Monday, June 22, 2009

The Story of a Tea Cup

Welcome to my first Tea Time Tuesday. This event is hosted by my dear friend Barb over at Grits and Glamour. I decided I wanted to share a tea cup that was my moms. My mother collected tea cups. She had them displayed proudly in a cabinet in our dining room. Every birthday, mothers day and Christmas I would save my pennies to buy my mom a tea cup set. The cups I bought my mom never cost much. Usually I picked them up at the drug store or our local Gemco (remember those stores? ) and I don't remember one of them costing over $6.00. It never mattered to my mom she displayed them right along with her more collectible tea cups. When mom passed away I was just 27. I remember my sister and I and sister in laws and nieces going through her things. I chose two cups I was rather fond of. Looking back I don't know who took the others. Sadly I didn't take one that I had bought my mom. Maybe I thought they were less valuable, who knows. Oh how I wish I had taken them now! This lovely tea cup is a hand painted beauty in soft yellows, roses and greens. I love how the pattern wraps itself all the way around the cup.


I have it sitting on a silver tray that was given to Mr. Whimsy and I as a wedding gift. The lace napkin is an antique and was given to me by a friend to carry at my wedding. I suppose it is actually a handkerchief but I love it on the silver tray with the crystal and the tea cup.



I actually had to break out the silver polish to use this tray! I think the results are worth it.




The pattern also carries inside of the cup which I just love.




I think the lattice and pierce work on this tray is so pretty.






This is from the Royal Albert Fragrance series.





I used my Waterford bud vase to hold some sugar cubes.



Here is where my story turns a bit sad. Remember I said I had chosen two of my moms tea cups? Well when cleaning them today I broke the saucer for the other cup.


This is really a demitasse cup but I love the petite and feminine details of this cup. I was terribly upset when this broke. Sadly it isn't a clean break either.




All hand painted.




A tiny little bloom can be found on the back side of the cup.





This one reads 'House of Goebel" Bavaria W. Germany.





Aren't the tiny flowers on the saucer delicate looking? That's my mother and I on my wedding day. I love this picture of us.




Thanks for joining me for my first Tea Time Tuesday. Be sure to visit Grits and Glamour by clicking here to see more lovely tea happenings. Have a blessed day!



24 comments:

  1. Oh what a sweet story of your tea cups. I'm so sorry the saucer broke. Love the silver tray and the Royal Albert cup and saucer and the hankie. I use vintage hankies to layer my napkins. Yours is so pretty!
    Happy Tea Time Tuesday to you...

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  2. What a lovely story. I am so sorry the one broke. Even if it isn't a clean break, I would still glue it and save it. Your silver tray and hanky are stunning. Beautiful teacup and it all looks so inviting. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Thank you for sharing that personal story. What a tribute to your mom!

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  4. Oh , what a sweet memory post....Your mothers and now yours - the teacups are precious. I think you may be able to google how to repair your saucer. It is really quite amazing what glue and sometimes a little paint can do...please give it a try...if not maybe you could have it made into a mosaic ?
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  5. KD, loved your story and your Royal Albert teacup is so lovely. I adore the soft yellow. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Barb

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  6. Hi, we have the same initials...
    thanks for coming to Tea Time Tuesday...
    kate

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  7. I'm not a teacup lover but I do love the story about your mom. Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful memory with us.

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  8. Very pretty tea cups. I'm so sorry you had the little accident... But it looks like a good break... you could repair it. Loved your pictures!

    ~Liz

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  9. Lovely story, and you were a beautiful bride. I love your dress.
    D

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  10. What a wonderful story. TFS. Your teacup is beautiful.

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  11. I enjoyed your tea cup story. What special tea cups since they were your mother's. I'm sorry you broke the saucer, I broke something today too, but nothing as special as yours (a decorative plate with lemons on it.)

    Maybe you could use the broken pieces in a mosiac, for a stepping stone or something.

    Katherine

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  12. What a special story!!! The tray and teacup are just so lovey and I love the sugar cubes in the bud vase...so clever!!!

    I am so sorry that the little saucer got a boo-boo. I hope it can be repaired!!!

    I was really touched by this sweet post. Thank you so much for sharing it!!!

    Enjoy the day!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

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  13. Thanks for visiting...glue that saucer and save it! You can always put it on a shelf and enjoy its beauty...

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  14. Your tea cup is so pretty. Thanks for telling us the story behind it. Sorry for the broken saucer. Keep looking on eBay. You just may find a replacement saucer. I had a whole rack of eight different tea cups and saucers and I bumped it and the whole thing came crashing down. I saved all the piecies. Whose where only the cup or the saucer broke, I found replacements on eBay. The ones that were smashed to smitherines, I will someday us to make a mosaic on a tray or something.

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  15. Kd, Thanks for sharing your fond memories of your mom. I'm so sorry about your saucer! Please check out replacements.com. You might find a replacement for your beloved teacup. Good luck!

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  16. Beautiful tea setting KD. But even more beautiful is the story you shared. What a sweet memory of your mom. I would try to repair the saucer even if only for display. And I love the picture of you and your mom, she is beaming with pride and you were a gorgeous bride! Kathy

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  17. Beautiful! Such a great story.

    I also wanted to let you know that I tried your BLT salad yesterday and it is now one of my favorite things to eat. Thanks. Matter of fact, I am posting one of my recipes on Tempt my Tummy Tuesday and mentioning yours too. Hope that is okay. Can I post a link to yours?

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  18. What a sweet little tea tray and precious story. I'm so sorry it broke. Your setting is very inviting.

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  19. Aw... nice story. So sad your saucer broke. I did the same thing with a "hot chocolate" cup from a set my mother gave me. I felt so bad about it, but I saved all the pieces and will have is restored some day (unless I find a replacement).

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  20. So many memories associated with your post today. No wonder you were so sad when you broke the saucer. Who wouldn't have been. Loved all your treasures.

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  21. Oh, I am so sorry that the saucer broke. Both tea cups are so pretty, and that silver tray is lovely. I think I'd glue the saucer back together and lay that pretty napkin (hankie) over it (where it allows the pretty little flowers to show on one side) before placing the tea cup on it. laurie

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  22. I'm so sorry the saucer broke. I know people say it's not the things, but the memories - but sometimes the tings evoke memories. Cradle those memories in your heart, share them with your family, memories can't be broken - the Tablescaper

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  23. Thank you for sharing your lovely story with us. I hope you saved the saucer, you might try a mosaic with the pieces on a picture frame. Loved the beautiful picture of you & your mom. ♥ Diane

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  24. Awww, I'm so sorry about the saucer. You and your mom look so beautiful and happy on your wedding day. That's just a great shot of you two looking at other. I'm thankful and fortunate to still have my mom.

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