7 Pink Victorian China Souvenirs

Victorian pink lustreware china, these pieces would have been bought as souvenirs from the place named. During the Victorian times, many working class people were able to take a holiday, something which had been a privilege to only the Upper Classes before. With the use of trains, many families would travel to the British seaside towns.

And thus the market for these souvenir pieces came about. These I’ve collected over a few years and am now selling via the Etsy shop, so they are waiting to go to new homes. Click on the photos for more information.

1. – Present from London, pink tea cup.  

2. – Forget me not, tea cup.

Look at the gold floral detail, a sculpture on a tea cup!

3. – From The Isle of Wight, tea cup and matching pink saucer.

4. – The Isle of Wight, white and gold tea cup and saucer.

5. -A Present from Yarmouth, pink and gold teapot.

6. Pink floral and white bone china teapot

7. – Abergavenny, a pink bowl with landscape picture.

 

For more info on each piece see my Etsy shop: Lavinia’s Tea Party

16 Unique Halloween Gifts and Skull Homeware you NEED

Here I’ve collated a list of Halloween themed gift and homeware if your daring you’d display all year around 😉 The best thing is they are all from Etsy, by buying handmade and vintage from independent makers you are supporting someones dream, whilst gaining an awesome unique item that none of your friends will have. Click the photos for more information on items and to buy, they will open in a new window. Skull Plate Orange Black Gold design on vintage bone china for wall decor, look awesome all year around.

Plate collage of skull plates, swallows, ribs and anatomical heart plates for alternative decor

Black flying bats with wings outstretched, wooden brooches, buy one or all 3 designs, will look awesome on a bright top.

Jack Skellington handpainted candle. Inspired by “the Nightmare before Christmas” they have been hand sculptured white candle with hand painted Jack Skellington face. Great gift for Tim Burton movie fans. Nightmare Before Christmas decor.

Halloween Orange and Brown Vintage 1960s Tea Pot, another retro beast you can use all year around.

Skull sugar cubes for that deadly cup of tea, so cool you won’t want to use them!

Retro green patterned bone china plate with black skull for wall display, combine with other plates to create a collage.

This cute child wearing a green hat is holding a large Jack O Lantern orange carved pumpkin it is the perfect brooch for Halloween to spruce up an outfit, for those who don’t want to dress up themselves.

This wreath is a beautiful combination of orange, black and purple mixed size pip berries. This wreath will look wonderful in your home for Halloween or all year around in a fire colour scheme. To get 10% off this wreath or any others in their shop use the code: LAVINIA10 during checkout, valid until 30th November 2015.

A little wooden coffin to store your magical Jewels and secrets keys in, hide some tricks or treats in here for Halloween.

 When ever I see these black crowns I think of the film The Birds! Black crown plate with red and yellow regal patterned for wall display.

Planning a wedding on Halloween or Dia de los Muertos? This sugar skull bride and groom is the perfect way to top off your wedding cake.

A pretty vintage plate with orange, blue and gold design. In the centre is a black anatomical heart. Plate made in England from bone china, is for display use only.

Trees oh wonderful trees! The handle on this Bound Woodland Witch Broom was collected from a fallen limb in the woods around Balboa Park – a truly special place in San Diego, CA! The handle is naturally weathered, proudly showing all of its history. Use this all year around, as you never know when you’ll need to fly off somewhere 😉

These beautiful vintage tags are a great way to embellish your gifts or party favors. Each tag was die cut, hand stamped and lightly distressed to give tags a vintage look. Tags are threaded with orange satin ribbon.

A beautiful vintage tea pot, of a black cat with orangey/red ears and green eyes. Made from bone china. The head is the lid and the tea will come out of the upright paw, use it to serve a potion this halloween.

Cast iron black cauldron with handle. The pot is sturdy and ready for whatever task you have in mind. Use this for cooking, displaying flowers or using as a cold drinks store at a Halloween party!

I hope that gave you some quirky home inspiration! Happy Halloween.

Today’s theme is purple flowers…

Every few days I post on instagram  3 photos of a colour, which has caught my eye throughout the day. Today has been all about purple flowers. Here is a skull plate I made, its perfect wall decor in the home and makes a great present.  The juxtposition between the pretty flowers and black of the skull catches the eye in a strangely pleasing manner. The plate is available in my Etsy Shop with many other vintage plates I have upcycled into wall displays.

This vintage tea plate was made in Bavaria, Germany.

I took this photo of purple flowers a couple of months ago, however after listing the above skull plate on Etsy, it jumped out at me when searching through my photos. I really need to start learning flower names, anyone know?   

