Dreamy Cottages

I’ve always had a fascination with thatched roof cottages and whilst house hunting in England, we considered living in one.  

It was located on Farnham Castle grounds and had magnificent views, especially at night all lit up and looking like it belonged in a fairytale.  Can you imagine, having a castle in your backyard?  Unfortunately,  it was not meant to be, not practical considering my 6'4" husband had to duck his head in order to get through the doorways - not to mention having four small children in tow!  It just wasn't going to work.   

Not only was the cottage too small for our family, but it was decorated and furnished just like a home interior magazine. I wasn't sure it could withstand the little ones.  It was a show- case cottage, not a family home, so I had to enjoy admiring it from afar.   

In our last visit "across the pond" we were invited to a friend’s home who just happened to live in a cottage and I was thrilled to get the grand tour.  The "Mrs." worked for Twinnings Tea – it couldn’t be more perfect!  It was a lovely evening of friendship, tea, and desserts - one I won't forget.

  
This cottage ware set is my latest find for the shop.  The set includes a teapot, cream and sugar bowl ($45.00) all stamped  “England” on the bottom and appears to be made by Weele St. Pottery Co. Limited.  All are hand-painted as well.  Just adorable!

In addition, I found two other pieces to go along with the set, although they are not made in England and are slightly darker in color, they are similar in style.  A lovely butter dish ($18.00) and a 3 piece condiment set ($18.00) with salt and pepper on the ends and I'm not certain what the middle one is for  - sugar maybe - any ideas?

HELLO OCTOBER – I think this fall themed tea cup would make a perfect gift for someone whose birthday is this month.  It’s a “Duchess” fine bone china, made in England (of course).  Features yellow and gold tones and a dainty little handle.  It must be calling for pumpkin spice tea. ($18.95)

This beautiful silver plated, 4 piece serving set($65.00) was packed away in my basement.  I pulled it out, dusted it off and polished it up, and - voila!

 

How nice would it to be to be served breakfast in bed!  Imagine your favorite tea, hot scones, clotted cream, lemon curd, and jam - lovely! Something right out of "Downton Abbey".  We can all dream . . .

Love this - real men drink tea.  

Support the troops!

 At last, Tea Time is calling, I must be on my way, until next time . . .

Falling into Busy!

 Hustle-Bustle - WELCOME FALL with all your busy days following crisp cool mornings that snap the mind and body into the buzz of a new season!  September at Across the Pond brings lots of  rearranging and re-decorating with fall themed lovelies!  Whew!  I need to sit down and RELAX for a minute!

I couldn't resist this cute "Relax" sign in soft pastel colors painted in stripes, polka dots and flowers with a kitty relaxing on top of the letter "R" and a tea set at one end and a snail at the other end.  Too cute! $22.00

I'm taking just a minute to catch my breath today since THIRD FRIDAY is upon us and I have been busy getting ready for the shoppers by 3:00pm!  The weather should be nice and it will be a good time to get out and stroll High Street and see what Millville, New Jersey has to offer with so many art galleries, studios, unique shops, live music on street corners, and of course the historic Levoy theater directly across the street from Across the Pond!

We will be sampling teas and serving sweets.  My friend Nikkole of Harmony Life Healing Arts will be offering chair massages to help RELAX everyone so they can enjoy the evening in calm pleasure.

Just the thing, I think, to sooth body and soul as the season's change - as summed up by this bright red teapot with the quote "Keep Calm and Drink Tea".  Along with a bag of English Breakfast loose leaf tea this gift is sure to please at $22.95.

During these hectic times, we all need to make time to "Relax".  No better way than with a good book and a nice cup of your favorite tea.  Mine happens to be Lemon Souffle at the moment  but Chocolate Strawberry is right up there too.  I consider that dessert in a cup.  Yes - when the days get too busy and hectic, take a break, drink a cup of tea, and Think. Of.  England!

Oh - and I'm loving some of the Fall fashions that have arrived!  I've a large selection of handbags, necklaces, bracelets and scarfs affordably priced between $5.00 to $40.00.

Including this zebra striped handbag for only $22.00.

Appropriate - since I expect it will get a little "wild" tonight with such a lovely evening forecast, our highly anticipated THIRD FRIDAY monthly event will be well attended.  The kettle is on at Across the Pond!

