Last week I’ve been away to London for work and this meant I’m a little behind with new recipes. You can imagine how frustrating it is to have so many ideas, but not time to do them. Anyway, hopefully, I’ll be back on my regular schedule of two recipes each week. As I bought quite a few new plates and cups, I thought it would be nice to share my new crockery on the blog as a quick update.

My husband thinks I bought a lot, I can’t, obviously, agree with his assessment. I’ve pondered if I should get this item or that item. I’m going to talk a bit about each item, in the order I got them.
I’m not too knowledgeable when it comes to ceramics, but now I can recognize the materials and some of the techniques after I saw last year a TV show called The Great Pottery Throw Down. I loved that series, it was so interesting.

First of all, I got this amazing set made by the very talented Laura De Benedetti. I’ve met her this week in London and she is wonderful. I think the items she is making are stunning. The cup has such a lovely feel to it, it feels like it’s flowing, I love the colours too. I can’t wait to use the cup. The cup is made of porcelain.
You can see more of her work on her website @ www.ldbceramics.com.

The next item I got was another cup. I spotted this in a museum shop, at the Wallace Collection (I’ll share details about the museum on my lifestyle blog, not sure when though). It’s a Libby Ballard Ceramics cup, made of stoneware.
You can see her work on www.libbyballard.co.ukand on etsy.

On my last day in London, well, near London to be more precise, I went to St. Albans. I wanted to see the cathedral and to go to the one of the oldest pubs in England, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks on my lifestyle blog. While in St. Albans, I discovered a lovely antique shop, so I had a look around and got a few more items.

The first thing that caught my eyes was this set of Colclough china. I wasn’t sure if I should get it because it is made of bone china and that is something I don’t usually buy. As a vegetarian, I avoid animal-derived ingredients that were produced by the killing of the animal and bones are well… obvious how they are sourced.
At the same time, buying something from an antique shop is not like buying something new. I give a new home to something that is not treasured and it was produced many years ago. Colclough has produced china from 1897 to 1955.
That being said, I bought the trio. I love its design, the pattern is stunning.

The second thing I discovered in the shop was this Victorian set. It is hand painted. I loved the look of it and it was a bargain as it is not complete. I don’t mind that, I don’t even mind some of the paint is not as visible. These are only signs of time.

Well, I think everybody that loves pottery knows a Wedgwood, with a history of hundreds of years. Wedgwood was established in 1759. I’m smitten with their designs. Of course I had to have it. The previous day I’ve admired their Magnolia Blossom collection in Selfridges.
The vase is made of Jasper, in their iconic blue. They have used this type of ceramics from almost the beginning of the company, in 1760s. You can imagine how happy I am with my purchases. I’m going to go again to that lovely antique shop next time I’m in London, to see what else I discover there.