December and Memorable Days

November 30th was St. Andrew's Day...

Saint Andrew's Day is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle. It is celebrated on 30 November, which this year was on a Saturday. Saint Andrew's Day is Scotland's official national day, and Monday is a Bank Holiday Monday.... so we can all celebrate Scotland.

This is a great vintage transferware plate in the Royal Warwick, England Lochs Of Scotland series in the Loch Otch pattern from the 1940s. A great Scottish vista with thistles in the border! 

 Next up...

December 1st was today, but I am sure I won't be the first to say to you... in the English tradition...

"white rabbits, white rabbits" 

in the belief that good luck will be guaranteed for the month.

Although the superstition has been around for a long time, it was first recorded in a folklore book in 1909 apparently...

I loved trying to beat my English Nana to it every month...

The artwork above... the white rabbit of Alice In Wonderland, of course... 

is by Jacob Kuch.

So Enjoy your December... things will get hectic soon for the holidays!

Happy Birthday Prince William

Wishing a happy birthday to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge...

born June 21, 1982... above photo from a few years ago with his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth...

This is one of the many plates that commemorated William's birth to Prince Charles and Princess Diana...

Now married to Catherine and father of 3 children...

amazing how time flies!

I think this antique Happy Birthday postcard says it all! 

Birthday Greetings

With affectionate wishes

for your future

happiness 

Easter Greetings from Time Was Antiques

He is Risen!

Easter greetings to you 

May you have a blessed Easter!

Love from Time Was Antiques

rare Shelley Polka Dot Dainty Coffee Pot at Time Was Antiques

First of all, I LOVE Shelley China. Secondly I LOVE blue...so what's not to love with this Shelley blue Polka Dot Dainty coffee pot I just added to Time Was Antiques.  I love to find Shelley china, and this is a rare one! So cool! 

For more info & photos of the Shelley Polka Dot coffee pot click on the photo.


We are going to the Victoria BC Tea Festival this weekend on the Blackball Coho ferry from Port Angeles, 12 miles away. We love Victoria, BC and this is a great excuse to go...see the Victoria Tea Festival and celebrate our 37th anniversary which is next week on the 16th. Sort of early Valentine's Day & anniversary all in one. We are looking forward to it!

This is a real photo antique Romance postcard. The wording is:

Girl In Hammock Reads A Book, 

Man Comes By And Steals A Look

Cute! To see more about the postcard, click on the photo.

Have a great day, a cup of tea with a friend and think of all the blessings we have!

1910 Art Nouveau New Year's Postcard, First Footing New Year's Custom

I had to share my favorite antique postcard for New Year's greetings. This is a great art nouveau design card from 1910. I LOVE it! The verse says:

You see not as

step before you

As you tread on

another year

But what looks dark

in the distance

Will brighten as

you draw near

Happy New Year

The card is by the Gibson Art Company. Cool!

You can see more about it at Time Was Antiques at this link:

Art Nouveau New Year postcard 1910

       The new year has a lot of fun customs in England...and First Footing is a favorite of mine.  In the areas of England, Scotland and Wales, the First Footer brings luck to the home for the following year as long as certain customs are met. The First Footer must not be a resident, must come in from outside bearing salt, a gift, coals or a drink...which in Scotland is almost always whiskey, of course. The man must enter backwards and be tall and dark with a narrow, high arched foot. It is bad luck if the first person in the door is a woman or a blonde. The First Footer is welcomed, led through the house and sent off with a gift.  The custom has some other variations, but that is the general idea. How fun!

So...who's coming through your door first on New Year's Eve?