Antiques And Teacups

Aynsley Red And Gold Teacup and Antique Romance Postcard

2012-02-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

I welcome you! I am joining Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser and Vintage Thingie Thursday with Coloradolady.

With Valentine's coming soon I can't help but think of red and this Aynsley, England 1940s teacup with pretty gold overlay pattern came to mind. Aynsley always has such pretty and elegant designs!

And this romance postcard postmarked 1908 has the proper romantic note. The young man with the fishing girl is chatting up the chic. The title is

We bring out a new line...

The postcard was sent and received at Clifton, New York. The Edwardian humorous romance postcard at it's best!

I am planning to make decorated sugar cookies tomorrow. Yesterday, dealing with milk allergies, I made a Victorian recipe my grandmother brought with her when she emigrated to the US from England. The cookies are called Fairings, have no milk and are basically a spice cookie. Came out well. Now I have a dairy free sugar cookie to make.

Have a great day visiting all the fun blogs!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Antique Staffordshire, Antique Postcard, Valentine's Tea

2012-01-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my meme Tuesday Cuppa Tea looking toward upcoming Valentine's Day.

The teacup trio I am sharing today is an antique set from the Potteries region of England. The Potteries surround Stoke-on-Trent where many of the most famous English potteries flourished because of the deposits of quality clay found there in the 1600s.

I found this set at an antiques faire in Worcester, England on a buying trip. The cup and saucer with matching plate are completely hand decorated with a pale peach banding, heavy dimensional hand applied gold hearts, dentil border and dots and further turquoise enamel flowers. The phtots just don't do it justice. The teacup trio is unmarked which is quite normal for early Staffordshire pieces. It may be a Grainger piece...that's my best guess. I love it! I thought the hearts were appropriate for a pre-Valentine's Day theme.

Here is an antique postcard dating to around 1910. The postcard says:

My Heart

Gold Is Nothing

Happiness Is All

How sweet a sentiment! This is called a Romance postcard and is a Real Photograph that has then been hand tinted. Cool!.

To see either the teacup trio or postcard at Antiques And Teacups, just click on the photos.

The following photos are from Country Living Magazine. The article was called a Valentine Tea and has an Alice In Wonderland theme. So cute!

I am joining the following tea related blog parties today. Have fun visiting!

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

TuesdayCuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea WithFriends

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

http://www.attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/p/afternoon-tea.html Afternoon Tea

Pink Saturday, Hand Colored art deco Sweet Pea Teacup

2012-01-27T19:31:00.001-08:00

Happy Pink Saturday which I am joining hosted by How Sweet The Sound.

I have a hand colored on grey transferware art deco teacup in a pattern called Sweet Pea by Roslyn England that was made in the 1930s. When I saw it an an estate sale a few weeks ago, all I could think of was Pink Saturday!

Isn't it wonderful? I love the art deco shaped handle as well. These hand colored cups and saucers are wonderful as no 2 are alike. This is hand colored and the the red is hand applied enamel paint. Love it! And some of the blossoms are...Pink!

For more info on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I have been having a lot of allergy problems lately. A life long thing, actually, but really kicking up at the moment and I don't know why. One of my worst allergens is milk. It gives me severe asthma and hides under various names. Normally, an antihistamine works and I can eat without too much problem, but at the moment none of the usual antihistamines is working well, so I am having to make everything from scratch to make sure there are no milk products.

I have a Vegan cookbook and just tried this recipe of oats, applesauce, raisins, flour sugar and cinnamon and was pleased. They are edible. Not all of the recipes I have tried are. At least I now have something to have with tea while my husband is eating the pecan shortbread I made him!

Have a great day visiting and bathing yourself in pink!

Literary Friday: Dalziel and Pascoe meet Jane Austen - Not For The Faint Of Heart!

2012-01-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

I love English mysteries, and I love Jane Austen...but rarely do the twain meet. But..in this book by Reginald Hill...who BTW died a few weeks ago....called The Price Of Butcher's Meat it happened with a smash.

I used to read the early Andy Dalziel and Peter Pascoe novels maybe 20 years ago before Reginald Hill decided to be trendy and go heavily into profanity...and so I quit. But my husband...who has a less sensitive reading constitution pushed this book my way a week ago when I was out with a cold and out of books to read. At the foreward I was caught...and flinched my way through it.

Have you read Sanditon by Jane Austen? An unfinished novel that was finished by Marie Dobbs in 1975 which I quite enjoyed. Well, instead of Sanditon, the Hill novel takes place in Sandytown. The accident bring Tom and Mary Parker together with the Heywood family through a carriage accident becomes an ATV crashing into a ditch or, as he calls it, tank trap, set by farmer Heywood to keep folks from scaring the animals and trespassing.

Charlotte becomes Charley who tells much of the story through emails sent to he doctor sister who is on a medical mission to Africa. Most of the characters remain recognizable. Sidney Parker, however, is no longer the hero for Charley, but has a different kind of relationship with Sir Edward. And, unlike the other Sanditon, there are dead bodies littering the scene. Plop down raunchy Fat Andy Dalziel to recover from a terrorist bomb in an expensive hoistic convalescent hospital in Sandytown with all the characters and you have a wierd but enjoyable novel with large doses of Jane Austen...if you can get over the profanity and rather skewed Hill outlook on life from a rugger's viewpoint.

So...Jane would be recognizing certain things but appalled at others. But...an interesting read, especially if you have a tough stomach and are familiar with Sanditon. Did I mention that Diana Parker's friend is an animal right activist....and Lady Dapne is a nymphomaniac? You get the picture. Jane, where are you????

Royal Grafton Teacup For Thursday, Winter Pale Palette

2012-01-25T20:33:00.000-08:00

I am joining Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser and Vintage Thingie Thursday with Coloradolady today.

This is a 1940s vintage Royal Grafton, England cup and saucer that I just love. I love the combination of the gold overlay chintz and the hunter green bands and floral bouquet centers. Tea would just taste better, don't you think? Royal Grafton has always been a favorite of mine through several incarnations and always has made wonderful designs. To see more of the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I liked this photo and poem by Edith Sitwell, but it hasn't enlarged well, so here is the poem:

Winter is the time for comfort-

For the touch of a friendly hand

and a talk beside the fire;

It is the time for home.

