{Wishing YOU all a Happy 3rd ADVENT Week!}

The time is passing ever faster it seems like... It is gray and dreary looking outside with some rain. But inside we can create a cozy setting with the use of some votive candles and with natural things from our own garden. Wishing you all a Happy 3rd ADVENT Week! Stay cozy and warm.

On eBay I once got a hold of this Baccarat Crystal Vesuve / Vesuvius Caviar Server (2 pcs) because the inset was missing... But it works perfect for floating candles with fresh flowers.

Here I used fresh cranberries for inside.

To the left you see our Rösle Universal Fire Lighter which works great to light candles or whatsoever.

Also a WMF silver candle snuffer...

To the right you can see some yellow Ilex berries from our Ilex decidua 'Finch's Golden'

The berry yield this year is poor, also on the red Ilex, shown to the left with barely any berries...

The Pyracantha Firethorn berries we had plenty and also the red Nandina or Heavenly Bamboo berries.

The table runner in Portuguese Guimarães white work, we bought in Coimbra in 1994 while on tour through Spain Portugal for 19 days.

Used on top of this red Hardangar tablecloth it looks perfect.

Closeup where you see those Heavenly Bamboo berries to the left and the Pyracantha Firethorn berries to the right. 

You also get to see the great quality of fresh cranberries we got from Costco Wholesale.

I've made Cranberry Conserve out of them. Below you find the link to my post with recipe.

Making photos during the dark days of the year is hard in itself but trying to capture those flames of burning votives is even harder...

Don't you love the hand embroidered detail of that Portuguese Guimarães white work?

Wishing YOU all a Happy 3rd ADVENT Week!

Related links:
{2nd Advent & Great Family Time} | previous post by me
{3rd Advent} | previous post by me
{Silk Brocade for our PRINCE OF PEACE} | previous post by me
{SUPERFOOD For Your HEART ♥ CRANBERRIES} | previous post with cranberry conserve recipe

{My 2nd Most Popular All Time Post So Far}

It is my blogpost: {1862 Christofle Sugar Sifter Spoon 'Filet Violon'} that received the 2nd most pageviews of all time. Just click the above hyperlink...

Guess this IS a lovely presentation for a warm heart shaped waffle with hot tea served on a tennis tray with teacup from Royal Albert Princess Anne in a lovely rose pattern...

The 1862 French Christofle Sugar Sifter Spoon 'Filet Violon' is a beauty!

The silver muffineer we had made for us while living and working in Indonesia, following an antique pattern and I will show that soon.

Cupid Awake and Cupid Asleep with its original 1897 sepia photos is THE most popular, even if it has been sold right away.

Temporarily you will find this sequence on my sidebar and you can also click on the thumbnail for going there...

{Never Mind a Headache with SUCH Rose Bud Ice Bag!}

Having a headache, a fever or a swelling, is never fun but here I want to present a very practical (the BEST I've used ever!) ROSE BUD ICE BAG. 

It comes with a handy screw on watertight plastic cap and you fill it with ice cubes or cold water. 

The outside is made of latex-free, rubberized fabric that feels soft on the skin and is lined with vinyl. 

This ROMANTIC + PRACTICAL Rose Bud Ice Bag is really a great GIFT!

Photo taken on our white teak table on the balcony, in daylight...

Lovely Vintage Rose Bud pattern.

And YES, such romantic patterns do work soothing for any headache or fever!

This treasure is available from The Vermont Country Store.

This would make a great Christmas Gift!

{VINTAGE 800 SILVER REPOUSSE PLAQUE - MADONNA with CHILD}

Very timely for the coming Christmas season, I do have for sale this beautiful VINTAGE 800 SILVER REPOUSSÉ PLAQUE - MADONNA with CHILD.

You can find this at my Zen Cart powered on line Boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics

VINTAGE 800 SILVER REPOUSSE PLAQUE - MADONNA with CHILD 

The Vintage patina I leave for the new owner to decide...

It comes with this red velvet ribbon loop for hanging.

I did search at Christie's Auctions but unfortunately the only one I found did not show a picture...

AN ITALIAN REPOUSSÉ PLAQUE DEPICTING THE MADONNA AND CHILD

just click above link for reading...

It is a beautiful 4" round REPOUSSÉ PLAQUE...

