Holly Motif on Holiday Dishes

The teacup for this week is the vintage "Holly" by Lefton.



Stickers on bottom of saucer and cup read Lepton and Japan


The holly motif is sculpted on the cup and saucer


The Lefton “Holly” pattern has many pieces, from plates to candleholders. This includes reindeer as seen below. A matching sleigh is also available.


If you would like to survey various holiday china patterns available now, here is a nice online review of china with a holly berry motif:
http://www.squidoo.com/christmas-holly-china#module68813781

The Christmas book for today is The Holly and the Ivy: A Celebration of Christmas by Barbara Segall. Clarkson Potter Publishers, 1991. The book is filled with historical tidbits about various Christmas customs, including the use of holly and ivy in holiday decorations.

The front cover has shiny lettering and little prints that look like stickers. There is also a real tartan ribbon wrapped around the front edge of the book.




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.

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

Tea Party Tuesday hosted by Trisha at Sweetology.

Embrace The Season Christmas Tea
hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Tuesday Cuppa Teahosted by Ruth
at Antiques and Teacups.

Teacup Thursday at Miss Spenser’s Blog.

Flaunt It Fridayhosted by Kate at Chic on a Shoestring.

Holiday Teacup

The teacup I’m sharing this week is in the Lenox "Holiday" pattern, which is my formal Christmas china. The design features green holly leaves with red berries on an ivory porcelain base. This pattern came out in 1974 and it has become a perennial favorite among traditional designs.

The inspirational holiday book is A Christmas Wish by Dee Appel, with art by Gay Talbott Boassy. (c)2001

This book is part of the series Tiny Tea, published by Blue Cottage Gifts, a devision of Multnomah Publishers, Inc. in Sisters, Oregon. Note the holly decoration on the cup and in the greenery.

The small gift book consists of a lovely poem expressing joy in the season and wishing friends warmth and love. The book ends with this wonderful quotation:

“I have not stopped
giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.”
Ephesians 1:16 NIV

May we each think often of our friends and loved ones during this festive season. And may we be ever in prayer for God’s blessing in their lives.

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.

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

Embrace The Season Christmas Tea hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Tuesday Cuppa Teahosted by Ruth
at Antiques and Teacups.

Teacup Thursday at Miss Spenser’s Blog.

Flaunt It Fridayhosted by Kate at Chic on a Shoestring.

A New Tree for Teacups

I have been gathering a number of ornaments, which are suitable for a tea-themed tree. On Black Friday I ordered an artificial pre-lit pine tree from Kohls.com. While awaiting its arrival in the mail, I decided to do a test-run using one of two small faux trees I have. Alas, the tree is too flimsy to bear the weight of the ornaments, which are mostly ceramic. I had to put it up against the hutch so it would not tip over! Nevertheless, it still gives me a dry run for decorating my new tea tree.

The tree is set in a silver urn, with two doilies wrapped around it to help keep it upright. I also placed three teacup-shaped tea bag rests around the bottom of the tree to help prop it up.

To add sparkle I decided to use some Princess House crystal angel ornaments and a tiny spun glass tree. The tea tree is in the Kitchen, which is decorated in a Christmas tree theme.

I am also using small-scale teacups such as this one by Royal Copenhagen:

I have a variety of additional tea ornaments to add. There is the Spode "Christmas Tree" which was a must-have since that is one of my Christmas dish patterns.

Then there is a teapot and cup and saucer in the Lenox "Holiday" pattern, my more formal holiday china.

I will also include a silverplate tea spoon with figural teapot handle, and a gilt tea spoon with figural teapot handle.
To add to the sparkle, I am also thinking of adding a couple teardrop ornaments from JoAnn from Santa’s Workshop, and a few crystal prisms:


I will also be decorating the tree with a dozen small glass balls, found at a local consignment shop. They are clear glass with iridescent finish.


For the treetop, I’ve selected a vintage angel tree topper. The wings and halo are sparked with glitter. The bottom of her robe is banded in white cotton. The body is white plastic and glows when a light is inserted.

I’m looking forward to receiving my tree so I can set up my tea-themed tree. Have you ever done a tree with teacups and teapots as the theme?

I am linking today’s post to:
Deck the Hall Sunday, hosted by Terri at Artful Affirmations
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 and at Breath of Fresh Air.
Tea Party Tuesday hosted by Trisha at Sweetology.
Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.
Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth at Antiques and Teacups.

Flaunt It Friday hosted by Kate at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating.

Show and Tell Friday hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home.

Home for the Holidays hosted on Fridays by Carrie at The Corson Cottage

ERII Commemoratives, Part 2

As the bath is en suite with the bedroom, where I have light blue Wedgewood jasperware collection on display, I also carried on the Wedgwood into the bath. There they are as part of my Royal Rose Collection in honor of Diana Princess of Wales.

Just inside the door is a display in honor of Queen Elizabeth II which I shared here.
On the opposite wall from that is another Wedgwood item relating to the Queen. The top plate depicts a cameo of the Queen, while the bottom one is of London.

The adjacent wall also has another Wedgwood plate, this one depicting cupids. The plate above is a Lladro from Spain.
First is the light blue and white Wedgwood jasperware silver jubilee plate. The inscription is “1952 Silver Jubilee 1977/ Queen Elizabeth II.”

The London plate is decorated with famous landmark buildings all around the plate. Right at the top center is Buckingham Palace, London residence of the Queen:


I am linking to the following weekly events. Please visit these hostesses for more posts:
Show and Tell Friday at Cindy’s My Romantic Home.

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

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.