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My Red Transferware Teacup Christmas Tree

Last year, for the first time ever I set up the largest Christmas tree in our dining room.  I did so again this year but used a white flocked tree.  I decorated it with about 40 vintage red transferware teacups and a few creamers (I needed to fill a few more spots in!).  In addition to the teacups I used a variety of collected red ornaments, garlands and ribbons. 

I have a recurring theme of birds throughout my house and they've made it to my Christmas decor too.  Some birds are tucked inside the transferware cups.


Some birds are clipped onto the tree branches.
 This year, Grandma Judy sent Ashton home with a collection of bird ornaments she's saved for her, so we added them to the tree as well. 
As you may also know, I love the color amber.  I have several strings of amber colored lights.  My favorites are glass bulbs in a pine cone shape. 





Just like when I was a child, I still like laying on the floor and looking up at the Christmas tree. 






“Somehow not only for Christmas but all the long year through, 
The joy that you give to others Is the joy that comes back to you. 
And the more you spend in blessing 
The poor and lonely and sad, The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to you glad.”


Comments

  1. Nancy, your tree is just stunning!!! I love the little birds tucked into the teacups!

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  2. This tree is simply the most beautiful tree I've seen. I love bird ornaments too, I have some old ones with horsehair tails. It looks fantastic in the dining room.
    Ann

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  3. Ohhh, Nancy! What a beauty she is ... love the teacup theme with the wee birds tucked in ...

    Have a beautiful winter's eve ~
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  4. Love your tree! I have some bird ornaments too but they are in the attic and I can't get them down right now. This summer my best friend's husband is going to help clean out the attic to see what all Christmas stuff I want to keep. Love the tea cups and birds. I never thought of using tea cups, a brilliant idea!!!!! Merry Christmas!

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  5. oh my goodness--so many of my favorite things all on one tree! i've often thought i've got more teacups than one could ever use--but they're all my brown transferware. i think you've given me an idea for a new tree in my kitchen (much smaller than yout tree in the dining room!).
    thanks for sharing!
    paige

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  6. Wish we could see it in person. I, too, love the birds in the teacups.
    Beckie

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  7. Wow your tree is incredible! I love the teacups with the flocked background,it really stands out! Your dining room looks pretty Nancy. I hope all is going smoothly at this time of year, with the shop, I don't know how you get it all done.
    xxoo

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  8. Absolutely beautiful! A tree of perfection for a transferware lover! Thanks for posting the photos!!!
    Ruth

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  9. Nancy, I love how your interests made it on the tree. It is way over the top with the tea cups and I like it. That pinecone light is really fun too. Joni

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  10. Your dining room is gorgeous Nancy and the tree is lovely! I also collect clip on birds. Thanks for sharing the poem at the end too:@)

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  11. Oh, I'm just in love!! Really beautiful!

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  12. Nancy, Thank you for sharing your beautiful tree and dining room at my party. I love the teacups and little clip on birds and your table centerpiece is gorgeous.
    Happy Holidays to you and your family.
    Sherry

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  13. This is just a beautiful tree. Love the tea cups and how you tucked the birds inside. Gorgeous dining room.

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  14. Nancy, this tree is exquisite! Love the red transferware and it is glorious on that flocked tree. Thanks so much for joining the party.

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  15. Hi Nancy! Your tree is truly beautiful! I see you like to hang china on trees too!!! I didn't put up our second tree this year, but I hang my china cup collection on. Plates and all!! I guess great minds think alike!! LOL! and... you make me want to do a red room!!! Thanks for your visit and Merry Christmas!
    xo,
    Karen

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  16. HI Nancy! Your tree is so beautiful! I love all of your birds and those sweet teacups! Your tree is so full with pretties. Looks like a snap from a magazine.
    be a sweetie,
    shelia ;)

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  17. HE WAS NO VARLET

    There once was a guy who wore red,
    He wore it to work and to bed;
    His pj’s were scarlet,
    Though he was no varlet—
    He simply liked everything red.


