Tea for Tuesday: Teacups at Play

I walked to and from work today in rain and sleet, which segued to snow only after I was back home, warming myself by the propane stove. Hot tea began to whisper my name.

While nourishing my chilled spirits with steeped Genmaicha, I began to survey the tea accessories I have displayed and tucked away. I used to include more tea items in my home decor. For one, my taste has changed. Then, there is the perpetual dust left to Idaho City by the gold miners of yore. 

It's a shame to hide pretty tea things and yet it's not practical for me to showcase my entire teacup collection. I have adapted a rotation system that actually creates a more satisfying relationship with my treasures. I find that I appreciate each piece more, simply by assembling items here and there — in little nooks and crannies.

I used the Paper Camera app on iPhone to capture a couple vignettes. The pictures are actually photos that have been altered to look like watercolor illustrations.

The yellow Adderley teacup sits just above my kitchen sink next to an old water spritzer. The above flourished metal display rack houses Longaberger baskets with a pine cone nestled in a sage-green Aynsley teacup. I elevated the pine cone by shaping a paper towel into a circular ring.

Unpacked!

Our first starry night under our new roof was last Sunday. [Scroll down to see the home details.] It snowed Friday and Saturday, March 2nd and 3rd — which represented the bulk of our move. The snow let up on the 4th as we cleaned our old place and dealt with the leftover odds-and-ends that any fatigued mover could easily torch.

A room stacked with boxes is visually overwhelming to me. Without a garage of our own, my husband staged labeled boxes in their designated spaces. To expedite the unpacking process, I decreed that my craft loft could not be touched until the rest of our home was in order, which included basic decorating. Yesterday afternoon, Friday the 9th, I was aloft in my loft, cleaning and happily organizing. The motivation to get there must have been strong because I unpacked in 5 days! A record for me, especially considering that I worked 2 days!

At this point, I am adorning our home with things I already have. Decorating ideas are rushing at me with a speed that has my jowls tucked behind my ears. Yet, like my discipline to save the loft for last, I must wait for the budget to bulge.

I have never had all of my crafting supplies and tools in one place. I was amazed at how much I had accumulated since 1978, although I have whittled down periodically. A move certainly puts things into perspective.

Tea for Tuesday

Once upon a time, I did a regular tea feature on most Tuesdays. Then, vita factum or life happened! I frequently thought about it, but at some point a blogger has to cleanse their brain of good intentions and Martha Stewart Living was my catalyst.

In the March 2012 issue, Jenny Comita wrote a piece entitled "A New Leaf." Comita spotlights an innovative tea shop, Bellocq Tea Aterlier, located in a rustic warehouse. The interior looks old-world with natural lighting. The dark wood displays are offset with ample silver canisters bearing the cheerful yellow labels of their premium teas. Bright florals add additional contrast.

The co-founders, Heidi Johannsen Stewart (once a food editor at the magazine), Scott Stewart, and Michael Shannon, have reworked the concept of tea altogether, offering uniquely blended teas partnered with delectables such as smoked fish, "Nordic rye bread, sorrel-and-red-onion butter, and flaky sea salt with crushed juniper berries." They have also developed a "sip and snack" philosophy that couples tea with fare much like a wine connoisseur selects proper food pairings.

I found their style of hospitality especially engaging...

"When in the mood to entertain, they light a candle in the window of their shop in Brooklyn, New York, signaling that all are welcome. Inside, guests might find an accordion player, a chocolatier hosting a tasting, or a beekeeper debuting his honey — and they will most certainly be offered one of Johannsen Stewart's novel cocktails, blended with tea."

Bellocq's tea blends include a traditional Earl Grey without synthetic flavoring, and enchanting teas such as The White Wolf, Majorelle Mint, Le Hammeau, The Queen's Guard, Little Dickens, and Gypsy Caravan. They also strive to elevate the use of loose teas, dismantling any intimidation.

What you won't find at Bellocq Tea Aterlier are the parlor-like teatimes we love and are accustomed to — and not because they frown on tradition. Their thrust is for the modern take on a pastime steeped in history and they are definitely succeeding!

Bellocq Tea Aterlier | No. 12, Le Hammeau

Description: "Beautiful organic herbal blend evocative of a summer meadow. Think: 'Manon of the Spring', meets Marie Antoinette after a stroll through l'orangerie. Organic lemongrass and verbena mingle playfully with lavender, rose petals, mint and sage. Refreshing and light-hearted, Le Hammeau may inspire you to adorn your livestock with blushing pink ribbons too. Caffeine-free, this tisane may be enjoyed all day. Delicious iced as well as hot, serve garnished with thin slices of orange and a sprig of just plucked mint, sage or lavender." 

