Saturday, July 20, 2013

Cluedo

The Mystery July Series - part 3


Well, you're obvisouly a bit lost by my July project, so let me give you a few more clues. And trust me, those clues are going somewhere.

Vous avez l'air un peu perdu avec mon projet de juillet, alors voici quelques indices de plus. Et oui, ils aboutissent à quelque chose, je le jure.

1. When I was looking for a little cottage for me and my then only cat, I only visited stone cottages, because that's where I was picturing myself living. I gave them nicknames in order to be able to talk about them with my parents. The one I ended up buying was nicknamed "The Little White House" because it was the only one whose stone walls had been recovered in white.
The name stayed, obvisouly.

The Little White House on closing day
 Lorsque je cherchais un petit cottage pour moi et mon (à l'époque) chat unique, je n'ai visité que des maisons en pierre. Je leur avais donné des surnoms pour pouvoir en parler avec mes parents: la maison bourgeoise, la maison de l'Anglaise, la petite maison blanche (la seule dont la pierre était enduite)... Le surnom est resté!

2. Last year, my grand-mother passed away. She was the English branch of the family. Thanks to her, I'm not only French, a quarter of me is English.... That explains why I'm both fascinated by French and English China, I guess.

Everybody said my grand-mother looked a lot like Queen Mum, right down to the pearl necklace.

L'année dernière, ma grand-mère est décédée. C'était elle la branche anglaise de la famille, qui semble m'avoir laissé beaucoup de choses, entre autres mon amour pour la belle vaisselle anglaise et française.  Elle ressemblait beaucoup à la Reine Mère, jusqu'au collier de perles.

3. I didn't know my grand-mother that well and after she died, I tried to ask many people of her family if they knew a little more about her story. Among the funny things I learnt was the fact that she was brought up by her uncle & aunt. Her uncle was the founder of a famous linen shop on New Bond Street, London, called ... "The White House". I'm not making it up.

One of the very few pictures I could find on the Internet about the shop.
 Mais je ne la connaissais pas très bien et après son décès, j'ai essayé de me renseigner un peu. Parmi les choses que j'ai apprises, il y avait le fait que l'oncle qui l'avait élevée possédait une boutique à Londres, appelée "The White House", un signe du destin!

4. Because the renovation of my house costed a lot more than I first planned, I was left with no money to decorate the cottage. So I began getting up every Sunday morning to go to what we call "Empty-your-attic" sales. They are usually held on the villages' main square, often around the church, and people put up a stall and sell whatever they don't want to keep.

Cars parked in front of Saint-Laurent's Church -sale was in the next street - Sorry, taken pre-blogging days, the picture doesn't do the church justice.

Parce que la rénovation de ma maison me coûte beaucoup plus cher que prévu, il ne reste que très peu d'argent pour la déco. J'ai alors replongé dans le plaisir des vide-greniers, oublié depuis la fin de mon enfance.

5. I discovered I had an eye to find the pretty French and English china I dreamed of, hidden in the middle of a pile of junk. I also found that, just as I'm unable not to save a needy cat, I'm physically unable to let French and English China on a stall where it's not loved.


Je me suis alors aperçue que j'avais une sorte de radar interne qui me permet de repérer la moindre bricole en porcelaine anglaise ou française sur un stand plein de bazar. Elles sont là, ces vieilles tasses et ces magnifiques assiettes, me suppliant de les sauver d'une maison où elles sont mal aimées.

6. I soon was the proud owner of teacups, teapots, dishes I never thought I would own. I also soon had more than the cottage could hold.


Je me suis retrouvée l'heureuse propriétaire de plus de fabuleuse vaisselle que mon petit cottage ne pouvait en contenir.


7. Meanwhile, I had discovered decoration blogs while looking for inspiration white kitchen pictures on Google. Wow! So, I wasn't the only one to think that every single detail counts? And I wasn't the only fool in love with vintage china? I felt like maybe that addiction wasn't so negative, if I could share it.


Entre temps, en cherchant des idées de cuisines blanches sur Internet, j'avais découvert les blogs de déco. Comment ça, je n'étais pas la seule folle pour laquelle chaque détail de la maison compte? Et je n'étais pas la seule à apprécier la vieille vaisselle? Soudain, mon addiction ne semblait plus si grave, puisque je pouvais la partager.


So do you have any idea where I'm going? I won't give an other clue. But if you're really impatient, you can see the beginning of that project here. See you there!


Bon alors, une idée d'où je vais avec tous ces indices? Je n'en donnerai pas un de plus. Mais si vraiment, vous piaffez d'impatience, vous pouvez voir le début de ce projet ici. On s'y retrouve?

See you soon for a little "behind the scenes"!

A bientôt pour une visite des coulisses!

I'm joining:
 Lavender Garden Cottage           French Country Cottage      



38 comments:

  1. I think your mystery project is that you are painting the hutch white to better display all of your beautiful China!

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  2. Lovely, lovely post Magali especially about our Uncle! I am interested in any pink, mauve, green floral plates and will keep a close eye on your Etsy shop. Will you ship to Australia? I am so happy for you Magali and thank you for sharing life in your beautiful cottage. Ann

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    1. Your teapot is absolutely gorgeous.

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  3. Before I read that others thought your grandmother looked like the queen mum, I thought the same thing! Your china is beautiful. I have an addiction for white ironstone, textiles, and everything in between. I would love to go junking with you to places emptying out the attics! My dream is to antique in france. Look forward to see more progress on your cottage. Take care.

