http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-britain-crockery-idUSTRE72L1RK20110322
Mismatched tea sets? Check!
I've had mismatched tea sets for decades. My great grandmother started the family tradition back in the 1800s. I have half the family tea sets, cups, saucers, and cake plates, and have added a few pieces myself over the years. (My sister has the other half, my daughter will inherit them all).
When I started doing Steampunk Teas, the mismatched china was something I considered to be very "steamy" because our family tradition dates back to the Victorian Era.
And now, it's suddenly trendy?