Sharing Tea with a Friend

While I didn't share my tea time yesterday on social media, I did share it with my lovely friend, Becky. It was a beautiful morning to sit on the porch and fellowship and catch up on life. The following quote is apropos–

“No matter what is happening in your life, you always offer tea.” 

– Clemantine Wamariya

Today, however, is solitary tea time and I just had to show y'all the gorgeous tea cup my friend gave me. Well, she gave me two but of course, I'm only using one :-)

"TA Made in Japan" is all it says on the bottom so I have no idea of a pattern but they are hand painted!!! The lusterware finish is spectacular!!! I LOVE them!!!

The I. Godinger teapot is another amazing gift from a friend. And the lusterware creamer belonged to my paternal great Aunt Florence. It was part of a tea set gifted to her as a wedding gift in 1921. 100 years ago!!! That's one of the things I love about most of my tea things; gifts with memories!

Take some time to slow down today and remember those you love and who love you. Say a prayer for them. We all need our names to be lifted up to our perfect Father in Heaven who can bring peace and stability to our lives.  

Early morning quiet time is essential to my day. How about you?

Thrifty Thursday Anyone?

Y'all know I love thrift shopping, especially when I find two gems like these! 

This darling footed octagon-shaped Royale Limoges teacup and saucer have the sweetest pink flowers adorning them. 

I tried to find the pattern online but no success.

 I don't have a pink teapot so when I saw this Old Amsterdam Porcelain Works teapot, I knew it was coming home with me. It's small size is perfect for two cups of coffee or tea! Officially ,the color is Sierra Rose but I like PINK better! :-)

I’ve decided to try making a weekly post featuring one or two of my thrift store finds, past and current. I make no promises I’ll be a regular poster but I will sure try. This last photo was taken with my phone. It's not great but it actually turned out to be my favorite.

I would love it if you shared in the comments about something you’ve rescued from a thrift store. :-) 

Getting My Crafting On -- DIY Tea Cup Bird Feeder

I have wanted a Tea Cup Bird Feeder for years. I've seen different ones for sale online but they are rather pricey. Since I collect tea cups and have plenty of extras, I decided to Google it and found numerous tutorials and style feeders to choose from. Knowing my sister was coming for a short visit this past Sunday, I let her choose a tea cup to have her bird feeder made from.

This is not a tutorial but I did follow this one -- Hanging Tea Cup Bird Feeder -- posted by Busted Button. It really is easy peasy! 

Two things I will do different next time are use less E6000 glue (it doesn't take much) and heavier chain. I bought a pretty good weight chain in the jewelry making department at ACMoore but I think it could use a heavier chain. I will try the hardware store for the next one. 

I left the lobster claw hook on one end of the chain so I could attach a cubic zirconia Cross from an old necklace because my sister and I share a love for tea cups, birds, and Jesus! Plus it gives it a little pizazz! Kind of pretty, huh?

The china pattern isn't marked on the bottom of the cup or plate but it is a solo set that I found at a thrift store years ago. It makes a pretty feeder for the birds. They have a little place to set their delicate feet and a pretty tea cup to feast out of to their hearts content.

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. ~Psalm 23:5

 Ignore the yucky brick. We are in the process of getting a new roof and then it is on to pressure washing everything. Until then, the red brick still makes a nice backdrop for this Tea Cup Bird Feeder that is soon to be on its way to south Florida!

I have already chosen another tea cup and started making it a bit different from this one. The cup is tilted sideways and will be hung with twine instead of chain. I'll be sure and post pictures when it is finished. One of these days I am going to get really crafty and make a wooden birdhouse! :-)

Have you made your own bird feeder or birdhouse?

~Have a blessed day in the Lord~

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ~Matthew 6:26

Tea Cup Exchange #3

Once again, Stephanie @ The Enchanting Rose put together a phenomenal Tea Cup Exchange! I enjoyed shopping for my recipient, Ceil @ Surrounded by the Spirit. She has been a delight to get to know. 

Now, Bonnie @ White Lace and Promises had my name in the exchange and sent me an AWESOME package of goodies! If you get an opportunity, hop on over there and see what an amazing transformation she's done to her kitchen! 

Notice the fun and whimsical colors on the left side of this photo. It's an oven mitt! I don't have one of those but it sure has come in handy with all the baking I've been doing. I was challenged to get any good photos inside, so after this one I took it all outside :)

All these terrific skin care products from Mary Kay...

Let me just say I was in desperate need! 

How did she know?!

With being cooped up so much this winter because of my surgery, I have experienced some terribly dry skin. These lotions are A. MAZ. ING. The lip gloss feels so good on my chapped lips. And that pretty pink bottle is filled with an oil-free eye makeup remover. Oh yeah. Love it!

oops...The tea is all gone! How did that happen? ;)

But the crowning glory of the package is my tea cup. Tears welled, fast and hot, when I unwrapped this jewel. My mom loved white fine china and I inherited her set after she passed away. It's rimmed in silver but still, when I saw this dainty cup and saucer, I couldn't help but think how much my mom would have loved to see it. And those are her pearls that compliment the loveliness of my new cup.

