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!

Showing posts with label country living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label country living. Show all posts

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Tuesday Cuppa Tea - Fall Fabulous! Retro Noritake, New Royal, Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Hi there and welcome to a fall edition of Tuesday Cuppa Tea!



It is actually summery here during the day, but already dropping at night and the leaves on the Japanese Maples & Liquid Ambers are well into their changing colors. So I chose a retro 1970s leaf patterned teacup for today....Noritake Palos Verde....



I am very partial to this style..you'll see why later in the post. I love the design of this...the pattern looks like a stylized Aspen leaf.




The teacup is in porcelain, not bone china like my usual choices, and was in a production line by Noritake called Progression, which was touted as unbreakable, and any breakages would be replaced at no charge. But...that was withdrawn by 1977, so it was obviously a hopeful claim, rather than factual. The Palos Verde teacups, teapot, salt and pepper and cream and sugar are available on my website, Antiques And Teacups.



The Noritake company was started at Morimura in 1876, and continues to this day, with several hundred different back stamps. The first Noritake appeared in 1908 but was usually combined with Nippon or Morimura and finally combined with an M for Morimura until it became straight Noritake in 1934. Usually pattern numbers appear, but in this case, the 9020 stands for the line of Progression which had 6 different patterns on the same shape. 




And you can see by my tea above, why I am so fond of the Palos Verde. I received a set of Blue Moon Progression china for our wedding in 1974 and still love it and use it daily. Beth, of Beyond The Garden Gate blog has the same pattern!








Today tea includes the most delicious organic biscotti bites from Dilettante' bakery and a sample of Numi English Breakfast tea I was given by a friend.





The tea was okay, but I am afraid I like the depth of the English English Breakfast teas...this was a little weak kneed for me....but the biscotti is wonderful!!!


Remember just over a year ago when Prince George was born? Well, this is old news to some of you, having been announced on Sept. 8th, but William and Kate are again expecting. 

So many friends have been posting such wonderful fall images I remembered these from the Cottage Journal which is sent to subscribers of Hoffman Publication magazines which include Victoria magazineTea Time magazineSouthern Lady magazine; Celebrate magazine among others. I get several and they are my favorites. 








And here is a really wonderful looking recipe for Pumpkin Bread Pudding which is real comfort food!








PUMPKIN BREAD PUDDING
Makes 6 servings

8 cups cubed croissants (1/2-inch cubes), toasted
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup crystallized ginger
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup caramel ice cream topping
2 tablespoons bourbon

1. Preheat oven to 350˚.
2. Spray 6 (8-ounce) ramekins with nonstick baking spray with flour.
3. In a large bowl, combine toasted croissant cubes, walnuts, raisins, and crystallized ginger.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together half-and-half, pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
5. Pour over croissant mixture, tossing gently to coat. Let stand for 30 minutes.
6. Divide mixture evenly between prepared ramekins.
7. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. (If the pudding begins to brown, cover loosely with foil.)
8. Remove from oven. Cool in ramekins for 10 minutes.
9.
 In a medium bowl, combine caramel topping and bourbon, whisking well. Serve over bread pudding.

And some suggestions for fall table and home decor as well:

A naturally elegant table is easy when you glean from fall’s bounty. Bring in color from the outdoors or with seasonal produce, and add textures and soft candlelight for a cozy autumn gathering. Set the stage for centerpieces and other decorative touches by gathering similar containers. Use pebbles, nuts, berries, or dried beans as foundation elements for anchoring branches, flowers, and candles. Tea lights and votives are easy to incorporate into a fall tablescape. Miniature pumpkins can be carved to hold candles. Try dressing up candleholders with tiny twigs, sweet-gum balls, and other dried foliage. Secure with hot glue, and finish with twine or raffia. 




Here are some of the blogs I'll be visiting...list under construction...


The Tuesday Cuppa Tea linky is below for your tea related posts, and I love to hear from you. I just want to remind you the linky is SSLLLOOOOOOOWWW but it does come up with patience!  Have a wonderful week!


Sunday, January 29, 2012

Tuesday Cuppa Tea, Antique Staffordshire, Antique Postcard, Valentine's Tea

Hello and welcome to  my meme Tuesday Cuppa Tea looking toward upcoming Valentine's Day.




The teacup trio I am sharing today is an antique set from the Potteries region of England. The Potteries surround Stoke-on-Trent where many of the most famous English potteries flourished because of the deposits of quality clay found there in the 1600s.








