Mixed Media ATC

Hello All,
Can you believe it is the last day of September already???
We have had rain for 3 days now, and it is so good!
I have been working in my art room a little and created this ATC.
I first used watercolor paper and dyed it with coffee.
I stamped on it with Stazon ink.
I made the wand out of a toothpick.
Coffee dyed the lace.
Mixed two colors of Stickles to get the gold and black edges.
(I do love Stickles!)
I used the page number (31) from a very old book.
I hope you like my little witchy card.
I am not huge into Halloween, but I do enjoy dressing up and eating CHOCOLATE!

I am showing this card for Theme Thursday.
Thanks so much for coming by.
Have a creative day!
Hugs,
Terri

Tea Cup Tuesday - Royal Anniversary

Hello All, and welcome once again to Tea Cup Tuesday!
Today I am sharing a cup I purchased on one of my trips to England. I found it near Buckingham Palace in a little gift shop.

This cup celebrates the Diamond Wedding anniversary of H.M. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on November 20th 2007.

It was inspired by the Queen's wedding dress and veil.

It must have been an amazing veil!

The inner cup is so gorgeous with the crown and the fine designs of sprays and leaves. I love the tiny gold stars.

I do wish this photo was in color. Her dress must have been stunning.

How romantic is this! Cherubs!

Here is a peek at their marriage certificate.

Here we have a very elegant double split loop handle with a thumb rest and a spur.

Fuller view of the plate. The details were highlighted with 22 carat gold by hand. I love drinking from this cup. It really feels wonderful in the hand and it is so beautiful that it makes tea very special indeed!

At least with this cup I can pinpoint the year it was made. It was made in 2007 in Staffordshire, using traditional methods that have been used for over 250 years.
The purchase of one of these cups helps fun the Royal Collection Trust. A charity set up to take care the paintings and works of art the royals have collected over the past 500 years. Which is purported to be a magnificent collection.

Thank you so much for coming by for a visit today.
If you would like to show us one of your tea cups then please make your post and then come back and fill in the two blanks below in Mr.Linky and you will automatically be added to the list. Then we can all come and see your beautiful cup.
Tell us about your cup.
Tell us how you came to have your cup.
And don't forget to stop in to see Martha at Martha's Favorites. Her and I really enjoy hosting tea cup Tuesday. We appreciate each and everyone of you!
Hugs,
Terri

Halloween Crafts

Halloween Goodies

Hello All,
It is getting to be that time of year when we think of fall colors and black cats. I am getting into the "spirit" of Halloween and making a kinds of mischief in my art room.
I belong to a really fun group of creative people called Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group. We make art and participate in swaps that center around Marie. Swaps are so much fun because they make me try new things. Today I am showing you a few of the swap items I have been making. The first photos are of shoes that I have made.

I have a free video tutorial on the side bar to make shoes. I made this tut earlier in the year, it is the same template but a spring version of the shoe.
This is my Halloween version. I used all vintage materials, except for the papers.

It is hard to see, but there is a gorgeous black rose on the front of the shoe below. I received some of these roses from a Halloween swap last year and they were perfect for the front of this shoe. Can any one tell me how to get good clarity in a photo with dark items?

I loved making the bow out of cheese cloth. I love cheese cloth!

These are little doily bundles that I tucked into each shoe. They are filled with Halloween textile treats like fabric, vintage lace and ribbon.

These triangles are for a banner swap. I have never made a banner before, so I was excited to give it a go. I will send these off and receive back triangles from other swappers to make my banner from. I can't wait to see all the different creations.

These are some Marie Halloween ATCs I have been playing with . I coffee dyed the cards first and then stamped and added to them.

Thank you so much for coming by today.
I hope that your week is full of creative opportunities.
Hugs,

Terri

Tea Cup Tuesday with Sarah and Betsy

Hello All and welcome to Tea Cup Tuesday!
A day to oooh and aaahhhh over everyone's tea cups. Sarah is kindly showing us the two cups I am sharing today. (She is in one of her favorite Anime costumes)

Martha and I have been hosting this party for a while now and have really loved meeting all of you and seeing all the different styles of tea cups around.
We appreciate each and everyone of you
for stopping by,
for commenting and for posting your lovely china.

Today, I am showing you two cups that I love. They are both a soft pink color, and both lovely cups to use. This first one has plenty of gold filigree on it to make me quite happy!

