#SpodeDNA - British Summer With Spode Pure Morris

I'm so excited to be telling you about one of my favourite partnerships to date!

I remember as a young girl seeing the fancy tableware that had been passed down to my parents, it was all packaged up in newspaper and kept hidden away to use for best, it felt so special whenever it was taken out and I could get a glimpse of it. It just felt so precious and a real treat to use something with such a rich history.

When Alex and I moved in together back in 2015 it was my dream for us to start our own collection of Spode. So that one day we can pass on to our children and they can pass on to theirs. There's something so lovely about passing on and sharing memories to cherish. If anything, Spode has become part of our DNA as a family.

A few months ago I was contacted and asked if I would like to be an Ambassador for Spode's #SpodeDNA campaign, it was an absolute no brainer. In fact it was pretty much a dream come true! Oh to be part of that history that I fell in love with as a young girl!

Spode was founded in 1770 by Josiah Spode I (1733-1797) in Stoke-On-Trent. He was an English potter who became famous for the introduction of blue transfer printing on to ceramics. His son Josiah Spode II later developed the formula for new English bone china. Together they redefined British pottery.

The underglaze transfer printing which Spode is credited with having developed was limited to colours which could withstand the heat of the glaze firing, of which a rich blue was a predominant colour. Today you can still see the history of this process in the Blue Italian pattern which is one of Spode's oldest and most popular collections having been developed over 200 years ago.

As you all know, I set up my blog to share my favourite things with you and this is absolutely one of them. I love everything they stand for, the history, the quality and their quintessential Britishness. The Art Historian in me loves knowing that people have been using Spode and enjoying these patterns for hundreds of years and when we use Spode we're intertwining ourselves in that history. How wonderful is that?!?

For the first piece in this blog series I wanted to show you how I will be using the Spode Pure Morris collection this summer. The most beautiful designs and collaboration between two iconic British brands, Spode and Morris & Co. It's the most gorgeous shade of soft grey displaying both the Morris Strawberry Thief and Willow Bough patterns.

You may remember that Alex and I took a week off last month to simply enjoy some time at home together. We're very fortunate to live in a beautiful setting where many others come on holiday. We both just love being surrounded by nature, so afternoon tea in the garden by the river was an absolute must. It was the perfect occasion to test out our new Spode collection.

We enjoyed freshly baked scones, with lashings of clotted cream and strawberry jam, which seemed very fitting, whilst sipping copious amounts of tea from tea cups adorned with the strawberry thief pattern. It made me realise that when we strip back all the fuss from life and take time to simply be calm and take pleasure from beauty, we would all be so much happier, it was the most blissful afternoon.

It's hard to put in to words, and maybe some of you will think I'm silly, but sipping from a tea cup with such wonderful heritage and an ongoing story is a truly magical thing. It feels special, like a moment to cherish and time to be savoured.

You can find out more about Spode, it's history and all the different collections here. Go check them out, I'd love to know your favourite pattern

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Pip

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