Strawberry Baskets - Wimbledon Tradition

We love Hammersley china here at Cottage Violet's. The beautiful patterns and lovely shapes are some of the finest of traditions from England's china heyday.

Wimbledon is also an English tradition. The lovely grass courts and royal spectators make this one of the finest tennis events every year.

Besides having jolly old England in common, tennis and Hammersley china share another connection. Strawberry baskets! That's right, Strawberry baskets.

Visitors and spectators at Wimbledon eat literally tons of strawberries and cream each year. Now, they are served in punnets (little baskets). But in days gone by when there was a piece of china for every eating event, Strawberry baskets were all the rage..

Strawberry baskets usually consisted of three pieces. A lovely handled basket with a removable creamer on one side, and a removable sugar bowl on the other side. They sported the loveliest patterns of the day.

A Hammersley Morgan's Rose pattern Strawberry Basket

 

There would also be china tennis set's in the same pattern. A tennis set was an eight inch salad plate with a lipped rim to hold a matching teacup. Of course, what would an English event be without a spot of tea.

 

Hammersley Chrysanthemum Pattern available at Cottage Violets

 

So in honor of Wimbledon, Cottage Violet's says "All Hail to the Queen", and let the serving begin.

 

Blessings, Theresa

 

 

 

Mom's Kitchen ~ Still Feels Like Home

Got a call from my brother Dave. He is bringing his grandson DJ to visit Dad. Three generations of Davids, meeting at Grandpas (Dads).

I decided to make some Snickerdoodles, as they are dad's favorite. He usually doesn't have them because of his diabetes, just for special occasions, and not too many (occasionally he sneaks one, lol).

Isn't This Mixer So Cool And Different

 

First of all, I could only make a half batch as I had one egg. But, I started. Then I noticed mom's white mixer, the white counter, and some white flowers (left-overs from a little bouquet, I can't stand to throw them away till the last flower fades). And it struck me, I had left here 40 years ago, but this is still home.

Voila! Snickerdoodles On Mother's Violet China

 

So I took some pictures and wrote this post. I'm really missing my mom today. So much of her is still present in the shadows of this kitchen.

The Card My Brother Bought My Father

Love you Mom!

Blessings,
Theresa @ Cottage Violets

The Tale Of Miss Angel Heart and The Fairy Tale Buttons

I wanted you all to meet the lady behind the wonderful handmade ceramic buttons used on my Tim Holtz rosettes.  Here is a post from July 2008. Please meet Cindy Houot, affectionately known as Miss Angel Heart.

Once upon a time in the Land Up North, way across borders and mountains and streams, there lived an Angel with a heart of gold. Now Miss Angel Heart (for that is her name) was sitting in her throne room (license taken) overlooking her kingdom, where goats and chickens and dogs and nature sang together in three part harmony.

Amid the cacophony, there came the message, "You've got mail". Flying to her magic box, Miss Angel Heart read the request. Oh my, the land down under (under Sammamish, that is) was in need of buttons. Fairy tale buttons, ice creams colors, pastel wonders, could she do it, the sender asked?

 Miss Angel Heart went to work with earth, and paste, and glaze, and all the colors of the rainbow. At just the last minute, she raided her stash of fairy dust and threw in a goodly amount, because there is an overwhelming need for Fairy Tales in the land down under (under Sammamish, that is).

With a mighty launch, Miss Angel Heart sent the Fairy Tale Buttons flying over land and stream to their new home. In the package the poor Southlander found an added treasure, a beautiful polka dot bowl. Miss Angel Heart wanted to make sure the Fairy Tale Buttons had a royal place to reside, so she sent the bowl to keep them company.

. Satisfied with her hard days work, Miss Angel Heart laid down her weary head, and dreamt of all the Fairy Tale treasures her buttons would soon be a part of.

 So in honor of Miss Angel Heart, let the festivities begin. Welcome to the World of Fairy Tale Buttons, the story is just beginning.............. it's a love story.........

NOTE: Gentle readers, who is Miss Angel Heart you ask? When she is not ruling her Royal Kingdom, she takes on the mortal personna of Cindy Houot (pronounced Who, like the Who's in Whoville, but that is a story for another time). Her boutique is http://www.angelheartdesigns.com/ .

P.S. If you are interested in the Pinwheel Tags, they are at http://www.cottageviolets.com/ this evening. I love my Pinwheel Tags, so fun.

See you in Fairy Tale Land, Theresa