We're All Scottish On Burns Night January 25th

January 25th is the birthday of the famous Scottish author and poet Robert Burns who was born in 1759.

And loving Scotland ad all things Scottish has been famous for years...

 

 

 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert loved the Scottish Highlands, and Prince Albert redesigned Balmoral Castle into their Highland retreat.

And Queen Victoria splashed tartans... including several they designed themselves... around the interiors...

Above is a family drawing of a drawing room at Balmoral, that has hardly changed, as Queen Elizabeth II loves it as well...

Her Majesty at the Ghillies Ball in 1971...

Burns is still remembered by many with Burns Night festivities which include poetry, whiskey and haggis...he even wrote a poem to the famous regional dish of Scotland... which I don't like.  

I recently read a cozy murder mystery by Canadian author C. C. Benison called Eleven Pipers Piping, where the murder occurs at a very rancorous Burns Night supper. A very fun read! 

  I also love his series featuring transplanted Canadian Jane Bee who finds herself a housemaid at the Royal palaces and sleuthful helper of the Queen. Great fun!

These 2 photos of the Scottish Highlands, some of the most popular posts in the last few years on my Facebook page, may go someway to explaining the beauty and appeal of the highlands...

the above photo is of an unidentified location, and the photo below is of Loch Muick in Aerdeenshire...

Or this of the Cairngorms on the Balmoral estate...

And always a popular theme in decor. Shelley China, England, a marvelous pottery which unfortunately closed in 1966, had a long lived popular pattern called Heather. 

Below is an example of the wonderful Scottish landscape with multicolored heather by what I am sure is a salmon stream in a gorgeous large plate or charger...

So remember to sing For 'Auld Lang Syne today...one of Robert Burns most famous compositions. I won't suggest raising a glass of whiskey...don't like that either! I make a poor Scot... good thing I'm English...I'll have that cup of tea now...

Shelley China Landscapes to Start A New Year!

I absolutely love Shelley China. Shelley closed in 1966 and is the focus of collecting societies in the USA, England and Australia and I am a member of all of them. The designs of Shelley are popular for many reasons. But in my opinion, the landscape designs are the most under appreciated ares of Shelley collecting.

Shelley landscape designs include Glorious Devon, Woodland, Surrey Scenery, Bluebell Woods, England's Charm and many others. One of my favorite is the Woodland design cup and saucer that is pictured here. The design was manufactured in several shapes and sizes in it's long history until the pottery closed in 1966.

I love England and the scenery is one of the reasons I do. This could be taken from any number of places from around the English countryside. When we used go annually for a buying trip, we always spent 1 week out of the month in some part of the country we are re-visiting or have never been, and choose for scenery more than anything. Then, of course, it's check the local papers for church fetes, antique fairs and car boot sales!

Just looking at Shelley's landscape designs is a mini trip to England for me and always bring a smile to my face.

To see more of Shelley's landscape or scenic designs... or any other Shelley we might currently have... check this link to Time Was Antiques or click on the photos.

Shelley Shamrock and Old Ireland Teacups, Antique St. Patrick's Day Postcards and Shamrock Napkin Ring

Hello and welcome to my post for the tea related blogs listed at the bottom, as well as a Wednesday vintage blog party.  

As it is close to St. Patrick's Day, I am sharing two very different Irish themed teacups from the archives of Time Was Antiques.

This is the Shelley China, England Shamrock pattern in the Bute shape that was made from 1908-1916. The shamrock was used on several different shapes but this was the first I could locate. They never were around for long, because a lot of folks collect the Shamrock pattern.

This is a Shelley cup and saucer in a landscape pattern called Old Ireland with a cottage that is also pretty neat. This one was made in the Cambridge shape and dates from 1940-1966 when the pottery closed. I always love the landscape patterns. You sip you cup of tea, look at the saucer and dream you were there....

And to go with it, and English EPNS silver plated napkin ring with a shamrock theme dating to the 1930s. Pretty cute! Irish or shamrock themed collectibles are so fun! On St. Patrick's Day, everyone's Irish!

The teacups and the postcards are from the archives of Time Was Antiques.

We have visited Ireland several times, and Dublin is always a favorite. This part of the post is for my husband, a Brit who loves Guinness Stout. Here is the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin where he took a tour...and got samples...I went shopping!

I left he and his buds here, and the ladies went to Grafton Street, the best shopping area in Dublin. We had a great time and ended up at Brown Thomas, one of the best department stores which also has a lovely lunch room where we had a smashing lunch!

Have a great day, a cup of tea and enjoy the blog parties I am in participating in below.

