The Time Has Come, The Walrus Said

Do you remember the old rhyme, " The time has come," the walrus said, "to talk of many things,"? Well, I have adapted that rhyme to my Show and Tell. Here goes:

"The time has come, the Walrus said," to talk of many things,

Of shoes and snuffs, and candle wax,

And bone china that rings."

Oh, the pretty violet's will surely quench the flame,

A pretty snuff of china , Victorian Violets the name.

Hammersley sweet "Minuet" a pretty floral snuff,

Will make us forget the ships and kings, and other manly stuff.

Then a pretty patterned shoe,

Alas, my dear, will not fit you.

Next the stylish working boot,

Me thinks yon boot is quite a hoot,

And last a dandy's courting shoe,
With puppy on the toe,
To dance the golden night away
Thus end's my Tell and Show .

Whistles, Rabbits and Other Good Habits

It's Show and Tell Monday, and I am late, I'm late for a very important date. Oops, that was another book for another time. Right Lewis? Well, I want to show my Peter Rabbit Children's Ware, and tell a little of Beatrix Potter, writer and illustrator extraordinaire.
First I'll show you the cute little Peter Rabbit tea tile. Isn't it too sweet and I showed it to you "tout suite". eh!!!

And right next to it the 3 piece baby set. Made in England, of course.



And the Maid in England is one Helen Beatrix Potter. Born into a wealthy industrialist family in the Victorian era, Beatrix was practically raised by her Scottish nanny. Beatrix attributed her vivid imagination to the Scottish nannies belief in witches and fairies. She had an acute love for nature and animals which accounts for her sheep farming and preservation work in the Lake District in England. There is a whole museum amusement type facility in Windemere (Lake District) called "The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction". Just a little note: If you are ever staying at the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach in Florida, take the children because they have a full blown Peter Rabbit Tea. Isn't that too cool? And I really want to see the movie "Miss Potter" with Rene Zellwigger.
Okay, I'm done for a bit with that. Let's move on. I have the most amazing thing to show you. Well amazing to me....It's a Hammersley Fine Bone China WHISTLE!!!! Woohoo, you heard it right WHISTLE. Isn't this the sweetest thing? I couldn't wait to snag it when I saw it. It's one of those treasures that will be hard to put on Cottage Violets. The picture shows front and back. Sorry about the quality of the pix, I am in a hurry to get this post up before it turns Tuesday on me. lol. Now you really could whistle in style while you work....

There's My Show and My Tell. Now I am off to see all the treasures you have on your blogs. I am always in awe of the creative force behind all your blogs. TaTa Girls, see you at the Lake District, (a girl can wish can't she)..................

Vintage Vavoom and Romantic Homes

I am so happy to have the chance to donate a little basket of goodies to the Vintage Vavoom Tea Event at Paris in a Cup in Orange California on May 17th, 2008. Here is a link to read all about the event, Vintage Vavoom . I've included some little pictures below, and am so excited Make Mine Pink gave us this opportunity. Vintage Vavoom is a book published by Romantic Homes, one of my favorite magazines. I hope all you California girls get to attend the tea. What a fun time. Also, I would like to give an Honorable Mention to Desi of Romantic Homes who patiently answered all my questions. Thank you Desi, and I have included a little something in the package just for you. Here are the pictures of the basket and its contents:






Here's the basket, and next to it the lovely Hammersley Victorian Violets Demitasse




And then we have the tags (gotta have tags). My own branded Cottage Violet's s Tags and the cute little Violet Stall Girls tags. Both have plenty of room on the back for sentiments.




And one must have a napkin (very vintage,very chic). As a little taste of my hometown I added a bag of Dewar's Peanut Butter Chews, a local favorite and the yummiest. Last, but not least, I added a silver spoon. We were not all born with silver spoons in our mouths, but everybody ought to possess one.... Once again thanks, Romantic Homes Magazine and Make MIne Pink for giving me this opportunity. Regards, Theresa

Salute to May Flowers: MMP Shop Hop for Mum's Day

Now don't jump right to the pictures until I explain. I live in a desert climate where fall, spring, and winter are short seasons. We usually jump right into summer from any angle. So I thought I would present my favorite May flowers in another way.

Have you ever heard of the language of flowers? In Victorian times it was a way to state your case with flowers. Many an aspiring beau used flowers to let their beloved know exactly where they stood,(or wanted to stand). A trifling bouquet could keep a flagging relationship off the rocky shoals of separation. Many a girlish tiff with one's best forever friend was patched and mended with a fragrant tussie-mussie. I hope we can bring this endearing practice back. We have natural flowers, silk flowers, paper flowers, and on and on.

Today I choose to use flowers that never need watering (well an occasional wash, lol). Or a little humidiy in the china cabinet once in a while. You are way ahead of me aren't you. China, ooooh my favorite, and the amazing flowers that adorn our favorite accessories.

Let's start with (hmmmm) Violet's

Violets mean "faithful"

This is a Hammersley fine china pomander with lovely Victorian violets.

How about the Blue Cornflower

The Blue Cornflower stands for "Hope in Love'

Be still my beating heart, isn't that too sweet!

This is a Hammersley Blue Cornflower Trinket Egg. Lovely for little keepsakes.

Then there is the Yellow Rose

The Yellow Rose stands for "Friendship"

This is Royal Albert Tea Rose pattern. This pattern is so cheerful. It is just right for a fun, lasting friendship

How about beautiful delicate ivy.

Ivy stands for "Fidelity"

We don't hear much about fidelity anymore. But I think it is a word just waiting to be revived, remembered and revisited.