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  4. Good luck with your Etsy shop Magali ( it IS new right? ) such lovely pieces - I'm sure you'll do very well with it!
    And that Church is absolutely gorgeous!
    Hugs,
    Moi

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  5. Maybe selling through your cousin's super super Etsy shop?
    Or having a stand at one of the brocantes?

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  6. An Etsy shop! Of course. I should have thought of that. Great idea. I hope it goes well for you.

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  7. Someone else mentioned this, but is your next project to paint some of your furniture white to showcase your lovely china?

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  8. Est-ce que tu vas vendre une partie de ta jolie vaisselle en ligne ? Si c'est ça , je te souhaite beaucoup de succès .
    Ta vaisselle est splendide .
    Bises . Babette

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    1. Gagné! Merci beaucoup pour ces encouragements. J'espère que tu te remets vite de ton intervention.

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  9. Et en plus, tu m'as "filé" le virus !!! Et à mon tour, je me régale dans les brocantes ! Quel bonheur de découvrir un vieux sucrier et de chercher ensuite sur Internet l'histoire de la faiencerie où il est né...
    Bises

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  10. A museum in your little white house? I would visit it!

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  11. I think you are going to paint your hutch white. Beautiful dishes you found at sales. i found two lovely plates last weekend as I was driving to pick-up a friend. My car just went that way to the garage sale lol.
    Yes your grandmother did look like the Queen Mom. Is the linen shop still in the family?
    Have a super weekend.
    Mary

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  12. i think you are going to have an online shop to sell some of your china to make space for something else (more cats!)

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    1. Score! I'm going to sell some of the china and if I ever make some money, I'll use it to pay for the vet for the cats!!!

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  13. Oh you sure have some lovely pieces! I love those rose cups and saucers on the outside table. They are so beautiful! Good luck with your ETSY store. I have lots of things to list in mine, but just haven't had time to deal with it. Some day! I am sure you will do great! I'll be checking in often...:)

    Blessings, Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

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  14. i was excited to see your lovely new etsy store! it's a great way to share your addiction ;)
    x

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  15. Magali, your china is GORGEOUS! Of course, I adore the Rose Chintz and I collect it myself. I really enjoyed the story of your uncle's linen shop. Family history is fascinating, isn't it? Thanks for sharing some of your lovely collections and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  16. An Etsy shop!!!! How cool :) You have such beautiful china pieces. My mama owned a tea room with a friend several years ago, and they threw little girls' birthday parties and etiquette classes there. She was always on the hunt for beautiful vintage china pieces as each girl could pick which set she would use for the party :) Thankfully, she saved most of them, and all her granddaughters are inheriting them.

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  17. You can never have too many teacups and teapots! Yours are so pretty! I enjoy your blog so much!

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  18. Wht a great idea, I hope you do well with your little shop! Don't forget to add a direct button to your sop so we can check and see what is for sale. Patty/BC

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    1. I'll add a button as soon as I can... You may notice I'm very late to answer the comments. I cracked a rib and everyday life stuff is taking me more time than usual!

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  19. Best of luck with your Etsy shop!! I'm so uncouth I drink my tea out of a crappy mug. :/

    -andi

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  20. Congratulations on your Etsy shop! Your china is beautiful and I would think it would be hard to part with.

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  21. Your cottage is just darling! I love the blue and white and also the blue and white china! And BTW, I thought that was a photo of the Queen Mum. That's your grandmother?

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  22. Well done on starting an Etsy shop--I am sure you will do very well with it! I love your cottage colors, and the picture of that beautiful church. Hope all is well with you this summer!

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  23. Vendre sa vaisselle chinée avec amour, quel supplice non?

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    1. C'est une expérience douce-amère. J'aime chiner, je ne peux pas tout garder. Mettre en ligne est une torture, voir que les gens apprécient ce que je chine est flatteur...

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  24. Magali, I love the story of your grandmother. All of your china is so beautiful. I would love your clean out the attic sales. Your Etsy shop should be wonderful. Welcome aboard. xo Laura

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  25. Yes, your grandmother looks like the Queen Mum! What lovely treasures you have rescued! If you are like me they mean more because they were found bit by bit and rescued. I have found another Romeo who happens to be a cat - I thought you might like to see him! http://confessionsofajunkyardcat.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks. I really had fun finding out about that other Romeo, who has a gorgeous blog!

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  26. So sorry about your grandmother. I'm half English and have always wondered if that is why I love so many British things - authors, landscapes, artists, TV and period dramas... and those wonderful thatched cottages!!

    Your china is superb!

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  27. I have a special love for china too...and don't care who makes it, lol...We had a porcelain and ceramic factory here in Ecuador, up to 4 years ago, which tan hubby sold it.. and so we have some pretty dishes from our own production too. I loved the story of your grandmama, and the White House story as well..what a coincidence! I adore England and English things, specially china and I haven't a drop of English blood in me, lol! Maybe because I'm a Newyorker? Anyaway....thank you for your sweet comment. Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  28. Oh, I forgot to mention how gorgeous your china collection is, you were so lucky to find them!
    FABBY

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  29. I'm sorry, I read this post a few days ago and forgot to comment. Ok, so I didn't guess, but opening an etsy shop is a great idea. I love china, I used to work in a department store selling Royal Worcester and Spode, and I love blue transferware !
    Good luck with your online shop x

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  30. I would love the teapot with violets on it for my collection. To stop myself buying everything I see, I am trying to limit myself to violets for now. Amazing collection, can you believe the people who are getting rid of that stuff
    Janice

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  31. You write the most intriguing posts! Love the story about your Great-Grandmother, her Uncle & Aunt and the connection to The White House - how fascinating! I too love collection - especially china - looking forward to reading more~I'm going on over to your new Etsy shop! I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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