After all the snow we had last week it was nice to get out the last few days and see the big world. It makes us understand the nesting instinct we have to make our homes as welcoming and inviting as possible.

A simple white palette with family photos and beloved books.

Candles and pastel accents against white walls.

A table set with a pale palette welcoming us to a tea with friends.

Pastel colors and fabrics with complementary hues to soothe and relax.

Photos from The Cottage Journal from Hoffman Media

An intimate tea before the fireplace promising a tete a tete in a relaxed mood.

I hope your day is as relaxed and pleasant, and full of friendship and tea as you could wish!

Teatime Needlepoint Pillow Pattern

2012-01-25T09:26:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Sunset Magazine. I was born about 1 1/2 miles from Sunset and it has always been a part of my life from visits to a whole lot of recipes I use. A Western magazine to be sure, but regional now as well.

Because the magazine specializes in lifestyle, gardening, food and travel, I was surprised to see a full page add for a needlepoint company called Ehrman Tapestry advertising needlepoint kits. I do cross stitch, not needlepoint, although at one point (no pun intended) I did needlepoint a chair cover for an antique chair I inherited many years ago.

But in the ad is a wonderful needlepoint kit for a design called Teatime featuring teacups. The central is a Shelley China teacup in the Queen Anne shape. That is so cool! So thought I'd post it in case anyone is interested or is looking for a tea related project. The cup cake pillow is pretty cute as well!

Ehrman Tapestry

Toll Free order line 888 826 8600

www.ehrmantapestry.com

Sunset also surprised me with a few pages of tea related things which I will be sharing in the next few posts.

We are off in the rain to a Parkinson's Disease monthly support group today, after which we have a lunch out and hit the antique/thrift shops in case we find something we can't do without. We chinwag with a local dealer pal at his shop The Mouse Trap in Port Angeles, and generally have a neat wander-around day. Hope yours is as much fun!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

2012-01-22T17:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

Today I am also joining Sandi of Rose Chintz Cottage for the 2nd Birthday of Tea Time Tuesday! Congratulations Sandi!

Also the wonderful other blog parties at the end of the post. Roses are the theme, so here is my personal formal china with roses, Royal Doulton's Rosebud from the 1940s. Not the hand painted periwinkles that Hyacinth Bucket favors, but I love it.

This was my teatime today with pecan shortbread and Twinings Darjeeling tea. I won't be favoring Twinings much in the future as I found out they moved their te production from England to Poland and China in Sept. 2011...very quietly, no fanfare, just laid off the workers and moved. So I will be switching tea companies and take my business elsewhere.

But on a happier note...here is a Victorian album card with roses to go along with the roses theme:

Album cards were made during the Victorian and Edwardian era to be placed in the scrap albums that were a parlor activity of genteel ladies. They could be purchased cheaply and were considered to be edifying and educational, training ladies in beauty, sentiment and taste. This pretty album card measures 6 inches high by 4.25 inches wide and is embossed, and has a vignette...which you probably know I love...of a church in the moonlight by the river. Charming. It was probably a gift as it bears a penciled name on the back. I love the roses!

And one of the most famous rose patterned cups and saucers...Royal Albert Old Country Roses...made in England...which they haven't been since 1992...sigh....For more album cards, Victorian ephemera or the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

A bouquet of roses for Sandi's birthday!

Joining the following tea related blog parties:

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/

Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

TuesdayCuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea WithFriends

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

http://www.attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/p/afternoon-tea.html

Tuesday Afternoon Tea

Secrets Of The Manor House Tonight

2012-01-22T12:26:00.000-08:00

This is actually a repost with permission of a post from Time Was Antiques blog:

For you fans of Downton Abbey who like a more documentary, scholarly approach to what living in an English Edwardian stately home was like, PBS airs Secrets Of The Manor House tonight on PBS. On our PBS it is at 7pm just prior to last week's episode which is aired just before tonight's episode. It looks very interesting.

The Edwardian era, named for the time Edward VII was king after the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 and stretching to the crowning of George V in 1910 is an era that is fascinating for it being so transitional on so many levels in English society, affecting the home, economy, government and individual right. I love the insights.
Here is a preview video from the PBS site:

Watch Secrets of the Manor House - Preview on PBS. See more from Secrets of the Manor House.

Pink Saturday Retro Pink Musical Instruments Tea Tin

2012-01-20T19:13:00.000-08:00

Well I am finally back feeling a bit better and posting...somewhat...again. I am joining Pink Saturday with Beverly at How Sweet The Sound.

This is my pink! A vintage English tea tin with a design of musical instruments on a sort of retro pink, blue and white loose plaid. I love tea tins...and have a row of them in the kitchen with various types of tea. Especially as my husband prefers different types so we have lots of tea in the house! Tea tins can be used for all sorts of storage...not just tea. They are just so versatile!

I am going to enjoy the Pink Saturday posts...missed last week with illness, so will enjoy it doubly! The snow here is thawing a bit and we now have icicles hanging from the roof. I haven't been out of the house since Tuesday, but hope to get out tomorrow...hopefully the roads will have thawed.

Have a wonderful, warm and Pink Saturday! For more on the tea tin at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I've Been Poorly...and snowed in!

2012-01-19T21:25:00.000-08:00

I want to thank you all for your kind comments are prayer while I cared for my DH who was out of commission with a cold. The good news is, he has recovered. The bad news is...I have it! Sigh...BUT...I couldn't have gone out and done anything anyway....

This "snow cat" is from the Seattle Post Intelligencer. In the Seattle Arboretum. The rest are photos I took Tuesday in our yard before the cold really got bad.

