Exploring Italy | Nove

Last weekend we decided to finally head to Nove. Nove is a small town north of Vicenza. It's known for the beautiful ceramics you can find there.

We went to the biggest ceramics shop in Nove, La Ceramica VBC.

I was told beforehand that it was amazing and overwhelming. And that I needed to prepare myself ahead of time so that I could focus.

But let's just say that no amount of preparation could have stopped me from freaking the freak out.

As soon as we stepped through the doors, I started flapping my hands like a drunk chicken.

Jimmy actually stopped and tooked my pulse. He claimed I was hyperventilating. Hmmph. I claim he was exaggerating.

Or maybe not. I did swoon. That swoon might have come close to a faint.

 

Y'all. I cannot explain this experience. Hopefully the 23984028403 photos I took will somewhat accurately convey the store.

I.Wanted.EVERYTHING.

I got a full-on case of the greedies. You know. The voice screeching "I NEED"? The one that drowns out the resposible "I want"?? Yeah. It happened.

But thankfully cooler (Jimmy-shaped) heads prevailed.

VBC houses ceramics that you can find at Tiffany, William Sonoma, Lennox, Neiman Marcus, and more. Dana found her parent's plates there. I spied Tiffany piggy banks that cost over 100 dollars in the US. At VBC? 15 euros.

We wandered. With our mouths wide open and our eyes popping out of our heads.

This display? Nearly DID ME IN.

Talk about art.

I had calmed myself sufficiently...until I came until this display.

Yes. Those are doily/lace dishes. The artists actually place lace on the dishes as they are making them.

At VBC, you receive a 10 percent discount for paying in cash.

Here's what we ended up coming home with. All for just a little over 100 euro.

And my absolute FAVORITE:

So there you have it. The time Stephanie turned into a howling, screeching clapping monkey in the middle of a warehouse. Good times had by all.

 

xoxo

S

Comments

[julis]

Good to hear you love Nove! It's strange to hear you discover the places where I grew up. It makes me reconsider the beauty of the places that I have always taken for granted! thanks Stephanie

[rach]

That place is amazing! Beautiful dishes - Love them all!

[CJ]

Oh my, that's a spectacular shop. Good job you had Jimmy there to restrain you. You've chosen well though, you have some beautiful purchases there.

[Bessie Segal]

You are one hilarious woman! I think I warned you how fabulous Italy is & you & your gorgeous family have embraced everything with all your hearts.
These ceramics are divine; no wonder you did a 'bit' of swooning.I'm glad you managed to bag a few pieces.

[Renee S.]

Gorgeous stuff! Love the doily tray. Lucky you.

[barbara eads]

We went to a family owned ceramic factory on the Amalfi Coast last fall and I can tell you, the prices weren't this good! I had a single piece shipped home and spent double what you did. Still, it's one of my prized possessions!

[Jenny A]

How fun Stephanie! Seriously - you had me LOL with your commentary. I know I would have reacted the very same way! I lovelovelove the lace pieces. I die. Your haul is pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing :)

[dana a.]

Beautiful! I love the doily plates and the the sunflower ones and the starfish ones and the colorful plates...haha!

[Stacey]

What beautiful dishes! I love the beach themed ones! I would go crazy too, but we just don't have the space to store extra dishes, so that would have restrained me! And with doing 2-3 loads of dishes in the dishwasher a day (yes, I have three girls that love to eat!!), I am getting rid of extra dishes and glasses so the kids use the same glass/bowl for snacks for a day.

[Kelli]

Dying. I'm dying. Can I come live with you for the remainder of your time there? I would like to play drunk chicken alongside you...

[lauren]

oh my! i might just have to call that shop "heaven on earth"! want vs. need would have gone right out the window! ;) *

[Kelley Hartnett]

Fun times for you! When its time to move- YOU pack these new treasures...not the movers!

[Candy]

It will be hard to get that stuff home without breakage. The only time I succeeded was carrying a platter on the plane with me. Glad you had fun!

[Ruth]

I'd love to go shopping with you, just for entertainment value! And out of curiosity, how did the girls manage with not touching stuff?

[Stephanie Howell]

It was just me and Jimmy! :)

[Kerry]

That aqua blue. Sigh. My Garmisch Girls are going next month and I can't go with them due to another commitment. Booo! I've GOT to get down there. Are you planning to go to Poland for Pottery? I'm working a girls trip for June now. :) LOVE what you bought and love the excitement in this blog post.

[Linda S.]

I don't think I would have been able to restrain myself either. That place looks fabulous!! I love the lace trays also. I want to come and visit!!

[Stephanie Howell]

I'm choosing to have a positive attitude about this. :) The movers here are FAR more respectful of belongings. I have no doubt that this time things will be wrapped carefully and appropriately. I don't want to spend my three years here with the "no point in buying anything because it will break" attitude! :)

[Stephanie Howell]

I'm not worried! :)

[Stephanie Howell]

come shop with me!!!

[Stephanie Howell]

SISISISISISISISISISIIII!

[Stephanie Howell]

We got rid of most of our dishware before we moved here. Win WIN!

[Stephanie Howell]

mee toooooo. seriously. SO HARD to focus and narrow it down!

[Stephanie Howell]

Thank you Jenny! oxo

[Stephanie Howell]

I know...I couldn't even BELIEVE the prices. Especially when I got home and looked everything up on Neimans/etc!!!

