Silver Sunday - It's Raining Teapots !

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It's Raining Teapots!!

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Well it's hot, humid and raining cats and kittens here in Sydney and has been all week. The plant life seems to like it and I'm finding it kind of relaxing myself. Everything is a little greener than usual and the world feels fresh and clean again. Of course if it keeps up much longer I may get a little stir crazy like this little teapot below who wants to go out.. sitting by the window wishing for adventure, or maybe she just needs a nature call.

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So back to the subject at hand.. Silver Teapots!

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Yes I have a few.. The BIG teapot above [the one labelled 'BIG teapot' ha ha] was probably my very first teapot in a long line of teapots! It belonged to my grandmother and at some point ended up in my grubby little hands. It's the only teapot I can recall playing 'teatime' with as a child. A little on the large side for a small child, but it brought with it daydreams of magical places and faraway lands. It must be at least 90yrs old, a little fat around the girth, and polished within an inch of it's life, but I do believe it is still my favourite.

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Now this next fancy number is a little more hoity toity and carries her weight in her thighs!!! Not of vintage heritage, I found her showing off in a window display of L'Occitane home & body products. She thought she was something. So did I!, so I begged the shopkeeper to sell her to me. She agreed to sell once the promotion was over and so a few weeks later, home she came. I think she thinks she's French! When in fact she is actually Indian, which just makes her more exotic to me. I meant to include some Indian tea glasses but somehow forgot and as I'm already running late with post, it ain't going to happen now. Actually she was the hardest to photograph. Every shot reflected miniature upside down Julie's just hanging there, camera in hand, mocking me!!

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The remaining teapots are of various vintage breed and unknown heritage. Orphans, picked up at thrift stores and vintage shops. The one below looks as if it has an image on the front, but yet again it is just some strange reflection. This one also came with sugar bowls to match [which you can see further down the page] so not wanting to break up a family, I bought them all.

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And finally the coffee pot!

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I did try to explain he was not a teapot and could not rightly be included in this post. He wouldn't hear of it. In fact he pushed his way in by pushing out the Alessi kettle who skuttled off back to the stove blowing his whistle in protest. I had to promise him he could be included in a future post. He simmered down a bit once he had let off a bit of steam. Wouldn't want to upset an Alessi!!

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Well that concludes the Silver Teapot post!!

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Strangely I have never consciously collected teapots and these silver ones have many non-silver siblings. They just seem to follow me home.

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Many thanks to Beth for hosting this now ongoing event. Pop over to her blog 'Gypsy Fish blogspot' and see other contributors to Silver Sunday.

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IMAGE SOURCE: Photography and photo editing by me - [Being Ruby]

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Espresso Italiano: [Part 1: My Secret Addiction]

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The Breakup

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Rhett Sweetheart Cuddle Up A Little Closer

Frankly My Dear, I Think I Am Stuck In This Position

Oh Rhett Just Promise Me You'll Never Leave

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Impossible My Little Southern Belle

Nothing Will Come Between Us Now

It's Permanent Glazing!

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Sometime Later

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Rhett Grew Weary of Her Constant Whining

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Desperate for some space, He Threw Himself Off The Shelf. This Selfish Act of Violence Tore Them Apart Forever. After Some Rehabilitation Rhett Was Seen Living It Up In A Table Mosaic Keeping Company With A Dresden Girl Whose Vitreous Origins Were Questionable.

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Espresso Italiano!

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Just a bit of 'Saturday Silliness'! As with all my posts this started life as something entirely different and took a turn for the ridiculous when this espresso cup showed up. One of six, he was sitting in a shop in Rome, begging to come back to Australia. I was searching for an Illy set I had been coveting in Florence but when I saw this guy, I relented and bought the whole family.. six little espresso cups with a theme of Love and Film.

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Somehow in previous posts dedicated to 'a trillion things about me' and 'what makes me happy as a fruitcake', I have failed to mention my addiction to coffee. Yes.. I love to partake in the brew. I admit I alluded to this addiction in my Blue Moon post, fuelling up on caffeine whilst stalking a rising moon, but somehow, I have neglected to tell you just how much this wondrous nectar is factored into my life. Even the smell alone can send me off in search of the perfect brew and prompt a pilgrimage to the land of the perfect coffee.. Italia!

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I spent many days wandering the streets of Rome sampling the best it had to offer. Which is not hard.. I suspect it is harder to find a bad coffee in Rome than a good coffee in Sydney. Even the coffee in Rome International Airport runs rings around anything Sydney can offer.. [I know this as my plane home was delayed five hours]. Now Melbourne fares much better on the coffee scene with the Italian influence bumping up the stakes, but winter in Melbourne is too cold for a fragile Sydneysider like me! No.. if I must relocate for my coffee fix, Roma would be my first choice.