    © 2010 by Magical Mystical Teacher

    Ruby Tuesday: Old Story

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  18. Hi Nancy,
    Coming over from the party at No Minimalist here.
    What could be prettier than a flocked tree full of vintage red transferware and birds!!! It is stunning.
    I am having a giveaway - I would love to have you stop by.
    Rhonda

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  19. This is absolutely PERFECT!! It's so whimsical! I've always wanted to have a tea cup tree! I am nuts for anything tea cup/pot related!! This is simply gorgeous!! I think I would just put my pillow down, grab a soft throw and a cup of coffee and lay down admiring it's beauty as well! Thanks so much for sharing!
    -April

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  20. P.S. I've admired your blog for quite some time... I finally started to follow you!!

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  21. GASPING! Your tea tree is stunning! I love it to pieces! Your home is so beautiful!

    Merry Christmas!
    Hugs,
    Maryjane

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  22. I so want to be having Christmas at your house this year. Just GORGEOUS! Happy New Year.
    Joyce

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  23. That tree is just gorgeous!! And with the transferware cups, it could not be any better! What a beautiful combination. I could just stand there looking through all the cups! Beautiful!! Thanks so much for stopping by:-)

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  24. OMG what a gorgeous tree! But, LOL....I thought I was the only one who liked to get on the floor and look up....between you and me with my legs I haven't been able to do it....Thanks for the view ;)

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  25. That is a very pretty tree - I would never have thought of using cups as ornaments but it your dining room it is stunning. Being a bird lover myself I especially like the birds tucked into the cups :)

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  26. Your tree is so beautiful it makes my heart beat fast! Incredible and stunning.

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  27. So beautiful!! Love the birds tucked into the cups. thanks for sharing!

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  28. This is beautiful! How unique--it looks just perfect. Thanks for linking up to my Holiday Home party!
    Mary

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  29. Omigosh Nancy! How adorable!!! I love teacups, why didn't I think of this? I love that you added the little birds inside them too.

    Merry Christmas to you!

    -marie

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  30. Beautiful tree! Thanks for joining in, and Merry Christmas!

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  31. Wow! That is one of the most unique and gorgeous trees that I have ever seen and I mean it. Gosh simple beautiful. Thank you.

    Cheryl

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  32. This is an amazingly beautiful tree! So unique and lovely. Your collection must be vast! I want a flocked tree. Maybe next year....
    Merry, Merry! Sue

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  33. I love your unique tea cup tree! Gorgeous

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  34. Now That's Beautiful ~ Tea cups, Birds & the sweet glow of the amber lights.... I would be laying on the floor & admiring it too~
    Cheryl

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  35. Nancy...what a wonderful idea!! I have some sweet tea cups that may just make a tree for my dining room next year :)

    CHRISTmas Blessings!
    Gail

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  36. Hi Nancy,

    Nice to meet you! I am visiting here from My Roamntic Home. I love these blog parties, because we get to meet new people. Love your tree, just beautiful. Wishing you a blessed holiday season!

    Debbie

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  37. Hi Nancy! This is just stunning! I love the idea of the teacups on the tree, especially with the little birds tucked inside. So sweet! You are so incredibly talented and I'm so glad to get to be the receipient of all of your great inspiration. Thank you so much for linking up to the party this week! :-) Merry Christmas!
    Vanessa

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  38. I have always loved flocked trees and yours is just stunning with the pops of red. Love all the little birds too. Have a very Merry Christmas!

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  39. Your transferware and tree is gorgeous! Love it!
    ~ Julie

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  40. Beautiful tree! I love dishes also.

    http://jeanneselep.blogspot.com

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  41. Hi Nancy~ This tree is absolutely gorgeous!! I love red transferware and this is a fantastic idea for an incredibly charming and beautiful tree! Always enjoy your posts-love this. Btw- I highlighted your post from last weeks party :)

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  42. That's lovely! I have so many transferware cups (and creamers) thanks to the German flea markets. I never thought to put them on a tree. Maybe next year! Thanks for sharing.

