Now, tea time, the creative projects, including creative shopping...

I do love things associated with comfort. Especially food and drink....warm tea on a cold winter afternoon...so much of my creative energy goes into making enjoyable, cozy moments!

At a Holiday potluck, I saw these pretty dishes from Spode.

 

When I told  hostess, Nina Coffee (great name for this story!) how much I liked the little cup and saucer, she sent me this photo and told me that these were a retirement gift from her co-workers!

 These pieces by Spode are called Pennylane Honeywall.  I had chosen the dainty cup and saucer rather than the mugs when I was having my coffee and dessert(s)....(it was a potluck, with lots to sample!). The scalloped top edge and beautiful shape just delighted me.

SO.....I learned that the pattern is discontinued, but found the cup and saucer on line and easy to order!...

My Christmas gift to me arrived on the 4th day of Christmas, December 29th!

 

Tea does taste great in it! With a little honey, lemon sometimes.

(I used to put milk in my tea, yum!, but learned tea has more health benefits if you drink it without the milk!)

 

(And of course, the things I like with my tea have health benefits too??? Almond cake, dark chocolate covered gingerbread cookies, shortbread....you know!)

 

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Another "tea party" moment occurred on "Boxing Day", the 2nd day of Christmas!

We had a beautiful little vanilla cake with chantilly creme and fresh fruit...from a bakery. I got out my Laura Ashley tea set which was a gift from friends on my 40th birthday.  My granddaughters were here to delight in the sweet event!

 

 

Sophie is trying to wait for the proper time for a taste!

That rosy pink cup is a really old, 1800s cup and saucer....with no handle on the cup in those days! It was given to me by the family of Tasha Tudor, and is a very special treasure!

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For more every day  tea time, I needed a tea cosy!

Searching online "Free crochet tea cost pattern" yielded this beauty!

 

I pulled out my crochet hook, DK acrylic yarn scraps and made one, love it!!!

 

It buttons with a loop and an antique button under the handle! This one fits my smaller everyday, generic white tea pot!

And because I added an extra lining from a scrap of fleece from the pajama bottoms which I made for the grandkids, ( Nina Kate's pj's below) it is a very efficient cosy!

 

That's all for this post! Knitting coming up and a mystery quilt!!!

Snowy Sunday

 

16 degrees F, the temperature is dropping and it is still snowing, lightly. St. Francis out in the weather, above, doesn't seem to mind!

Our neighborhood is quiet!

Mr. P just left to go help a neighbor dig his car out, after he got stuck!... a favorite sport around here

A good day for tea drinking, and reading....

And playing with snowflakes! These were made last year by my SIL, Melody! Now going into my Smash book

I just finished knitting this strawberry tea cozy.....now to enjoy a last day of Christmas treats!

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Since the Christmas tree and its cheerful lights are being put away, these little lighted branches help dispell the gloom of dark winter days! Not costly, they have LED light bulbs and the branches are flexible!

 

 

I often wonder why I keep dreaming up more "work" and sewing. 

Well, I think it centers me!  Seeing the projects coming out of my studio gives me some kind of satisfaction! So I agree, sometimes a girl's just gotta sew!*

 

I also know, that making things for my friends and family is one way I stay in touch and the empty nest is less empty....(actually it is  quite "stuffed" with projects in various stages! LOL!)

 

The little graphic above has a heart theme, and relates to making Valentines for friends.....( oh, and don't we love her green chair?...1930's -1950's in feel!)

 

 

After reading about mug rugs on the Internet, you head to the sewing studio...and pull out scraps f fabric and batting! When you cut and collage and quilt, time flies.....even if your back gets stiff.....

And finally, you have created 9 mug rugs...

 

Some have words, of encouragement, quotes, and many have hearts.....but not all...

 

 

Here is a favorite indigo mug on my (yes, I made one for me too!) Japanese inspired mug rug.....and yes, the dust has gotten ahead of me while I was off sewing...ah well!...

 

These little quilts make a great way to enjoy your beverage and snack!
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* While I was sewing these, I got a call from my 13 year old granddaughter as she was using the sewing machine I bought for her and trying to sew some curtains for her bedroom.  She had a struggle, but stuck with it and now they are hanging on her window seat! I am so proud of her!

Wanting an almond tea cake recipe, I read several online.....






which led to reading several posts about Dorie Greenspan's Swedish Visiting Cake recipe.
I modified her recipe because I like cherries and almond together!

