E & J Bass silverplate sugar tongs

Several years ago a friend needed sugar tongs so I gave her a vintage silverplate set I'd gotten at a tearoom (now closed) which had stocked lots of old ones. I still had a couple of new pair, and an old sterling silver pair, but I always knew I'd like to find some old silverplate ones again one day. I wasn't in any hurry, though, so I was quite pleased when I happened upon this pair for $6.95 at an antique mall the other day. Ladies at my tea parties always seem to enjoy using the sugar tongs, perhaps because this is an accoutrement we don't tend to use in everyday life.

Now first of all, I must say right up front I am *horrible* at photographing silver items, so bear with me today! But I wanted to show what I originally believed to be an antique finish on this design. I polished and polished—and I happen to love polishing silver—but still had blackness around the design. I thought perhaps it's supposed to be this way, but then I saw this same pair online (for $48), all nice and sparkly with no black. Back to the drawing board! (Or the polishing board, as it were.)

The other fun thing about finding old silver is that it sets me on a mystery hunt to find out about the maker. I'm always pleased to be able to see the hallmarks on silver, and this time I was searching for E & I B until I cleaned the tongs and found the letters are actually E & J B. My hopefully helpful hint: Sometimes I have trouble seeing the hallmarks even with my reading glasses and a magnifying glass, but if I take a photo and enlarge it on my computer, that always works! (And the spoon part isn't mildewed, by the way. That green color is a reflection of trees or grass since I was outdoors!) A little online surfing revealed the letters stand for the E & J Bass company in New York, which made sterling and silverplate pieces from 1890-1930. There are so many websites devoted to silver hallmarks these days that if you don't know whether something is American or British, or whether it's silverplate or sterling, by all means start typing what you *do* know about the piece into a search engine and you'll soon have plenty of helpful information!

"Vintage Tea Party" by Carolyn Caldicott

Last week I received a review copy of a soon-to-be-released book I'd been itching to get my hands on, "Vintage Tea Party" by Carolyn Caldicott, who with Chris Caldicott once ran a café in London's Covent Garden. This book is even more lovely than I'd hoped it would be, picturing flea market stalls of chintz teawares, close-ups of freshly-made tea sandwiches and sweets, and thatched-roof cottages in the English countryside. And while the book is full of terrific eye candy for tea lovers, it's also quite an inspiring read. Giving advice on "Where To Find the Vintage Look," Caldicott says a collector of vintage teawares first should always check with family, who may have unused pieces they're willing to share. "Once you have exhausted the possibilities at home," she says, "it is time to hit the local charity shops, the final destination of many a spring clean, offering an endlessly changing supply of bric-a-brac, linen and cutlery."

A brief history of tea is a nice addition (and would make this book a great gift for those new to tea), but as always I learned something new myself. While I'd read about Anna, Duchess of Bedford and her legendary "sinking feeling" which led to the beginning of afternoon tea, Caldicott surprised me by tossing in a tidbit I've never read before. "Fortified by her tasty repast she soon decided to share the experience with her lady friends by sending out invitations for 'Tea and a walk in the fields.'" So the Duchess and friends were walkers! Nice to know!

Following a few pages on the basics of selecting and preparing a good cup of tea, the book offers recipes for jam, finger sandwiches, cakes, cookies, bite-sized sweets, and all manner of treats you'd love to make or eat. I especially like the recipes for High Tea, which the author notes is "a much more generous meal" and "traditionally served at the end of the working day." Welsh Rarebit and Crumpets are two of the recipes featured here, with other chapters spotlighting Tea in the Drawing Room, Tea in the Garden, Fireside Tea and Nursery Tea. With terrific photography by Chris Caldicott, this book is a must for those of us who favor all things vintage—and all things tea!

Herbal Essences with Citrus Blossom & Green Tea

Last week's list of must-have grocery items included new shampoo and conditioner, and since the Herbal Essences brand was on sale I looked through the different choices to see if anything struck my fancy.

Naturally, I had to try the ones with Citrus Blossom & Green Tea!

Both products do indeed contain camellia sinensis leaf extract, so that was a plus. And the scent is just incredible, a strong (but pleasing) floral. While the shampoo and conditioner were not quite as thick as I like, for aromatherapy reasons alone I'm happy I gave these products a try. If you've tried them, I'd like to hear your review!

