Artsy Prize Ready To Fly or Keeping It Green

Our Patty has probably given up on receiving her Round Robin prize…but finally, I have it ready to send on its way.  It seemed fitting to spruce up the package.  Rarely do I attempt altered art of any sort beyond fabric repurposing, but in an effort to keep with the homemade theme,  I “all-thumbed” my way through preparing the box that holds Patty’s goodies.  I used bits and pieces of paper and fiber “too good” to throw away.  I must say it is a little intimidating altering anything to send the Guru of Altered Art.  🙂  I hope it arrives intact.

(Patty, barring any unforeseen obstacle the box will be on posted tomorrow.  I apologize for taking my sweet time getting to you.)

As a reward to myself for getting the package posting ready I’m brewing a cup of organic honey bush tea.  I’m using a new infuser by Healthy Steps that leaves a few bits of tea behind.  The tiny particles did not, however, hurt the delicious, delicate taste and fragrance.

If you enjoy tea and artsy pursuits check out Kimmie’s blog Art In Red Wagons , home of Tea On Tuesday, for a link to all the Tea On Tuesday participants.

Happy Tea Tuesday to one and all.

Everyone is welcome to comment on my Redeeming Love Giveaway.  It is a wonderful book…well-written and a beautiful story of redemption.  Click on the Redeeming Love button on the sidebar to go to the post.

Until next time…

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.  The dead praise not the Lord,  Neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord. Psalm 115:16-18

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Fly Away Home (Round Robin Complete)

Patty said it best.  “Neither earthquake or hurricane will stop the U.S. Mail.”  Our teacup round robin was safely returned into my hands in yesterday’s delivery.  The box was aptly adorned and the lovelies inside are awesome.  What a talented group of ladies you are who took part in this teacup adventure.

Patty’s address label was to the box as yummy icing is to cake. 

Even the box is a perfect, thoughtful choice.  What cuppa lover doesn’t love Starbucks?

One of my granddaughters just happened to visit yesterday.  I was mulling around in my mind what the best way to choose the winner of all the lovely artsy treasures  would be.  Patty enclosed a list of the names of each participant, and I cut it into strips, folded them and put them in a container.  I had Rachel do the honors of picking one.

And the winner is…

You might know Patty loves swans…I thought it uncanny, appropriate her name would be drawn from my black swan container.  Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo.  Congratulations, Patty!

Here is what the wonderful round robin treasure  box holds…

In the beginning the box held the cup…assorted tea…a small journal and a small fabric flower brooch.

The teacup’s first stop was Halle’s house.  The worse tragedy in a teacup’s life was discovered when she unwrapped the package.  Our traveling teacup suffered a mishap…it was now the cracked traveling teacup.  Halle added a sweet crocheted dish cloth and a magnet with the right idea and sent the cup on its way. 

Next stop:  Amy.  Amy graced the treasure box with a wonderful butterfly creation and a bookmark.  Both are beautiful pieces.

Amy sent the box on its way to Jill.  Jill added a truly lovely handmade card w/envelope.  With each addition the treasure box gets grander!  I inadvertently neglected to add a picture of this beautiful card when I originally posted.

Lori Northon graced the treasure box with a lovely teapot bookmark and matching bottle cap magnets.  (I think Lori should start a blog so we can see ALL the lovely things she makes.)  Lori, I am so sorry I failed to acknowledge you as the creator of your beautiful work.  I’m so not perfect. 🙂

Next stop…Pat.  Our round robin was had mad it half-circle.  Pat added a lovely, calico friendship heart to our mounting treasures.  She enclosed a perfect quote…”Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.”  (C. S. Lewis)  Lewis was a wise man.

After taking the cup and all the lovelies in the treasure box to tea with tried and true tea friends Pat whisked the box on its way to Dawn.  Dawn added crocheted coasters in delicious sherbet colors.  They look yummy enough to eat.

Kim was next to receive the package.  Inchy magnets were added to the already abundant loot.  Each tiny magnet glitters with emotion…such expression in such a tiny space!  My picture is not of great quality, because I was sure I couldn’t return them to their package in the pristine fashion they arrived.