I didn't take a photo of the bottom of the cup but it's a Royal Bayreuth from Bavaria. There's actually a collector's club and I've been reading the fascinating history of this company. I know it may sound dull to some but not to me. I love learning about who made such delicate and fine china, the country of origin, etc. 

Just look at that sparkle! She's a real beauty and I want to say how much I appreciate Bonnie sending me such thoughtful gifts along with an extraordinary teacup that I will always treasure!

Thanks again, Stephanie! Love you much and appreciate all you do for your blogging friends.

To see what everyone exchanged, hop on over to... 

“Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . ."” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Sharing with

Tea Time Tuesday

Tea Cup Tuesday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends and Tea Cups

The only way to have friends is to be one. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The great thing about having a long time friend is discovering something new after knowing each other for almost 15 years. My friend Pat and I did just that this week.While I was over at her home for some crafty play time, I was admiring a set of lovely tea cups in one of several cabinets that adorn her dining room. She was telling me a little of the history of the cups and I mentioned that I collect tea cups and have been in involved in a couple of tea cup exchanges online. Well, she immediately took this gorgeous cup out of the cabinet and presented it to me. I told her I couldn't possibly take the cup but she insisted. My heart was, and still is, overwhelmed with her generosity.  You see, this tea cup and saucer are part of a set that belonged to her husband's grandmother and was made in Occupied Japan (1945-1952) after WWII. 

Any advice on how to go about identifying it? Does anyone recognize it? 

: : : : :

And now that I have shared my love of collecting tea cups with Pat, and my excitement about the upcoming tea cup exchange being hosted by Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose, I think she is going to sign up to participate in the exchange!

If you're interested, just click on the graphic and it will take you straight to Stephanie's where you can read about how to participate, too. It's a great way to meet new people and make new friends. And this time it is open internationally!

Sharing with

Tea Cup Tuesday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Tea Time Tuesday

Random 5 Friday {Vintage} & Tea Cup Tuesday

***RE-POSTING***

for Tea Cup Tuesday because I am HOPING someone will recognize the pattern on the tea cup below! If so, please tell me in the comment section. THANKS!!!

I found this vintage 1950s Atomic Retro Ironstone dinnerware vegetable bowl in the "Blue Heaven" pattern made by The Royal China Company, Sebring, Ohio. Made in the USA. Of course I doctored it up a little in Picmonkey so it doesn't really have the writing on it. Isn't it adorable, though? I ♥ vintage!

1. Every day I make at least two meals from scratch. I love to cook but what makes it worthwhile is the love I have for my family. I get all warm and fuzzy knowing they are eating something they enjoy that I made especially for them. 

2. I collect vintage tea cups whether they have a saucer with them or not. But I do prefer a saucer. There's something ladylike about using one. Or maybe I have been watching too much Downton Abbey ;)

3. This little beauty was found at the Habitat Re-store where I bought my vintage plate. At the time, I thought the tea cup and saucer matched but I wasn't really inspecting it too thoroughly. I just loved the little pink and lavender flowers with the wispy spray of sage green adorning the cup. Once I started washing it, I realized they aren't the same pattern. Close but different. I have been searching for the pattern name of the tea cup to no avail. I did find the saucer though. It's Apple Blossom by Haviland. I'm still searching for the tea cup pattern. 

4. Speaking of tea, I bought some Extra Sleepy Time Tea the other day because I have had a slight bit of insomnia. I've drank regular Sleepy Time Tea in the past with good results. Well, let me tell you that if you want to stay awake all night, this is the tea for you! Honestly, I could not go to sleep. It was awful!!!

5. The pictures aren't great. Sorry about that! My son has been using my nice camera for his Digital Photography class so I am back to my point n' shoot. It was acting weird and constantly trying to focus. It was a miracle I managed these two without them being blurry like the other 20 photos I took!  

How's your week been? Have you found any treasures to add to your collection? 

Sharing with 

Journal52 Week 2: Somewhere, A Simple Place

Allow yourself to feel the wonder, to drink in the beauty and to experience the special time and place where you are.

- Ralph Marston

The prompt this week was to think of some thing or some place we love whether it is home, in the kitchen, at a library, a favorite vacation spot, just a place we enjoy being.

Thinking of that place wasn't what was difficult for me. Putting it on paper was agonizing! I was ready to quit but decided I am not going to give up. I will persevere through this in the hopes that I learn some new techniques, and maybe even how to draw a little bit. 

My first step was covering the page with Gesso by using a plastic card and hoping I was actually giving it some texture. My sister gave me some advice on how to use watercolors I bought at Walmart. After I borrowed some brushes from my son (who is a real artist), I swished those on,  stamped a floral design all over, then painted around the border with some acrylic paint, and applied a cardstock embellishment for a frame. I searched across the internet for whimsical line art and found some of teapots, cups and books. I sat with my watercolor sketch pad and, using the clipart as a guide, sketched out my own pieces. Next, I applied watercolors then sketched back over the outlines using a black pen. After cutting them out, I adhered them with Tombow Mono (it rocks!). I also used some rub-ons I had in my scrapbooking stock that incidentally matched my whimsy theme pretty good. The flowers are gel-like in substance and I outlined them with a black sharpie so they would stand out.

