PORCELLANA & CO *** CHINA & CO

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E' stata una settimana piena di piacevoli sorprese per quanto concerne la porcellana. Primo in ordine di apparizione è stato il regalo ricevuto dalla mia collega tedesca Irene, la quale per uno scambio con dei calici di argento placcato, mi ha inviato un bellissimo servizio da caffè di porcellana rosa della Hutschenreuther. Notate la finezza del delizioso rilievo con delle piccolissime rose nonchè la minuscola rosellina con le sue foglie sul coperchio della zuccheriera... una vera delizia!

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It looks I had a very good week in terms of one of my favorite things - china.
On Friday a marvellous a Hutschebreuther rosè porcelain coffee set arrived from my German colleague Irene. We had made a swap - 6 silverplated glasses for the Hutschenreuther set. It was a great deal (I guess I was the lucky one in the swap!).
Look at the very fine relief on the demittasse and the gentle little rose and leaves on the sugar bowl and on the coffee post lids. Such a treasure...
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Trafficando a casa di Caterina, la mia amica del cuore, sono spuntati fuori vari servizi "importanti" da tè e da caffé della cui valore Caterina e suo marito Mario erano totalmente all'oscuro. Belle queste tazze della Royal Albert.
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I was over at Caterina's, my best friend, yesterday and we found a quit a number of tea and coffee sets whose value was totally unknown to both Caterina and her husband. It was a real eye candy for me and as I happened to have my camera along (I always do) I took some pics. Didn't turn out that great, but they are good enough.
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Il secondo fine-settimana di ogni mese ospita da noi il mercatino dell'antiquariato. Io ho la mia "fornitrice" di fiducia sul cui banco tutta la merce esposta ha il medesimo presso - 10 Euro.

Il mese scorso avevo acquistato, tra le varie cose, una deliziosa tazza da te della Winterling Bavaria con decoro in oro zecchino ed un prezioso decoro floreale all'interno. Questa volta ha superato se stessa riuscendo a procurarmene una seconda... eccezionale.
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Last weekend was our monthly flea market appointment. I have my own supplier of china who offers all items on her stall for the same price - 10 Euros per piece.

Last month I was lucky enough to get a wonderful Winterling Bavaria teacup with golden rim and decor and a tiny flower decor inside. This time she really outdid herself and got me a second one which she kindly sold to me for 5 Euros only. I think she likes me by now!!
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Altro fantastico acquisto è stata questa deliziosa lattiera ungherese della Zsolnay accompagnata dalla sua bella tazza da te con decoro floreale in blue. il tutto 15 Euro!!
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Another lucky find was this lovely blue floral decor Zsolnay creamer together with its teacup - and all for 15 Euro!

For you fellow bloggers from English speaking countries our prices might sound outrageously high as such a finds are for you quite common to purchase for a few of bucks at yard or garage sales. Here, we are not that lucky!
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Questa tazza da potage è della Haviland, unico pezzo disponibile sul banco... meno male che ero là già all'apertura e mi sono resa utile nello scartare tutti i pezzi dagli scatoloni. Ho così potuto portarmi via tutto quello che era di mio intesse prima che il mercatino cominciasse ad affollarsi.

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This Haviland France two-handled soup cup was nother lycky find. To tell you the truth i had reached the market ground long before the market was supposed to start and gave the lady a helping hand unpacking all her wonderful treasures. Pretty smart of me, wasn't it? I could so immediately see what I wanted to get long before other vendors and customers could set their eyes on them! Little old tricks...
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E che ne dite di quesa caraffa inglese della Masons'? Adorabile n'est-ce pas?

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How about this precious English transferware pitcher from Mason's? Tres adorable, n'est-ce pas?
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Questo servizio l'avete giaà visto su questi schermi. Affatto economico, acquistato prsso un mercatino dell'usato.

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You've already seen this gorgeous teaset in a previous post of mine. Found at a thrift store and was quite expensive, but I simply couldn't resist as it was literally calling out my name loud.

