You'd think by now that I wouldn't get excited when a new catalog arrives in my mailbox. My poor mail carrier, who says we get the strangest mail in the neighborhood, swears I get more catalogs than anyone else.

The latest offering is Uno Alla Volta, Italian for One at a Time. As I flipped through it, I came across everything from elegant scarves to Venetian glass candlesticks and unusual jewelry, including Swarovski jeweled brooches for Christmas.

The items aren't cheap, but quality never is. Is it?

Here are some of my faves:

Colorblock silk shawl,left,that can be used to drape around your shoulders or as an accent on your sofa. The 28-by-80 shawl is hand-woven in Nepal and sells for $178.

Misty Meadows lamp,right, is lit from behind to accent the nature motif that is rendered in porcelain lithophane, a rare 19th century art form that has been mastered by California artists. It stands 13.25 inches tall in a black matte metal frame and sells for $138.

Check them out at oneatatime.com.

-- C.V.S.

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