Blog

Inspired by the beautiful pink rosa rugosa flower, Franciscan‘s Desert Rose dinnerware line was a beloved, highly successful china pattern from 1941 to 2004. Though no longer in production, it remains one of the most popular china patterns in American history and is still highly sought after. After decades of popularity, Franciscan Desert Rose was discontinued in 2013. Despite this, Franciscan Desert Rose china is still popular today. The pattern has become a classic and many people are still drawn to its unique design and vintage charm. The enduring popularity of Franciscan Desert Rose China is a testament to its timeless design and superior craftsmanship. It still holds a special place in the hearts and memories of many and will forever be remembered as a beloved mainstay in American households circa mid-to-late 20th century (and beyond!). Desert Rose china stopped being produced by Franciscan in the 1980s due to increasing costs of raw materials and...Read More

Teatime (wine time) offers many wonderful possibilities for nurturing friendships. Let’s make full use of gathering creative tea party ideas: Send a birthday tea party in a box, everything you need to celebrate with a box of fresh scone mix, a few linen napkins, a nice lace tablecloth from a thrift store, box of tea...Read More

Not all tea parties have to follow the guidelines of traditional etiquette but try a traditional afternoon tea at least once. You will find it absolutely delightful. Victorian days the invitations were beautifully engraved on white paper, of course today anything goes even just a phone call.  There is something special about a written invitation...Read More

Humans are beautiful and breakable, like china cups….yet also strong and resilient. I am convinced that we humans need beauty in order to live rich fulfilling lives, beauty comes in the spirit of the tea, the beautiful table setting and the fresh picked beautiful flowers. You do not have to be wealthy to enjoy an amazing...Read More

This is the time of year gardens are full of glorious abundance of flowers of every kind. The array of colorful blooms just beckoning us to pick them to make beautiful arrangements to enjoy their hues and wonderful fragrances inside. One of the best things about afternoon tea is that it lends itself to a...Read More

Do you remember dressing up and putting on your best manners as you sipped pretend tea out of tiny cups and shared pretend delicacies with your friends, parents, teddy bears or a dressed up pet? Is there a little girl inside of you who longs for a lovely time of childish imagination and “so Big”...Read More

If tea cups could talk our tea room would be full of conversation they speak of the past and of the future, but their strongest message would be to “use me and use your imagination”. Tea Time offers so many wonderful possibilities for nurturing friendships. It is not about the tea at all, it is...Read More

When the world is all at odds and your mind is all at sea, then cease the moment a brew a cup of tea. There is magic in the fragrance and solace in the taste.  Laden moments vanish when you add a sip of butterscotch schnapps to it as well. The world becomes a lovely...Read More

Traditionally, high tea was a working-class meal served on a high table at the end of the workday, shortly after 5 p.m. High tea was much more of a working-class family meal than it was an elite social gathering.  Read More