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