Sunday Browsing: Cuppa Edition

Today's edition is on the theme of 'cuppas' - all things related to tea and coffee, and having a good sit down in the afternoon.

Edit: Heh, I've just noticed my Sunday Browsing post is not listed on the Sunday, but a few days before, mainly because I have a set of template posts (and some ideas for Sunday Browsing topics - yes, it's true, now sometimes I do a browse on a Friday/Saturday if my Sundays are going to be full. I found it better than missing weeks of the picks *G* Sell-out!), and accidentally published it, so it was technically not published on a Sunday. Rectified now :)

First up, you need something to drink from, right? If you're of a refined nature, (I'm not, but I like imagining I could be) you'd probably use a teacup; this curlew cup by Birdartist radiates delicacy. One lovely detail is the way the curlew's beak slides down into the handle:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62447420/curlew-teacup-8-of-9

If you tend to want as much tea or coffee as possible in one serving (yep, like me) you'd go for a mug. There are tons of fantastic handmade mugs on Etsy (which might be on a future Sunday Browsing) but for sheer fun, I chose this one by MudFairy, featuring a slightly crazed but happy pirate and his parrot. Let's face it, with his face looking out, no-one will bother you in in your quiet tea time:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63390924/happy-pirate-with-parrot-pirate-mug

For the sugar lumps in your drink, a perfect little crock jar with a lovely forest design complete with a beautiful owl. My favourite touch is the quirky curve of the handle:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/57290276/owl-and-moon-lidded-stoneware-crock

Or how about this matching pair of cream (vegan, of course) and sugar vessels by StudioElan, in a pretty and fun apple design. The bright glaze colours are immediately eye-catching, and the apple leaf handle on the jug is just adorable:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/43909350/red-apple-cream-and-sugar-handmade

Nothing better than a cupcake with your tea or coffee, unless it's a cupcake served on its own stand. This one by alinahayes makes something special out of tiny treat, and there's room for three cupcakes on the server (I'd say enough for you and two friends, but let's face it, we can all eat three cupcakes easily by ourselves):

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62310093/robins-egg-cupcake-stand-trio

This one is a bit of a flight of fancy for me, since there's no way I could have a teapot as special as this, but I had to include it because it's a simply beautiful piece of art by nancyadamsclayartist. Her shop also includes exquisite vessels and vases, as well as more teapots:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49979675/rabbit-by-moonlight-tea?ref=cat3_gallery_9

Finally, BigSkyArtworks makes a variety of ceramics for everyday use, including this brilliant piece, featuring a tiny turtle crawling from the depths of a blue bowl onto a patch of sand:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61064133/ceramic-turtle-bowl-escape-to-the-sand