{Dinner for Friends using Nito Place Mats}

On Saturday, June 29, I did not like to use a linen table cloth or place mats for dinner with friends. After just having ironed lots of linens, I opted for the use of our woven Philippine Nito place mats instead. A gift from a dear friend who is like a sister to me. They are really elegant looking and also very easy to wipe clean, if needed. 

Hydrangeas in the Wedgwood vase are in a very special color and were given to us by one of the dinner guests.

Not as a cut flower but years ago as a starter to grow into a bush!

As a starter, we had mussels from Costco, served as amuse bouche, in little porcelain mini sauce pans and spoons.

To the left are two courser rattan place mats, same size.

My china is from the 70s my Seltmann Weiden Mirabell in white.

Crystal is Baccarat, Piccadilly.

Flatware is my Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet and silver Alvin Bridal Rose gumbo soup and dessert spoons. Silber-und-Rosen-Shop; yes Johanna, you will LOVE this Rose silverware... Johanna is a dear friend from Germany who wrote a book about Silver Rose Flatware; 'Rosen-Bestecke' and also loves anything with roses, just like me!

A closeup of my octagonal china by Seltmann Weiden, Mirabell pattern in white and made in Germany.

The porcelain amuse bouche spoons we bought in Yogjakarta, Indonesia while working and living there.

The mini sauce pan amuse bouche servers I bought at a whole sale store in The Netherlands, with my best friend.

Silver napkin rings are custom made for us in Indonesia.

Napkins are from Horchow.

Overview of the table setting.

Yes, the month of June did yield some pretty Gardenias for gracing the dinner table.

Do you also opt for using place mats out of convenience?

The heat of summer is not that inviting for ironing table linens...

We are looking forward to coming Saturday when one of the dinner guests will be hosting at her place.

Always fun for not having to do all the work yourself! 

{GARDENIA PASSION}

On June 12, I did manage to cut our last Gardenia blossoms. They lived a miserable life with all the heavy rain, turning brown on their edges. But they were gorgeous and they tried so hard to be beautiful; regardless the environment. So I did use them for two of our dinners as table decoration. Let me share these gorgeous blossoms with you; too bad I cannot recreate their heavenly fragrance for you to enjoy...

Such a spiraling bliss with heavenly fragrance...

These still look fine; not all got browned from the rain, depending where they were on the shrub.

For our dining room table I used this large oval Wedgwood  Cream Color on Cream Color vase.

Here you see more of the browning from the rain.

The square Wedgwood Cream Color on Cream Color vase I used for the round kitchen table.

Our Gardenias consist of different varieties and here you see our Aimee Yoshioka; the largest one.

Full of yummy pollen for the bees.

Showing this Aimee Yoshioka next to my hand, close to the kitchen bay window for more light on a rainy day.

This is really a LARGE BLOOM!

Together with these wax candles (battery operated) they make a perfect centerpiece...

Just setting the table near our kitchen bay window,  for you to see.

When I did host the dinner for 12, I might have had better gardenias but NO time on hand for making any photos... 

Old vintage linen damask tablecloth with roses and new French napkins from Le Jacquard Français with roses.

French Baccarat Piccadilly stemware

Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet flatware

Silver napkin ring holder from Kotagede, Indonesia

Plates are French Pillivuyt Sancerre

from GeorgiaWeather Rainfall Calculator

From April 19 (when we left for our Curaçao vacation) till July 9, we had 37 Rainy Days with a total Precipitation of 17.15 inch or 43.6 cm.

No wonder that Gardenias do show brown edges...

By the way, IKEA is selling Gardenia jasminoides as potting plants! In the US, The Netherlands and in Germany and probably other  countries as well. It's the small variety but still the same fragrance!

