{Use Bobèches with YOUR Candles!}

We have been talking all along about the Advent season and with Christmas just five days away, I thought it interesting to share with you the use of bobèches with your candles. Using tapers for our festive Christmas dinner and candles all throughout the home for the winter season, it makes bobèches a very wise investment. They are not expensive at all and will reward you for catching the melted wax before it will get to your fineries. Sure, they are not only for Christmas—this is something that is needed year round. With New Year's Eve coming first, Valentine and on and on for parties and dinners served at the home. Especially in a downward economy, we tend to entertain more at home. Have a look at my bobèches below. They're all from glass and of course there are some rare antique crystal ones from e.g. Baccarat, France but let's keep it within budget! Don't forget to scroll all the way down for a special Birthday girl; one that I ADMIRE!

Naturally, I will be showing you more angels too... One is clinging onto the candle and there is a cute one sitting in front of the Royal Selangor pewter candle holders, which we bought in Singapore. A cute sheep stands by...

The silver metallic thread lace doily is hand crocheted by a former neighbor in The Netherlands, she is from Turkey. Such art work I do treasure a life time, as it also is labor of love.

The cute angel was given by our extended family as a Christmas gift.

These two bobèches do have a gold edge, found them on August 28, 1996 at Read & Barton in Vero Beach, FL.

The silver tray was handmade for us in Kotagede, Indonesia.

Now two sterling silver candle holders with fluted bobèches have joined the Royal Selangor pewter ones.

Inside the candle holder you see one of my Hugger Brand Candle Snuggers for holding any candle straight, safe and secure. You can find them in a previous post: {Hugger Candle Snuggers}.

The two Royal Selangor pewter candle holders.

 Royal Selangor is established in 1885 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Two Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse candle holders and two silver plated tall ones with tapers and bobèches.

Each of them also holds a Hugger Candle Snugger.

Candles are Dutch Gouda. Yes, Gouda is a city that produces fine cheeses and candles!

Soft look without flash...

Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse is a beautiful pattern with gold edging too.

Again soft look without flash...

Do you love candles as much as I do?

Please do visit dear friend Celia from Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista as today is her Birthday! 

{Hugger Candle Snuggers}

Hold any candle safe, straight and secure! Package comes with 8 rounds, to be placed over opening of candle holder and pushed down with base of candle. Snugger will secure candle safely, and in desired position. These are available in packets of 8 at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics. Ships to any country and 2nd or 3rd is for same shipping price!

Now available on line at Biedermann and Sons ←(click it)

←

Sorry Sold out!

Related link:
{Use Bobèches with YOUR Candles!} blogpost by me

{4th Advent}

The final Sunday of Advent is there and soon we have Christmas! Another short and speedy year... Are you having the same experience too? Especially if one is not feeling totally fit, it kind of slips through your fingers. There is no halting to time, we are forced to move forward with the masses. But again I'd like to show some Advent photos to you.

Inside our veranda, in front of the shaded windows. Shadows from the live oak cast onto the linen shades due to the sunshine we had on Saturday. The green cotton Zweigart Aida tablecloth now with a Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse plate for the brass spiral candle holders.

In the back is a group of angels looking on, all from South Tyrol, Italy.

The one on the left is a ceramic one and was a gift from Italian friend Maria from Ristorante da Maria and the others are all wooden angels from Italy.

Our healthy Sago Palm makes it look more exotic, like our years living in Indonesia where we spent Christmas in the tropics.

Seen is also the Lampe Berger with Cherub from our private collection.

All the angels - cherubs

Wishing you all a Happy 4th Advent!

Related articles

{3rd Advent} previous post by me
{2nd Advent & Great Family Time} previous post by me
Christie's Mandalay by Masons

{Angels & Cross Stitch for Christmas}

On November 9, I did already write about Our Living Room ANGELS - CHERUBS that have taken up permanent residence, not only for the Christmas season. All our ANGELS - CHERUBS are the REAL thing, made out of special wood and hand carved in South Tyrol, Italy. So here they are shown once more to you as they sure belong to the Christmas season.

The golden wreath we added for the Christmas season...

Quite an angelic population on our mantle...

From Bad/Münstereifel, Germany I did bring this pure linen cross stitched Christmas bow back home.

The edging of the linen band is done in gold and the hand embroidered cross stitching also used gold for the stars as well as for some contrast stitching.

Hard to capture on photo.

I've just finished a scan from this bow & stars cross stitch pattern, for those of you that are interested in it.

Look for it below and feel free to print it out.

My German friend Marlene, did bring me a second one when she and her husband Egon did visit us after their tour through Mexico.

They are hung each year in the living room from the doorknobs of the oak wall unit.

This is the scan and I put it as a larger size. The width of the linen band is 7 cm or 2.8"

The entire cross stitch pattern is 11 cm long or 4.3" so you can determine the thread count accordingly.

If you love it as much as I did at first sight, okay - here is the pattern for you.

Just a small Christmas gift from me to my loyal readers!

~~*~~

Obviously many visitors loved this... 11,044 views.

