Thrifted Tuscan Tray and Great Buys At One King Lane

Lately my visits to local thrift stores have paid off quite nicely. I’ve found some great buys on home décor and tea items. I’m sharing one of these items for Show and Tell Friday at Cindy’s My Romantic Home.
This large tray is a dark red color and is a good size – it is 18 inches across both ways. The handles make it easy to carry. I saw it on top of a box full of items, and asked the clerk the price. Her answer, $3.00!

Flipping it over, I read the label which said, "Made in Italy." At home I saw that it was imprinted on the back with the word "Lenox." The little pasted-on printed tag states, "Winter Garden/ Wood Round tray/ Made in Italy" and the manufacturer’s price $86.00!

I like the subtle red which makes it useful at Christmas time as well as other times of the year. The design has a Tuscan style, a very appealing and popular decorative trend nowadays. It makes me want to look at décor books celebrating the flair evocative of that region. Also, lately I’ve been finding many sources for online bargains for books I love to add to my personal library. Books like Villas of Tuscany, a photo-filled survey of beautiful homes in that region of Italy.

The latest such source is One Kings Lane, which one can join for free and then enjoy the daily and weekly bargains. For example, today Friday September 30, 2011, a nice selection of coffee table books from Abrams publishing house are being offered. The prices are all marked down from the original.

Here are just a few that caught my eye:

Take a look at One Kings Lane and you may find a book, decorative accessory, or home furnishing that fits your taste and pocketbook.

Also linking to Flaunt It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating.

Addition to Blue and White Teacup Collection

I haven’t been acquiring many blue and white teacups lately since my display storage is chock full. There just hasn’t been time to work on re-arranging the hutch for a more attractive display and maybe room for just one or two more cups and saucers.

The vintage teacup I’m sharing today is white with a cobalt blue and light blue pattern embellished with gold trim.

The mark is in green -- a W topped by a crown. I have no idea what the name of the maker might be. If anyone knows or has a guess, I would appreciate hearing from you.

UPDATE! Blogger Johanna from Germany has informed me that "The mark is German from Heinrich Winterling in Marktleuthen." She also provided the URL for the manufacturer's marks: http://www.porzellan-indischblau.de/marken/winterling1.htm

Thank you, Johanna. If you've not visited her blog, Silber + Rosen [Silver and Roses], you must do so. I spent over an hour perusing her blog and book website, and bookmarked several posts to return with comments.

The inside of the cup has the same pattern as the saucer



The sides of the cup is gently sculpted and has gilt decoration.

The foot of the cup is curved white with four gilt stripes.

The cup handle has gentle curves harmonizing with the overall design;

I am quite delighted to add this set to my blue and white teacup collection!

I am linking today’s post to:

Blue Monday at Smiling Sally.

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.

Teapot And Tea Things Tuesday with Wanda Lee and Pam at The Silken Purse.

Tea Party Tuesday at Sweetology.

Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Change Accomplished and Dessert Setting for Mother 93rd Birthday

In my September 4 post I indicated that a great Craigslist find yielded and in-progress change. Well this past week I was able to complete that change.

The Drawer Chest was moved from the living room and is now in the dining room and is stocked with flatware and linens. I at last have a server in the dining room, plus easy access to table setting items. The two small top drawers hold sets of napkin rings:



The next drawer holds three sets of flatware:

Next is napkin storage.

And finally, the bottom drawer holds placemats. I still need to arrange these drawers so they are much neater!


The display on top of the drawer chest complements the dessert table setting for my mother’s 93rd birthday held at my house on Sunday. We ate at her favorite restaurant, then returned to my home for cake and ice cream. The Royal Albert “Lady Carlyle” teapot, sugar and creamer take center stage, while the teacups and saucers are displayed on a wire teacup stand.

The flowers are Rose of Sharon and Sedum Autumn Joy from my garden.

As you may recall, this tablesetting incorporates the china and linens from my pink tea setting on the living room coffee table shown here. My mother loves to wear pink on her birthday as well as Mother’s Day and she had on a lovely outfit in shades of pink. The setting turned out very dainty, as I used silver plate chargers and candlesticks with deep pink candles, gilt-edged flatware, Lenox "Autumn" goblets, and pinkish green hydrangeas from the garden.



The cake (which got smushed while transported in the car) was placed on a ruffled-edge Princess House Crystal cake stand. It was nice to have the drawer chest nearby so I did not have to keep it on the table once it was sliced.

Visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more Metamorphosis Monday posts and for Tablescape Thursday. I am also linking to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home with hostess Cindy.

Lady Carlyle Teacup Variants

In my previous post the tea setting utilized Royal Worcester "Lady Carlyle" pattern porcelain. When I was collecting pieces in this set I noticed that not all my teacups and saucers were the same. Actually there were two interpretations of the Lady Carlyle pattern. A bit of online research and I found the names of the two variants.

The cup with the decorative band on the outside is in the "Malvern" shape, while the band on the outside is the "Avon" shape.

Which do you prefer – the Malvern or the Avon??

I am linking to Tea Cup Tuesday, co-hosted by Martha at Martha’s Favorites and Terri at Artful Affirmations. Visit them for more lovely tea cups!

Pink and Roses Tea Setting

Outside it is wet, wet, wet. I so wish I could use some pretty pink Rose of Sharon blossoms for todays tablescape, but it is really, really soggy outside.

Today’s setting was inspired yesterday as I ironed a set of pink and white place mats with matching doilies. They were an Ebay find from a couple years back. As soon as they arrived I soaked and washed them; but they remained unpressed in a drawer till I took them out yesterday.

They are handmade of pink cotton or linen with white tape lace in the Battenburg style. I thought such dainty linens needed some pretty pink china and settled on Royal Albert “Lady Carlyle.” I am using the teapot, creamer and sugar, cake plate, dessert and bread & butter plates, cups and saucers.

The living room coffee table is just large enough for this afternoon tea setting for two.

The place settings have a dessert plate topped by a doily, then by a bread and butter plate.


The dessert forks and teaspoons are from a gold set with embossed floral pattern, A pale pink napkin is held in a cherub napkin ring.

The teapot rests on a round pierced brass stand topped by another doily.

Note that both the linen and china are adorned with roses. There are tiny crocheted white roses as the center of the floral decoration around the edge of the placemats and doilies.
An off-white compote is for sweet treats, while the cake plate is for savories.


Accents include a tiny white procelain teapot with a pink bow:

Also, a porcelain ball decorated in white and pink:


Isn't this a pretty setting for a damp, wet day?





I am glad to join Tablescape Thursday again this week. Visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more Tablescape Thursday posts.


I just learned about Teacup Thursday at Miss Spenser’s Blog. (Related to Miss Spenser’s Special Teas, a tearoom in of Des Moines, Iowa.) I’ll link to that event, as well as Tea Cup Tuesday, co-hosted by Martha at Martha’s Favorites and Terri at Artful Affirmations.