Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Dark Times

A Little China Hutch Update 


I should totally be taking care of the chair project, but the typical Brittany weather is preventing me from it. Days are sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy, and it seems I'm out of Cottage on all sunny days, which leaves me the rainy days to work on the project. As sanding is the first thing to do and as it's something I do outside, I'm not making much progress.

Je devrais travailler nuit et jour sur le projet "chaises", mais la météo typiquement bretonne m'en empêche ! Il fait beau un jour sur deux : chaque fois que le soleil brille, je suis absente du Cottage pour telle ou telle raison et chaque fois que j'ai du temps, il pleut !  

Morning Autumn Sky From My Home Office Window

A few days ago, it was very grey, but not raining. I put on my "project sweat pants", my painting blouse, picked some sanding paper, grabbed the chair... As soon as I was out, it began drizzling. I don't know if you've already tried to sand with a wet paper on a wet chair, but it's just not working!

Il y a quelques jours, il faisait gris, mais il ne pleuvait pas. J'ai enfilé mon jogging "spécial projet", ma blouse de peinture, je suis allée dénicher le papier de verre au garage, j'ai attrapé une chaise. Je n'étais pas sortie depuis deux minutes qu'il s'est mis à pleuvoir. Je ne sais pas si vous avez déjà essayé de poncer avec du papier humide sur une chaise mouillée, mais ce n'est pas efficace !

Typical Breton Autumn Scene, from my bedroom window
So I came back inside and decided to cheer myself up by changing the china in the hutch (for me it works better than any pill). My first idea was to go for a Hallowe'en theme... I gathered some of my black, grey and white china. 


Je suis donc rentrée et j'ai décidé de me remonter le moral en changeant la vaisselle dans mon buffet (pour moi, cela marche mieux que les anti-dépresseurs). Ma première idée était de faire une déco d'Hallowe'en et j'ai donc sorti la vaisselle noire, grise et blanche.

 
The simple white with black trim set is by Johnson Bros. I found several pieces in different empty-your-attic sales and I finally found the teacups on Le Bon Coin (our Craig's List) in a town just a few miles from Cottage.


Le service tout simple avec le tour noir est de Johnson Bros. J'en ai trouvé des morceaux dans différents vide-greniers et j'ai déniché les tasses à thé sur Le Bon Coin, en vente dans une ville à deux pas de Cottage.

 
All the black transferware plates were found for a few euros each in different empty-your-attic sales.


Toutes les assiettes à décor noir ont été trouvées à chaque fois pour quelques euros dans des vide-greniers. J'aime que leur décor chargé contrebalance la simplicité de l'autre service.


The teacups with the silver mapple leaves are by Royal Albert and I found them in the same kind of empty-your-attic sales. An English couple was selling them for 2 euros! I nearly ran home with them.


Les tasses avec les feuilles argentées sont de Royal Albert. Je les ai achetées pour deux euros à un couple d'anglais et je suis presque rentrée en courant à la maison de peur qu'ils ne changent d'avis.

I tried to add a few pumpkins, jack o'lanterns or other Hallowe'en items inside the hutch and took them out. Somehow it looked "forced", while I loved the simple and clean look of the different dishes gathered there. Hallowe'en will only be on the table this year.


J'ai essayé ensuite de rajouter quelques décors d'Hallowe'en au milieu de la vaisselle, mais sincèrement, cela faisait "forcé" et je préférais de beaucoup l'aspect simple des différentes vaisselles rassemblées sur les étagères. Seule la table aura droit à des courges cette année !

The dried flower bouquet is something typical of the area where I live at this time of the year. They sell them at every corner of the market from September to November and this year I didn't try to resist, I bought one.


Le bouquet de fleurs séchées est un achat compulsif. Chaque année, il y en a à tous les coins du marché dès le mois de septembre et j'ai craqué.

As the night are getting longer, the days shorter and the air cooler, I love spending time in the dining nook, always welcoming. 



Alors que les nuits se font plus longues, les jours plus courts et les températures plus fraîches, j'aime mon petit coin repas, toujours accueillant.

Well, at least it's welcoming to me. I can't have too many guests right now... Have you noticed a problem with the chairs?


Enfin, accueillant, cela dépend combien vous êtes... Peut-être avez-vous remarqué un petit problème avec les chaises sur les photos ?

 

See you soon,

A bientôt,



PS1: Be patient, I should be able to share the chair reveal sometime in 2016!

PS 1 : Un peu de patience, à ce rythme-là, je devrais pouvoir vous montrer la transformation des chaises d'ici la fin de l'année 2016 !

PS2: I tried a butternut pancake recipe this morning, as I've been asked for more butternut recipe. I had found it on the Internet and it was a disaster. I have an idea on how to improve it. If it works, get your butternut ready!

