Tea, Trash to Treasure & A Giveaway...

Pastries from Laduree in Paris; Photo courtesy Photobucket. Just posting some gorgeous eye candy for you - doesn't it look marvelous? The presentation is outstanding.

Rats. The sun we had a glimpse of yesterday has disappeared. With another grey day on the horizon, I am immersing myself in thoughts of things that make me happy - one of which, is tea. I love tea -- I must have a hot cup first thing in the morning. I drink an Indian brand called Taj Mahal and also another Indian brand called Red Label. I steep it with ground ginger and cardamom, and add milk and sugar. And it's soothing for my soul - especially on dark wintry days. But what I would really LOVE to do is to visit Laduree in Paris and sample their gorgeous pastries and cakes. The pastries look too good to eat, don't they?

I recently received an email newsletter from Victoria Magazine inviting me to experience the "tea of your dreams" at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia. The registration price for the event is $499 for a stay from August 8-10 which includes events that will help you shore up your knowledge of tea and includes a tea experience in "the grandest of tearooms". It certainly sounds heavenly. April Cornell will attend, as will several other notable guests, including Paul Burrell, the private footman of Queen Elizabeth and butler to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. If it's something that interests you - the registration site is here: An Occasion For Tea and let me know if you attend -- I'll be envious!

On the creating front, another quick T2T project - I made this from an extra large cardboard ribbon spool I had --- the spool was so attractive as packaging I couldn't bear to throw it away. You can see I am longing for spring here!!

I also wanted to share a few goodies, (I''ll be giving away some of this!) The books were a prize from a CHA drawing from Tweety Jill Publications -- I'd like to give away three of the books, along with a Cricut Daisy Chain Cartridge. The Cricut cartridge was a limited CHA only release and was being given away there by the company that makes Cricuts. I have seen people selling them on ebay at $50 or so but I don't want to do that -- it was given to me for free and I don't want to profit from that. I can't use it myself since I don't have a cricut -- so if you can use it or know someone who can -- then please enter the drawing. All you need to do is post to this blog entry - tell me where you are from, and just for fun, tell me a wish -- and by wishing it out loud -- may it fly off into the universe with wings that will return to you with your heart's desire! I'll select the winners randomly NEXT Friday. ETA: Just to clarify - there will be four winners, three winners for the three books being given away (each winner will receive one book), and one for the cricut cartridge.

Here are the photos of the Tweety Jill books (I'll be selecting three of these at random for the prize, along with the cricut cartridge):

Comments

[Jan]

Ranjini,
I LOVE what you created with that ribbon spool! So cute. Spring has not sprung in Wisconsin :( We are having another snow storm here. Just as we were starting to see grass and melting snow. Your blog always cheers me up though :) Oh, my wish ~ health and happiness for my family.
Jan O

[Helen]

I am loving those adorable cupcakes! Your creativity is so inspiring and we are grateful that you are able to share it with us more. Hmm...I am wishing for a peek of sunshine and a day of peace with my three girls this weekend as we celebrate Easter. Here's to yours as well...

[Dianne in DC]

Hello Ranjini! I am longing for warmer Spring days myself, and love your sweet spool hanging *scroll*--lovely! My very selfish Scrapologie wish is for a vintage fairy kit from you....My more serious wish is for good health and vitality for family and friends...Happy Spring!

[Susan M]

I love the ribbon spool! Please enter me in the drawing for one of the books.

[Celeste B.]

Hi Ranjini - Nice to see some of your creations. I miss my monthly S'ologie kit. I need to go see if you have any of the fleur di lei ribbon in the store.

I am wishing for spring to come soon. I'm so tired of cold and dreary skies.

[Augusti_73/Anna]

I'm wishing SO HARD for my friend to get into the program he's applying for. And I'm wishing for that job I really want.
Happy Easter!
/Anna

[Cynthia]

Oh this is soo sweet and creative! I just love it. I did get a chance to make the rhinestone picture frames!! thanks for the inspiration.

[Melinda Brein]

Hello! I have just discovered your blog today! Love it! So in answer to your question - I am from the Pacific Northwest - Chehalis, WA, USA - to be exact! I am wishing for my sister to find true joy in her life right now!!!!! -Melinda

[Kelley]

Hi! I'm from Xenia, Ohio and I love getting my daily dose of creative goodness from your blog!My wish is for peace in my home...it's been a crazy, stressful year...