One last stop before heading back home…last but not least…all things being equal.  After receiving the box Patty added a button-adorned, heart-shaped, lavender sachet and an altered playing card.  Both are delightful pieces…and both will remain with me since Patty won the artsy pieces added during the round robin.  It must have been meant to be, because lavender is one of my favorite fragrances.

The full circle was completed and the round robin teacup came back to me.  The teacup was a little worse for the wear…travel can do that to the best of us.  It will be retired and looked upon with fondness from time to time.  To the box full of treasure I am adding one last thing…a mug rug in full fall flavor.  I think every cuppa lover should have at least one.

To all who took part in this (my first) very successful round robin, I thank you.  I hope you enjoyed it.  To each of you I wish you a happy tea day.  I enjoyed a cup of White-Vanilla -Grapefruit added to the round robin box while putting this post together.  It was a good choice.

If you enjoy tea and tea posts click on over to Art In Red Wagons for a complete list Tea on Tuesday posts.

Until next time…

May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.  – Irish Blessing

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Tea and Needlecases

So often Tea Tuesday rolls around and passes by without my recognition…it’s early Monday evening.  I’m kicked back with a mug of relaxing Rooibos Chamomile Tea watching Antique Roadshow with my true love.  This tea is perfect for unwinding after a busy day.  With a little multi-tasking Tea Tuesday will come to be howbeit a wee bit early.

I’m sharing the wonderful needlecase I received in a one on one swap with Pat.  It is my latest treasure…Pat did a beautiful job of crafting the wonderful materials into a lovely work of art.  Notice the beautiful stitches…all hand stitched and so precise.    She used thrifted tatting and hand-dyed wool dyed by Patti.  The little pocket and pin keeper are cuttings from a vintage, handstitched quilt.

I love the appliqued flower…and the fabric used for the pin keeper.

And the sweet pocket and lovely applique leaves and embroidery stem work.

And Pat received this needlecase from me…I cross stitched the cover piece 20 or so years ago when my eyes were sharper and fingers nimble.  The body of the needlecase is felted wool from a thrifted sweater.  I cut a frame in the front for the stitched piece.

I made a mini pincushion using a piece of a sweater my dad used to wear…it’s attached to the front inside cover.  An adapted elastic ponytail elastic is attached between the the two fabric layers as part of a fastener.  A large round bead is sewn to the middle outside fold to complete the fastener.

I added a pocket made with a piece of eyelet lace from a thrifted roll of wide eyelet lace.  The background fabric is cut from a piece of cotton fabric I plan to make a tunic for myself.  The needle keeper is a piece of the same felted wool used for the front cover.   A very rustic dragonfly is stitched on the needle keeper wool.

If you are interested in getting in on a needlecase swap you might like to check out Art4Mail…there’s a button on my sidebar.

For more Tea On Tuesday posts click on over to Kimmie’s blog Art In Red Wagons  home of Tea On Tuesday.

Until next time…

The mug from the washstand was used as Becky’s tea cup, and the tea was so delicious that it was not necessary to pretend that it was anything but tea.  

-Frances Hodgson Burnett

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Tea And A Berry Brunch

I told Pat when I read her tea post it was doubtful I would make it for Tea on Tuesday today.  I started thinking about my next mug of tea, and my stomach reminded me I had neglected to eat today.  A tea brunch was the perfect opportunity to stage a tea post.

I figured I’d share the great deal I happened upon at Tuesday Morning just in case you live near one.  Tuesday’s is one of the places I check out frequently for tea deals.  They almost always have something that sounds worthy of trying.  During my last two visits I’ve found Bentley’s in a tin…the first time around I bought one tin of Green Tea with Jasmine.  It was so good I went back for more.  You can’t beat their price.  I hit pay dirt the second time around.  I love Rooibos tea…and three different Rooibos had been added to the various green teas they had in stock.  The tins are a great size for repurposing when they are empty.

Plain Greek yogurt is hidden beneath a cover of beautiful berries…no sweetener is necessary.  My mug is filled with fragrant Green Tea with Jasmine.  It has become one of my favorites.  There is something especially soothing about the floral fragrance.  The mug rug was sent to me by a lady in California.  I’ve developed a great appreciation for the humble little mug rug.  (I told you last week Art 4 Mail…button on my sidebar…is hosting a mug rug swap.  Sign-up is open for a few more days if you are interested in taking part.)