Ruth ~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Common Ground ~ http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

Monday Marketplace

Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela  http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea With Friends

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

Celia ~ http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/  Afternoon Tea

Ivy And Elephants ~http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

What’s It Wednesday

Teacup Thursday, Scottish Themes For Burns Night

January 25th, or around that date, is celebrated in many parts of the United Kingdom as the birthday of Robert Burns, the famous poet, and all things Scottish.

This Shelley China, England teacup has a thistle theme...perfect for drinking a cup of tea in honor of the Scottish post. The cup and saucer is in the Cambrodge shape and was made between 1955 and when the pottery closed in 1966. I love the thistle pattern! 

And here is a hand made vintage plaid tea cozy to go with it...albeit in a clashing red...with a white heather and purple thistles scottish motif:

Burns Night is celebrated with Scottish themed dinners, recitations, toasts. A wee dram is expected to be raised in his honor! Neeps and tatties for sure...who knows...haggis, anyone? And why not a Burns theme tea party?

A famous Robert Burns quote can also apply to the tea table:

 We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
-Robert Burns

To see more of the Shelley teacup or tea cozy at Time Was Antiques, click on the photos.

 

Happy Tuesday Cuppa Tea and the other great tea related blog parties below.! I am joining...a bit late today. Life happens!

I chose this pretty Shelley China, England turquoise cup because of the snowflake theme in the center. January always speaks to me of snow and cold. This year has been a very dry one for us in the Pacific Northwest so far. It was supposed to be another La Nina which means wet and cold but hasn't been anything like the long, cold, wet winter we had last year to date.

Back to the teacup...which is in the Lincoln shape and was made between 1963 and 1966 when the pottery closed. I love the elegance and the pretty gold decoration!
To see more on the teacup and other Shelley China items at Time Was Antiques, click on the photos.

Ever wonder what the British Royal Family receives when they visit other countries? The goft lists for 2011 were released by the press office today and I thought you might like to see them. They are quite fun.

Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall :

 1) PORTUGAL, SPAIN & MOROCCO (28th March - 6th April 2011)
Gifts Received by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall
2) KUWAIT, QATAR, SOUTH AFRICA & TANZANIA (31st October - 10th
November 2011) 
Gifts Received by TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall

Gifts

I see the received a camel saddle...don't think they will have much use in London for that...Highgrove either, for that matter!

 Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge:

1) New Zealand and Australia (17th - 21st March 2011)                                                           
Gifts received by HRH The Duke of Cambridge
2) Canada and the USA (30th June - 10th July 2011)
Gifts received by TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Gifts

Lots of hats!!!!

Have a wonderful day and enjoy visiting the other Tuesday tea realted blogs!
 

Ruth ~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday

Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~  http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/ 
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday

Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 

Ruth  ~ http://timewasantiquesfamily.blogspot.com

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen’s ~ http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com

Friends Sharing Tea Wednesday

Angela  http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/

Tea With Friends

Tuesday Afternoon Tea  http://attitudeivlife.blogspot.com/

Miss Kathy http://thewritersreverie.blogspot.com

Teacup Tuesday, Shelley Drifting Leaves Teapot and Teacup

Hi and welcome to Teacup Tuesday, and all the other tea realted blog parties I am joining listed at the end of the post.

I am sharing the Drifting Leaves pattern by Shelley China, England which is so perfect for fall. I love the teal leaves and the little black stars which are calle Snow Crystals. I have several pieces in this pattern but am just sharing a few of them.

The teapot is in the Gainsborough shape, and there is platinum trim on all the pieces.

The Drifting Leaves cup and saucer, as well as the other pieces were produced from 1956 until the pottery closed in 1966.

The set really sets a wonderful fall tea table and it is nice to have a lot of pieces in the same pattern.

For more info on the Shelley Drifting leaves pieces at Time Was Antiques, click on the photos.

On our way to Costco recently, I remembered to take a photo of a little bit of yard art by a local artisan. The business does green houses, but apparently he does this in his spare time. It's a great recycling project. The 8 foot high rooster is made of oil drums, and other discarded stuff. I think it is so cool!!!

Have a great time visiting the other tea realeted blog parties...and have a cuppa tea with a friend!

Ruth ~ http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tuesday

Kathy~  http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/
Victoria - A Return to Loveliness

Martha~  http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday 
Terri~  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/ 
Teacup Tuesday

Wanda Lee~  http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/ 
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday 
Pam~  http://breathoffreshair-paperbutterfly.blogspot.com/ 
Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday 
Wanda Lee~  http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/ 
Tea For Two and Wednesday Tea For Me and Thee

Trisha~  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com/ 
Tea Party Tuesday

Lady Katherine~  http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/ 
Teatime Tuesday

Sandi  ~  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

Teatime Tuesday