A Paper Mosaic Teapot

When I needed a special "thank you" card for a crafty tea friend, I decided to try my hand at making one. The result is what I'm calling a Paper Mosaic Teapot!

I'd been flipping through a craft book at Joann the other day when I came across photos of some paper collages that were simply beautiful. Alas, I don't share that artist's skill at seeing color and light and shapes as exquisitely as she does. (I'm sorry I didn't write down her name so I could see more of her work!) But I did leave with the idea of using pieces of paper to create some tea-themed artwork. From my scrapbooking stash I selected several papers with handwriting or type on them. I had some 5x7 canvases that could serve as the background. My template was an old teapot-shaped piece I got in a craft kit perhaps 20 years ago! I have used this thing so many times, so for this project I just traced it on the canvas and added some background color from a rubber stamp I had on hand.

Who knew there is an art to tearing paper? I knew I wanted some of the white part to show as part of the design, and I soon learned you have to tear it from the back if you want white on the front. Kind of a fun little discovery!

A little Elmer's glue, a few dozen bits of paper, and there you go, a Paper Mosaic Teapot!

Teatime Giveaway #19 - "Tea for Two" fabric

The winner of the Sweet Remembrances Recipe Collection from last week is Denise, so congrats! If you'll send me your snail mail address via the e-mail button at right, I'll forward it to Nancy of Sweet Remembrances, who will get the book on its way to you! This week we have the first of two "Asheville souvenir" giveaways. Today's is one yard of this delightful fabric called "Tea for Two" by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics. (It was on sale for half-off at Waechter's Fine Fabrics when I was there, just in case some sewing enthusiast would like to know the source.)

I love the pink teacup!

And the green one too! If you'd like to be entered to win this fabric, just leave a comment between now and noon EST on Friday, May 18. Good luck!

A curiously gaudy teacup

On my drive from Asheville back to Georgia last week, I saw billboards advertising the Lavonia (Ga.) Antique Mall and decided to make a stop. Boy, was it worth it! This place was a china and glass lover's dream, I'm telling you! Prices were quite reasonable, and I came home with several new goodies, my favorite of which was this unusual pink and gold teacup in a nice large size for sipping tea. It's really quite gaudy, don't you think? Almost reminds me of an exotic animal print. The rim is interesting because it's got all these pointy little places in between the more rounded scallops. I tried to picture who might have chosen this style of teacup, and all I could come up with was a madam in a brothel!

My handle fetish continues, and this one's bamboo-like styling is intriguing.

Also, I don't think I have another teacup with such a highly "footed" saucer. From this angle, you can see the styling a bit better. There are no markings so I have no idea of the age or maker, but for only $6 I knew this hoochie mama of a teacup needed to come home with me!

Souvenirs from a teatime trip

Naturally, on our trip last week the other tea lovers and I were eager to see what we might discover in the Biltmore gift shops. My favorite souvenir is this teacup and saucer set, a reproduction of some Biltmore china we saw on display.

It's a very decorative and highly gilded design, which seemed well-suited to the house.

And while I've seen these miniature journals many places over the past few years, I've not seen one with teacups on it! Not sure what I'm going to use this for, but I know I'll have fun finding just the right tea-related use.

And I came *this* close to not coming home with this cute ornament for my tea-themed Christmas tree! I rushed right past the display of ornaments until Linda found me and showed me her own teacup ornament like this one, wanting to make sure I'd seen it. I immediately headed back to the display. There were two left, and a woman literally reached past me to get the last one just as I stood there taking this one off the rack. Whew!

Acorns are part of the Vanderbilt crest, and these acorn teaspoons were so pretty, I thought they'd be a nice addition to a fall-themed tea—and with a happy memory attached.

Love that little acorn!

I had done some "advance shopping research" before arriving in Asheville, and I knew I had to have this unique Lazy Morning Tea Cozy pattern I found at Waechter's Fine Fabrics in Biltmore Village. I also came home with a couple of other tea-related goodies that I can't show you because, to thank you for reading this week of travel-related posts, I am offering them as giveaways beginning Saturday. Stay tuned!