Some weekend scone-baking

Over the weekend I spent a lot of time de-cluttering and organizing, from the pantry to the craft room. But before I began, I'd had a hankering to try a new scone recipe I saw in the February issue of Martha Stewart Living, so Saturday morning I baked up a batch!

Martha devotes her column this time to scones, which she says are one of America's three favorite breakfast breads, the other two being muffins and biscuits. She includes recipes for four varieties of scone, including Candied Orange and Golden Raisin Scones, Potato Scones, Rich Cream Scones and ...

... the ones I made, Apple and Oat Scones with Cinnamon and Nutmeg. (I don't have permission to share the recipe, but I've noticed Martha usually ends up putting many of hers online eventually.) She shares a technique for easily baking them in square shapes, but I have a square brownie pan which did the same thing fuss-free.

And now may I share a word about the pretty glass plate my scones are on? It was a gift! A few weeks back, I mentioned finding some square plates I'd been seeking. A few weeks later, I arrived home one evening and a surprise package was on my doorstop from reader Margie in California.

She had remembered how happy I was to finally locate some affordable square glass plates, and she thought this lovely handled plate she had would be a good blend. Indeed it is! I love the pretty etched design—and I especially love the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

Even the handle is elegant, and this was just the thing for turning some "Saturday scones" into something special!

Teatime Giveaway #2 - English Tea Shop Gourmet Tea Collection

The winner of the week #1 giveaway is ... Kiffer! Congratulations! And for the Week #2 giveaway, we have a great gift set of teas from the English Tea Shop! Since it's still wrapped in plastic I can't show you the 96 teabags inside, but I have already devoured a similar set (of the Christmas teas) myself and very much enjoyed them.

The back of the box lists some of the goodies inside: White Tea, Earl Grey, Green Tea, Ginger Honey, Green Tea Pomegranate Cranberry (I'd like to know what the winner thinks of this last one in particular--sounds yum to me!).

So for a chance to win this gift set, just leave an "Enter me" to this post anytime between now and Friday, Jan. 20 at noon. Good luck!

Strawbridge & Clothier teacup

Naturally, after I finished writing "Dainty Dining" last year I came across even more memorabilia pertaining to America's old department store tea rooms. I recently located a dessert cookbook from Strawbridge & Clothier in Philadelphia, so expect to see a recipe or two out of that in the near future! Meanwhile, I've added to my department store teacup collection with this cup and saucer from the store.

I really liked the pretty handle on this teacup. It sort of reminds me of the bow-shaped handle on this department store's teacup.

Why were things so much prettier back then? Tiny roses, scallops, gilded edges. It's impossible to find new things with this much detail.

This set is marked Limoges, France, and I recently got a book on Limoges china so I can bone up on it. Meanwhile I'll enjoy sipping out of a teacup that recalls a bit of America's delightful retail history.

Thymes Green Tea Body Lotion

Last week I mentioned finding some tea-scented hand cream. This week, I am happy to report I've added to my winter cream and lotion stash a product that does indeed contain green tea, this Thymes Green Tea Body Lotion. I've seen it in at least two T.J. Maxx stores in the past week, sometimes with the matching body scrub and hand soap as well.

I liked this labeling ("Steeped in a Healthy Tradition"), because it made it pretty clear the manufacturer does indeed understand that tea is a useful ingredient in products.

And there's our magic ingredient, right above the price tag, "Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract." This lotion has a terrific light floral scent as well. I don't believe the Thymes company actually makes this product any more (it's not on their website), so the discount stores may be your best bet if you're looking for some. And the prices are much better there anyway!

January/February 2012 Machine Quilting magazine

Sometimes, I go in search of a little inspiration. The other day I visited a local newsstand and decided to browse the needlework and craft magazines. On the back row of the bottom shelf, three letters peered out from behind an overlapping magazine, and the three laters said "Mac." As a devotee of Mac/Apple computer products, I wondered what Macs had to do with crafting magazines. I pulled out the magazine and saw it was not "Mac" anything but rather "Machine Quilting." But then I noticed the closeup from this fabulous tea-themed quilted wall hanging on the cover, and so the magazine went home with me. I don't even own an embroidery sewing machine, yet I got so much inspiration from this magazine! Go here to see the entire piece by artist Kate Themel. I think you'll find her work quite breathtaking!

