Aug 14, 2011

SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL TEA CUPS!



Hello Ladies! I hope you are all having a good week. Our summer is coming to a quick end. The older I get, the fast time goes by. I see my grandchildren grow right before my eyes. Did I tell you I am going to be a Grandma for the third time next month? The excitement grows day by day. I am in the process of preparing a High Tea for one of my daughter's baby showers. My home looks like a tea house. I have tea cups everywhere. Trying to decide which ones I will use for the party. Being very ADD, a new problem develops, as I am also rearranging things, as the tea cups come out. Which presents problem number 3, do I really need all these cups? Which cups do I no longer want to keep? It feels like "up-grade" time. So, as you can see one project opens another project. Today I feel like the "Tazz", just watching the wheels go round and round!



With tea cups literally every where I turn, I just could not decide which ones to show you. So, I made the executive decision! You will only see demitasse cups today. Did I ever tell you I collect demitasse cups? Well, you guess it, (you are so smart) I have quite a large collection of these stunning little beauties. "Let's just pretend" (to quote Noah) they are regular size tea cups and enjoy them today.



I am going to start with my favorite Haviland, Limoges. The beautiful teal cup has a ribbon shaped handle. I am pretty sure this is my favorite "little cup." For the shower, each table will have different color demitasse cups for center pieces. I like using matching colored cups with baby pink roses. It looks so pretty. I promise to take lots of pictures.




In my master plan for this post, I was going to only show you Limoges cups, however, I purchase this cute little thing this weekend at an estate sale. It has no name, is very delicate, and I just fell in love with it. The porcelain is almost see through. I love the scalloped edges and the little thumb rest. It has the cutest double row of beading. Just look at that handle, too cute. It was less than a dollar and I would have paid more. It was my lucky day. Did you know that with all demitasse cups, you can always place your finger in the handle?






I have to tell you about this estate sale. I didn't have a lot of money on me (that always happens at good sales). I went up to this building where a sign read, "Please ring door bell." An older lady came to the door and lead me into this large empty room, where there was only very, old dirty clothes. My thought was "I parallel parked for this?" We went into a very dark second room, now I'm thinking, I am going to get mugged because I have an expensive purse! I promise God, I will never bring it again! Just let me live! (No more police shows for Martha!) It was very dark when I entered the third room. As she turned on the lights I saw rows and rows of her mother's collectibles. It was like that scene in Indiana Jones where the Ark of the Covenant is put into a wear-house of the Government for storage. I'm talking glass and china stacked to the ceiling. This woman collected everything any self-respecting collector would want! Everything was so dirty, but so pretty. I left with a large bag full for under $20. I did make the wise decision to always go with someone to dark building that are having estate sales (just in case.)

Ok, back to the tea cups. The next cup is a Tuscan from England. It always reminds me of a large cup because of the print. The flowers are "Old Roses". I can easily see this in a large cup.





Last cup I am sharing with you today is a Coalport. As elegant as only a Coalport can be. Love the handle on this one as well.





It was my son, Kyle's, 22nd birthday with week. He has been celebrating all week. Here he is with Elyse, his girlfriend. The cute little girl, is my Princess Maya. She loves to get into pictures.



Here is Mr. Linky. Ready for you to add your beautiful tea cups to this post. Thank you for being a part of Tea Cup Tuesday No. 75!



I will be adding tea cups to my website "Pretty Vintage Things". Please check out the new items. Hugs, Martha

33 comments:

Antiques And Teacups said...

What a fab party that will be! How special. That was some adventure though. Now you know what it's like to be an undercover agent!
Ruth

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Stunning each cup Martha! I want to go to your house for high tea, I want you to give me my tea in the blue and white...or in the Haviland...or in the...or,or,or,....geezz!! You have a beautiful family, too. Have a great week. FABBY

The Charm of Home said...

