Teacup Tuesday – Pink Beleek

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

Last week I shared a soft yellow Beleek cup and saucer. This week it is a pale pink set.
I’ve placed today’s teacup and saucer on a pink crystal platter, which I received as a gift back in summer 1988. It is made by Mikasa and is the "Rosella" pattern.

Like last week’s cup, this one is also shell-shaped. It is Beleek’s "Neptune" pattern, Made in Ireland.

Notice the shape of the saucer and of the footed cup. The handle looks like pink coral.

Note the tiny shell feet on the cup bottom.

Also linking to Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor.

A second Tea Time Tuesday, is hosted by Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage


Thank you for stopping by today. Please visit our hostesses at the links above. Please leave a comment and do come again soon.

Metamorphosis Monday – White Dish Display

A few days ago I decided to make room to display more of my white dishes. I have them already on a plate stand to the left of the sink, but wanted to display more.

A few white items were seen in the photo below, set atop the bookcase I use as a partial panty.


Taking a three-shelf wall unit from a local thrift shop, I doubled the space for my white dishes.

First I cleared the top of the bookcase:

The three shelves provided for four Wedgwood “Patrician” plates and matching cups and saucers; two square Canonsburg “American Traditional" dessert plates, a white teapot, a napkin holder, two sets of salt and peppers, a candlestick and a black and white teapot.


Under the lowest shelf I placed several tea books. Ceramic cottage boxes add to the mix:

Alongside on the right, are a framed print, and ceramic tea-house containers.


This post is linked to Metamorphosis Monday. Please visit Susan Susan at Between Naps on the Porchfor links to many more captivating changes, and to join in this weekly blog event.
I am also linking to Tabletop Tuesday, hosted by Marty at A Stroll Thru Life.

Also linking to Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor.



Have a great week, and do visit again soon!

Teacup Tuesday – Soft Yellow Beleek

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

My teacup for this Tuesday was made in Ireland. This pattern is Belleek "Tridacna" [5th mark 1955-65], a lovely sea shell design.

The pale yellow cup and saucer feel so thin and so light, but it is strong porcelain. This thin irridescent porcelain is called parian china.

The handle is a delicate ring circle, with tiny branches at top and bottom.

Here I pair the exquisite cup and saucer with a Fleetwood vase with an irridescent glaze. This vase is designed as a tree trunk and is embellished with 22 kt. gold. On the tree branch is a golden squirrel holding a nut.

Please visit Martha and Terri at the links above to see more lovely teacups, and also to link to your own post.

I am also linking to Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday. Click here to visit other participants. I trust you are enjoying your week...God bless!

Tablescape Thursday – Eggplant and Pumpkins

Again this week the tablescape is at the breakfast table in kitchen. The color scheme has deep hues to go along with the cooler weather we have been having here.

The table cover is a plaid in green, yellow, and red. Red quilted round placemats are set with white dinner plates, green cabbage plates and white pumpkin bowls. Yellow napkins and Towle stainless flatware complete the place settings.

The centerpiece includes a large white pumpkin covered serving bowl, a green ceramic candle holder, and a Fitz and Floyd Eggplant covered dish, set amid brown hydrangeas.

This post is linked to Tablescape Thursday. Please Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for links to many more table settings.and to join in this weekly blog event. I am also linking to Leigh's "Thrifty Thursday" at Tales From Bloggeritaville. Please visit her for links to all the participants.

This tablesetting also depended largely on bargains that I found in discount stores, local thrift stores, etc.
The round tablecloth cost $3.00, while the napkins and the place mats were 25 cents each at a local thrift store.

Wedgwood "Edme" Dinner plates – local thrift store - $3.25 for 3 dinner plates, 2 bread and butter plates along with one cream soup bowl and saucer.
Pinheiro Bordallo Cabbage Leaf Dessert Plates – TJ Maxx and Marshalls $7.99 each; Individual salad bowls – from TJ Maxx
Fostoria brown "Virginia" Goblets – Six for $5.00 at flea market Lenox "Summer Terrace" candle holder made in Portugal – Ebay Best Offer.
Towle "English Shell" Stainless flatware – From Ebay and Replacements Ltd. At very reasonable prices.
White pumpkin soup tureen and bowls – T.J. Maxx $5.99 each for small bowls.