We are an area, coastal where we don't get much snow. Tuesday we got 6 inches. Yesterday we got 3 more and another 3 today. I know...that is nothing for hardy folks in more severe winter areas. But...this is considered a coastal semi arid in here in Sequim, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula. We only average 15-17 inches of precipitation annually. Last year was the wettest in 15 years...we got 20 inches! We are not called the Blue Hole for nothing!

We used to live in the mountains at 5,000 feet and averaged 280 inches of snow a year. But this is unusual for here. So we have basically stayed in. I baked bread rather than buying it. Had a pork roast in the freezer that went into the crock pot with whole berry cranberry sauce, garlic and orange juice...a family favorite. Must have used 2 boxes of kleenex so far.

So...again I am sorry I have missed visiting blogs and participating in blog parties but hope to be back to normal soon. Until then...talked to a friend In Juneau Alaska today. We shouldn't complain. We have more snow than they do...but they haven't been about zero in 3 weeks! Every area has it's own problems!

Have a great weekend.

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Downton Abbey, Adderleys Edwardian Teacup Trio

2012-01-15T22:37:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea and the other tea related links seen below.

Did you watch Downton Abbey? We watched episode 2 of season 2 tonight and it was a quick hour!

From episode 1 of season 2 is a tea quote. When attending the hospital fund raising concert at Downton Abbey, Maggie Smith as the incorrigible Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham says: "what about tea and toast with the duchess at tuppence a slice?" with her rolling eyes. Priceless! LOVE her!

I always check out the china in period movies and have seen lots of imari, but this is a teacup trio by Adderley from the Edwardian era, which began with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, named for her son Edward VII and ending with the ascension to the throne of George V in 1935.

I love the floral chintz and dainty molding. The pattern is called Spray No. 96...not too original! The teacup trio is so elegant! I can just see it being used for tea with Lady Grantham and her daughters. For more info on the teacup trio at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

This has been an unusual few days, as my husband has developed a cold. Not much to most folks, but as he has Parkinson's disease, any ailment is difficult. The body seems to be so taken up with fighting the Parkinson's that it doesn't seem to manage anything else as well as he used to. But he is doing well...just haven't had much spare time this week for reading and responding to the blogs I wanted to comment on on my blog reading list. If I haven't visited or commented yet, please forgive me!

We have actually have had snow showers today...on and off. This is a local lavender farm about 10 blocks from our home:

But it soon melts off. This is the Olympic mountains from the end of our street when I went for a walk during a thaw period yesterday when the snow was just beginning.

Snow is supposed to continue for the next few days.

So today I made scones for tea...some left for tomorrow. They are apricot, sour cream and candied ginger and I cut them into circles rather than wedges. We had them with butter and marionberry jam...my honey had apricot jam. Ahhh...tea time is such a joy!

Tomorrow sounds like a perfect day to visit the tea related blogs and join the various teacup tea parties...while drinking a cuppa of your own!

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

LadyKatherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

TuesdayCuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea WithFriends

TuesdayAfternoon Tea http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

Trish ~ http://www.attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/p/afternoon-tea.html Afternoon Tea

MissSpenser ~ http://missspensersblog.blogspot.com/

TeacupThursday

Coloradolady ~ http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

VintageThingie Thursday

Thursday Teacups And Tea Things, Adams Purple Transferware, Chocolate Shortcakes

2012-01-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

Hi. Welcome to Thursday Teacups and Tea things. I am also joining Vintage Thingie Thursday and Teacup Thursday.

I have a 1930s Adams, England cup and saucer in an unusual purple transferware that I thought you might like. The pattern is called Italian Scenery and I love the embossed shape that is so tactile and the deer. There aren't a whole lot of patterns with deer on them, but I have always enjoyed deer...and lost a lot of flowers to them...so that attracted me. Transferware is always a favorite, but I tend to gravitate to blue or red. But the purple is quite fun. The pattern was made into the 1940s.

For more info on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I found a great recipe for a chocolate shortcake on CookingLight.com that I am trying this weekend that I thought I would post in case someone is looking for a neat dessert.

Chocolate Shortcakes with Bananas and Caramel

Ingredients

PreparationShortcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup fat-free buttermilk
Filling:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 teaspoon butter
1 cup frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed
1/8 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
2 medium bananas, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups)

Preheat oven to 375°.
To prepare the shortcakes, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in 1/4 cup butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk; stir just until moist. Knead lightly in bowl 5 to 6 times. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; pat dough into an 8-inch circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut dough into 8 wedges, cutting into, but not through, dough. Bake at 375° for 18 minutes or until just firm to the touch. Remove from pan; cool on a wire rack. Place shortcake on a cutting board or work surface; cut along score lines with a serrated knife to form 8 wedges.
To prepare filling, combine 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; stir gently just until sugar dissolves. Cook, without stirring, until pale golden (about 4 minutes), gently swirling pan if needed to cook sugar evenly. Remove from heat; add cream and 1 teaspoon butter, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Cool 5 minutes.
Place whipped topping and 1/8 teaspoon cocoa in a medium bowl; fold just until combined. Split shortcakes in half horizontally using a serrated knife. Arrange about 1/4 cup bananas over bottom half of each shortcake; top each serving with about 1 teaspoon caramel sauce, about 2 tablespoons whipped topping mixture, and top of shortcake. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon caramel sauce over top of each shortcake.
Shortcake Tips:
When mixing the dough for shortcakes, use a light hand and work quickly for the most tender cakes. If the recipe calls for kneading the dough, knead lightly only a few times so the dough doesn't become overworked.
Use a serrated knife to split the shortcakes. It will cut through the cakes without crumbling them.
You can bake the shortcakes up to a day ahead. Cool completely, and store at room temperature in a large zip-top plastic bag. To reheat, wrap in foil and heat at 350° for 10 minutes.
To freeze shortcakes, cool them completely, place in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag, and freeze up to two months. Thaw at room temperature, then reheat as instructed above.

We are finally getting winter weather this week, but no moisture...just cold. We have been waking up in the 20s and the highs have only reached the mid 30s. Very wierd! Snow showers are forecast for Saturday morning, so we'll see if that materializes. Normally, under our pines, the snowdrops and violets are starting up but with the lack of rain they haven't peeped out yet and I miss them! BUT Alaska has had horrendous snow storms the past few weeks so I guess they hogged all the moisture...not that I'm complaining about that!

