Getting a Second Chance

I had found this teapot on Etsy a number of years ago and fell in love with it...but not with the price.  I just couldn't justify getting it.  You know the whole story...can't justify getting it, too expensive, don't really need it, etc.  I pinned it on Pinterest.  I kept watching it.  Finally it sold, and I regretted not getting it despite all of the excuses.  I looked for it all over forever after that--at thrift shops, at antique malls and stores, on Ebay, on Etsy.  I saw others similar...but they weren't THIS one and weren't as pretty to me.  Then...I walked into the thrift shop a little while back, and there it was sitting there waiting for me.  The price was great.  It is in perfect shape.  I'm so glad for second chances.  As silly a thing as it is, it was such a blessing to find.  I'm thrilled!  It is a such luxury not to mention something that I've wanted and looked for for quite some time.  I'm thankful that God is good...giving us second chances on things even in very little and, in the scheme of life, insignificant ways.

Teatime Pretties and Happy Spring

First of all...happy spring!  Yes, it is finally here.  What a winter it has been!  That is one thing I like about March...the hope of spring (among other things!). 

 

I go shopping and rarely buy anything for myself.  I'm either looking for things for other people, or just shopping for necessities, or shopping for things to either resell or to make into something to sell.  Well, these pretties I actually bought for me. 

 

 

 

The teacup/tea mug is from a gift shop.  It reminds me of a Cath Kidston print, though this is not related to Cath Kidston at all.  I've been greatly admiring all things Cath Kidston lately--the flowers, the colors, the prints--on Pinterest and elsewhere, and this tea mug was just perfect (in fact, I'm drinking tea from it right now).  The mug really does make tea taste better....really!

 

This little single-cup teapot is from the local antique mall.  I had had my eye on it for awhile, picking it up every time I went by it.  Remembering the old motto "Buy it or you wish you had", it made its way into my hands somehow.  Now it is mine!  It is very small.  Chintz patterns have always been a favorite.  I'm delighted to say the least. 

 

Stitching

I've been having a grand time stitching lately.  Unfortunately I can't stitch fast enough to keep up with the ideas that keep coming. 

Most of my stitching time is when we are driving somewhere.  Well, we've been driving around a lot less, and it is getting darker earlier now.  Anyway, I've been able to complete a few things.  They are made of felt, and I've embellished them with embroidery stitches, felt pieces, and beads.  I like how the beads add extra sparkle.  Here is an example of something recently finished and is listed in my Etsy shop. 

Much Loved Tea Kettle

Found this tea kettle at the thrift store this past weekend.  It has been re-soldered and was certainly used, but it "spoke to me" instantly.  I love the brass color and all of the detail.  Thought the picture needed to be taken by our old chest...looks almost like an old painting by a Dutch Master.  Enjoy!

Hot Tea Month

Yes, January is Hot Tea Month.  I made this Etsy treasury this morning to celebrate that.  To further celebrate, I'll be announcing a giveaway shortly....not sure exactly when...just shortly.  Can you guess it will be tea related?  Until then, relax with a hot cup of tea and please enjoy the treasury and the pretty things these Etsy sellers have to offer (feel free to click on the pictures to see up close anything that you take a particular fancy to). 

Kitties Having Tea

I'll tell you, children can be sooo sweet in how they do things.  My husband had saved this round, wooden spool that wire came on (it's been around down in the basement for years--he saved it from the dumpster when the house was wired years ago).  We were cleaning out the basement a few weeks ago, and it was decided that our daughter could have the spool to play with.  Well, she painted it--red at first.  Yikes!  Too bright!  With a suggested wash of ivory paint, she obtained this pretty pink color (she did a good job for an 8 year old).  A small table cover that my grandmother made and a doily were the perfect table toppers.  I was later invited to her room to see that she had her little kitties all set up around her best tea service.  An on-going tea party has been the norm ever since!  

Teapot Pin

I love tea and anything associated with it...as you know.  This little pin was great fun to stitch.  Do you like the steam coming from the spout?  I'm really trying to think up some more tea related things to add to my shop since I know there are plenty of other tea lovers out there too.