PS 2 : Suite aux demandes de certains lecteurs, j'ai tenté ce matin une recette de crêpes à la butternut. Un désastre ! Je vais essayer d'améliorer la recette et si j'y parviens, je la partagerai avec vous. Tenez vos butternut prêtes....

PS3: I'm sharing my post with some of my favourite blogs.

http://diybydesign.blogspot.fr/2015/10/fall-into-fall-its-party-238.html               Elizabeth and Co.                Vintage Inspiration Party

H&GT BUTTON FALL               See original image                  

74 comments:

  1. I LOVE your black and white china! It looks so pretty in the hutch. I am glad you didn't stick pumpkins in there. That picture out your back window could be a painting, don't you think? Sometimes I like just some apples in a bowl for fall. That foliage in your basket is pretty, too. Oh, and I have never seen the maple leaf teacups, before. They are beautiful! Hope the weather is better for you soon.

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    1. I think those mapple leaves tecups exist in different colours, but I like the silver ones I found.

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  2. Lol! Yes, just a tiny problem with the chairs :)

    Everything looks very elegant, Magali.

    S
    xo

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  3. It looks so pretty - I love your white table with the hutch! We've had dry weather almost all fall so I've been able to keep doing things that normally I would have to put off for spring - yay me!!!

    Enjoy your beautiful dining room!

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  4. Nice the black China,
    And the blaxk cat in the tree picture :0))
    Good luck ! (With the chair (o)

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  5. Oh Magali, I know your weather woes. We have either been busy or it has rained here on the weekends. I love your dish therapy-there should be a book about that. Your hutch is so pretty with the transferware and I love that alot of it was thrifted. Good for you! Hope you get some sunny days soon.

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  6. I love your display of the black and white dishes in the china cabinet. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Happy autumn and baking. xoox Su

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  7. So pretty. I'm not a fan of Halloween decorations, but your pumpkin in the basket on the table looks just right.

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  8. I have only one or two blue and white transfer ware pieces. I sure do love your black and white collection.

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  9. The cabinet looks wonderful!! Love the leaf tea cups...very pretty!! I don't decorate for Halloween but do for Fall, using pumpkins, gourds, dried flowers and such.....oh, and pretty scarlet leaves!!

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    1. Thanks! I was surprised to find out in the comment how many people don't decorate for Halloween... I thought I was the only blogger not to!

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  10. re-arranging what's in your china hutch---best therapy EVER! Love all your transfer-ware dishes. And I always enjoy your pictures of what's going on in the countryside near you.

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  11. Hi Magali, I love how you give the old Halloween a personal touch! Cottage is lucky that you don't do ghosts!! This evening, I got mail from Pinterest, saying they found "my match" on Pinterest, My "taste twin"... can you imagine how my jaw dropped when I found out it is YOU !!! Now honestly, I am honoured and proud, and very happy to admit that our taste is quite similar. The only thing is, that Cottage reflects your taste whereas my home is a mix of my taste and the 5 men I live with (sigh).But this makes my day, I am quite happy to be honest :-) Have a nice week! Here, the holidays start this weekend, and I can assure you I will make some changes which reflect Pinterest" matchmaking :) Marie

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    1. Oh, this is so funny. Pinterest is a small world, isn't it? I don't have any other humans deciding how Cottage should look, but the cats do contribute. Like I have covers on every pillows on my chairs so it's easy to wash them if they jump on them with dirty paws. The tiles downstairs were also chosen with those eight dirty paws in mind...

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  12. Love the last picture of the moon and cat! Perfect dishes for Halloween and the silver leaves cups are beautiful! Kathleen in Az
    P.s. the chair, sanded?

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  13. Your transferware looks beautiful in your hutch and I love your dried flower bouquet. Don't feel bad about your chairs, sometimes projects around here take a very long time to complete.

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  14. Love all your transfer ware in your hutch. Cottage is looking pretty snappy these days. I love to sit at my dining room table also and watch my hummers drinking away. Your fried flowers are very lovely.
    Do you celebrate Halloween there? We don't get as many as we used to - they go to the malls and Church's, as so many people do bad things.
    Happy Halloween.
    Mary

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  15. I would love to make up a basket like yours with a pumpkin, pine cones and other Fall finds. Enjoy your week! Hugs, Diane

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  16. I love your beautiful and simplistic fall decor. Your table is perfect next your gorgeous cabinet piece! WOW beautiful transferware too!

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  17. Love your pretty black and white china and I spy a nice scale up top.