Ingredients: "Organic lemongrass, organic lemon verbena, organic chamomile, organic lavender, organic rose petals, organic mint, organic sage, natural essence."

Be sure to peruse the March 2012 issue of Martha Stewart Living!
Visit Bellocq Tea Aterlier by clicking HERE.

Again?

Yesterday, our mountains mimicked Spring. The birds rejoiced and mama ducks displayed dizzy ducklings on the open road. Today, rain was in the forecast. We got snow.

This was my cue to brew! I steeped Pearl Jasmine Green Tea and curled up on the sofa with my laptop and a fleece blanket. My husband even spoiled me with his signature salmon omelete. 

Okay, I have a newsflash. I hesitate to share it. I tested the news at a Ladies Night Out and 3 women exclaimed simultaneously, "AGAIN?" 

We currently live in an apartment. Our last stint with apartment life occurred in the early years of our marriage. We have lived here for a few months, referring to it as our launching pad.

Well, we received a call from a realtor friend. A 2-story home is available up the road.  She described a newer 3-bedroom, 2-bath abode with a loft that is begging me to craft. It has front and back porches that are both the length of the home. The residence sits on a half-acre and there are no street lights — only the moon and stars.

I was numb at first. After many disappointments, I am leery of good news. So we prayed and began to recognize God's providence. Remarkably, the home is the same rent we are paying for our 2-bedroom, one-bath apartment. Our current place lacks privacy and the traffic upstairs often makes us feel like we are being trampled underfoot. The new location affords greater protection and the freedom to be ourselves.

We're moving, again! I have taken photos of each room and I am prearranging furniture on paper. There are many windows, so wall space is limited. I don't mind though. I will have a surplus of natural light.

I began to reflect on my first apartment in 1977. The style was earthy. I owned stoneware dishes, named Sequoia, in forest green and rust; custom-made pine furniture that included a dining set and a bunk bed with a desk, shelves, and love seat underneath. I had wood framed nature prints and a plethora of beautiful pottery, one of my favorites being a chip-and-dip dish in toasted brown and cobalt blue. I relished anything that nature produced and I adored the skilled trades of old — baskets, candles, china, metalwork, weaving, painting and so on.

Then it dawned on me. My passions have reverted back! Now, instead of dreaming about the forest, I live in one! My windows frame a new reality! I've begun to mingle my tea things and French accessories with the outdoors. So, yes . . . AGAIN!

Picking Favorites and "Hello" Yellow

I am perplexed that some people can commit to only one favorite in any given category. How do they do that? I mean, how do they narrow down a world of choices to just a single thing?

Off the top of my head, Apple Computers are the only thing I can point to as an exclusive favorite. As for music, color, style, design, food, places, poets, writers, movies, actors and so on, I prefer "groups" of favorites.

Take one look at my Boards on Pinterest and you'll discover my passion for variety. Just don't pin me  down. My take is that every theme is a header with multiple subheads.

Color is no different... As I find myself in a season of reinvention, I am at least agreeing with myself that there has been one golden thread connecting my love of color. Yellow! And, to stay true to my lack of commitment, I love all shades!

“Yellow is a color that says ‘Hello,’” says designer Robert Couturier. “I love and am inspired by yellow—it lives in the natural light of a room and appears in candlelight during a dinner party.”

For me, yellow is a happy, perk-me-up color. I wear it when I need a lift in spirits. I use it for dazzle and pop. It makes me smile.

I dream of rooms I want to decorate and yellow is usually a component. Yellow with teal, pastels, grays, neutrals, primary colors, autumnal shades, or partnered with bold strokes of black. It's always that burst of sunshine that winks at me.,

So at least for today, I'm leaning toward yellow as my favorite. Ask me again tomorrow.

Attributions for Collage:

Yellow Door: Pinned off of Pinterest: broken link

Floral Arrangement: Found on Bing with no attribution

Yellow Chair: Found on Bing with no attribution

Bird Ensemble: Kuvaan liittyvä sivusto

The Art of Paul Thurlby

Paul Thurlby is a freelance illustrator located in the UK. His work is retro-modern, full of whimsy, humor, playfulness, and tongue-in-cheek. He began as a regular contributor to The Guardian.

Since my 54th Birthday is this coming Sunday, I thought I would showcase 4 pieces from his numeric art collection, as an assemblage of the year I was born. The number 8 has always been my favorite number.