Touring Biltmore with tea friends

Before the Afternoon Tea I wrote about in yesterday's post, five of us had a great and busy day of exploring Biltmore House and Gardens, including some fun behind-the-scenes touring! In front of the Winter Garden are, from left, Linda, me, Phyllis, Lynn and Sandy.

The cover of this souvenir book includes the classic shot of Biltmore. When you first see the sweeping grandeur of the house, it nearly takes your breath away! I had been there before, and yet it continues to impress!

You enter here. On Linda's recommendation, we all purchased the audio tour, and like her, I highly recommend that! When I first visited years ago I don't believe that was available, so it very much helped me to see Biltmore through new eyes.

The sheer size of the 250-room mansion is just incredible, and I can never quite wrap my mind around the fact that George Washington Vanderbilt had the vision in the late 1800s to bring this house to life in western North Carolina. (With no internet to consult! And no iPhone to check in with his construction crew!)

And no, the Christmas wreath on this marble lion statue is not a sign someone forgot to take down the Christmas decorations! Biltmore was filming Christmas commercials while we were there, and it was quite fun to get a behind-the-scenes peek at how early they begin planning for the holidays.

After we finished the regular tour, invaded the gift shops and ate lunch, we cued up once more for a behind-the-scenes "Butler's Tour" we were greatly anticipating. I wish I had taken note of the last name of Marilyn, the charming lady who led our small group on this tour. She did a fantastic job of keeping it lively, interesting and fun. (Normally, I would rather have a root canal than go on a group tour. This one was quite the exception!) Here, we are on a balcony and had one of the rare opportunities to take photos, since they aren't allowed inside the house. (And you can just imagine how our group of bloggers would have been reaching for our cameras!)

After our behind-the-scenes tour, one unique thing we got to see was the Banquet Hall all decked out for Christmas (go here to see it in its "everyday" look) since one of the commercials was being filmed there! Ohhhhhh ... the china! The flowers! My friend Susan would have swooned at all the silver, glass, china and roses, and I mourned the fact I couldn't share it with her. Still, it was a sight to behold. And while I can't share those images, I *can* share a few links to photos that may be of interest to my fellow tea lovers! (Note to Biltmore: I would like to see a "Tea Lover's Tour" of the house, and I'll gladly drive up and create it for you sometime if you'd like!)

• To see George and Edith Vanderbilt's only child, Cornelia, with her little tea set, go here and scroll down to the bottom.

• To see the property's Tea House (which I did not know about, alas, until I got home and read my book), go here and here.

• If you'd like to see reproductions of some Vanderbilt china which you may purchase today, go here. (I'll bet you can guess which one of these items I got! I'll tell you tomorrow when I share some wonderful tea-related souvenirs I came home with.)

Taking tea at Biltmore

My second tea visit last week occurred at the beautifully appointed Inn on Biltmore Estate. From left are friends Sandy, Linda (who blogs at Friendship Tea), Lynn (Frivoli-tea), me, Phyllis (The Relevant Tea Leaf) and Lynn. A hat tip to the lovely young man named Odai, who smiled away as he snapped photos with the six cameras around the table. Now THAT's service — and we all commented on the lovely service we received at both Biltmore itself as well as at the inn!

Afternoon Tea in the library is available to guests of the inn as well as those who hold day passes or season's passes to Biltmore. Our table was ready and waiting when we arrived following a very full day of tours! (More on that tomorrow.)

Teas from Mighty Leaf Tea Company are elegantly presented in a wooden case and are available for inspection (i.e., sniffing!) before placing your order. I chose one of the Chocolate Truffle teas from Mighty Leaf and loved it!

The teawares are reproductions of Vanderbilt china and feature a rich burgundy color along with the family monogram.

I never fail to be impressed when a tea tray arrives, and this one was no exception!