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Eccovi i due servizi scovati a casa di Caterina... molto particolari e preziosi. Del tutto ignari del loro valore (sono Richard Ginori della metà dell'ottocento, se non mi sbaglio) i poveretti, li avevano affastellati nella credenza soffocati da mille altri oggettini.

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And the next two china sets are those i found at Caterina's. Quite ignorant on their value (Richard Ginori mid-1800's) the poor little owners had put them in a cabinet covered with hundreds of bric-a-brac... too bad they aren't willing to sell them to me, konw that they know how precious they are. On the other hand right now I have no space to diplay such treasures. Better wait until I find a larger home.

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Ed ultimo ma non per questo meno importante, questa lattiera polacca vintage della Karolina acquistata al mercatino dell'usato per 2.50 Euro. La trovo adorabile con quei deliziosi piedini ed il decoro floreale.

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And last, but not least, this vintage Karolina of Poland creamer which I bought at my fave thrift store for 2.50 Euros. It's very simple but I find it soooo cute though, with that sweet floral decor and those adorable little feet.

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Vista l'ora, le 2 di notte, sarà il caso di lasciare il resto per un altro post.

BuOnA NoTtE e HaPpY BlOgGing!

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Looking ag my computer watch i realized it way past my bed time -it's past 2 at night and I'd better go to bed right away. The rest of my china can wait.

GoOd NiGhT and HaPpY BlOgGiNg!

Bisous

Besitos

Y Rita

E' ARRIVATO IL MOMENTO DI PASSARE IL MIO AWARD A 7 MERAVIGIOSI BLOG *** IT'S TIME TO PASS ALONG THE AWARD TO 7 WONDERFUL BLOGS

Sono stata felice ed onorata del riconoscimento che mi è stato così dolcemente dato da Mimi di Bonjour Romance http://bonjourromance.blogspot.com/.

Con lo stesso piacere con cui l'ho ricevuto vorrei ora passarlo a 7 blog meravigliosi che amo molto visitare e che sono stati, ciascuno in maniera diversa, grande fonte di ispirazione.

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The award that has been passed along to me by Mimi Bleu from Bonjour Romance (http://bonjourromance.blogspot.com/) has filled my little heart (and my big Ego LOL) with humble joy and gratitude.

It is now with the same joy that I would like to pass it along to 7 wonderful blogs that

I enjoy visiting very much and which have, each in its own way, being a great source of inspiration to me.

All you have to do is share with us (in a post) 7 things about sweet self and then pass along the award to 7 other wonderful blogs.

If you are an award-free blog or do not wish to share 7 things about yourself, no need to worry. Your blogs are still wonderful and inspiring and the award was meant for you anyway, to let you and our blogger friends know how much I enjoy each and every visit I make.

The wonderful blogs are:

Janice @ http://thefadedcottage.blogspot.com/

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June@ http://laughingwithangels.blogspot.com/

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Laura @ http://52flea.blogspot.com/

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Tracey @ http://frenchlarkspur.blogspot.com/

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Magoda @ http://chatamagoda.blogspot.com/

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Nela @ http://domzkluczem.blogspot.com/

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Sylwia@ http://myshabbychic.blogspot.com/

HaPpy BlOGgiNg To Ya AlL

Y Rita

WHITE WEDNESDAY # 6

Salve a tutti e benvenuti al mio 6 White Wednesday ospitato da Kathleen a Faded Charm.

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Hi and welcome to my White Wednesday # 6 hosted by Kathleen at Faded Charm. La mia scatola da lavoro, con i miei preziosi bottoni di madreperla, i miei merletti,, i vecchi rocchetti in legno della nonna... raccoglie un pò di tutto ciò che ho di bianco e di "biancamente" prezioso.

