Thursday, March 19, 2009

Tablescape Thursday: Violet Tea



Do you love violets?  I do.  It's still early for violets here in New Jersey, but I thought I would anticipate the season a little with some china ones.  




And some embroidered ones.  :)

The tea cup was made in Japan, and belonged to my mother.  I found the handkerchief in the thrift store.  It is embroidered by hand, and the lace edging is sewn on by hand also.  I decided to show it as a napkin here, although to be perfectly honest, I don't know if I could bear to actually use it.




I raised the tea cup up on an antique book. Can you see a bit of the beautiful gilded cover?




I used a white embroidered linen napkin to line the basket tray. The tray itself came from Target.




A purple primrose is placed in a pierced creamware basket.




The tarnished silver tea pot was another thrift store find.  I think I paid $7. for it.  The silver creamer also came from the thrift store.  

Please visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for lots of wonderful Tablescape Thursday posts.

53 comments:

  1. Violets are one of my very favorites. Wait I think I say that about every flower in my garden. I love the hanky and the teacup. Lovely post as usual.

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  2. This is gorgeous, Mary!

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  3. Mary I love violets too. Your tea for one tablescape is delightful. I love it.
    Tam

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  4. Yes, I love violets too. Your teacups are so precious. When I moved this last time I gave all my violet dishes to my BFF, now that I'm doing the Tablescape Thursday thing I'm a bit sad that I let them go. She enjoys them though so that if fine.
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  5. I love violets - recently I found two cute little pieces with violets. Lovely basket of "violets"

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  6. Love the teacup and the embroidered hankie. I agree, they would be hard to use but they are soooo pretty! Nice job on the entire tray.

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  7. Oh Mary...I love this! Every little details is soooo lovely! You have such a talent for putting together a lovely setting. I'm with you...don't think I could bear to actually use the sweet "napkin." I always love seeing the amazing little goodies you find at your local thrift store. Love your Mom's sweet violet cup...so now we know where you get your passion for such lovely treasures! :-) Susan

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  8. I love your little vingnette! Everything compliments each other and it is beautiful! The teacup and the embroidered napkin are fantastic!

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  9. I love the way you put everything together.Violets always remind me of my mother because she always loved them so. She also always carried a beautiful hankie wherever she went. The teacup is just lovely and the little napkin ever so sweet!

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  10. I love your tea cup! I just did a post about turning one of my favorite tea cups into a candle!
    ~Kim

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  11. This is so pretty! I don't think I could bear to use that lovely napkin either! I love the pot and creamer too! Deb

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  12. Oh how I wish someone would bring me tea like this in bed one morning! It's so pretty!...Christine

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  13. I do love Violets and Primrose and I love your tea cup n saucer, napkin and silver pot too, beautiful. Kathy.

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  14. Absolutely gorgeous tea cup and saucer! Love the thrift store finds too! I just picked up an old silver coffee pot and its so sweet with fresh flowers in it! Love your tea setting... thanks so much for sharing! ~Katy

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  15. absolutely beautiful, love your pics~

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  16. Love violets -- I have a tea cup very similiar from my mom as well.

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  17. wonderful tea party for one...and I love violets!

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  18. your tabletops are just so perfect they take my breath away. this is exactly what I would love for my afternoon sip.

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  19. What a great job! I love the violets! It makes me want a cup of tea. Have a great Thursday!

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  20. Beautiful as usual. I'm posting violets again tomorrow too.
    Laura

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  21. Sweet tea time tray. Love the beautiful book under the cup and saucer. Got to love those thrift store finds! and lovely napkin.
    Ta-Ta, Candy

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  22. I promise I was just thinking that I am doing a post on violet mints!!! Now I can add a link to your violet post. What a beautiful tea table!

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  23. Just beautiful, Mary!

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  24. Hi Mary, how is it that I have not visited your blog before. I barely had it open for a 5 seconds, when I though I'm going to add this as a favorite. Your vignitte is perfect. I sure wouldn't want to use the little embroidered hanky as a hanky;perhaps, to take to a wedding to dab a tear. When I read that you have another blog on photography, I was not surprised. Your photos are great. Thank you for sharing.

