Tea in the Valley: May 2015

Monday, May 25, 2015

"A wee taste of Ireland in Niagara-on-the-Lake"

Earlier this month, we took a daytrip to the quaint village of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL). My visit to the Victoria Teas and Coffee shop was described here.

It was a weekday so there were no crowds at the heritage district.

During the summer season, the area is packed with tourists.

At the Just Christmas store, I spotted this pretty teapot wind chime.

The teapot is 24K gold plated and decorated with genuine Swarovski Crystal, hence the $19.99 price tag.

Some cute tea-themed store displays at a gift shop (top) and bakery (bottom).

Not pictured: the scones we purchased at the bakery.

I've been wanting to try out the Irish Tea Room (you can learn more about its history here) for years and finally did so this month!

The Irish Tea Room is located at the back of the Irish Design shop.

I captured this image of the tea room just minutes before the tables filled up with patrons.

My cup of Barry's Tea.

I'm not sure which blend--gold, classic or original--I was served, but it was good!

I ordered the delicious Celtic Shepherds Pie which was so filling that I didn't have room for their traditional scones!

One NOTL tea room down, two left to go (Prince of Wales, The Drawing Room)!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Monday, May 18, 2015

Victoria Day

Victoria Day is a Canadian stat holiday celebrated on the Monday before May 25th to honour Queen Victoria's birthday.

Source: Internet

As a tribute to the British monarch, I'm sharing a teacup by the Victoria pottery company.

I purchased this pink teacup and saucer at a church sale a few years ago for only 25 cents! Some of the gold bands are worn out which I think adds to its vintage charm.

The bottom of the teacup is decorated with a yellow and pink rose.

The pink colour is so soft that it almost looks white!

The Victoria backstamp circa 1936-1955.

At a recent trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake, I visited Victoria Teas & Coffees.

The tea display behind the counters.

The tea side of the shop.

Teapots of every imaginable colour!

Because I'm currently limiting my purchase of new teas until I finish up some teas in my stash, the only item that left the store with me was this set of hard-to-find teapot drip catchers.

Happy Victoria Day!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Monday, May 11, 2015

Spring Pottery Show and Sale

During the first weekend of May, I attended the Hamilton Potters Guild's Spring Pottery Show & Sale.

The three-day sale featured the functional and decorative works of over 100 potters. Of course, there were plenty of beautiful teawares to admire!

Stoneware by the featured artist: Richard Fisher

Diane Irons

Top: Conestoga River Pottery

Bottom: Gleason Brook Pottery, "I hope my pots are filled with admirable qualities -- Usefulness, Simplicity, Strength, Humility." (from Timothy P. Smith`s artistic statement)

Asian-style teapots by Robert Tetu

For the Edgar Allan Poe fan: The Raven teapot and mugs by Bunny Safari Pottery

Top: Donna Samborski
Bottom: Clarke Ceramics (isn't the crocheted tea set utterly charming?)

Wood-fired tea set by Terry Osborne

More "rustic" teapots by Barbara Murphy Pottery (left) and A Pear of Potters (right).

These beautiful floral porcelain teapots by Andrea Vuletin are among the most expensive pots at $260 each!

Fiona Wheelband

The Blues

Top: A.S.K. Pottery (left), Jill Crown (right)

Bottom: Mount Pleasant Pottery (left), Mieke Zawada (right)

The little feet on the teapots by Deborah Doran Pottery are too cute!

Greens
Top: Jill Crown (left), Brickworks Pottery (right)
Bottom: Suzan Fawcett (left), Ishrat Raza Suhrwardy (right)

A.S.K. Pottery's brightly coloured mugs and herbal series tea sets.

Funky teapots by Harper Pottery (left) and Ishrat Raza Suhrwardy (right)

Teacups by different potters

Love the whimsical hand-drawn designs of Greg Voisin's mugs!

Stylish mugs by Trudy Schulz Pottery

We can all use one of these Sanity mugs by Joseph Panacci.

Scott Barnim: "What I make is beautiful art that becomes part of your daily life."

Do you agree?

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tea Time Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Tea Cup Tuesday
Mosaic Monday

Monday, May 4, 2015

Last month, I was thrilled to be gifted 8 (!!!) vintage teacups and a tea set from a friend. She had inherited a large collection of teawares from her late mother and I was very touched that she thought of sharing them with me!

Given the recent birth of Britain's new Princess, it seems fitting that the first teacup that I share from this collection is by Royal Castle.