The savories featured many artisan breads, and the flavors were, clockwise from lower left, a chicken salad with cranberries on a croissant, one I don't remember (I'm counting on one of the other tea friends to have taken note of it!), cucumber, egg salad with radish and dill, pimiento cheese with bacon and tomato, and a mini-quiche. All were delicious, and the chicken salad was my favorite.

Tasty scones were served with lemon curd, jam and cream, and then it was on to the lemon-blueberry bread, strawberry cream puffs, a small slice of a filled cake, and a rich caramel truffle.

Following Afternoon Tea we toured the back of the inn, where gardens were in full bloom. Taking tea at the Inn on Biltmore Estate was a delight for the soul as well as the body!

Meeting tea blogger friends in Asheville!

Last week was a particularly memorable birthday week, because I had the opportunity to meet three other tea bloggers (and two new "tea friends") for a few days in Asheville, N.C.!

On Tuesday, Afternoon Tea at Chelsea's was the inaugural meet-up for Linda from Kentucky (Friendship Tea), Phyllis from Michigan (The Relevant Tea Leaf), Lynn from North Carolina (Frivoli-tea) and me (from Georgia). Linda's friend Lynn and Phyllis' friend Sandy were also making the trip, and I was at ease with every single person immediately! I'd had the pleasure of meeting blogger Lynn before, and we've kept in touch in the years since, but I'd only spoken by phone with Linda and Phyllis. Still, after you've exchanged e-mails and blog comments with tea ladies for a few years, I've learned, you develop a pretty accurate picture of them. Going on the road to join tea friends was a new sort of experience for me, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it! (Phyllis got the community shot of the group on her camera this day, so I'll have my own to share later.)

I'd skipped lunch and was pretty ravenous by the time of our 3:30 tea, fully intending to eat every bite of the delicious offerings. In addition to a fine pot of Sterling's Caramel Nut tea, I quickly tucked into the savories: An artichoke-cheese spread on a cracker, a slice of Cuban sandwich which was quite filling, a chilled strawberry soup (was that feta cheese on top, friends?), a tostada with black beans and guacamole, and a small serving of quiche.

The Chocolate Chip Scones, served with jam and cream, were large, hot, tender and tasty!

And it pains me to admit this, but I wasn't actually able to eat all of the sweets! There was fresh vanilla bean ice cream, apple cobbler, a trifle with kiwi (my favorite), a coconut macaroon, and the two I didn't have any room for — a mini-cinnamon roll and a slice of one of their splendid cakes. And can you believe this feast was just $12.95? (I did manage to eat my take-out cake later that night, and it was still fresh and delicious!)

We tea travelers stayed at a charming Bed-and-Breakfast, the Pinecrest Inn. Not too long after finishing teatime, I had settled into the rose-bedecked Wible Suite at the inn and was all comfy in my teapot pajamas in a friend's room (in her own teapot pajamas) chattering away. And the fun was just beginning!

Teatime Giveaway # 18 - Sweet Remembrances Recipe Collection

The winner of the teatime stationery from last week is Marglom. Congrats! If you'll send me your snail mail address via the button at right, I'll get these headed your way. And this week, I am delighted to announce that Sweet Remembrances tea room owner Nancy Reppert of Mechanicsburg, Pa. has generously donated this week's giveaway, a copy of her Sweet Remembrances Recipe Collection! The cookbook is spiral bound and features "200 tried and true recipes that have been served with pride over the years" at the tea room, including appetizers, soups and salads, breads, entrees, vegetables, and desserts. This is the cookbook that contains the cookie recipe I wrote about on Tuesday.

Herbs feature prominently in this cookbook, and charming line drawings of herbs appear throughout. I am just delighted with my copy, which has so many unique recipes uniquely suited for teatime, and I'll bet one of you will be too. To be entered, just leave a comment to this post between now and noon EST on Friday, May 11. Good luck!

