Hope your Valentines was as sweet as ours!

Here's wishing you have a relaxing week!

With a fireside treat and a cup of tea.

Pintrest is fun.

Brightens our day at Echo's China to look on Pintrest.

Source: onbluepoolroad.com via Echo's on Pinterest

What can we put in a teacup next?

We received numerous entries to win this little gem, mostly by email from people on our email list. It's amazing how the creative juices got flowing. And that's what using your china is all about, making the ordinary, extraordinary! The winner was chosen by random draw, from everyone's name submitted.  Here are some of the submissions. The winner was Marilyn (quoted below).

Krista writes, "My favourite thing to drink out that teacup 

would be a cup of Murchie's Apricot tea,

 as I see there are fruit and berries on the cup."

Elaine in Idaho writes,"What I’d put in that gorgeous cup?? Stash Earl Grey DeCaf! Yum.

      

Rosolynn in Fort St. John, B.C. writes, "Since I am such a traditionalist – my favourite thing to put into a teacup would be tea, of course!  My absolute favourite is Earl Grey with honey. "         

 This teacup would look especially delicious with a nice chocolate mousse with a dab of whipping cream on top.    Yumm..           Marilyn

Gladys wrote on our Facebook wall, "Such a delicate teacup deserves a special tea, but I am afraid I stick to the good old Tetley tea, which would be elvated to "Top of the tea chart" while being served in this Chelsea teacup." 

While Sarah added to the conversation with "I'd fill it with my favourite "New Zealand Breakfast" tea from T2."

And this one's very cute, Kathleen writes, "On Tuesday of this week I was studying for an exam. I took a cup and saucer from the cabinet (the cup and saucer was given to me by cousins after the death of their Mom, my Auntie: it was from her collection). I made a pot of Barry’s decaf black tea and it tasted even more excellent than usual, consumed from this cup and saucer. I know that many look down on decaffeinated anything, but for those kept awake at night by caffeine consumed after noon, Barry’s makes a wonderful tea which I can now say is my favourite thing to put in to a teacup. It’s also a very civilized thing to drink from a teacup whilst tearing one’s hair out due to studying."

Thanks again everyone for your submissions, we'll post some more of them soon, since they're all good ideas. If Marilyn will send us a picture of herself or her table with her new Royal Chelsea teacup we'll certainly post it here.

We're new at running contests this way but there is sure more to come since we've had so much fun doing this one!

 

Tea Cup Giveaway from Echo's China

Just a few more days of free shipping from Echo's China (until January 24th) for Canada/U.S. deliveries of over $100. And a treat, we're giving away a Royal Chelsea pattern tea cup & saucer.

Win this Royal Chelsea teacup! Just tell us what you'd like to serve in a special teacup like this... a certain flavour of tea or chocolate mousse or...? 


The winner will be drawn at random from all entries (email us at echoschina@gmail.com or tweet us to enter as well... gee you can even comment on our blog here). 


If you win we'll be contacting you by the same method you entered next week!

Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings from Echo's China

Thank you for supporting us at Echo's China and Silver whether it's shopping in our store, online or sharing your stories, and most of all enjoying your dinner ware.

We truly love the idea of our business providing a service where people are gathered together having amazing meals and sharing good conversation and lasting memories.

All of us at Echo's China are in the mist of celebrating Christmas. We have "Decked the Halls" and hope you will come in and have a look at some of the unique one of a kind gifts we have. 

For those not close enough we have included some photos and invite you to come to the shop should you ever be in Vancouver.

We all celebrate the holidays in different ways but our wish for you is it is filled with good friends, family and of course fantastic China and Silver (smile)!

 

  

  

And don't forget you can always keep in touch with us on Facebook & Twitter!

Brightening Your Home with Glass

Nothing quite reflects light and colour like glass. 

At Echo's we never know what will be arriving on our receiving desk and this month we are excited about a variety of Canadian, Lalique and Murano glass.  Art glass is a beautiful and timeless.

From paperweights to vases, theses pieces can add elegance and style to any home decor.

Murano glass comes from an island outside Venice where for centuries glass making is an art form perfected and passed down for generations. In the 13th century artisans were forbidden to leave the island and practice their trade elsewhere to keep Murano glassmaking secrets from any competition.

This way of life has made Venice a capitol of glassmaking. Of course times have changed and Murano artists travel as they please.

The traditions have still continued and thrived in later centuries with innovative artists and expertise.

Lalique glass is the legacy of French artist Rene Lalique. He was an innovator who created both Art Nouveau as well as Art Deco designs.

His inspiration came from nature as well as the Far East.  He was able to create glass for the world market by using industrial processes with success.

The Lalique firm is still producing glass today and many of Rene Lalique's designs remain in production.

Most recently we are enjoying a display of a colourful collection of Canadian glass. We are selling works from two renowned Canadian artists John Phillip and Robert Held.

Both of them use the difficult and fascinating form of blown glass. Robert Held has a studio in Vancouver where he crafts high quality collections. John Phillips has an international reputation and has had his work displayed across Canada and beyond.

We have some samples of both artists on display in our store. The beauty of hand blown glass is that each piece is one of kind. Unique forms and shapes have occurred in the creation process and are captured in time.