Haha! Oh, I love your dark room estate sale story! I would love a surprise like that too! I am drooling over your Coalport cup. It's gorgeous! Thanks for having us!
Sherry

Terri said...

Martha, you have me ooohing and aaaahhhhing over all your gorgeous cups! The shower is going to be so beautiful! Do you only put out cups you can handle being broken : ) I will admit to not putting out my very best! The demitasse cups are all amazing, and your story of the estate sale is epic! Wish I had been with you (and had money in my pocket!).
Hugs,
Terri

Micupoftea said...

Beautiful cups, indeed! Love the demitasse and love the Tuscan~ How exciting ...a new baby on the way. Congrats! What a joy to celebrate birthdays with family. I bet you are looking forward to a memorable Baby Shower and sharing your lovely collection with everyone :)
shawn

Tea & Chocolate Guy said...

Martha you have a most wonderful collection of beauties!! Loved your estate sale story ... I wish we had those kinds of sales here in Canada.. Congrats on your upcoming Grandma #3 ... my mother just became a grandmother for the first time (to my brother's and SIL's first child.. baby Matthew) and she is completely new woman at 73 years young!! Happy tea Tuesday..xo HHL

GardenOfDaisies said...

Martha you have so many beautiful teacups!! I really love that Old Roses cup and saucer with the yellow and pink wild roses and gorgeous leaves! I've never seen that one before.

Jocelyn said...

Oh my what gorgeous teacups. And what an amazing story. Thanks for sharing about how you acquire so many beautiful china pieces.

Jocelyn @
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

What a lovely shower you will have, Martha. Gorgeous teacups! Each one is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing your amazing story. One never knows, eh?

Blessings,
Sandi

Unknown said...

So many great things in this post!! A baby shower tea party!! OMG, do I wish I was there, I would make baby shower cupcakes for sure!! Ok, no lie but I think my heaven would be your house w/ all of these amazing cups around me all day long and I am so glad to see more cups on your web store! FUN at payday! Have a great week and wonderful tea baby shower!

Trisha said...

Beautiful post Martha, I can't imagine all the things that went through your mind while you walked through dark rooms. When I am alone, I pass up all inside sales, unless there are other shoppers present. Glad all went well, and you found lots of treasures. Have a Blessed day.

Annesphamily said...

Your tea cups are so beautiful! I know it would be hard to choose! Have a terrific week and thank you for sharing. You are so beautiful. Anne

Charlotte said...

Martha,
I love them all! No wonder you can't decide which ones to use. I guess that is a good problem to have:)

I'm sure your tea party shower will be very beautiful!

Charlotte

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Hi Martha,
that was a dramatic story but it ends with nice fins - gorgeous. Love all the tea cups. Thank your for shairng all your pretty treasures (cups and childrens!) and for hosting this sweet event. May I invite you for a tea, too?
Best greetings, Johanna

karanmi said...

Love the story of you Estate Sale finds. And so lucky to get so much for so little.

Last estate sale I went to a few weeks back had beautiful stuff if you wanted to leave your arm anad leg there. LOL Needless to say it all stayed right where it was. And I was so disappointed as they had teabag holders and I would have loved to have a few of them.

Marth how can you ever pick a favorite. I never could. It seems like every teacup you show I love.

I have been asked to do a table for a tea party the end of Sept. and am having a terrible time trying to find what I have in mind for it. The Senior Center did one about 4 years ago and the tables were so extravigant. So I know I am going to have some stiff compitition for this . And it is not even a contest.

Hope you are having a great week.

Karan

♥ Miss Tea said...

Congrats for being a grandma! loving all of your teacups collections, i would be in heaven if i had huge collection like yours and tea house sounds wonderful to me! Noah is so adorable and grown up too! love the pic of your son and his gf as well as princess maya, they're all adorable! thanks for hosting and sharing again, blessings, Susan

parTea lady said...