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  43. Happy Pink Saturday to you and your family, Nancy. You might want to add Pink Saturday to your list of links.

    This tree is absolutely stunning. It looks perfect in your dining room.

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  44. Love your tree!
    Merry Christmas! Happy pink saturday!!!

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  45. What a beautiful tree and wonderful way to highlight such a lovely collection.
    Happy Pink Saturday,
    ~Marileee

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  46. Bee-you-tee-full! I adore your cups and birds! Thanks for sharing and Merry Pinks to you and your family!

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  47. Such a beautiful tree! Those birds and teacups are darling!

    Blessings,
    SHanna

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  48. What a great idea! I love the birds, too. I've been increasingly drawn to anything with birds over the past number of years. Thank you for sharing your magical tree. Cherry Kay

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  49. I loved all your photos. Those teacups are just lovely. Happy Pink Saturday.

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  50. Nancy,

    Your tree is award winning to say the least...it is just beautiful. I only wish I could see it in person.

    Have a magical and blessed time during this week leading us to Christmas.

    Merry Merry,
    Stephanie ♥

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  51. I am totally blown away by this amazing creation! It must be incredibly stunning in person. Gorgeous! I've highlighted you on the SNS #61 sidebar this weekend. :)

    Donna
    http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

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  52. Hi Nancy- back over to say thank you for sharing this at my party- I adore the teacups idea! I even added a couple vintage Santa cocoa cups to my little kitchen tree today- thank you for the inspiration! Merry Christmas!

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  53. How beautiful! I love transferware. Just can't decide which color is my favorite. I have pieces in black, mulberry, brown, purple, and light blue. And I love them all!

    Have a great weekend,
    Judy

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  54. Hi Nancy, Your tree is gorgeous!! Love those birds tucked into the cups, delightful :-))
    I love to lay under the tree too:-))
    Wishing you an amazing Christmas!
    Bella

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  55. The tree is magnificent. I debated on just what word to use and that's the best I could come up with. I love red transferware, but would have never thought to use the cups on a Christmas tree. What a wonderful idea. Once the delicate birds and amber pine cone lights were added, it just blew me away. I don't think I breathed til the end of the post!

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  56. Beautiful tree, I love the tea cups on it. So fun. Happy PS and Merry Christmas

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  57. What a wonderful tree and a unique idea, it certainly is your special tree. I love the creamers added to it. I am sure it is even more incredible in person.

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  58. So beautiful! You did such a lovely job! Hoping you'll visit me at Sew Chatty and link up to Made With Love Monday! The party will be open until Friday if you want to link up multiple projects. Wishing you a very blessed Christmas! http://sewchatty.blogspot.com

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  59. It is stunning, Nancy! Of course, if anyone has the massive amount of transferware needed to decorate a tree, no doubt it's you!

    Thanks for linking to my party. I look forward to having you join me each week.

    And please be sure to come by and enter my fantastic year-end giveaway. Click the picture in my sidebar for details.

    Blessings and a very Merry Christmas!
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  60. Dear Nancy, we are indeed kindred spirits! I, too love and collect red transferware (other colors, too!) We have many of the same pieces. Don't you just love the history in these old pieces? I like to imagine who might of used them before. For the last few years I've been toying with getting a flocked tree (just a small one) but I can't find anyone who flocks here in Santa Barbara. Where you use tea cups and little pitchers, I use butter pats and saucers. I'm glad I found you and I'm excited to see what you do next(:

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  61. Love the tree. I am wondering if you have any of those teacups with a bird painted on the inside. My grandmother had one like it as a child. We always wanted to drink tea out of the birdcup. I can picture the slightly milky, sugarey bottom of the cup with the little bird but can't find one anywhere - if you did have it would love to know the manufacturer.

    Thank you.

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