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As I love my coffee so much, I thought I might do a few more posts on the subject.. I'm sure a photo or two of Rome won't bore you too much? Yes? No? Well either way .. that brings us to the end of 'espresso cups' from Casa Julie!! I'm off in search of a smooth Italian [coffee!!] and dreams of returning to Rome!

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Have a great weekend everyone. Hopefully I'll be back for a Silver Sunday post but that will depend on whether I can get my teapots to speak to the camera and perform their balancing act on command !!

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Arrivederci e Buona Notte

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IMAGE SOURCE: Photography and photo editing by me - [Being Ruby]

Production Credits: Proudly presented by 'Ruby Time Productions'. Red Lips and great jawline were contributed by Ruby's mother who kindly propped herself on the shelf for the shoot.. Sadly neither the lips or jawline were passed down the genetic line! Cameo performances by Mr Clark Gable and Miss Vivien Leigh were shot in black & white due to lack of funding by the producers, however this effect is sympatico with the artistic integrity of the film and has not diminished the overall vision of the artist.

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Lisianthus: In The Pink

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Pink & Green

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I thought it was time for me to get on the Valentine's Day bandwagon, so here are some flowers for you to enjoy.

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A study of Lisianthus in Pink & Green. Both the colours of love and healing. Both representing the Heart Chakra 'Anahata'. Pink for emotional health, joy and happiness. Green for physical well being, relaxation and renewal.

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I hope you are all feeling 'in the pink' this week and not working too hard!!

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IMAGE SOURCE: Photography and photo editing by me - [Being Ruby]

Although we can often get Lisianthus in a range of colours here in Australia, those in these images are actually white.. but a bit of hocus pocus ... and voila .. pink!! And... in case you think that green bottle is a strange hospital appliance, it is actually a vintage wine decanter... the centre piece holds ice without diluting the wine.

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Good Morning Britain !!!

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Happy Birthday Jacqueline

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[We're all on our way over!!]

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I hear Lizzie might pop round too! She wants to give you her best!

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Not this Lizzie

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Nope!

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Yes that's the dear!

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She's positively DELIGHTED it's your birthday!!

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And has declared a National Holiday

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All of Britain's talking about it !!!

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Young and old

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The excitement is palatable!!

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Even Madge wants to say!!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACQUELINE !!!

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Love All Your Blogging Pals!!

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Dear Jacqueline from HOME blogspot is celebrating her birthday today.. One of our favourite bloggers and gal pal!!

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I hope your dreams come true Jacqueline and that your birthday brings you joy, happiness and some wonderful surprises!!

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If you haven't already seen Jacqueline's blog [which is highly doubtful] pop over and say hello. You'll be glad you did!!

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Credits: This has been another 'Ruby Time Production' produced in association with the BBC, ABC & ACDC. Special thanks to HRH and her royal subjects who were delighted to participate in the events of this auspicious day!! A special viewing will be provided midnight local time for Anitpodeans unable to travel on location.

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Once In A Blue Moon - January 2010

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It's A Moonfest!!

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I'm late for my full moon post!! For my Blue Moon Post. Yes kids it's a Blue Moon here in Australia. The last full moon in the southern hemisphere was actually the 1st January, not New Year's Eve as it was for the northerners!! Which makes today's full moon a Blue Moon!! And what a moon it is!! It is so bright it seems to know it is special and is flirting and flaunting it's brilliant dazzle across the unsuspecting southern skies!! For the last three months I've been struggling to get a moon shot as each full moon the skies have been shrouded in cloud and mist. But tonight? Tonight it's a moonfest!!

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As I couldn't decide which moon images to post, I thought I'd give you the whole shebang!! Well there are a few I left out, but we do have eleven more full moons this year, so they'll keep for a later post!

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I've spent the last two nights at my local beach cafe, drinking cappuccinos, munching on baklava and waiting for the moon to do her stuff... A few false starts last night, but tonight.. tonight it was a gala event. She flirted at first, dancing between the clouds, then with the confidence of an old showgirl, out she came, spotlighting the bay and anyone in her path. A bit of a showoff I say!! When the time came to say goodbye, I turned to take one last look and there she was framing herself nicely between the trees.

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A cameo shot... who could resist?

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Well, I am sorry I haven't been around the blog circuit much this week. Hopefully next week will be better now I am fuelled on moonshine!! ha ha not the alcohol variety!! Or perhaps it's the cappuccinos!! Hope you are all well and enjoying this gorgeous January moon, blue or otherwise! As I am late with this moon post I didn't have time for a Silver Sunday post too [maybe later]. Once again I've been up all night so I'd better go get some sleep.. will catch you all soon!