The first one here I am having a cup of Organic English Breakfast tea.

And we have a little guest with us today. Wee Betsy decided she too would like to partake in tea today from my chosen first cup! I think this is Wee Betsy's very first taste of tea.

The Krister Porzellan Manufaktur company in Germany made this cup.
1934-1945 is the time frame that this backstamp was in use. There is another KPM company from Berlin that is very well known. The Krister one that made my cup mimicked this well know company's backstamp for many years, was sued for it (but did not loose). They made fine porcelain themselves.

It really is a pretty cup. The photos do not do it justice.

My Second cup below, is an Aynsley. It was made in Stoke on Trent in England.

As you can see this cup has a corset shape. Aynsley seems to make many this shape. It has a simple loop handle with a little gilding on it. The handle looks graceful to me.

It has such a delicate vintage looking flower spray inside.

It is a very simple cup, yet very pretty to use.

This backstamp was in use after 1935 from what I could research. Although it does not say "made in" on it. So that does confuse me. I need to get some good books for backstamps.

Here is a little tea pot I found in California about 10 years ago. It is a sweet little pot.I love the delicate pinks and oranges used in the flowers. It was made by Z.S and C company in Bavaria. I have not yet found information about this company or it's backstamps. If you know of a resource I could use to find out, I would appreciate it.

And here is a picture of Sarah and her dress.

Thank you so much for coming by today. If you would like to join in Tea Cup Tuesday and share one or more of your own tea cups (because it is about tea cups, right?), then go make your post with your tea cup in it, then come back here and fill in the two blanks in Mr. Linky. Then you will be added to the list and we can come see your cup.
Tell us about your cup
Tell us who made it, how you came to have it...
Hugs to you all,
Terri

The Blessings of Friendship

Friends are a gift you give yourself. Have you ever heard this before? I was thinking about this statement and wondering how this works. I have decided that for myself, it is about being open and accepting of friendship first that allows two like minds to meet. I also thought about how one feels about oneself affects how our friendship form. Then I began thinking about how "Like attracts like" and how that works into a friendship.

All this thinking began last week when my dearest friend moved far, far away. We met in a library, and it didn't take long before we were sharing all kinds of fun adventures.

Are we alike....we must be in some ways that are fundamental, but in others we are quite opposite. She loves modern....I love vintage....she is a social butterfly and I am somewhat of a hermit up in my art room...she loves makeup and perfume...I am allergic to perfume and a bit of a slob (didn't know that about me did you!). Actually, I wonder about the slob part....I am not really a slob, just preoccupied with ideas for art. Have you ever found yourself brushing your teeth with the old nasty toothbrush that you use to flick paint on your canvas?, then you know what I mean. My friend though, looks incredible...ALL THE TIME! Her clothes, jewelry and makeup always match perfectly. She is so talented that way, and it flows into her home as well. Always lovely.

But I admire my friend for so many reason other than those...she is kind, she is soft hearted...she is thoughtful, friendly, compassionate, open minded, intelligent...so many things.

And I miss her already. It has only been four days : (

I appreciate her and all that we have shared (and still hope to share in the future).

And I appreciate all of you as well. Meeting all of you on the blogs, seeing what you do and what matters to you. You all inspire me so very much! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to stop by and see what I have been up to.
Friendship is indeed a gift you give to yourself.

So here is to friendship....may we be brave and open to the love, joy and encouragement of each other.
Hugs to you all,
Terri

Tea Cup Tuesday with the Queen

Hello All, welcome, once again to Tea Cup Tuesday hosted by
Martha of Martha's Favorites and myself. Thank you so much for coming by and also for showing us your beautiful tea cups.
We have really enjoyed doing this party together,
and it is amazing how fast the time has flown since we began.

Today I am showing you my two commemorative tea cups from England. I have only just began collecting this type of cup, and I think it is going to become one of my favorite collections.

I found this cup on my trip this past summer, you know, the trip I said I found 7 new tea cups!
The shop I found this one in had bars on the doors and you had to knock so someone would come and let you in! It was so worth it. I found 4 of my new cups in there. The shop was piled high with all kinds of wonderful antiques and vintage items. Tea cups were stacked up on each other, tucked just about everywhere in the tiny shop. I went around at least 3 times and I still think I missed some. This is one of the cups and saucers I was really happy to find. My very first commemorative china!
I really enjoy drinking tea from this cup.