[Stephanie Howell]

Thank you Renee!

[Stephanie Howell]

Thank you, sweet Bessie girl!!!

[Stephanie Howell]

Thanks, friend!!! I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday!

[Stephanie Howell]

Why thank you, Rach!

[Stephanie Howell]

This makes me so happy! Thanks for your sweet comment!

[Jackee Garcia]

OMG, I would have been the same. However, I would have been overwhelmed and ended up buying nothing.
Love your posts - love keeping up with you guys over there!

[Christine Campbell]

OH MY!!!!!!!! I just wiped drool off of my chin. And I got a strange look from the guy I work with when I let out a particular groan/moan when I saw the turquoise divided dish....I'm swooning over the pictures. The lace ones are by far my favourite!! WOW!!

[Stephanie Howell]

Im choosing to be positive about that. The movers here are FAR more careful and respectful of my belongings.

[Stacey M. Curry]

Oh my word! I love your last line about the howling, screeching, clapping monkey...but what else would you be in such a place! Fantastic! I adore your blog posts! Italy has always been on the list of must sees...but your blog posts make it an even bigger MUST!

[Nicole Russell Willis]

I love the Howell sign!! I love it all, and that lace/doily pattern in beyond!!!

[Jennifer]

Neat place, I would have get drowned in that store!!
(drooling over neat things there)

Glad you found a happy place!!

[Kip]

The last dish had my heart pumping!!!

[young]

SUPER cool! Love the lace dishes you got and the woodgrain plates - neat!

[melanie]

Those doily dishes are so YOU! So glad you were able to snag some!

[Kami]

I am a sucker for anything white!! The lace pieces are beyond gorgeous!!!! Thank you for taking so many pictures to share with us. :D

[Rhian]

wow, those lace dishes are stunning, I am loving all your Italy photos, I think I might suggest a trip for our next family holiday

[Jenni Hufford]

drunk chicken? i am cracking up girl!!! I love the way you write!!!! these pieces are gorgeous and SO you! enjoy!

[Ann Lind]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful finds and your hilarious description of your excitement. I would have had to mortgage the farm after snagging only the things I "REALLY NEEDED". Thanks for sharing your wonderful experiences in Italy they are probably as close as I will ever get to being there. Hugs to you and the girls.

[Ki Kruk]

Oh your squeals were completely justified! Beautiful!!

[Linda E]

What beautiful ceramic pieces! They must have known you were coming to have such beautiful selections of doily pieces! It reminds me of when I planned a trip out west to the Grand Canyon. I told my husband it would be fun to spend a few days in Lake Powell just so that I could revisit a pottery store in Springdale, Utah (outside of Zion) on our way back to the airport in Vegas! The pottery store and Lake Powell were BOTH highlights!

[Summer]

When I was a college student studying abroad, I walked into a Parisian department store and almost lost my mind. Your post reminded me so much of my reaction. :) All of the pieces you bought were lovely!

[Alison]

I can totally imagine the squealing noise, flapping hands moment as I would have had the same reaction. I loved your haul, but I think the tiles that spell out your name will be extra special as they move from home to home with your travels.

And total side note, I purchased my first package of doiles, inspired by you. Have used them non-stop.

[Holly]

Wowza, Stephanie! What fun! Seriously,that place looks amazing. And I LOVE the aqua dish you bought! Thanks for sharing the eye candy!

[Emily Adams]

I need some doily dishes!!! Love!

[Erin R.]

I would have started hyperventilating and would have developed a serious case of the greedies too. I'm just a bit jealous over here. :)

[Linda R]

quick open an etsy or ebay store so your american friends (ie me) can have some of those doily platters.

[MichelleB]

Well wow! I believe my reaction would have been very similar to yours! I love what you chose and the square doily platter is gorgeous! Enjoy!

[Leigh Erin]

OMG I am up feeding the baby and your flapping chicken comment just made me laugh so hard I shook him off the boob. Lol! Love it all. Your fave is my favorite too! Amazing. Amazing. Amazing photos!!!

[Dawn (La)]

Have you considered a new career, something along the lines of ceramics exporter?? Your blog fans would surely keep you in business! What I wouldn't give for some of those doily dishes!!!

[Elisabeth Costa]

Gorgeous things!!! I can see what you were so excited:) When we go to Portugal I also enjoy their pottery and try to pick up a couple of pieces to bring home and wrap them ever so tightly. Those doily ones are my absolute favourite.

[briannna mrshall]

I just love seeing all your travels.I am also a military wife and have never been stationed out of the US! what an amazing adventure for you and your lovely family!

[Krista]

Gorgeous! Those lace dishes...oh my. And combined with the aqua color. I would have been a goner. Good choices!

[Marian]

Great choices Stephanie, those pieces are beautiful. And I want to play drunk chicken too!

[Debbie D]

Love those lace dishes..I'm sure you will make a few return trips there. I had the same reaction when I went to the Delft factory in Holland so many pretty things and that was 30 years ago!!!

[Angie F]

LOVE it all!! Thanks for sharing!! I can almost see you in the store!! Love your descriptions!! Fun.

[Natalie]

That store is absolute PERFECTION!!! I would have been a drunk chicken, too! I love your choices! :)

[jessica - craftychicgirl]

amazing finds! pretty sure i'd have been swooning as well!!!

[Amanda S.]

OMG I would die!!!! Love the doily platters. You picked some awesome pieces!! :)