giovedì 30 aprile 2009

Garden preview...

Few photos of my garden...as you can see it's an ancient little garden in the old town of Lucca...you can see the apse of St. Maria Forisportam church in the background...

























A lot of work to do...my mother left most of it uncultivated for many years...the ground was covered by ivy and there were about 25cm of dried leaves and pine needles......I spent most of my free time in the last 2 weeks, tiding and hoeing the ground...I sowed the grass...

















...now I've to plant some flowers and herbs...to take care of the peonies, roses, camelias and all the other sisters...
















































I need some help...sunny and warm days...I hope in a good result! I'm not a very expert gardener...yet!
Have a sunny week end!

martedì 28 aprile 2009

Soaps in cotton sacks!

We bought some soaps in France and decided to make cotton sacks to wrap them for our web-shop...the sacks, decorated by tranfers, can be used, filled with lavander flowers, to scent drawers , or to contain jewels or toilette products...I like hanging them from shelves too...I find them very decorative!

















The Marseilles soap is fantastic for body care and for laundry too...it is traditionally green or white. The white soap is made with palm oil, the green with at least 50% olive oil. Both varieties are exquisite, ultra-moisturizing skin care. Marseille Soap is recommended by dermatologists throughout the world for dry skin and other ailments. Its incredible purity and moisturizing properties make it ideal for sensitive skins. In France it has been trusted for generations to cleanse everything from linens to little faces.

















The Aleppo soap, all-natural product, is world famous for its purity and skin cleansing properties. Won't dry out sensitive or dry winter skin, and produces a nice, rich lather. It's hand made, unscented, and with all natural ingredients - lots of olive oil! It's great for anything - fine hand washables, bath, face - even sensitive baby's skin. You can even wash your hair with this soap!

...don't you think they're a nice gift idea??

sabato 25 aprile 2009

St. Zita

Every year from April 24 to 27, we have a plants exhibition in Piazza dell'Anfiteatro in Lucca. It takes place for the fest of St. Zita. The round square looks marvellous with all the colours of the flowers....


















Some beautiful stalls where it's possible to buy several kind of plants...































































































...a little bit of history...

Saint Zita is the patron saint of maids and domestic servants. She is also appealed to in order to help find lost keys.
She was born in the village of Monsagrati, not far from Lucca where, at the age of 12, she became a servant in the Fatinelli household. For a long time, she was unjustly despised, overburdened, reviled, and often beaten by her employers and fellow servants for her hard work and obvious goodness. Her faith had enabled her to persevere against their abuse, and her constant piety gradually moved the family to a religious awakening. One anecdote relates a story of Zita giving her own food or that of her master to the poor. On one morning, Zita left her chore of baking bread to tend to someone in need. Some of the other servants ensured the Fatinelli family was aware of what happened; when they went to investigate, they claimed to have found angels in the Fatinelli kitchen, baking the bread for her.

St. Zita died in the Fatinelli house on April 27, 1272. It is said that a star appeared above the attic where she slept at the moment of her death. She was 60 years old, and had served and edified the family for 48 years. By her death, she was practically venerated by the family. After one hundred and fifty miracles wrought in the behalf of such as had recourse to her intercession were juridically proven, she was canonized in 1696. She is buried in the Basilica di S.Frediano in Lucca and her mummified body is shown every year on April 27th.

mercoledì 22 aprile 2009

Brocante 2!

Some other finds at the French flea-markets...some new items for LesCotrions webshop...

...some old wooden crates for baby milk by Nestlè...I like boxes and crates...you can make lots of arrangements inside...

















...an old glass cloche for cheese...

















...a lovely cream sauce-boat...it's nice with little plants inside...isn't it???

















...two old alluminium ladles...I like their wooden handles!

























...I still have something new to show you...next time!

martedì 21 aprile 2009

Awards!

Les Cotrions has received 2 awards in the last days and I'm very happy!!!
I'd like to thank my new friend Dolly of http://maryamariah.blogspot.com/ for the nice award she gave me before Easter...now I've to tell you 7 things which make me smile...

1. Seeing my teen daughter preparing herself for a party
2. Seeing my 18 years old son happy to meet a new girlfriend
3. Meeting my friends every Saturday morning for a coffe
4. Buying new items for my web-shop together with my "business partner" Paola
5. Selling our items at the French flea markets
6. Joking with my friends
7. Making new creative projects











...and I'd like to thank my friend Isabelle of http://suzysvintageattic.blogspot.com/ for this nice award she gave to Les Cotrions!



















Well, now the more difficult part of the story...I've to give the first award to 7 blog friends and the second one to 8...It's a very difficult choice...so I've decided to give both of them to all of you, my friends! You're an important part of my life and it's a pleasure for me to read your posts and comments every day!

sabato 18 aprile 2009

Brocante!

These are some of the treasures we found during our Easter holidays in France!

...an old enamael lavabo...I love it!

















...savon de Marseille and d'Alep...wooden baskets (used for fruit harvest)...a wire basket...an old tin...some new fabrics...


















...a couple of china jars from Czechoslovakia (I found the translation...coffe and sugar!)...


















...an old metal box printed with a nice b&w toile de Jouy...

















...old sewing folding shissors...

















I've some more finds to show you in the nexr posts...some more items for my web-shop!

Have a sunny and warm week end!!!

mercoledì 15 aprile 2009

Postcards from the French Riviera!

Holidays are over...I came back yesterday night and today it's been a very busy day at work! I show you some photos I took during my Easter week end. I spent with some friends and with Paola, the friend who share with me our web-shop, a wonderful time...sun, flea markets, charming shops and delicious food!

Some pictures of Nice antique market...



























































Lovely villages....Valbonne...







































...charming shops....













































...Biôt... it's fantastic how they decorate windows and front doors... flowers and plants are everywhere!













































We bought lots of new items for our web-shop...I'll show you our treasures in my next post...I still have to take the photos...

Thank you my friends for all the nice messages I found coming back...I'll answer you as soon as possible!!!

giovedì 9 aprile 2009

Happy Easter!!!

I'm going to go to French Riviera during Easter holidays...a short break to recharge
low batteries! I hope for sunny days, flea markets and some shopping!















































































I wish you my friends and your families a nice and relaxing time for Easter!
See you next week!

lunedì 6 aprile 2009

Family memories!

Today I took a photo of some old glasses belonged to my grandmother...I use them very seldom...I never drink liquors! But I like to see them on the the small table of my living room...family memories are very important for me!!!



















Today is a very sad day...we'd a strong earthquake in Abruzzo, in the center of Italy.
A thought to all the families who suffer this tragedy.

venerdì 3 aprile 2009

Cotton sack and lavender hearts!

As I wrote in my previous post I finally made some lavender hearts in a cotton sack!
Different shape and different print, but the same concept!








Another busy week at work! I need a sunny and warm week end!
Thank you for all your nice comments!You make me happy!!!
Buon fine settimana!