Hi and welcome to a fall edition of my meme Tuesday Cuppa Tea...the fall wreath is up on the door again to welcome you in for tea...
As I mentioned last week, we were in Victoria, BC Canada over the Labor Day weekend with some Canadian friends. But first...my teacup for today...a Canadian Shield souvenir teacup I got in Victoria a few years ago....
This teacup is wonderful not only because of the shield of Canada, our nearest neighbor, but because it was made made by Royal Winton Grimwades, England...a famous and very popular potter, know primarily for their origination of many famous chintz patterns, cottage ware and art deco designs.
Royal Winton started with the Grimwades Brothers in 1885 in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire England at their Winton pottery. The pottery had great success with kitchen items as well as their more famous chintzes and cottage ware. But, alas, the company had major problems in the 1960s like many other potteries, until taken over by Duchess China in the late 1980s. The chintz patterns were revived, and began to be reissued and dazzled a new generation of collectors when they became available for purchase through Victoria magazine in the early 1990s...
My friend and fellow blogger Angela McRae blogged about her acquiring Welbeck Chintz from Victoria which you can read HERE on her blog Tea With Friends. The photo is from her blog post. They are still making it today.
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We traveled to Victoria, BC on the Coho Ferry owned by Black Ball Lines from their dock in Port Angeles about 12 miles away.
The trip takes about 90 minutes. We had company out on the water...several members or J, K or L pod of Orca Killer Whales were spotted, and everyone rushed out to see. The ship slowed down, and then we went on our way.
The 3 pods are residents and we sometimes see them on the ferry crossing. Love them!
This is the Fairmont Empress Hotel...although it is up for sale, so we don't know what it will be after it sells....
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And the Inner Harbour in front of the hotel which is always fun with musicians, artists and vendors....
We had tea at the Empress as our friends had not done so....
and of course visited the gift shop....
We had a wonderful time, as usual. We are still having company and doing some visiting so I may not get to your comments and visit you immediately, but I am looking forward to your posts! The Linky is below,,,remember it is SSLLLOOOOOWWWW so be patient! Have a great week!
What a superb treat to have tea at the Empress Hotel. Sorry to hear it is for sale. Hope the new buyers will retain the style and beauty
ReplyDelete'Morning Ruth,
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful Canadian teacup you have, and Angela's yellow chintz; be still my heart! The Empress Hotel is certainly grand and I have never seen it. We were supposed to go to Victoria the last time we were in Vancouver but we ran out of time unfortunately. It may no longer be a lovely place to go for tea when we get out there again. Have a beautiful day.
Blessings,
Sandi
Oh my goodness, The Empress is up for sale? I loved my visit of afternoon tea there and happily bought the tea pot.
ReplyDeleteI also Adore that chintz pattern-perhaps the prettiest one ever made. I used to drool over it in the old Victoria magazines but could never afford it. Now I have a sugar and creamer and a large square cake plate. A profusion of flowers and colors!
Have a great week, Ruthie
Hi Ruth,
ReplyDeleteYour Canadian Shield teacup is a lovely keepsake. Royal Winton makes beautiful china. I love Angela's Chintz! Gorgeous! Your pics of your Victoria holiday are beautiful and now I want to go to the Empress for tea before it closes. I have been there before with my father for a music convention and it is such a happy memory. I didn't realize that it was being sold. Thank you for hosting Tuesday Cuppa Tea. Have a great week! Karen
Hi Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI love the Welbeck chintz! I have a few pieces. I would pass out if I saw it that cheap at TJ Maxx. What a great story your friend wrote of about collecting it! your Canadian shield cup is very pretty also. Thanks for hosting!
Sherry
One of these days I would love to have tea at the Empress Hotel. On our Alaskan cruise, we stopped and saw it, but went to Butchart Gardens.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your beautiful teacups and hosting, Ruth.
Your Canadian Shield teacup is pretty and I remember thinking how much I liked the yellow chintz teapot in Victoria way back when. Didn't order one though and wish I had.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize on our Alaska tour a few years ago that we would be near the Empress and we tried to have tea there but needed a reservation made well in advance.
Thank you for hosting Ruth.
Hi Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI love The Empress. I hope you will visit my blog for my last few posts relating to The Empress and a very special Tea. I like the photo of all the china in the gift shop there. I ordered online a teacup for my last tea! :-) I enjoyed your post very much.
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Linda at Beautiful Ideas
Pretty teacup and that trip looks very enjoyable...Christine
ReplyDeleteOoh, tea and whales in the same post! Such a beautiful part of the country. And that looks like a lovely place to have tea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely trip. I remember when Victoria was offering the chintz. Such a lovely, lovely collection.
ReplyDeleteI love how you are able to visit and see so many beautiful tea shops. Your trips are always so interesting. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful pictures from your trip. Tea at the Empress looks wonderful! I'll have to add it to my list of places to go one day :). Have a great week, and thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun trip. I just love souvenir cups.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth, oh, you got to visit my favorite city! We haven't been to VIctoria for a while now and I miss it. So the Empress is for sale? I do hope it doesn't disappear. We went there for our honeymoon.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen orcas while on the ferry boat...never! Lucky you. Great post.
Just got back in town after traveling to Wisconsin to visit family and am catching up on blogs today, and I'm so glad I did! First, I love that souvenir teacup (I didn't find one this trip), and I'm especially fond of it knowing it's by Royal Winton, which, as you know, I just love. I don't believe I've ever seen a Royal Winton souvenir teacup like that before. Enjoyed your Orca photos too -- must have been magnificent to see "live"!
ReplyDelete