Sharing my Falling into Busy with Beverly on Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

Cock-a-Doodle Pink!

I love creating shop displays that keep a theme - a color theme or concept theme of sorts.  Often, I find items from various venues and group them for my theme display.  Sometimes, though, I find my theme treasures all in one place and just have to grab them up!  Like at a yard sale recently - it was the teapot that caught my eye . . .

Bursting with color and personality, of course this hearty fellow needed display space Across the Pond!  A Young's Inc. Exclusive 1999 from Heartfelt Kitchen Creations, I just couldn't part with him again but for an $18 price tag.

But - he was not alone . . .

If you going to have one rooster in the barnyard pouring out the tea like mother, you need another keeping charge of the biscuits for dunking!  From The Sakura Table, I marked this guy at $25.

But, the clincher was a third little "cock-a-doodle-doo" who really stole my heart because he was sporting a color scheme unlike any rooster I'd ever seen!

PINK!  Of course!  A whimsical teashop trio of roosters would not be half so charming if there wasn't one of them to whom the others might serve tea and biscuits - a grand decorator statue (unmarked) of a rooster in all his pink glory for the same as his biscuit bearing brother at $25!

I can't promise you they'll remain together indefinitely at those prices.  Some creative shopper might want to split them up by taking one of them home.  No matter - together or apart, they will make a kitchen or dining area more cheerful with their presence one day!

Sharing my Cock-a-Doodle Pink at Beverly's Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

Village Tea Time

During our years living in England – Across the Pond – one of my favorite places to visit was the rural, old English market town of Farnham, located in Surrey.  This quaint town beams with character and is known for some of the finest Georgian architecture in England.  There is also an Abbey, Parish Church, and Castle in the town, along with many cafes and shops of all kinds.  The Bourne Mill Antique Center was always on the list of stops I would visit while in town. 

It has four floors filled with fabulous treasures from the past.  You can spend hours looking at all the wonderful and unique items!  Then, when you make your way up to the 4th floor, there is a lovely Mill Stream Tea Room where you can sit, relax, and have a Devonshire Cream Tea to finish off the day.  Nothing could be better!

I purchased this teapot on one of my visits. 

It caught my eye because it was made exclusively for Harrod's – which is another one of my favorite places to visit – but that’s another post!   The bottom reads Tuscan Fine English China made in England, Manufactured for Harrods Ltd.  It was made by R.H. & S.L. Plant Ltd. 

According to the antique dealer it dates back to the 1930's.  It features a floral design in pinks, greens, blues, lilacs and birds, trimmed in gold.  In addition, I just had to make room to take home these two chocolate pots with saucers with my teapot!

Well, really – just look at how exquisite they are!  Can you blame me for wanting to make their home – my home?

They are proudly displayed in my formal sitting room where just to look at them makes me feel all England all over – and hungry for a cuppa tea for all that!

Sharing Village Tea Time this week with:

Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

Kathy at A Return to Loveliness

Pretty in Pink

In an earlier post I mentioned about how I used to be all blue and white in home decor.  Opening Across the Pond Tea Shop brought out my pinks and greens!  Tea just seems so right when served up in a cuppa with pink roses, don't you think?

I love this Royal Albert "American Beauty" pattern that I have in the shop on consignment for only $18.  It is a lovely vintage piece that boasts two stunning pink American Beauty roses against a white background with gold trim in the Malvern shape.

And, speaking of "American Beauties" - here's a charming Victorian lady carrying herself with great elegance.

She's a Franklin Heirloom Doll decked out with great elegance in pink and cream satin and taffeta, accessorized with a pink cameo choker and crowned in a glorious Gibson Girl hairdo.

Her placid expression is "Dignity" itself, as she appears to welcome you to tea for the afternoon.

"Why, thank you very kindly, milady," I say with a polite nod, "Tea sounds delightful!"

Perhaps she will serve mine in the Royal Albert with roses.  An "American Beauty" served by an "American Beauty."

Sharing Pretty in Pink this week with Beverly's Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

P.S. If you would like information on ordering any items featured in my posts, please click on the "About Me" or "About My Shop" tabs above and scroll down to contact me.  I will be happy to hear from you and help you in any way I can.  Cheerio!  Karan  

Retro Teapot in the Pink!

