How It Started

We hosted our first event based on an idea I had, thinking it would be a hit with the people of Port St. Lucie. I can’t pinpoint where the idea came from, but my husband insists, “You know exactly where it came from.” So, if you know, you know.

In 2020, my grandmother passed away suddenly. It wasn’t from COVID, but I’m not entirely sure. Regardless, I deeply missed her. This loss ignited my creative spark, and I began working with my hands, painting antique furniture among other things. I’ll share some photos of my painted pieces soon. I developed a strong appreciation for items with a bit of history.

My then-boyfriend, now husband, put up with my newfound passion. He drove me all over Florida in search of unique antique and vintage finds that were becoming increasingly rare. He lifted heavy furniture that would typically require three people. At one point, we even bought a trailer. Let’s just say, he had quite the adventure learning to tow that trailer!

Mother’s Day Tea Party 2022 Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens.

The Discovery

But, of all the things I discovered, I was most captivated by teacups, saucers, and teapots. I wondered why designers put so much care into these delicate items. Let me backtrack a bit. I should mention, I was a reseller. Those unique finds I mentioned earlier? I turned a profit on them. One day, I sold a Paragon teacup and saucer set, and amazingly, it sold twice! Buyers snapped it up minutes after I listed it on eBay and Etsy. How much did it sell for, you ask? $250! That’s right, $250 for a teacup and saucer! The Etsy buyer was willing to pay even more, but I’d already sold it on eBay. Curious about the purchase price? I bought the set for $18. Cha-ching!

I was hooked and I started examining these miniature masterpieces more closely. I researched the differences between bone china, fine china, and porcelain and looked up brands like Royal Albert, Minton, Spode, Sango, Aynsley, Shelley, Wedgwood, Coalport, Paragon, and many more. When I saw the prices these items were fetching, I was completely intrigued. Why was so much thought and effort put into designing a teacup and saucer?

To be continued…

If you’ve made it this far, here’s the teacup I mentioned earlier.