Vintage Tudor Rose Teacup...

While packing up my china cabinet for our move I came across this lovely teacup given to me a few years ago by my very dear friend.

My friend's aunt whom she had been taking care of for quite awhile died and left a gorgeous collection of English bone china teacups. Her aunt was actually from England and moved to the United States in the early 60's. So all of her collection was pre-60's. My friend's sisters swooped down on the aunts home to grab the teacups. They didn't really want anything else. This was all done while my friend was arranging the funeral, etc. 

When Jackie (my friend) got to the house she noticed that all but a few of the teacups were gone. She was livid!!! She was in charge of the aunt's belongings. She didn't want all of the teacups and was willing to share, but seriously three of them left. Jackie was able to reclaim them and go through all the teacups and pick out the ones she wanted. 

She picked out this very special Tudor Rose cup for me. She knew how much I loved roses (my mother's maiden name is Rose), loved the Tudors and anything involving the English pastime of tea.  I treasure this cup, I think it's beautiful.

Tudor Rose~ Collingwoods

Back stamp was printed between 1937-57

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. 
~ Norman Macewan.

Linking too:

Vintage Canine Porcelain Heaven...

In our new home we have an entry way that I am

gathering pieces for a vintage porcelain canine vignette.

Here are some of the pieces I have collected. Can't wait 

to get them all together and take pictures 

of it all together for my blog.

Vintage hunt scene brown transferware from

Nancy at Nancy's Daily Dish etsy English Transferware Shop. 

I just purchased this and received 15% off

Nancy is doing a $50 gift certificate give away over

at French Country Cottage check it out.

Nancy has some wonderful transferware pieces. Over 1000

to select from in her etsy shop.

I fell in love with this one to go with my porcelain canine vingette

I am planning for when I get in my new house.

Here is a wonderful vintage Wire Haired Fox Terrier made in occupied Japan which make it a collectible.

He's really in great shape for being over 50 years old.

Here is a little Vintage Springer Spaniel made in Japan in the 50's

A vintage Lefton made in Japan Beagle

Sweet little vintage Cocker also made in occupied Japan.

Great deal on Ebay

These setters are probably my most collectible piece of canine porcelain. They were made in Thuringia Germany which is a region in Germany known for its many porcelain makers. I just purchased this off of Ebay for $16. The seller knew nothing except it is stamped Thuringia Germany. I'm sure this was made sometime

between late 30's and early 50's. I will know more when I receive it.

This is another price from Ebay. A sweet vintage English Cocker Spaniel made by Gort Porcelain pre WWII.

Partying with:

                                                 Open House Party!No Minimalist Here




Feathered Nest Friday

Malcolm in the Middle...

As you know we are moving in the next month. Prior to moving we decided to get a new couch set. We are down sizing and will have one living room, no family room.
We have been looking for couches that will look good as well as be comfortable. We no sooner got these set-up that Malcolm found his place right in the middle of the love seat.

Love it that Westies's are not shedders !

Izzie found her place as well. Now that they have taken over the love seat I hope there will be room for us on the couch!

Vintage Franciscan Ware and Other Goodies!

I love my hutch filled with my vintage Franciscan Ware and other vintage items.

It has taken me awhile to collect 12-5 piece place settings, tea pot, platters, gravy boat, cream and sugar,

salt and pepper shakers, 2 qt pitcher and serving bowl. 

All the pieces are

California made back stamped/made in 1940. 

I love the vibrancy of the colors they are all hand painted. Franciscan Ware was

made in Los Angeles area and true to California (my home).

Hutch was my mother's. It's a little on the small side, but

it works and has sentimental value to me.

This is a good picture to show you how vibrant the colors are. It also shows off my vintage Lefton kitties and Norcrest blue birds.

Who doesn't love Disney, I grew up with all these characters and remember seeing Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians when first released with my parents.

My Lady and the Tramp and Dalmatian collections are both retired.

This is my latest vintage acquisition my Johnson Brothers Friendly Village Teapot.

I now have two cups and saucers to match. 

Cute little Franciscan Ware Apple salt and pepper.

Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Party

White Stoneware Storage Find.

