Tea Time Magazine and Beautiful Chintz

I just KNEW when I opened my mailbox and saw the July/August issue of TeaTime magazine that I'd love it. I love chintz and quickly flipped over to the article "A Summer Hat Tea Party" that the front page was taken from.  It is just lovely!  The chintz tea set is beautiful.  I enjoyed reading through the recipes as well--especially the summer hat peach pies (adorable) and the blueberry buckle.  I tried the blueberry buckle recipe this past week.  We enjoyed it for breakfast for two days (we liked it better cold).  It was not only easy but super yummy.  Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of it.  Just trust me....it was good.  Anyway, the magazine was a great issue.  I learned a lot about Darjeeling (very interesting), spoons (looking forward to the next feature on miniature and soup spoons), and found some ideas on tea party themes.  I made some scones for hubby's work from a previous issue of TeaTime (raspberry lemon scones).

They were a little involved to make and had rich ingredients but turned out really well and were very tasty.  I liked that the recipe used fresh raspberries and had a sugary lemon topping that was tart/sweet on the top and had pretty flicks of lemon zest.  I send them off with lemon curd.  Yum!  Check out their website http://www.teatimemagazine.com/ if you'd like to find out more information, get some free recipes, or perhaps order their bimonthly magazine (*credit* The picture at top is the front cover of TeaTime magazine and is their work and property.).

"Tea Time Tidbits" Special Posting #8

There is nothing like having a good source to find fresh ideas regarding tea, and my favorite source is Tea Time magazine. There are plenty of pretty tea tables and settings in each issue. There are exquisite recipes including usually at least one new scone recipe per issue. The vendors have beautiful wares on their web sites listed in the market section in the back. And, well, it's just nice to read something that is full of "everything tea." There are tea rooms that are featured. No, I usually won't copy a full high tea feature--complete with the entire menu and setting--but I like to find the little things that I can perhaps do. There may be a pretty napkin holder or place card to copy. There may be a yummy recipe to try out at the next church lunch (done that a time or two!). I may be introduced to a new tea flavor or company to try out. There may be a lovely teapot to dream about having someday. There might be a tidbit of tea etiquette I never knew I should be following. I might simply read a reminder on how important it is to stop rushing around and sit, relax, and enjoy a hot cup of tea in a pretty teacup and saucer. Sometimes I just like to soak in the beauty of the pictures presented just for beauty's sake!

A Note and Brooch to Phyllis Hoffman...

...and a lovely thank-you note in return! I was just thrilled to recieve her thank-you note on Saturday. Since Victoria magazine and Tea Time magazine are two of my very favorites, I decided to send Phyllis Hoffman a "thank-you for the wonderful magazines that I enjoy and am inspired by" note along with a brooch. No, I don't expect to sell any of my jewelry or be recognized in any way. Not at all! But rather I thought creating a unique brooch just for her was a nice, all-my-own way to express heartfelt thanks in my continuing quest to try to be a thankful person. These magazines really do give me hours of enjoyment and inspiration...why not send a thank-you? Anyway, for some reason I didn't take a picture of the brooch (not smart). It was all in blues and whites (some of her favorite colors--mmmmm, must be why there is that "blue and white" issue of Victoria every year)--very similar to the Wintertime Brooch listed in my Lollishop shop. Being the proper Southern lady that she is, I'm not surprised that she wrote a thank-you to my thank-you and am honored and feel blessed that she accepted it.