Welcome to my first Tea Time Tuesday, hosted by Sandi from Rose Chintz Cottage. I have wanted to join in for tea on Tuesdays for so long, and while this is my first post, it marks 70 Tea Time Tuesdays for Sandi. Thank you Sandi for having room for one more. Visit Sandi for tea and the list of participants sharing teacups and special treasures relating to tea.
When I refer to Blue Willow Memories, I think of times having tea with my grandmother using the gorgeous Blue Willow cups and saucers that filled the hutch at Nana's house.
As a child, I was fascinated by the pretty design all in blue and white with the gorgeous love birds that graced every piece. When I got older and enjoyed tea with my grandmother, mother, aunts and cousins, these cups and saucers became even more dear.
Comprised of two different styles of Blue Willow dishes, grandma's set was very large. The older cups where marked Japan on the bottom and had a small design on the inside rim of the cup. The newer styles did not. Here I have pictured both designs with the vintage being my very favorite.
Having tea with these precious cups and saucers, we talked about our hopes and dreams, plans and accomplishments. Many times, tea in these cups, soothed our hearts through disappoint or a bad cold. It was at Nana's table, enjoying tea that I still recall the best times.
When my grandmother passed away, my mother inherited all the Blue Willow. With care and purpose, mother gave each piece a special home in her beautiful hutch and the tradition of having tea continued. Many happy times and sad ones too were accompanied with a cup of tea using the dear set so loved.
As the years rolled by and my mother passed away, the Blue Willow became mine. For many years I kept it packed away only to take out now and then, until I realized, I was missing the joy and memories by not using it more often. So I carefully found a place for each piece in my Tuscan kitchen today and use these gorgeous pieces everyday. Each time I pour a cup of tea in these precious cups, I know I keep the memories of times with my loved ones near to my heart. The tea just taste better too in a pretty vintage cup!
The teapot was a gift from my dear hubby for Christmas a few years ago. It makes the perfect addition to the entire set.
The Love Birds fly overhead each scene and a true vintage piece will show chubby birds while the newer styles are much thinner.
Recently I stitched a set of 4 napkins to go with my set and they go nicely with the china bird napkin holders that were given to me by a good friend many years ago.
For today's tea, I baked Cherry Dream Squares with a dollop of whipped cream. It is warm from the oven and is the perfect dessert for a cup of Earl Grey Tea.
As our TEA TIME comes to an end, I so enjoyed your company today and I want to Thank Sandi for hosting with the list of participants. I look forward to visiting others for tea and hopefully the blogger glitch of the last week will be resolved to leave comments.
Until we meet again, I'll place the vintage blue willow cup and saucer in a little basket for display and save keeping. It has a place of honor with wonderful memories starting with my grandmother so many years ago. So many family and friends held this cup and enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee over the years. If this cup could talk, I am sure it would have a million stories to share.
Thank you for coming to tea, have a wonderful week!
Smiles from Texas and Blessings Be Yours, Celestina Marie
27 comments:
What a beautiful story you have told.
I also love the Blue Willow design. My Mother had a set of dishes with that design, but sad to say they did not last til I was grown to be past down. You are so blessed to have them and the memories.
Beautiful Celeste! I have such a soft spot for Willow Pattern, I remember my first dinner set I saved up for was Willow Pattern! Rachaelxo
Oh Celeste,
This is so beautiful--and I just know that your mom must be smiling from heaven just knowing that you are enjoying this beautiful set and sharing it with all of us...(((hugs))) to you, my sweet friend.
XO
Cindy
..not much time ago I bought two little dishes and one tea cup with its plate of Blue Willow...my dream is to have a place in my house to put them,but ate the moment they are inside a furniture to wait to be showed...beautiful this post!.
What beautiful memories you share, I have my Grandmothers Blue Willow also and it is from the very early 1900's as My mom was born in 1908. U have many pieces some with crack and chips but wonderful just the same. Thanks for sharing, I love that we share the same set from the same times period about, your napkins are so wonderful that you created to match them, I'm not sure I could accomplish that. If you ever make a second set, keep me on your list if I can afford to purchase them. Such beautiful treasures and Post! Hugs Marilou
I adore blue and white china -- and blue willow is so classic. And there is nothing like inherited blue willow -- and what wonderful memories there are in those cups!
Celestina, this story of your grandmother and your mother is just so touching! What an awesome memory and to have the Blue Willow china to remind you of your grandmother is a treasure!
Good morning Celeste,
Your story is very touching as I too have so many lovely memories of my grandmother. I am sad to say I don't own a single piece of my Granny's china but I cherish my memories of her. My Auntie P always had the Rose Chintz and it always brought back still more lovely memories of when I was a little girl. I loved her china, and when she down-sized, she passed many of her pieces on to me because she knew how much I loved them.
Your Blue Willow is lovely and I too love this pattern although I do not collect it. I have loved the story of the love birds for as long as I can remember and I know my Granny had pieces of it. I have only two tea plates in Blue Willow.
Thank you sweet friend for joining me for tea this week. It has been a real pleasure to have you. Wishing you a delightful day.