[Carrie]

Hi -

I am Carrie from Seattle, Wa and am really missing your monthly kits. They were the BEST!

Anyhow, I am wishing for both my children to be fruitful helpers on their mission trip to Missisippi in 2 weeks. Those they are going to help are in unfortunate circumstances and hopefully this group of students will be able to help accomplish the many tasks as well as bring joy to the residents.

[Jen D]

Hi, this is my first offical blog comment on anyone's blog!! I have to tell you that I love your work and come here for an escape quite often. My wish is that my little girl will be born healthy and strong any day now - 38 weeks and counting down the days!!

[Jen D]

Hi, this is my first offical blog comment on anyone's blog!! I have to tell you that I love your work and come here for an escape quite often. My wish is that my little girl will be born healthy and strong any day now - 38 weeks and counting down the days!! Oops, forgot to add where I am from - Hagerstown, MD!!

[Danielle Barton]

I LOVE that ribbon spool! I too like to keep a lot of things because I see their useful value. You have inspired me to actually make something out of all the stuff! :-)

As for my wish? I wish for good health. I haven't been feeling well for the past 2 years, and I just want to feel better! One day at a time right?

[Danielle Barton]

Oops! And I'm from Pacific Grove, California!

[Lorna Wright]

Hello, I'm Lorna from Kettering in the UK.
My wish is to eat lots of easter choc and not put on weight (LOL).
My wish is always for my family to be happy and healthy.

Love your work it is always inspiring.

[Geralyn Gray]

I am a Jersey Girl. I love your mix of the newest and the vintage style of your kits. I wish you would not be sold out and I have the money for a kit at the same time. I gave up a while ago, but I should get back in the habit of checking out your kits on the first of the month.

[Geralyn Gray]

I am a Jersey Girl. I love your mix of the newest and the vintage style of your kits. I wish you would not be sold out and I have the money for a kit at the same time. I gave up a while ago, but I should get back in the habit of checking out your kits on the first of the month.

[Alisa N.]

We should have a virtual tea party and pretend to be at Laduree or the Fairmont Empress! I've been hinting to my DH that I want to go to the Empress for the event, but I'm pretty sure it's not happening. Ranjini, your spool project is absolutely darling! And no need to enter me into the drawing, I don't use a cricut. Hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday weekend!

[Jen1230]

I am Jen from PA and a long time Scrapologie fan. Ranjini, I have been enjoying your blog so much. I am so happy your homemade vintage easter baskets are getting published. I am happy I got to see them before they were removed...so pretty. I love your other projects as well. I have a Cricut and would love to be in the drawing for that cartridge please. I don't really read idea books so I dont know if you are doing seperate drawings but definitely put me in the cricut one pretty please. Happy Easter. Oh, and I wish for good health for myself and my family.

[Lisa M]

Ranjini,

You are so talented! I aspire to be as creative as you!!

As for my wish, I hope that my children will always be healthy and happy, loving and generous...

[Sudha]

Pls do leave me out of the drawing since I don't have a cricut. But I love the spool, and had to make a wish too! I wish you had an automatic subscription for your beautiful kits even if they are occasional:-) I was so sad to miss out on both of your past two kits!

[Sudha]

P.S. I'm from Northern CA, and tea at the Empress is really fun to do at least once -- Victoria is a beautiful city that we used to visit often when we lived in Seattle -- LOL about DH -- I could only persuade my mom to come to their high tea with me. Definitely a girl thing tho DH didn't mind romantic strolls at the Butchart gardens there.

[Martha]

Martha from NC {near the Outer Banks}. Wishing my DD & new SIL a wonderful, happy life {married on 3/17}.

Love the spool, love the pastries...yum-yum-yum!!!!

[Melinda]

I'm Melinda from Illinois, and love reading your blog and seeing your creations. My wish? I wish for peace, calm, soothing peace.

[Marta]

Thanks for all of the inspiration that you give us, everyday I look forward to checking your blog to see if there's something new. My wish is that I get the permanant job that I applied for at work(I am a substitute there now).