A Tea Cup Pin Cushion and MORE!!

Veteran's Day or Armistice Day as it is called in some places, is a very important day for us to honor those who served, have served and given their lives for our freedoms.  It is an important day at our house as my husband is a retired Navy Pilot.  And my dad served in WWII.  An amazing site unfolded in London, England at the Tower of London to remember all this..  Here is a link to see for yourself..

 Tower of London Remembers 

And here is one of amazing pictures.............

 


To begin I should report, for those that have been following  my health issues..... My cast has been removed and I am on the mend.  I will have to a lot of hand exercises and have a few P T  visits but I think things are now on their way back to normal.
   

 For this Tea Cup Tuesday I am going to show you something VERY DIFFERENT.  Here is a cup and saucer that I turned into a Pin cushion. 

The teacup had a few problems though nothing major so I didn't worry about this new use.  There are many ways to use your favorite tea cups that are suddenly not usable for the traditional cup of tea.
Check my Pinterest Page on the subject and you will see some of the examples I have found that I may use in the future.

And while on the subject of pin cushions I will get away from Tea Cups and  talk about all the other pincushions I seem to be unable to stop making!

I hadn't really thought too much about it until I finished this little project and took it up to my sewing room.  The project included a little pin keep and scissor keep, using vintage wooden spools... and made with wool felt.  I got the patterns from a magazine called Primitive Quilts and Projects.

 
When I went to put them in the sewing room I saw the other two pin keeps I had made in the last year or so... and realized they were all made using wool felt...  So now I have four.....  The crow and the square pin cushions were from patterns in the magazine called Create and Decorate.

   I do seem to need places to keep my pins.

 

Awhile back I made this pin cushion and bag set to keep on my ironing board.  So I guess it can be said I have enough pin cushions (keeps).... or then again maybe no.  I may find another pattern for a project I "need" to make.

Now it also must be said that since I have gotten back into cross stitch lately, especially the primitive style, I  have begun to make little "pillows" that they call  pin keeps.....  so you see it keeps on. I will talk about them another day.

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Thanks for joining me  today and I hope you will visit the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

Most of these parties will be available each week. But check to be sure.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

  Martha at Martha's Favorites *

Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

My new Zinnia tea set

Watching the news and seeing all the snow pictures from this past weekend brings back memories of when we lived in Maine.  I don't miss it but do remember how much I enjoyed the mornings after a big snowfall.  It would be so quiet outside except for the snow plows off in the distance and everything was so clean looking. But right now I am happy to look outside and still see some pretty leaves on the trees!  And no doubt we will have our own snow soon enough.

The best news for me right now is that I am possibly getting my cast off tomorrow.  That will be a happy day!   I will report on that in my post next week.

MEANWHILE.............................

I found this set while visiting our favorite flea market.  It is a service for 12. And very complete. All sorts of serving pieces as well as the requisite place setting pieces.  This little tea party I am showing here uses just a few of the pieces   This particular pattern is called Sculptured Zinnia because the flowers are raised.  It is from Metlox Pottery... the Poppytrail Division.

Metlox Pottery was a California pottery.  You can read more about it at this site..

http://antiques.about.com/od/pottery/a/aa082104.htm

Sculptured Zinnia from 1964

Here I am using the salad plate to serve these tasty little blueberry strudel bites.  These are made by the bakery at our local Giant grocery store.  They do them in other fruits such as apple and raspberry but I like these the best.

And this is the mark on my plates. 

I did get a service for 12 but do not need that much.  So I imagine I will be selling some of the extra place settings  in my shop.  But for now I am enjoying  using at least some of it.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

These may not be available every week so check to be sure.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

Some more pretty tea things

With some degree of luck I will get my cast off next week and then start therapy to get me back to a normal life.