This pretty purple flowered tea pot is from Czechoslovakia is made from bone china. You can see more photos here and buy it, if you fancy giving it a new home 😉

I hope you enjoyed this splash of purple flowers and some vintage purple homeware.

Today is a blue day…

Yes I use Instagram, and yes I may have studied photography for a while… Several years and although I get to use photography everyday for creating product photos and then when I’m out and about either traveling or walking to the nearest post office to post orders, I take many other photos that after I’m not quite sure what to do with.

I’ve started to post them in batches of 3 on my Instagram, it’s starting to look more curated which I prefer to the mixture of photos.

I will begin to post a selection on the blog, for those without Instagram to enjoy. As well as I get to remenisse at all the lovely things I’ve seen this year, mainly bright colourful  bicycles and flowers!

So here is today’s theme of #blue

  

The wooden blue robot brooch and bone china teacup are available to buy in my Etsy Shop.  The blue bicycle photo was taken in Germany at an old smelting factory near Essen.

So thats a splash of blue for you, have a great day 😀

Please credit this blog or email me if you wish to use my photographs. 

40% off my Etsy Store – Get the Code

I will be returning from lovely Belgium in one week 😦 but the good news means by Etsy Shop will be REOPENING having been closed for about 6 weeks. To celebrate I’ll be offering 40% off from my vintage china tea sets, clocks, wall plates and brooches, for readers of my monthly email.

Shop will reopen on the 30th July, the code will be sent via email.

Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/bc3vWb

Wooden brooches.

Some of my Star Wars wall plates, there the whole range will be in the shop. Discount will apply to tea sets, like these tea cup and saucer trios. As well as the china plate clocks I make.

There will be over 600 items the 40% off will apply to. So sign up for the email code now, you haven until July 30th to do so!

Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/bc3vWb

Times a ticking… Clock… Giveaway

This month I am giving one lucky winner a clock of their choice, I have 150+ in my Etsy shop, so there is something for every home interior. To enter the prize draw click here: http://eepurl.com/bc3vWb

I started making clocks from plates in 2012, I’m not even sure why now, but after I made an initial 20 I was hooked, I spent the time between Christmas and New Year making more, getting obsess with making a whole variety of patterns and styles. It was lovely too see how the plate transforms into a piece of art, once on the wall. The patterns become more noticeable and you really appreciate how much detail there is in the designs.

Traditional Blue and White plate clock, which I’ve fitted with green hands. Can you see the two fishermen? Click on the photo for more info.

Yellow and Gold This plate clock is like pure sunshine, such a simple yet gorgeous design. I’ve made this from a tea plate, which is great for small walls or spaces.

Green with yellow and pink flowers plate clock. I love the sage green border on this wall clock. I only had one plate of this design, I dream of having a whole dinner set, such a beautiful combination.

Pink and White Rosy plate clock. This is a limited edition plate by Royal Albert, The shades of pink roses remind me of the roses in my mothers garden in the summer, just need a glass of Pimms. This pretty design would bring everlasting flowers to a room.

Card plate clock My mother found these plates for me at a market in Hungary. They either scream VEGAS or ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Although I love Las Vegas, I think it’d add some nice styling to an Alice in Wonderland bedroom or party. Click on the picture for more info and to see more clock. Don’t forget to enter the prize draw to win a clock, once you’ve entered, I give away a prize every month: http://eepurl.com/bc3vWb

Everything has gone a bit Pink! I love PINK!

I love pink and realised I take a lot of PINK themed photos, so here is a selection of some recent ones, and what they are all about!

I’ve been trying to beat a bad habit of picking at my finger skin, I know that sounds gross. So my new way to beat the habit, is keeping my nails short and painted. This pink nail varnish is my most favourite in the whole wide world! Its by Avon, and its also the best nail varnish, I’ve ever had. 3 coats, yes more than the 30 second quick vanish you can get, but its lasts for a good 7-10 days, its like having a proper manicure. I have about 5 colours from the range!

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As wedding season begins, I found a stash of these honeycomb paper lanterns, in HOT  PINK, RED, WHITE and CREAM, in heart shapes and round balls so they are now all in my Etsy shop. They come flat packed and are super easy to put up, and will transform any room.

Being made of paper they are better for the environment than rubber balloons, and can be recycled or folded up and saved for another party after.

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I’ve been making up more plate clocks in batches, this vintage china plate has such a traditional floral design, yet the colours are so on trend for the spring interiors. The pink jumps out at me, maybe thats because I love the colours so! See more in the my Etsy shop, there litterally is a colour for every home.

