10 Healthy Habits

Hello again! How are the New Year's Resolutions going? Did you make too many? Are they unrealistic? We all know that they always sound good but that it's extremely hard to adhere to ALL of them. We think that instead of making hard demands on yourself, why don't you begin with trying the “10 healthy habits”, so that years from now you'll thank yourself for being good to yourself.
Here they go:

Don't Retire
We like this one. Keeping your mind and body busy with a challenging job or career is important. We know here at the Queen of Hearts some of our dealer-merchants are past retirement age, but they continue to thrive by being active in their businesses with us.

Floss Every Day
Okay, we know . . . it's a mundane practice. But you have been brushing your teeth everyday, haven't you? Throw this in and you'll be guaranteed additional years of living!

Move Around
This does not mean that you have to rush out and join the local “boot camp” that meets behind the church each week. Come to the Queen of Hearts and walk our aisles . . . put your pedometer on and see how many steps you can get in while enjoying the sights at the Queen. You'll be surprised that this will keep your joints and muscles moving and less sore.

Eat a Fiber-rich Breakfast
There has been much discussion on this. While fiber is good to keep things moving, it also can get “stuck” in your system. Better yet, try eating lots of fruit in the morning. All fruit has fiber and is less harsh on your system when you first wake up.

6+ hours of Sleep
Sleep is the most important thing, along with eating good organic food, that you can give your body. Sleep is the only way your body knows how and when to repair the damage received from external influences, i.e., bad air quality, chemicals in food and materials, and stress. Did you know that the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta has a showroom in the back that sells Organic Mattresses. Yes, these mattresses have not off gassing and provide the healthiest sleep possible. Pick up a card and make an appointment to learn about the benefits of this type of mattress. www.SavvyRest.com

Consume Whole Foods
Do you eat from the earth? Or do you eat from a package? What's in that package – extra salt and sugar, chemicals you can't pronounce? This probably means that your body cannot breakdown or utilize any nutrients in these foods, because they are not nutritious. You only have one body. Treat it like that and you'll be surprised how good you feel when eating from the earth. You might not have to take your prescription drugs once your body starts to heal and repairing itself.

Be Less Neurotic
What matters in your life? What dreams do you have? Do you want to walk leisurely through the Queen of Hearts? Leave your cell phone in the car for the hour or so while you shop. This will give you a sense of calmness especially when you find that hidden treasure that reminds you of your childhood.

Worship Your God Given Body
This all goes back to treating your body RIGHT. Try not to put items into your body that create harm: smoking, drinking alcohol, lots of sugar . . . okay, I'll give you a glass of wine and a piece of chocolate each day. There are studies out there that say that when one adheres to “moderation” it is all good. Focus on your family and community is another factor that can make you feel good. The Queen of Hearts is open late on Thursdays serving wine and cheese until 8 pm.

Be a Creature of Habit
Do all of the items mentioned above – and this includes visiting the Queen of Hearts each week – and you will surely have a spring in your step for many years to come.


There was a common thread through a lot of these “live by” suggestions . . . they involve the Queen of Hearts. Let us help you stay healthy and happy during 2012 and beyond. The Queen's doors are open seven days a week and late on Thursdays until 8 pm.

Happy New Year!

Have you ever wondered why January 1st is considered the New Year and why we make resolutions?

In 153 BC the Romans believed in Janus, a mythical king who had two faces and was known as the guardian of doors and entrances.  One of his faces looked to the past and the other to the future.  The month of January is named in honor of Janus . . . hence the fact we bid farewell to the past year and celebrate by ringing in the new year.  The calendar we have today was developed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and reflected the seasons more accurately than the preceding lunar calendar.

The Romans used to exchange gifts on New Year's Eve and in the middle ages the Christians changed this gift giving event to December 25 which coincided with the birth of Jesus.

New Year's is considered the "oldest" holiday where it originally was celebrated for 11 days.  It is the only holiday that is celebrated across nationalities, countries and religions.

The entire world celebrates in some fashion . . .

In Wales, when they hear the first toll at midnight, the back door is opened and shut.  This is to release the old year and lock out any bad luck.  On the 12th toll, they open the front door and the New Year is ushered in.

In Sicily the "good luck" meal consists of lasagna.  However, eating any other type of noodle, including macaroni is considered back luck.