I wanted to make one comment about last weeks post.  Ruth from Antiques and Teacups
told me this set  is a Shelley Set called Apple Blossom Chintz.  Well that is probably the reason it didn't come home with me.  I looked at some other pictures and determined it was sold by someone that offers a LOT of Shelley for sale.  After looking at the picture closely I see that the price was $40 which is probably relatively cheap for Shelley but it would have still stopped me.

But on to other things.  Here are a few more things I found at the flea market. 

I was surprised at how many cottage sets I saw during my visit. I have one and don't want another so obviously didn't get them..

I  saw these and thought they were interesting.  I didn't see a mark so don't know what they were.

 

 I am sorry that the picture below is hard to see.  It was raining a lot and those ware drops of water on the showcase.  I wanted to capture the picture so much that I took it anyway and cleaned it up a bit so you could see it too.  Yes, that is a teaset.  Teapot, sugar, creamer and a little condiment set. I just wasn't ready to spend a lot at this sale I guess and so didn't get it.  But maybe someday.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

These may not be available every week so check to be sure.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

Some pretty tea things..............

As I continue on in my recuperation from hand surgery I am sharing more pictures of tea things I found on our travels to Maine and New Brunswick.  I got a new cast last week which was smaller and lighter so that was good.

I wanted to mention here also that a couple of weeks ago my husband and I went to  a huge car show in Hershey PA.  About 3000 or so vendors and vintage cars of every kind.  Because this is such a large car show there were folks there from all over the world....  one lady told me at the office stand that they had counted folks from over 20 countries. We spent three days there and did not see it all.

Since this is a tea post I won't go into much detail but I will show you  the variety... My favorite car was this one.....  A 1925 Renault.....  It was only $375,000!  

 And to the opposite end of the spectrum here is an old Chevrolet touring car found in a barn, ready to restore.  On the windshield is written "barn fresh."

But back to Tea Cup Tuesday and things I saw while we were traveling in Maine and New Brunswick.



I really liked this set and now have to admit I wish I had gotten it.  I don't know why I didn't.  I also don't know much about it.  But it seems pretty special to me.  It would have made a wonderful setting for a Spring tea I think.  I don't know the maker, perhaps someone reading this will know.

 This next cup is pretty self explanatory.  I have cups for our all of our birth months but since none are in January I didn't get it.  It is from Royal Albert's Flower of the Month series from the 1970s and features snowdrops. 

And finally this next set will always remind me of our cousin Helen whom we lost a few years ago.  She had this set and I always loved it when we used it when visiting her.  I do have a few pieces of it so didn't need to buy anymore.  It is called Old English Roses by Royal Albert.  It was made earlier than the present day favorite Old Country Roses of which I have way more than a full set!!!

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Thanks for joining me  today and I hope you will visit the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

They may not be available every week, we sure to check!

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

.Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I posted  this a couple of years ago but thought it would be good to repost now since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month once again.   And since I am still without the use of my right hand while it is still in the cast..............................  To  update this.....  I am getting along pretty well in spite of the cast.  Just slows me down bit.  We even went camping last week so I could attend a car show with my husband.  I will show a few pics of that next week.

For this week, since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month I thought I would show something with pink as a dominant color.  As a Breast Cancer Survivor for 12 years now I think this is a VERY important month!  However, don't forget all the other cancer's that folks suffer with have "causes" that may not be as well "supported."    Remember them and support them as well.... (Enough said... I will get off my little soapbox.)

 

While at a flea market  my husband found and later surprised me with this beautiful cup, saucer and plate set.  It is from a company I have not heard much about.... Royal Chelsea. 

 

Royal Chelsea was produced by New Chelsea China Co Ltd Longton. Staffordshire Potteries from about 1943 to 1961. 

 

    I think they make stunningly beautiful china so I will certainly be on the lookout for MORE!!!

 

 When I checked out the marks on these pieces I learned that the cup and saucer were probably made prior to 1951.... and this is the mark on them.

The plate's mark was newer.  It was made sometime after 1951 however they still could have been bought together if the store still has some of the older stock, or perhaps they ordered the plate later on.

