It's Been One "Sweet" Year

As I turn the calendar to February, I'm reminded of something other than Valentine's Day. At the end of the week, it will be one year since I started this blog!

Please come sit down and join me as I look back on a fabulous year thanks to all of you.

I have made some sweet cinnamon swirl bread.

Friday I came home from work and took a double take. The front yard has about twenty sprouted daffodils alongside the lawn! While I welcome these cheerful flowers now, I was hoping for them to bloom closer to spring time. Crazy west coast weather!

I will be serving a "tiny spot of tea" of your favorite tea in this Shelley demitasse teacup which was the inspiration for this blog.

Growing up I always peered into my mother's curio chest and looked at her collection of teacups, Waterford crystal and other bone china pieces.

My great aunt, an avid antique collector, began a teacup collection for me as soon as I was born. One of these Shelley demitasse cups was one of my first teacups. The other "red" teacup is featured in my first post titled "How It All Began." My mother housed these teacups in her curio chest until the day I finally had a chest of my own.

This pattern #13290 is called Sheraton. The cup is the mocha shape or also referred to as coffee can. Other Sheratons come in red and blue. It was produced toward the end of Shelley's production years near 1966, even though the backstamp indicates 1940-1966.

This pattern was made for the Canadian market. I wonder if my great aunt purchased it at an auction (which she loved to frequent). It still is in brand new condition.

As I began to arrange my teacups in the curio chest I became more and more interested in their histories and origins. I took greater pursuit in learning the names of the potteries and years of production. I was eager to share all of this new found knowledge, but few were honestly interested. While looking up teacup information, I came across several blogs and discovered there were others just like me! I was and still am fascinated with these blogs. My knowledge of potteries, tea, recipes and parties continues to grow on an almost daily basis.  I wanted to be a part of this tea community so I took the plunge and began Teacup Tales on February 5, 2015 with the intent of focusing on English bone china teacups, their origins and the tales to discover.

Some posts that generated the most views:

A Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea

Forty Shades of Green Teacup Party and Cake

My November Simple Woman's Daybook

I have to admit I was (and still am) really intimidated to be in the company of so many talented women. Your blogs are truly works of art! I knew I would learn so much by blogging, but I never anticipated being so warmly welcomed into this wonderful cyber community and for the sweet friendships I have made. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Nora

I look forward to sharing my Valentine Friendship Tea Party with you in two weeks.

This sweet bread is delicious with tea in the morning. The cinnamon swirl looks like a happy face smile. Here is the recipe from allrecipes.com. It's super easy (and fast) to make.

I'm bringing my teacup to the following parties:

Bernideen's Tea Time

No Place Like Home

Antiques and Teacups

Roses of Inspiration

Martha's Favorites