If you love tea and would like to read more tea posts…or join in with a post of your own…visit Kim at Art in Red Wagons…the home of Tea Tuesday.

Until next time…

Tea, though ridiculed by those who are naturally coarse in their nervouse sensibilities…will always be the favored beverage of the intellectual.   Thomas DeQuincy (1875-1959) Confession of an English Opium Eater

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Tea On A Mug Rug

I recently discovered the mug rug and instantly loved the mood-reflecting,  designed especially for tea time…or coffee, if you please, little placemats.   Having none of my own, I asked if mug rug swaps took place in the Art4Mail group I belong to.  They do, but a current swap has not been set up.  A lady in the group invited me to swap one on one, and the making of my first mug rug began.  I’m keeping the first, because it is my first…I made a second one in the same color scheme for my swap partner.  They are quick to make, fun to use, washable and reuseable.  Thrifty, yes?  Making mug rugs is a perfect fat quarter or scrap buster project.

My mug rugs measure 7″ x 10″ and are made using quilting techniques…

My first:  My mug of Diner’s Choice Orange Herbal Tea and snack fit perfectly.

Made for swap:

Fat quarters all in a row or mug rugs to be?

If you are interested in taking part in art swaps Art4Mail is a great group to join.   There’s a variety of swap categories to choose from.  Items are primarily made of fabric.  A new “Celebrating Fall” mug rug swap was announced after I began composing this post.  If you are interested in starting your own collection of these sweet little mats, why not join us in this swap.

If you enjoy tea and visiting others who do click on over to Art In Red Wagons and visit Kimmie for a list of other Tea On Tuesday participants.

Happy Tea Tuesday!

Until next time…

If you are cold, tea will warm you; If you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.  ~ Gladstone (1865) Victorian British Prime Minister

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Taking A T Break

Tea Tuesday has rolled around once again.  This one finds me taking it easy.  It’s one of those days when I don’t feel like doing a whole lot of anything so only the things I must do will get done.  A day like that is nice to have once in a while.  I’ve worked hard canning this week and will start again tomorrow.  Today I chill.

Blueberries are in season in Mississippi.  I love them just about any way they can be fixed.  This afternoon I am indulging in hot homemade biscuits covered with a generous amount of sorghum molasses and fresh blueberries.  The combination was an experiment last week…and a do-over today.  I’ve paired the blueberry biscuits with a mug of strong black tea…nothing could be finer.

Some of the fruits of my labors the past several days…

I’ve canned a five gallon bucket of Roma tomatoes…some with fresh basil and some with hot, red peppers.  Later this week I plan on canning two more bucketfuls.

I also turned about 10 pounds of cucumbers into lime sweet pickles.  Tomorrow I will begin the process of making more pickles.  I’ve ordered 15 pounds of cucumbers for tomorrow and will begin the process of pickling them.  Next week I will pick up a 20 lb. box of cucumbers and will go into over-drive.  I am the official pickle maker of our family.  No one wants to buy sweet pickles anymore.  These are wonderfully crisp and are just plain good.

 

If you love tea and would enjoy visiting more Tea Tuesday bloggers check out Kimmie’s blog Art In Red Wagons, home of Tea on Tuesday for links to all participants.

Until next time…

I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man I have ever met.    ~ Dwight L. Moody

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Tea To The Rescue?

Tea makes everything better.  Usually.

My DH and I went out to eat a couple of weeks ago.  A new Chinese/Japanese/Sushi restaurant opened near us and after hearing how good it was from several people we decided to give it a try.  I rarely put much faith in restaurant reviews from most of the people I know, because we have such different taste in food.   The adjectives used by the “food critics” were delicious, wonderful, the best in town.  I couldn’t resist suggesting we eat there, too.  My DH and I used different descriptives…cold, greasy, bland.  The food was very disappointing.

I ordered hot tea with my meal, and it was graciously delivered in a lovely green tea-pot.  The tea pot and conversation with my DH kept this eating experience from being a total bomb, but notice there is only one tea bag in a quart-sized tea pot.  It was weak I almost didn’t detect the distinct Oolong twang…The tea pot was lovely…but not lovely enough to earn this restaurant another chance.