We are in the process of  getting ready to move. We are just now opening escrow and

should be able to move in within the next 45 days.

I'm so excited. I have been going through every cupboard in my house weeding our what goes with us, what goes in the garage sale and what goes to the thrift store.

Saturday my daughter and I went to our storage to sort through things and look what I found from my mother's home I had packed away and forgotten.

8 piece place setting of her Gibson White Stoneware.

The back stamp says Bangladesh pattern.

I haven't been able to find this pattern online.

This buffet hutch will be going in my new kitchen just like it looks now.

It's really lovely. I was so excited to get it home and on display.

I love how feminine it looks. So clean. I love clean looks. I don't

like clutter and dishware jammed into hutches.  

She bought this in 1990. I wish I could find it so I could get some serving pieces for it.

I may have to incorporate some Pflatzgraff pieces which look similar.

Some of my white fiestaware goes right along with it.

I had these liberty blue random pieces that I almost sent garage sale

pile but instead used them for a little color pop.

My favorite cream ware 

This sugar and creamer set was a bonus that were packed with the dishes.

I don't know where she got these. They are not Gibson and have no

back stamp but go nicely with set. They are heavy stoneware.

Literary Friday: In The Garden of Beasts

I'm joining the Literary Friday with Ricki at Art@Home. This is her first week of her first linky party. I love it! I love to read and get new recommendations for books. 

This week I'm featuring a book I just finished by Erik Larson: In the Garden of Beasts. Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin.

 I received this book for a Mother's Day gift from my daughter Katie. It's a long standing joke in our home of my love/hate relationship with the Nazi's. I hate them, but I love to read about them. Go figure. It seems I'm not alone in this, there has been countless books written on the subject of WWII Germany, Hitler and Nazi's in general. I think the reason for the fascination is  because it's so hard to believe that a country of 65 million civilized people could descend into such evil. We WWII buffs are always searching for the answer, something clear and reasonable, but there isn't any justification it, was sheer evil it it's greatest form. 

Just when you think you have heard the worse or the more fantastic the Nazi's could be, you are always surprised, there is always new information. In the Garden of Beasts does not disappoint. I have always wondered about Germany in the early 30's when Hitler just became Chancellor, and the Nazi party was getting a foothold. How fascinating this case study is!!! 1933 a turning point in history. Hitler and his goons are manipulating through fear, terror and propaganda the German people and the world looks on in shock sure that this will pass and Germany will settle down. It's only been thirteen years since the Great War and the devastation of France. Europe is in economic disaster and the United States is advocating isolationism, they have their own problems with the Great Depression and Europe always seems to be in trouble. Let's let them figure this out with-out us. 

The world as a whole seems to be out of a job and starving yet the League of Nations ambassadors to various countries are spending lavish amounts of money trying to impress their host countries. It's all one big party for the politicians. American ambassadors were not chosen for their knowledge of current affairs or ability to represent their country's agenda, but for their ability to pay for lavish parties, homes and cars. That is why William H. Dodd being chosen by Roosevelt to go to Berlin as the American Ambassador in 1933 was so extraordinary. 

Dodd was neither rich or flamboyant. He drove an old Buick and taught history at the University of Chicago. He was a shy person and disliked the lime light. He and his wife were home bodies that hardly ever entertained. His greatest pleasure was going to his farm in Virginia and working on his manuscript The Old South. Why then was he chosen to go to the most pivotal European city, Berlin and represent the United States?  Can he make a difference in the United States attitude towards isolationism? Will he be able to convince the Pretty Boys Club back home that Hitler is a maniac and lier? 

Oh the fun you will have reading this book. Buckle up and be ready for a fast, scary ride through history. There are parts where you will be screaming WHY, WHY, WHY didn't they listen. You will experience first hand what it was like to be a German citizen with an opinion opposite that of the REICH. 

Once you have read this you will want to read all of Best Selling Author Erik Larsen's books. Fanatistic.

What I am currently reading:

Blood Feud the Hatfields & McCoys Epic Story of Murder and Vengence

by Lisa Alther

Totally enthralling so far!!

Next up on the To Be Read list:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Can't wait to dive into this one!

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