Latest Estate Sale Find

Welcome, friends, to today’s blog!
I’m so happy you decided to stop by. I’m excited to share with you a recent estate sale find that truly made my day. One of my absolute favorite things is tea—afternoon tea, hot tea, tea in any form, really. And one of the wonderful perks of treasure hunting at thrift stores and estate sales is discovering beautiful tea services.

The tea set you see above is a Lentil Ardalt piece called “Strawberry Butterfly.” It was made in Japan between the 1950s and 1970s. This beautiful set is in perfect condition and includes a teapot, creamer, and sugar bowl. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found it, and I’m thrilled to add it to my collection.

It also comes with four luncheon plates and four bread and butter plates, all featuring the charming design of ripening strawberry plants amidst a flutter of butterflies. The colors are so vibrant and clear, with deep blues, sunny yellows, rich reds, and fresh greens that pop against the gold-rimmed edges. And to make it even more special, there are matching napkin rings as well.

I couldn’t resist the urge to showcase this lovely tea set, so I decided to host a simple afternoon tea. The delicate details and bright colors of the plates created such a warm and inviting atmosphere. It was the perfect way to slow down, sip some tea, and enjoy some quiet conversation with friends..

The tea table foundation was a beautiful lace topper over a simple white tablecloth. A bouquet of grocery store flowers in a crystal container was set in the middle of the table. The purples, yellows, whites and greens blend with the colors in the tea set.

The teapot, creamer and sugar rest on a lovely white porcelain plate with a scalloped edge. It sits on a corner of the table. close to the place settings.

One of four place settings cozily nestles beside the tea service. The luncheon plate and dessert plate are carefully stacked, creating a charming display. At the heart of the setting lies a beautiful white linen napkin, delicately embroidered with white-on-white floral patterns, adding an elegant touch to the table.

A silver-plated spoon and dessert fork, from the “Lovely Lady” pattern by International Silver, gracefully rest on either side of the plates. The delicate design of the flatware complements the pretty porcelain beautifully.

Some Butterfly Meadow cups by Lenox complete the place setting blending nicely with the tea service.

Here’s an overhead view of the table setting. You can see how all the elements work together to create a beautiful presentation.

Egg salad sandwiches served with rocket and mixed with chives from the garden. The egg salad is served on brown multi-grain bread. The sandwiches are bordered by grapes on one end and some gorgeous fresh-picked tomatoes and basil from the garden on the other.

Here’s another look at the food presentation… egg salad, fruit and veggies. How simple is that?

The homemade applesauce cake and fresh whipped cream make a tasty dessert. Along with copious cups of tea this is a perfect light lunch.

There’s a little story behind the applesauce cake. I was trying out a new recipe, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. I placed the cake in the oven, but somehow, the oven got turned off by accident. When the timer went off 30 minutes later, I found the cake still soupy in the middle. With nothing to lose, I turned the oven back on, set the timer for another 35 minutes, and crossed my fingers. To my surprise, when the timer went off, the cake was done! After letting it cool down, I gave it a taste. It wasn’t bad at all—maybe a bit dry, but after covering it with foil to trap in some moisture, the cake turned out wonderfully moist and delicious. I couldn’t believe it! I thought for sure it would be a disaster, but instead, it ended up being a tasty fall dessert.

There you have it! From estate sale to tea table the story of a found treasure. Thanks so much for joining me today.I wish you good luck in your next treasure hunting adventure.