You might have noticed the Dormouse and The Teapot blog has been a little quiet of late. Over at Dormouse HQ it has been the direct opposite we have never been so busy.
From bunting to union flags everyone is getting ready for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, not least the team at Dormouse and The Teapot.
This article is part of our CelbriTEA slots, monthly guest blogs on the 1st of the month from the cream of the vintage and tea world.
Carol Oldham is the Director of Dormouse and The Teapot. She set the company up in 2008 to bring vintage English china to a wider audience.
Me Ol' China
Photo credit: luciana from morguefile.com
Carol Oldham is the Director of Dormouse and The Teapot. She set the company up in 2008 to bring vintage English china to a wider audience.
Me Ol' China
Photo credit: luciana from morguefile.com
From being quite young I have always had a passion for tea and all things tea related. One of my earliest memories was of my granny, who I can only describe as avid tea drinker, pouring cup after cup of hot golden tea from what seemed to be an endless pot. It was one of her greatest pleasures in life to fill up the teapot and treat herself to a nice cuppa. I was fascinated by the glamour of it all, the rose patterned teacups, the tiny milk jug and the welcoming generous tea pot.
It was only when I was shopping for my own home and was met by a host of plain white mugs and metal teapots that dripped and made the tea taste ‘tinny’. That I came to realise that a whole generation might never get the opportunity to enjoy the quiet ritual of tea making, or know what it was like to sip a cup of loose leaf tea from a beautiful china cup. I wanted to do something to help to resurrect this very British pastime.
I began to collect individual vintage cups and saucers and mismatched them to create new sets. When I saw how delighted my friends and relatives were when I served them tea in a china cup, I started to give them mismatched tea sets for Christmas and birthdays. However, it was only when people began to ask me to put together mismatched vintage sets for their friends and families that I realised that my passion could actually become a business. Dormouse and The Teapot was born.
It was only when I was shopping for my own home and was met by a host of plain white mugs and metal teapots that dripped and made the tea taste ‘tinny’. That I came to realise that a whole generation might never get the opportunity to enjoy the quiet ritual of tea making, or know what it was like to sip a cup of loose leaf tea from a beautiful china cup. I wanted to do something to help to resurrect this very British pastime.
I began to collect individual vintage cups and saucers and mismatched them to create new sets. When I saw how delighted my friends and relatives were when I served them tea in a china cup, I started to give them mismatched tea sets for Christmas and birthdays. However, it was only when people began to ask me to put together mismatched vintage sets for their friends and families that I realised that my passion could actually become a business. Dormouse and The Teapot was born.
I think tea drinking today is less about how many cups you can get out of a pot and more about the quality and presentation of that tea. People want to inject some glamour into their lives. Many of our cups and saucers are beautiful works of art lovingly painted by hand by craftspeople who took real pride in their work. They have stood the test of time simply because they were well made and well cared for. People like to buy vintage because it allows them to reminisce. It might remind them of their childhood and allow them to recreate their grandmothers Sunday tea set for example or they want to imagine what it was like in the past when everything stopped for tea and the best china was brought out.
In the current climate people are also recognising that we have lived in a throwaway culture for far too long, that we should reuse and preserve what we have. As well as being beautiful vintage china is also very functional so is still an acceptable item to purchase. The credit crunch has meant that many people are not going out to eat as often, and I imagine people having tea parties in their own home. However people still want to spoil themselves and have the experience and the luxury of a traditional tea and that’s where vintage china will come in. Our range of tea pots, cake stands and tea sets mean they can still afford to treat themselves, even if that’s just to tea for one.
You can purchase a wide range of vintage china from www.dormouseandtheteapot.com
Hello everyone we're back. In case you are wondering where we have been, we've been taking a sabbatical on the birth of the newest member of the team. Meet Little D!
You will be pleased to know the shop site is back online now and you will see a few changes. We have freshened up our ranges and are offering a new vintage sourcing service.
You can check us out at www.dormouseandtheteapot.com
Dormouse and The Teapot Kitschen opened its doors for the first time over the weekend and thank you to all of you who made our launch event such a success!
You can read a fabulous review of what went on at www.pennine-life.co.uk/?p=247
Kitschen is open selected Sundays (as can be viewed on the website www.dormouseandtheteapot.com) for viewings and sales. We also have rather an exciting programme of writers workshops on Saturdays.
You can read a fabulous review of what went on at www.pennine-life.co.uk/?p=247
Kitschen is open selected Sundays (as can be viewed on the website www.dormouseandtheteapot.com) for viewings and sales. We also have rather an exciting programme of writers workshops on Saturdays.
The Dormouse and The Teapot team are quite shy and retiring types (ha! if you believe that you'll believe anything) but no, we dont always blow our trumpets and do as much publicity as maybe we should. But when Pennine Life blog asked to interview us for their fantastic blog we relented, of course, so if you want to hear more about how it all began, our favorite tea and our fantasy tea party you can hear the interview here
toot toot!
toot toot!
The Dormouse Team are so excited, its here at last (well nearly), our first space Kitschen is opening on Sunday 3 May.
Situated at Woodend Mill, Mossley, Lancashire, Dormouse and the Teapot's Kitschen will be an exciting blend of vintage tea sets, tutorials and tea. On selected Sunday's customers will be able to call in to our parlour with stunning riverside views to experience the Dormouse range of eccentric tea sets, glorious teapots and vintage goodies.
As a special opening offer throughout May if you spend over £5 you will be invited to stay a while and join us in spot of complimentary tea with homemade cake* served at our Kitschen table or window seats.
During the Summer months Dormouse Kitschen will also host a wide range of workshops including writing skills and crafts for details of some of our upcoming Saturday writers workshops click here
So whether its an afternoon tea set you seek, to learn new skills or purely to be inspired by our eclectic reading materials we hope you'll join us. After all the best tea parties always begin in the Kitschen.
Dormouse and The Teapot Kitschen will be open for sales to the public on selected Sundays from 11am - 4pm as per our website please click here for opening dates and location
* Tea and cake are complimentary with the purchase items totalling £5 and above. One tea and cake offer per customer per day. A pot of tea may also be purchased at £1 per person and includes complimentary cake. Whilst stocks last. Limited offer only, expires 03/06/0
Situated at Woodend Mill, Mossley, Lancashire, Dormouse and the Teapot's Kitschen will be an exciting blend of vintage tea sets, tutorials and tea. On selected Sunday's customers will be able to call in to our parlour with stunning riverside views to experience the Dormouse range of eccentric tea sets, glorious teapots and vintage goodies.
As a special opening offer throughout May if you spend over £5 you will be invited to stay a while and join us in spot of complimentary tea with homemade cake* served at our Kitschen table or window seats.
During the Summer months Dormouse Kitschen will also host a wide range of workshops including writing skills and crafts for details of some of our upcoming Saturday writers workshops click here
So whether its an afternoon tea set you seek, to learn new skills or purely to be inspired by our eclectic reading materials we hope you'll join us. After all the best tea parties always begin in the Kitschen.
Dormouse and The Teapot Kitschen will be open for sales to the public on selected Sundays from 11am - 4pm as per our website please click here for opening dates and location
* Tea and cake are complimentary with the purchase items totalling £5 and above. One tea and cake offer per customer per day. A pot of tea may also be purchased at £1 per person and includes complimentary cake. Whilst stocks last. Limited offer only, expires 03/06/0