Vintage China

...Late Summer at Jeanne d'Arc Living...

2011-08-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

...The latest Jeanne d"Arc Living Magazine has just arrived in store and as usual, it doesn't disappoint...it is another stunning issue with pages full of beauty and inspiration...

...Stunning gardens...

...Beautiful floral displays...
...Including stunning centrepieces with artichokes...

Who would have thought of using artichokes in flower arrangements?

...Gardens with Mediterranean moods...

...Favourite Italian dishes...Yummmm...

...Gorgeous crafts with vintage silver flatware...

...Country kitchens to die for...

...Inspiration for an old-fashioned pantry...

...A gorgeous bedroom, I could just move straight into...

...The equally gorgeous bathroom...

...And a beautiful Outdoor Room, brimming with creative ideas...

...These are just a few of my favourite pages, just to tempt you...
...There are actually over 155 pages of stunning beauty to help you create your...
..."Lifestyle in a Class of it's Own"...
...Available now from The Vintage China Company for $24.50 plus postage...

Big "I can't wait for Summer to come here" love,
Sue xo

...Meadow Flowers in the China Room...

2011-07-01T03:47:00.000-07:00

...With a bout of early Spring weather in Ballarat this week, we decided to change the China Room table to a Meadow flowers/Wildflowers theme...

...Pink was the colour of the day with pink candles and pink sparkly birds...

The china too, has a meadow flowers theme...

...Gorgeous Foley trio with pretty flowers adorning both the inside and outside of the cup...

...A close-up of the Foley cup...

...The matching Foley trio in the pink colourway...

...And a close-up of the cup...

...A gorgeous Old Stafford trio, with the romantic pattern name of "England's Bouquet"...

...And a close-up of the cup and saucer...

A very pretty Paragon trio called, "English Flowers"...

...And a close-up of the cup and saucer...

...A beautifully gilded Old Royal trio...

...And a close-up...

...A very pretty old Roslyn trio...

...And a close-up...

The centrepiece vase holds a bouquet of roses, peonies, stock, lilac, freesia, tulips, and a pretty pink bloom...all tied with pink ribbon and white lace...

...Bunny is carrying a haversack of wildflowers...

...And a pretty Sadler teapot is at hand for a lovely cup of Her Majesty's Blend...

Won't you join me for tea and cake?

Big Early Spring meadow flower Love,

Sue xo

...Flowers to Brighten a Wintery Day...

2011-06-13T00:54:00.000-07:00

...Some gorgeous new silk blooms arrived in the Shop this week...

...Posies of sweet Violets...my Nana's favourite...

...Some beautiful spray roses...about the size of Cecile Brunner's...

...Scarlet and white poppies...

...Hellebores or Winter Roses in pink, green and deep pink...

...Gorgeous pots of pink geraniums...

...Pretty bunches of pink Daylilies...

...And who could resist a pretty Ranunculas heart...

...Mmmm, which ones will come home with me...

Big Flowery Love,

Sue xo

..."Life In A Class of It's Own"...

2011-06-11T04:41:00.000-07:00

...We are very excited to be an Australian Distributor for the gorgeous

Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine from Denmark...

...For those unfamiliar with the magazine/book...it is the absolute "Bible"

of French Country and Nordic style decorating...

...Page upon page of white and neutral toned decorating...

...This issue features Fifi O'Neill's gorgeous guest-house...

...DIY ideas for adding Romance to your courtyard...

...Gardens and outdoor areas to die for....

...Stunning ways to display freshly picked blooms...

...Beautifully distressed furniture and salvaged finds...

...and more on Fifi's guesthouse...

...This is one of my favourite magazines and I return to it again and again...

...It is $24.50 per copy, plus postage...previously it was costing me $44.00 including postage from the US...

...If you would like some French Country inspiration, send me an email and I will send you a copy...
...I can guarantee, you won't be disappointed...

Big French-Country-Nordic-Style-Love,

Sue xo

...Angels Gather Here...

2011-05-21T04:09:00.001-07:00

... A new shipment of angels will be arriving in the Shop this week,

so I have prepared the mantel in readiness ...

... Angel wings with a tiny diamente cross ...

... A pair of white peacocks guard a tall, white jug with

white lilac, iris and chincherinchee ...

... One of the beautiful angel hearts that arrived this week ...

... A second angel heart ...

... Our gorgeous sleeping cherub, Reuben,

with his white rose crown ...

... Something we should all do a little more ...

...Sweet Dreams, Everyone,

Sue xo

...Winter has come to the China Room...

2011-05-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

The cold days and frosty nights have made us realise that Winter

is just around the corner...

