Bring it to the table

Fortunately I already told you about my second folly so this can´t come as a surprise. My cupboards (and any place else I can stuff away things) are loaded with tableware. I don´t know if this also is a genetical disorder, my grandmother – the one with all the linens – did not suffer from this one. But at least one aunt does, so maybe it is a family secret.

It don´t think I am to blame completely, because with all the tablecloths I own, it´s hard to escape from getting matching plates. Besides, everyone knows that, for example, an orange dish tastes awful from a red plate. One simply has to accept the inevitable.

And all my crockery has its own history or little legend. That is definitely the best part. My daily plates don´t of course, but it´s funny that they were originally meant for dinners al fresco outside or in the gardenhouse. This means I have to buy new for that purpose. Life is hard.

The brown stuff I really like, for they make autumn meals a pleasure. I bought my first piece at a fair, for the salesman said they were suitable for gas as well. They are not. I found out the first time I used it. They got scorched, my kitchen was full of smoke and if I tell you how it smelled, you will get Chinese take away food for the rest of your life.

I like the mugs very much. My sister saw them somewhere so I asked her to get me six and I was going to pick them up and pay her back and thank you. On my way to her place, I saw two matching bowls, so I used the money for those and had to return the week after to give my sister her share.

My aunt (the one that shares this idiocy) gave my the blue bowls for my birthday. They match the tablerunners I was given by my dearest Italian friends exactly. The two dutch antique jars are a present from my neighbor so, indeed, it´s something old, something new and something blue. If I need more, the borrowed thing will be the money.

My all time favorite is the olive set. I saw them in Belgium, bought six plates and two bowls and found out it was rather stupid to buy things like that abroad. You can´t easily get something new when it breaks. Fortunately, I had very dear friends and we visited each other on a regular basis and they helped me to complete the set. I am really very fond of my olive stuff to lay a party table with.

Only the large bowls I bought in Deruta, Umbria, which is the most famous centre of maiolica. It´s practically all hand-made. You name it, they provide it. I think you could even find a maiolica elephant. I wanted one large bowl and went to one of the thousand stores. I ended up with three, but I still think that was a major achievement, for I left all the rest. It was amazing.

The tomato decorated crockery I discovered in a supermarket in Trevi, Umbria. It was the time for canning tomatoes, but from selling tomatoes only there won´t be much profit. So the supermarket sold yars, bottles, grinders, placemats (yes I did) and this tablewear. I could not resist. It looks so lovely on a white tablecloth – but only before dinner. When you fill up the bowls, you don´t see the decoration anymore. But the feeling you get when you look at the table ...it´s worth it.

Change of seasons and the change of mood

I will take the risk that you all think I am a freak, because I myself think this is a good idea and I like to share. I believe everybody feels the need to change now and then. And given the fact that weather and seasons always change, why not use the opportunity? 

Of course I would not think of encouraging anyone to buy new furniture twice a year. But when spring and summer come, wouldn´t you like to see the light and bright colors in your home too? And arriving autumn and winter, I can´t imagine anyone would reject the warm feeling you get from terra and brown colors that will make your home a cosy place to survive the cold.

Let me show you how easily you can adapt your interior to the seasons outside without being ruined at once. Let´s start with the poutpourri we made a few weeks ago. If you have chosen te colors carefully, you could use the lavender and rose in spring and summertime, for they will have faded to a quiet pastel color. Put them on a light colored plate, a simple white one will be beautiful. Add a (scented) candle in a matching color and a matching decorated napkin and it will look very nice.

Comes autumn, use the calendula, change the plate for a darker one, change the napkin and the candle and it will be a completely different view, practically for free.

The same cheap solution can be used for stylish decorations with a small wooden box. In spring and summer fill it with some glass ornaments – or take a nicely shaped glass from your cupboard – , a light napkin and/or candle and ready it is. In autumn and winter you simple change the candle and napkin. I like incense, so when I buy it anyway, I choose the boxes in maching colors. There are many possibilities.

The more serious stuff I create by changing table ornaments. I use my own crockery for it, but maybe you have some nice pottery in your garden. Just try to make combinations. This is a little more expensive, but you can use it a few years after another. Because you change them twice a year, there´s less chance that yo will get tired of them.

I know it´s easy for me, because I own that hilarious amount of linens and crockery, but it is worth collecting towels and ornaments in sales or on markets.

Finally, I create the seasons atmosphere by changing my curtains, cushions and table runners. Of course this is the most expensive part of it, but you don´t have to change the cushions completely, just change the pillow cases. The curtains you can achieve on markets where they are cheaper or make your own if you have more skills than I have.

And after that..depending on the season, you only have to curl up in front of a wood fire with a glass of red wine, or relax at your spring-table with a cold white wine.  

My innocent addiction

It´s a bit risky to put the word addiction in the title of a blog but I have the opinion that things should be called by their actual name. Besides, the title also contains the word innocent, even if it is a bit subjective, but I assure you this addiction is harmless.

It is about my passion for linens. Even if I would want, I cannot kick the habit of collecting. As a matter of fact, this addiction is genetically determined.

My grandmother´s legacy consisted of a room high cabinet, stuffed with towels, tea towels, washcloths, napkins, tablecloths, sheets – and after we had divided the first layer between us, there appeared a second, equal layer behind it.

Look, nobody needs an excuse for collecting towels, one has to shower. The same goes for sheets and duvet covers, you won´t survive without sleep.

Every cook knows that a great dinner starts with a great laid table, so I can explain away my extravagant amount of tablecloths. A table runner protects your table, so you´d better have them in stock, just like placemats. When you choose the colors caefully, you´ll be able to make beautiful combinations, especially if you suffer from a tableware tic as well (but I´ll write about that some other time).

Napkins can be used as placemats. The paper version – that I´m not able to resist either – can serve not only as napkin, but also as a table mat for potpourri or something.

Curtains are necessary to isolate the windows. We should care about the environment after all. There´s no better thing than adjusting the interior of your home to the season twice a year, so it´s a necessity of life to have curtains, pillow cases and grand foulards in summer- and wintercolors.

But what excuse can I think of to explain my huge collection of tea clothes in the most lovely colors and designs, considering I have a dishwasher? Well, my knives should be washed up manually. And when conserving vegetables, the jars need to be put away clean. So you see I simply need all those linens.

And....Umbria happens to home one of the best fabric manufacturers. Tessitura Pardi, from Bastardo, with stores (among others) in Montefalco, Todi, Perugia and Spello. From napkins to bedspreads, in the most splendid colors and designs and in utmost quality. I am the happy owner of some of their pieces, and to be honest: put Pardi on your table and dinner almost cooks itself.

Who wants to learn more: http://www.tessiturapardi.com/ with just one warning, you will become very greedy!

The only thing is... I hate ironing......