Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Teacup Shelf

Here at Kimberly Shaw Graphics, every guest is offered a cup of tea. Art Studio teacup shelf of previous models, future models, inspirations and personal favorites.

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Love Handles

I adore the handles on these teacups.

Here's a sneak peak from a photo shoot taken while setting up an idea for a new Teacup greeting card.  While not fully developed, I'm considering using these models as inspiration.

Shelley Teacup Card Unfolding

A sneak peak at what I'm working on in the Studio today. I'm painting a Shelley teacup which was on loan from a friend. I love its curviness and blue accents on the rim and handle.

This is my second attempt at this design. My first painting was OK, but not exactly what I had in mind, so I choose to do it over. Glad I did, I'm much happier with this one.

Here's my personal critique of my original artwork:

I wasn't thrilled with the bright background color or design, nor the color of the ribbon, or the flowers in the foreground. The overall color of the shadows on the teacup were too warm making it look muddy. I also thought a tighter weave on the lace over a richer blue would look better.

 

When to add Milk to Tea

Is milk added to the teacup first, before the tea is poured, or is milk added after the tea is poured?

If you're like me, Breakfast teas are my favorite, and they are delicious with milk.

The practice of adding milk to the cup before scalding tea is added was to ensure the fragile teacup wouldn't crack from the heat.  Completely understandable, a cracked teacup is heartbreaking. 

Modern, even vintage, china can withstand heat better than antique pieces, so the practice has died down some. I would guess for traditions sake, or as a familiar childhood memory, milk is still added to the cup before the tea. 

Once when I was about ten and my brother nine, we went to a friend's house after school.  His British parents offered to bring us a snack of tea and cookies.  First the tray of teacups arrived with the cookies. In each cup was a splash of milk, and to me this was new. In fact, I thought the teacups were dirty and the milk was left  from previous use.  When the tea arrived my confusion was explained and we enjoyed a wonderful treat.

Adding milk after the tea is poured to to ensure just the right amount is added without overpowering the tea.

So now the big question, and I think you know what I'm going to ask. Yep, you guessed it.

When do you add milk to your tea?

I'll be the first to answer my own question.  I love adding milk last. It's the simple pleasure of watching the white milk swirl in the dark tea making what often looks like weather patterns in my cup.

Ever Green Teacups

There's something wonderful about this time of year when the deciduous trees change color and loose their leaves, contrasting with the evergreens which have been standing unnoticed in the background until now.

May you be kept warm by a cup of tea and good company to share it with.

Charming Vintage White Demitasse Teacup and Saucer

This is the cutest little teacup, emphasis on little. The set sit just over 2" tall.

I enjoy using my tiny vintage teacups. They are perfect for serving punch at little girl's tea parties, or as an elegant desk accessory to hold paper clips.  My favorite use for demitasse cups is to hang them as ornaments on my pink Christmas tree.

Though it looks as if it's never been used, my search has lead me to believe this vintage cup is from the Art Deco era.  If this little set is your cup of tea and you've thought of another charming use for it, it's available in my vintage Etsy shop, LivingOldSchool.

Royal Vale Teacup and Saucer

 

A lovely rose teacup and saucer by Royal Vale up for consideration as a new birthday Teacup Greeting card for kimberlyshawgraphics.com

Lovely Vintage Aqua Foley Teacup and Saucer

A new vintage Foley teacup for my collection and inspiration in my favorite color.

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Aqua Footed

A teacup that really stands out on little gold feet, in my favorite aqua color, and accented with a gold handle. A generous gift from a thoughtful friend.

Royal Sealy Teacup

A vintage Royal Sealy teacup probably from the 50's. 

With a lustre finish, little gold feet, and cutout design on the saucer that casts a great shadow, I couldn't resist it. 

I found it at a collector's sale who was parting with all his teacups at $2 each, which made it all the more irresistible.

