Vallona Starr Sugar and Creamer

Vallona Starr Sugar and Creamer, originally uploaded by confections.

Here is a treasure I found at a local antique mall with my sister last week. It is a sugar and creamer set by Vallona Starr ceramics, active in California from the 1930's through 1953.

The lime color delights me and the gilt decoration makes it sublime. The set is quite diminutive, but a welcome addition to my tea table.

Tea Cups & Chopstick Rest

Tea Cups, originally uploaded by confections.

Featured today is a grouping of thrifted tea cups and a chopstick rest that my sisters, niece, and I found during their San Diego visit at the beginning of June. Total eye candy and great additions to our tea table!

Collage of Tea Cups and Saucers

Collage of Tea Cups and Saucers, originally uploaded by confections.

My collection of tea cups and saucers is constantly growing. This collage represents one afternoon's harvest from a local thrift store--orphan tea cups and saucers. No matched sets were found that day, yet somehow they all work together. There's even a saucer commemorating Queen Elizabeth's 1953 coronation!

I totally embrace this aspect of shabby chic living, especially when it comes to items for my tea table.

Japanese Tea Cup, Sugar Bowl, and Matching Curvilinear Dish (three)

Japanese Tea Cup, Sugar Bowl, and Matching Curvilinear Dish (three), originally uploaded by confections.

Here are some more of my tea treasures that I've been documenting lately. This little grouping is probably a child's set; there is a tiny cup, a miniature sugar bowl, and a delightful curvilinear dish. I'm not sure the dish is part of the set, but I found it the same day as the cup and sugar bowl at one of my local thrift stores. The colors matched so beautifully.

They are photographed on a shabby chic tea table that I added to my ever-growing table and chair collection recently. A lovely woman has been shabby-chic-ing furniture here in San Diego for many years (Not 2 Shabby) and I have been happily collecting her whimsical pieces at our local craft bazaar a couple of times a year.

One of these days I will have a proper studio where I can showcase my pieces more elegantly than I can in my small cottage bungalow. But for now, I live with them and love them everyday, even in slightly cramped quarters!