 
 I really liked this set and even though Royal Chelsea is a bit new to me I shall be on the lookout for MORE!


After you visit my post today be sure to check out  these other tea posts.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

They might not all be available every week so check to be sure.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

Crafty Ways with teacup and tea pots

First today I will update my hand situation, I can type with both hands now.. sort of.  The fingers mostly work, but not the thumb cause it is immobilized.  So I will now be able to update these posts a bit before I post each one.

And I want to say thank you to all who sent me get well wishes.  I appreciate them all.  Obviously they are working.

 Fall weather has finally come and on Sunday I made my first pot of chili of the season.  And corn bread to go with.

As I continue on with my hand in a cast for the next few weeks...  I thought I would share some other ways to use tea cups.  If you ever had a favorite tea cup that suddenly developed a crack so you didn't want to use it any more... and you didn't feel right throwing it away.  Here are a couple of things I found at The Sussex New Brunswick flea market, back in August,  that give ideas for things to do with them.
 This first one was actually made with an unblemished tea cup, and a very pretty one at that. What a shame!!  But I couldn't resist taking the picture.  It is a little bowl turned upside down with the cup and saucer  Glued to the top.  And the whole thing was glued to a long stake that could go into the ground.  It could then serve as a little bird feeder.

I already have a similar one that someone gave me.... that is made of resin.  It is on a long metal stake and I keep in the garden just outside my office window.

The same person that made that teacup bird feeder that I have shown above also did some "hanging things."  I thought the teapot birdhouse was pretty cute though I don't think I would make one myself.  But it definitely gave me some ideas of things I could do with chipped teacups and teapots.

No tea pot or pitcher is safe....................

  
And I think this may have been an old tea tin.

AND If you still need ideas check out Pinterest.  It is full of pictures of ways to use them.

Thanks for joining me  today and I hope you will visit the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *

Our favorite flea market.

      On Monday Sept. 29 I had to have  hand surgery and so for the next few weeks my blog will be a bit different.  I am actually writing these posts prior to the surgery.  I will have my right hand in a cast for 6 weeks and really don't know how I will do without the use of my dominant hand so I am just doing this in preparation.  I will attempt to add little notes just prior to posting each  time, to keep you updated.

       Last Wednesday we made a trip to our favorite flea market in  Leesport, Pennsylvania.    As always we are able to find lots and lots of good stuff.  This visit was no exception.  I should also add that the weather was absolutely beautiful... warming up nicely into the mid 70s so we were able  enjoy a relaxing and comfortable walk about.

I saw several  tea things and the ones I bought I will show now but feature in later posts.  I also found a couple of things I didn't purchase as is often the case.

These are the pictures taken at the vendors stands.  When I feature them I will do a lot better at the photography.  This first little violet tea set also features a creamer.  I found it in another part of the table after I took this picture.  I bought the set.

 And the price was so good on these three tea cups I had to buy them too!!!!

I didn't buy this Old Country Roses tea set because the person that was selling it was off somewhere and never came back the several times I checked.  So I gave up on it.  I have an awful lot of OCR anyway.  But this child's set was pretty cute.

And finally I saw this cottage tea pot.  As I already have one didn't think I needed another!!!

 

Because it is fall................ there were lots of pumpkins and other decor but my favorite this time was the gourds.  There were baskets full of them.  Here are three assortments I found.

 I like to decorate with them so bought several of different sizes.

And finally I wanted to show this one vendors stand..... Not because of what she was selling but because I loved the background.  Backing up to the cornfield really seemed appropriate this time of year.

Thanks for joining me  today and I hope you will visit the other Tea Time blogs as well.

I have joined with the following Tea Cup Tuesday Tea Parties.

They may not be available every week.

 

Be sure to check!

Hope you will visit them too.

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

Terri at Artful Affirmations *

Martha at Martha's Favorites *
Bernideen's Tea-time Blog *
Ruth's Antiques  Teacups *
A Return to Loveliness *