Tea on Tuesday

It is still dark outside, with a scant amount of snow on the ground, and maybe some ice. There's enough on the ground to close the schools today. When the husband leaves for work(even DMV has a 2 hour delay today), he can let me know if I dare venture out to my Tuesday thrift store volunteer! The snow is nothing, but the ice is the problem.

Haven't put the kettle on to boil yet, but it will probably be a Lady Grey day today, or possibly matcha tea with cream and honey..........

I organized a teacup swap not too long ago, and here are some of the fabulous cups. If you participated and received your teacup, add a link in the comments, so we can visit and see what you got!!!!

I had two partners, one of whom is blogless, so I will show hers here - she already received it, so I won't be spoiling any surprise!!

 Lori wanted a more sturdy teacup (her words) , so I found her a cool diner ware cup and saucer. I actually went back later and bought the other one (there were 2 in the antique shop) for myself!! She researched it- Syracuse China - might possibly be "trainware", but was unable to find the exact pattern. I included this little box- it has teabags, a book on blending teas, and a tiny infuser.

Lori sent me a gorgeous Occupied Japan cup and saucer, with some Republic of Tea tea, and a sugar  stirrer. The teacup is in flawless condition for its age- I have already used it!!!!!Thanks, Lori, for being able to part with it!!!

Two blog-less friends of mine, Lennie and Teresa, ended up being swap partners. This is what Lennie sent to Teresa:

Don't know the make or model, but it is so dainty and  pretty!!!!
Here's what Teresa sent to Lennie-equally gorgeous!

It was a fun swap - I will probably organize another in the spring - one can never have enough teacups!!!!

 And, if you haven't already seen enough teacups.................


This is a English teacup( one of 2 different ones) I scored on eBay, with some drip catchers I bought from Donna of My Cup of Tea. Oh, and see the cute little card she made with a teabag in it!!! Donna has a blog- I'll look for the link and add it - if anyone is interested in those little cute little drip catchers!!!! They fit right on the teapot spout and are washable.

Last, I found the perfect little apron to serve tea to my guests in!! I collect (and wear) aprons - and this adorable 1930's one was in the antique shop, in the bottom of a basket, for $4 !!!!! I don't think the stitches, or fabric,  will hold up to machine washing, so this won't get worn too often, but I love it!!!!

                                        (All of the photos can be clicked on for a closer look.)

                            Thank you to all who "played" in the teacup swap!! It was fun!!!

To visit more Tea on Tuesday partiers, drop in on Patty and Kimmie for a list!

Feel free to join us every Tuesday- what is in YOUR teacup this morning?????

Tea on Tuesday

I was setting up my booth at the antiques mall yesterday. Had to go back twice, because the previous vendor had not yet vacated! Going twice meant twice as much shopping!!! I knew there was a reason I had stayed away when I closed my booth last year- unbelievably good prices, and no will power on my part when faced with goodies with unbelievably good prices!!
Here are some of the found treasures that are tea (and coffee) related:

Oops- these are not from the antique shop - pictured above are two gorgeous pottery Chinese tea sets that I found Saturday, at our huge annual Ruritan yard sale - for $1 each!! couldn't pass them up - one set might end up in my Etsy shop.

See the little yellow scalloped bowl above- I have several of these in different colors - this is the first one I have discovered with the plate! It looks like a flower - very cute. The teeny little juice glass has wildflowers including teasel all around- a great addition to my vintage juice glass collection. I use them all every day - no paper cups in this house!!! The scalloped milk glass plate will soon be a cake pedestal.

Above is a nice little set of iced coffee cups - they sit inside copper (?) handled inserts that say "cafe". The blue print to the right is a wonderful vintage bib apron with pockets and rickrack- wore it  last night while making dinner.
My favorites of the day - have to be this pair of limited edition 1996 Bailey's his and her cups!! Soooo cute!!!

Well, today promises to be an iced tea day!! As we get closer to drought status here in Va, the temps today are going to be 100 degrees- with the heat factor near 105!

Where ever you are, stay cool, and drop in to visit Kimmie and Patty for a list of all the other Tea on Tuesday participants!!

From Apples to Aprons!

Being of scattered mind, I tend to flit from one project to another! Anyone else have that problem????

I just finished making a bushel of apple pincushions for the farmers' market, when a pile of discarded vintage linen tablecloths caught my eye at the thrift store where I volunteer. They were deemed unfit for sale, because of a teeny stain here or there. Of course, I couldn't see them being tossed, so they came home with me!!

The first tablecloth was so pretty, I hated to cut it, but cut I did, and turned it into an apron. The leftover scraps will end up as sachets, pincushions, and pillowcases.

I have alot of half aprons in my store inventory that are not moving right now. I prefer full bib aprons myself, so I took a couple of the half aprons, and turned them into bib aprons. Those discarded tablecloths are going a long way!! I was really tempted to keep a couple of the "new" aprons for myself - but I have enough aprons in my pantry now, that I could wear a different one each day for a couple of weeks!!

I took one of the aprons to the shop, and used my dressmaker dummy for photos for them all. I was trying to find a place in the store with no backround distractions - but that was impossible!!! My area is small, so I couldn't get the whole apron in the shot without tripping over someone else's inventory!! So, I dragged Ms. Dummy into the aisle and started snapping away!!

I don't use a pattern, so I guess you could say these are OOAK aprons! I probably should make a paper pattern for the ones that turn out well, so I can replicate the design! But, I am not yet that organized!!

The blue flowered apron (my favorite!) started life as a rather unattractive smock apron, destined for the rag pile. I took it home, and thought about it for awhile, cut it into pieces,and gave it a whole new look. I had some bakelite buttons in my stash that went perfectly, I think.I kept the 3 or 4 pockets the smock style had. I really like this one - but it will be on etsy shortly. The white cutwork apron with blue ties is in my "land" shop.

The 3rd one started out as a handkerchief half apron from my shop inventory- I added the top from the cutwork linen tablecloth. This one will also be in the etsy shop.

Today is another day, I wonder where my mind will take me!!! :>)