In Spain, everyone eats 12 grapes for good luck as each one represents the 12 months to come.

In the United States, people would wear masks on New Year's Eve.  The removal at midnight signified the washing away of evil spirits and then a kiss was a recognition of purification.

So resolutions are a form of biding farewell to the past and looking forward to the future.  The Queen's resolutions are to offer a comfortable atmosphere, innovative shopping opportunities and great customer service in each of our locations.

The Queen of Hearts wishes everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.

Traditions and Symbols of Christmas

Traditional colors of Christmas are red and green.  Red symbolizes the blood shed by Jesus at his crucifixion.  Green symbolizes eternal life . . . using evergreen trees as they do not lose their leaves in the winter.

Silver, gold and white are also popular colors used at Christmas and symbolize the gifts the wise men brought to the newly born baby Jesus.

 

The Christmas tree that we know today was first “born” in Germany in the 18^th century.  It was then introduced to Britain and then found its way to the U.S.

Candles in the windows is a custom that demonstrates a Christian's belief that Jesus Christ is the “Light of the World”.

Gift giving is associated with the bringing of gifts to baby Jesus.  Father Christmas was the name given to this gift-giving person.  Santa Claus can be traced back to the Dutch Sinterklaas.

Many old world looking Santa Claus' have bishop or clergy type clothing on.  The original St. Nicholas was a bishop from modern day Turkey.  He was a very caring and gift-giving person that assessed the  behavior of all children and awarded them with gifts on December 6.  Later this date was moved to December 25 to coincide with the birth of Jesus Christ.

We know that many families have traditions associated with Christmas . . . putting up the tree on a certain date each year, decorating the mantel with vintage ornaments and figurines, caroling with  neighbors, lighting candles to welcome friends and family. . . these traditions will be remembered by your family for years to come.

Are your traditions based on the childhood memories of what made you feel warm, loved and protected?  We hope so . . .

Thanksgiving -- Reflection, Gratitude, and Blessings

Thanksgiving is a time for reflection -- a time to hold onto that hug a little longer-- to sit quietly and take in everything around you--

The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was a celebration of the first successful harvest in the new world. The pilgrims wanted to give thanks to the Wampanoag Indians since they taught them how to grow and harvest, ensuring their health and well-being. In these early days of celebrating, the Native Americans travelled over two days to arrive at this week long Thanksgiving event and accepted the fruits of the great harvest.

In 1863, President Lincoln designated a day in November for all the colonies to celebrate Thanksgiving at the same time. Today, we continue to celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November with bountiful food in the company of family and friends.

We challenge you to start a "gratitude" journal. Nothing elaborate, just one or two words written down each day. Next Thanksgiving, open this book and relive the year. This will be your Thanksgiving gift to yourself. You will realize how rich your life is and how it will continue to be, when shared with your loved ones.

The Queen of Hearts has been humbled this year by her overwhelming success and wants to thank each of you for your patronage and continued support of our wonderful dealer-merchants. Our "gratitude" book is overflowing.

Happy Thanksgiving and may you and your family be blessed in every aspect of life.

Burlap is Taking the Home Décor World by Storm

Burlap is showing up all over the place . . . in design magazines, in high end furniture stores and mainly at the Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors.

Have you ever wondered about burlap? Where it comes from? What was it originally used for? How many uses can it have? Well, strap on your burlap seatbelt and let's take a history tour of BURLAP.















Burlap is made from the fibers of a jute plant. It is an important export from India and Pakistan. Originally is was used in small quantities as rope and paper in India. The English traders saw its potential and began to export large quantities. While the majority of the jute is produced in India, Bangladesh (eastern Pakistan), China, Myanmar, Brazil and Thailand also export jute. The people of India discovered that burlap on the backs of rugs and carpets help protect the more delicate and valuable wool yarns.

















There are many reasons that burlap has been so popular over the years. Burlap is extremely durable, hard to tear and is weather resistant. It can be dried many times once wet and still maintain its integrity. It is available in many weights, widths and forms. It can be dyed, sewn and even laminated. Hands down it is a very versatile fabric.

Burlap is considered a “breathable” fabric. When used outside as erosion control, it will over time deteriorate. Although it helps to protect young trees and plants from wind, prevents erosion, and is used as a casing for shipping wool, it also has a great presence in the furniture and carpet industry. It has been used for years as strapping for sofas and chairs and as backing for carpets.

