Red and Hearts for Valentine's Day, Dunoon, ruby hatpin and red tea tin

It is really amazing to realize that it's already February and Valentine's Day is fast approaching with cinnamon breath and rose tinted glasses!


I wanted to share a few things that bespeak the holiday fast approaching and are a celebration of color and sentiment.

This is a lovely 10kt gold hatpin or stick pin that we have at Time Was Antiques with a faceted faux ruby dating to the 1950-1960s with a pretty heart shape. I just love it! What a statement of love and color on a lapel or hat.  Click the photo for more info.


Today we had a doctor's appointment in Seattle and took the ferry in from Bainbridge Island where we park our car. The shops are starting to be flooded with Valentine treats and goodies. It's a lovely time of year!

Another type of heart jewelry is this expansion bracelet we recently got at an estate auction that is probably already headed to a new home. These bracelets were popular from the late Victorian era to the 1940s.  Here is another example from the 1920s. Click the photo for more info:

Hearts are such a universal symbol of love!

This is a Dunoon mug from 2005-2006 with a design called Valentino that we recently added to Time Was Antiques.  The mug is by Italian designer Umberto Banchelli and has a lot of gold metallic accents that you can't really see in the photo. That speaks Be My Valentine in several languages! Click the photo for more info.


And if you love antique postcards....

This is a 1907 real photo romance postcard. Ahhh.....


To hear about our day in Seattle and Bainbridge Island, visit my other blog, Antiques And Teacups blog for photos and our Teacup Thursday choice.


Tomorrow I'm going to talk about the history of Apostle spoons. Who knew???
Have a great evening and hopefully you are not freezing on the east coast or mid west! I'm feeling a little guilty because we are just rusting here in Washington state!

More on Downton Abbey aka Highclere Castle

After watching the last episode of Downton Abbey on Sunday evening, I was left with a few comments....rather a somber way to end, but not unexpected as the date was 1914. I also felt the last episode was a bit static, felt chopped and hurried to fit the time frame. I know 2 hours total was cut from the presentation seen in the UK, and I PROTEST!!!


That being said, the second season is in production and there is a Christmas special as well. So...not all bad.


I came across an article that covers the setting of Downton Abbey which is actually Highclere Castle, home of the Lords of Caenarvon that is facinating reading as well as viewing because of the photos of the house included.


The article is on a site called Hooked On Houses and is well worth the look and read. Click Hooked On Houses to visit.

I am going to be posting some antique Romance postcards as we approach Valentine's Day. I love them! We have quite a few at Time Was Antiques, and many more to list! This is a typical one from the Edwardian era (the period of Downton Abbey) and was mailed in 1910.

To see more, click the postcard!


Other things I love is antique hatpins and stick pins. This is a heart shaped hatpin or stick pin of 10kt gold set with a diamond in a pretty flower setting from the 1920-1930s. Perfect for your Valentine! Click the photo for more info.

I am fighting off the sinus problem today so low key. Great opportunity to sit, read a good book and sip tea with the vitamin Cs I'm taking.


Please visit our sister blog, Antiques And Teacups for links to Teacup Tuesday in blogland. So fun!! This was Antiques And Teacups contribution today:

Remember...Time Was Antiques is featuring: LOVE Valentine 10% Discount - enter LOVE coupon code 025 for 10% off orders over $50.00. Through February, may be reused. A sweet day for love! Use coupon code 025 when ordering for 10% off when your order is over $50.00.


Have a great day...it's 30 and clear here in Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula...and have a cup of tea with a friend!

Victoria Magazine 1999 hardback book Heart Of England at Time Was Antiques

Victoria Magazine book The Heart Of England

A Journey Of Discovery 1999

I just located these books in the warehouse (I have 4 of them) and have added them to the Time Was Antiques website that have packed since we closed our bricks-and-mortar antiques shop to go exclusively online in 2002. We packed everything up, subsequently moved, and here they are, brand new. The books are gorgeous! There are wonderful photographs of villages, people and tea tables with articles, poetry and recipes. Like a holiday of the best kind.
Here are some other photos I took from my personal copy of the book.

I absolutely love this book! You can see more photos and info at Time Was Antiques at this link:

Victoria Magazine's Heart Of England