Friday 30 September 2011

Pip....how I love thee.........



 I ADORE Pip Studio China. I LOVE china in general. I can never resist a cup, I have far too many. But, I do use them. I am quite particular about cups too, but i'll save that one for another day. I don't have a big collection of Pip, but it's slowly growing. It's very girly china. Not a family china set....well not a family china set when you are the only female, and the males don't appreciate its beauty as much as you do! 







So, Pip is saved for when I am on my own. For years, I boiled a kettle, plonked milk and a bag in a cup and voila. The cuppa was instant and I drank it on the go. And I do this all the time still.....but I realised a few years ago, just how nice it is to take 15 minutes in the day to set a place for just me.....with a pretty pot, a pretty cup and saucer and, to just relax and enjoy it. There is something really very soothing going on here. Like a little ritual. Taking pleasure in putting it all out.....pouring.....relaxing. I have made sure that I find time most days to do this. Just me. I didn't like the fact that I had this beautiful china and didn't want to use it for fear of breaking or chipping it. China is made to be used, however delicate and beautiful. Life is too short to keep everything for best. I've realised this. Why have something stuck in a cupboard? If it breaks it breaks, but at least you have some lovely memories with it!

So, a relaxing start to the morning. The Bears are dropped off at school, and as I sit with my pot of tea (yes, and sneaky morning oreo), I write a list of 'to-do' things that need to be done today after my tea is drunk.





I need this......I'm not sure I could function without this now. Just a little 'me time' in the day. Quiet, tea and pretties. It does me the world of good....the perfect little 'pick me up'. When I am bogged down with laundry, stinky boy bedrooms,  the general daily mess and chauffeuring about......I need 15 minutes of 'me', to help me feel like the whole day is not just about everyone else all the time. Let's face it, no one else is going to set a pretty little table and pour me out a cuppa! Happy me....happy mum.

Happy Friday and weekend to you...........

xxx

54 comments:

  1. Wonderful collection, I love it!!!

    Have a nice weekend, kisses:)

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  2. Lovely. Have you seen their new wallpaper? I am considering getting some. I have a pink and a blue bird cup. They really are gorgeous and mibne and everyone else's faves. The bedding is amazing too.
    You are right about the ritual of tea. There is a beauty and simple alchemy in the making of tea.

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  3. Hi Vanessa, I love your pretty china, the colours and designs are so beautiful. I completely understand your love of 15 minutes and a carefully made pot of tea. I do this too. I also bake biscuits just for me so that I can sit down and have tea-time. I put spotty doilies on the tray and turn everything off, so that I can enjoy the quiet. It's a lovely way to treat myself! I think you really do it in style Vanessa with your beautiful china. And why not, you totally deserve it. Em x

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  4. Love your pretty pictures and couldn't agree more with you than making tea drinking a ceremony, and a definite thumbs up for a wee little me time too xox I've admired pip studio china from a distance but haven't purchased any yet..may have to add to my Christmas list! Happy weekending x

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  5. What a wonderful idea - to carve out a little 'me' time in such a lovely way. Beautiful china!

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  6. I couldn't agree with you more about the happy me happy mum bit. It really is important to take good care and look after ourselves because we are needed so much. When we are out of action or down in the dumps it affects everyone.

    I love your china and have long admired it, especially the cup with the bird. If pip is where they come from, I know where I am going! It's my birthday soon so how knows what I might get with a few helpful hints.

    I can't drink tea as it makes me feel very ill indeed, which is a shame as I quite like it. However, I have one coffee a day and it is very valued and I like to enjoy it. A little bit of time out of time just to be, with a little bit of luxury and prettiness is very tranquil and refreshes the spirits. It's a way of having a little treat just for ourselves, which is definitely a good thing.

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  7. Hejmy lovely Vanessa

    How true!
    Save nothing for best enjoy it in the here and now...very wise words.
    Soo lovely your tea ritual 'me' time.
    Sometimes we need to take the time to be kind to ourselves.
    LOVE PEACE enJOY ALL your beautiful china ;-)
    Julie
    xx

    P.S. Thank you always for your kind sincere words...it's early days...and I take one day at a time...

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  8. lovely pippy post- i love pip!!!! tho i dont find many gifty shops doing it, just a few pieces!
    love the patterns! boy' you need lots of 'meee' time, you need your pretties around you- i feel that more so than ever makes me feel secure and happy- well it does me! does that make me materialistic? well, yeah guess with my little treasures i am...i love your piccys missy v, you cheeeeeer me up like icing to cakeys- you top of my day with pleasure...blissfully happy in your little bloggy- it cheers me x

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  9. And I thought the title was about me!!! Seriously, I love Pip too. Gawd, now I sound narcissistic! Have a great weekend Vanessa x

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  10. I often have the words of William Morris in my head about keeping nothing that isn't useful or beautiful. We deserve beautiful every day in our lives. Your morning routine sounds just perfect x

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  11. Beautiful, just beautiful, I love this collection xxx

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  12. ah yes - and something I think I shall try as a ritual - all a bit haphazzard around these parts!

