Happy St. Patricks Day... almost a week early

                           Happy St. Patrick's Day.

     And Happy Tea Cup Tuesday.  This week  I am showing you a Chocolate Set I inherited from my grandmother.  It is obviously not a "tea set" but I thought it was appropriate since it features little shamrocks as the main trim.  And I suppose  it could be used for tea.  And since the cups are smaller than regular tea cups they could even be used for demi-tasse for coffee.  But what ever I use them for I truly enjoy them!

 

Back in my grandmother's day they often served chocolate when entertaining their friends.  This particular set is Limoges and was sold by a store in Scranton, PA which was near where my great grandmother lived before her sussequent move to Virgina.  I think therefore it might have been my great grandmothers before my grandmother's.  Or maybe a family member sent it to her.  Unfortunately I don't have anyone to ask.
   

Here is the mark where I learned about the store where it was sold............

  The green platter I am using under the set is a part of my own set of dishes (Riviera by Home Laughlin)  I have acquired a complete set of Riviera over the years.  They were made at about the same time that Fiesta was produced and by the same manufacturer.  As was typical of that time they often made different patterns to be sold at different stores such as Woolworth's, Grants or McCrory's.

Here is a close-up of the lid.

  Although  the chocolate set and the Riviera Platter are from my own collection, the cards and hankies are from my shop.  They are going to be used in a holiday display in my antique shop.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my chocolate set.  And that you will visit the other tea parties I am joining today and tomorrow. 

 

 http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

                                             Rose Chintz Cottage                                                
http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/

 http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

More and More and More Mini Teasets

After a couple of weeks of showing mini tea cups and tea sets from my own collection I decided to go out into my shop to see what mini tea sets I had for sale.  WOW, I didn't realize I had so many.

Funny thing happened while I was checking to see what I had.  A customer came in and ended up buying THREE of the little sets.  I managed to take pictures of two of those sets before I wrapped them up AND I am adding a picture of one other I found.
And to tell the truth I have several others that I will feature in another blog post.

This first set is the traditional Blue Willow pattern, my personal favorite.  We use Blue Willow here at my house everyday.   This set was probably made in China though it doesn't say.  And I am pretty sure it is fairly new, maybe 10 years or so.  

 This second little set also didn't say who made it but also probably made in China.  I turned the cup on its side so you could more easily see the pattern.  But I also wanted you to be able to see tops of cups and saucers.

 So the above two patterns have gone to another home now. 

This third little set is one of the Resin sets that are being sold in lots of places.  Here is the picture of the set as it is placed on its tray.  And I found this cute little girl out in the shop to oversea the tea party.  She is an older one from Japan.

 And this second picture shows all the pieces set about with the tray in the back.  I thought it was neat that the tray is a Gazebo.  What a great place that would be for a tea party in real life.  The little girl looks quite pleased with it all.

Before I sign off today I want to apologize for putting up the word verification on the comments.  I don't like to do that but I was really having trouble with spamming and it was definitely wasting my time.  So for awhile you will have to do that.  I hope it won't stop you from commenting as I love to read them all!!

I hope you will also visit the other tea parties that are going on around the web today and tomorrow.  Here is the list of tea parties I will be joining.

 http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Rose Chintz Cottage  
http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
 http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

 

A nifty bookstore in Philly

   We had to take our son to Philadelphia on Tuesday for an eye appointment and it allowed us some time to walk around and enjoy the city. Philadelphia is a very big city naturally and takes a bit of getting used to when you are coming in from a small town like we were.  Thankfully the weather cooperated on this winter day.  It is a very good "walking city" and the folks there were very friendly as they should be in "the city of Brotherly Love."  On a side street we discovered a great little bookstore and had a very nice chat with the owner.  Bill enjoyed himself in the history and war section and found himself two good books.  I just enjoyed being in a bookstore. Especially a really friendly feeling one like this.   I miss having them around where we live!  If I lived nearby I would probably go there a LOT.

The name of the shop is MOSTLY BOOKS which pretty much sums it up! If you are ever in Philadelphia be sure to visit.   This shop is at 259 S. 10th Street and his other one is at 529 Bainbridge St.  (both in the city!)  He has a Facebook page where you can learn a bit more.  Click here to go there.  He puts up interesting questions about past folks and events. You can "earn a gold star" if you are the first to answer correctly.  FUN!!!

Here are a couple more pictures of the shop.  And my hubby visiting with the bookseller.  In addition to this shop he also has another, larger shop a few blocks away.  We will have to check that out next visit.

 

I love the fact that there are tables and chairs to sit down and read.  In his other shop he has even more comfortable seating I have learned.

   The books were nicely organized by category so if you were looking for something special you can find it pretty easily.

After our pleasant interlude at the bookstore  we headed up closer to the main part of town. We arrived on  Market street which has lots of large stores AND.... The Gallery Mall.

The Gallery Mall, Philadelphia is a fun mall as a lot of it is underground and the train even runs through the edge of it.  We stopped in there to see what it was all about.

And when we entered the Food Court  we found the  TWO STREET CAFE! 

    Bill wanted a Philly Cheese Steak and what better place than the middle of Philly.  I had a great spicy chicken salad sandwich.  I forget what they called it, but it was not like any chicken salad sandwich you might have ever had.  It was yum.  And if we are ever in that area we will eat there again I am sure.

