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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The Pouring Teapot Give Away.....

"Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. "
~Author Unknown~
Tea time is drawing to a close, this is the last installment of La Tea Dah's (Gracious Hospitality) blog-a-thon. This last week is all about The Pouring Teapot, which is all about sharing teapots. Tell your teapot story, give it's history, and tell what it means to you. If you have a whole collection, share them all!I am not really much of a teapot collector as some of you are. I do have a collection of teapots and one or two for decoration but for daily use it is my trusty copper kettle that helps me make a good cup of tea!

This pretty little pot was the first gift my daughter-in-love ever gave me.
I love its little round body with its pale rose design and Scripture ringing the lid which says, "Honor the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly." Joshua 24:14 (NIV). Isn't that a perfect Scripture for a serviceable little pot? It rests atop one of my writing desks beside a translucent cup and saucer that belonged to my mother-in-law, and a framed photo of my husband and myself. These are all lovely reminders of having a servants heart and I do on occasion use them for tea.

You have seen this little guy, my Peter Rabbit pot, in an earlier post.
He was a present to myself as he hopped into my heart with his little lettuce leaf cup and cute cotton tail. He was sitting among an odd assortment of bric~a~brack on a flea market shelf looking at me longingly wishing he had a proper home, so I adopted him. He is my favorite one on one tea time treat. Just he and I will slip off into God's Garden, this is what I call my little acres of woods, and take tea with the birds and butterflies. We sit outside in the whispering wind, still, knowing just as surely as the invisible wind is felt, unseen, but still present, that so is God in our garden. With Peter at my side, in God's chosen spot for me, I think deep thoughts, dream big dreams, and whisper prayers that I will indeed bloom where I have been planted.

This vintage silver pot with its red Bakelite handle and knob are new to my collection. It was seen in last weeks blog-a-thon post.
I just purchased it a few weeks ago. It was reduced as the booth was going out of business and I had looked at it several times but it was a bit pricey. As fate would have it, I was in the right place at the right time and it was the right price. It now resides in my glass fronted cupboard with some other silver pieces and will be put into service when entertaining. I was particularly drawn to this pot because of the play of the red plastic off the silver shine. It sums up my style of entertaining, casual elegance.

The only collection I have are electric hot pots, most of which were made by Brew Master. Here are just a few grouped together in a kitchen cupboard, also from a previous post.
They were manufactured in the 50's, 60's, and early 70s'. Most of them have the new Moss Rose pattern on them. I especially like the ones with the little blue bird on top. They whistle when the water is heated. I have paired down my collection to just my very favorites. I began collecting these years ago before the teapot craze and they were really cheap, usually $2.00 to $4.00 apiece. Now they have gotten collectible and are $20.00 and upward. I used to choose one to use everyday for heating my tea water but they are now more for viewing pleasure and display. They do come out and play tea party frequently, just not daily.

My trusty copper kettle is my mode of making tea now.
I met this kettle in a flea market also. It was new and sitting atop its box all shiny and ready for use. As my old kettle had seen better days and the bottom had been cooked away from years of service, it retired to the garden as a planter and they new one came to replace it. She is not as shiny as she used to be but to me she has the perfect patina and she can help brew a mean cup of tea! I love filling her up with cold water and setting her on the back burner to slowly heat as I begin my morning routine. I know exactly where to fill the water to and where to turn the dial so that the timing is perfect for me to do a quick tidy up of the bedroom and bathroom and putter back to the kitchen where Katy will be releasing a bit of sweet steam. She is cheery and cheeky as she whistles for me to come and join her for the very first sip of morning tea!

That is the extent of my teapots and so we draw a close to this tea party post. This brings us the give away! I love to collect tea cups and saucers, just not in sets. I do have some very lovely sets that were given to me as gifts and I cherish them but my favorite ones are homeless cups and saucers that I like to mix and match into new pairs. I have recently done just that with the two cups and saucers below. I found these precious scenic saucers devoid of matching cups.

This one, with the quaint little cottage on it, is bone china made in England by Royal Vale, with the markings of G 66 4, a product of Ridgway Potteries LTD.
This one, with its charming little woodland scene, is also bone china made in England by Shelley, with the markings of 13370. Daffodil Time.I found two cups, both bone china made in England, that I thought mixed nicely with them, the first being made by Royal Vale with a floral motif that looks as if it may have been plucked straight from the little cottage garden. The colors and patterns compliment each other perfectly. The markings on it are G 3 along with some gold hand painted markings that I cannot quite make out.The second cup is by Royal Albert from the Nell Gwynne Series entitled "Drury Lane". It looks like its pretty yellow posies have sprouted round the cup straight from the woodland floor, once again, they mix and match well.I also picked up a couple of tin serving trays produced for The Wallace Collection London by Elite Gifts Boxes, which are made in England. I think these trays are pretty as well as practical.

The first trays design is taken from a Sevres Porcelian saucer produced between 1775-80 (C397-8). The decoration shows a basket of flowers, including roses, hydrangeas, anemones, tulips, daisies, and convolvulus. The saucer and matching cup were bought by the 4th Marquess of Hertford (1800-70) as part of a Tea Service consisting of a tray, two cups and saucers, a milk jug, and a sugar bowl with cover.
The second trays design was taken from a Sevres Porcelain saucer dated 1774 (C440) with the bold turquoise blue ground invented in 1753 for Louis XV's dinner service. The cup and saucer set were acquired by the 3rd Marquess of Hertford and displayed in St. Dunston's Villa, his residence in Regent's Park, London.I have made up two gift sets that each include a cup, saucer, tin serving tray, a pretty matching vintage hankie pocket which holds a tiny golden rose handled tea spoon, a spot of gourmet tea, and a tiny brass framed tea time print.One gift set will go to La Tea Dah as a hostess gift and the other is the Tea Time Give Away prize!
To sign up for the drawing, just leave a comment on this post. I will choose and post the winner on Monday, May 25, 2008!