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  18. HA! It took me a minute to figure out what was wrong with the chairs, Magali! I hope someone doesn't pull it out and not notice ;)

    Your newly painted table looks lovely and the hutch is perfect. Everything is coming along just wonderfully.

    xo,
    rue

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  19. Your black and white collection is so beautiful! I like classic tea set.

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  20. Evidemment, j'aime beaucoup ta vaisselle grise et noire... cela me donne encore plus envie de chiner... et dire qu'il n'y a plus de vide-greniers avant le printemps... je me demande si je vais survivre. Bises.

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  21. Hi Magali,
    Your black and white dishes are gorgeous and looks great in the china cabinet. Everything in your dining area looks so pretty and inviting. I see why you love that room.
    Kris

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  22. Oh Cottage, you are lovely in the dark and in the light. You are well-loved, and your bright heart and hearth make many happy!

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  23. Hi Magali, I am in love with your black and white transfer ware. I have never seen it before or maybe just not have noticed it, but it's amazing. Looks so great in your wonderful hutch. Have a great Halloween! Jo

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  24. tu as enlevé les assises de certaines d'entre elles ;-) tu vas procéder à un nouvel habillage je suis sure ?
    cottage va être top avec tout ce que tu lui fais vivre
    belle semaine

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    1. Doucement! Pour l'instant, je ponce juste les chaises... Et là, c'est au point mort car il pleut depuis le début de la semaine (pas tout le temps, mais dès que j'ai un moment de libre!)

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  25. Hi.....you sure have a wonderful view from the new window..an that wagon.! was that apples it was loaded with..also love the dishes..my friend has the same dinner plates with the flowers an bird..but hers are blue..the basket on the table is just lovely..i can see why it's so enticing..such a nice cosy space..yes i noticed the chairs..i was wondering if you have chalk paint or milk paint over there..no sanding needed..they're going to look SO pretty painted..hope your week has been uneventful so far..ugly days here too lately..finally have the sun shining this morning tho..i'll get a bike ride in this morning YAY.!!

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  26. Ha Ha! A beautiful scene from your bedroom window. I hope you're getting accustomed to the luxury of it. Jo @ Let's Face the Music

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    1. I just love checking from those windows if something is happening in the fields behind!

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  27. Your black and white dishes from the empty-your-attic sale are so pretty, I would have grabbed them too! I spy a seatless chair in the group, but you'll have them all looking gorgeous real soon. I was also wondering if you have access to Chalk Paint or Milk Paint where you are? Love the fact that you can elimate that pesky and time-consuming sanding process. Thanks so much for sharing at Vintage Inspiration Party.

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  28. Love the black and white dishes and the room is so pretty.

    Cindy

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  29. Ha ha yes I did notice the little problem with the chairs - that could make for interesting dinner conversation!! Lovely china, I love those teacups you picked up for 2 Euro. So beautiful!!

    And that hutch - I'm in love.

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  30. hola Magali que bella tu vajilla y le bouquet de fleurs muy bonito y si ya vi porque no puedes tener mucha visita jajaja pero poco a poco se llega lejos ah me olvidaba siempre me gusta las fotos por donde tu vives gracias y cuidate nelly

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    1. Otra silla perdió su asiento hoy ... Es una buena cosa que los gatos no les importa ! Que tengan un buen fin de semana ,
      Magali

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  31. En Alsace nous avions aussi les jours avec le brouillard et humidité, brr.
    J'adore ton service:)
    Moi, je travaille dans le garage, ma méthode contre une dépression- peinture et pinceau.
    Bisous:)

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  32. I so love your table now, it looks so happy in it's new frock of white. The hutch is perfect in the fall dishes with the touch of autumn on the table. I can almost get the scent of gingerbread! Yes, the chairs! I hope your weather breaks so you can start the transformation. Enjoy your weekend. xo Patty. p.s. still knee deep in floors being finished. I so miss not being able to pretty things up yet.

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    1. No wonder you can smell gingerbread... I tried some new pumkin muffins this afternoon and forgot to add the sugar in the batter... But they do smell wonderful!

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  33. Si je ne m'abuse, une des chaises est déjà toute poncée!. L'une après l'autre et tu en viendras à bout. Et puis ça te permet de ne pas décider de la finition à la légère.
    Passe une bonne fin de semaine. Bised. Babette

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  34. You have some beautiful pieces Magali! I love black and white transfer ware. Your table vignette is simple and lovely. I haven't done much in the way of decorating either. Hope you're having a lovely week!

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  35. Your dark days are rather pretty. Your black and white china is pretty in the hutch and don't think I have any myself? Unless their hiding under the bed or something. I need to update my hutch to late fall since I have so many dishes. Are two of the chairs lighter than the other two or did you start sanding them?

