MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

{16 Crocheted Christmas Ornaments I made for the City Hall's Tree}

Just came across this picture of the 16 different crocheted lace Christmas ornaments that I'd made for our Dublin, Georgia City Hall. Since on Saturday, November 19 of 1994, I was having my Christmas Sale, like the day before, I was unable to bring them to the City Hall for hanging them on the tree... My Dublin Mama did pick them up and did it for me. As she did often, helping me out.

From Magic Crochet, December 1985

Crochet patten is easy to make...

This is our City Hall with some Christmas decoration around its columns.

Just on a regular day...

Yes, I am living now in the NEW WORLD...

Our County only got established in 1807.

Quite a change from the OLD WORLD with its rich history!
This is actually a large mural in down town.

Monday, December 6, 2010

{Vintage Delft Polychrome Porcelain Velsen Lamp with Shade}

Excellent large vintage Delft Velsen Polychrome porcelain lamp with imitation leather lamp shade.

From France I got this rare, signed Delft Velsen lamp, dating from the 1940s - 1950s.

Closeup of it's signature you find below, just scroll down.

The total height is 22½" including the finial.

On page 89 of the book: Discovering Dutch Delftware: by Stephen J. van Hook you find more info.

See at the bottom of my blog more about this book.

It is all hand painted with wonderful detail and variety in the decorations.

As usual, available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics

Below you will see images of front and back of hand painting, as well as light turned on and off. This lamp is in excellent overall condition!

Looks like this pattern is done by Painter: Marian Sober,

according to this Velsen Polychrome Porcelain site.

Such perfect hand painting...

In absolute perfect condition!

Outlet for cord.

Yes, from the Province of North Holland in The Netherlands.

Faux Antique Leather Lamp Shade

Shade is protected

Closeup

A similar item recently sold on eBay for US $ 580.00.

Sorry Sold out...

Sunday, December 5, 2010

{Chocolate and Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas}

In the Dutch tradition, today is THE DAY!

Saint Nicholas is being celebrated in my home country. Poems are written and surprise gifts are being made for a family member. Names are drawn before, and it's a lot of fun creating all this. One custom from The Netherlands I've integrated into the American life and all our American family and friends LOVE it.

Chocolate Alphabet letters! ←click it. Yummy...
Available here in the US too; click on the above hyperlink.
Also available in Canada at The Dutch Market Ltd.
Silver alphabet angels from Tuscany, Italy by Giovanni Raspini ,
available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique:
Spectrenoir ←click it.

Have also a look at Madelief's blog Snowfakes and Crystals, she did describe so well the time leading to the finale... when Sinterklaas finally delivers the goods. Saint Nicholas is thus Sinterklaas in Dutch. In my opinion, the Dutch way is far better and more pure, family oriented than the 'way too commercial' Christmas celebration here in the USA with Santa Claus. Christmas is a religious holiday and in The Netherlands it lasts TWO days! It is not as abruptly being amputated...
Let me show you our chocolate letters for friends; even if they will be given at Christmas time...
Most people do prefer milk chocolate and very few like the dark chocolate.
In my family it was only my Dad and me that preferred the dark...

You see also the silver alphabet angel letters together with the chocolate letters. Below I will be showing the additional silver alphabet angel letters that I have added. As with the chocolate letters, not all are available for purchase... You can always check with me if a certain letter is not shown, maybe I can obtain it for you.
For the photo session I dropped the box with my dark chocolate M and it broke; Murphy's law...

Pieter's P in milk chocolate... with the Giovanni Raspini silver alphabet angels from Italy.

Since 1896, indeed a very old Dutch tradition!
And a younger Italian tradition with the silver letters...

There are two sizes: 135 g and 65 g. Sometimes you have no choice...

This is how you order them, click on the image to enlarge.

Above you see some typical Dutch Sinterklaas treats from Chocolaterie Pierre.

Now I want to add some of the silver Giovanni Raspini letters that are available at: Spectrenoir.