Artistic works related to tea often inspire me, so I wanted to mention two more I found on friends' tea blogs in recent months, just in case you might have missed them. Over at Frivolitea's blog, check out her link to these papier maché teacups. Brilliant!

And since I recently visited in the area of Black Mountain, N.C., I was quite intrigued when Rosemary's Sampler showed a recent gift of this hand thrown, altered, barkware pottery teapot made there. Amazing! Have you found some tea-themed inspiration lately? If so, please share!

Flowers in winter

A few weeks before Christmas, I was at an antique mall supposedly shopping for others when I spotted this lovely old pink teacup that was calling my name. It was just $10, but I was supposed to be shopping for others. So I made a deal with myself: This teacup was at one corner of the antique mall, and if I still wanted it when I got wayyyy over to the other corner of the antique mall, at the end of my journey, I could go back and get it. I did, and so I did.

When it's all gray and rainy outside in the wintertime, what could be nicer than enjoying flowers on a teacup?

It was in perfect shape, too, which was surprising for such an old (perhaps German) piece. I especially loved the detail on the saucer's border—and I must say I don't regret acquiring this one bit!

My Tea Room addition

When my husband gives me eBay gift cards as presents, you can bet it doesn't take me long to decide what I want to buy, as for the past two years it's been pretty much the same thing: pink Tea Room pattern Depression glass. I'm usually too thrifty to buy very much of it myself, but when it's his money I'm spending, well that's another matter!

And so it is that I have added to my small collection these two Tea Room sherbet glasses. I'm so happy to kick off the year with a Tea Room addition, so to speak!

The other thing that surprised me about these pieces is what good condition they are in, with no nicks or chips at all. I've written before about how the feature that makes this Art Deco design so appealing—all those little angular stair-step ridges—is the same feature that makes this pattern hard to find in good condition. Unlike more rounded patterns, this one had a lot of sharp edges to get banged around through the years! One Depression glass expert has reported finding this pattern in factory boxes, unopened, and 25 percent of those pieces had flaws and weren't "mint." So finding two lovely pieces like these makes my New Year's Resolution about eating more fruit a lot more fun to keep!

Teatime Giveaway #1 - Royal Albert Cup & Saucer

Here's the thing: I absolutely love having giveaways. I've even made it a goal in life to be a more giving person, and I can't think of a better way to practice that than by having giveaways every Saturday for a whole year! I've been thinking about this for quite a while, so I've already started stocking up on things to give away: teas, tea-themed stationery, tea towels, cosmetics with tea, some teawares, some old things, some new things ... you just never know what you might find being given away here each week, so I hope you'll visit each Saturday!

To kick things off, I'm giving away this vintage Royal Albert teacup and saucer in the Needle Point pattern. Perhaps some stitching tea drinker needs this teacup? Or perhaps you need a black teacup? Or one with roses? (And hey, if it's not your cup of you-know-what, you'll be one re-gift ahead for next Christmas!)

To enter, just leave an "Enter me" to this post anytime between now and Friday, Jan. 13, at noon EST. That's how we'll play each week, running the giveaway from Saturday to Friday each week. I'll post the name of each week's winner the following Saturday when the new giveaway is announced. Good luck, and I hope this year's Saturday series will *give* you as much pleasure as it does me!

Berkeley Square White Tea Hand Cream

It was nearly five years ago I first became aware of the Berkeley Square line of tea-scented products. I saw them at a World Tea Expo, but alas, I couldn't find a U.S. source for the yummy scented cosmetics. I remembered the name and the graphics, though, just in case I ever ran across them again.

Then a few weeks ago, I was browsing the toiletries at a T.J. Maxx store when I came across what I believed was a familiar design and yes, it was Berkeley Square's hand cream! Hallelujah!

Reading the ingredients, I have to conclude the only tea in this hand cream is in the fragrance, but the fragrance is soooo good, that's just fine by me. I keep this hand cream at my bedside to help alleviate the dry skin I get only in the winter. It's such a delightful fragranc (a very light floral), so if you're in the market for new hand cream, you might want to seek out this one at your nearest T.J. Maxx!

