Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Wishing you a Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Holding our Tiggy-Tiger girl and wearing my sewing creation (jacket) wearing my Rose Jewelry, ring and bracelet.

Pieter wearing his Irish Blarney Castle Sweater that we bought while doing consulting in Ireland.

Wearing my Irish Blarney Castle Sweater...

Are you wearing anything green today?

Related links:

{Burda Pattern Jacket - My Sewing Creation} | previous post by me

{Our Irish Blarney Castle Sweaters + Short Hair} | previous post by me

Historic Town of Guanajuato, Mexico and Adjacent Mines | previous post by me from where the malachite silver earrings came

{Outlet Scores}

Always a pleasure to find great Outlet Scores and we are often successful in Florida.

This Escada jeans suit we found at Escada Outlet Store in Florida, right after I came out of the hospital, when I got almost completely paralyzed because of a rare auto immune disease. I had lost so much weight that I barely could keep any pants on my hips...

Here I wear it again with two new Oultet Scores from the Wolford outlet.

Yes, those Outlets are great for Men's clothes as well.

Here husband Pieter is wearing his favorite jeans brand: Zegna with a nice vest from Last Call by Neiman Marcus.

Pieter captured me laughing at one of our cats; they always follow us like doggies!

You can see the Cotton Velvet Wolford top with the leather belt.

Lovely belt with roses... that was a pre-surgery gift when we were in Florida for a relaxing vacation in September of 2013, but with horrible weather.

Got so lucky that this was in the Wolford Outlet at Orlando, FL

On our latest trip we learned that they closed in February.
But there is one in Fort Lauderdale at The Colonnade!
With Last Call by Neiman Marcus and Escada Outlet store at the Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass, that makes it super...

Do you also treasure such Outlet Scores?

Related links:

{# 148 and my blog is 1 year old today!} | previous post by me with mention of being paralyzed

{Our Citrus Aurantifolia - Key Lime} | previous post by me from stay at Key West after being paralyzed

{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} | previous post by me
{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass} | previous post by me

{Antique Gold Plated FIX 18K French Art Nouveau Rose Pendant}

From Paris came this lovely Antique Gold Plated FIX 18K French Art Nouveau Pendant.

I have added a 15" or 38 cm AMCO 14K Gold Filled chain to wear it with.

This is a very lovely antique French Rose Pendant by FIX in 18K
Here you clearly can read the word FIX on the bail and also AMCO 14K GF on the lock of the chain.

Available at Spectrenoir

The marking FIX or ORIA in antique jewelry is of very good rolled gold.

Sorry, sold out...

Above you can see an example of the many FIX medals and pendants that are being sold in France.
Here is the link to the French site where it is called Medaille Plaqué.

On both sides of the Atlantic Ocean precious Art Nouveau pieces from FIX can still be found as here above from Ruby Lane.

Too bad this Christie's auction of a French gold plated griffin brooch by Fix is without image...
You can click here for link.
It is always quite interesting to do the research on antique pieces like this!
Do you maybe own such an heirloom piece from FIX?

Related link:

Worthpoint Antique Gold Plated FIX 18K Art Nouveau | explaining about the double layer of gold, the outside being solid 18K



{Our Gazebo with Chair Cushions}

On August 29, the day that it was exactly 30 years ago that we immigrated to the USA, from The Netherlands, we did have a mud-free gazebo with the washed concrete tile path and entrance being cleaned by husband Pieter. We felt confident that we will have no more tropical thunderstorms changing our outlook. So finally an entire lovely, sunny week with sunshine and lower humidity and also some wind. Perfect for drying out!

It was on July 8, that I wrote my post about {WHAT is THIS?} when I had rescued our gazebo's cushions.

Link you find below this post, for those that missed it...

Here they are! 

On July 12, they had their 15th birthday but we could not use them yet with all our flash flood warnings and reality.

We forgot to place the table back in the center of the gazebo... I saw this only after I uploaded my photos!

Guess we both were too excited of finally being able to use our gazebo!

Our gazebo got a new aluminum roof from Interlock Roofing as well.

We did place a new fan from Wayfair after the painters had finished their painting job here as well.

They did such a meticulous job with their two coatings of Benjamin Moore paint!

This Westinghouse Lighting 30" Wengue 3 Blade Ceiling Fan, has an incredible 18 degrees blade pitch!

It is in Chrome with Wengue Beech Blades.

Stepping back, towards the house...

The Vintage Woodworks ginger bread in the top part is adding such charm.

So does the Aluminum Slate roof in Aged Copper from Interlock Metal Roofing!

This is with the steps in the back, since we live on a slope. The house is now visible to the left.

There is a little patio at the landing of the steps...

Enjoying our tea together! 

With a rice cake and some unsalted mixed nuts... 

The container in the back is where we store those cushions and the top table cloth.

There is a round vinyl tablecloth with elastic underneath. Easy to wipe clean with moist wipes from Costco.

So finally you got to see the cushions in our gazebo!

Wearing my precious 925 silver rose ring (lost that in April of 2019...) and you see the vase with rain lilies with perfect rose bud in silver!

Related links:

{RAIN and MUD} | previous post by me

{New Power Wiring to Our Gazebo} | previous post by me where you also see the gazebo in wrong spot

{What is THIS?} | previous post by me where I did rescue our gazebo's chair cushions...