As you can see from the backstamp, it is a Tuscan cup. I did not have any luck researching on the internet for a date for this pattern. I did find that this stamp first was in use in 1947 and Queen Elizabeth's coronation (going by the plate above) was in 1953. I am pretty sure that the plate was made after her coronation!

This cup and saucer are also still bearing the shops sticker that it retailed in.

I found my second commemorative cup in my hometown at a local antique market. I was delighted to find it.

This cup also commemorates the Queen's coronation.

This is the back of the cup. Does anyone know why the R is there? I know that the Queen does not have a last name. Her family changed their "last name" around 1917, because it sounded quite German (to avoid the anti German sentiment of the first World War), to Windsor (or being from the House of Windsor).

This mark was used by Crown Staffordshire after the 1930s.
I hope to find older commemorative china when I visit England this fall...or at least in the spring.

And today, I leave you with this glorious vision of confection! My daughter and her dear friend were home from university last weekend and they baked this incredible cake! Everyone (but me) really enjoyed it : )

If you would like to join in and play tea cups with us, this is what to do:
Create a post on your blog about your tea cup(s)
Tell us about your cup
Come back here and fill in the two blanks for Mr. Linky
Click on your own link to make sure it is working

We look forward to visiting you and seeing your tea cup today!
Hugs,
Terri

Tea Cup Tuesday Chintz!

Hello All, thank you so much for coming by to visit today!
What a thrill to have you over : )
Every now and then, someone will ask me "where do you keep all your teacups?". This post is to answer this question. Most of my tea cups are in this hutch (see below) in my dining room. The rest of them I tuck here and there around the room, in my kitchen and in my art room. I am in need of a second hutch and have been on the lookout for just the right one. For today, I will share with you a what is on one of the shelves in my hutch.

Here is Chintz cup # 1. I don't remember where I found this one, but I haven't had it for long.

Chintz china patterns were developed in response to the brightly colored floral Chintz fabrics coming from India as early as the 17th century. These fabrics inspired the chintz looking patterns created by pottery makers in England in the 19 and early 20th century. Technology was limited at the time and making these pieces of china was time consuming and difficult. Early in the 19th century the Grimwade brothers finally developed a way to do it and became famous for their designs. They became the Royal Winton company, and made gorgeous chintz china patterns in England.

Neither of my two cups come from their company. So I can assume other companies gave it a go and produced some very beautiful pieces. Vintage chintz china is very expensive. So if you have any tucked away in a box somewhere, you might want to get it out and place it some where special. Reproduction chintz china is available today as well, at a much more reasonable price.

A decorative simple handle. Gorgeous bright summer flowers.

I just adore the riot of colors.

This cup was made by Collingwood at Staffordshire potteries, and from the backstamp I would date it around the 1930s.

Below is my second cup for today. I have had it a little longer but can not remember either where I got it.

The colors on this cup are much more delicate than the first. There is a softness to the pattern.

It has a simple "7" handle, that I showed you all on another post. The pink in this cup is a very lovely shade. I would love to drink in this cup, but the bottom of the inside is very discolored. I love this cup anyways!

It is a Rosina cup! I have many Rosina cups already. I do love this companies china.

I found this little Cream and Sugar at a local antique market. I was so delighted with them, there was no debating as to whether or not they were coming home with me! They are not chintz, but since they were on the shelf, I thought I might share them as well.

Isn't this the sweetest creamer?

And the sweetest little sugar bowl?
They are actually quite small. They each may hold barely a 1/4 cup.

This set is from Crown Stafforshire. Since it only says England, and not "made in", I am thinking it could be from the early 1900s. The 1891 Tariff Act of the U.S. made it mandatory to put the name of the country of origin on exports to the U.S.

Thank you all so much for sharing Tea Cup Tuesday with me again today. If this is your first time here, welcome!
Don't forget to visit Martha, who is my co host for this party.
She always has wonderful tea cups to see.

If you would like to join in for Tea Cup Tuesday. First make a post on your site that is about tea cups. You can show photos of one (or more) tell us about it, where it is made or from, how you came to have it...things like that. We love to see a picture of the backstamp (makers mark on bottom).
After you have made your post with a tea cup in it, come back here and fill in the two blanks in Mr.Linky and you will automatically be added to the list and we can come and see your lovely tea cups! Yea!
Hugs,
Terri