The Makers Mark with 800 is visible to the left of the CHILD.

Also the back does show the same Makers Mark.

If anyone would know more about this particular Silver Mark, please let me know!

Sold out...

{Giovanni Raspini 925 Silver Pencil Cap Angels}

For a few more lucky buyers I do have these adorable Giovanni Raspini Desk Items in 925 silver. Here are two different Silver Pencil Cap Angels that would look so adorable on any desk. 

Straight from the heart of Tuscany, Italy...
We do ship worldwide!

For Office use or for your Desk at home...

Shown with my leather Guest Book

Two hugging and kissing 925 Giovanni Raspini silver angels

Only a few left at my Zen Cart powered on line Boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics ←just click it.
Sorry, all sold out...

The Giovanni Raspini 925 Silver Pencil Cap to the right has one thinking angel...

This thinking angel is sitting rather comfortably on top of this cap; just thinking of YOU!

Turning around to see the Giovanni Raspini 925 silver mark.

And YES, angels also do have 5 toes on each foot!

Are those not cute?

Leave it to the Italians for such great silver work!

Related links:
{Giovanni Raspini 925/000 Silver Pencil Cap with 2 Angels from Italy}| previous post by me
{Giovanni Raspini 925/000 Silver Pencil Cap with Angel from Italy} | previous post by me

{SAINT NICHOLAS - SINTERKLAAS 2013}

Does any of you celebrate Saint Nicholas's Birthday on December 6th? Or SINTERKLAAS, in Dutch...? Certainly my Dutch readers, family and friends will! They put their wooden shoes or other shoes out in front of the fireplace, with a carrot and some hay for Saint Nicholas' horse. Often they will find some sweets in return the next morning. All that takes place during the weeks of November; in anticipation of THE BIG DAY for the larger gift(s) if you are fortunate.

The little wooden shoe to the right is actually MINE; worn when I was 3 years old!

The leather straps were worn out but the shoe itself is in perfect condition.

Mom & Dad saved those wooden shoes for me and my younger sister Diny to hand them to us as we were grown up.

My Dad's brother and painter, Jan, did paint mine and I still keep them in front of our fireplace!

These are actually photos taken for my earlier publication of a column for the local newspaper.

You can read more about that in the link below this post, as well as about the origin of Santa Claus.

Typical Dutch scene of Saint Nicholas arriving from Spain...

Soon he will return to Spain till next year; 2014.

Related links:
The Origin of Santa Claus Video about history, listen till the end to hear how Sinterklaas morphed into Santa Claus...

{Saint Nicholas | Sinterklaas} | previous post by me about my newspaper publication

{Humble Gifts of the 1950s} | previous post by me about my early childhood treats for December

{Chocolate & Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me
Samichlaus and his helper Schmutzli | Swiss tradition from the 10th Century via Turkey
{Chocolate Letter LOVE} | previous post by me

{Chocolate and Silver Alphabet Letters for Saint Nicholas} | previous post by me
{Since 1896 Dutch CHOCOLATE LETTERS - Have YOU Tried Them?} | previous post by me

{ME, Turning 20 on December 3!}

Yes, I am turning 20 on December 3! As a United States Citizen, that is... 

After all, it is not bad to get a second chance in life for starting over and being young again!

It does perk you up.
On Friday, December 3, 1993 we got up at 4:15 AM for driving to Atlanta for the Naturalization Ceremony at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. At 8:30 it started for 257 people from 60 nations and it lasted only till 9:55 AM.
So we raced back to Dublin; still in time for Rotary lunch. Husband Pieter proudly introduced me as his NEW American wife... 

Twenty (20) years old...

Haha my sweater is 25 years old; got it at the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware on Saturday, August 27 of 1988.

I fell in love with the leaf pattern and also because it is cropped.

Nah, that's NOT a new car... It's just an old LOVE!

We got this Infiniti FX35 in Brilliant Silver on August 12, 2005 for Mom & Dad's arrival.

Mom just got a knee replacement and we wanted her to get in and out of a car comfortably so we got this one.

But do you like my new boots? 

Dolce Vita Hayla Suede Ankle boots in black from Last Call by Neiman Marcus with 40% off. 

Black legwarmers are from our local TJ Maxx...

Pantyhose are French Dim that I purchased at Sogo, Japanese department store in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Jeans skirt is from Escada.

