Christmas Teas and Tea Cup

With the Christmas holidays getting nearer and nearer, I thought I’d share one of the inspirational books that I reach for during the Christmas season. There are so many colorful books with photos and ideas to make your celebration beautiful and meaningful. On such book is The Twelve Teas of Christmas: Sharing the Season With Those You Love by Emilie Barnes.


The book is illustrated with lovely paintings by Sandy Lynam Clough. The cover illustration shows a tea setting in Sandy’s richly detailed, elegant style, with china, linen, candles, and cookies.

The twelve teas each celebrates a different theme which contributes to the wonder and richness of the Christmas season – friendship, family, joy, warmth, sharing, merriment, peace, Dreams, tradition, giving creation, and stillness. Each of the twelve chapters presents suggestions for menus with recipes, décor ideas, organization and homekeeping tasks, along with tidbits of history, customs and lore about tea and Christmas.
The teacup I’m sharing this week is another$3.00 thrift store bargain. It is Royal Albert white bone china decorated with holly leaves, the "Yuletide" pattern.

As with other Royal Albert patterns this teacup has a graceful shape, including a lovely handle.

The saucer’s rim is gently curved and edged in gilt, following the same lines of the cup rim.

Together cup and saucer make a lovely set. Don’t you just enjoy Royal Albert? It always provides distinction for our settings, and this is especially wonderful during the Christmastide.

I am linking today’s post to:

Tea Cup Tuesday, is co-hosted by Martha at Martha’s Favorites and Terri at Artful Affirmations.

Tea For Two Tuesday at the Plumed Pen with Wanda Lee.

Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday with Wanda Lee and Pam at The Silken Purse and at Breath of Fresh Air.

Tea Party Tuesday at Sweetology.

Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Teacup Thursday at Miss Spenser’s Blog.

Thrifty Thursday with Leigh at Tales From Bloggeritaville.