Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Some Georgia-themed stamps from Studio Calico!
Advertising—there's no escaping it. I like it when *I'm* doing the advertising (like running Facebook ads for my books), but sometimes, I get wildly wrong guesses about the sort of advertisement that will lead me to actually purchase an item. The other day, I was shown an ad for a $58,000 Tiffany bracelet. Lovely as it was, what on earth made Facebook (or maybe it was Instagram) think I was their target customer? Alas, no. But the day I was scrolling on Instagram and saw an ad for these state-themed stamps for crafting, somebody hit the bull's-eye with me, and I clicked "Buy" before too many seconds passed! Aside from a stamp of the state of Georgia, which will come in handy when corresponding with friends and family out of state, can you guess which particular stamp made me purchase this set?
If you guessed this one, you're right!
The stamps arrived in just days, much faster than expected, and I was delighted to discover they were packaged in a nice, thick, reusable plastic pocket, not the throwaway cellophane that such sets usually arrive in. I also got 10 percent off my first order, which was nice. If you're a Georgia stamper/tea lover, too, you may like this same set, and if you're a non-Georgia stamper, it might be fun to see what stamps are included in the set for your state! You can find them here. (No affiliation, just a happy customer.)
Monday, June 5, 2023
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 large ripe banana, mashed
4 tablespoons Greek yogurt
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients in order listed and mix well after each addition. Pour batter into a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan prepared with cooking spray and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Friday, June 2, 2023
Inspiration in the new Tea Time magazine
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
A trip to Paradise Garden in Summerville, Ga.
It would seem the reverend didn't view anything as trash. In one of the buildings, I spotted some pieces that I would have liked if they hadn't been damaged.
I recognized this piece (a teacup, perhaps) as Royal Winton's Old Cottage Chintz pattern. I certainly didn't expect to see that there!
Or Santa!
Monday, May 29, 2023
Friday, May 26, 2023
The winner of the ebook of "The Roots of All Evil" is …
Mel! So if you'll check your email for details, I'll get this headed your way. Congrats!
A new treat from Twinings
I realize it's just now feeling like spring in some parts of the country, but here in Georgia, we've already had a few overly warm days that had me reaching for some iced tea. And now that I've learned to cold-brew tea in the fridge, I'm willing to slap any ol' tea bag that strikes my fancy into a glass of water, and I'll sip on it all day. So when I saw this jar of Pineapple & Coconut Cold Water Infusions from Twinings on sale at Kroger this week, I decided to give it a try.
Frankly, the flavor is what appealed to me most. I know probiotics are good for you, though, and if I can get them in my tea (or tisane, in this case), so much the better. This blend contains white hibiscus, lemon balm, apple pieces, and natural coconut and pineapple flavor.
You're supposed to steep this infusion in a water bottle, but I like to steep mine in a glass of ice water, and I imagine the result is much the same. The pineapple-coconut flavor of this one was delicious and refreshing, and I hope to grab another jar of these while they're still on sale this week!
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Ebook giveaway for "The Roots of All Evil"
Monday, May 22, 2023
'Tis the season … no, really!
On Saturday, I ran in Hobby Lobby to get an ink pad, and as always, my eye gets drawn to those bright-orange clearance stickers scattered on items throughout the store. This time, I saw one on a package containing a cute Christmas mug die set and thought, "Wait a minute… I always say I'm going to get started on Christmas cards early. This is a sign!" And of course the good discount was another sign, so yesterday, I made my first Christmas card of 2023!
I collect every Christmas cup/mug die set I can find, so I was happy to discover a new one. These Momenta dies were super easy to use, and I really like the way this card turned out. I didn't have any brown card stock to make the cookies in the package photo, but I think I like the card better without them because it focuses on the tea mug. The green background was made with one of Stampin' Up's Scalloped Contours dies, which are absolutely the best all-purpose background dies I've ever owned. (Got mine from my friend Kathy here, if you're interested in these.)
I'll wait and add a sentiment at Christmastime, whether that's a "Thank you" or a "You're invited" or simply "Merry Christmas." Or maybe I'll make a few cards that say nothing and just use them as notecards during December. If you're a card crafter, too, you may want to check out your local Hobby Lobby before these sale dies get scooped up!
Friday, May 19, 2023
The winner of the signed copy of "The Roots of All Evil" is …
... Ginger in North Carolina, and I have her address, so I'll get this headed her way ASAP. Congrats! Here's a photo from my book launch last night at the Newnan Carnegie Library, and I assumed Russ Moore was buying this for his wife, my friend Mary Caroline, but no, it was for him. A fun time!