    I chipped my favourite pip cup recently - but I don't mind as now it's always on the shelf above me and is just nice to look at!
    small things
    happy weekend to you too
    fee ♥

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  14. they are pretty!i like the blue one and the birds :)

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  15. indeed we all need these moments and you do it in style. love love love the china...

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  16. I blogged about a Pip teapot recently, love the colours and patterns they do. Yes I cannot wait for the time to be able to have a proper tea break when all my 3 are older and out at school x

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  17. Greetings Vanessa from another Pip Studio fan! I have a slowly growing collection often increased around mother's day and birthday time!

    Yes, rituals are so precious and it is absolutely ESSENTIAL (I bellowed that word out) to nurture yourself. I am so glad I'm not the only one who feels that I bending around my children all the time. It can be quite exhausting.

    Have a beautiful nurturing weekend!

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  18. I LOVE Pip china too, you're right it's perfectly girlie. Unfortunately I don't own any but I do have some gorgeous girlie vintage plates which are used every day by me and my boys, although they are immune to it's charms I feel. Having said that my partner loves my pretty girlie stuff as much as me so we share tea together enjoying our pretty plates and cups, how idyllic!

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  19. I have never seen this here in Canada..but carving time out for you and by using your cherished things makes so many nice memories down the road..it makes for a happy day!
    xox

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  20. I think I might start doing this too. I have china stored away & you are right, it may as well be enjoyed.

    Have a good weekend x

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  21. I saw this china in a shop window a couple of days ago and knew I'd seen it somewhere before, it was on your blog! I often have to remind myself to use my pretty china and not be too precious with it. Last night I had a cuppa in my green johnson bros china :)

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  22. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! I love your Pip gear! When can I come round for tea and biscuits??? :-)
    x

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  23. Being a chinaholic,I daren't even go there!...but it is soooooooooooo pretty!
    Enjoy your 'me' time with your lovely china. :0)

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  24. çok beğendim tabakları, fincanı, demliği

    harikaa yaa :)

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  25. Oh wow Vanessa,

    You have huge collection of PIP! I love it too!! Have several plates in my cupboard, but that teapot is still very high on my wish list. It is simply beautiful!

    Have a lovely sunny weekend,

    Madelief x

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  26. Oh it's sooo beautiful! I have never seen this china before. You are a lucky duck! Enjoy your tea time.

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  27. Oh wow, it really is beautiful! It makes drinking a cuppa even more pleasurable!
    xxx

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  28. ooohhhh to gorgeous and pretty china wow its lovely. Such pretty colours. We all need some ME ME TIME as i call it ;-)) Have a lovely weekend and i hope you manage a bit more ME time. dee x

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  29. Lovely china ,its so pretty , i think its really important to have some you time every day , its very exhausting looking after everyone , everything relentlessly day in day out with very little thanks so to have that time is very important x

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  30. vERY PRETTY INDEED....HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND......jANICE

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  31. Here we go again....my Dad gave me some money for my birthday about 10 years ago, and I used it to buy a proper teapot, tea caddy, cup, saucer and tray for them to sit on from Whittard so I could take time and make tea for myself like my Nana & Pop did....I've been doing it ever since....a proper little ritual just like you.

    I also use to "store" away my pretty little things so they wouldn't get broken, or used up, or worn out.....but then I realised I didn't get to enjoy them.....so again, like you, I now use and have out the beautiful things I ♥ and cherish.....if they get broken, used up, or worn out, I have at least had a lot of enjoyment and happiness from them.....I absolutely agree with you 100%!!!

    And lastly, I too ♥ and adore Pip Studio....but alas...I am yet to become the proud owner of a delightfully, pretty, girly piece....all good things come to those who wait ❀ Have a great weekend -xx-

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  32. Such a gorgeous colourful post, with all that fabulous Pip studio china! I love the way the designs work when you stack the different sizes of plates. (I had some for my birthday this year and really love them). It's so true that you should use the pieces you love and get lots of pleasure from them, otherwise they are rather wasted stuck in a cupboard all the time. And you certainly do need some me time with such a busy family life, Vanessa. Take care.
    Have a great weekend. Helen x

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  33. That china set is to die for, it is sooo pretty. I love that you use it almost every day and it is so important to have some me time even if it's just a few minutes. Gorgeous photos too, makes me want to go out and buy my own set!

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  34. Hi Vanessa
    Thank you for your comment - I'm feeling much perkier now (having had a good night's sleep helps!)
    I'm completely sharing your Pip love - my cake stand is one of my absolute favourite things ever. Not only is it beautiful, but my mum gave it to me so that makes it extra special.
    Re your earlier post about Christmassy things - I'm with you on that too - home made presents are so much more meaningful I think - my family and I have done it for a few years now and I don't think I could ever go back to shop-bought. We've talked about cutting back on things for the children too - we sponsored a leopard for our oldest son's birthday this year and I think we'll be doing something similar for Christmas too.
    Enjoy your well-deserved fifteen minutes
    Emily x

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  35. Oh wow, I've never heard of this china before. ..It's really gorgeous though! I may have to go and have a little browse..