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Working from home is great, but there are some days when I don’t see anyone apart from the ladies in the Post Office, or the man in the Polish shop (he always has great bargains on fruit 19 kiwis for 99p!). When you’re not leaving to go to an office, you may find you stop wearing all those pretty dresses and jewellery you used to spend hours lusting over in shops. So I’ve been trying to make a real effort to wear those nice things, even if I see no-one. Here is a gorgeous pink leather camera brooch, sent to me by a lovely friend.

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I’ve made up a whole batch of Star Wars and Skull Plates this week, and they are all listed in the Etsy shop now… GO BUY NOW! This pink Darth Vader has to be one of my favourites. I hear there is a new film coming out soon….

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5 Valentines Day Gifts that Last Longer than a Week

So Valentines Day is fast approaching, and if your lucky enough to have been struck by cupids arrow….. ok I’ll cut the gush. If you’re unable to make or buy the BEST VALENTINES CAKE EVER (in my opinion) see below. Then here are 5 gifts, which will last longer than the flowers and chocolates!

See Hungry Happenings for recipe.

First up is this heart shaped Le Creuset ramekin with lid. Not only does it come with a 5 year guarantee, you can make a multitude of heart shaped desserts including a mouth watering chocolate soufflé. It can even be frozen, so if you make ice cream, you can now make heart shaped ice cream.

No. 1 For more info or to buy see here:Le Creuset Stoneware Heart Ramekin with Lid, 10 cm

No. 2 Envelope Heart Earrings made by Bite Me Not. These super cute earrings can be worn all year round, not just at Valentines.

No 3. Its every girls (and some guys) kitchen dream, I don’t mean to sound sexist, but every girl I know who bakes, has a Kitchen Aid at the top of their wish list. Here it is in a classic white, they bring out new colours all the time, mine is hot pink and I love it. They may seem pricey when compared to other kitchen appliances, but this will last a lifetime, probably outliving the loved one who gave it to you!!! See here for more info: KitchenAid K45SS Classic Stand Mixer, White

No. 4 I love the idea of this, grown your own scented roses. The box has everything you need to grow them yourself. I received a grown your own mushroom kit for Christmas, so I know from experience what fun this will be a fun gift, as you can watch it grow and blossom into beautiful roses. Much nicer to watch them grown, than to watch cut ones wilt! Have it gifted straight to your valentine, via the link here: Grow Me Say It with Flowers

No. 5 Last but not least, it has to be one of my own creations. Pink rose wall clock, makes a lovely gift for someone who appreciates vintage and quirky homeware. These roses will definitely last a lifetime, as many of my bone china plates will have seen many valentines days over the years, some are 90 years old! See my store for a selection of rose and flower clocks. Lavinia’s Tea Party.

Enjoy and Happy Valentines!

Win a Vintage Tea Cup & Saucer

I’m launching a monthly giveaway, to be in with a chance of winning  this vintage tea cup and saucer, with a red and white rose deign. Enter now for free: http://eepurl.com/bc3vWb

You’ll receive one email a month, containing the winner, next month prize, discounts and exciting news. The draw for this tea cup will be made at the end of February. Draw open to everyone Worldwide.

However if you can’t wait to get your hands on a vintage tea cup and saucer set. There are a huge selection in my Etsy Store. I ship WORLDWIDE and several times a week. These make great gifts and I will giftwrap and post straight to the recipient.

Gold and White Royal Albert Tea Cup with Saucer

1920s Caversham Tea Cup and Saucer Set

Beat the back to work Blues with these REDS

So its the Sunday evening before everyone (most people) go back to work tomorrow – the first ‘Monday morning’ feeling of 2015. Dark, cold mornings and early alarm clocks, you just wish the Christmas Holidays would last forever!

Beat the blues by looking at these gorgeous reds! I’ve cheered myself up by creating this treasury on Etsy of handmade, homeware and vintage items. Click the photos to go through to the Etsy Treasury page, as what better way to give yourself something to look forward to, than treating yourself to a little gift. A pretty RED and gold clock to take the pain away from those early mornings peeking at the clock, to see if you’re running late? How about treating yourself to a stunning reupholstered RED Roberts Radio, to listen to some jazzy beats on, whilst you get ready for work?

Or why not brighten up your work outfit on a drizzly cold morning with these fantastic ruby RED strappy pumps?

There is only one way to beat the January blues and that is to think happy, then you will be happy. Get yourself geared up to be positive for 2015 now and add some RED to your life. HAPPY NEW YEAR.