Have fun visiting all the tea related blogs and have a great weekend!

The Real Downton Abbey Highclere Castle and Lady Caenarvon

2012-01-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

I just found a fabulous article today in the Telegraph Online about the current Lady Caenarvon, mistress of Highclere Castle which we know and love as Downton Abbey. The article was prompted by Lady Caenarvon's publishing of a book chronicling the history of Heighclere during World War I when it, too, served as a hospital and convalescent home. The story revolves around Almina, the Lady Caenarvon who infused Highlere with a 25 million pound dowry. The article is a wonderful peek into the similarities and dissimilarities between the very real Highclere and the fictional Downton Abbey.

The real Downton Abbey

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Kate's Birthday, Pecan and Cream Cheese Scones

2012-01-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea. I am joining other tea related blog parties, several of whom are listed at the end of the post.

I hope you have had a lovely weekend...we did because of a Sunday night of some wonderful PBS viewing with Jane Austen's Persuasion, then Miss Austen Regrets followed by season 2 of Downton Abbey...which is remembered by a faux pas by a PBS announce last season urging us to support Downtown Abbey!

It's of course a bit late, but to Jan. 9th is Kate Windsor, nee Middleton's 30th birthday.

This photo is, of course from her April 26, 2011 iconic wedding to Prince William. The birthday prompted my teacup choice today from the time of the engagement in November 2010.

Quite fun, English bone china, and holds a decent cuppa. Wonderful memories of an exciting time for our Brit home. We think Kate has done marvelously well. Queen Elizabeth thinks so as well and has begun including Kate as her representative at functions both with Prince William and now on her own. Well done!
For more info on the engagement mug at Antiques And Teacups click on the photos.

I have this so-cute miniature tea info and recipe book. I just found it recently. I have had it since 1992 and love the diminutive size, with the bookmark hanging from a string like a tea bag! The little book is only 3.5 inches high by 3 inches wide called Tea Time and was written by M. Dalton King from Running Press. I wanted to share a scone recipe from the book which is perfect for your tea time:

Pecan & Cream Cheese Scones

2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp salt

3 tbs butter

3 tbs cream cheese

2/3 cup milk

1 egg

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 egg yolk

2 tbs cold water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Sift together the flour sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour ingredients until crumbly.

Beat together the milk and egg. Pour into the dry ingredients, stirring until well blended. Add the chopped pecans and combine well with the dough. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out the dough and place on the baking sheet. *

Beat the egg yolk with the cold water. Using a pastry brush, brush the glaze onto the scones.

Bake 25-30 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot or cold with butter or clotted cream and jam.

* I also make this recipe by patting into a circle on a floured board and cutting into wedges before baking.

Have a wonderful day visiting the other blog parties and have a cuppa tea with a friend!

Ruth ~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea With Friends

Tuesday Afternoon Tea http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

January Hot Tea Month! Heart Shaped Sugar Cubes, Vintage Tea Tin,Tea And Friendship

2012-01-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

January is Hot Tea Month, which is of course a favorite with me! I will be joining Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser and Vintage Thingie Thursday with Colorado Lady.

I can't think of anything more comforting than tea...but then, it has always been a big part of my life. Being from a British family, every morning was started with a cup of tea, although later in my teens, my father switched to coffee because that was what was to be had a work...he was a school administrator and state department consultant for handicapped and exceptional children. My mother began stocking coffee and we got a percolator. But...I never liked coffee and remained a tea drinker.

In Sandy Clough's great book Tea And Friendship, Savoring The Fragrance Of Time Together, there is a great quote, un attributed, which spells out the bonding influence of a cup of tea:

Teapot is on, the cups are waiting,

Favorite chairs are anticipating,

No matter what you have to do,

My Friend, there's always time for you.

Some of my favorite online tea merchants...and I have a pretty British outlook on tea...sorry...it's just who I am...are:

Harney & Sons tea

Twinings Teas

Celestial Seasonings

Bigelow Teas

I got my February 2011 issue of Country Living magazine in the mail yesterday, The White Issue, and was struck by the Heart Of The Country section which includes heart shaped sugar cubes. How cool is that!

The sugar cubes are $4.49 for a 28 ounce bag at parthenonfoods.com. As the article says, it gives you the opportunity to say "One heart, or two?".

Vintage tea tin at Antiques And Teacups, along with lots of tea related stuff! Click on the tea tin photos to visit.

Another tea quote from Bernard-Paul Heroux:

There is no trouble

so great or grave

that cannot be

much diminished by

a nice cup of tea

I'll drink (a cuppa) to that! One heart or two??? Have a great new day!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Fantasy Birds Teacup, Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady for January

2012-01-02T06:03:00.000-08:00

Good morning! And welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea. Grab your favorite cup, current favorite tea and enjoy visiting the wonderful participating blogs and other blog parties seen at the bottom of the post.

I am in a bird mood today. With the Christmas Bird Count just finished here by the Audubon Society and birds in our local news, I chose this wonderful teacup with what are called Fantasy Birds. Why? Because they are really our of an artist's imagination, and not a real bird at all. Really fantastic! The first fantasy birds came from the 16th century drawings of explorers back from foreign shores trying to replicate birds they saw or thought they saw from memory, or from recreating birds they had seen on china from China and Japan.

This particular teacup is by Queens China, England that was made in the 1960s. I love the turquoise color as well! I'd love to find one of those birds in my back yard! For more about the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I wanted to start out 2012 with a favorite book...and it has birds on the cover as well! Edith Holden's Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady is a perennial favorite...a book I return to again and again.

The colorful birds are Blue Tits, Cole Tit and Great Tit...which reminds me, I have an Emma Bridgewater mug from her Birds line:

The leaves are identified as Elm, Oak, Beech, Chestnut and Sycamore.

