TREASURES FROM THE GLENDALE ANTIQUE MALL

Wedgwood and Johnson Brothers


German Pitcher


Wedgwood Patrician Tea Cup


After driving through flooding and horrid downpours of endless rain, my mother-in- law(Darleen) and I arrived in Glendale, KY Friday morning of April 4Th and began our weekend antiquing excursion. More and more primitive pieces seem to be finding their way into these shops and if I collected primitives I would be in 7Th heaven. Much to my delight, in my favorite antique shop, the former Greyhound Bus Station, I found 4 great Wedgwood Patrician cream ware tea cups and saucers, a Wedgwood platter and a small German cream ware pitcher with what looks to be a fox hunting scene complete with an elongated fox serving as the handle. This pitcher was just one of those pieces that when you come across you literally grab it out of a nagging fear that the person behind you might just get it if you don't act quickly. In the above pictures I have the Wedgwood tea cups displayed with my Johnson Brothers Harvest Time collection, the German Pitcher, and a close up of one of the teacups. More treasures to come in future Franklin posts.....

VILLAGE SHOPS




VILLAGE SHOPS


One of my favorite pastimes is seeking out small communities known for their clusters of antique and specialty shops. About 8 years ago, my mother-in-law and I first discovered historic Franklin,TN, approximately 15 miles south of Nashville, because of an article in Southern Living Magazine about the towns antiques district. Then Romantic Homes featured a shop there, The Iron Gate, where you can find everything from elaborate chandeliers, Rachel Ashwell linens and candles to a massive Virgin Mary statue from an old Catholic church. It's one of the most wonderfully eclectic shops in Franklin and we try to at least take a turn in there with each trip. Click on the Iron Gate link at the side bar and take a peek..... On our way to Franklin, we also discovered a town called Historic Glendale, KY. This township is literally nestled around a railroad track and is another great shop cluster community, though much smaller than Franklin. A great little shop in Glendale is called Once Upon A Country Road. It's located at the end of Penny Lane in a "Turn of the Century" pink cottage(Of course that holds a lot of charm in itself). The pictures above are from this shop. I like this place because of its lovely white furniture and whimsical painted signs. My favorite shop in Glendale is in a former Greyhound station and is literally filled to the ceiling with vintage linens, jewelry, and china. Early tomorrow morning, we're heading out once again for a weekend of antiquing in Glendale and Franklin and I hope to return with many more treasures and photos to share on the blog.

DRAWINGS

Beauty

The Proclamation

Angel of Mercy



I honestly can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't drawing. My first art kit came when I was about 7 or 8 years old but I was always drawing something and knew I wanted to be an artist. I never had an epiphany, it's just who I am. So, I wanted to share some of my drawings on the blog. I think most of the Tea Society ladies are familiar with my artwork by now but I wanted to show some of my favorite conte`crayon drawings. I love that the conte` pencil gives the impression of a red chalk Renaissance drawing and that's why I chose it to work with. The subjects I choose are very varied but I have an absolute passion for cemetery angels and they are among my favorite subjects. Two of the angels here are from a series of notecards that I made a few years ago. The other is of a Connemara Pony( I am a Kentucky girl after all and had to have some Equine Art thrown in for good measure.) I hope you enjoy them.

FROM THE GARDEN TO THE FOYER....





Tuesday morning I strolled out to the garden to survey the spring buds and blooms. I love to check the progress of the lilacs, tulips, and wisteria. I could smell the sweet scent of the jonquils before I actually saw them and when I walked through our little courtyard I was met with a sea of gold, cream, and white. Oh, how that makes my senses dance! I promptly returned to the house and left my ten year old son instructions to keep an eye on his sister, grabbed the camera and pruning shears then headed out to collect a nice spring bouquet. The result is what you see at the end of our foyer when you enter our front door. It's a very simple little arrangement but it just makes me smile.

NEVER PASS UP A TREASURE............




This advice came from none other than British actress Brenda Blethyn who recently played the role of Grace Turner(mother of James McAvoy's Robbie)in Atonement. Brenda was an avid collector at one time(perhaps she still is)and it seems several years ago she especially enjoyed antiquing when she was in Australia filming In The Winter Dark. I found an old issue of BBC Homes & Antiques where Ms. Blethyn told of the one that got away....... As Brenda passed the same quaint little shop in the Blue Mountains each day, she discovered a wonderful treasure; " And I fell in love with the most exquisite Art Deco dancing lady holding a ball. But I dithered. We were two hours from Sydney and that long flight home. The piece was heavy and quite expensive, too. On last day of filming, the chief make-up artist invited the cast to her home for lunch. And there, in the middle of the table was my dancing lady. I couldn't say anything, of course, except how lovely she was. But oh, the regret..."