Bond Street English Afternoon Tea

Do you ever get in a tea-drinking rut? I do. Over Christmas, for instance, I drank lots of spiced-up, flavored teas, and while I thoroughly enjoyed them, the minute Christmas was over it seemed my palate wanted something simple, something different. I had saved this pretty new tin of tea, a Christmas gift from my friend Maureen, and then I remembered no, I am drinking the good stuff *first* this year!

This Bond Street English Afternoon Tea sounded like just the thing, and indeed its brisk, black taste was just what I was craving! No flavorings, no cinnamon or almond or orange—just good, black tea. I opened the tin and was greeted with a familiar woodsy scent that I knew meant this tea was fresh and would be tasty as well, and it was. And isn't the tin pretty? This side shows a vintage image of Fleet Street in London.

And this side shows the Bank of England and Royal Exchange circa 1900. It's a lovely tin, but best of all is that this English Tea Company tea is a delicious brew, and just what I needed as I step into this new year!

A new school fundraiser: Chai mix

If you're like me, each fall you get hit up by a few of your friends' or neighbors' children selling everything from wrapping paper and cookie dough to candles, magazine subscriptions and more, all to raise funds for the local school. The little neighbor girls have sold my husband various cheesecakes and cookie doughs through the years, and he generally takes the hits here at home. At the office, our co-workers are always very low-key about the things their kids are selling, so I was actually quite *eager* to buy one of the items I saw in a catalog a few months ago, this Very Heavenly Vanilla Chai mix.

"Fireside Favorites" is a new name in tea to me, and I was curious to try this chai mix. If schools would sell more teas, I for one would be much more likely to be a returning customer! So how was the chai?

I am very happy to report it had a great chai flavor, much more rich and thick than I would have hoped for since you make it with water and not milk. This large (20-ounce) bag was $14 and makes 20 servings. That's significantly cheaper than buying 20 cups of chai at Starbucks—and hopefully it results in something nice for my young friend Grace's school as well!

Sending Santa packing

The morning of New Year's Eve I finally starting taking down my Christmas tree, a task I'd been postponing simply because I so enjoyed my Santa mug tree this year! Several of you had asked how many mugs I had in this collection, and I said I'd count them when I packed them back up, and I did: 139.

It would have been 136 except that a generous reader in Tennessee, Carol, found these three mugs and sent them to me right before Christmas! And I am happy to tell you that these designs were totally new to me and not duplicates. The larger one is marked "Japan" on the bottom, which was quite helpful to know.

The mini Santa mugs are just delightful, and I've never seen this exact size (1-3/8 inches tall) and shape before. I love that they are marked 1960 and ...

... one still has the H H sticker which I believe identifies it as "Holt Howard," which made a lot of Santa mugs.

And perhaps best of all, Carol left this sticker on the back of one of the mugs as a tribute to my own thrifty style of collecting Santa mugs! They're all back in the garage now for another year, but I thought you might enjoy hearing the final count for 2011 as I look forward to adding more Santa mugs in 2012!

Tea & New Year's Resolutions

Oh, how I love the gift of a new year! I'm both an optimist (usually) and a list maker (always), so the dawn of each new year finds me full of hopes and dreams and plans for the year ahead. All I need is a nice cup of tea and a few journals and calendars!


I'll bet I'm not the only one who's hanging up the new Collectible Teapot & Tea Calendar this year, am I? Do you always look to see what the photo is for your birth month? May gets a pink transferware teapot and pink roses this year, I was happy to see!

I have two "tea resolutions" this year: 1) Drink the good stuff first. You know the phrase "life is short, eat dessert first"? Well, I have been guilty of saving "the good tea" and drinking my lesser desired teas first. What ends up happening is that I forget about the good, fresh tea, so I'm not enjoying it as I should! That needs to change. 2) I am going to try keeping a list of all the different teas I try this year. Not each and every cup, mind you, because that would be ludicrous, but each time I receive a new sample or acquire a new box or tin of tea, I am going to note it in the lovely Dollar Tree journal (at left) I found last year. My coolest journal purchase of the year was the blue five-year "One Line a Day" Memory Book at right. Actually, it's more like "six lines a day" if you count them, but I love noting just a teeny snippet about what happens each day of the year. Have you made any resolutions, tea-related or otherwise? Please share!