Do you like souvenirs when you're traveling? Because I have a tendency to be a bit of a packrat, I have a few rules before I buy anything and take it home with me.

This little antique teacup fit the bill! I found it when I was visiting my best friend in Atlanta (she recently moved there). We were roaming around the antique district in the summer, and we came across a little shop owned by an older couple. 

Most of the time, when I go antique shopping, it's in an antique "mall" sort of setting, wherein vendor leave their wares out and the mall takes care of the sale. Or, it's a small shop that has a lot of junk. This place was a real treasure to find!

The owner was a sweet woman that was able to tell me the history behind just about every item in her shop. I could sit and listen to her all day! She explained that this teacup was painted with "purple luster" and that the saucer was so deep because of how hot the tea would come out, it would be typical to drink it out of the saucer instead of the cup!

She also talked about the different maid's uniforms and aprons (she had a large selection of victorian era clothing) and how as the maids moved through the ranks, the length of their apron would get smaller and shorter. A parlor maid would have a smaller apron and higher rank than a chambermaid, for example. 

In any case, this little teacup has been added to my collection, as well as one other that I wouldn't really consider an antique (it's from 1983, so it's more vintage). 

What are your favorite souvenirs?