It was very "tired" out when we finally got home.  But with those two highlights it wasn't a bad day.
And we beat the storm weather home.

The final tea cup Tuesday for February.

As I promised last week I am showing you a couple of my "mini" tea sets.   And in addition here is an Avon Figurine of little Teddy Bears having a tea party!

 I love all the detail they can get in these things made with Resin, although it will never be in the same class as the porcelain figurines made in England!

And here are two little Resin tea sets.

The first one is a Pansy tea set.  Since Pansies are no doubt my favorite flower I had to have this little set!

And here is my final set for this week.  It is a Woodland Setting.

Lots of fun even if they don't hold much tea.............

Come back next week to see a few more. 

I am sending well wished to Sandy, the hostess of the Tea Cup Tuesday event at Rose Chintz Cottage.  She won't be doing an event this week but you still should visit if you haven't recently.  She always has such lovely things.

                                              Rose Chintz Cottage                                                 

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

And meanwhile be sure to check out the other tea parties this week......................

                                

http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

                             

  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/

 http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

Pin Cushion, Thread and Scrap Catcher.

 Awhile ago, while looking around on the web I came across something that is a very necessary item for my sewing room.  A Pin Cushion Thread and Scrap Catcher.   I found the directions at the website I list below and finally went about making my own.


Here is mine.

 The fabric consisted of two different fat quarters.  The one with hearts is from Connecting Threads (an on line and catalog shop) and the brown polka dot fabric was from Wal-Mart.    I am pleased with the way it turned out.  I may still do one final step, putting some cord around the top to make it more stable but not at the moment.  I will see if I feel I need it.

Here is the website where I found the directions. 
 http://www.merrimentdesign.com/pincushion-thread-catcher.php

Try it, it isn't too hard and I think it is well worth the effort.  I hope it makes the area around my sewing machine neater looking.

Tea Cup Tuesday in Miniature

It seems to me that Tea Cup Tuesdays keep coming faster and faster.  Time is really flying.  Here we are at the third Tuesday in Feb. already.  Wasn't it just Christmas a couple of weeks ago.

This week I am again doing something a bit different.  I want to share some of my mini tea pots, ones I have collected over the years.  These are not "REAL" teapots.  You wouldn't get much tea if you used them, but nonetheless I love them.

I have found them in various places but the majority seem to have come from the big Sussex Flea Market in Sussex, New Brunswick.  I generally find at least one new one there every year.

To begin I will show a few of the little tea pots that were included in Red Rose Tea in Canada, at least for awhile.  I never got any in tea myself and they never seem to have given them in the US tea. There were ones that I came across in Canada, at the flea market I mentioned above.

I personally like them better than the little tea animals they give out now.  But of course they never asked me.  I am sure there were more.  These are just the ones I have found for my collection. These tea pots don't open up.  They are about 1 and 1/2 inches tall and about 2 and 1/2 inches wide. I plan to continue searching for more in the future.

The next two little tea pots feature cats which are favorites in this house since we have three cats!

The yellow pot on the right is about 3 inches tall.  I am hopeful to find more of these. They were made in China so are new.  They came from a booth at the flea market that sell  things imported from China I think. I would prefer they were made in this part of the world but they sure are cute.


The next two tea pots are "souvenir" type.  The one on the left is from Puerto Rico.  I found it in Canada but bought it because we lived in Puerto Rico for three years back in the 70s so this seemed like a good souvenir from that time.

The teapot on the right is made to be used as a little condiment pot I suppose since it has a little spoon in it.  As you can see it says Ireland and that is appropriate since my father in law was from Ireland.


And finally I will end this weeks edition with an actual tea cup for tea cup Tuesday.  This is a small set, and it is actually a souvenir from Colorado. Probably sold in a gift shop out there.  It is awfully cute with a little Pixie, trying to crawl up the side of the cup and forms in the handle.

 It is a very small set, with the saucer just three inches in diameter.

 And here is the mark from the bottom of the cup.  Made in Japan.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this part of my collection.

Be sure to shop in next week for more.  I have little tea sets I will show off.  And maybe another tea cup and saucer.  I will be going to an indoor flea market next Saturday so hope to find some more good stuff!!


Mean while be sure to check out the other tea parties this week......................

                                             Rose Chintz Cottage                                                 

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

                             

  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/

 http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/

A Tea Set for Valentine's Day

A Valentine's Day Tea Party

Since Valentine's Day is this week I thought I should include something pink and valentine like for the Tea Cup Tuesday event.

Here is a tea set I bought recently featured with a heart wall hanging I made back in 2010 in an "on line craft class".   Click here to see see the post I did about it originally.   

 This tea set is made by Hall (USA).  As you can see it included a copper "cozy" for each item but in the next picture you can see what it looks like without.

And finally here is a picture of a few other things I have that would add to the festive table.

The cross stitch is something I did a number of years ago.  It needs a better frame but I just haven't done anything about it yet.

Happy Valentines Day to you all..............

Hope you enjoyed your visit here and will come back next week.  

Be sure to visit the other tea parties I am joining this week.  They are listed below.  I imagine they will be featuring Valentine's Items as well.

 http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com 

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

                                                          
                                                              Rose Chintz Cottage

  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/

 http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com/