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Seven Seconds - Youssou N'dour

It's not a second, Seven seconds away

Just as long as I stay, I'll be waiting

It's not a second, Seven seconds away

Just as long as I stay, I'll be waiting

I'll be waiting, I'll be waiting

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MOON Notes: ahh yes i forgot to include my moon notes. January's full moon is known as 'Wolf Moon' or 'Moon After Yule'. It will appear wider and fatter than usual as it is at perigee [closest to the earth] when it becomes full.. I will try again a few nights later as the big yellow moon usually occurs when it rises late.

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IMAGE SOURCE: Photography and photo editing by me - [Being Ruby]

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If It's Tuesday: this must be AUSTRALIA

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If it's Tuesday, this must be Australia!!

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Well I've changed this post. I took down the Sydney Harbour image [as it didn't do it justice] and left just Mr Cockatoo, who for me, is truly iconic Australia. The cockatoo represents some of my favourite things about this country. The down to earth, larrikin nature of it's people and the abundance of natural beauty wherever you turn. 

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This little fella was enjoying having his photo taken... At least he stayed still... I haven't had a visit from one of these little guys in a while... In my previous apartment, they would hang out in groups on the balcony railings and bop along in tune to the radio ... then whilst at work.. they'd feast on the flyscreens and lop the top off all my potted plants ... funny little fellas!! argghhh ... hahaha

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Well as much as they are trouble, I love these guys and their funny ways.. and to me they are part and parcel of living in Australia... and remind me of a few of my friends.. a bit pazzo but down to earth and a lot of fun.

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Truly iconic Australia ...

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Happy Australia Day Everyone

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Peter Allen says it best

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I'm always travelin'

And I love bein' free

So I keep leavin' the sun and the sea

But my heart lies waiting over the foam

I still call Australia home

All the sons and daughters spinning 'round the world

Away from their families and friends

Ah, but as the world gets older and colder

It's good to know where your journey ends

And someday we'll all be together once more

When all the ships come back to the shore

Then I realize something I've always known

I still call Australia home

No matter how far

Or how wide I roam

I still call Australia home

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IMAGE SOURCE: Photography and editing - [Being Ruby]

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Liquid Silver & A Little Audrey

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Mercury - The Liquid Silver

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With the Mercury hitting the roof here in Sydney, I thought I'd show you a bit of that old Liquid Silver. Mercury Glass votives small and large and a few silver candlestick thrown in for good measure.

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Like it's Greek mythology namesake, this slippery quick silver is a speedy messenger. Defying capture, it spreads it's beading liquid into a multitude of hypnotic stars that glitter and flicker into fanciful constellations. What better substance to dance with the flame of a candle!

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Now Silver Mercury Glass was supposed to be the star of this post but as usual someone else took over and hijacked the proceedings. This time it was Audrey. The divine Ms Hepburn. I'm sure you will forgive her this intrusion.

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Well just like you and I, Audrey likes to dabble in the candlelight produced by this wondrous liquid metal. I just couldn't refuse her.

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Mercury Glass

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Hi Everyone. Welcome to my 2nd Silver Sunday post. It was great to join in last week and share the fun with other bloggers, so I thought I'd throw myself at you again!

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I have quite a collection of silver mercury glass floating around my apartment so in order to save you from the monster collection I've just put a few pieces up. Oh also Sydney Fibrigade informed me they were low on resources this weekend so 'could I put a lid on it!'

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The gorgeous large mercury glass votive you see in the pictures above was a Christmas present from my dear blogging friend Jacqueline [isn't she the sweetest?]. The smaller votives and the rest of the pieces I just picked up over the years. Most of my candlestick collection are new pieces, however there are some vintage pieces buried in these images. The slender candlestick which I picked up at a thrift shop. The crystal door knob [sitting in the slender candlestick] and the brooch belonged to my mother... I'm afraid you will have to wait for a teapot or flatware post to see my vintage pieces.

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Just like in my last post, these images were taken using candlelight. I quite like this effect and it seemed like a good idea for a post on candlesticks!! Sadly, Suzette couldn't make it this week, something about another engagement. Truthfully, I think she had a tantie and didn't want to share star billing with Audrey. Can you blame her?

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I hope you have your own favourite piece to cast a spell in your living space. Thanks for joining me again for a glimpse of Silver..

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Well it is almost daylight here so I think I'll be off to sleep and will come round and visit you all after my 'nap time'

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Pop over to 'Gypsy Fish blogspot' and see other contributors to Silver Sunday.

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AND if you are feeling lucky you can also wander over to 'Gypsy Brocante' for her fabulous giveway this week

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IMAGE SOURCE: This has been another 'Ruby Time Production' produced by 'MAC and Me'. Photography, editing and styling by me [Being Ruby]. Heartfelt thanks to Ms Hepburn who contributed her time free of charge. Her only stipulation, that the 'book box' she lives on should always be front and centre on the mantle. We have of course tried to comply with her wishes but as we have no mantle, a console was provided. Ever the gracious star, Ms Hepburn assured us this would suffice.

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