Mottoes:

"Janiveer freeze the pot upon the fire"

"If the grass do grow in Janiveer, It grows the worse for it all the year."

"A wet January, a wet spring"

"The blackest month of all the year, is the month of Janiveer"

From our local newspaper, The Peninsula Daily News, there was an article about an influx of infrequent visitors to our area from the arctic...Snowy Owls. The Owls have up to a 52 inch wing span (!) which I can't even imagine! They come every 5-10 years during certain fluctuations in the lemming population in Alaska. Who knew???

Photo from the newspaper by a local photographer. To read the article click on the photo.

So from this bird brain...a happy Tuesday among the birds and teacups and tea related blogs below. I am trying a different linky which I hope will work for me. Got an iphone 2 days ago & am still figuring it out...ahhh technology for the techie challenged!

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Pam~ http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Wanda Lee~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Happy New Year! 2012...Can you Believe it! Antique New Year Postcard

2012-01-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

And a Happy New Year to you all! 2012...amazing isn't it??? Hope you had a lovely New Year's Eve. Ours was quiet, finished by prayer together for God's blessing, presence and provision for the year to come...something we do every New Year's Eve.

This is my favorite New Year antique postcard, and I saved it for today. It's not really incredible, but I love the tactile features which probably don't photograph well. The words Happy New year are made of little flowers that have been overlaid with metallic multicolor glitter...some of which was silver and has tarnished. But it is quite 3 dimensional and still sparkly!

The card is quite old, prior to the divided back and was postmarked Dec. 30, 1906 from Easton, PA to Buffalo, NY. I love the little hand written greeting at the bottom of the front of the card. For more info on this or other antique postcards at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

This is a photo of the fireworks last night in London, England. The Time Was Antiques Family blog has posted a video of the London fireworks, including Big Ben being used as a launch pad...cool!...so click the fireworks photo above if you would like to see that. I would have loved to have been there!

Have a great day...the first of 2012!

A Happy New Year To You All! Antique New Year Postcard

2011-12-31T16:20:00.000-08:00

And the best of good wished to you all for a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! Here is our second to last antique New Year postcard...I will post my favorite tomorrow!

This embossed divide back postcard has one of my beloved vignettes...this of a snow scene with a Norman style church with a holly frame. It is difficult to see, but there are gold metallic words A Happy New Year.

The card was postmarked for Dec. 31, 1913 from Milton, NH to Razor Falls, Maine. Written in pencil, it is a reminder of the time when the postmaster or postmistress knew everyone. The address has only the name and city...nothing else. Now that is a time long ago and faraway for most of us!

To see this or other antique postcards at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

Have a lovely evening, don't forget to be thankful for the blessings of the past year as we look forward to the blessings and challenges of 2012.

Happy New Year!

Dec. 30th Antique New Year Postcard, Winter at Prince Edward Island from Coastal Living

2011-12-30T06:15:00.000-08:00

Goodness but it's getting close! Today is Friday Dec. 30th...amazing! Pouring here, but it is the Pacific Northwest! Here is my antique New Year postcard for today:

This is a card with few words that communicates so well. Peace for your New Year. The card was postmarked for Boston, NY for Dec. 30, 1913 and mailed to Hamburg, NY. I love the snow scene with the deer. Sigh...so lovely!

Any big plans for the weekend or for Friday night? We will be staying in out of the rain today...was at Costco to change cell carriers yesterday...that's always a challenging prospect...to make the right decision!

For more info on the antique postcard at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photo.

I have several blog friends from Prince Edward Island in Canada and came across a great photo essay of that gorgeous place from Coastal Living magazine that I thought you might be interested in. There is also a blog post on Time Was Antiques Family blog which includes a review of an English cozy mystery called Murder At Sandringham House written by an author from Prince Edward Island from a great series. Too fun!

More photos from the article:

Have a wonderful day, savor the end of the year, and have a cuppa tea with a friend!

Thursday Teacups And Tea Things, Hunting Scenes Teacup and Antique New Year Postcard

2011-12-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

Things have been a bit disorganized this week with the holidays, visitors and a bit of hookey! So I am late with my post for Thursday Teacups And Tea Things. I am joining Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser and Vintage Thingie Thursday with Coloradolady.

I chose this teacup, English Hunting Scenes by Royal Winton Grimwades, England because the week after Christmas, especially Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, is a famous week for lots of fox hunts around England and lots of traveling! This cup and saucer has a luster finish and has the hunt on the saucer and coaches on the cup. Cute! Am I glad we don't have to travel in coaches! A hard, cold, uncomfortable as well as drawn out and down right dangerous way to travel!

And our antique New Year postcard today is an embossed one with lots of gold metallic on it that was postmarked for Dec. 30th, 1912 at Grand Central Station, New York and sent to Buffalo, New York. The poem says:

Compliments of Jan.1st

I wish for you dear

Friend, Good Fortune

through the year attend

To see either the teacup or postcard at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos. I hope you have a lovely day today visiting the blogs, teacups and thingies...and have a cupp of tea with a friend!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Aynsley Teacup, Antique New Year Postcard, New Year Tables, Roast Beef Bites

2011-12-26T18:03:00.000-08:00

I hope you all are having wonderful times with family and friends for the holidays. If you haven't seen it, my previous post has the annual Christmas broadcast video from Sandgringham by Queen Elizabeth II which is outstanding! It is Tuesday for Tuesday Cuppa Tea and I will be joining the blog parties listed below as well.

This is a gorgeous Aynsley, England teacup with a beautiful gold lace interior pattern. I love the color! It just somehow looks like the perfect thing to ring in the New Year with. The cup and saucer dates to the 1960s. I love it!

I have had a lot of cups of holiday tea the last few weeks...I do love the seasonal flavors!

I have been sharing antique Christmas postcards and will share antique New Year cards this week. Todays is an art nouveau design from 1910.

The poem is charming:

You see not a

step before you tread

on another year

But what looks dark

in the distance

Will brighten as

you draw near.

Definitely a heartening sentiment! The card was postmarked from Marion, Ohio to Prospect, Ohio on Dec. 31, 1910. I love the design!

