Happy 100th !!!

Here's to a kind and gracious Marty who first invited me to join Tablescape Tuesdays!!!  I have enjoyed the many hours spent on her site, all the wonderful inspirations, and all the new friends!!!  Thank you for hostessing such a fun party!!!  I enjoyed an afternoon tea for you with some yummie treats and colorful finds...

Here's my little friend with a heart for you!!!

There are many arrows in his quiver.....

That's yummy panatonne smeared with butter and some apricot,mango jam on the side.....gotta have something sweet with tea!!!

The scarf is a silk/wool beauty from Liz C.

OOOOOPS....almost forgot the candle for the celebration.......holder is a Dedhamware rabbit.....

And look what I found today while cleaning......a Christmas escapee.......

Thinking of Spring.....

More Spongeware

These next pieces are from England and are teacups and saucers from a child's tea set.....I've included the backstamp.

The next pieces are also English, a small pitcher and a plate that would have been used under a sauce or gravy boat.

This last piece is also English and has a handpainted floral design as well as a stamped design.

Thanks for stopping by.....am joining Seasonal Sundays.

Spongeware Blues

The experts agree that Scotland is where the first pieces of spongeware were found, when excavating for new potteries on old ground.  I love these pieces entitled "Wildflowers"...you can see that no expert did the sponge painting, they are very simple and sweet.

Platter or Ashet...the designs were cut on sponges, actually the hard cork part that attaches the sponge to a rock, and hand stamped into a design.....

Serving bowl...

gravy or sauce boat and underplate....

Backstamp...

The next platter is also from Scotland and is entitled "Scotch Ivory"  and the painting you can see is quite different.....

I am joining Seasonal Sundays, and Tablescape Tuesdays....

I tried, I really did!!!

I admire all the wonderful "winter white" scapes my fellow bloggers have posted, and wanted to do one myself......I really, really, really, tried......not gonna happen, just not in me!!!  It started off okay with the white runner and large platter, then I lost it!!!  I am a blue, red, purple, pink, brown scaper!!!  Gotta have the color.....

Someone had a party for collections, now can't find it so thought I would showcase some of my collections for you to see.......featured here is part of my spatter, spongeware collection.  This is the Virginia pattern made by numerous factories in the 1800's to 1900's.  I have not collected dinner sets, too difficult to find matching pieces, but have collected interesting pieces from a variety of sets.

I like this type of ceramic because it is hand painted and sponged with a stamp in certain places to form the design.  Usually done by women and children working in factories while the men were at war or working in mines or agriculture.  Not very sophisticated, but naive, honest and done by untrained "artists" who were pretty much self taught, and I love the simplicity.....

Couldn't get really good pics, no sun or light available today!!!

This little set is from France, I think it is a covered creamer and sugar bowl, love the lid....marked Opaque De Sarreguemines.

Love this little bird made of felt!!!

This plate is German, Villeroy & Boch..

Cup and sucer from Holland.....Maastricht.

Casserole with lid and Pitcher are German from V & B.  Love the detail on the handles of the base, don't know if you can see that.....the tiny circular flowers are done with a "stamp" made from a sponge that is very hard like a cork.....made by various factories in Europe......hence the name "spongeware".