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  25. Such a pretty combination of things, but I am most especially drawn to the needlework, which is just exquisite.

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  26. Violets, I think, are the most sentimental flower to me. I remember being entranced by them as a tiny girl, and gathering small fistfuls of them for my mother to put in a small glass...they are so gorgeous and so simple!

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  27. What a wonderful tea! Makes me want to grab my book and curl up on the couch.

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  28. Hi Mary,
    Yes, I do very much. I have three right now with buds. My dear Grandma always had African violets in all colors around her home. So I guess I developed a love for them through her. Your tea cup is lovely, I have been collecting tea cups for many years and also have a few with violets on them. Your pictures are lovely and very peaceful.
    Have a wonderful day,
    Elizabeth

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  29. How sweet. I love the handkerchief and violets...so springlike and they were my Mom's favorite. I loved your post.

    Have a Thankful Thursday
    from the Raggedy Roberta Anne

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  30. What a lovely touch of spring. The violet cup and handkerchief reminded me that it won't be long till spring in New Jersey and western PA. Peggy from PA

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  31. Beautiful vignette -- I adore the hanky. We should start a movement to bring these back -- so ladylike and civilized.

    Scribbler

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  32. This is great, Mary. I'm home from school early (had an appointment for husband at Hopkins) and am just having some tea.
    And a cookie, but let's keep that betwen ourselves.

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  33. A perfectly delightful tablescape or should I say basket just waiting for me to take tea. This is so fun to see what everyone's mind has come to show. This is my first time with tablescapes. Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Mary -- just beautiful! I love how you present your posts; they are like exquisite little jewels. Thanks! Cass

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  35. I love this!!! Beautiful tablescape. And I love the tea cup resting on the book.

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  36. Oh what a lovely and inviting tea party. Just stunning. Hugs, Marty

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  37. I love the violets tea cup and hankie! The tray with all the silver and the violet flower! I take this any day! Just love it!

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  38. I adore violets. I'm a Feb. baby and have always loved violets and purple. I love the little hankie...but like you, would be afraid to "use" it. I try to use my treasures but some, I just want to look at!
    JudyBug

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  39. Your photos never fail to inspire me. I've got all those pieces yet would never put them together in the same way on my own. Love, love, love your photos. Digging out my teacups and embroidered hankies and tray and silver pot....

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  40. Lovely embroidered handkerchief and tea cup! Thanks for topping by for a visit.~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

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  41. SO pretty! I'm enjoying your blog.

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  42. This is absolutely just so simple & pretty~a little vignette!! I adore violets and primrose and think putting the primrose in the little porcelain basket is so cute. I have an old tarnished teapot, creamer & sugar bowl and never thought it could be so charming displayed like this. Your photography is fantastic!

    By the way, I have an aversion to buying vintage hankerchiefs but could have gotten past it for one like yours!!! ;-)

    xoxo
    Jane

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  43. i just love your photography and subjects!

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  44. I adore violets, probably because they bloom in my birth month and I my grandmother had swathes of them growing in her yard. I used to pick huge bouquets as a child. Blue and white and yellow! This is a beautiful photo:>)

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  45. what a lovely post. the violets are beautiful. this was my first visit to your page. it is lovely.

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  46. Hi Mary

    Spring is peeking about in you LRH! Thank goodness I can turn here for a reprieve! Love the Godinger's piece...I have the same pattern in a gravy boat from TJ Maxx (where would we be w/o it??)

    :0)
    Tara

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  47. * I thank you for this most heartwarming posting. My dear Grama Grace adored violets~ she was the only person I ever knew who always had them not only blooming, but GRANDLY!!! A woman of more modest means, she never missed a beat when it came to purchasing something... anything... that might help her "little darlings" thrive. Such a beautiful, peaceful posting here, and such warm memories for me. I sincere thank you, Linda *

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  48. Linda,
    Grandma Grace sounds like quite a lady, and I'm so happy I could bring such a sweet memory to you... :)
    xoxo,
    Mary

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  49. Hi Mary,

    Once again, your photos are poetry for my eyes. Thank you for the lovely escape :)

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  50. You have a very lovely home. And good taste in decor. I also like your photography blog. I love gardens and flowers!
    Brenda

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!