A few more favourite things...

This is one of my favourite things...I LOVE Emma Bridgewater (who doesn't?!) and the British Bird pattern is just gorgeous. I also particularly like the rounded, tactile shape of this jug. It sits on top of the kitchen shelf...unless it's needed for holding milk or gravy or cordial.

This little mug is nearly 34 years old ( what a thought!) In 1977, when our Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee, all the schoolchildren at the time were given one of these. I've always loved it and kept it very carefully through my various house moves. I'm so happy it's survived! Graceful and pretty...and 2012 will be her Diamond Jubilee! What will the children get to commemmorate 60 years I wonder?

Militza (our adopted Serbian grandmother...much more about her elsewhere on this blog!) gave me this delicate candlestick many, many years ago. Like the Jubilee cup, it's travelled everywhere with me. And you can imagine my thrill when I found this little coffee pot in the same pattern last year...and in a charity shop too! It cost only a couple of pounds. Pure serendipity.

I suppose that one of the reasons why objects are so precious is the history attached to them...the remembrance of the place they occupied when I was young, or the person who gave them to me. This little Delft lidded box, for instance, was always on a shelf in my grandparents sitting room in Suffolk. It held little bits of broken china and other scraps that they'd found and not wanted to throw away. My mum knew that I loved it, so when my Grandad died she made sure that it was passed to me. So the history continues...

More blue and white. Spode, this time. It was difficult to capture the size of this cup and saucer in a picture...but this is HUGE! It holds about 3 pints, and for this reason it's not often used for tea! But I've planted primroses in it (indoors) and it's always around as it makes me happy. It was also given to me by a dear friend...those memories and attachments again!
And finally, for this post, our newest acquisitions...

We stopped for a night in Carnforth, Lancashire last sunmer on our way up to the Lake District. In the clear, sunny evening we went for a post dinner stroll around the town...and happened upon an antique shop (closed) with this pair of 1920's vases in the window. I was absolutely captivated by the strong colours and beautiful, autumnal pattern. There was a note on the door, stating the (very limited) opening hours and the telephone number of the shopowner. Paul wrote it down, and we vowed to go back.

A few days later, on a rainy afternoon, we did just that after arranging an appointment with the owner first. And the vases were ours (very reasonably!) Their joyous vibrancy gives me so much pleasure.

What a glorious day today...the sky is clear blue, the sun is warm, there's not a breath of wind and the birds are absolutely revelling in it....of course, we may be knee-deep in snow this time next week, but it does wonders for the spirits however long it lasts.

The next post will be my 100th. I'm putting together a very special giveaway...so I'll see you soon with the details!

Thanks so much for reading xo