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  36. Magali, what a delightful arrangement. The black and white dishes seem so right for Halloween, even though they can be used any time of year. I like your sweet basket arrangement and the amber candles. Great job. I saw your link at the Elizabeth & Co. Party.

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    1. Thank you, Ann Marie. I have some black and white transferware all year round on my kitchen window sill and since I collected more, I thought I could use some in the hutch this year!

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  37. Love the black rose pitcher! I like roses,...maybe because my name is Rose!

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  38. Un des invités risque d'avoir de légers problèmes de confort sur sa chaise sans fond :-D !
    Superbe ta vaisselle noire et blanche, j'aime beaucoup.
    Le week-end va être ensoleillé, chouette !
    Nathalie

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  39. Magali, love the Johnson Bros set, looks so pretty in the cabinet. You were lucky to find so many pieces. I'm sure you will get the chairs finished in due time, enjoy the lovely autumn days. Pretty basket on the table, it looks like fall at cottage.
    Happy weekend……...

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  40. Oh I love your hutch! It is simply divine! and I have the same china and the same little plates that you found from that couple! My Mom had a few and they sit in my hutch as well....at least for now....
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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  41. Your collection is very pretty Magali, I love how you can go "dark" without being creepy!

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  42. Have you ever tried Liquid SandPaper?It would work great on your chair inside or out.

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  43. The dining room is cozy and pretty despite the chairs. You'll get them done some

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    1. day. Sorry. I was interrupted by a kitten again. It seems to be a theme in my life.

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  44. Cottage is lovely, no matter the time of day, and yes...there's a teeny issue with the chairs, but I don't mind sitting on the floor if it means I can visit you and Brittany!

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  45. I have chairs like that haha. Love your photos Magali! Hope your weather clears soon and you get some sunny days. Your china is GORGEOUS!! What an incredible deal on the teacups. Happy Halloween!!!!

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  46. I'm drawn to black and white dishes (okay, I'm a dish of any kind addict), so I'm loving your hutch. I have those very same black and white flower dishes in the salad plate size and small bowls. I wish I had the dinner plate size! The views outside your windows are just spectacular!

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  47. I LOVE all your black and white pieces in the hutch! I'm definitely going to have to start hunting for some dishes like those!

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  48. Your black and white transferware is so pretty. It looks great in your hutch.

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  49. I was so busy admiring all your pretty black and white transferware that I didn't even notice the missing seats on your chairs! You dining room looks lovely and you've styled your china cabinet to perfection! A pumpkin on the table is all that's needed, and the dried flower arrangement is gorgeous!

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  50. Your dining room is so pretty. Love the black and white dishes in your hutch. I think you'll just have to warn your guests that if they sit down, they might fall through to the floor. ;-)

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  51. I like your china, so very pretty. Perhaps you should give a 'bring your own chair cushion' party?
    Amalia
    xo

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  52. les assiettes à large bord blanc et liseré noir sont très jolies... mais j'ai un faible pour la toute simple et si belle théière blanche à liseré ! bonne fin de semaine - cordialement - monique59

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  53. My first time here...and enjoyed reading it very much.
    I have a hutch much like yours....I had been wanting to paint it forEVER but was scared. I bit the bullet not long ago and painted it a Light French Gray and LOVE. IT....you can see it here...http://bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-hutch.html
    I will come back to see you soon....

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  54. Oh I adore your dark china! Here's to sunny days ahead.
    Have a wonderful week!

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  55. Magali, I so agree with your intuition to leave the black and white china on its own. Some things just shine on their own!

    Poppy

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  56. Dear Magali, I just heard about what is going on in Paris. I hope that you, family and friends are okay. I pray for all of those who are suffering. I am so sorry that there has to be so much tragedy near you. Let me know that you are okay. Love, Jo

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  57. Yes, we're all thinking of you and of France. So very, very sorry. I can't believe I was doing this less than a year ago. Much love to all of you, dearie. So sorry.

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  58. Dear Magali, I can't think of France without thinking of you. It is just devastating to hear the news about what is happening in Paris. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of France, and anyone touched by this tragedy. I hope that those you hold dear are safe, and pray that something changes in this world to stop this madness. Hugs to you...
    Amy xoxo

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  59. Magali, We'are all so sorry about what has happened in Paris. So sad. Hope you and yours are all okay. Sending love, thoughts and prayers to you and France.
    Leslie

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  60. Dark times indeed, Magali... France is in our minds and in our hearts. May humanity one day be wiser, more friendly and more loving... and more peaceful! Marie

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  61. Praying for the people of France! It is indeed sad. Sending you love and letting you know that we included France in our prayers in church today. I love those dry flowers, we don't have those here. Very pretty.

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