Can I ever relate to this. I've lost count of how many times I've seen something that I really wanted but for some reason just didn't buy it at that moment only to literally return to the store a week or sometimes even only a day or two later and of course it would be gone. I've learned my lesson about this and one of the last really good purchases I made I only pondered on for about an hour before taking the plunge and buying an older edition of John Ruskin's Modern Painters. Just how old the book was I wasn't sure of because the description on the ad didn't say. I wasn't particularly looking for an old edition of this book but wanted desperately to read it and was perfectly content to buy a modern version when I found this great little book on ebay. I was so taken with the Art Nouveau gold floral design and loved the flowers wrapped with a pale blue ribbon on the cover. I decided to take the plunge and make the purchase. I'm so glad that I did because when the book arrived,the first thing I saw when opening the cover was an inscription to one Nanna Morton with the date December 25, 1900. I wonder what Ms. Morton thought of her treasure that Christmas, how often she read it, and how it possibly changed her life in some way. This book was indeed considered "The Bible" for the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood of artists based out of England in the mid to late 1800's, whom I happen to have a rather unhealthy obsession with. I knew the read would be very engaging and it certainly has been. Yes, I'm so glad I followed my instinct and made this purchase.

Atonement





"In this drama based on the critically acclaimed novel by Ian McEwan, a childhood lie irrevocably changes the lives of several people."
Netflix

My husband, John, and I first watched this movie a couple of weeks ago and watched it again last night. It's certainly the type of movie to watch more than once. This is one of the most provocative and heart-wrenching films that I've seen in ages. I have not read the novel so I knew only a little of the subject matter ( not for younger viewers). I was so taken with the cinematography and beauty of the costumes. Kiera Knightley's now infamous green dress ( as seen in one of the above photographs)is extraordinary! I will not write too much about the plot as to not spoil it for those who have not read the book or seen the film but I will comment that James McAvoy's performance as the ill-fated Robbie is nothing short of brilliant. He is fast becoming one of my favorite actors. I dare say that Kiera Knightley also surprised me in her role as Cecilia. She is a strikingly beautiful woman and her acting has certainly come a long way. The girl portraying young Briony, Saoirse Ronan, is astonishingly captivating and a true pleasure to watch. I have little doubt that we will be seeing this young girl in many more films to come. Another interesting fact about this film is that the scenes of the beautiful Tallis estate were actually filmed on location at Stokesay Court , an 1891 Manor House in Shropshire, England. The Production Company actually paid to renovate a large portion of the house just for the film. Extraordinary! Please take the time to go to http://www.stokesaycourt.com/ and visit Stokesay Court's Website. There, you can read about the history of this most interesting estate.

To help endure the bleak rainy day we're having....

I wanted to offer a glimpse of the opulence of the Grand Dame of The Gilded Age, Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. These photos were taken a few years ago on our first Tea Society Weekend getaway and my goodness what a wonderful time that was! We were wined and dined at The Historic Beaufort House Victorian Inn http://www.beauforthouse.com/index.htm. And what a surprise it was to arrive on the day of a wedding under the Wisteria laden pergola in the garden. We had a wonderful unobtrusive view from the white rocking chairs on the front porch. Besides the wedding party, who certainly made themselves scarce, we felt as though we had the run of the Inn. I would love to be there right now!

This is such a nice reminder that Spring is finally here and that very soon the fragrant blooms of my treasured Wisteria will be perfuming the air in our little courtyard. This photo was from last year before a wretched late freeze killed the massive grape clusters on the vine as well as the buds on my Nikko Blue Hydrangea. I was devastated to say the least.

Take the Quiz here!

At long last I've gotten 'round to posting a picture from our Murder Mystery Dinner from October 2007. The theme was The Hollywood Premiere of Powar and Greede. Seen here are Tea Society members, Darleen Chamberlain and Polly Singer. Polly is our newest member and is a well known hat designer. Her business, All you need is Love Hats and Veils, is found under the links portion of this blog. Polly also won a free tea voucher for dressing in the most glamorous costume. What a night of laughs we had!