Related links:

{Gardenia by Royal Albert and our Garden Gardenias} | previous post by me

{Heavenly Gardenia Jasminoides 'Aimee Yoshioka'} | previous post by me

{May 22 Gardenia by Royal Albert and blooming Gardenias in Baccarat vase} | previous post by me

{Table Setting for Friends}

Saturday evening, we had a dinner for six friends at our home. Just like to share with you my table setting. From husband Pieter, I had a dozen white roses and in our garden we just found enough Fragrant double Obdam narcissus for putting in the individual Delft white picture frames, as a place setting. We had heavy rain on Saturday but inside it was cozy.

• Real Wax Carved Rose tea lights (battery operated Flameless Candles) in white, when lit they look yellowish.
• White ceramic roses as center piece, together with the Baccarat Harcourt pitcher with real white roses.
• You can see this Baccarat Harcourt pitcher in a previous post, see link below.

• Gumbo Soup spoon is Bridal Rose by Alvin and other flatware is my Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet.
• Baccarat Piccadilly stemware.
• French Pillivuyt charger...
• Le Jacquard Français tablecloth. 

• Table got set for 8 of us.
• Before I placed a fork to the left of this plate, I took the photo... 
• Don't you like to have cozy dinners with friends when the weather is cold, windy and rainy?

Related link:

{Fragrant Double Narcissus Obdam} | previous post by me

{Lady Alexander Rose by Queen Anne & Obdam Narcissus} | previous post by me
{Delft White Picture Frame Vase} | previous post by me
{6 Gorgeous Bridal Gown Peonies in Baccarat Harcourt Pitcher} | previous post by me
{Our Royal Bonica Rose} | previous post by me

{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.

{6694 Filets & Rubans - 6 Antique French Christofle Louis XVI Knife Rests}

Here I once again can offer you some very rare, 2nd half of 19th century antique French Christofle knife rests. These are in the 6694 Filets & Ruban, Louis XVI pattern and look absolutely stunning. Shown here with my French Le Jacquard Français placemats and napkins. China is Seltmann Weiden in the Mirabell pattern from Germany. The flatware is Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet. Check my Zen Cart powered on line Boutique Mariette's Back to Basics

• The individual place setting picture frame vase you can see in my post from 2 days ago.

• Christofle still is selling knife rests as of today. Click Christofle and put knife rests in the search box. They are still very much en Vogue.

• On January 24, I did set the table on our balcony in the sunshine...

• Pictures speak for themselves...

Christofle mark from the 2nd half of the 19th century.

Detail from my 1862 Sugar Sifter Spoon with the very same hall mark but now more visible.

6694 Louis XVI Filets et rubans...

Highlighted is the Christofle 6694 to the left...

These are inside the 1883-1891 Christofle Catalogue

• 24 pieces are sold here for US $ 800.00

Sorry Sold out...

Small Masterpiece - [We Set The Table] ←click it, is also showing Christofle knife rests. Just click on  the word Collection and scroll down for it.

Private Client (David Lauren and Lauren Bush) were even shown on their listing of Small Masterpiece clients.

Hope you enjoyed this journey back in time for style and elegance.

Those pieces do become heirlooms for many more decades as they are of superior quality.

Related articles:

{6 Antique Christofle Knife Rests Griffes Antiques - Antique Claws} | previous post by me
{11 French Antique 1863 Christofle 4 Boules Knife Rests} | previous post by me
{12 Vintage 1930s French Christofle Coquille Regence Knife Rests} | previous post by me
{2nd half of 19th Century Antique Christofle Knife Rests} | previous post by me
{6 Antique French Christofle Coquille Knife Rests} previous post by me
{Victoria Magazine: Knife Rests Old and New} | previous post by me
{6691 Filets - 10 Antique French Christofle Knife Rests} | previous post by me
{Set of 8 Antique Christofle Knife Rests with 4-Balls} | previous post by me
{Antique Christofle Knife Rests in Fleur de Lys} | previous post by me
{11 Vintage French Christofle Luc Lanel 'Ondulation' Knife Rests} | previous post by me
{6 Antique French Christofle Coquille Knife Rests in Box} | previous post by me
{6 Antique French Christofle Gallia Knife Rests -- in Art Deco} | previous post by me