There’s something refined about drinking tea.

Maybe it’s the image we have of royals sipping their afternoon teas in their elaborate palaces.

Maybe it’s the vast history—it has been said that tea was introduced sometime around the 10th century.
After water, it is the most widely consumed beverage in the world.

Any tea lover will tell you that a good cup of tea is even better when it’s in a beautifully decorated-fine boned china tea cup.

If you’re looking for gifts for bridal shower the 100 Years of Royal Albert 10-Piece Teacup & Saucer Set is the perfect gift for the bride-to-be, who loves tea. This beautiful set is composed of 5 tea cups and 5 saucers from Royal Albert, a successful British china company with rich history, dating back to 1896.

The 5 teacups and saucers are fine-boned china, have gold banding, are dishwasher safe, have a commemorative back stamp, and are beautifully packaged. The distinctive patterns pay homage to the Royal Albert brand’s vitality and longevity combining rich classic shapes, and ornate and delicate floral design patterns.

For more great gifts for bridal shower, visit the SilverSpoonStore.com today!

I’ve given my closest friends theater tickets, day spa vouchers, clothes, jewelry, lingerie and all sorts of things over the years for their birthdays, but these days, I like to give them fine china dinnerware because it’s something they can treasure and remember me by forever. And I’m not talking full, formal dinnerware sets of plates because they already have those.

I’m talking about individual, one-off pieces of fine china dinnerware with striking or quirky designs that bring color to the dining table. After all, it can be a little boring when everything looks the same, especially when you’re just having a casual meal. In my opinion, you can never have enough serving plates and platters, and serveware with an off-beat look really creates a talking point when you’re hosting. Recently, for her 40th birthday, I gave one of my friends a gorgeous Arabesque by Dansk fish-shaped platter, which I found through www.SilverSpoonStore.com. Blue and white, it’s such a cute piece, perfect for holding bread rolls or cheese at the table. Now my other friends all want one for their birthdays!

Spring is a time for renewal.

So this spring, why don’t you take a cue from Mother Nature and renew your dinnerware, flatware, and hostess sets, with a fresh and exciting look. The mild weather makes people who’ve been cooped up inside all winter want to get out, socialize, and celebrate.

There’s no better way to celebrate the new season of flowers, fresh air, and sunshine than by throwing a spring soiree using some new dinnerware.

Plate your food with Gorham’s Square Butterfly Menagerie Plates and don’t go without the matching Gorham silverware. The square plates are a great alternative to plain old round dinnerplates and the vibrant colors really brighten up the party. No hostess is complete without a matching serving tray, and luckily Gorham has you covered there too. When used with the Gorham silverware and hostess sets, you have a fresh, exciting take on the classic spring dinner party.

If you want a little more spring in your step be sure to get the Gorham Color Rings glasses which come in a variety of styles. These art deco glasses are a stylish, pretty way to dress up a typical drinking glass.

If you’re interested in getting a little spring freshness in your dinnerware, check out Silverspoonstore.com where you’ll find the Gorham Butterfly Mengarie items on sale for 30% off.

One of my biggest problems is that I always use my china or flatware that is supposed to be reserved for fancy occasions.

What can I say, I like bringing out my fine china, even if I’m having macaroni and cheese for dinner. It makes me feel fancy!

But using your fancy stuff everyday can be pretty hard on them, especially fine china dinnerware and I’ve recently found a few chips in my favorite set.

A friend of mine who I have over for dinner at least once a week, recognized my compulsive need to use fine flatware and china on every occasion and bought me the 1800 Reed and Barton Silverware and hostess set.

It was the sweetest thing! The flatware is amazing and the understated elegant design looks good whether I’m serving take out or Foie Gras.

I like fancy flatware because it’s heavy and durable, and trust me when I say that Reed and Barton Silverware is no exception. It looks great with my matching hostess set. The hostess set comes with a tablespoon, pierced tablespoon, a sugar spoon and a butter serving knife, and the set shares the same elegant simplicity of the Reed and Barton flatware.

Now my next project is to find dinnerware that is this versatile.

A lot of homeowners are interested jazzing up their dinnerware by investing in bone china pieces, although some worry that these purchases will only be used during special occasions. This reluctance is understandable, however bone china is not exclusive to special events. In fact, many sets of fine china dinnerware are ideal for more frequent use.

One of our favorite collections is the Blanc Sur Blanc series by Vera Wang, a designer known for her elegant minimalism. In this bone china set, Wang keeps it simple with a snow white base, matte border details, and a subtle platinum edge. The end result is modern and refined, but not so formal as to be reserved for special evenings only.

Another everyday fine china dinnerware set is Lenox’s Continental Dining Platinum collection, similar to the Vera Wang in that it begins with pristine white bone china. These Lenox pieces are accented with platinum rings, and each is crafted to be both microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

With all of these options for hostess sets, it’s no wonder more and more homeowners are investing in fine china dinnerware. Explore these elegant collections and more at www.SilverSpoonStore.com today.

If you’re in the process of registering for your bridal shower gifts, you might be asking yourself, What don’t I need? Furniture, appliances, hostess sets—all of these things will be helpful in starting your new life. And fortunately, all of these are appropriate gifts for bridal shower registries. Let’s talk about hostess sets.

One basic category that you shouldn’t overlook when registering for gifts is flatware. A lot of couples begin their marriages in households furnished with mix-and-match silverware—a hodgepodge of IKEA sets you each bought in college, most likely.

These pieces will get the job done, of course, but if you’re looking to entertain as a couple, your guests will be much more impressed with a set of Gorham or Reed and Barton silverware. Gorham silverware, especially, is a great buy for new couples, as the utensils are very sleekly designed and will go with almost any fine china dinnerware or other hostess sets you might receive.

So remember, don’t be shy about asking for essential home items when selecting gifts for bridal shower registries. Your friends and family members will love giving you these timeless pieces, and it will allow you to spend your money on other expenses, like car payments and bills.

A lot of people these days don’t drink tea or have tea parties as often as they used to. However, some people still do this, and they understand how fun something like this can be! I try to do a tea party at least once a month and I invite a few of my friends over for homemade crumpets and petit fours, tea sandwiches and of course… tea!

While these three things are great to begin with, you also have to consider what else to place on the table. You can go for a super modern look, or you could make it a little classier with fine China dinnerware items like teacup and saucers for your tea, sugar bowl for your cubed sugars, creamer bowl for your creamer or milk and side plates or dessert plates for the sandwiches.

I also like to add two other accessories as well. The first thing is a dome dessert tray for the crumpets, I’ve also been known to use cake stands with three or four layers for the petit fours as well as the sandwiches. Next, you also need silverware so you can choose from something like Gorham silverware or Reed and Barton silverware to match your plates, cups and saucers. Lastly, if you really want to make it dainty, you need antique linens and a tablecloth as well as a nice centerpiece – think vase and flowers.

You can also use those paper doilies instead of antique linens if you can’t find them. If you would like to have your own tea party, or if you need gifts for bridal shower parties or hostess sets, visit our website for some of our products!