To see more about either the teacup or postcard at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

With the New Year approaching, I found these neat design ideas in the Cottage Journal from Hoffman Media:

The cottage journal also had a great appetizer recipe for New Year's Eve which I think I'll be making:

ROAST BEEF AND POTATO BITES
Makes 2 dozen

24 thin slices Yukon Gold potatoes (about 3 potatoes)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (4-ounce) package blue cheese crumbles
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1/2 pound thinly sliced roast beef
Garnish: fresh chives, paprika

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, combine potatoes and olive oil, tossing to coat. Place potato slices in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, turn over, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until crisp.
3. In a small bowl, combine sour cream, blue cheese, chives, horseradish, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
4. To assemble, spoon about 1 teaspoon sour cream mixture on each potato slice. Top with roast beef and an additional 1/2 teaspoon sour cream mixture. Garnish with chives and paprika, if desired.

I think that sounds delicious! So...what's on your menu????

Our Christmas was lovely with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services at church, goodies, presents, cards and calls to and from friends. Last evening we had a Downton Abbey PBS marathon and watched all od season 1 again with Season 2 to look forward to on Jan 8th. We are looking forward to that.

This is the Christmas card we received from our son and daughter in law:

Have a great day visiting the other blog parties, some of which are listed below:

Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~  http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Pam~  http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday
Wanda Lee~  http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday

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The Queen's Christmas Message from Sandringham

2011-12-25T09:47:00.001-08:00

I just had to share this outstanding message from Queen Elizabeth II from Sandringham. We love to listen each year, but this one was truly wonderful. Especially as Prince Philip is still in hospital after heart surgery on Friday.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

Happy

Birthday

Jesus!

Pink Saturday, Pink Ornament and Nativity With a visit From Snowmen, Antique Christmas Postcard

2011-12-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

And a very Happy Pink Saturday with How Sweet The Sound and a most happy Christmas Eve!

First...my pink!

This is a West German mouth blown and hand decorated Christmas ornament from the 1960s.

This is a pink Nativity scene from Cintli at Pike's Place Market in Seattle

This is another charming pink Nativity that I found on Google photos.

This is another of my snowman collection made for me by a girlfriend several years ago. I just LOVE him!

And so he doesn't get lonely, a Debbie Mumm snowman mug from a few years ago. I think he is charming...and he holds a great amount of hot chocolate!

And lastly, my antique Christmas postcard for today. As I live at the coast, I like the sailing ship vignette.

This is embossed postcard was postmarked Dec. 24, 1913 from Winter Harbor, Maine to Dryden, Maine and has the English greeting A Happy Christmas To You and the poem:

May friendly winds

the sails

fill fair and free,

To speed Good Fortunes

Argosy to Thee

Have a wonderful day visiting the Pink Saturday blogs and a special Christmas Eve. We are out to dinner at a local restaurant and then the annual candle light Christmas Eve service at our church. We just love that special time together celebrating the Lord's birth.

And to all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thursday Teacups and Tea Things, Christmas Teacup, Teapot and More

2011-12-21T20:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Thursday Teacups and Tea Things with Time Was Antiques...the last one before Christmas. I am also joining Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser and Vintage Thingie Thursday with Coloradolady. Today is the Winter solstice...shortest day of the year. But tomorrow will be a little longer! It's also Hannukah, which is the Feast of Lights. A perfect thing for the season!

To light the darkness, my vintage teacup today has a design of lighted candles and holly and the good wishes of Merry Christmas. The teacup was made in Japan in the 1960s. I love the design...I'm a sucker for Christmas china and love greenery and candles!

To go with the greenery theme is a teapot shaped teabag caddy made at the end of the life of Royal Patrician, England in 2009. I love the poinsettia design. I am echoing the poinsettia theme with my antique Christmas postcard for today:

The embossed postcard has a great design of poinsettias, a poem and a bit of illuminated manuscript thrown in. The poem says:

To Greet you with

all Kind Thoughts

This Christmas

And may True

Friendship be

ever Thine

The card wasn't postally used but was used as a greeting card or gift enclosure but from the card itself, handwriting and the group it came with, dates to around 1908-1910. I think it is lovely!

And on a more contemporary note, I found this coffeepot or tall teapot with a holly plaid design and the scripture from Isaiah 9:6

For unto Us a Child is born;

Unto us a Son is born

For info on any of the items shown at Antiques And Teacups, just click on the photos.

So to everyone, Happy Thursday Teacups And Tea Things, and Merry Christmas!

And What To My Wondering Eyes Should Appear....My gift fr Tea With Friends, And Dec. 20th Antique Christmas Postcard

2011-12-20T21:24:00.001-08:00

Well!!! I got a surprise package today...the gift I won from Angela McRae at Tea With Friends arrived! It's the first time I have ever won anything!

There was the cutest little printed canvas tote bag with a lovely teapot filled with flowers in Christmas colors and a darling card in a design of a Cottageware teapot with a teabag of English Breakfast tea stuck inside and a sweet note.

Inside the little tote were all sorts of different holiday themed tea, including Christ,as black tea from Twinings, Rooibos Sleigh Ride, Rooibos Savory Holiday, and Republic of Tea Holiday Spiced Plum. How wonderful!

So, bet you can guess what I did next...after photographing, I opened a packet of the Twinings Christmas tea...well, it WAS afternoon teatime...and had a lovely cup in my Christmas robin mug with 2 orange currant scones on my Royal Doulton Rosebud (NO! NOT hand painted periwinkles) china. Lovely!

Thanks again Angela, for the lovely pressie! It will be well appreciated...every sip!

And here is the antique Christmas postcard for today, Dec. 20th.

This embossed Christmas postcard is postmarked Dec. 24, 1909 to and from St. Louis, MO. The card has a neat framed scene or vignette with a river and trees at sunset and the metallic gold words

Christmas

With the best

of good wishes

I certainly echo that sentiment...no matter where you are!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Christmas Tree Tea Items, Antique Christmas Postcard, Victoria's A Woman's Christmas

2011-12-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

There is so much to share here for Tuesday Cuppa Tea as we continue to celebrate the Season of Christmas! I'm joining the blog parties at the bottom of the post.

