Finds

What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than rummaging through my favourite Antiques and Collectables haunt? I am intending to take a similar cup and saucer piece to my British Bear Artist Award winner; "Tea is For Teddies", to the September Hugglets fair, and to that end I was on the hunt for some really eye-catching sets. I can't really put my finger on what I look for in these ceramics ...it's a certain something; style and colour in shades sympathetic to bears I can create.I'm not totally decided what's in store for my purchases... oh, and I'm pretty sure the pink trio set is staying firmly at home!

Wedgwood, "Celestial" trio (Lee teacup shape)

 Diminutive piece of Hudson Middleton (no name)

 Aynsley Ferns (with a delicate blush interior)

 Delicious Royal Grafton trio. I smile whenever I look at it! :0)



I always choose the products of our local industries - there are still many small potteries in the area around where I live, although sadly I do come across crockery from the disappeared, or vastly diminished factories on these forays*. Ashley is always "ceramics expert"; well he does have a degree in the stuff (and he worked for Wedgwood for over 18 years, plus is still consultant to numerous companies) I love that he can pick up a cup and tell me where the factory is (or was) and if it's Wedgwood he invariably knows the shape name - this is quite separate from the pattern name. Occasionally we come across pieces which he originally modelled from the designers' spec' when he first started out. On this outing it was a large vase with flared panels - it wasn't my "cup of tea" though, ha!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my lovely finds,
T.T.F.N  Ruth xxx

* When I first moved here 22 years ago 1 in 3 people worked in the ceramics industries; whole families were employed on the "pot bank" through many proud succeeding generations. These days it is less than 1 in 10 of the local population. :0(

A Plan is Forming....

This year the UK cancer charity Macmillan is holding their annual "Coffee Morning" on 30th September, when people all round the country will get together and make donations whilst enjoying coffee and a chat. At first I thought about holding a virtual coffee morning on this blog - if I could work out a way to do it! I'd like to do my bit to raise funds as my dear mother was taken from us by this awful illness, and I know very well how important it can be to have dedicated carers who visit homes, and make overnight stays, giving peace of mind to the patient and their family.
Last week I was lucky enough to be offered a table at the Teddies 2011 Hugglets,on 11th Sept', and so I think I will make a bear for my stand (I have just the right coffee shaded fabric in mind) and donate the whole proceeds to Macmillan. Well the seeds of a plan are forming anyway; I'll try my hardest to finalise it and post here again.

For further information on the World's Biggest Coffee Morning click here!

Ruth XX