Pink Staffordshire Teacup

Less than 2" tall, this pink Staffordshire demitasse teacup made a big tug on my heart, along with the petite vintage doily under it, and the hand painted Limoges plate in its luscious pink, green, and aqua.

Aqua Royal Grafton

 

It's amazing how certain colors effect each of us personally. 

For me, that color is aqua, also known as teal or turquoise depending on how much white is in the mix between blue and green.  When I saw this Royal Grafton teacup I couldn't resist it. 

What color, or color combination, are you most drawn to?

Tea Towels

Who doesn't love a new tea towel to make cleanup a bit more fun? I enjoy making my own tea towels with a double layer of soft flour sack fabric and a ruffle of cute fabric accented with rick rack or vintage trim.

 

Farmers Market Los Angeles California

Being a California girl who worked in downtown L.A., I couldn't pass up this humble teacup I found at a local thrift store. It brought back memories of going to lunch at the Farmers Market with co-workers.

It also maked me wonder who created it and what was it created for.  Maybe it was a tourist souvenir similar to the State plates I collected as a girl.

 

As an artist, I can appreciate the work that went into creating this design.

Butterfly Teacup

Out of the blue, I received this beautiful teacup from my sweet Aunt Wynona. It wasn't my birthday, anniversary,  and nowhere near Christmas. Seeing the box was marked Franz, I was ecstatic!  My family watched me in equal anticipation as I carefully lifted the pieces out of the box, we admired them, and then I carefully returned it to the box for safe keeping.

Silly me, these teacups are meant to be enjoyed, "Who wants tea!"  I asked. I enjoyed my tea in this gorgeous teacup while the family was forced to enjoy their tea in more common English teacups. :) 

 

 

May Teacup

If you were born in May, the Lily of the Valley is your birth flowere.  Aren't they adorable with their small white bells?

Miss-Matched Haviland

Even though this teacup & saucer, both marked Haviland France, are miss-matched, I didn't see it as a problem, but a blessing to get two lovely patterns in one.

The history of the Haviland China Company is interesting, spanning several generations. I was unable to find the name of these patterns.

The little cutie pie with her arms out is ready to receive your used teabag.  In my favorite aqua color it's made by Josef Originals, probably in the 1960's. The inside reads, "Your teabag please."

Breakfast Tea

Breakfast tea has become my favorite, enjoyed sweetened with a bit of milk.

Four O'clock Shadow

The low Winter Sun peeked through the clouds momentarily, producing a four O'clock shadow to let me know it's Tea Time. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

You Are Special

My mom received this Tea Set as a gift from the department store where she registered her wedding gift registry.

The complete Moss Rose set includes two Teacups with Sauces, a Teapot, two Plates, Salt and Pepper Shakers. 

It now graces my home, received as a birthday gift. 

To honor her I created this "You Are Special" Teacup Greeting card, but as you can see I redesign the Teapot to fit the card size, left the lid off where I insert the tea bag, and gave it a napkin tucked under the saucer.

Charming Yellow Teacup and Saucer

Like the Spring Sun, this vintage Teacup and Saucer brightens up any room with its cheery Sun-shiny Lemon Yellow color.  It's large octagon saucer is generous enough to carry a scone to the breakfast table. 

Blue Wedgwood Demitasse Teacup

Classic Blue Wedgwood Jasperware Demitasse Teacup and Saucer with ivory dancer.  At only 2-1/8" tall, this teacup may be petite in size but is large on style.  I've never seen one of these before.  The Ivory dancer on the teacup is surrounded by an ivory garland on the Saucer.

Spode Demitasse Teacup

This vintage Spode Demitasse Teacup & Saucer is adorable!  The saucer looks like a gathered skirt in motion, and its pretty pink flowers and gold edges just sparkle!

Pretty Pink Rose Teacup

 
I adore this vintage pink rose teacup, with a touch of aqua in the leaves and a cute green handle. It's sitting on an origonal watercolor used as a background in one of my cards.