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My lovely rose box where i keep my precious vintag mother-of-pearl buttons, my crochet borders, ggrandma's old wooden thread reels, the millinery pearl pins... nests all my "whitely" precious items
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Delle deliziose gabbiette imortalate al mercatino

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Cute little white bird cages photographed at the market
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Il mio nuovo servizio da tè di porcellana bavarese acquistato al mercatino dell'usato per soli 7 €, e di cui mi sono compiaciuta. Le tazze sono belle panciute decorate con delle timide roselline.

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My new bavarian china tea set (too bad no teapot) bought for only 7 Euros at the thrift market. I believe it has very little value in itself although the china is of very good quality, but it was, once again, love at first sight. I simply couldn't resist those cute chubby cups with a "shy li'l roses" decor. sooooooooooo lovely.

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Prima che le zucche diventino fuori stagione, eccovi la la piccola zucca bianca che da tanto cercavo e che,del tutto casualente, ho trovato al mercatino della famosa Fiera dei Morti. Puramente deliziosa!

Before pumpkins become ouf os season, here's the cute little white pumpkin that I had spent so much time searching for and finally, by pure chance, found at our renowned Allsaints Market (believe it or not, this market lasts 5 whole days!!!!!!!) which has become a yearly family tradition since my college years when I was only 20. Soooooooo cute.

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Bianche candele, candelieri d'argento e vecchie posate ingentilite dal bianco delle ultime rose.

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White candles, silver candleholders and old silver cutlery made gentler by the garden's last white roses.

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YYYEd ora come si conviene, nella stagione fredda, prima di coricarsi, dell'ottima crema per le mani per donare loro la meritata morbidezza.

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And now, as the cold season is approaching at a very fast pace, before going to bed let's be gentle to our hard working precious little hands with some Atkinson's Rice bran oil hand cream. Smells soooooooo nice...just love it

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Hands: courtesy of my fave model, my sweet daughter!

(She hates being my model!)

Buona Notte

Good Nite

Bonne Nuite

Buenas Noche

Gute Nacht

yours

Y Rita

MY FIRST AWARD... I'M SO HUMBLY THRILLED

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Much to my surprise last night I received a very sweet award invitation from Mimi of Bonjour Romance (http://bonjourromance.blogspot.com/). Thank you so much Mimi. Merci beaucoup ma cherie! I'm so honored and flattered that you numbered MY blog among those worth receiving the award which I humbly accept. Now to the tough task... the 7 things I'm supposed to share about myself.

1. To begin with, I'm a little shy. Once I've overcome that "let's-skip-the-personal-part" fear though, I can even turn into an awfully talkative human being, rather on the verbous side I'd dare say. You'd then like me best shy LOL.

2. I'm quite a simple person who truly appreciates the simple joys in life. My lovely daughter, my DH, my dog, my hobbies, and my friends are all that I need. It's easy to please me - even an unexpected smile can make my day!

3. Love my daughter, hubby and dog more than anything else in the whole world;

4. I have a thing - which both my daughter and my DH call it an obsession - for roses, teasets, antiques, laces and monogrammed linens. Sometimes, when I know I've really bought one piece too many (and trust me, that happens quite often), I hide my new finds until a next better occasion to show them as a "brand new bargain", or simply lie on the price. At this stage I should probably also state that I'm a lier but this I won't do.

5. I hate cooking as much as I hate working on excel diagrams at work!

6. I badly need to work on self confidence (this is what my colleague-friend Irene has been telling me for years);

7. I like my home to always be tidy and clean as it is my nest. It is the place I always go back to at the end of my day - no matter what - and I like it to be beautiful,safe, comfortable, and reassuring (I often times need to be reassured and cuddled!)

It's really quite boring but that's my list.
Again thank you so much for the award Mimi.
In the next couple of days I'll pass this wonderful award I'm so thankful for to 7 other wonderful blogs. I have so many I truly enjoy that it will be indeed a very difficult task to only choose 7.

Bisous
Y Rita

ANTICHI RICORDI DI FAMIGLIA ***OLD FAMILY TREASURES

Era da molto che volevo postar queste foto per potervi raccontare una delle tante storie della mia famiglia.