Related link:
{Today I turned 17!} | previous post by me
{My Hat Attack NYC GAVROCHE} | previous post by me, wearing the same Escada skirt
{Dutch American Heritage Day 2005 with Mom & Dad} | previous post by me about Mom & Dad's final visit to the USA...

{First Advent Week}

Already Advent Season for 2013, and also the beginning of December... 

Can't believe it but it is TRUE. 

Wishing you all a Meaningful First Advent Week.

Just using a red Point A la Ligne candle from France with fresh Rosemary sprigs from the garden.

Rosemary emits such a lovely fragrance!

The beautiful pineapple doily was hand crocheted by my sister-in-law Elly VandenMunckhof, she is a loyal reader of this blog.

The red rose ribbon is French too.
And so is the Baccarat vase...

Related link:

{First Week of Advent 2012} | Last year's post by me

{Black Friday 2013 Shopping}

For those of you that are not yet worn out from the year's busiest shopping day, Black Friday,

feel free to visit my convenient on line Boutique:

Spectrenoir

ENJOY!

Those living in the area, welcome to my December 7, Open House as I am participating via our local Dublin Laurens County Chamber of Commerce on Big Sales & Events by Chamber Members - My unique Italian Giovanni Raspini Silver items are very competitive!
All my items have an Item # and you can check the Resale Price here: Giovanni Rapsini Charms & Co Pdf and it shows you the Item (Art) and pricing in Euros.

Welcome at Mariette's Back to Basics!

{Gratitude for Thanksgiving 2013 - Like the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1621}

Yes, we both being 1st generation immigrants, do have a lot of Gratitude for Thanksgiving 2013! 

Being alive and healthy and living in freedom with new found Friends that became Family is a Blessing. 

'Friends are family members without kinship'. -- Ronald Giphart Dutch writer

Like those 1621 Mayflower Pilgrims who celebrated Thanksgiving for God's goodness.

Thanksgiving By Jennie A. Brownscombe

What a fate for half of those passengers that survived the sea and the first harsh winter...

And what a FEAST after those Mayflower conditions:

Sleeping with 80 persons in a cabin made to hold 30 people...

Food - Ship's biscuits that were infested by roaches, weevils and maggots...

Warm meals were too risky because they would set the sails at fire due to winds blowing those flames...

For 66 - Sixty Six days living like that!

The Pilgrims Come to the New World - Mayflower Conditions

Indeed, after a Prosperous Growth during the Summer of 1621 they had a Thanksgiving Celebration for God's goodness... Only 50 pilgrims survived of the original 102

The Food - Wild turkey etc.

No wonder that this became a NATIONAL FEAST - Thanksgiving History (just scroll down)

as early as 1777 but without an official Proclamation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt did just that in 1941.
PILGRIMS, NOT PURITANS...

Often those early Mayflower PILGRIMS are being confused with the later PURITANS

Pilgrims, Not Puritans (link)

     The story behind the first U.S. Thanksgiving 

Wishing all American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Related links:

List of Mayflower passengers | check those names of passengers that came from Leiden, South Holland in The Netherlands

Mayflower Compact | list of 41 male aboard and list of those that died at sea 

Mayflower passengers who died at sea November/December 1620

List of Mayflower passengers who died in the winter of 1620–1621

Thanksgiving Day: Pilgrims were a surprisingly worldly, tolerant lot | Great Information!
The Red Friends of the Pilgrims
{No fewer than 7 American Presidents are Direct Descendants of the Leiden, Netherlands PILGRIMS}| previous post by me
{Happy Thanksgiving - From Pilgrim to President} | previous post by me

{No fewer than 7 American Presidents are Direct Descendants of the Leiden, Netherlands PILGRIMS}

We are once again close to the U.S.A. Thanksgiving celebration, on the 4th Thursday of November. Since there is such a strong historical link between The Kingdom of The Netherlands and the U.S.A. I would like to dedicate this post to some History about the PILGRIMS. No fewer than 7 American Presidents are Direct Descendants of those Leiden PILGRIMS that sailed from The Dutch Republic to the New World. 

Brooklyn Museum - Embarkation of the Pilgrims - Robert Walter Weir

This is how those Pilgrims went on board for arriving in the New World after having stayed in Leiden for about 11 years.

