Would you like an adventure now,
or shall we have our tea first?
~Alice in Wonderland~
Joyful greetings to you, lovely friends!
Today's post was especially fun for me to put together.
I gathered up some of my favorite photos that I've taken of my teacup, teapot and mug collection.
This is just a small part of all my lovely treasures, and sometime I do wish to share a series of posts about them all. But for now, this is just a wee little taste.
I hope you will grab your most favorite teacup or mug,
pour a nice, hot cuppa tea, sit in a cozy chair,
and join me for a little chat about all things tea.
Are you ready? Good...
Tea is to the body as
music is to the soul.
~Earlene Grey~
Though I have admired all things tea since I was a little girl,
I didn't officially begin my collection until 2015.
Since then, my collection has grown by leaps and bounds.
I have found my lovely teacup, teapot, and mug family members in many places...
antique shops, yard sales, rummage sales,
gift shops, and more.
Whenever my family and I go on holiday,
I always try to come back with some little tea treasure...
a handcrafted mug from Vermont,
an Irish shamrock mug from Co. Clare in Ireland, and
Cath Kidston teacups and saucers from Co. Kildare in Ireland.
It's no secret that I love flowers...
whether they are real or simply a pattern on a teacup,
they bring such delight to my heart.
Floral patterns are among my very favorite.
However, I have begun branching out and adding other designs to my collection.
For my birthday last year, my family got me a pair of teacups, saucers, dessert plates and a serving platter that beautifully display an Irish thatched roof cottage. You can see a picture of it above. Even before I went to Ireland, I was drawn to the beauty and old-fashionedness of a thatched cottage.
I also love designs that show any bit of nature and creation, such as birds or butterflies, and even strawberries, or display the beauty of the seasons or holidays. I love having a special teacup to use at a specific time of year or to celebrate a holiday. It just makes it all the more special.
I like to party, and by party, I mean
sit at home and drink tea.
Teacups are truly a thing of beauty for me.
The same is true of teapot and coffee mugs.
They speak of simplicity, home, beauty, calm, peace,
loveliness, stillness, comfort, coziness, and charm.
When you hold a teacup in your hands it is like taking a step back in time.
Each and every cup, pot or mug has a story to tell.
Whether it is an antique teacup, a pot from a rummage sale,
or a mug from a faraway land you visited,
they all have stories that are brewed deep within them.
I especially love to ponder think about where that teacup has been.
Who owned it before me? What did it mean to them?
Every time you steep a teabag, you are creating a new story for that cup to hold.
These little, simple things evoke a sense of wonder if we allow them.
A person without imagination is like
a teabag without water.
~Alan Fletcher~
One of the most anticipated events of the year for me is the annual Teacup and Mug Exchange
hosted by the lovely Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose blog.
I have participated four times before, and unfortunately last year I had to miss both of her lovely events due to being out of town. This Spring, I am so excited to be able to participate again, as it is always so much fun.
You get to put together a package with either a teacup or mug for another special lady.
Getting to pick out that special star of the show is just one bit of the fun...
you also choose favorite teas or coffees, treats, homemade lovelies such as coasters, doilies, bookmarks, mug cozies, and more, as well as whatever other tea time lovelies or other goodies you want to include. You may even swap both a mug AND a teacup, should you fancy that.
{{I do!!}}
Each time I have participated I have been so surprised by the lovely items that the different ladies have sent me. They are always so generous and every time I'm amazed at the unique items they find! I often sit there wondering where on earth they find some of those things! Such creativity!!
Well, friends, the teapot is empty and this party must come to an end.
We must do this again, though...and soon, too!
I had so much fun getting to share a bit of my collection with you today...
I'd love to hear about your own tea collection, so feel free to share in the comments.
By the way, this is my 100th post! Thank you so much for following along and for being such lovely friends! Here's to 100 more, eh?!?!
And if you are interested, the sign-ups for Stephanie's Tea Cup and Mug Exchange are going on right NOW. Simply click the photo below and you will be taken to her blog where you can learn all about it. She is simply a delightful, gracious host, and I know you will have such fun and be greatly blessed by this event.
May your day be a beauty...