Several years ago, a friend of my mother-in-law's was redoing her dining room and wanted to get rid of a collection of mismatched teacups she had collected over the years - guess who was there to happily take her donation? So I am blessed to have a sweet little collection of cups ranging in pattern and color - thanks, Mary Kay!
And when I saw this spread in Southern Living's March issue, I wanted to whip out my collection, throw on a shift dress and a cocktail ring, and have my girlfriends over for tea. This spread is SOOOOO good y'all (Southern Living is killing it for me these days):
Hell yes.
Don't these images just fill your eyeballs with inspiration??? Before I go any further, major props to these people:
Produced by Mary Allen Perry
Photos by Jennifer Davick
Prop Styling by Lydia Degaris Pursell
Food Styling by Marian Cooper Cairns
They are talented and this article should win every magazine award available. So should the tablesetting spread that was in the December 2011 issue, but I digress.
So now that you all want to throw on your own shift dress and have your friends over, consider purchasing a lot of teacups off eBay (or Etsy) - it's a great way to kickstart your collection:
- You don't have to buy a lot set to start a mismatched collection (especially if the set is pricey) - teacups are really easy to find at second-hand shops and flea markets and usually not that expensive. Or consider buying a teacup every time you travel as a souvenir.
- If you are getting married, register for 12 different teacups. Your guests will think you're a little nuts, but it will create a fun collection and you'll actually remember who gave you each piece because they will all be different.
- Next time you have a dinner party, serve dessert and coffee on your bar cart! (Because I'm sure you have one by now) You will look super-swank rolling out to the living room after dinner.
Don't even get me started on my feelings about miniature tea sets - thus far, I have shown constraint. But all bets are off if I ever have a daughter.
Party on with your tea.
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I need to find an excuse to have a tea party. My girls are both too old and too young at this point but I am just right!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely! I had a cup of tea in my Mom's china last night, and love the "clink" of the cup to the saucer! It felt like a treat, and Im going to start using it everyday! Love your tea party goodies!
ReplyDeleteNancy
http://www.powellbrower.com/2012/02/everyone-needs-little-color-in-their.html
This is making me want to start a collection of teacups now! Not that I have any place to store all of these, but they are just too pretty not to!
ReplyDeleteYour post has me thinking I should add to my modest cup collection AND subscribe to Southern Living! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI too share your passion for china tea cups and saucers with a nice, old collection of my own. Except on the rare occasion when I host a tea party, however, they are stored in a cupboard collecting dust because I don't have an artful or practical way of displaying them. Any advice for displaying them when not in use?
ReplyDeleteThat was a great spread in Southern Living. I have the necklace they show in the first pic (from jcrew) Also - did you see Refinery29 mentioned you in a piece on 15 DC bloggers/pinners?
ReplyDeleteI did see the Refinery29 piece...and I saw you were listed as well! Congrats :)
Deleteso fun! when you have a daughter I will send you one of our children's tea sets. I am so excited because in your round up i spied a strawberry one that whose plate I found at an estate sale. It didn't ever occur to me that a whole place setting could be available. I know what I will be hunting for on ebay tonight!
ReplyDeleteSimple yet attractive and adorable. China Tea Cups have a unique style which give a good effect on our mind. And the cakes; everyone's mouth must have been watered I'm sure.
ReplyDelete