Thanks for stopping by. I enjoy reading your comments.

Japanese Iris by Helen C. Read

For some time now I have subscribed to artist Helen C. Read’s email newsletters about her current paintings. She lives in Illinois and does her work out of The Studio Upstairs. She does lovely paintings of natural objects – still life studies of fruit, flowers, and other botanicals, which I find very pleasing.

In early summer I received a message with a free painting offer:
“For the first 12 of my studio friends to send me an email request, I will send your small print of a spring flower as a gift. It will be ready to mat and frame and hang as a reminder of spring's long awaited arrival this year! Please respond right away in order to be one of the first 12!”
I rushed to enter and was happy to receive the matted print soon after. I looked at my frames and found one that fit exactly:


Her bio states that she is a parent, high school teacher, artist, and writer. In addition, “she is an active member of her church and several small groups.”

For more information, and to see her beautiful and truly fabulous paintings please visit or write:

Website: http://www.helencread.com/
Email: studio_upstairs@hotmail.com
Blog: http://helenreads.blogspot.com/
Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelenCRead

Helen Read
The Studio Upstairs
PO Box 251 - Wheaton, IL 60187

Visit Cindy at My Romantic Home for links to other Show and Tell participants.

A Second Fall Tablescape (Loaded With Bargains!)

This week’s tablescape is set at the breakfast table in the kitchen. It has deeper fall hues than my table last week, and so is more fall-like. The table is covered with a deep golden yellow cloth. The dinner plate is Royal China "Wellesley", as is the bread and butter plate and fruit saucer. The saucer is brown Wood and Sons "Wellesley" but the cup is Wedgwood "Patrician."

I couldn’t remember where I put the matching "Wellesley" cups, so had to pinch hit on this. The Wood and Sons "Wellesley" cup is in the same stylized floral pattern as the plates which were made by an American company, Royal China Company, in Sebring, Ohio. Wood & Sons produce their wares in Burslem, England.

Next came the sunflower bowls from TJ Maxx

The flatware is Towle "English Shell" stainless, except for the dinner forks which have bone handles.

Putting the fruit saucer in the sunflower bowl gives a nice symmetrical look to the setting:

Off-white napkins with brown checks are placed in ceramic peach napkin rings along with fall leaves, which are also scattered around the table.

A spray of fall flowers from Michael’s is set in a pineapple pitcher. An English ceramic cottage container holds herb tea bags.

Around the cottage are tiny pumpkins as well as acorns from my yard.

The goblets are Fostoria "Virginia" in brown.

Here is the full place setting:

The table is set for two this fall day:

I swapped out the blue painting from the wall for this fall landscape from the living room:

The hues in the painting harmonizes with the colors of the tablescape:

Please visit Susan Susan at Between Naps on the Porchfor links to many more table settings.


I am also linking this post to Leigh's “Thrifty Thursday” at Tales From Bloggeritaville. Please visit her for links to more participants.

This tablesetting depended largely on wonderful bargains which I found in discount stores, local thrift stores, and an area flea market.

TJ Maxx & Marshalls provided:
The pineapple pitcher ($9.99), sunflower bowls ($2.99 each), ceramic napkin rings ($1.99 each)

At the flea market I found six of the “Virginia” goblets for $5. Total The four I had before were bought new for $39.99. So that purchase brought my holdings up to 10. I also spotted two of the “Wellesley” dinner plates for just $2.00, bringing my total to eight.

The English ceramic cottage container fell and broke so the dealer offered it to me at $1.00. A bit of glue restored the piece which had broken off the back.

The landscape picture was a few dollars at a local junk shop.

Thrift store finds on the table
The tablecloth for about $1.25; napkins 25 cents each, and bone handled forks, $3.00.

An after season sale at CVS Pharmacy yielded the fabric leaves I’ve strewn across the table.