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

A Cup of Christmas Tea & A Memory of Christmas Tea

This week I’d again like to share one of the inspirational books that I reach for during the Christmas season. A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg, illustrated by Warren Hanson. Waldman House Press Inc. c1982.

According to Publishers Weekly "in its first edition, published in 1982, the book sold more than 1.5 million copies."

The mini version is an ornament book 3 ½ inches tall by 2 5/8 inches wide, with gilt cord for hanging and red ribbon bookmark.

The sequel was published some years later:
A Memory of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg, illustrated by Warren Hanson. Waldman House Press Inc. c1999.

These two books are available in gift book edition, edition with both titles together, ans also in Audiobook on CD as well as Audiobook on cassette.

Other lovely merchandise based on the lovely teacup theme has followed:
"A Cup of Christmas Tea" Regular Size Teacup

"A Cup of Christmas Tea" is written inside the bone china cup and saucer and it is decorated with holly, and trimmed in gold.


The bottom of the cup and the saucer read: "A Cup of Christmas Tea copyright 1995 Waldman House Press, Inc. by Tom Hegg, Illustrated by Warren Hansen."


"Cup of Christmas Tea" Bone China Miniature Tea Set of 10 pieces –teapot, sugar and creamer two cups and saucers. Each has the holly decoration of the larger sized pieces.



"A Cup of Christmas Tea" 1999 Bone China Christmas Ornament. The ornament consists of a teapot pouring into a teacup.



Following is a list of additional items that are available in this pattern.
Teapot
Sugar and Creamer set
Tea caddy
Dinner plate, bread butter plate,
Cookie plate 8"
Cake Plate 10.5"
24k goldplated spoon
Coasters
Pair Candlesticks 6"
Single candlestick
Oval basket
Hurricane lamp
Candle lamp
Tealight holders
Desk clock

Tom Hegg's story about the special teacup and the response it evokes, has been so well received over the years, that it continues in print and continues as a favorite for gift giving.

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.
Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth at Antiques and Teacups.

Teacup Thursday at Miss Spenser’s Blog.

Flaunt It Fridayhosted by Kate at Chic on a Shoestring.

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.

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.

Royal Commemoratives: ERII

Often in visiting other blogs we are reminded of something which we might share for our weekly blog events. For some weeks now, Miss Kathy at The Writers Reverie has been sharing her antique royal commemoratives, and it reminded my of my collection of British royal commemorative items.

For today’s post I am sharing some commemorative items relating to Queen Elizabeth II. All items were made in England and they include items that are now vintage since they span her many decades long reign.

These items are all displayed on a small two-shelf unit just inside my bathroom.

This is the top shelf with a small plate commemorating the coronation in 1953, a framed postcard portrait, and a cup and saucer celebrating the coronation:

This is the bottom shelf, with another vintage teacup and saucer, and a lovely mug:

This bone china coronation teacup and saucer was made by Rosina. The design on the front has a beautiful emblem with a cameo portrait of the queen and royal mottoes.

The back illustration reads "Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II June 22nd 1953". (Sorry the photo is not clear.)

The teacup has fluting all around and its lovely slim handle curves into a point.

The saucer repeats the illustrations from the cup and has a graceful scalloped edge outlined in gold.

A second coronation commemorative teacup and saucer is by Adderley and it is also of bone china. The front shows the royal shield with a cameo portrait of Elizabeth II:


The back illustration is of the cipher "ERII"

The saucer repeats the two graphics from the cup. It is edged in shallow scallops and gilt-edged:


Next is a small plate commemorating the 1953 coronation. I got this at a flea market where I pointed to a dish drainer full of various dishes and called out to the owner as to how much they were. He said "50 cents each." So I picked out this lovely 5-inch plate by Alfred Meakin:

The inscription under the flags around the plate states, "Crowned June 2nd, 1953." Under her photo it reads, "She Reigns."

Here is the vintage postcard of the young beauty, in a stunning portrait by distinguished photographer, Dorothy Wilding in 1952. I framed it in a gilt metal frame from a thrift shop:

An earlier black and white photograph shows young bride Princess Elizabeth with groom Philip, Duke of Edinburg in November 1947.

More recent commemoratives celebrate her silver jubilee in 1977. On the back of this small plate is inscribed 1977/ The Queen’s Silver Jubilee" and "Pride of Britain/ Silver Jubilee Souvenir/ Produced by/ Wood & Sons/ England/ Potters for 100 years.

Also for the silver jubilee is a bone china mug by Ashley.

Next is a deep blue with white Wedgwood jasperware small dish. It depicts the Queen in profile with a banner reading "1957 Silver Jubilee 1977"

For her diamond jubilee in 2002 I have a small covered box with her portrait. The box is white banded in blue with gilt garlands. Inside her portrait is repeated. The bottom inscription reads: "the queen’s Golden Jubilee 2002/ Edwardian/ Fine Bone China/ Made in England:

I am linking today’s post to:
Table Top Tuesday hosted by Marty at A Stroll Thru Life .
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 at Sweetology.
Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage.
Tea Time Tuesday hosted by Lady Katherine at Lady Katherine Tea Parlor
Teacup Thursday at Miss Spenser’s Blog.
Vintage Thingie Thursday with Suzanne at Coloradolady.
Thrifty Thursday with Leigh at Tales From Bloggeritaville.