Happy Tea Totaling!
Miss Sandy

24 comments:

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Thank you so much for answering my questions. That was so kind of you. Your teapots and tea cups are lovely. And don't we all just love our good old fashioned tea kettles! I love the sound of the whistle, very homey!
I definately would love to be included in your sweet giveaway and how nice that you thought of La Tea Dah with such a wonderful gift.

La Tea Dah said...

Miss Sandy, you are so generous. Thank you so very much for offering a drawing and the sweet hostess gift. You have done a beautiful job of putting sets together --- I love the 'married cups and saucers', as I call them. Thank you very much!

LaTeaDah

Carrie said...

I have enjoyed reading this post and seeing your teapots. Your 'married' teacup and saucer sets coordinate beautifully.

Joanne Kennedy said...

I am also a tea cup and saucer collector.

I had to wipe my chin as I noticed I was drooling over that 2nd set you have listed. So pretty and perfect colors for my room!

I don't have many tea pots. The collection of tea pots I have are mostly Christmas ones. I love having a Christmas tea party.

I hope I win your drawing. So pretty and would make a lovely birthday present for me seeing as how my birthday is on the 22nd. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this one!

Hugs to you.
Joanne

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Miss Sandy!
What a lovely post! I love all your beautiful things. There's something so special about tea items.
Please enter me in you giveaway, it looks so fabulous!
Hugs, Sherry

Vee said...

You have the most amazing collection! The whistling bird feature is so cute. I don't know that I've seen anything like that. I love how you display everything...so completely charming. I'd love to come and sit at your table and have tea with you, my dear!

Decor To Adore said...

Hi Miss Sandy,

The saucer with the thatched roof cottage just sings to me.

As it is now reaching 100 degrees on a daily basis I am restricted to tea at breakfast.

Have a blessed day!

Bonita said...

I so enjoy reading your blog! First of all, your tea things are so beautiful and you definitely have a flair for decorating. But I also enjoy reading your writing and the way you weave a story. The writing is as refreshing as if I were sitting in your home having tea with you. Finally, I'm so amazed at your generosity. Those are killer gifts you're giving away and how thoughtful to give one to La Tea Dah for hosting the party.

Anonymous said...

Hi Miss Sandy,

Love the way you mix and match very nice display. Please sign me up for your drawing. Thank you Vicki Page

Judy said...

You have a wonderful collection of tea pots...hot pots...cups and saucers...and what a great job you did of co-rdinating your sets!

I had to run and check a cup and saucer that I have to see if it matched your woodland scene saucer...mine is much the same, but made by Melba of England.

Anonymous said...

Hello Miss Sandy,
What a wonderful thing to do! It has been a special time during this tea blog a thon, and it is very thoughtful of you to create the giveaway in honor of La Tea Dah! You also have some very beautiful tea cups.
Blessings to you,
Domestically Inclined

Anonymous said...

I just have a regular teapot...nothing fancy like the one you have

dolls123[at]gmail[dot]com

Sarah Mae said...

How feminine! Aren't teacups romantic? Thank you for your kind words about my blog...I just have so many things I want to write about, but organizing my thoughts is whole other matter! I love to research, and I just want to study all day long, but I have two sweet babes to tend too, and I thank God for them!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post. I especially love what you said about sitting in your garden with God. Your collection is absolutely beautiful. I have never seen electric kettles like the ones you have. Very nice.

Anonymous said...

Sandy,

Your teapot collection is amazing! And you said you aren't too much of a teapot collection... you have a wonderful collection! This is coming from a dish-aholic! :)I love the Sevres-inspired trays!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope to visit you again!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandy,
What a lovely collection of tea things you have. Love the mismatched and matched dishes. The green cup and saucer in your first photo is wonderful. How sweet of you to have a giveaway too. Blessings...

Kathy said...

Hi Miss Sandy, I loved the description of your tea-making with the copper kettle. There's nothing quite like the "ritual" of making a cup of tea. It's comforting. I enjoyed your post as always. Thanks, too, for your generosity with a special tea giveaway! ~Kathy

Karin said...

Love your bone china cups and saucers-- so pretty!

My grandma used to display some in 2 glass-windowed cabinets in her house....I think that is why I have a weakness for them!

Sandy said...

Cori and Ruth, consider yourselves entered! I am sorry about the comment thing!

Just A Girl said...

Hi Miss Sandy,

I came back this afternoon and finally found the little link. It might have something to do with the way I have my graphics display set up.
I loved this post! Especially the part about you and Peter sitting in the back yard sipping tea with the Lord. I so wanted to be there with the three of you. What a lovely picture you painted for all of us to see. Thank you and God Bless,

Cori
Oh! Sign me up please!

Unknown said...

Your style of writing makes it so enjoyable to read. I like your teapot stories. You are so thoughtful to give a hostess gift - a perfect tea party guest! :)

Karla Cook @ Roads to Everywhere said...

Oh, what fun! And how sweet of you! Lovely, lovely pictures and stories.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I would love to own one of these sets......

Henry said...

your world is so delightful!

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