Tension Tamer Tea at Midnight!

I thought it would be late afternoon when I got back today but not so. Had a very busy day that you can read about here. Right now I am finally relaxing with a cup of tea - Tension Tamer from Celestial Seasonings - which I enjoy. A friend introduced me to it a few years ago during a stressful time in my life and I think it helps reduce the stress. Now whether it's the tea or just the suggestion that it tames tension, it doesn't matter because I find it calming!!

Earlier I didn't quite have time to tell you about some of the items in the picture at the top of my blog and I wanted to do that to "set the stage" for this aspect of my blogging journey. All of the items in the picture are sitting on the table runner I made as a gift to myself last Mother's Day. Sometimes giving yourself a gift is really necessary. :-) I pieced it that weekend but it wasn't until the end of the summer that I did the hand quilting and then it took another two months before I added the tassels that finished it off. I like it a lot and all along knew just where I would put it - on top of the 1890's treadle sewing machine that belonged to my Aunt Bell. She made clothes for my mother on that machine and my mother made baby and toddler clothes for me on that machine. My husband wasn't crazy about having that old machine in our new family room. He sees an old worn sewing machine (and yet he replaced the belt so I could actually sew with it) and I said it had character and belonged there. Right around the corner from it is a rather worn old 1930's upright radio that belonged to his grandpa. Both pieces are old but their value lies in the memories they hold. I like to think think that my Aunt Bell might have enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee while she sewed and in the evenings, perhaps my husband's grandma and grandpa enjoyed the same while listening to radio programs in the 30's and 40's. Ah, the pace of life was just a wee bit slower and I think that was a good thing. So, right here on this little blog, I am going to slow the pace to that time. No talk of machine quilting or modern day politics here - just tea and stitches!

So what about the items on my table runner. Well, the little half-doll pincushion is one my mother had and gave to me over 30 some years ago. The tiny angel that is eyeing the chocolate candy and cookies is a little thrift shop find from a shopping trip just two weeks ago. The tea in my cup and pot is Earl Grey English Breakfast. My introduction to English tea came on a trip to Ottawa, Canada. I had never had tea with so much milk in it as I did then. And then we went to England and I discovered several really tasty teas. That's a box of tea we bought in Scotland several years ago. I used it once. Saving it, I am. Can anyone tell me how long tea lasts? The tea cup in the photo is one of several I purchased at my neighbor's garage several years ago. She had a few luncheon place settings that she was collecting to use with friends but I think she must have tired of the collection because she sold her pieces very cheaply. I can't remember what I paid but they had to be cheap or I wouldn't have been able to buy them!! The cup and saucer are "Eggshell - Georgian" by Homer Laughlin. I was only vaguely aware of the Homer Laughlin name then. Now I look for it all the time at thrift shops. The square plate that the teapot is sitting on is a near match for the cup and saucer but the plate has no markings on it. The teapot is only two years old but I loved it the minute I saw it. I bought it at a little shop called Home Accents (in Prior Lake, MN) just prior to our last Christmas there. It's by MWW Market that makes lots of holiday ceramics and such. It's a Christmas teapot and what you cannot see that makes the teapot so sweet is the lovely message near the spout - "May the Spirit of the Season Bloom in Your Heart". Lovely, isn't it. I hope the spirit of this season is blooming in all of you. All my friends and family make my spirit bloom. Sometimes we just need a reminder of that.

I so appreciate your comments - Christina, Gretchen, Valerie, Michelle and Mary Grace! I am thrilled that you are looking forward to stopping by for "Tea and Stitches" each month. And, yes, Valerie, since there is a Santa Claus then, yes, there will be a tutorial on embroidery stitches. :-)

And my last thought for this post is to suggest that you check out Michelle's blog at TheTeacupCottage. I found her blog just a few days after I decided to do my blog and enjoyed reading about her teacup collection. I left her a message then that I was planning a tea related blog that would debut in December. She has patiently waited for almost two months to find out what my plans were. And now you know, too. Mark your calendars and come back on the first Wednesday in January. I'll share a little recipe for tea and one for a good little cookie (biscuit for the English). And then, of course, there will be a free stitchery project. I know what it is and I hope you will like it. See you then!
Sandi

Welcome!

This is my first post on "Tea and Stitches". My first stitches were done in embroidery. I find it the most soothing of all the handwork that I do. Sometimes I can just get "lost" in time when I am doing embroidery. Seeing the design come to life is what it must be like to be able to paint a scene or a portrait. I have tried painting. I can see what I want in my mind but it doesn't come out quite the same on canvas. Working with fabric and threads are the canvas and paints that work best for me!
So what is "Tea and Stitches" going to be? Well, we will see. My plan is to post on the first Wednesday of each month. I'll share my thoughts on tea, stitches, little goodies that will go along with the tea and a little stitchery pattern (free) each month!!
I will add more later this afternoon when I have time for tea but right now I am off to do some volunteering. This is such a busy time of the year!!
Sandi