The ebook should be available next week (I'll announce it here), and if you want a print copy from Amazon, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Roots-All-Evil-Angela-McRae/dp/B0C2SQ8RWX/
Also, I do have a handful of extra copies on hand from last night, so if you want a signed copy shipped to you and you have PayPal or Venmo, just email me (angelamcrae at charter dot net) and I'll be glad to invoice you ($19.95, same as Amazon, and free shipping). Thanks for all the kind comments about my book launch week, friends!
Some in-and-out thrifting
And when I saw this wooden teacup container/basket/bin, I immediately thought of the upcycling possibilities for its use in my craft room. Now that I've launched a new book and finished the first draft of the second book in the series, I plan to take some time to chill and play in my craft room. One thing that's been on my wish list for a while is a new organizing system for craft supplies, and if I paint this pink or turquoise, I suspect it will be just the thing I need! (Would you decoupage a design on it or leave it plain? I'm torn!)
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
A very different chamomile tea!
Butterfly pea flower! Yes, that was it! The butterfly pea flower made the tea blue, but the licorice root made it delightfully sweet, so this tea from Hyamoon was a delicious surprise in more ways than one!
Monday, May 15, 2023
Giveaway for a signed copy of "The Roots of All Evil," my new book!
At the campsite, they quickly find a new friend in Kitty Monroe, part owner of the Monroe Construction empire. The sisters hit it off with Kitty, and the three of them can’t wait to show off their vintage campers at a charity fundraiser the next day.
But before the Tour of Campers can get underway, there’s a shocking discovery of the body of a deceased glamper—the floozy whose affair with Kitty’s ex-husband led to the end of the Monroes’ marriage. When Carolyn and Nan's new friend Kitty is hauled off to jail, they must rescue more than just roadside treasures. This time, a woman’s life may end up in the trash bin if her new friends can’t salvage her reputation …
***
Friday, May 12, 2023
"Floral Tea Kit Vintage Junk Journal" images by Sam Poole Designs
I go through different phases with my paper crafting, and I’m currently in the “collect and collage” phase. Inspired by some videos on Instagram, I’ve started making tiny little cards that I will compile into some sort of project—hopefully soon. So when I came across some gorgeous vintage images with teacups and roses on them on Etsy recently, I thought it was well worth the $4.48 to download them.
And I was so impressed with my download from Sam Poole Designs that I wanted to let you know about it. It was quite easy to download the file and print the images. I used cheap copy paper for the current project because I don't need anything too thick, but I’m glad I still have access to the images and can print them on thicker card stock when I need a nicer paper quality. If you’re a paper crafter who might be interested in these images—for crafting or for tea party signage and invites—go here to check them out!
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Some fun new teatime socks!
I wish I were going somewhere soon where I would have to take off my shoes, because I received the cutest new socks from my friend Joy for my birthday last week!
Aren't these great? And Romans 15:13 is one of my favorite Bible verses, which makes me love these socks even more.
I sometimes think I've seen all the tea-themed goodies around, but then something like this comes along and proves that I've seen perhaps a thimbleful of what's out there. I'm so enjoying my cute new "Standing on the Word" socks, thanks to Joy, and they're as soft and comfy as they look!
Monday, May 8, 2023
Let's talk Coronation Day!
It's always fun to see what the women in particular wear at these Royal events, and this time, I was absolutely smitten with that gorgeous teal outfit worn by Member of Parliament Penny Mordaunt. (I originally typed "tea outfit." Freudian slip?) And did you catch the info from the Twitter post above? "She's Lord President of the Privy Council and one of the two politicians King Charles sees most regularly."
I was so happy to find lots of info on places like the BBC website that explained what she was doing with those ceremonial swords. I also thought there would have to be a real craft to maintaining such a neutral expression on your face for hours on end, and she certainly nailed it.
I didn't do screen grabs of all the other things I noticed, but as I continue to sip my Harney & Sons Coronation Tea, here are my thoughts:
• King Charles looked quite humble, like he couldn't believe all this was for him. Found that touching.
• Queen Camilla's gown sure had some beautiful and meaningful embroidery on it.
• Was happy to see Harry show up and be smiling and looking fairly comfortable.
• Princess Anne became one of my new favorite Royals when her mother died. I didn't realize what a worker bee she is, and she never seems to want to claim the spotlight for herself. Love her.
• The Prince and Princess of Wales (and all of their children) carried out their duties beautifully. I personally would have liked to see a few more shots of Kate, but then it wasn't her day, was it?
• Am also a fan of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and they, too, looked and acted brilliant.
If you watched the Coronation, what were your thoughts? Were you pleased too?