Two for Tea

You're invited to a tea for two! I've quickly set the table to enjoy a simple cup of excellent tea along with homemade raspberry and lemon muffins. These muffins are delicious! So, please, sit for a spell.

These zinnias are leftovers from a bridal shower that I co-hosted this past Sunday. I will write a post on the shower later. The dried moth was found in our backyard. I imagine that he or she lived a beautiful life, flying high in the sky on those beautiful wings!

I love how the colors just pop against the neutral wood and tatted white table runner. I also used a vintage scalloped-edged milk glass vase that I picked from a local thrift store for $0.99. The vase is made in the USA, which makes me very happy. The white moth has found a beautiful resting place.

I picked this teacup from a local thrift store for $3. It is Royal Grafton, made in England. I do not know the name of this pattern. It reminds me of the 1940's. It has a white bow wrapped around a beautiful bouquet of purple flowers.

I picked this teacup from an estate sale for $2. It is Royal Albert, made in England. It is the Woodland Series, Humming Bird pattern. I absolutely love watching humming birds. It is amazing that so much energy is packed into such a tiny and seemingly delicate bird. I was very happy to find this teacup.

I picked this pair of teapot salt and pepper shakers from the local thrift store for $2. They are vintage, made in Japan. They are the perfect addition to a tea lover's collection!

The recipe to the delicious raspberry lemon muffins can be found here.

We are linking up at Antiques and Teacups' Tuesday Cuppa Tea

1960's Arlen Maple Leaf China

I am surrounded by thrift stores. I visit them quite often, at least once a week. I found this complete set of 1960's Arlen Maple Leaf china at a local thrift for $39. There are 8 complete place settings that include a dinner plate, a curved salad plate, a curved dessert plate, a bread plate, and a teacup with saucer. The set also includes a sugar bowl and creamer. The set is in near mint condition, only having slight knife marks on the dinner plates from light use. We registered for some china for our wedding, so we didn't need another set. So we got this set for a dear family that grew up with my husband.

I couldn't miss sharing this gorgeous find with my blog friends, here it is:

I couldn't believe how these pieces filled up my table! It made my table feel small. I added candles to my pair of Gorham Queen Anne hurricanes that I found at another local thrift over a year ago for $7. I was so happy to find these, they match our Gorham Queen Anne cake serving pieces and toasting flutes from our wedding. The family that got this china also gifted us a Gorham Queen Anne lidded candy dish for our wedding, which I treasure. 

I placed the settings on top of inexpensive silver chargers that I found at Walmart a while ago. I think the chargers add a muted flair to the setting and shows off the gray/ slate blue tones in the china ...

The china is trimmed in gold, so I didn't want to use my gold chargers.

The teacups and saucers are gorgeous - and so dainty! That is the bread plate under the saucer. I was running out of table space!

I used my tatted napkin rings that I found at a local thrift. I also found these vintage white linen napkins at an estate sale, $1 for a set of 6. I love them, they go with anything. Look at that intricate leaf pattern!

I let the napkins slightly hang off the end of the table for drama. I also used my vintage silver-plated silverware that I found at a local thrift. I use this set for just about every table setting. I got my money's worth! 

Here's another shot of a place setting. I used our crystal drinking glasses that we received from my husband's grandmother at my bridal shower. They were hers and they mean so much to us! She unfortunately passed away 6 months after our wedding, but we are so glad that we got to share that special time with her. We miss her sweetness everyday. She was such a lovely lady, I am so glad that I got to meet her.

This china blows me away. I think it would look especially gorgeous in the fall. I am so happy that I got to get this for our sweet family. 

Here is the sugar bowl and creamer. I just love their shape!

We hope that you have a lovely weekend and thanks for stopping by!

We are linking up at Between Naps on The Porch's Tablescape Thursdays