I've decorated our corner fireplace mantle...here during the day then lit at night...and have baked, and gone to Christmas parties...and a bit behind on the cards! Sigh...

As I am typing, I am sipping a Stash Tea Black Chai tea, after just finishing a chocolate orange scone. One must have sustenance, musn't one???

I thought this was a neat pattern for today. The mug is a Dansk product in a pattern called Nordic Holiday and was made in Portugal. That's different! I thought the Christmas tree was so pretty. And I also found this unmarked large porcelain teapot with a Christmas tree design which coordinates nicely!

I think this is such a festive and welcoming pattern for the holidays! Warms the heart while the tea warms the tummy!

To see more about the Christmas tree mug or teapot at Antiques And Teacups, just click on the photos.

Our antique Christmas postcard has a lovely poem.

The postcard reminds me of an illuminated manuscript and says:

Blessings Bright as dew from heaven fall upon your way,

Life's best gifts be you given, this glad Christmas Day

The postcard was postmarked on Dec. 23, 1909 from Foxboro, Mass to Hopedale, Mass. I think it is neat that the card has a hand written greeting in pencil at the bottom of the front. I do love old postcards! The speak of the times they represent so charmingly!

I dearly love Victoria magazine books, and this is one of the first I acquired called A Woman's Christmas. The subtitle is returning to the Gentle Joys of the Season. The book is filled with spaces for record keeping, diary entries as well as wonderful sections of how-tos, recipes and Christmas tradition lore.

The book is divided into r sections: Cheer, Comfort, Joy and Grace. How fitting!

I treasure my Victoria books and have them constantly at hand in the lead up to and during the Christmas season for joy, inspiration and relaxation.

Have a wonderful time visiting all the blog parties and wonderful blogs, among whom some are listed below.

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday
Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Dec. 17-18th Antique Christmas Postcard, Gingerbread Butter

2011-12-17T22:17:00.000-08:00

Hi there! This is my antique Christmas postcard, but I am combining for Sat. & Sun. Dec. 17th & 18th. A bit too bust around here! Lots of last minute orders this week that sem to have tailed off, which in a way is nice because we had Christmas parties at friends' homes last night and this afternoon, and tomorrow we go after church to a matinee of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Key City Public Theater in Port Townsend, about 30 miles away. They are a semi professional company and do a great job. We always attend as many seasonal productions as we can. The book was really funny, so we are looking forward to that.

I love any color as long as it's blue...so this is another personal favorite. I love the blue cornflowers and the embossed metallic gold frame around the vignette. This postcard was mailed on Dec. 16th, 1909 from Somersworth to Farmingham, New Hampshire. The card has the simple Christmas Greetings. The vignette is charming. It was sent by a woman of few words...just the printed greeting...but she obviously had great taste!

To see this or other antique postcards at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

I came across this recipe for Gingerbread Butter and cut it out...but forgot to record where I got it! It's either Country Living or Sunset magazines. Sheesh! Anyway, a great and easy way to add seasonal taste to your tea time. I tried it...very good! I had some plain scones, so....

Gingerbread Butter

· 1/2 cup pecan halves

· 1 cup butter, softened

· 1/4 cup honey

· 1 to 2 tablespoons molasses

· 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

· 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spread pecans on a sheet pan, and bake 6 to 7 minutes or until toasted. Cool.

2. 2. Process pecans in a food processor until coarsely ground. Add butter and next 4 ingredients; pulse until blended. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

3. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.

Can't get much simpler than that!

I am looking forward to church tomorrow...this time of year is especially festive and meaningful as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Pink Saturday, Royal Albert American Beauty, Pink Decorations

2011-12-16T17:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Pink Saturday with How Sweet the Sound. A chance to go overboard loving pink!

I want to share a very pink teacup, and then some pink decorations from my home and from Country Living magazine that I like.

I just love this teacup...it is PINK! The pattern is called American Beauty and was made by Royal Albert, England in the 1940s. You can dive into that pink, can't you!!!!! For more on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

And here are a few pinks among my Christmas decorations:

One of a whole bunch of Victorian lace fans I made one year when we were living in an 1879 Victorian home in Redding, California. I trimmed them with ribbon and roses. The other is a mouth blown glass ornament with gold plated metal and gold braid made in the 1980s in West Germany.

A manger scene on a dining room server. We have had this for about 25 years, but it always has a place of honor. Pink on Joseph is interesting....

Now these are from Country Living, from a page sent to me on an email as I am a subscriber. These were my favorites. Great decorating ideas and just eye candy for Christmas!

This was a great wreath made out of mother of pearl buttons! I loved that idea!

How about Christmas stockings made from stiffened dressmaking patterns???

And for a white and recycling Christmas, a wreath made entirely of old newspapers!

Then there is the luxe look of combining all sorts of vintage mercury ornaments on a tray in a silver bowl.

I love the simple pinecone wreath being framed...suddenly a fine art statement!

A definte favorite because I love red...or as it's also called...pink transferware setting the scene for a vintage Christmas with panache!

Using a fancy silver serving tray as a table centerpiece with just a few chromatic ornaments.

Making room on the shelves for a Christmas statement with green wreaths among the winter palette.

What a great idea for the knitters out there!

Another silver utilization with vintage balls, beads and sparkles!

And lastly...a pink Christmas with pink flowers, bows and table accents.

Have a great time visiting the other Pink Saturday posts. It is so much fun!

Dec. 16th Free Shipping Friday, Antique Christmas Postcard, I Won! Dough Mice OrnamentsG

2011-12-16T10:55:00.000-08:00

Good morning and happy December 16th. In the retail world, it's Free Shipping Friday and Antiques And Teacups has joined the train. Coupon CYBER2011 for free shipping on all US orders over $30.00.