So...with this in mind...we set the China Room up

in pretty whites and pale shades...

China in shades of white, pale blue, gold and silver...

...dewdrop roses with shimmering crystals hanging from the tree...

...white doves, birds and butterflies...

...a white frosted cake...

...The prettiest white and gold trio with lily-of-the-valley...

...and vintage icy glassware...

...One of my favourite trios...an antique Aynsley...
..it's pastel blooms almost translucent...
...a beautiful piece of artwork forged decades ago...

...The full trio...

...Ice blue and silver...

...Even Bunny looks frosty with his knapsack of white stephanotis...

...White and silver gauzewinged butterflies...

...An "ice bear" peruses the table from his high vantage point...

...His friend watches from the other side of the icy tree...

...Their crystal bodies shimmer in the frosty light...

...Hope you are keeping warm...

Big shimmering-frosty-ice-bear love,

Sue xo

... It's Nearly Bunny Time ...

2011-03-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

... I think Easter is my favourite holiday time. As much as I appreciate the religious side of the occasion, I can't help but love the Easter Egg and Bunny side.

... Even though it is not Springtime in Australia ... the Spring colours of Easter are gorgeous ...

... the wonderful green of rebirth and the pastel shades of Spring flowers ...

... they speak to my Soul ...

... So yesterday, Deena and I spent the day decorating the Tea Rooms

and Shop for Easter ...

... I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed setting the shop up ...

... Bunnies and our "Croquembouche Easter Egg Tree ...

... A close-up of the Tree ...

... Glittery, pastel bunnies and eggs on sticks ...

... Cute bunnies with floral necklaces ...

...Table centrepieces with jonquils, glittery bunnies and glittery eggs ...

... Our Easter Tree ~ home to glittery pastel birds and pretty flower adorned eggs ...

... Birds and eggs in close-up ...

... Green glitter bird ...

... Pretty pastel egg wreath ...

... And matching pastel egg tree ...

... This pot holder looks much prettier with eggs and flowers,

than pots and pans ...

... Even the chandys received the Easter treatment ...

... And the customers, well, they were getting right into the Easter spirit, as glitter bunnies were walking out the door ...

Big Bunny Love,

Sue xo

...The Green Room...

2011-03-02T02:17:00.000-08:00

... For this week's table in the China Room, we have opted for gentle green ...

... with our Bunny teapot as a nod towards Easter ...

... I love antique and vintage Paragon china ... this trio being no exception
... beautifully decorated in florals with gilt trim ... just stunning ...

... Part of the Royal Albert "Friendship" series is this Hawthorn trio ...

... Another favourite ...Foley Broadway ... this one is the more elegant and highly decorated cup... the simpler Broadway is also in this display ...

... This week's floral centrepiece features green and white "real touch" peonies
and white doves ...

... On the right, a pretty Gainsborough Queen Anne trio ... and the cute old-fashioned "Love Heart" lollies, which to my old-fashioned mind have been spoiled with messages like "SMS Me".

... Some things should just be left as they are ....

... The gorgeous Grosvenor "Rutland" ...

... Old Foley "Broadway" with the simpler shaped cup ...

... Bunny Boy this week is carrying a little haversack of pretty stephanotis ...

... Getting into shape before he has to start hauling pretty patterned eggs :)) ...

Have a Lovely Week,

Big, Peaceful-Green-Gorgeous-China Love,

Sue xo

... Dog Day Afternoon ...

2011-02-19T01:48:00.000-08:00

... Do I usually leave our bed like this when I go to work in the morning??????

... No, of course not!!!!!...

The conversation when I arrived home from the Shop today, went something like this ...

Mr ~ "I've left the bedroom as it was when I got home, for you to see..."

Me ~ "Uh-oh, you didn't close the door today, did you?...

Mr ~ "No, but I will in future..."

... I looked through the bedroom door and that was the picture greeting me

... one trashed bed...

Me ~ "Daisy, where are you?..."

(... Miss Daisy looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, doesn't she?...)

Miss Daisy ~ "Here I am but it REALLY wasn't me..."

Me ~ ... "Daisy, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!" ...

Miss Daisy ~ ... "Okay, it WAS me, but YOU left me on my own, and

I'M OUTTA HERE!!!" ...
That blur is Daisy heading for cover :))))

Of course, Princess Daisy didn't get into trouble ~ we were too busy laughing.

Lesson Learned ~ Keep the bedroom door closed when we go out!!!

Big Naughty-But-Still-Cute-Puppy-Love,

Sue xo

PS. Stay tuned for my next post ~ we had a very cute sixteenth birthday in our Party Room today :)))

...I {Heart} Vintage China ...