Related links:

{6 Antique & Vintage Italian Angels, Cherubs Putti} previous post by me
{Our Living Room ANGELS - CHERUBS} previous post by me
{Our Living Room} previous post by me
{5 Angels - Putti from Italy & Germany} previous post by me

{More Christmas Memories}

In 1983 when we first came to Dublin, Georgia/USA, I got adopted by a dear lady whom I called 'Dublin Mom'. I have had the privilege of knowing her for 26 years, till she died of lung cancer on the same day Michael Jackson died; June 25 of 2009. One Christmas in the mid 80s she cross stitched a lovely set of Christmas ornaments for me. They have become cherished Christmas memories with a message.

The Warmth of Christmas is Friendship

Time is ticking away, but it's good to stand still and reflect on our friends...

Christmas is Love

Joy is the spirit of Christmas

An angel I received from my Dublin Mom, in memory of the son that had gone to heaven at a rather young age...

Lovely Christmas ornament that Dublin Mom's youngest daughter brought back from Switzerland...

Angels artfully created from straw!

The palm tree and elephant is from the Island Saint Martin; made from Tagua nut. Also called vegetable ivory!

{Fabulous GIVEAWAY at High Heeled Life}

This gorgeous LADY CARLYLE Royal Albert teacup and saucer will be given to one lucky winner, regardless from which country! Giveaway ends on December 24th. Please read all about it at Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista's: A Nutcracker Christmas - and - Christmas GIVE AWAY For your convenience I've created already a button to take back to your blog for placing on the sidebar. Just scroll down for getting your button...

Below is the button for taking home with you.

Good luck!

Button removed...

{Cherished Christmas Ornaments from 90 Year Old Mother-In-Law}

Just would love to share with you some of our most cherished Christmas ornaments. Created by my dear Mother-in-law when she was 90 years of age. She presented us with these sweet embroidered Christmas decorations. When we lived in Cornuda (TV), Italy she did pass away at the age of 94+ and she's made many a tablecloth for her family members and for brides to be that worked at the nursing home. Often she complained that even if she would reach the age of 100, she would still not be able to finish all the requests. Isn't that great? The other day, daughter Liz and I discussed her handwork and as of today, also Liz keeps some of her pulled thread tablecloths, as I do. They are treasures and have since become a family heirloom. Do you have pieces like that from your dear Mother or Mother-in-law?

Hand embroidered with love by my 90-year old Mother-in-law...

Hanging on our indoor shutters in the living room.

I've used some red ribbon to weave them together for hanging.

Simple cross-stitch but very pretty and even more so considering it's done by 90-year old hands...

Love to hear about your heirloom keepsakes for Christmas!

{YOUR Christmas Charity - Fabulous Felines Fundraising}

On Monday a parcel arrived from Greece with some of the cutest feline faces captured in high quality photography by Joan from the blog Gods Little People. This is from the Fabulous Felines Fundraising and would also make YOUR best Christmas Charity ever. You can find her Etsy Saints & Apostles handmade fineries on her blog's sidebar.

This cuty is TODDY and you can read about his rescue here: Mystery boys.

Dear Joan has rescued and cared for some 40 felines, hence she needs this FABULOUS FELINES FUNDRAISING.

Paying for all the needed care such as veterinary costs, and the food takes up ever more for her.

The time she spends on Gods Little People is a labour of love in itself!

So PLEASE do stop by at her blog and try to help her out.

The way Joan does wrap her fineries is a gift in itself... She has a HUGE heart.

The signature label from Saints & Apostles adorns the second parcel.

'Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul.' Quote Pythagoras

Signature tag from Saints & Apostles

Beautiful folded blank cards with envelops...

This is Ellie, a miracle kitten that was found at the age of 10 days and in what shape!

View her video: Off to see the world.

This is Rosie and she definitely did come back from near death read: What further happened....

Life for Rosie as it should be, read: Life as it should be.

New day for Rosie to explore, read: A new day to explore.

In July I did receive a parcel from Greece with a regal gift! Joan designed and made this silk couture evening bag for me. You can read about it here: {Parcel from Greece with Regal Gift}. Joan is a very talented lady and I am fortunate for having such a treasure made by her loving hands.

This time she added a beautiful lingerie bag... with red roses!

Boutique quality by Saints & Apostles...

THANKS Joan for all you do and may God bless you for such unselfish kindness!

{Giovanni Raspini Silver Christmas Balls + 500 Posts}

Just would like to thank all my loyal readers from 148 countries again, for making it a reality that yesterday I launched my 500th post. Especially for this Christmas season it has a special meaning. Something to really be grateful for, being healthy and managing to do what I want to do. Enjoy some of my most favorite Christmas decorations in solid silver from Giovanni Raspini, Italy. These upscale silver Christmas balls were available at my Zen Cart Boutique Mariette's Back to Basics. Shown below are my personal balls and angel.

The special 925/000 solid silver angels were also available at Mariette's Back to Basics.

Nothing else works like candles for this special season...

Photo is from the Giovanni Raspini book.

143 countries since July, 2010...

Related articles:

Giovanni Raspini Silver Christmas Balls previous post