I'm Excited...........

.........I was in the local pet store yesterday, picking up some bird feed, and hugging the owner's 9 week old Yorkies!!! I happened to mention I was making up some dog beds and coats and accessories, and would she be interested in carrying some of them. She WOULD!!! Woohoo!!!

I was supposed to be at an outdoor Broadway craft show/autumn festival today, but I wimped out, due to the weather. Soooo, I am going to stay home and design and sew!!! I've already designed the patterns for the dog coats, and have to pick up the filler for the beds.

Now, I have to see if I can light the woodstove in the studio, without the fire department showing up!!! DH is not home to do it, and it is a tad bit chilly down there.

I've just put a new item in my eBay store ,and am getting ready to list a couple of Halloween themed items in Etsy.

So far, a productive Saturday, and it's only 6:30am!!!!

Tea on Tuesday...........

......even tho today feels like the PERFECT day for a pumpkin latte!!!!! More about those next week!!!!

Today I am just starting the day with a traditional Earl Grey English Breakfast, nothing new or exciting here on this dreary, foggy, chilly morn!!!

But, I did find some great tea related blogs for you to visit: Today's post in this first one has a picture of a "must have" a little teapot clock by Brighton - soooo cute!!!

The other blog is ALL about teapots- called (what else?) teapotsteapotsteapots

Waaaay down at the bottom, there was a post about "Living Life One Cup at a Time":

1-Have you had tea in an unusual place?
2-Have you had tea in unusual circumstances?
3-Was one of life's important decisions made over a cup of tea?
4-Do you have a memory of sharing a cup of tea with someone special?

Feel free to comment here and answer one of these questions!!!

I'll answer #4- my memories of tea w/someone(s) special are when my friends and I used to meet for tea, before I moved out here to the boonies. Montte, Evan and I, and for a while, Carol, til she moved to Pa, would meet on a weekday morning to have tea. Sometimes it was Starbucks, sometimes The Wired Monkey, for some really fancy loose leaf teas suspended over the cup by a bamboo skewer. There weren't alot of tea places where we lived, but Borders Books, Barnes and Noble, Panera's, and a place with "moose" in the name come to mind!!

It was always a nice relaxing time to catch up, commiserate, brag about our kids' latest accomplishment, or cry about their latest downfall. It was girls' time out, to discuss whatever was on our minds. Sometimes we'd bring a "guest", but it always boiled down to me, Montte, and Evan.
I miss those times. I know Montte and Evan still continue the tradition in the old neighborhood, and when they come down my way, we find a way to make tea part of the visit........................
Now, my tea "partner" is my daughter- usually plopped in front of the tv,commiserating, bragging, crying, sharing a hot cup of whatever is in the pantry!!!

Be sure to visit my previous post, to read about a wonderful upcoming show in Maryland- artisan teapots - UNbelievable!!!!!

Please join us, for Tea on Tuesdays - Kimmie, Patty, Judy, and more. Link up, and tell us what's in YOUR cup this morning!!!

Tea on Tuesday, Yup, I Know- It's Sunday.....!!!

One of my FB "friends" posted a pic of a gorgeous teapot she created for a show in Rockville, Md. Kathryn Jo Ottman has a beautiful teapot in shades of peach!!! Another fav is by artist Joan Rasmussen-but, really- I LOVE them all!!!
If you are in the area (Patty and Lennie!!), you need to go to see these teapots!!!

A High Tea Party and Sale of Artful Teapots will be on Sunday, October 25, from 1-4

Go to this blog to find out more about it and see some fabulous, fanciful teapots that would fit in perfectly at Alice's tea party with the Mad hatter!!!!

Tea on Tuesday

I thought I might stick with the iced tea theme of last week and show off part of my collection of vintage iced tea spoons. Most are silver or silverplate, with a couple of stainless steel thrown in. One of the stainless ones is the one my dad used to use to stir his Ovaltine. I don't drink Ovaltine too much (not such a big milk drinker any more) but I do toss some Ovaltine into my decaf coffee, and use Dad's spoon.
They are multipurpose - great to use in a really thick smoothie, or ice cream float, or even just eating ice cream out of the container!!!!

At last count, I had about 18 iced tea spoons, and am always on the lookout for more - one can NEVER have too many!! LOL As you can tell, some are missing from this photo - must check the daughter's room for some stray dirty glasses, hmmm............

I never put the silverplate in the dish washer, always wash them by hand. I can see those that don't get used too often are in need of some polishing!!!
I just love the different patterns on the handles - the more vintage, the better! If the spoons are too tarnished or worn for use - they are really nice repurposed as wind chimes or jewelry!!!

Today, a friend gave me some samples from her Celestial Seasonings stash, just in time for my Tea on Tuesday post! She had gone on a tour of the plant in Boulder, Colorado,(which just celebrated its 40th year in business in Sept) and had some teas that I have not seen in local stores. Altho right now I am sipping on a homegrown peppermint tea, over the next few days, I will be sampling these: English Toffee, Peach Apricot,Madagascar Vanilla Red, and Vanilla Hazelnut!!Thanks, Linda!!!

Linda also gave me the inside scoop - do you know why Celestial Seasonings are at eye level in most supermarkets? They pay for that privilege! Smart marketing!!

For more Tea on Tuesdays,also visit:
Patty
Christen
Kimmie
Jean
and Judy

A Great Workshop Coming Up

This sounds like a fantastic workshop- wish I could take it - but I can only spread the word:
"Please tell everyone about the workshop: Ragtags Studio Central: Artist Books and the Elements of Design. It will be held in KC'S studio December 5th and 6th, 2009. Tweet it, too. http://studioretreats.ning.com/page/visiting-artists-classes

Sarah Fishburn has worked on wonderful books ( I have one!!) with Angela Cartwright.
So, I can only imagine how great her workshop will be!!!
Check out her blog to find out all the details!!!

Another October Giveaway!!!

Go visit this wonderful photographer's blog -he's having another giveaway this month. I shouldn't tell you - because that will cut into my chance to win "my" horse photo - LOL But, part of the rules is to spread the word!!!

Here is his link


The blog post will show his art and his main website - it-'s worth a look!!!

Teacup Exchange!!

Doesn't that sound like fun???

When I read on Judy's blog about a teacup exchange she had participated in, I thought it might be fun to do online.

So, run on over to "see" Judy, read all about it and join in on the fun!!! The more, the merrier!!!!