world-wide public. See my Zen Cart powered Mariette's Back to Basics Boutique link, below this post.

From France I have this heavenly angelic tea doily. A vintage treasure done in filet lace needle embroidery on handmade netting.

Sold out...

The silver twin angels do have company... Filet lace doily with angels and roses and a beautiful French cross stitch embroidery on pure unbleached linen in tone-on-tone and framed by my most favorite home town Gallery IROK galerie lijsten kunstuitleen FOTO ALBUM , in Horst aan de Maas, The Netherlands. They do a museum quality job and I will get back on that in a later blog, with more of their exceptional work. We're loyal customers for about three decades; even from the USA!

French Country

The Giovanni Raspini silver spoon is showcased together with my first wedding china from Germany, Mirabell White by Seltmann Weiden. 
Of course, even Replacements Ltd. does have some of its discontinued pieces!
The paper doilies are from Europe as you cannot find the 4" (10 cm) size pieces here... Everything is bigger in the USA.
Well, I must admit that we do live the Going GREEN way as those smaller pieces of China fit more items inside our dishwasher... great for the environment.

More angels on the solid silver napkin holder. 

You can also use it on a desk, for holding cards and letters! 

My passions are angels and roses and this is a nice way of showing that.

Sorry Sold out...

I TOLD you I love angels and roses and I even do EAT them alive... 

Are these hand made chocolates not divine? It is so much fun making them and even more fun to eat, as I use the 70% and higher special dark chocolate for making those. That is supposed to be good for your health as well! Will write more about that later... So much to do still! Subjects will be endless. But bit by bit you get to know what I'm doing...

French Country

Of course, I did search for the book with the beautiful TOI & MOI Angel embroidery. It is in French, but languages are no barrier for me, so I found it on the German Amazon and ordered it from there. 

As said before, this is the Museum Quality Gallery of Irok that does all our framing for three decades already. You can visit Ingrid's Irok Gallery blog below, she  also has a translator.

I like to make a mention here as to the fact that Irok also provides art work for the Hospice facility near our former home town. In that facility on July 22nd of 2010, Mrs. Dora Van den Bekerom passed away. She used to be the secretary of my husband Pieter, at the world's first and only Practical Training College about Mushroom Growing; the one he founded.

Therefore I like to name this blog in honor of her. She was a dear colleague to both of us, very loyal and she not once forgot a birthday. Since she went to heaven to re-unite with her husband who passed away of cancer in 1967 and is now living amongst angels; this will be quite appropriate for ending this blog...
Republished today.

Are you stirring up things with angels at your home?
Would love to know about it.

Related links:

Mirabell White by Seltmann Weiden, Germany

{Giovanni Raspini 2012 - Fashion Campaign with Supermodel Viera Schottertova}

Giovanni Raspini 2012 - Fashion Campaign

The new 2012 Fashion Campaign of Giovanni Raspini with one of the most famous international top models of the haute couture: Viera Schottertova, model for Lancia, Barilla, Vogue, Armani, Chanel, Pantene, Rimmel Look, Victoria's Secret, Bolero and many others.

♥♥Giovanni Raspini silver from Tuscany, Italy is available at my Spectrenoir Boutique on line with free shipping!
Anything that is not listed at my boutique, I can get for you; just ASK. ♥♥

La nuova campagna Fashion 2012 di Giovanni Raspini con una delle top model internazionali più famose dell'haute couture: Viera Schottertova, già modella per Lancia, Barilla, Vogue, Armani, Chanel, Pantene, Rimmel Look, Victoria's Secret, Bolero e molti altri.

{Happy New Year - 2012}

The clock is ticking away the last hours, minutes and seconds of the year 2011... In the different time zones, there will be several countries that are ahead of us in celebrating the arrival of the Happy New Year - 2012. May it be a Happy one, with Peace and good Health for the people on this planet. With modern communications, the world has become so small and we can read each other's writings à la minute. Let us not forget those that are lonely, sick, wounded or weak. They might be deprived of any modern era communication, the way we know it and maybe even take for granted... We all can make a difference in some one's life by caring and looking around for lending a helping hand, an ear or for writing a few encouraging words. Yes, writing is very powerful and will always remain that way.

The Christofle clock, together with an antique book from Goethe, a silver ink well and Mont Blanc fountain pens atop our solid French oak secretaire from Oisterwijk furniture in The Netherlands. A solid silver Giovanni Raspini Card/Letter/Napkin holder is holding embossed cards from Carol Wilson, my favorite line of fine arts stationery.

The solid 925/000 silver Giovanni Raspini Card/Letter/Napkin Holder with two Angels is available at Spectrenoir ←click it.

This heavenly piece out of solid silver is protected against oxidation.

Not only does it show two perfectly crafted angels but also a romantic rose wreath, that is held by the two cherubs. Would make a perfect gift for a bride or for that someone special in your life. It will no doubt become a treasured heirloom for generations to enjoy its majestic beauty.

Of course, it is equally useful for holding letters and even for adorning any buffet setting, as a napkin holder.

Related link:
{Violets from our Garden and on French Country Style Wooden Tableau} previous post by me

{MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS LLC's RIBBON CUTTING}

FINALLY it got published yesterday in our local news paper! My official ribbon cutting that had been postponed so many times. In 2008 when I started my business we first went to The Netherlands for a wedding. Returning home from the wedding, we joined with Anita, our foster daughter, at the airport and flew back with her to the USA. She stayed with us and went back on a trip to The Netherlands again for the 50th wedding anniversary of Pieter's eldest, and now only brother. We also celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. In February of 2009 we flew once again back to The Netherlands for my parents' 60th wedding anniversary; our 61st trip to visit family and friends. In October of 2009 we flew once more to The Netherlands for the first reunion of the Practical Training College about Mushroom Growing, that husband Pieter had founded. It was fun to see former colleagues once again... When we got back home I became sicker and sicker with excruciating pain. My severe health problems and weight loss, resulted in being completely paralyzed on January 9 of 2010. That set me back so much that we had to work hard in order to catch up on everything. Again we discussed a ribbon cutting with our Dublin Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. Now it was Pieter who made us have to postpone everything again; he had his quadruple bypass on September 3rd. So the year was ending fast again but we decided to have it done on November 30 of 2010.

Here it is; the huge scissor for the ceremony done by the City Mayor and County and Chamber Officials.

Green is the color for Dublin and the Mayor also is wearing a green shamrock, the symbol for Dublin. See my blog post from December 30 for the symbol ← click it.

♣

The news paper article from our local Courier Herald, February 17 of 2011.

Pieter giving a little speech... one of hundreds that he gave over his life time.

Some snappy remarks and laughter!

A happy gathering!

With our dear friends Maria Runggaldier and Heinz Krassnig from Ristorante da Maria and Dublin Farm "Come Home To The Country". See my earlier blog post about {AGRITURISMO & GERANIUMS - PELARGONIUM} ← click it.

In the living room explaining about my classes Learn from Mariette
and showing also some vintage Lampe Berger alongside the Giovanni Raspini silver gifts (← click it) from Italy.

Down stairs in our Rose Suite showing them more items like hand carved wooden cherubs and angel heads from South Tirol, Italy; antique Delft Velsen table lamp; antique Limoges table lamps (← click it);

 high end French antiques and French Country Style (← click it).

It also was dear friend Maria, Lady Chef from Italy, who helped me out with the refreshments for that day.

Using my Cottimaryanne table linens, in a rose damask, from Italy; see earlier post: {Camellia Debutante & Chocolate} ← click it.

Dublin Mayor and Ms. Willie from the local Chamber of Commerce, lead us to the refreshments...

♣