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.).

Some of my Favorite Brooches

I failed to show you what some of my favorite brooches are. As part of Linda's (A Swap for all Seasons) Mother's Day Brooch Swap, we were suggested to post our favorite brooches on Flickr. I did that but didn't post on here. So, here are some of mine. Many beautiful brooches have passed through my hands and into my shop and on to a good home. I wish I could keep them all (some were hard to sell)...but a person can only have so many brooches. Those in this picture are old, and I haven't yet been able to give them up. The little circle one is actually a picture frame. The long, narrow white one is enamel. I love the crown one with its purple and clear rhinestones. The little blue bird one is sweet and such a vivid shade of blue. The large flower one is from Portugal, and my grandfather brought it back to my grandmother when he came home from WWII. Of course, the sterling silver teapot pin is a favorite. Enjoy!

Inexpensive Little Girl Room Decorating Ideas

I thought I'd share what we did in our little girl's room a while back in case you have a redecorating project in mind this winter and would like a few inexpensive ideas. I found a rug (sorry, didn't take a picture of that) at Big Lots that had olive greens, purples, pinks, ivory, and light blues in it. So, I made the theme of her room in those colors...besides she likes pink and purple. Since she also lives princesses and crowns and sparkles (mmmm...wonder where she gets that from??), I found a play crown from the toy section of Walmart for the very top of her window with pink and blue sparkles. An inexpensive (also a Big Lots find for $7) sheer scarf pulled through the crown and draped over the edges of the curtain makes a soft, feminine, finished look. I made the curtains out of material to match the purple in the rug.

I put the scarf through holders on each end. Also, I wrapped a wired garland of iridescent stars around the scarf to add more interest and color to the ivory material. The iridescent coloring picks up the purples, blues, and pinks wonderfully, and the garland also adds another element of sparkle to the window.

Then I got some flower, butterfly, and leaf stamps from the local hardware store. My mom gave me the teapot and teacup stamps, so I already had them. I matched the paints (the walls were already a warm ivory) for the stamping with the colors in the rug again--pink, light blue, dark purple, light purple, green, and off-white. I used acrylic craft paints which are pretty inexpensive. Of course, I had to add a little of my own flourish with a teapot and a teacup in the room. The stamps make a nice alternative to wallpaper and are much less costly than hiring a person to come and paint by hand. The corner of the mirror needed something, so the teapot went there. I added the "tea" coming out of the pot by hand.

I stamped everywhere but not without purpose.

I added butterfly trails and extra flourishes and some detail in the flowers, and instead of a mouse at the floor by the door, I put a steaming cup of tea with hand-painted steam coming out and dots on the teacup. Her bed is in a corner, so I put pink netting (an Ebay find) in the corner to "round it out" and soften the corner. She feels like she is sleeping in a "princess tent".

Well, I hope you like some of the ideas. I'd love to read about your project, if you used any of these ideas, and how it turned out.

Teapot Trivets Wall

My teapot trivets wall has grown! I did a post quite awhile back showing four new teapot trivets that my grandmother had purchased for me. They were not in keeping with the colors I wanted for this wall (they were blue, yellow, red, and an off shade of green). I had intended to spray paint them all summer...well, it was one of those summers. You know how it goes. Anyway, I finally got a few coats of green spray paint on them last Saturday, and they are now up in their places. There is definitely room for more should I find others that appeal to me.

Giveaway Winners!

My 400th post Interpretative Button Swap/Giveaway has now ended. Partners have all been sent each others' addresses. The winner of the buttons I used as my example for the swap is Melani of My Lady Abercrombie. The winner of the teapot brooch is Molly of Material Gal Molly. Congratulations, ladies! Thank you to all of you who participated to make this a fun swap.

Just a Reminder on the Button Swap...

...today is the last day to participate. Thank you for those who have signed up already. Click HERE to go to the post with all of the details if you are interested. I'll be choosing swap partners tomorrow as well as drawing for the teapot brooch and the person who receives an extra set of buttons. Come join the fun.