{AGRITURISMO & GERANIUMS - PELARGONIUM} | previous post by me, showing the geraniums in optima forma in their planter boxes in front of the gazebo

{French Floral Pillow Set and our Gazebo} | previous post by me showing the gazebo very well

{International Sterling Silver Rose Pendant on Black Giovanni Raspini Necklace}

For the month of Romance, of course one can never have enough ROSES and CHOCOLATE...! One more find for you, this lovely International Sterling Rose Pendant on Giovanni Raspini, Italy black caoutchouc necklace. Note the beautiful silver bail that's on the pendant. Again, this unique piece of jewelry is available at Spectrenoir.

As usual, these photos are taken outside on the balcony. Not easy to capture silver!

Without bail, this beautiful rose pendant is 2.2" x 1.6" or 5.5 cm x 4 cm.

The Giovanni Raspini black necklace has a 925 silver lobster clasp and shows the 925 and ★132 AR, Raspini Arezzo silver marks.

The necklace is 16.5" or 42 cm in length.

Closeup of the Rose Pendant...

International Sterling marking on the lower back of this Silver Rose Pendant.

Sorry Sold out...

{Vintage Silver Rose Brooch}

Another treasure for offering to my clients. This time I found an Old World Vintage Silver Rose Brooch and it is in excellent shape, pin and all. Just have a look at this lovely piece. Some artistic silver smith did an excellent job. This gem is available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

More and more I do admire those professionals that make photos for magazines or books.

It is awfully hard to capture anything in silver! Even my French ombré silk velvet is shiny...

But you do get an idea how lovely this rose is.

This is taken on our balcony and you can see the trees reflected in the silver...

The silver mark, an 800 content of silver. The back is smooth with only the needle and lock.

Sorry Sold out...

{1925 Art Nouveau Silver Brooch with Roses}

For you again a special find from the Old World. This time it is a 1925 Art Nouveau Silver Brooch with Roses in very nice repousse work. It is 6.7cm x 2.4cm in size, or 2.6" x 0.9" and has a well functioning needle with secure lock. See last picture below. Again this is available at Spectrenoir.

Photo is taken outside on the balcony and the sun is a bit reflecting in the roses...

But at least you get to see the beautiful repousse silver work.

This one has less reflection from the sun... 

I admire those silver smiths how they can create such life-like roses with buds and leaves!

This is the reverse side of the brooch and you see the needle and its locking system.

To the left at the top, under the rim you can read the 800 silver mark.

One more 800 silver mark on the arch of the locking system.

{Vintage Sterling Rose Pendant Brooch on Silk Tiffany Cord}

Are you looking for an utterly romantic and affordable sterling silver gift? This rare vintage 925 sterling silver rose pendant brooch on a black silk Tiffany loop and button cord from Japan is IT! Again, uniquely available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics. 

Just a lovely Rose in 925 Sterling on a Japanese silk loop and button cord from Tiffany.

Japanese silk loop and button cord comes in signature blue Tiffany box.

Silk cord inside the Tiffany & Co blue pouch with cord.

Being a silversmith is also an art... don't you think so?

Beautiful silk loop and button cord from Japan by Tiffany & Co.

Sterling Silver Hallmarks on back of pendant brooch.

Sales slip from Tiffany & Co for the Black Loop and Button Thick Silk Cord, 18  Inches long.

Made in Japan.

Someone will get lucky...!

Sorry Sold out...

{Cotton Ajour Sweater with Lace Effect, knitted by Me}

One more AJOUR sweater in a lace effect pattern, I'd like to show you. This is a 100% cotton one, so it can be worn over a longer period of time. I've slightly altered the pattern at the neckline.

Barty, our 8-year old male cat, is joining me into our garden.

On Monday, April 9, I read Willy's post about Twee breirollen or Two knitting-rolls as it used to be done in the 18th century. Different stitches, even up to one hundred, were done in one length. There were no magazines then. Even some 70 years ago it was done by the students and the stitches were written down in a book. 

Look→ Twee breirollen | click it, for Willy's post about those knitting rolls. 

This knitting history story is also printed on the Ariadne magazine's page, from where I used this pattern.

  Our weeping peach tree wears a protective cuff...

Wish those peach blossoms would stay longer...

Best colors of spring!

Wearing my precious 925 silver rose ring (lost that in April of 2019...)

Detail of the AJOUR with Lace Effect. It was really a joy to knit this out of cotton. 

Answering some readers' question about how I find time to do this, besides everything else, plus blogging... These sweaters were knit 'BB' or Before Blogging!

My neckline is done straight...

Okay, this is only helpful for readers in the Dutch language but it gives each one an idea.

For my MIA Missing In Action over the past four days, I will be catching up with you soon. 

Welcome to all the new followers, I promise to visit you soon.

Today our new modem arrived and we had again Internet. Blogging via iPhone is nearly impossible so I've been very active doing other chores, like doing laundry and ironing.

What is your favorite yarn to knit with; if any?

Hope you have a pleasant mid-week and enjoy reasonable weather too.

Related articles
Mohair blend Peacock-stitch Sweater Knitted by Me | previous post by me
{AJOUR KNIT JACKET FOR MY NIECE MAARTJE} | previous post by me
{30 Years  Ago In My Rose Sweater} | previous post by me