On Sunday, I convinced Pat to take me to an antique show that I had randomly come across in the paper - I don't usually ever get the newspaper, but someone was giving them away for free at the grocery store this Saturday. Win-win!
Sorry about the blurry photo, but it was the only one I took & I wanted to show it. While not antique, they do have a great vintage feel to them. I think they'd look amazing in a period house. Check out
their website - there are tons of different patterns that may very well be finding their way into my sketchbooks soon!
![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/7087410855_9c81c33fe2_z.jpg)
Walking down the hall some more, the mood was set with this record player spinning some Gordon Lightfoot.
![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/6941335944_1be53a68ff_z.jpg)
This table of old cameras caught my eye & made me want to start a collection:
![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/7087405565_27162e15bc_z.jpg)
Once inside the main room, I browsed through all the tables. There were a lot of toys, comic books & records. There was some glassware & tons of milk bottle (though none from the Georgian Bay Creamery like mine). I was really tempted by all the vintage papers & ephemera.
Also, I nearly died when I saw this mini sewing machine that actually works:
![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7111/6941332200_6cebed0aed_z.jpg)
I recently saw one of these on a blog I follow (can't remember which one, but it was someone in Toronto). If it wasn't so expensive, I definitely would've picked it up! It's adorable!
What I did pick up was this teacup & saucer:
![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5200/6941341278_0e26d5b6ce_z.jpg)
It caught my eye the first time I walked by the table it was on, despite being nestled next to an amazing hand-painted lunch set.
![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/7087413239_e9ce8f639f_z.jpg)
I love the branching pattern, the scalloped edges & the fluted shape. As you can sort of see above, the shape of the cup mimics the scalloped edges - that is, it isn't a smooth, round cup but a "bumpy" one. A unique shape immediately draws me to any sort of china!
But the pattern! Have you ever seen anything quite like it? A quick Etsy & Google search has me thinking that this little sucker is a little more rare than the $6 price tag initially led me to believe (though I did find one exactly the same on Etsy - except in a pale green instead of black. OH YES I WANT IT!). Fine Bone Bell China, made in England - I couldn't find much information about this company. But looking at the pattern closely reveals that it's probably hand-painted.
![](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/7087414287_0b3aa5f6cb_z.jpg)
Regardless of its value or rarity, this is my very first teacup (not counting my Christmas dishes). I'm sure it won't be the last either! How can I resist collecting them, especially when I already have a nice collection of teapots?
I've already used my cup once a day & I can confidently say that tea tastes much better out of a teacup than out of a mug!
Do you enjoy going to antique shows? What are the sorts of things that catch your eye?