scrapologie

Vintage Image - Kitten with Teacup

Here's my promised image for the week... the first one is the original "Bonne Fete" postcard. Click on each  image to save and print full size. I removed the text on the second one with the clone tool in PS. I added a Valentine message on the third one in case you want to use it as a Valentine card. Enjoy!

 

Postcards from Paris

 

Thanks so much for the kind get-well wishes, I am still sick, but atleast it's Friday (thank GOD) and I took a day off work - much needed.

On to more tea - before I die, I want to have tea in the tearoom at Laduree on the Champs Elysees. When I saw these postcards, they reminded me instantly of the Laduree palette, gorgeous pastels that bring spring weddings to mind. Take a look - first at the postcards, then at delicious inspiration from Laduree!

These would be gorgeous printed off, if you have some glass glitter and a fine tip glue pen, outline the sentiment in glue and sprinkle with glitter, affix to heavy cardstock, punch holes through the corners and tie with satiny ribbon for hanging. You could seriously do a bunch of these and sell them at a craft show!

 

   

 

 

 

And here is inspiration from la grandmere of all tearooms:

 

 

 

The Tea Party

There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head. "Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse," thought Alice; "only as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind".

The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it. "No room! No room!" they cried out when they saw Alice coming. "There's plenty of room!" said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table."  (Lewis Carroll)

 

I think my love affair with tea and tea parties started when as a young girl, I read Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, and when I got to the chapter about a tea party celebrating un-birthdays, I was absolutely delighted. Poor Alice, she never did get that cup of tea but I grew to love tea, tea parties and any celebrations associated with tea. I collected teapots, teacups, tea linens. I felt as though I'd won the lottery when I stumbled upon a set of four enamelled silver tea spoons at a flea market, with fruit and flowers delicately handpainted on them. From strainers to tea cozies, silver toast caddies to cakes of sugar decorated with pink frosted roses, I love it all.

Later this week, I'll tell you about some of my favorite books about tea, I have a plethora of them, from books that talk about the history of tea, to ones that detail how to give tea celebrations and parties, to recipe books and poetry books - all celebrating tea. I really think I need to start a separate blog just about my tea obsession!

In the meantime, enjoy these lovely images:

In the pleasant green garden, we sat down to tea;"

"Do you take sugar?" and "Do you take milk?"

She'd got a new gown on, a smart one of silk.

We were all so happy as happy could be,

On that bright summer's day

when she asked us to tea. (Kate Greenaway)

                   

Who wouldn't like to drink afternoon tea out in the garden just like me?

With the song of a bird, and the hum of a bee,

And the sunflowers looking all eyes to see. (Traditional)

    

A cup of tea between friends...

I've come upon a little collection of teatime images which I am happy to share with you! There is nothing I love better than a hot, bracing cup of tea. I take mine with milk and sugar, and I brew it with a clove of cardamom. I always use fresh water for boiling (never reboiling the water) and I let it steep for a good 3-4 minutes before adding milk and sugar. Nothing makes me feel better after a stressful day and it is a must to start my mornings. I drink a few different brands I get at the Indian grocer, Wagh Bakri, Red Label and Taj Mahal, but I love all teas, herbal ones too. I usually also take a break every day around  two o'clock to brew a cup to get me through the afternoon. I am fascinated with tea and all its accoutrements. I'll share more in the next few posts, for now let's start off with a few dear images. Perhaps you'd like to take tea in the salon, with plenty of lovely china teacups and gussied up in finery?

 

Or maybe you're the sort that loves a teddy bear tea, especially a cup of blackberry tea brewed with fresh blackberries gathered by sweet little bears?

 

Perhaps you're the sort that prefers tea boiled in a strong kettle over a campfire and enjoyed with a bevy of bunnies?

  

Whatever your preference, I hope you'll join me over the next few days for more tea talk and lovely images. I'll share my very favorite recipe for a teatime treat and some really sweet images!