A timely visit from 'Tea Clipper'

Today is my birthday, and I got an early (and repeat) gift in the form of the blooming of my David Austin 'Tea Clipper' rose, a gift two years ago from my friend Deberah! You can read about the history of the rose here if you're interested, and I'm also intrigued that the color seems to be a little bit different each year. Always beautiful!

I really, really adore this radiant …

Ruffled …

Regal …

Rose!

Afternoon Tea with Colonial Candle

The 2012 Summer Games are coming to London soon, and one of the things I am most looking forward to is that I just know the TV coverage will include lots of stories about teatime! One company that's already gotten in on the act is Colonial Candle, which sent me a sample of a particularly yummy candle in their new London Destinations line.

The sweet floral scent is called Afternoon Tea, and the company describes the fragrance as "serene notes of fresh lemon juice, white freesia and fresh brewed tea." This new "blend" is quite pleasing!

I also like the fact this candle comes with two wicks, since that gives me a double shot at using up every last bit of this lovely new fragrance. Other candles in the line include Chocolate Souffle, Abbey Road and Poppy Fields. The new line launches June 15. To learn more about this company's candles, visit their website here. Cheers!

Lipton Tea & Honey Iced Green Tea Mix

When warmer weather arrives, I begin to consume lots more iced tea. And when I'm in the car or at the office, I often choose bottled water to which I've added one of those convenient Lipton iced tea mixes. Recently, Lipton was on Facebook offering a sample of their new Tea & Honey mix, and of course I quickly signed up to receive one.

The sample packet of Mango Pineapple Iced Green Tea Mix was soon waiting in my mailbox, and I quickly added it to my water bottle and set to sipping. This may very well be my favorite flavor of tea mix yet! I've learned I'm a fan of just about anything mango flavored, but the Mango Pineapple flavor had a uniquely refreshing citrus taste, and I like knowing it's made from green tea. If you like to drink these teas made from a mix, give this one a try!

Sweet Remembrances Orange Basil Cookies

While the treat I shared yesterday was a cookie designed for children, the cookie I'm sharing today is what I call an "adult" cookie, as I've heard today's more sophisticated cookies described. (That doesn't mean they're rated "R" or anything, so don't fear!) With orange zest, currants and walnuts, this cookie was already sounding good, but then I read a most unusual ingredient for a cookie: basil. I was intrigued!

But you know what? I *knew* this cookie would be delicious because it came out of a tea room cookbook I was happy to get my hands on, the Sweet Remembrances Recipe Collection from the talented Nancy Reppert of Sweet Remembrances Tea Room in Mechanicsburg, Pa. (I ordered my book by going here.) A number of my fellow tea bloggers have had the pleasure of meeting Nancy and dining in her tea room. I haven't had that opportunity yet (though it's on my teatime Bucket List!), but I vicariously dine with her all the time through her terrific blog. What always amazes me is the never-ending imagination that goes into her tea room's menu, the care and creativity that appear on her table.

When I finally get up to Pennsylvania to meet her, I'm also looking forward to visiting the shop next door, The Rosemary House and Gardens herb shop founded by Nancy's mother Bertha and now operated by her sister, Susanna Reppert Brill. It's no wonder herbs often appear in Nancy's tea room recipes, and the flavor combinations in this cookbook have my mouth watering: Baked Herbed Cheesecake, Garden Fresh Herb Scones, Orange Rosemary Cake and so much more. The cookies with basil begged to be tried first, and happily, Nancy generously gave permission for me to reprint the cookie recipe for you here! This is a new favorite at my house, and I can't wait for the next time I'm called on to bring cookies to an event.

Orange Basil Cookies

1/4 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
1 tablespoon orange extract
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup currants
1/2 cup walnuts
2 tablespoons dried basil

Cream together butter, cream cheese and egg yolk. Add orange juice, zest and extract. Add dry cake mix. Stir in currants, walnuts and basil. Drop by teaspoons onto buttered cookie sheet. Bake in 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Yield: 4 dozen.

Hint: If you're lusting over your own copy of this cookbook, you *might* want to show up here on Saturday and see what Nancy and I have in store!