Tea wares, light, and winter white

You know how some people choose a word of the year? I don’t guess I’ve ever done that before, but this year, it seems that a word has chosen me. Early in the new year, I started noticing "light" and the absence of light. Alex and I both greatly missed the bright white lights of our Christmas tree, so I purchased a floor lamp for the corner where the tree once stood, and that did the trick. Naturally, I had to add a teacup to the scene!

I use my cream-colored ceramic Christmas tree on into January by adding clear and frosty-blue vintage lights. The pretty new dough bowl candle was a Christmas gift from a friend.

Several times last week, I found myself noticing how pretty the sunlight was when shining on my tea wares, like this teapot and two teacup-shaped votive holders. 

Tea wares always end up in my decor simply because they’re so plentiful, like this winter white teapot on the mantel.

Near it is a porcelain votive cup that a dear friend gave me years ago. The candle glow really makes it come alive!

And yet another cozy candle, the Southern Sweet Tea one that was a gift from my friend Joy, is on my winter white tea trolley. I think I see a theme, and maybe it's that friends truly do help light up our lives!