    Ashley xxx

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  36. You just said it all... 15 minutes of me time is all it takes to turn a stressed out frown upside down back into a huge smile. A moment to precious to neglect. Smokers does it all the time... But when you don't smoke you kinda tend to skip that moment... I should really take you up on this. Sit down, get myself some pretty china and relax. I like it.

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  37. My aunt used to say that my mother and I are the only people she knows who will use a crystal bowl next to the sink to keep the plug and discloth in! I believe that your good items, whether they are china, clothes, books or whatever, are there to be used and enjoyed. I have to admit though that I do have a few very lovely cups and saucers that don't get used very often, but that is only because I like a BIG mug of tea.
    I have never heard of Pip before, but it is absolutely beautiful. I love the delicate checkered edge.
    xXx Helen

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  38. Love PIP - The range in the Netherlands is huge & my daughter has a much coveted PiP satchel from our Dutch freinds....
    I love your start to the mornings...
    However I flit between my pink PiP mugs & my Repeat Repeat China mugs - am I a fickle mug lover????

    Lx

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  39. What gorgeous china. I have a lovely vintage Moorcroft teapot I'm not brave enough to use ... I must take a leaf from your book I think and find the courage to make my chamomile tea in it! Wishing you a sun and me-time filled weekend :D

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  40. I love pip china too - we have just 2 little cups that my daughter and I use for special little tea parties. We obviously don't get the full range here in NZ having seen your collection. Might have to get a special girly cup and saucer for me too.

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  41. I'm drooling over your Pip collection! I so get it... I'm the only 'girl' in my household so I, too, relish the feminine touches I can sneak in here and there around our home. And the daily ritual of tea/coffee time is most enjoyed in my 'nice' china too. Have the loveliest of weekends. xjosie

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  42. Aaaah your china is AMAZING! If I had anything that pretty I would find it hard to not sit and drink tea all day! I am however going to dust off one of my pretty teacups and try sitting down for tea all this week - instead of standing, leaning against the kitchen bench as I usually do. Have a fabulous week hon. Leah x

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  43. I haven't seen this China before (apart from on your lovely blog) but it really is delightful...

    ... I totally get having to have plenty of pretties in a house full of males! My husband and little boys are getting very good at knowing when to 'ooh' and 'ahh' at numerous items that frequently appear in our house! I'm lucky that they don't mind all flowery china and patchwork throws that I sneak in... Besides it lures my eye away from the horrid computer equiptment in every corner! Ha!

    Hope you are enjoying this sunny weekend,
    Louise xx

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  44. At last, sorted my 'can't comment' problem!
    Beautiful china, yes, you should have to (tea)time to yourself.
    Carol xx

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  45. So very true, I really must try to make time for this sort of thing when little one is at pre-school. Your brain can get into gear with some me time can't it. x

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  46. I am smitten by this lovely line of China as well! Will have to find out how to get some here in the U.S. Glad to see you posting regularly again. Missed your posts. They fall under my to-be-looked-forward-to-with-great-anticipation blog post category ;-) Great new banner, by the way. Happy day to you!

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  47. I adore that china!!I had my eye on some similar just the other day. Lovely xxx

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  48. I am also a big PIP fan - love your photo's. I borrowed the wallpaper book last year from my local interior shop - I blogged about it here http://paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/pip-studio/
    it's such a lovely book - so inspiring, I wish i could buy one but it's super expensive. You might enjoy a look though :)

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  49. Great post, I LOVE ALL YOUR BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!
    Federica - new fan from Italy

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  50. Yeeeeeeeeeeees, you are sooooooo right.

    China is meant to be used and if it makes you happy and brings a smile to your day then it's worth the time and effort to do it. I like to go a little bit further some days and set a beautiful breakfast tray for myself complete with embroidered serviette and have breakfast in bed before the household gets going.

    Never heard of Pip china shall have to check it out but do love turquoise, red and pink, gorgeous colours.

    I am also quite particular about cups and what they are made of. I have a drawer full of them and if they ever get broken then they will get put aside and used in a mosaic project..............

    Claire :}

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  51. I didn't even know such pretty chine existed until I read your post, it's so beautiful, the colours, the patterns, I'm quite envious now ;-)

    I agree with you on the "me" time. Right now I'm sitting here reading a few blogs with a cup of tea and a small slice of homemade apple pie. I look forward to this little tea break everyday.

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  52. I love the colors in this china! It's just beautiful!

    http://heidiswanderings.blogspot.com/

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  53. I saw this on Pinterest and I want to know where I can buy this. I believe you call it Pip? I really liked your post and I'm interested in reading more of your blog. Would love to hear from you. Thanks for this post. It really is true. Having ones own place setting & relaxing with a cuppa tea does transport one. I'm all in! TFS :-)

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    1. Hi Eve,

      This china is by Pip Studio. Just search Pip Studio on a search engine and the online shop should appear in a link. They are a company based in the Netherlands, but do ship abroad I believe, and many independent stores do stock their products also. I hope this has been of some help! Happy china searching! : )

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