"DEAR VALENTINE"

" Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell"....(Joan Crawford).

This February, I'm all about making my own little ATC valentine cards... It's fun it's easy and inexpensive.
Nowadays it's so easy to send a romantic e-card and I have done that a few times... but, I just find it so impersonal and ( sigh) I'm in love ... with the whole idea of Valentines... SO, I brewed myself a nice pot of Rootibus tea and pondered which cup that I desired to drink from today.
It seems, I go through this ritual, every time I make tea ... What's my mood? ... Is it a sunny day? .... and ... What do I love? .... DO you have a teacup ritual( Hee Hee) .... TODAY ...I feel happy and creative and I'm loving all the sunshine that's pouring into my windows....mmmmmmm!!!!

What are some of things you love and how do you choose your teacup? I love roses. I love the colour pink . I love all things that twinkle and glisten like gold ( Ha Ha) and I love fine, light porcelain ... so .... this pretty Nippon tea set captured my heart. Infact, I'm singing " I FEEL PRETTY ", from Rodger and Hammersteins' musical and would dearly love share this cup and saucer with you all on this sunny, Teatime Tuesday.
The cup is stamped " Imperial China " with a trademark crown insignia, hand painted and nippon , so, I know it was made in Japan, perhaps around 1940 .... I searched the all nippon markings online, but unfortunately didn't find it amongst of the myriad of oriental stamps ... however, some were close, but not exact.

I contented myself knowing that I got this Nippon beauty for such a steal . It was purchased on Vancouver Island, Canada, over twenty years ago for five dollars. That was, of course, before all the prices soared on china teacups. I should have bought more. ( Ha Ha) ... Now I couldn't touch it for less than fifty dollars.
It boasts a very decorative side band of karat gold around the edges of both the cup and saucer. The handpainted roses, stems and leaves have also been tenderly outlined with the midas touch.
The delicate artistry on the saucer is a work of art, that could be brilliantly displayed and hung on a wall. It does seem such a shame, to put the cup on this lovely saucer, as wide brimmed mouth, covers a lot of the beautiful floral details.
Often, I turn this cup, upside down to display its rather pretty bottom ( ha ha) which is also hidden by the lip of the saucer. Today, I shall warm my hands on it's " Pippa" bottom, enjoy my tea, read Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poetry" How Do I love Thee " .... and endeavour to create more Valentines ...
What's on your Valentine agenda? I do hope that it includes, stopping over for a teatime chat and hugs ... The scones are hot and I have bowls filled with cinnamon hearts for all my teatime Valentines.. Wishing you all a sun filled day of Happiness and Love.