The Return of Victoria


So often in life, the saying, " You can never go home again" rings true. Yet this past Saturday I was greeted with the most comforting surprise and nostalgic journey. All found within the pages of a lovely little magazine called Victoria. She is mercifully back and I welcomed her with open arms and a fresh cuppa Earl Grey Lavender tea. I mourned her ending and the reality that I could no longer count on the comfort of a wee glimpse into a world where time stood still. A world that I desperately longed to join. This is a world where women are championed because of their contributions but equally celebrated for their grace, elegance, class, and dignity. This world is one where modernism takes a well ushered back seat to traditions, antiques, historic preservation, gardens, art, tea, and of course travel. This world exists within Victoria and as I've come to discover with her rebirth, many others across the universe have longed for her return as well. If I can only recommend one magazine worthy of our Tea Society members to subscribe to, it is Victoria.

So,When Mother Nature ushers in the chill of winter, you will be forever grateful that your dear cherished friend will arrive to comfort you as you share a scone and cuppa by the fire. Please go to Victoria's website http://www.victoriamag.com/ and take a moment to preview the contents and don't dare leave until you've ordered your subscription.

Another Year...

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I've had the chance to post. So much has transpired to have taken my time away from leisurely and often enjoyable computer time. Katherine Elizabeth arrived at 5:43am on December 28, 2006. She weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs 4 .6 ounces and a long 20 1/4 inches long. What an angel.

As the above photo reveals, The Tea Society is getting back into full swing. Our first event, post Katherine, was a Derby Tea and hat show at Historic Aspen Hall Manor in Harrodsburg, KY. The teafare was wonderful and we had the honor of meeting Ms. Polly Singer, a wonderful Milliner. Polly is also our newest member.

Our resident Vintage Seamstress, Natalie, and husband have welcomed two wee little twin boys into the world. Mother, Father, Grandmother, and boys are all adjusting to this wonderful metamorphosis. What a blessing for the Fergusons. We wish them all the best.

Next month brings our annual weekend retreat and this year we're heading north to Waynesville , OH. We are all very eager to explore the great shops there in hopes of finding some great treasures. Any excuse to go antiquing is a good one........

2006 Kentucky Derby Tea


On May 6th we once again gathered at my home to celebrate the Kentucky Derby with our second annual Kentucky Derby Afternoon Tea. Each lady was asked to design her own special "Derby Hat" especially for the occasion. Of course if you follow the Derby at all you are quite aware that the first Saturday in May is often a celebratory unveiling of the most fantastic millinery to grace a lady's head. The elite of the racing world may forget your face but should never forget your Derby hat! Each lady's creation was such an accurate representation of her personality. We have some wonderfully creative women in our group and they never cease to amaze me with their original ensembles. As a token of appreciation for their efforts, two prizes of recognition were awarded for "Most Elegant" and "Best Derby Theme". Each lady voted and the winners were Ms. Paula Porter for Best Derby theme with her Cardinal Red Run for the Roses creation and Ms. Natalie Ferguson for Most Elegant with her terrific Henhouse Hat( Natalie has a wonderful blog, http://zipzipinkspot.blogspot.com , detailing the making of this great hat). The ladies received assorted gifts from mint julep syrup and a mini cookbook to a free in house tea voucher. I wish I could've awarded each lady with a gift bag for they came up with some beautiful designs. Hum..Next year perhaps....

Our menu was as follows: Orange/ Cranberry scones with orange marmalade and sweet whipped cream, Hot Cumberland Gap Kentucky Ham on buttered Pepperidge Farm mini rolls, olive nut tea sandwiches, curried chicken salad tea sandwiches, Ruth Hunt Candy's famous mint julep balls, and white chocolate dipped strawberries. The Teas served were Elmwood Inn Kentucky Blend, Elmwood Inn decaffeinated Earl Grey, and Elmwood Inn Gunpowder Green.

Welcome to the Blog of The Ladies' Historical Tea Society. I am Mrs. Rebecca Chamberlain, Director of the Society. We are a group of like- minded women dedicated to the historic customs of tea as well as vintage clothing, historic homes, millinery and a passion for antiques. This site will feature tea articles, recipes, Tea Room reviews, gardening tips and other items of interest to our members in Central Kentucky and other tea groups.