This is my first time sharing on Pink Saturday and if you've dropped by for a visit I'm so happy to have you come!  I hope you'll leave a comment and follow me - a newbie to Blogland - but I have an able assistant into this virtual world with my friend, Miss Kathy, from The Writer's Reverie!

I have always loved blue and white in a decor combination.  Actually, my home always leaned towards the blues and whites - until Across the Pond!

While setting up my shop, for some reason I started to gravitate towards pinks and greens.  Once I started picking things for the shop, not only was I finding plenty of great Union Jack red, white, and blue - but my eye craved pink and green!  See how it just peeks its way into the scene . . .

I keep a great deal of consignment vintage and antique china tea service pieces in the shop and my feature today is this terrific retro teapot in the basketweave pattern with pink with gold trim and gold starburst floral design.

It looks like it could come right out of Lucy Ricardo's kitchen!

It looks like one of my vintage kitty-cat figures from about the same era likes it, too!

It's a Hall and not quite the plain Jane Hall look that I'm used to seeing.

The Hall China Company was founded in 1903 by Robert Hall in East Liverpool, Ohio USA.  Unfortunately, he died a year later and his son took it over and incorporated many new ideas in clay and techniques that grew the company throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century.  Some common Hall pieces will be those manufactured for restaurants that are more substantial with sleek, functional lines.  They also make a very popular Aladdin's lamp style teapot in various colours.

I've got mine for sale in the shop for just under $50.  I wonder what lucky lover of pink, tea, and retro looks will take it home one day for their very own!

Sharing my Retro Teapot in the Pink today with Beverly's Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.

Tea Time Trivia Give-Away: 

There is only ONE tea plantation in the United States - do you know where it is?

Leave a comment with your answer on my blog or Facebook page where I invite you to LIKE and SHARE teatime at Across the Pond with your friends.  If you know the answer, you'll be entered to win a complimentary 2oz. package of a tea of your choice!  Drawing will be September 1st so hurry!

NOTE:  Sorry for our far away fans.  Winner must be able to pick up their prize at the shop:  129 North High Street, Millville, New Jersey.

Have you LIKED my FACEBOOK PAGE yet?  

If not - please do!  Click HERE!

And, do please SHARE our Page and Blog with your friends ~ 

Because, it's always a pleasure to share a cuppa teatime 

with the ones you love!

End of Summer Brings Fall Color

With our cooler temperatures this August in New Jersey, I have already seen some of the trees putting on their Autumn colours as I drive to Across the Pond Tea Shop each work day.  Time to bring out some fall colours in my shop displays, too!

We have a fresh selection of fall décor for entertaining "boo-ha-ha's" in October, and cozy tea retreats when apples, pumpkin, and spice delights herald an invigorating chill in the air with a change of season in November.

September kicks all things Autumn off at Across the Pond with our September 12th evening teatime event:  Medicinal Teas and Essential Oils.  I've chosen some great tea blends to serve, including Almond Cookies Green Tea, Caramel Apple Rooibos Tea, Pomegranate White Tea, and Cranberry Black Tea - great fall flavors!

Once again, guest speakers Kathryn Ross and Nikkole Hollenweger of Young Living Essential Oils will enhance our teas with therapeutic essential oils to infuse them with medicinal qualities.  This is especially beneficial coming into the "back-to-school" and "cold and flu" season!  In addition, a menu of healthy tea treats will be served with recipes shared and more natural wellness tips to encourage healthy lifestyle changes that are easy to make one recipe or cup of tea at a time.

There's limited seating at the event, so be sure to make your reservations ASAP at 856 765-7381.  A $10 fee is payable at the door.

Tea Time Trivia Give-Away: 

There is only ONE tea plantation in the United States - do you know where it is?

Leave a comment with your answer on my blog or Facebook page where I invite you to LIKE and SHARE teatime at Across the Pond with your friends.  If you know the answer, you'll be entered to win a complimentary 2oz. package of a tea of your choice!  Drawing will be September 1st so hurry!

NOTE:  Sorry for our far away fans.  Winner must be able to pick up their prize at the shop:  129 North High Street, Millville, New Jersey.

Have you LIKED my FACEBOOK PAGE yet?  

If not - please do!  Click HERE!

And, do please SHARE our Page and Blog with your friends ~ 

Because, it's always a pleasure to share a cuppa teatime 

with the ones you love!