Congrats on the coming grandbaby. I know the shower will be fabulous. I'm sure it is difficult to choose from so many gorgeous cups. Loved hearing your estate sale story - glad you made it out alive with those treasures. ;-)

I think my favorite is the Coalport cup - love blue and white. Hope Kyle has a great birthday (my only son Paul is 23 now). You are right on about time going by faster & faster as you get older.

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

love the pink ones all stacked up on the table! Congrats on the new grandbaby! how exciting, it is so fun to plan an event like that.

Beth said...

Martha, You have so many lovely cups! I can't wait to see photos of your afternoon tea baby shower as I know it will be beautiful!
xo, Beth

Suz said...

I can hardly stand it! You have so many wonderful cups. Are they all demitasse? Congratulations on #3. That is so exciting. I am still waiting for my daughter to get married ;-) Now to go back and enlarge!
Fondly,
Suz

Snap said...

Martha,

The shower is going to be fabulous and I love your demitasse cups (and the idea to use them as centerpieces). Happy Tea Day!

ooglebloops said...

Love the Tuscan cup - you always do a lovely display!!! I am late to tea today, but my post is up!! Drop by if you get a chance!!

Patti said...

First and foremost, congratulations on the upcoming grandbaby. It's funny, you and I have been communicating for months, and I had no idea one of your daughters was expecting. That's wonderful!! I am rejoicing with you. So the count will either be 2 boys and 1 girl (which Noah probably wants) or 2 girls and 1 boy (which Maya probably wants). And all you and the child's parents want is a healthy baby.

As always, your teacup showings are stunningly beautiful. You have such a gorgeous collection of teacups. I sure would love to take tea at your house. (The baby shower will be fabulously beautiful!!)

And, yes, you do need to have that large of a collection. Is it ever possible to have too many teacups? I don't think so.

Love,
Patti

Zaa said...

Hey Martha I signed in for the linky and the first link is bogus.. I'm not sure how to delete it..but thought I should let you know ... the second linky worked though...It's another cyberspace adventure( Ha Ha) ..Thanks

Zaa said...

Congratulations on your soon to be new addition to the family ... You will have to start buying baby cups ( ha ha) for the little one...

I was giggling at your estate sale story... I can well imagine some places are pretty scary,but were there are cups and saucers concerned , you will prevail( Hee Hee) and what wonderful little treasure you found... I particular like the little scalloped one ..It looks like porcelain .. I wonder how old it is...

You have such a fabulous display of cups ..it looks like teacup heaven to me... HUGS

Cass @ That Old House said...

Oh martha, you cracked me up with your estate sale story -- I've had similar experiences and now TRY and take someone with me.... but it isn't always possible!
I love your demitasse cups -- I love those little beauties.
but that blue and white Coalport? Oh, be still my heart!
It's stunning.
thanks!
Cass

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh, Martha,
Those tea cups are exquisite! I would definately keep the blue ones. Me and the girls are taking time out each day to have a cup of tea. It can be very soothing after a hectic day. Thank you for showing us your collection. I never get tired of tea posts. I just love them, and you definately have some treasures.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

romance-of-roses said...

Martha, yes you are surrounded by fabulous tea cups, such beauty, oh my! These tea cups are definitely a big treasure to own. How proud you must be of all of them. Congratulations....Lu

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
You know I love all your teacups in your collection all so Beautiful !!!!
I miss your lovely comments, I have a new Tablescape.I hope you can come visit.
XXOO Diane

Lady Linda said...

Oh Martha...how fun! I love estate sales! I love the demi c/s...I started collecting them long before I got into the regular size. I only had a little space as a newly wed,so went for the demi's. I have a great fondness for them.
Have fun with your baby shower,
Love, Lady Linda

Kathy said...

Gorgeous teacups! I am really loving the green one - great deal! The only thing I can think is to borrow kettles to keep hot water flowing and to use as many teapots as you can! Hope all goes well and you have great fun!
God Bless,
Kathy

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