Blessings,
Sandi
Oh how lovely to have so many memories with this china. And good for you joining in one of the tea sessions it's lovely to visit you ;0) Dxx
I love the stories you tell of your grandmother and mom. I am afraid I never knew my grandmothers as they died before I was born. But my very first set of dishes were blue willow. Over a period of years and many military moves, I no longer have any of the set left but I have wonderful memories of taking tea in those cups while sitting in a big old rocker - pregnant with my first child. Such sweet memories.
Brenda
Hi Celeste... thank you so much for inviting me to tea... I loved sipping my Earl Grey out of one of your Blue Willow cups... and the cherry dream squares were delish!... how blessed you are to have your grandmother's set of china, which then belonged to your mama and now you... I am sure they do tell you stories and bring back happy memories each time you use them... your little tea towels you stitched are just precious!... and I love the teapot your dear hubby gave to you... I am happy you unpacked these treasures and use them every day... I inherited my mama's Blue Willow... it is in my corner hutch in my kitchen, and now I am going to take out one of mama's cups and saucers and make myself another cup of tea... wish you were here to join me too!... hope all of your storms have passed and you are having nice weather... yesterday, it snowed here if you can believe it!... today sun and warmth are predicted... xoxo Julie Marie
Wow! What a beautiful story about the Blue Willow and the memories you have of tea with your NaNa. I am glad you unpacked them and now are using them on a regular basis. One day, I will visit again and have tea with you and we can use the Blue Willow! I never had a set, but I really think it is so timeless. Your cherry cake looked yummy! Recipe please!
Have a great week, Celeste!
Love, your sisterfriend, ginny
Hi Celestina,
Your Blue Willow is gorgeous! It is such a timeless pattern and thank you for sharing both your grandmother and your mother's memories with us. Your cross-stitched napkins are beautiful. Your blog is so very pretty.
Hold it! I'm on my way over ... that dessert, a cup o'tea, chattering away with you. What a perfect day this will be.
Well, I can wish can't I?
Mother had these same dishes, the vintage ones. I never was a blue fan but for some reason liked these. I know when I see these original pieces, they bring a warm smile of our Mother's pride in owning such lovely dishes.
I can imagine your conversations & memories will warm your heart forever, Celeste. And, now that they are unpacked & gracing your elegant new kitchen, you will truly enjoy them constantly.
Lovely write ...
Hugs & love,
Marydon
Hello Celestina Marie,
thank you for your sweet comment, now I came to visit you.
The blue willow pattern is very charming and I love the story of your memories with it. You made fabulous looking Cherry Dream Squares, so tempting and mouthwatering. And you are a embroidery artist. The napkins are nicely made and perfect for the Blue Willow pattern.
I will follow you since now.
Best greetings, Johanna
wonderful tea set!
Your memories of the Blue Willow china are very touching and it's so nice you have it to cherish now.
I had a child's tea set in this pattern and the only thing I have left is a small platter that I use for a soap dish.
Your blog is very nice.
Judith
Looks great. I'll be right over!
Hi Celestina Marie: Love your post today. I am so glad you joined our Tea Cup Tuesday. So happy to have you. I look forward to see all you treasures in the future. Blessings, Martha
A very dear neighbor of mine also had this complete set, she is no longer here but I do recall all her baking gifts to us and her blue willow set.
Very nice post.
Hugs...Lu
Oh Celestina, I just loved the story about your three generations of ladies, as I was very close to my grandma, who's also past on, now I still have my mother and we have lunch and tea every wednesday...today! I love your Willow china, it's gorgeous, along with the lovely and sweet memmories it contains! Thank you for coming and for your lovely and sweet comments! I'm also your newest follower, so very nice meeting you. Lots of hugs.
FABBY
Dear Celestina~ I've got a favor to ask...I would like to invite you over for a visit to see a very special post I've written. I would love it if you could take a few moments to stop by.
Thank you sweet friend,
Sara
Hi Celestina Marie,
Your post today is beautiful, the happy memories you shared with your dear Grandmother and Mother.
It must make you feel happy every time you drink from the cup.
I love the pretty napkins you embroidered and the cherry dream squares... yum!
It was lovely to come and have morning tea with you, dear friend
thank you.
Hope that you are enjoying the week
Hugs
Carolyn
Just gorgeous!
Sandra Evertson
Hi Celestina, i haven't been able to leave comments lately, but I have been reading every opportunity that I get. I loved you post and your dishes are so pretty. They bring back precious memories that no one can take away from us. It is hot and muggy. we had rain earlier this evening. The weather has been so crazy. We don't need the rain with the Missouri River continuing to rise with all the rain and melting snow to the North of us. Of course the corp of engineers are not helping by releasing water. We keep praying it starts to go down, but everybody has to be prepared. Have a great weekend. Your Missouri friend.
What a sweet post and such a precious set of Blue Willow you have inherited. I'm so glad it has such a good home with you as you cherish it so. I love Blue Willow, too ~ still have the first started set we started housekeeping with! Many a cup soup and tea were served with mine, too.
Beautiful 1st time Tea post!!
BTW, Sis is actually putting a bit of weight on her foot today! Yea!!!!
Love you,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Forgot to mention how lovely the napkins are that you stitched to match! Love them! L did a good job picking out that pretty teapot, too!
Love,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
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