A Message from Ruth at Antiques And Teacups

Welcome to the blog of Antiques And Teacups! Let's share a cup of tea and talk about the things we love...like teacups, antiques, collectibles, visiting England, antiquing and learning about victoriana and quirky gadgets. Fun!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Royal Kent Teacup and Cottage Book for Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Hello and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea! So glad you've come to visit! Pull up a chair and enjoy a cup of tea and a scone. I am joining the blogs listed ar the bottom of the post. If you would like to link up...the linky is there too!







Okay you floral folks...what kind of flowers are on this pretty Royal Kent, England bone china cup and saucer? I can't decide if they are some sort of wild rose, but the leaves are not notched. If not, any suggestions? The pattern isn't named, and I couldn't find the name. The teacup was made in the 1960s and is such an elegant design. I found it at an estate sale recently and loved it! For more info on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.


We have had an interesting week...everything from deliciously warm to downpours and hail. And I know SOME of you are thinking...well, it's the Pacific Northwest, isn't it??? Yeah, I know, but it's been strange! On the more unmanageable days I dug out some books I got at a book sale recently. This is one of my favorites. The book is called Cottage, English Country Style by Elizabeth Hilliard with photographs by John Miller, a hardback published in 1994 by Bullfinch Press, New York




The cover/dust jacket is glossy and difficult to photograph with a lighted lamp on the table.







Besides the lovely color photos there is a great commentary which I enjoyed. I do love good books, don't you? Perfect for an afternoon break with that cuppa and a good book in a comfortable chair.


I hope you enjoy the blogs below...they'd love to meet you too!



Monday Marketplace
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday
Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday
Teatime Tuesday
Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Tea With Friends
Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/  Afternoon Tea
 Tuesday Teatime 
Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday




Here's the linky to link with Tuesday Cuppa Tea!

Friday, April 27, 2012

First Anniversary for the Duke And Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine

I am joining...albeit a bit late...Pink Saturday with How Sweet the Sound.







Do you remember when Prince William and Catherine were engaged in Nov. 2010? Engagement and wedding mugs available at Antiques And Teacups.




Then the wedding on April 29, 2011




And their first anniversary is Sunday, April 26th. So I got out the Ahmad Royal Wedding Tea my family sent me from England for the Royal Wedding and have been having it the last few days in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Happy Anniversary!











Have a wonderful weekend!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

Welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!  I am joining the other blogs listed at the bottom of the post. The linky is there too, so you can join in!



Please join me in wishing William Shakespeare Happy 448th Birthday on April 23!  Amazing! The most read, memorized, published and produced playwright in history! Now that's someone to celebrate! There are yearly celebrations with parades, special presentations and picnics, but this year will be bigger as it joins with Festival 2012 which has been joined with Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Here is a website with all the festivities:
Shakespeare's birthday celebration 2012


In honour of Shakespeare's birthday I have a Shakespeare's Country blue ironstone transferware cup and saucer by Ridgway, England from the 1950s.




The design includes Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried and his swwetheart Anne Hathaway's cottage which is just a bit along the river Avon in Stratford-Upon-Avon.



That is quintessential Stratford. We have to pass through Stratford each time we go to the various family homes in the Midlands. Stratford is at the top of the Cotswolds. We could go the motorway route, but it is too stressy  for us as well as missing all the gorgeous villages on the way up from London. Yes...it takes a lot longer, but we usually make the trip in 2-3 days using only A and B roads and avoiding the motorways, stopping at favorite places, like Lower Slaughter. 



The one thing that we don't like, is the A422, I think, has to go through the center of Stratford and crosses a humpback bridge that is a real bottleneck. We try to avoid going through on weekends when Stratford is packed.





This is the Queen's Head pub in Stratford where we have stopped for lunch.


This is the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford which is a wonderful year round venue. We have seen Judi Dench and other famous actors at work here. The tour is fun too!



I thought this sign was fun, and certainly shows you the options. All the major Shakespeare sites are quite walkable.


Above is a favorite...Harvard House, the founder of Harvard University who emigrated to escape religious prosecution.

Just outside Stratford is the Bancroft Boat Basin on The Avon River where several canals cross the river. We love canals, and often stop here with a picnic lunch before heading through Stratford.



Here is Shakespeare's grave and monument in Holy Trinity Church.




And here is a decorative Leonardo teapot we have in the shop that is so cute! For more on the cup and saucer or teapot at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.




So... I raise a cup of Ty-Phoo...a Midlands tea, to William Shakespeare! Happy Birthday!

My honey's favorite...but then he's a midlands guy! Roots for Aston Villa!


Have a great day visiting the other blogs, and enjoy a cuppa tea for Will!




Monday Marketplace
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday
Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday
Teatime Tuesday
Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday
Tea With Friends
Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/  Afternoon Tea
Wanda Lee ~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.ca Tuesday Teatime 
What’s It Wednesday
Thursday Tea Things And Talk
Teacup Thursday
Vintage Thingie Thursday

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Teacup Thursday, Primroses Art Deco Teacup,Pink Tulips and Purple Crocus

Hello and welcome to a post that includes things for Thursday Tea Things And Talk with Time Was Antiques,  Teacup Thursday with Miss Spenser, Vintage Thingie Thursday with coloradolady and Pink Saturday with How Sweet The Sound.






The teacup today is one I have shared before, but I love it so thought it could bear repeating. The design is a spring one of yellow primroses with art deco design trees and a cobbled garden path. I just love the art deco design! The bone china teacup is, of course, from the 1930s and was made by Sampson Smith. So cute! Click the photos for more info at Antiques And Teacups







I know our area, the Pacific Northwest,  is behind most of the country. Our tulips are just coming in, as you can see here, and the crocuses are still blooming. The azaleas aren't any more than buds, and many areas of the country they have all finished already! But we love our color here...late as it is...and I just wanted to share some of our joy!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Royal Albert Old English Rose, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

Hello my lovelies and welcome to Tuesday Cuppa Tea! I am joining the other blogs in the list at the end of the post.






About a month ago we were driving a back road back into town and saw a sign for a moving sale and decided to stop. A woman was moving to Seattle to begin medical school and was selling items she didn't want to move with. I saw these dishes across the room and they were sold! I love Royal Albert, and this is a vintage (1930-1940's) Royal Albert Crown China patterned teacup trio or cup and saucer with matching plate called Old English Rose.  This is my favorite of 2 versions of the pattern, because of the wide sponged gold trim. The other has only a narrow sponged band. It is really gorgeous, isn't it? Perfect for a cuppa tea! Foe more info on the Royal Albert Old English Rose china at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.




For a bit of a change, I have a book report! I have just finished reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson.  I thought it utterly charming. The first novel by this author who is, thankfully, working on another.


The story involves an English army Major who served in India and lost his wife forging a wonderful relationship with an Oxford raised shopkeeper of Pakistani descent who is a widow. The relationship, born of a common love for books,  flowers despite prejudice, interfering and grasping relatives and a shyness on the Major's side and a social climbing son set in a small English village. A wonderful book! I just loved it!


I am joining the following blogs...hope you visit them and enjoy a warming cuppa tea with a friend or loved one!



Monday Marketplace
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday
Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday
Teatime Tuesday
Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness
Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday
Tea With Friends
Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/  Afternoon Tea
Wanda ~ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.ca Tuesday Teatime 
What’s It Wednesday

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