{Violets from our Garden and on French Country Style Wooden Tableau}

It was such a lovely sunny day and the violets in our wood garden were blooming at its best. So I did snip off several to create some lovely images for you all to share. Not quite the symbol for St. Patrick's day but nevertheless worthwhile to show.

On the balcony, on top of my hand crocheted table cloth for you to enjoy... The French Country Style wooden tableau with violets is for sale at Spectrenoir ←(click it). Pensez a moi means Think of me...

I've penned a handwritten note to Celeste for Celestina Marie Desings ←(click it) who has been in the hospital with symptoms that looked very much like a heart attack but the diagnostic was she's cleared now for 95%. Let's pray that it stays that way and that she continues to enjoy good health. Celeste is such an extraordinary artist. See my previous blog about her here ←click it. 

The 925/000 silver Card/Letter/Napkin Holder with 2 Angels ←(click it) is from Giovanni Raspini, Italy. Just click here: Spectrenoir for buying info.

The Royal Albert Provincial Flowers, Purple Violet ←(click it) you can find in a previous blog with more info about them; click on the red hyperlink. Also the edible candied violets that are shown inside the glas jar, you find the recipe at the bottom of my previous blog about Edible Flower ←click it. You also can find in my previous blog those Romantic Boxes with Pansies ←click it.

{Pearlbush Makes the Heart Beat Faster}

It is some ten years ago that we got our Exochorda 'Pearlbush' macrantha The Bride from Caroll Gardens in Westminster, MD but they have suspended their business... We do have many garden gems from that nursery. BUT for those of you that will like what you see here; you can get another variety Pearlbush Exochorda racemosa from Woodlanders, Inc in Aiken, SC.

• To love a pearlbush takes a special person. One with a beating heart. Yet for some strange reason, few gardeners grow pearlbush or even know it exists. You almost never see it for sale...

• Round white buds, resembling pearls, expand into pendulous clusters of 1" size, dogwood-like blooms. Pearlbush Exochorda ranks among early spring's showiest bloomers. This compact hybrid called macrantha The Bride remains 4 till 5 feet tall. The Exochorda racemosa grows taller.

• This is our compact Pearlbush shrub. To the left you still can see the beech tree with all its leaves still on it. They fill up our woodgarden in winter time as they never get bare! We have added lots of evergreen trees and shrubs but this is a nice color mix.

• As I LOVE pearls, shown here are my Majorica pearls together with the buds from the Pearlbush. There was some wind today so we had a hard time to take these shots with pearls next to the buds... So I did put them on my tea tray for some closeup still life shots. Pieter had this idea to break a few branches off.

• For those of you in the area; Book and Event for a Garden Tour.

{11 Vintage French Christofle Luc Lanel 'Ondulation' Knife Rests}

From France I bring you these vintage Christofle knife rests in a pleated pattern, as a set of eleven. No box available this time but they are in very good condition, considering their age. This is designed by Luc Lanel in the 1930s and is called 'Ondulation'. Look at: Christie's LUC LANEL (1893-1965) at Luc Lanel's 'Ondulation' champagne coolers with an ice pail, sold at Christie's. These rare 1930s Art Deco knife rests are available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

They are perfect for keeping your precious table linens from getting soiled. An ideal wedding gift that will become a treasured family heirloom. Please do also see my previous post about 6 Antique French Christofle Coquille Knife Rests in Box as well as 6 Antique French Christofle Gallia Knife Rests -- in Art Deco ← click on the hyperlinks to find out more.

The place mat is Le Jacquard Français in a damask rose pattern. The flatware is Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet and the china is English Rose from Royal Doulton. ← just click the hyperlinks.

Without flash gives the best natural color, the previous photo was taken with flash light...

O + Chess Knight + C and Christofle hallmark as you can see more in detail below and on the following website, click → ASCAS and scroll down to 10.

On page 73 and 74 of the book Christofle (Memoire) by David Rosenberg (Hardcover - Jun 15, 2006) you can read the following information:
1860: In France a law is passed requiring hallmarks for pieces of silver plate.
1883: Christofle outfits the Orient Express.
1935: Christofle creates a 45,000 piece service for te Normandie ocean liner. On page 77 you see the photo description about The Normandie ocean liner with mention of Transat champagne bucket, first class section of the Normandie, Luc Lanel for Christofle, 1933.

Indeed, Christofle is a symbol of luxury and elegance...

Sorry Sold out...