It was such a beautiful morning...
I took Big Blue and the remnants of the soda bread out on the deck to breathe in the clean, crisp March air...
Even though the ground is still covered with snow, there are sure signs that spring is coming...
...The early morning light was perfect and keeping my promise...I decided to photograph some of the other pieces of my French faience dishes...
About six or seven years ago while shopping at TJ Maxx, I came upon several beautiful pieces of pottery...all signed Lallier a Moustiers on the back.
They were more expensive than the usual fair at TJ but I fell in love...
The problem was... besides a beautiful compote, a large serving platter and a decorative covered dish...there were only two plates and one cup and saucer...
Knowing that often what appears in one TJ store will be found in another or a Marshalls or Home Goods...I decided to take a chance...and hoped that I would be able to find more dishes at other locations...
...and so my quest began!
There are three TJ Maxx stores close to me, one Marshalls and at the time, one Home Goods.
I went to every location and was able to buy a plate here, a soup bowl there...a cup here and a saucer there....
...but not a complete set!
I needed a complete set...(or at least I thought I did at the time).
I have since differentiated between needs and wants.
I became obsessed.
I researched and googled...called boutique shops and high end department stores...
...had my sisters and girlfriends on the lookout all over the East coast...
Finally I found a lovely lady who owned a shop in south Jersey who carried Lallier a Moustiers and she sent me a catalogue so I could identify the pattern.
She was horrified that I had been able to purchase any pieces at all at a discount store!
...of course my pattern was not in stock so she ordered the pieces I needed to complete my service... direct from Moustiers, France.
Long story short...my fabulous find at the discount store turned into quite an expensive adventure...
...one which I do not regret as I really love my Lallier a Moustiers faience...
...and that is the story of my beautiful dishes.
...note: the pink damask napkins and little bunny were thrift store finds this week....it was bag day...everything you could stuff in a brown paper bag for 5 dollars! I did well...will show more of those treasures later this week.
...secret: those gorgeous gray blue linen napkins with the monogrammed JL were purchased from Corey Amaro's online shop Tongue in Cheek Antiques. They are a birthday gift for my sister Lynn whose full name is Janet Lynn. I will be bringing them when I travel to visit her the week after next.
Corey thought perhaps the JL stood for Joyful Living which completely describes my sister too...
Shhh...help me keep my secret!
We thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful day...although still on the cool side we soaked up the sunshine and spent a lot of time out under that beautiful blue sky.
I hope it was sunny where you are too!
Have a good night and a great Sunday!
:) Laura
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