La mia nonna paterna, che lasciò questo mondo alla veneranda età di 96 anni nel 1984, era stata in gioventù balia di un pargolo di nobilissime origini ed aveva pertanto abitato con suo marito ed il mio papà in un antico palazzo che lei chiamava il castello.

Come era consuetudine per le balie, venivano loro spesso fatti dei doni, e questa bellissima scatola portagioie è uno di quelli che lei lasciò in eredità alla mia mamma e che lei, a sua volta, ha lasciato a me. Ho sempre amato tantissimo questa scatola, sia per la sua fattezza che per il bellissimo volto raffigurato.

i gioielli di famiglia, sempre appartenuti alla nonna,ma, naturalmente non regalo dei conti, sono anch'essi meravigliosi e li indosso con religiosa riluttanza per il timore di rovinarli se non addirittura perderli...

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I had been wanting to post these pics for a quit a long time to have an opportunity to show you some antique family trasures and thus share some family stories.

My father's mother, who left this world at the respectable age of 96 in 1984, had, in her younger years, had worked as a we burse for some local noble family. For this reason, for some years she, my grandfather (whom I never met) and my dad a very young child, lived in a mansion she used to refer to as "the castle".

As customary, wet nurses were often times given gifts and this gorgeous jewelry box is one of those. She handed it down to her much loved daughter-in-law (my mother) who then handed it down to me. I have always cherished it very much both for the marvelous piece of craftmanship it is and also for the portait of this misterious beautiful lady.

The jewels are also old family gifts which I also adore though I'm a little reluctant to wear as I fear I might lose them or even worse damage them as they are not as sturd as jewels made nowadays. Love those earrings with ruby and small diamonds and the rings are also gorgeous.

Hope you'll enjoy looking at the box as much as I still do every morning when getting ready for work, even after so many years.

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A volte mi sono chiesta chi fosse questa splendida dama

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I've asked myself many times who this beautiful dame could ever have been
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La nonna amava raccontarmi storie un pò "speciali" sugli abitanti del castello... credeteci o no, mi diceva fosse abitato da fantasmi. Raccontava che spesso, quando mio nonno si radeva dvanti allo specchio scorgesse delle figure alle sue spalle. E di notte, qualche spiritello burlone tirava via le coperte. Narrava anche di una donna in abiti antichi che a volte incontravano sulla strada verso il castello, e che molti giuravano di aver incontrato, che improvvisamente spariva nel nulla con la sua brocca d'acqua sul capo. Strane storie, ma in fondo, chissà... Sarebbe stata molto adatta per la notte di Halloween ma sarebbe diventata così banale...

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Grandma loved to tell us stories, some very "special" ones on the castle dwellers...

believe it or not she'd tell us that there were ghosts. She'd tell us that when grandpa was shaving in front of the mirror he'd often see someone staring at him from behind. And at night, some playful soul would play with their blanket pulling it out. I've also heard from her (and from my dad, too) about a lady in older attire whom they would met now and then - and many people had also happened to see her- who would all of a sudden disappear together with the water jug she was carrying on ther head.

These stories would have been perfect for Halloween, but, on the other hand, as they belong to my family history I didn't really want to spoil them out.

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Questo bellissimo anello è appartenuto anch'esso a mia nonna, un regalo del nonno. Le foto non gli rendono giustizia in quanto, pietra a parte che credo sia totalmente priva di valore, la montatura è una vera opera d'arte fatta di rose in miniatura con le loro preziose foglioline di argento.
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Also this ring belonged to my grandmother - it was a gift from my grandfather. I tried to take the best possible shots but indeed, my fault, they do not do it justice as it is a marvelous piece of craftsmanship. The stone itself is worth nothing, my mother told me once, but the setting is so stunning with those precious tiny miniature roses and leaves.
I'm so prod of these family treasures not for their value but for their deepest meaning which is link between me and my past.
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BuOna NoTte e SoGnI d'OrO!!

SwEeT DrEaMs!

BoNnE NuIt! BiSoUs!

Y Rita