I love this Pink Rose

Pink Rose stands for "Grace"

This is Royal Albert's American Beauty pattern. Isn't is lovely? I think God had a hand in this pattern, because He has definitely cornered the market on grace.......

Simply breathtaking are the Yellow, Coral, and Pink Roses.

This pattern is Hammersley's Morgan's Rose.It always makes me think of the pirate's of old and how we've romanticized them. Henry Morgan was the King of Pirate's. He was cruel and a true leader. But I wonder about his tender side. I think of him when I see this pattern, because I am a romantic goose.

Here's a little diddy I made up for this pattern:

He sailed the seas, but ne'er forgot,

Her standing there in sweet repose,

He bade her wait 'til he returned,

Twas none so fair as Morgan's Rose.

And last, but not least, here is a whimsical, and oh so fun teapot of the garden variety, it's pedigree in doubt, lol. But you will notice a big Red Raspberry on it.

Raspberry stands for forgiveness.

So, as a fitting end to this post, I am asking your forgiveness in having to have read this long,long post on a subject I have great passion for. I hope the read was worth the time. Please, don't forget to tell your friends about all the fun at Make Mine Pink

Regards, Theresa

Showin' and Tellin' 'Bout My Inspiration Board

I was talking to God the other night. No really!!!! Well, you might call it prayer, but being that I am not so eloquent as most people, I just call it talkin' to God. I was talking about Cottage Violets, my web business and my dreams in general. He dropped a little verse into my spirit, and that's how my inspiration board finally came into being. He (as in the guy upstairs) reminded me that the Bible has a solution for every problem, care, hope, dream, plan, etc., etc.. So I started my board and this is how it turned out. Here are some of the components, since the board is full.

The sweetest tussie-mussie from Stephanie at Shabby in Pink Boutique to signify new friends.Then a sticky for prayer requests, lately there has been a never ending supply.

Here is the verse, you can find it in Habakkuk 2:2.

Don't you love saying that name: Habakkuk

Love biblical names.....

Then there is my sweet Cottage Violets. I cut out the front of an old greeting card and fitted my business card inside. I think it's too cute! But then, I would wouldn't I, lol.

I love linens and hankies. So this signifies my love of linens. I have so many more to put in the shop, so check in often. Okay?

Then, I made tags that say, PLAN, HOPE, DREAM. I used gold ink and stamps on gingham pink tags. I remembered an old stampers trick. If you make a mistake, cut-out a patch in the same or contrasting paper. Apply the patch, and then make thread marks on it in the same or contrasting ink. It hides the mistakes and looks like it was planned. Don't you love little tricks? Oh yes, there is plenty of room on the back of each tag to write my plans, hopes, and dreams.

If you know anything about me, it is that I love china. So, I put a sweet little Hammersley demitasse on the board. And beneath it a tag with a home on it. On the back of the tag I have written the name of the area my husband and I want to retire to and live in. He is 59, yikes. 401k's better grow,grow,grow.

And last, but definitely not least is a little picture I made from a little picture.I used blue pastels to suggest the presence of clouds. I added a banner to the airplane, and typed in one of my favorite verses of all times. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

So, there you have my Show and Tell. I definitely showed and told a lot didn't I. But I think everyone should have a revelation and a vision of what they want and where they are going. Because, God wants to give us the desires of our heart, as long as we follow him....................

Regards, Theresa

These Are Just Two Of My Favorite Things

If I was writing that famous song, My Favorite Things, I think I would add a verse. It would go like this,

"Handmade and vellum, with ribbons and stickers,

Pictures of maidens, and young boys in knickers,

Strawberry baskets and china that rings,

These are a few of my favorite things."

Here we go with Show and Tell Monday...

Do you know what a Hammersley Strawberry Basket is? Beautiful, that's what. In England they eat millions of strawberries during Wimbledon. Well, I love tennis, I love England, I love strawberries, and most of all I love Hammersley China. So today I chose a Strawberry Basket that I just purchased. As you can see there are pockets for the little sugar and creamers.

So there you have one of my favorite things: A fine English china "Strawberry Basket".

It won't be hard to guess what the other is. Tags, tags, tags. Gotta love'em.

These are big shipping tags with vellum, cutouts, sticker sayings, and a shimmery wired ribbon. There is plenty of room on the back for any note or quote you choose.
The only thing better than a tag or a Strawberry Basket is.....You guessed it.
A tag on a Strawberrry Basket. Ta...Da..... And here it is.....




Enjoy your show and tell Monday
God Bless Us Everyone, Theresa

Show and Tell in My Best Kindergarten Voice

Make Mine Pink is having Show and Tell Mondays, which are certainly better than Hoops and YoYo's Sarcastic Wednesday's don't you think? Well, I am soooooooo busy, but I wanted to get in on the funnity fun fun. So, my pictures are a little ugly early, even though it is late Sunday night where I am, haha (ugly early, late Sunday, comprende?). I digress,(can you tell I am sleepy?) Anyhoo, I am making a new line of tags that are a little smaller than the altered art tags. Here are the first ones, hot off the craft table. They come in lots of four. The wording will be different on each set (on the little secondary tags at the top).

Much better in person I can assure you. Then there is the old market cart I bought at an antique sale recently. Fell in love at first sight....It is not relined yet, and the wheels are a little squeaky, but I think this is definitely a diamond in the rough. Don't you......Ooops, just noticed something wrong besides the darkness and bluriness of the picture. Can you tell what it is?

So, there you have my first Show and Tell Monday. Teacher may I be excused now. I think it's Sleepy Time....... I hope God forgives such idiotic silliness. You know what? He does, and I am so glaaaaaaaaaaaad...... Theresa