A Great Find 1/2 Price teacup!

Yesterday I found this lovely little little treasure half price at our local urban re purpose store. I gravitrated to it as well, half price tea cups, and that it had shamrocks on it. About 4 years ago I found out that I am Irish, so I now I tend to find anything with a Shamrock, I get a bit excited!

It is really pretty on the left hand side, and in the rim.

I was thrilled to find out that this is was part of a 6 set that Royal Albert and this one is called Londonderry Air.

Originally priced at $12 this turned out to be a nice find for $6!

The saucer has a lovely scene and I found this set so charming.

I also looked it up on line and found this particular set priced from $27-$46 on Etsy!
Click here to see the listing I found on Etsy if you want to have one like me! 

I think I made a great score!
Thank you for joining me today for a cup of tea and a look at a 1/2 priced teacup and saucer I found.
I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Mismatched Sunday

Sunday Morning and I was recently cleaning and organizing my tea cup collection and as you guessed it its pretty vast. Something I did earlier this week reminded me of how much I enjoy my miss matched sets. This set shown above is mismatched! The cup was a gift from my friend Verna , the saucer is one I had on hand and think I may have the match somewhere....no matter though these look like they belong together.

Some of these treasures I picked up for under $1 each piece at charity shops and thrift stores, who sell the cups for $1 and plates $1 when they are orphaned. This plate was $1 and so was the Moss Rose cup! This is a larger luncheon style plate with an indent for the matching cup! Not a match but now a match!

I have been one to pick up and store or try to match with an existing saucer a cup that is too pretty to pass up, never paying more than $4 and always thrilled with the match.  I was so upset when the cup for the Regal Series cracked when I poured tea in it, but was thrilled to later that day find this lovely cup that coordinated so well I barely missed it, though I did later on purchase at a thrift store another set of Regal Series Pink, so win win for me.

Take a look and a chance on what you might already own or find in your local charity shops! Even Tea Time magazine does posts with mismatched sets that give your tea time a fun and fresh look. Let me know if you try this and I love hearing your success stories.
Thank you for joining me today for this Mismatched Sunday. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Looking For A USA Themed Teacup And Saucer Here Are Two I Found On Etsy...

Today I thought I would share what I found on Etsy when I was looking for an American themed tea cup and saucer with Independence day just around the corner that is and here is what I found . You would be amazed at how little there was out there. I really love this one and though I live in Canada I thought it would be fun to have one to use on July 4th, sadly this doesn't ship to Canada but is one I would consider!

I like my teacups and saucers to tell me a story and this one has a rich and inspired history for sure!
I love that the seller likesteel Etsy has the history in the listing! Check this out! 
"Vintage Free Mason flat bottom cup and saucer decorated with the multi-colored star logo, an American flag, gold trim overlay and 9 small gold stars over a white background. This teacup set is from the Margaret Francis Chapter #101 Chartered 1925 in Norfolk Virginia. The maker of this set is unknown, and the saucer is marked C-101-B, O.E.S., Chapter 101, Order of the Eastern Star Prince Hall Affiliation. There is slight tarnish on the bottom of the handle, but in good shape."
This will make a fun set for one of you I am sure!

I would also consider this lovely one and hope that it was not glued to the base as I would use the candle and then use the cup and saucer! Offered by SS Vintage Chick at $8.00 This one is one I would consider and the shipping seems very reasonable...I really need to get a PO Box State side!
Click here to learn more about this shop and listing.

I really like both of these and I may well order one and have it shipped to my husbands family in Colorado as I am heading that way this summer. Thank you for humoring me with my Etsy selections today and if you have an American Beauty to share with me I would love to see it. As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Use The Good Stuff, What Are You Waiting For?

Good morning to you all. A friend messaged me this week and had been going through her mothers things, (she had recently passed). I was offered some of the most beautiful teacups and saucers from her collection.

What an honor to help them reach their full potential and have them again see the light of day. These teacups that have been stored in the cupboard for years now magically grace my table. I think it is always a good idea to use the good china, do this for yourself and your loved ones.

We all know how precious life is and it is not worth waiting for a special occasion to pull out the good stuff. That special occasion is now, you are that special occasion, now is the time to enjoy and celebrate, give thanks and of course to reflect even when it feels hard and unfair like it does right now. With what we see on the news, hear in the media, experience in our own communities. Life is often difficult and far to busy.

 I even let my youngest nieces and even my boys use the good stuff, you see they are worth more then the cost of replacement of a few dishes, the memories are worth the risk of a few chipped or broken pieces, I have learned more from those very few chips and enjoyed that time we all have had together. So pull out the good stuff and remember to use it.

Thank you for joining me for A Cup of tea and I hope you will be inspired to get the good stuff out and use if even if you only use it daily for yourself!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Goodwill Blessings From My Seattle Day Trip

Monday I had more good fortune then bad, memories and meetings I shall treasure always. On my way home from visiting friends in Seattle I stopped in at their local Goodwill Store. I went first for the books and then to the teacup section. That is where I found this beauty.

I always run into a person or two who can not believe my luck so I am sharing with you the photos of the cup before I washed it so you can see the sale sticker as proof. I am and always will be a huge fan of Royal Albert China. I am so blessed to have found this cup as I have wanted it for years and it was clearly there for me to find along with this other lovely treasure.

This antique tea strainer was another wonderful find. I have looked at these on ebay for a while now and they can sell for up wards of $4,000. While I know my little treasure is not worth nearly that much I loved it's ornate details and it's $1.99 price tag!

If you are wondering how you would use this strainer allow me to explain. Long before tea bags loose tea was added to the teapot and the water poured over. This tea strainer was held over your teacup while your tea was being poured from the pot into your delicate cup, this strainer would catch the leaves and allow for easy clean up! So much prettier then the little silk bags that do not biodegrade!

I believe that things are placed in your path for a reason and if you have that opportunity you are meant to pick it up and carry it with you! I felt truly blessed with my findings for sure. Thank you to my wonderful friend and neighbor Jen who dropped off these amazing flowers from her garden for my table. Such a treat!
Thank you for joining me for A Cup of tea and my truly fun tea finds. I promise to be back with more mystery reviews soon.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com