For Life in Leiden you can click the hyperlink to read about some very interesting facts.

For a Leiden Pilgrim Tour you can click on the hyperlink to actually see a video of the university city of Leiden where they lived all those years. ErfgoedLeiden.nl removed that video...

Indeed, no fewer than 7 American Presidents are direct descendants of the Leiden Pilgrims.

The Pilgrim Archives tell the story of the Pilgrims themselves and the 17th century Leiden that was their home, the city where Rembrandt lived and worked.

ErfgoedLeiden.nl - link no longer shows the above info...

From Leiden Pilgrim to American president - link from where you can take a look at the familytrees of these presidents.
Presidents Bush Sr. and Jr. do share the same ancestor with Barack Hussein Obama: Thomas Blossom.
Have a look as it is quite interesting!
Wishing all U.S.A. citizens a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Too bad the above info has been taken down...

Related links:

{Happy Thanksgiving - From Pilgrim to President} | previous post by me

{My Brocade Skirt Suit Creation from 1950s Zelinka Matlick}

We often did check out the Lakewood Antiques Market in Atlanta, Georgia. A HUGE place with seven Spanish colonial livestock exhibition halls and over 15,000 antique dealers. My sister Diny went there with us as well. You really could shop until you drop! Below this post you find links about its history as it has moved in 2006 to a new location: Lakewood 400 Antiques Market

BUT there I found on April 10 of 1993
 a 1950s Zelinka Matlick dress with matching coat in a beautiful cotton/rayon brocade. I fell in love with the fabric and was running my mind of what I could do with it. It had beautiful buttons too and thus for the price of $ 20.00 I did adopt it!

With a seam ripper I took the entire dress and long coat apart and then the puzzle started.

The pattern works like wallpaper that you have to match...

Did complete it the first week of July in 1993 so I could wear it for my youngest brother's wedding in The Netherlands ons July 30.

Here we are again at the Hyatt House Miami Airport...

Wearing with my sewing creation: Wolford pantyhose

Escada evening bag that I got on sale at the boutique of Oahu, Hawaii in 1998

When looking at the price I could not afford it but the Japanese sales person send me an email when it came on sale. Great courtesy and I was happy! The Escada golden shoes I found in February 1998 at the Potomac Mills Outlet near Washington D.C. 

The 7 buttons from the coat were just enough for this design...

Majorica pearl earrings and bracelet.

The coat had a grease stain on one side and when I had taken all pieces apart, I took my chances and threw them all together in the washer. 

The stain came out completely and now I knew that I could launder this quality fabric myself!

Getting the pattern to match everywhere was quite a challenge but I got it done!

JUST enough fabric, even for some back pockets on the skirt!

I did darken this photo so you can see the cream and white brocade pattern better. 

From the heavy acetate lining that was in the top part of the coat, I made this blouse...

The jacket and skirt is not lined as this brocade really is sturdy enough on its own.

I did lots of top stitching on this skirt and jacket as well...

Wearing my Majolica pearl bracelet from Neiman Marcus.

Ring is a Princess ring in 18 kt gold with several precious stone insets; gift from my boss in Indonesia.

Of course I proudly did sew this Zelinka Matlick label back in.

Via a link from Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource I could trace that this label is from the 1950s.

David Zelinka & Max Matlick were partners and makers of coats and women's suits.

Those buttons are a piece of jewelry!

Some had lost a white dot and husband Pieter managed to create a new one with a white enamel repair tube.

Here you also can see the intricate weave of brocade and its cotton and rayon threads in white and cream.

Topstitching is done with rayon thread in order to obtain the same luster.

Matching the fabric's pattern, including those pocket parts!

Neither the center back seam does interrupt the pattern.

Photo is taken with flash inside the Hyatt House Miami Airport on top of the down duvet on the bed.

Also the last photo below is taken with flash inside, making it more yellowish...

So what do you say? 

Tis brocade fabric is about as old as the person wearing it in its new creation...

Related links:
Lakewood Antiques Market - The Last Days: A Photo Diary | it closed in 2006 but moved
Lakewood 400 Antiques Market | new location and open every 3rd weekend
David Zelinka, 83, Ex-Maker of Coats And Women's Suits | New York Times Obituary of David Zelinka, partner with Max Matlick