Obviously, a simple place to me is anywhere that I can have a cup of tea and read one of my favorite Regency Era books, which I wrote on the covers and tried to decorate. Not being very good at doodling, I made some weird doodles and that's the one thing I hope to really learn how to do this year. I ordered a Zentangling book for beginner's so I'm looking forward to trying my hand at that. *pun intended ;) 

Our Journal52 group gained some new members this week, so it's not too late to join in the fun!

So tell me.. 

Where is your 'Simple' place?

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Tea, anyone?

Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable 

than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. 

~Henry James,The Portrait of a Lady, 1880

* * *

In the most recent Tea Cup/Mug Exchange hosted by 

Stephanie from The Enchanting Rose, 

I received some yummy goodness from Debbie Harris, 

who just happens to be the mother of our delightful Stephanie!

These lovely gifts came in a beautiful matching box (pictured below).

I adore this cup and saucer with sweet roses, trimmed in a delicate gold. 

The saucer has a little scallop to the edge that makes it ripple with beauty!

Can I just say that I ♥♥♥ Raspberry Jam?!

Oh yeah. My favorite.

I made an English Muffin to go with my tea but before I made it out the door 

for the photo shoot I just had to taste it with the jam...

see...no picture with the muffin because it was THAT good!

This Vail Breakfast Tea is excellent with a tiny bit of sugar and cream! 

I am going to be on the lookout for some loose leaf tea 

so I can use this adorable heart shaped tea infuser.

Isn't it cute?!

Also included was a jam spoon, recipe card with a recipe for the 

Best Ever Biscuits, a flower shaped cookie cutter and a booklet on Tea!

I haven't made the biscuits yet but I plan on trying 

them when I can stay on my feet longer. 

And the cookie cutter is going to make the cutest sugar cookies!

The picture doesn't do this tea cup justice!

I ♥ it!!!

Thank you, Debbie, for my lovely gift! It is perfect for me :)

And thank you, Stephanie, for putting all of this together. 

You are a blessing and a sweetheart!

* * *

Hop on over to see all the participants and gifts exchanged.

Sharing with

Tea Cup Exchange

Recently, I participated in a tea cup exchange 

hosted by my sweet friend, Stephanie, 

over at The Enchanting Rose. 

I get a lot of packages in the mail since I review books 

but none was more anticipated than the surprise package 

I was going to receive from my 'tea cup pal'. 

It was abounding in goodies; delightful cupcake papers, 

a lovely selection of tea, a fragrant votive, 

decorated napkins in a cabbage rose design, 

a notepad and this whimsical mug, all in a pink theme! 

Can I just say that I love, Love, LOVE pink :) 

I'm planning on getting out this weekend and purchasing something 

yummy to bake in those cupcake papers! 

My grandchildren are going to think I am the cat's meow 

when we have a little tea party on the front porch.

Thank you, Kitty, for such a thoughtful gift. 

And Stephanie, you are a blessing. 

Your generous spirit reaches across the cyber miles 

to touch each and every one of us!

To see what the rest of the participants received, 

visit The Teacup Reveal.

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Tea & Birds

A new cup to drink my tea in, and of course it has birds on it.

A small piece of cheesecake with blueberries and a hot cup of tea for dessert 

sets the stage for a little bird watching.

This big fellow stayed on the tree for hours, drinking sap.

I do believe...I much prefer tea :)

Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?

I'm linked with

  Tea Time Tuesday

and

Tea Cup Tuesday

Did someone say Teapots? ~ Tea Time Tuesday

In Sept, my husband and I took a trip to PA and while there we went to the Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Lititz, PA. They had the most amazing display of teapots from all over the world! I was so glad they allowed pictures to be taken. I could have taken a zillion lot of them, but I held myself in check and only took four. I know. I should have taken more.

Let's not forget where I was. A CHOCOLATE FACTORY!!! I was definitely interested in buying chocolate, especially since I'd never heard of Wilbur Chocolates. 

Well, let me tell you...they are so SMOOTH and CREAMY and the BEST I have ever tasted. No, I'm not a connoisseur but I do eat lots of chocolate. See. I love just saying typing the word chocolate :) 

So, if you ever find yourself in PA, near Lititz you must go to Wilbur's and get some chocolate! You won't be sorry :)  

What's your favorite chocolate?

I'm linked with  

Tea Time Tuesday, 

Tea Cup Tuesday, 

&

Tuesday Cuppa Tea.

NEWSFLASH: They are NOT Tea pots. Apparently they are CHOCOLATE POTS!!! 

Seriously???

Can you just imagine having a pot of chocolate that big?! Bring it on, baby!

Thank you , Maria for letting me know what I took pictures of. Once again, I am so duh!