I found this set at an antiques faire in Worcester, England on a buying trip. The cup and saucer with matching plate are completely hand decorated with a pale peach banding, heavy dimensional hand applied gold hearts, dentil border and dots and further turquoise enamel flowers. The phtots just don't do it justice. The teacup trio is unmarked which is quite normal for early Staffordshire pieces. It may be a Grainger piece...that's my best guess. I love it! I thought the hearts were appropriate for a pre-Valentine's Day theme.






Here is an antique postcard dating to around 1910. The postcard says:
My Heart
Gold Is Nothing
Happiness Is All

How sweet a sentiment! This is called a Romance postcard and is a Real Photograph that has then been hand tinted. Cool!.

To see either the teacup trio or postcard at Antiques And Teacups, just click on the photos.

The following photos are from Country Living Magazine. The article was called a Valentine Tea and has an Alice In Wonderland theme. So cute!








I am joining the following tea related blog parties today. Have fun visiting!

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

Friday, December 16, 2011

Pink Saturday, Royal Albert American Beauty, Pink Decorations

Happy Pink Saturday with How Sweet the Sound. A chance to go overboard loving pink!


I want to share a very pink teacup, and then some pink decorations from my home and from Country Living magazine that I like.







I just love this teacup...it is PINK! The pattern is called American Beauty and was made by Royal Albert, England in the 1940s. You can dive into that pink, can't you!!!!! For more on the teacup at Antiques And Teacups, click on the photos.


And here are a few pinks among my Christmas decorations:




One of a whole bunch of Victorian lace fans I made one year when we were living in an 1879 Victorian home in Redding, California. I trimmed them with ribbon and roses.  The other is a mouth blown glass ornament with gold plated metal and gold braid made in the 1980s in West Germany.




A manger scene on a dining room server. We have had this for about 25 years, but it always has a place of honor. Pink on Joseph is interesting....


Now these are from Country Living,  from a page sent to me on an email as I am a subscriber. These were my favorites. Great decorating ideas and just eye candy for Christmas!



This was a great wreath made out of mother of pearl buttons! I loved that idea!




How about Christmas stockings made from stiffened dressmaking patterns???



And for a white and recycling Christmas, a wreath made entirely of old newspapers!



Then there is the luxe look of combining all sorts of vintage mercury ornaments on a tray in a silver bowl.



I love the simple pinecone wreath being framed...suddenly a fine art statement!



A definte favorite because I love red...or as it's also called...pink transferware setting the scene for a vintage Christmas with panache!



Using a fancy silver serving tray as a table centerpiece with just a few chromatic ornaments.



Making room on the shelves for a Christmas statement with green wreaths among the winter palette.

What a great idea for the knitters out there!



Another silver utilization with vintage balls, beads and sparkles!




And lastly...a pink Christmas with pink flowers, bows and table accents.


Have a great time visiting the other Pink Saturday posts. It is so much fun!

Dec. 16th Free Shipping Friday, Antique Christmas Postcard, I Won! Dough Mice OrnamentsG

Good morning and happy December 16th. In the retail world, it's Free Shipping Friday and Antiques And Teacups has joined the train.  Coupon CYBER2011 for free shipping on all US orders over $30.00.


And here is our antique Christmas postcard for Dec. 16th:






The postmark is illegible, but it's from between 1900-1910. The embossed postcard was mailed from Milton, New Hampshire and sent to someone in town. No other address needed but the name! How's that for a small town!  The card features ivy which was a symbol from the Victorian Language Of The Flowers of undying love and loyalty...constancy. The poem says


A little spray of ivy
Let this message bring,
That happiness for all time
To you will ever cling.

Wishing you a Merry Xmas

I love the antique postcards for the tales they tell of a past age...a part of our heritage and cultural background. Neat! For more antique postcards, click on the photos.

And some exciting (to me!) news...I won a giveaway! I have NEVER won anything before! Thank you to Angela at Tea With Friends!!! It wond a little Christmas tote of seasonal teas. I can hardly wait!!!!





I wanted to show you these little guys on my tree. About 20 years ago I got them from the artist at a craft market in Ashland, Oregon and have treasured them since. Aren't they cure? There's a little guy with his toy train and the other cutie with his paws behind his back. They are carefully placed in a box in the closet. They are beginning to disintegrate a bit, but I lOVE them!

And lastly, a couple of photos from Country living with some ideas for your Christmas tables that I thought were easy & cute!


What a simple centerpiece using the ubiquitous glass pedestal bowls we all have hanging around in the closets! And as a colorful statement of Christmas cheer!


I loved this...either use a dresser plateau, a mirrored tile or anything reflective to double the power of simple Christmas ornament sparkle for any table.  So simple...even for those of us who are design genius challenged!

Have a wonderful day glowing with the season and don't forget to have a cup of tea with a friend!

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