This jute product is resistant to condensation. There are endless products that are shipped in burlap bags – coffee, grains, beans, and potatoes.

Burlap is considered a “green” product and has become very popular in the design world. Handbags and shoes, casual hats, and home furnishings are some of the areas that are sporting jute.

Please note the many repurposed uses for burlap. It has a big presence in the home accessory and design arena. These photos are from merchandise located at the Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors – Alpharetta, Buford and Marietta.

 

History of Blue Willow China

This particular china pattern has a mystery concerning its origin. Some say this wonderfully beautiful transfer ware china stems from a legend told in China more than a thousand years ago. It is believed that all the original Willow Pattern plates were destroyed by the Manchu rulers in China after they discovered that members of the illegal Hung Society defied them. The blue and white design is said to have been smuggled into England in the 19^th Century and reintroduced back into China in the 19^th Century.

No matter where or when this pattern appeared, no one can deny that this is one of the most recognizable china patterns in the world. The romantic fable is one that involves a wealthy Mandarin with a beautiful daughter. She fell in love with her father's humble accounting assistant which did not make her father happy. (It was inappropriate for them to marry due to their difference in social classes). The father built a high fence around his house to keep them apart. The father planned the marriage of his daughter to a Duke. The Duke arrived by a boat to wed his bride and brought with him a gift box full of jewels. The day of the wedding was set when the blossom fell from the willow tree.

The night before the planned wedding, the accounting assistant dressed as a servant and entered the palace unnoticed. As the “bride” and the servant/accounting assistant escaped with Duke's jewels, the father chased them over a bridge with a whip in hand. The lovers used the Duke's ship and sailed to a secluded island where they lived happily for many years. The Duke eventually figured out where his bride was and sent soldiers that captured the lovers and put them to death. The Gods were moved by this, transformed the lovers into a pair of doves. (Early willow pattern plates do not have the doves and therefore this is believed to have been added to the tale at a later date).

There is a poem called “Old Poem” that narrates the markings on the blue willow china:

Two birds flying high,
A chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands,
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song.

What is Transferware?

It is a type of pottery and porcelain that uses a copper plate that has been engraved with a desired pattern. The color to be used was rubbed into the lines of the warmed plate, wiped of the excess and pressed onto a wet piece of specially made tissue paper. This tissue was then placed onto the vessel (plates, cups, saucers) and rubbed down by women called "Transferers." These women were expected to place the patterned tissue correctly, joining the seams of borders and designs and for applying the back stamp.

Transferware helped manufacturers produce very pretty pottery and porcelains quickly and less expensively than the previously hand painted pieces.

Next time you see a piece of Transferware, pick it up — look for the seams and notice how some line up perfectly and some are just a tad off. You might also notice the border running off the edge. Each piece is only as good as the Transferer — all hand applied one plate, cup or saucer at a time.

What type of Transferware are you buying?

Usually each piece of Transferware tells a story. By looking at the back stamp, a collector can check the pattern name, the initials or name of the maker and sometimes the name of the town where the factory is located. Sometimes there are no back stamps and only the Stilt marks are showing — these are three little dots in the glaze that held the triangular spur pieces and separated the plates in the kiln.

Why does the color blue seem to be used so frequently in Transferware?

Blue comes from cobalt and was the only color at first that would survive the high temperature of the glaze process. The rich blue color is associated with famous historical plates and also in the early Flow Blue. Blue Willow is one of the most popular patterns of transferware. It was initally designed by the famous Thomas Minton around 1790.

Why does some of the blue transferware look blurred?

This blurred "look" is actually called Flow Blue. In 1545 in Saxony, a potter named Schurer used cobalt oxide and noticed that this blue soaked into the porous ware and blurred a bit in the glazing process. In 1820 it was discovered that the blue would "flow" by adding lime or chloride of ammonia to the sagger while glazing. The blurring covered printing faults and stiltmarks. When cobalt is initially applied it is brown and only turns blue in the firing process. Some think that Flow Blue china was a mistake and it eventually become a collectors item. This is not true — it was a deliberate process that is highly sought after by collectors.

Stay tuned for more posts on pottery, porcelains and the history of Blue Willow china.