That’s a wrap on my Tea Tuesday post.  If you enjoy tea and would like to read more tea posts, visit Kimmie at Art In Red Wagons…the home of Tea On Tuesday.

Until next time…

Talk and tea is his specialty,” said Giles. “He has Come along inside… We’ll see if tea and buns can make the world a better place.  -The Wind in the Willows

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Tea On Tuesday…Beauty

This morning I woke up with a thumping headache. No doubt it’s caused by the unstable atmosphere over Mississippi. It’s that time of year. The sun can be shining bearing down on us one moment, and threatening clouds and impending severe weather arrive on the scene the next. I had hoped a couple pints of stout black tea would help chase my headache away, but alas, it has not.

I’ve found it difficult to fit Tea on Tuesday in with all the extra things that go on around our place in the spring. Last week after letting the day pass by without a post I promised myself I would not skip another. because of my headache my post will be brief and the sharing of something of great beauty. Beauty always lifts my spirits and brightens my outlook…even when I have a thumping headache.

Cajun Hibiscus

I don’t know how many of you believe in the devil…but I am sure that sucker is preventing me from posting a picture of my hibiscus.  I’m jesting (although I do believe he’s real, I don’t think he is the cause)…Wordpress is obviously having some issues that make it impossible to save drafts after adding pictures.  I’ll come back later and see if I can insert it…it is truly beautiful, but I don’t want this little hurdle to keep me from posting my tea on Tuesday.

Woot, woot!  Success.  Finally.

Happy tea day. If you love tea and enjoy reading tea posts check out Kimmie’s blog, Art In Red Wagons, the home of Tea On Tuesday.

Until next time:

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir

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T Is For Trials, Thankful and Tea

Just about the time I pulled our front door shut I remembered my house and car keys were in a bag in my bedroom. It was 89 degrees and climbing, and I was locked out with no way to go. Hot wiring a car is not part of my talents so I was stuck outside in the heat. Fortunately I had a tall go cup of shaken iced tea lemonade, my cell phone and a shade tree to bide my time under. My dear husband works only 5 minutes away so I made a moan call. He couldn’t break free from what he was doing, but a friend was able to rescue me by bringing my husband’s keys. After retrieving my keys I went on about my business running errands. (All lock out adventures should run so smoothly.) Still I was close to over heating by the time I got back into wonderful air-conditioned coolness. (I’m a real light weight when it comes to heat.)

When I got home and lugged all the stuff I gathered during my trip away from home…and gave our dogs their “good dogs” for faithfully protecting our turf while I was gone, I poured myself a cold, refreshing glass of lemon-flavored water kefir to celebrate Tea On Tuesday. O it’s so good.

Tea on Tuesday finds me feeling thankful, blessed, and a little bit lucky. (Thank you, Pat, for the box of luck.) All it takes to put my little trials in perspective is to watch the news of more devastating tornadoes forever changing the lives of all those in their deadly paths. I know I’m not alone in my feelings of great compassion for those who have not been spared such heartache and great loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them as they face yet another round of severe storms this afternoon. The news makes me weep…and feel truly thankful for the safety of my family and home.

If you love tea and tea posts check out Kimmie’s blog Art In Red Wagons. Follow the links to all the great bloggers who meet for Tea On Tuesday.

Until next time:

 It isn’t what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.  ~unknown

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T is for…

T is for Tea…

A mug of very delicious Orange tea by Diner’s Choice.

It’s chocked full of goodness…hibiscus, lemongrass, apple pomace, green tea, blackberry leaves, and more.  It is surprisingly delightful.  I bought it at Big Lots for $2.00 just to try it.  I’ll buy more.

T’ is for truth…

“Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.”

~ a tea tag quote ~

T is for Thumper…

This tiny thumper is what I received in a spring/bunny pincushion swap.  Isn’t it precious?…and such a tough act to follow.

Wishing everyone a happy tea day.  For more tea posts visit Kimmie at Art In Red Wagons the home of Tea On Tuesday.

Until next time…

Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.

~Chaim Potok ~

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