2011-02-15T17:25:00.000-08:00

... What is it about vintage china that inspires beautiful memories of days gone by?...

If you are like me, you can trace it back to a treasured Grandmother, English in my case,

who baked pretty little "fairy cakes' and got out her Shelley "Wildflowers" tea set for

little girls' afternoon tea parties....

Nana, look what you started ....

Our China Room at The Vintage China Company ...

to date over 150 vintage English china trios

... and still growing ...

Teapots, sugar bowls, creamers, cake plates and cake stands

... also quintessiantially English floral ...

This week's display table is a "blue" table, featuring Old Foley "Broadway" and and a Tuscan setting which does not have a pattern name but is absolutely beautiful ...

... I am searching for the teapots to both sets ... Love the Hunt :)))

Our Gentleman Bunny tops off each table ... this week his little knapsack is filled with cornflowers to match our blue theme ...

Last week's table was a pastel floral theme ... featuring quite a bit of pink

... what a surprise :)))))

The centrepiece was orchids ...

... A touch of Royal Albert ...

... And the lady who started it all ... my Nana, Agnes,

who is with me every time I pick up a piece of vintage china ...

In front of the photo is her very special Shelley "Wildflowers" trio ...

... Thank you Nana ...

Big Vintage-China-Shelley-Wildflowers-Love,

Sue xo

...Peonies, China and Butterflies ...

2011-02-15T16:21:00.000-08:00

We had a quiet day in the shop yesterday, so I was able to take some new photos......

One of my favourite flowers, in my favourite colours...pink and white peonies en masse...

with some gorgeous floral china...

Too pretty....

A corner in the same room...

Another favourite flower ... hydrangeas ... making a bold statement ... as only hydies can...

The white mantel in the main room, with lilac, sweet pea and dancing lights...

Looking into the main flower area, which smells divine ....

A corner unit ... with a new bird cage and pretty metal jugs with verses ...

China, blooms and butterflies ... I'm in Heaven :)

Next time ... I will show you The China Room ...

Until then ...

Big Butterfly Love...

Sue xo

... Vintage China Brides....

2011-02-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

And a Belated Happy New Year!!!!

I thought I would share some photos of our stand at Ballarat Brides last weekend. We were there with our gorgeous vintage china as well as some beautiful silk flower bouquets and other wedding pretties.

Bec and I got there the day before and set up our stand which was great because it took a while to do, as there were lots of pretties to display.

We had lots of comments on our white tree which I had set up as a "Table Tree' with the table numbers and guests names. A couple of Brides~to~Be" also thought it would make a lovely "Wishing Tree'. Great Idea!!!!

Our vintage china was a great hit. I love the way people look at it and say, "Oh, I've got that one". "Nana had that set", or "Remember when we played Tea Parties with those cups and saucers". It seems to pull at everyone's heartstrings as they remember special times of yesteryear, but I guess that's the joy of Vintage..

The silk bouquets were also a popular choice and we took our first order from a very organised Bride yesterday.

And it just wouldn't be a Vintage China Company display without our cupcakes :)))) Very Vanilla and oh so girly!!! And I had to take my new favourite trio. Isn't it gorgeous?

And the cupcakes are the perfect complement for the Royal Albert.

Our table centre ~ roses, doves and feathers in a vintage, crystal jug. And Lucky Bunny looks on. Lots of people wanted Lucky Bunny, but I'm afraid he stays with me :))))

And no vintage display is complete without the old suitcases. Ours is highlighted with lace, a vintage hat, lace parasol and lots of LOVE. What more could a wedding need :))))

Big Vintage Bridal Love,

Sue xo

....The Vintage China Company...OPEN....

2010-11-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

The Vintage China Company is now open for all to enjoy :)))

The store is a mass of gorgeous china, both old and new,

sumptuous silk flowers, beautiful table linen

and scrumptious cakes, coffee and a variety of teas.

The China Room is looking absolutely stunning with a collection of

over 150 vintage tea trios and it's still growing!!!! We stock a gogeous range

dating back to the late 1800's, including Royal Albert, Royal Doulton, Paragon,

Star, Bell, Royal Standard and Royal Vale, just to name a few.

And they are all availabale to hire for your special day.

So, if you are in Ballarat, and would like a browse through our collection,

or for a soothing hot cup of tea, served in vintage china, of course,

come and visit us.

We are located on the corner of Doveton Street North and Macarthur Street,

in the gorgeous little green cottage with the hot pink door.

We would love to see you :))))

A Big Hot China Cup of Love,

Sue xo