Here is my recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt one stick unsalted butter. Cool slightly and add 1 scant c. sugar. Beat in 2 eggs.
Add 1 tsp. each vanilla extract and almond extract. Mix in 1 cup flour and a pinch of salt.
Spread in a greased 9 " spring form pan. Top with cherry preserves and sliced almonds.
Bake about 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done.
[There is no leavening agent other than the eggs in this, but it makes a nice tea cake!]

Today, on the church calendar, is the feast of Epiphany. Also called "little Christmas". It is the 12th day of Christmas! Tomorrow, I will pack away all the decorations. But today gives me one last chance to enjoy some favorites!

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This new year brings new journaling pages. I know of 2 free art journaling classes on line, both just starting!
Strathmore is offering a Visual Journaling workshop. Lesson one, we photocopy some of our own art work and use it for a journal page.....fun! Just getting warmed up here! [ I find I journal less now that I am blogging! LOL!]

The Sketchbook Challenge is sponsored by a number of mixed media artists. The first prompt for it is "Highly Prized". Here is my cut and paste page.....

Some of it is rather trite or tongue in cheek.....not necessarily the most prized things in one's life! However, the timing for this prompt was good! I have just learned that I AM A WINNER....I was chosen by the pink transfer ware giveaway (see a mid-December post with the link) to receive tea cup "C".
The teacups would have delighted Tasha Tudor, one of my all time favorite inspiring women!

I find that I love a cup of tea in the cold winter months.....here is Tasha having a tea party!

Here is the cup which will be arriving at my front door soon! I wish you could all come and have tea with me and Tasha!!!!

A good friend, of many years, had a birthday this week. I had made this little English cottage quilt block with her in mind several years ago. It has now become one side of a tea cozy for her.

The other side has a little Kate Greenaway girl embroidered on it. I think it came together very nicely. Now for that pot of tea!

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I am working on some watercolors of pears and peaches...they are so gorgeous I have to paint them before I can eat them! Also copying some Mary Oliver poetry in long hand to use as collage backgrounds.

Our garden has lots of green tomatoes. I harvested a cucumber and large beefsteak tomato this week. I have planted some beets...a few only came up...and some turnips...lots of those came up. We will see if they produce any wonderful beets and turnips for me to watercolor! [There is always the farmer's market here!]

This is my day off, I really feel like hibernating with this cool cloudy fall weather we are having.

Perhaps just read a book, or do a collage, or cook something to go with the tea!

A lovely afternoon for a tea.....(yesterday)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~The table is set with Laura Ashely's Hazelbury teaset...a gift from friends for one special birthday.

The flowers are a new (to me) variety of primrose. This one is a grandiflora!

We served Girl Scout "lemonade" cookies and the tea is Lady Grey!

Lady Grey is a loose aromatic tea which comes in a box. It has black tea, lemon peel,orange peel, and CORNFLOWER petals (the blue!) and bergamot flavoring.

One of our group was accompanied by her 4 year old granddaughter. It was such fun to see her stirring sugar into her tea cup (filled only half full!) ...and watching all of us. I'm sure she will have some memories of a real tea party with her grand mother!

Just so you know....I have changed the layout and tried to persuade "Blogger" to start the text under the photo instead of cryptically on the side, stringing out letters rather than words. No matter what I have tried, the problem remains....[It's a good thing I am used to collage and visual elements being a bit "off" and "creative" or I would get frustrated!!!!]

Irish Soda Bread....

I've been searching for recipes using oat flour and came across this one from Wales...I think it is too large and where are the eggs?..... the internet has so many to choose from.....

IRISH SODA BREAD

1 lb (450g) wholemeal flour

4oz (110g) plain flour

2oz (50g) rolled oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 quarters of a pint (450ml) buttermilk

Combine the flour, oats, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add enough buttermilk to form a soft dough and turn out onto a lightly floured board. Knead the dough very lightly and do not overwork or bread will develop gluten and become tough.
Shape into a large round and place on a greased baking tray. Cut a deep cross in the top of the round.
Bake at 450F/230C for 8-15 minutes. reduce temperature to 400F/200C for 20-25 minutes until load sounds hollow when tapped underneath.
Eat whilst still warm!

I continued my search and found a lovely post in a foodies blog....I will use her recipe from the old family cookbook treasured by her mother. I will simply substitute my Hodson's Mill oat blend flour for the ordinary flour....I'll make a mix of the dry ingredients , put them in a ziplock bag and I'll be ready to make this for the family in Atlanta...(May have to omit the caraway?...no they are sophisticated palates, not picky, even my granddaughter!)