Downton Abbey End Season2, Downton Paper Dolls

I missed a Tuesday Cuppa Tea with Antiques And Teacups....sigh...but here is my teacup...a bit late. But I have chosen it because of it's connection date-wise to the period of Downton Abbey which just ended season 2 for us on Monday evening. You can watch all season 2 episodes until March.

 The Imari cup and saucer is similar to several I saw in the series. This particular version was made from 1916 to 1930 by (Royal) Standard, England and I just love it! Available at Time Was Antiques...just click on the photos.

But onto some Downton fun, now that the series 2 is over. Series 3 is in production and set to be shown in the UK in Sept. 2012, so I guess that means we won't get it until next spring again. Sigh....

That's the news Lady Edith & Lady Sybil are obviously communicating here:

I also found some....Taa Daa!...Downton Abbey paper dolls....

Here are 2 of the 4 designs available for free download from artist Kyle Hilton at a great Jane Austen blog called Jane Austen;s World, who has stepped up a century from her usual place to embrace and comment on the Downton Abbey series. Click on the link below to read and download the 4 paper dolls. The likenesses are so GOOD!!!

Jane Austen's World

And last, I found a great Downton Abbey quiz from the Daily Mail Online for you fans to take a shot at....I aced it, but....(blush, blush)

Do you know your Downton? From Lord Grantham's dog to Mrs Patmore's catchphrase

Queen Elizabeth Photo - First As Queen, Never Seen

I had to post this! This was the first photo taken after the Princess Elizabeth became queen at 25 after her father, King George VI's death in 1952. The sitting was commissioned by the queen from photographer Kenneth Clayton, a BBC photographer. He has just released some of the photo shoot in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  Wonderful photos and a letter from the Queen.
The article in The Mail Online can be seen at this link.

 Revealed for the first time in 60 years: First pictures of Elizabeth as Queen unveiled among family portraits taken after the death of her father King George

Downton Abbey Crumbling and needs help! Daily Mail Online article

I am posting this on both my blogs...I have loved the Downton Abbey series on PBS and am looking forward to the second. But the UK Daily Mail Online has posted an article about the REAL Downton Abbey...Highclere Castle owned by the Earl of Caenarvon who's family is famous for funding the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb. I hadn't made the connection until reading the article which gave me a "Duh!" moment.


Highclere Castle is crumbling! The photos are horrendous....let's hope something can be done! We at Time Was Antiques hope so!

The Earl of Caenarvon in an affected bedroom

Hopefully an appeal can be launched. Here is a link to the article and more photos at Daily Mail Online visit:

Can Highclere Castle Be Saved?