And here is our antique Christmas postcard for Dec. 16th:

The postmark is illegible, but it's from between 1900-1910. The embossed postcard was mailed from Milton, New Hampshire and sent to someone in town. No other address needed but the name! How's that for a small town! The card features ivy which was a symbol from the Victorian Language Of The Flowers of undying love and loyalty...constancy. The poem says

A little spray of ivy

Let this message bring,

That happiness for all time

To you will ever cling.

Wishing you a Merry Xmas

I love the antique postcards for the tales they tell of a past age...a part of our heritage and cultural background. Neat! For more antique postcards, click on the photos.

And some exciting (to me!) news...I won a giveaway! I have NEVER won anything before! Thank you to Angela at Tea With Friends!!! It wond a little Christmas tote of seasonal teas. I can hardly wait!!!!

I wanted to show you these little guys on my tree. About 20 years ago I got them from the artist at a craft market in Ashland, Oregon and have treasured them since. Aren't they cure? There's a little guy with his toy train and the other cutie with his paws behind his back. They are carefully placed in a box in the closet. They are beginning to disintegrate a bit, but I lOVE them!

And lastly, a couple of photos from Country living with some ideas for your Christmas tables that I thought were easy & cute!

What a simple centerpiece using the ubiquitous glass pedestal bowls we all have hanging around in the closets! And as a colorful statement of Christmas cheer!

I loved this...either use a dresser plateau, a mirrored tile or anything reflective to double the power of simple Christmas ornament sparkle for any table. So simple...even for those of us who are design genius challenged!

Have a wonderful day glowing with the season and don't forget to have a cup of tea with a friend!

Thursday Teacups and Tea Things, Message Mug, Navitiy Ornament, Antique Christmas Postcard

2011-12-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

Can it be this close to Christmas already? The Christmas CDs are on and there are all sorts of goodie around to much with tea later. I'll be baking for friends next week. Today I am joining Thursday Teacups And Tea Things, Vintage Thingie Thursday and Teacup Thursday.

My teacup to day is a tea mug from the 1980s that comes out every year to remind me about the simple reason for the season.

I have a large round cookie plate to match. Accompanied us yesterday to a Christmas party filled with Black Eyed Susan shortbread, and I forgot to take photos! Duh.....

On my mantle I have this little ornament from the 1980s as well with the nativity in a glass ball that is etched with the map of the world.

I can't remember who gave it to me, but it is one of those favorite pieces that is packed carefully away every year. I'm sure you have many of those as well. When you open the box and lift it out it brings a smile to your face and warm memories of past Christmases and absent friends.

My antique Christmas postcard for Dec. 15th.

I love the framed vignettes, and this is such a lovely snowscene. This embossed postcard is postmarked for Dec. 24, 1909 and is to and from Cambridge, Mass. I love the holly. Look at the lovely copperplate hand writing! I sure wish I could write that beautifully. Really a work of art!

For more info on this or other antique postcards at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.

From the Cottage Journal by Hoffman Media

Have a wonderful day visiting the other blog parties, and have a cup of tea and a Christmas cookie with a friend!

Dec. 13th Antique Christmas Postcard, Country Christmas Cross Stitch with Canada Geese

2011-12-13T21:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Dec. 13th...I hope you have had a joyous day! It has been cool but fun getting things ready for a Christmas party we are attending tomorrow for my husband's Parkinson's Disease support group.

The antique Christmas postcard for today is one of my all time favorites. German made, it is of a thick, felted embossed texture with hand coloring it is so cool!

The card was not postmarked or stamped but was either hand delivered in Sparta, Michigan or used as a card with a gift. The design of the card dates it to around 1910. I love the vignette of the church with the holly and bells. A simple message, A Merry Christmas. A wonderful card!
To see more of this or other antique postcards at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photo.

And this is another Christmas Cross stitch I did that lives in the closet and comes out this time of year. This was in my country decorating days in the 1990s when we lived at a lake with Canada geese all around. There are lots of metallic blending filaments, but they don't show up well.

Have a wonderful day and enjoy the season!

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Gingerbread Christmas Tea, Antique Postcard and more!

2011-12-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

Whow...but there's a lot to do in blogland today! How fun! It's Tuesday Cuppa Tea here, and I am joining 3 wonderful blogs for Gingerbread Christmas Tea and other great blog parties, some of which are listed at the end of the post.

My teacup today is my favorite Christmas mug made by Dunoon, England. We carried the whole set of 3 mugs in a set called Season't Greetings last year, but sold out the cheeky little English robin first...but not before I bought 2 from stock for us. I absolutely love this little guy! To many in England, this is the quintessential Christmas card to receive! So...he lives in the back of the cupboard until Thanksgiving where he makes his annual holiday appearance until he goes back into hiding! We do have some of the Santa mugs left at Antiques And Teacups, but I'll share that one another day.

I would like to share another of my Christmas cross stitches. In 2000, I made a set of 12 of these cute little cat angel ornaments, but gave all but these 3 away as Christmas gifts. They were done on paper canvas, cut out around the cross stitched design and I backed them with shiny red metallic paper.

I have spent a lot of time in my Christmas books the last few weeks, and this was no exception.

This is a wonderful Victoria magazine annual Christmas With Victoria Volume VI hardback book from 2002. I just love these books!

And a favorite recipe is from this volume...Cranberry Shortbread. I have often made it since getting this volume, and often at Christmas make it for gifts for the neighbors. In fact, I have received a hint from one a week ago asking if I was planning to make it again this year!

And for our Dec. 12th antique Christmas post card....

This embossed divided back postcard with a vignette is a bit unusual. The vignette is not the usual snowscene...sort of a fall landscape. But what intrigues me...is what does the shape represent that holds the message A Merry Xmas? I can't figure that one out. The postcard is postmarked for Dec. 19th, 1911 in Cambridge, Maine going to Dexter, Maine. Fun , anyway!

And here are some of the other Tuesday tea related blog parties I am joining. And don't forget the Gingerbread tea!

Martha~ http://www.marthasfavorites.com/
Teacup Tuesday
Terri~ http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~ http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~ http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi ~ http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~ http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Ruth ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea