Are They Cake Stands? Are They Jewelry Stands?

Hi all!

I wanted to share with you all a simple display table that I put together with some of my favourite vintage dinner/dessert ware pieces and some re-purposed saucer, dessert and dinner plates into cake/jewelry stands. I think that they are so delightful to look at and a wonderful way to utilize orphan saucers or remaining pieces of an old/unusable set. I will post some better pictures in my upcoming blogs but wanted to share with you some of my current pieces with the pictures I've got so far.

Thank you all for having a look! Please visit my website for prices :). www.vintageteacupcandles.com

- Netti, The Vintage Teacup Lady

Favourite Toronto Restaurants

Hi all!

I thought I would share with you all my favourite Toronto restaurants and dishes. I also wanted to share my friend Tara's food blog which is absolutely amazing. Tara is a total foodie and dines at the newest and trendiest restaurants and shares her honest opinion on her blog. Please check out her blog tarabites before you make a reservation, you won't be disappointed!

Caribbean Roti Palace

I have been going to this place for the last few years and love it! West Indian/Caribbean restaurants are sort of hit or miss in my experience in Toronto and I am so happy that I came across this hidden gem. The place isn't much to look at when you walk in but the food is fantastic and so authentic. My favourite dish from this place is the Chicken Roti and I usually get a double or two. For those of you who have never tried a double and plan to, I envy you. I wish I could go back in time to when I first tried one to experience it again. Doubles are these delicious, soft and warm flat breads about the size of your hand and sandwiched in between is a chickpea, curry and tamarind mixture. They are so flavourful and the tamarind sauce is slightly sweet which really balance out the other curry spices. It's my favourite Caribbean comfort food.

7 Numbers

I love, love, love 7 Numbers. First of all, I'm Italian (as I've mentioned in my other posts) and I'm quite particular when I'm choosing Italian restaurants to dine in and this place does not disappoint. The chef's name is Rosa and she is adorable and has always been at the Eglinton location cooking up a storm whenever I've been there. The place feels like you're in an Italian Nonna's basement. None of the cutlery or dishes really match but it's all part of the authentic feel. My favourite dishes are the calamari and the lasagna (which is Rosa's specialty). The kitchen is also open and exposed so you can see Rosa and her sous chef cooking away and it all adds to the homey and authentic feel of Italian comfort food.

Zaffron

Zaffron is my number one place in Toronto for Persian comfort food. Persian kebob is so delicious and I love the way they season their meat. Zaffron's portions are enormous, so I would definitely recommend this place if you have a huge appetite. I always start with the Zaffron bread, Maust Museer and pickles. Maust Museer is a delicious blend of creamy yogurt and shallots and their bread is flat and perfect for dipping. I always order the Vaziri for my main which is literally a platter of chicken and beef kebab, huge portion of Persian rice and a roasted tomato. Everything tastes so fresh and just off the grill and the service is great.

The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder

I can't say enough about this place. The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder is an amazing little nook serving up traditional southern dishes with a modern twist. The food is full fat, freaking delicious and leaves you totally satisfied. I love their Sunday brunch and always order the Fried Chicken and Waffles. That is basically one of my favourite dishes, ever. The batter on the fried chicken is crispy and soft in all the right places and they glaze the whole thing with this citrus, cayenne maple drizzle from heaven. If you want to go for brunch, I would suggest blocking off a good chunk of time in your day because the line up is really long to get in, but worth the wait. 

Dangerous Dan's

I've actually never stepped foot in this place and only ordered food for delivery but holy smokes, the menu is unlike any other place in the city. First of all, their portion sizes are on steroids. You can get the biggest burger you've ever laid eyes on and actually finish it because it tastes so good. I've had a number of things on their menu but my favourite is the The Big Cowboy which is an 8oz. burger with baked beans, a fried egg, bacon and Dan’s chipotle mayo. It's unreal. I usually order two sides, yup.. two sides, because clearly the 8 oz. burger isn't enough (haha) and I order the Poutine Perogies and Greek Fries. Salivating just thinking about this place!

Pizza e Pazzi

This place is fantastic for authentic Italian Neapolitan Pizza. The pizza I've had there totally took me back to when I was in Capri eating pizza on a beach side patio. Their calamari is also delicious, freshly fried rings piled high on a big plate and more than enough for two people to share. I was also really impressed with their dessert! I had the caramel panna cotta and it was so silky and the sweetness of the caramel paired with the richness from the panna cotta was just perfect. 

Bathurst Station Beef Patties

Ok, well this isn't an actual restaurant but, beef patties have pretty much been my favourite food from when I was like 4 and the beef patties at Bathurst Station are the best ones in the city. A lot of people have compared them to the Warden Station patties, but I haven't tried them so can't compare. The flaky and buttery outside and soft and flavorful minced meat on the inside are so good and immediately warm you up. You can also buy them by the box and freeze them at home. One tip, the ones marked with a pink or red dot are actually the mild ones! Don't make the mistake of getting the ones without the dot if you're not a fan of heat!

I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you get to try some of my favourite meals! Comment below and share some of your favourite Toronto restaurants!

Thanks for reading!

- Netti, The Vintage Teacup Lady

The Vintage Force Was Strong With Me Today

Hi all!

Oh my, oh my, did I ever discover some treasures today! So excited to share them with you.

This 'Colclough Bone China - Made in England' teacup is just divine. When I look at it, I see a fine lady in a summer dress, sitting on the porch of a country house somewhere in a southern state, sipping Earl Grey Tea from this little gem. The bloomed yellow roses are almost bursting from this cup and saucer and the handle is slightly pointed which gives this cup a really dainty look. I love the classy and refined look of this set.

This 'Foley Bone China - Delphinium - Made in England' teacup really makes me feel like it came right out of an Alphonse Mucha poster. The hand painted scenery of a meadow of flowers also makes me feel like if the hippies that attended Woodstock drank tea there, they were probably drinking it from this cup. I just want to put on some Mamas and Papas and watch something psychedelic while drinking from this cup. The hand painted mint green handle really pulls the whole look of this set together. I've included an Aphonse Mucha poster below that I think closely resembles the vibe that this set gives off. Totally obsessed with this find.

This 'Gladstone - Bone China - Made in England' teacup is just so pleasant! It makes me feel like a favourite aunt has just surprised me with a knock on the door and picnic basket in hand. The flowers, were real, look as if they are begging you to pick them and place in your favourite vase. The stigma in these painted flowers is dolloped on with a magnificently bright orange paint and when you run your finger over the surface of the flowers, the stigma is textured which is such a unique touch. The cone shape of the cup is also almost flower like as if you could add a stem to it an plant it in your garden. I love the curved handle as it gives the blunt shape of the cup a bit of softness.

This 'Paragon' set is so delightfully spring it's unreal and the full pastel yellow in the cup and saucer is so vintage looking. This shape of this cup and the pattern on it reminds me of a vintage umbrella. Although the cup and saucer match and are both Paragon, this is not a true set but, work nicely displayed together. The detail in the painted lily pads on the saucer are just gorgeous and the contrast colours of the water lilies to the yellow saucer really make the water lilies pop and come to life. The floral pattern on the inside of the cup is actually tied with a ribbon which I thought was such a beautiful detail. Notice the painted gold leaf on the handle that just adds an extra delicate touch to pull this whole set together.

This 'Queen Anne - Made in England' revolving butter dish was such an amazing find today! The engraved detail on the dome lid is so intricate and I love that it's footed. I'm on the hunt for a matching butter knife!

This 'Leviton Milk Glass Hurricane Lamp' is so spectacular when you flick the switch to turn it on. I was so excited when I got home and put a light bulb in to see it transform into a glowing vintage treasure. The raised and dotted milk glass shade on this lamp is so pretty and the hurricane shape reminds me of an almost fully bloomed tulip. I love that the base of this lamp is slightly dipped and can be used to hold jewelry.

Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed today's finds!

- Netti, The Vintage Teacup Lady

New Year and Resolutions

Hi all!

I thought since we've recently kicked off 2016, it would be good to let you know where I'm presently at in my life and how I've been trying to execute my resolutions and hopes for this new year.

For the past several years, I have worked in offices and have been greatful and for the most part happy with my jobs. All of my spare time outside of work however, was never organized properly. I hadn't found my niche in where I wanted to spend my off work time in the most productive and soul fulfilling way and to be honest, probably didn't think much about how wasteful I was with the precious time I had outside of my 9 to 5. I wanted to make a list of things that I have tried to change or improve in my life and felt like I needed to hit the ground running in the new year and take advantage of the clean slate ahead. Here's my list and hope that you can relate or can take some of my experiences away with you and hopefully make this a productive and positive year. The list is in no particular order, by the way...


Write Things Down

I was mostly the kind of person that took mental notes of things or had ongoing lists of tasks/responsibilities in my head and you know what, this method just doesn't work for me anymore so recently I've tried to change this. I now keep a notebook on hand at all times and write down almost everything. Whether it's an item I need to pick up at the grocery store, a new idea I have for re-decorating, gifts I need to buy, people I want to send positive energy to, etc - I write it down. At the end of the day, I go through what I've written and re-write them (yup, you read that right) and try and categorize them. I know this sounds tedious, but this process is great for staying organized and it also will help you to internalize and remember these things if you happen to forget your trusty notebook. And don't just write things down that you don't want to forget, write down your goals, no matter how big, small or unattainable you may think they are. Write down an inspiring quote you've come across online. Write down a beautiful moment you've happened to witness on the bus. When you write things down, it makes them more then just a hope, wish or thought, it makes them more real and will give you a sense of accountability for your goals. I'm starting to schedule time once a week for myself to review my notes and cross things off of my list, add additional items or to just read through the goals that I've written to reaffirm them to myself. This has been so therapuetic for me especially when I can actually cross things off and accomplish my tasks - personal or not, and it's amazing to watch your goals progress and become reality. Scheduling time to read through notes is also cool because you can see how far you've come from where you've started and that is really the ultimate motivation to keep striving for your goals.

Purge

Purging is something that I have really tried to get better at. I come from a long line of "collectors" and I've definitely inherited the hoarding gene. Don't get me wrong, I haven't turned into a minimalist by any means but I certainly have tried to de-clutter as much as I possibly can. Over the course of 2015 I spent some solid time doing some purging but with the amount of stuff that I've accumulated, the process seemed neverending but was so rewarding. This year, I'm continuing to de-clutter, purge and now I am re-decoreating so that I can organize my space in a way that will avoid cluttered areas. Purging is not only great for making room in your physical space, but it's so good for you emotionally. It's nice to hold onto nostalgic or sentimental items, but most other things can go. Find a local thrift store or charity that accepts donations and drop off anything that is still usable. It will help to de-clutter your space and you'll be doing a good deed for your community. A friend of mine recently sent me a link that I thought was a fabulous guide to purging: http://www.organisemyhouse.com/101-items-to-get-rid-of-without-regret/.

Find a Creative Outlet/Continue or Start a Hobby

I currently work full time and have little spare time on evenings and weekends for things that I would like to pursue creatively. I have really been trying to make solid time for my creative endeavours because it does wonders for my soul. We live in an age where everyone is on the go and schedules are filled with things that may not serve our souls purpose. By the time we realize how far we've come from who we are (and who we are is almost always based on what we like), we forget the things that ignited a spark in us and really make us happy. What you decide on what becomes your outlet is your choice and doesn't necessarily have to be creative. Reflect on things that made you happy as a child as those are usually the things that will still spark an interest in you today. Were you an avid reader? Join a book club! Were you athletic? Join a community league! Did your grandma like to knit or crochet with you as a child and you always wanted to pick it up again? Take a class! Of course, we all know that everything can be accessed online so you probably won't even need to leave the comfort of your home if you want to learn something new. There are ample tutorials on blogs and Youtube that show step by step instructions on how to do almost everything. A lot of us can use the line or excuse that we are "just too busy", or "don't have the time". Make time. Period. Clear out time in your schedule, skip that episode of Game of Thrones, turn your phone off and do something that makes you happy. For me, this excercise has been extremely important. When I'm doing something creative that I'm passionate about, I feel like it's a form of meditation. I just get in the zone and get totally zen.


Be More Positive

Everytime you let something negative out of your mouth and into the universe, it creates a ripple affect of negative energy. That negative energy builds up inside and around us and creates cloudiness that fill up spaces that should be filled with light and happy things. If all your energy spaces are full of darkness, there is no room to let in the light. I am making it my mission to be a lot more positive this year. Before I say something, I think about how and what I'm saying and just simply don't say it if it isn't positive (sometimes I forget, it's hard!). I know this is easier said than done, but it is so good for you. One of the best ways to stop this habit is to avoid or distance yourself from people that like to gossip with you. If some of these people are closest to you, then try and change topics when they start to gossip, refrain from responding and try to guide the conversation in a postive way. This also applies to how you speak to and about yourself. Many people (I think women are more guilty of this - I definitely am) speak about themselves internally and externally in a negative way and that is so bad for our self worth. We need to love ourselves more and stop putting ourselves down. Accept and embrace yourself and when you start the positivity and love from within, it spills out to the rest of the world.

Uplifting Things 

In this age of social media, we are flooded with news and information and a lot of it can be negative (which goes hand in hand with what I said above about your spaces being filled with cloudiness). When we are constantly reminded of tragedy or sadness, it wears us down. I don't think that we should become completely ignorant to what is going on in the world but we need to balance it out and make room to take in some uplifting things. What I have started to try and do is not let something negative, sad or tragic consume me and basically kill my spirits for the rest of the day. It's hard to not let your emotions get the better of you but, I've found that when I have the right balance of happy things that I'm reading or watching, it not only makes me feel better but also helps to decrease a slumber mood and increase my faith in humanity. Here are some links that I often rely on to uplift my mood:
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/good-news/
http://www.slice.ca/breaktime/photos/35-heartwarming-photos-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity/#!a9a7889997cb0dfe74fb2c0d635af38e

I think that's just the tip of the iceberg with the types of things that I want to do/improve on this year. Hope that some of this was beneficial or inspiring. I wish you all a wonderful, successful and happy 2016!

Thanks for reading!

- Netti, The Vintage Teacup Lady 

Today's Finds - German and French Teacups

Hi all!

Found myself a few German and French friends today!

The best part of finding these pieces is coming home and enjoying the detailed craftsmanship and articulate design of them. These teacups have such personality!


This 'Porcelaine Dure - Georges Boyer - Limoges France' teacup is just gorgeous. The embossed white on white detail on the cup and saucer reminds me of intricate piped icing on a cake. This cup sits quite shallow and wide and the earthy tones of the floral pattern give this set a very "French Country" vibe while the saucer's leaf pattern is quite whimsical and wispy. The look of this set shouts of rustic elegance.

This 'Exclusivite - R. Leclair - Limoges France' teacup is subtle in it's details and is the type of piece that you may just completely miss unless it's picked up and handled. The details in the scalloped petals on the cup and saucer feel and look as if they'd been applied with strokes of oil paint on canvas to create a delicate but prominent texture. The pastel floral pattern on the cup and saucer are so luscious, soft and feminine. I love the demitasse cup as it gives this set an approachable but tasteful look.

This 'Cassidys Ltd. - Original Bridal Roseff - Made in Western Germany' teacup is truly styled for royalty. The gentle and fine painted rose branches that cover the body of the cup and saucer remind me of finely stitched embroidery and the almost minuscule gold design around the rims are like thin lace trim on a Victorian gown. One sweet surprise that is almost missed on the cup is the raised pattern on the handle that you can see in more detail when the cup is upside down.

This 'Classic Rose Collection - Rosenthal Group - Germany' teacup is so detailed and the white on white embossing is incredibly intricate. The embossed rose branch design is so complex and doesn't follow the same pattern around the cup. The design looks as if it is dancing and floating, changing it's pattern as you turn the cup to see the whole pattern. While admiring this set, it transcends you into feeling petals along your skin and inhaling the sweet smell of a rose garden. The saucer actually has embossed designs of picket fences as you can see in the photos below, which just enhance the experience of feeling like you're in a garden and the saucer's rim looks as if pearls have been strung along it. The more you handle this piece, the more you want to just stare at it and take in everything it has to offer.

Thanks for reading and I hope that you enjoyed my finds!

- Netti, The Vintage Teacup Lady

Balsamic Chicken Breast

Hi all!

Last night I made one of my favorite chicken recipes and wanted to share it with you. 

My yummy Blasamic Chicken Breast recipe is a great dish when you're short on time and want something flavourful. The balsamic vinegar gives the chicken the perfect amount of sweetness and the acidity in the vineagar gets reduced when it's cooked so it's not so intense. I made this dish with a side of basmati rice and sautéed asparagus and it was just delightful. Hope you enjoy!

Here's what you'll need:

2 skinned and de-boned chicken breasts
Olive oil
2 cloves of garlic 
Balsamic vinegar 
Dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste 

To make:

• Rinse chicken breast under room temperature water and let drain in a caulander
• Mince garlic or use a garlic press. Set aside.  
• Season chicken breast on both sides with salt and pepper to taste
• Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium frying pan and place on low-medium heat
• Add minced garlic and let simmer in the olive oil for a little less then a minute (you don't want the garlic to brown or get crispy, lower the heat if necessary)
• Add chicken breast 
• Sprinkle dried basil over each chicken breast (I like lots of flavour so I coat the chicken quite heavily)
• Pour about a third of a cup of balsamic vinegar over the chicken breast and cover (add more balsamic if you find that this amount doesn't coat the chicken breast completely)
• Cover and let simmer over low-medium heat for about 10 minutes (you will start to smell the balsamic at this point) and uncover and flip the chicken to cook on the other side. Cover again and cook for another 15-20 minutes or until middle of the thickest part of the chicken breast is completely white when you cut through it.

This chicken is also great as a left over! Slice it and add it to a wrap or sandwich for lunch or chop it in chunks and add it to a salad.


Enjoy! 

 

Welcome!

Hi all!

Today I'm going to be talking about my journey in becoming the Vintage Teacup Lady!

I spent many summer days at my grandparents house as a young girl. They had a set of Fire King Coffee Mugs and everytime I see them, it reminds me of the days spent with them as a child and my grandmother making peppermint tea with LOTS of sugar for me and serving it in one of these mugs. For some reason, my grandparents always kept their spoon in their cup while they drank the whole tea and I inherited that trait. Coffee or tea just doesn't taste the same without the spoon in it! I love these mugs and I love the memories that this mug represents. Everytime I am at my grandmothers house, I simply can't leave without making myself a tea in one of these mugs. My grandparents were very simple people and always maintained all of the things in their house. Nothing was replaced unless it was absolutely necessary, things were fixed if they had broke - not thrown away. Looking back at that now, I find it so remarkable. In an age where we live in so much excess, these two little birds were more than happy with what they had and didn't feel the need to re-vamp, replace or discard. This mug is a representation of a constant, something that symbolizes that it isn't the objects that we obtain in life, but the memories that we can create with what we already have.

Growing up in an Italian household, coffee was an absolute staple. Our cupboards were always stocked of freshly ground espresso beans and in the mornings, the rumbling sound of the stove top espresso and smell of the steaming hot coffee lingered throughout the house. My parents also owned an Italian cafe that had an espresso machine. Whenever I hear the sound of a portafilter knocking into a drawer, emptying it for a fresh espresso or the screeching sound of milk being steamed for a cappuccino, it immediately brings me back to my childhood. While some kids had dirt in their finger nails, mine had espresso coffee grounds. 

My mom at the espresso machine in 1986

With espresso, of course, comes latte, cappuccino and espresso cups. Many espresso drinkers have a particular type of cup that they prefer to drink espresso beverages from and between our cafe and our home, we pretty much had them all. Needless to say, I developed a love for coffee at a very young age and my love for it only grew stronger into my teenage years as I found myself a barista position at my local Starbucks. Working at Starbucks was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I worked with cool artists, got to know our regulars and made coffee all day - what more can you ask for at 16? My coffee addiction grew and so did my affinity for coffee mugs. I was starting to see how my employee discount would soon shape who I was as a collector of coffee mugs and teacups.
 
I started collecting all of my favorite types of Starbucks mugs and teacups and soon, I had a whole chest full of them! Eventually, I got other jobs and could no longer call myself a barista nor use the employee discount and my collection came to a halt. Some time went by and I found myself in the midst of planning a friends bridal shower (the friend never ended up getting married, but this is just a perfect example of how everything happens for a reason). I thought it would be just lovely to have a tea party bridal shower (p.s. this was about 7 years ago before the more recent trend of teacup parties/bridal showers) and she absolutely loved the idea! I started looking up Royal Doulton's, and Paragon's and absolutely fell in love. My favorite ones were vintage pieces that I would come across by fluke at flea markets and consignment sales. Every purchase was like uncovering a secret treasure that was precisely placed in my path to find. I got the idea for teacup candles when I came across three prestine Adeline teacups and saucers and thought they would be beautiful as candles and since there were three, my sisters and I (I have two sisters) could keep one each. Once I transformed the teacup into a repurposed, beautiful teacup candle, I received an outpour of positive feedback from family and friends about how much they loved them and then it began! I was on the hunt for the best vintage teacups in the city and I found them - ALL! 

The hunt is still ongoing and I can say that I'm truly in my glory when I'm on the hunt. I began getting familiar with fine bone china brands and now I can almost always guess the brand of a set before I even flip it over to reveal the brand and where it's made. Becoming this re-purposer of vintage finds has become my passion and I'm thrilled that I can share this with you. Grab a fancy hat, start your kettle, pull out your favorite teacup and enjoy the journey with me, The Vintage Teacup Lady!

Thank you all for reading! 

- Netti, The Vintage Teacup Lady