To discover more about Paul Thurlby, as well as his recent book and products, click HERE. His artwork makes me smile!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Idaho

Small Space Organizing by Kathryn Bechen

"Small spaces give us the opportunity to live sincerely, forcing us to choose

which of our possessions

make our hearts sing."

-Kathryn Bechen

The rage of virtual pin boards has people enthusiastically organizing photos that reflect their every passion. One hot topic includes fabulous living spaces.

Have you ever considered why we are drawn to beautifully styled homes? Obviously, design elements have the power of attraction; moreover, these components create inviting and stress-free habitats. Yet, picture those same settings cluttered with mail, clothing, toys, school books, accessories... Our sense of being is not so harmonious, is it? 

I believe that our attraction to artfully designed spaces and places lies largely in our response to order. And, Kathryn Bechen is truly an artist when it comes to organization.

As the book's description states, Kathryn has written "a room-by-room guide to maximizing your space" and she makes it very personal. This is not a one-space-fits-all book. It is about you, the reader, and what makes your own space and style tick. 

The reader is encouraged to "perform a room-by-room audit" to determine what is and is not working. Then, unlike other organizational books, she provides a list of options for each situation, not just one solution. Her suggestions are resourceful, creative, and even romantic. She inspires "small space grace" and instructs on how to "dwell well." Any reluctance to opening tight quarters to guests will soon be quelled by stories of hospitality offered to Kathryn by hosts with limited space.

One of her chapters is entitled, Downsizing for Rightsized Living. This is especially apropos for me since my family of four recently downsized from a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home to a small apartment. We lack a carport or garage, so storage is our major challenge. And, as I am embracing the bliss of paring down, I am craving simplicity and order like I never have. Graciously, Kathryn is lending me a helping hand!

I strongly recommend this book to anyone. We can all benefit from more harmonious living.

From the Back Cover 

With a few tricks up your sleeve, small can be the new big!

While we may admire the spacious rooms in large homes we see in magazines or on TV, let's face it: most of us don't live in rambling estates. Instead, we live in homes, apartments, or condos with small rooms and even smaller closets. But you can enjoy an organized, beauty-filled life no matter what the size of your space. In this practical book, you'll learn how to 

• perform a room-by-room audit of your space to see if it's functioning at its best 
• make the most of existing storage space and find clever ways to add more 
• find creative ways to arrange furnishings and accessories that maximize space and bring harmony and style to the home 
• live graciously in a small space with others (especially those who aren't organized!) 

Whether you're an empty nester who's downsizing, a newlywed setting up your first nest, or someone who just needs some creative new ideas, you'll love these strategies, tips, and solutions to maximize space and enhance your quality of life. 

"Packed with practical and stylish tips, ideas, and resources to help you take your home from drab to dazzling, no matter what size your space or budget." --Laura Leist, author, CPO and founder of Eliminate Chaos; former president of the National Association of Professional Organizers 

"Kathryn provides oodles of useful and affordable home organizing and decorating tips, information, and resources. She also shows that a home doesn't have to be large in size to be graciously grand in spirit." --Kitty Bartholomew, former HGTV host; decorating correspondent for ABC-TV'sThe Home Show 

"This book will inspire you to rethink every inch of your dwelling to create space and live peaceably with your belongings. It's one of my new favorites to recommend." --Marcia Ramsland, author of Simplify Your Life, Simplify Your Time, and Simplify Your Space; www.OrganizingPro.com 

Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning journalist in the San Diego area. She specializes in lifestyle feature articles and has published several organizing and decorating ebooks. She blogs about timely lifestyle topics at www.KathrynBechenInk.com. 

About the Author 

Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning journalist in the San Diego area. She specializes in lifestyle feature articles and has published several organizing and decorating e-books. She blogs about timely lifestyle topics at www. KathrynBechenInk.com.

TO MAKE THIS BOOK YOUR OWN, CLICK HERE. 

Let It Snow, Idaho!

Idaho City awoke to a powdery wonderland! Weeks of uncharacteristically dry, cold temps relented and our belated White Christmas took the stage. We've had close to 10 inches so far and, "It doesn't show signs of stopping . . . I've brought some corn for popping…"

The forecast is showing rising temps and rain for the next few days. No one here wants our basin to become a slush bowl! Most would prefer just snow or just rain. The combination of the two, SNAIN, is an ugly mess!

We can only hope for temps to drop or maintain. If we lose, bring your favorite syrup for snow cones!

Location:Idaho

Very Pinteresting…

Can a mostly sanguine personality be over-networked? I already have my Blog, Facebook, and Twitter groove on, and though I am signed up for other networks, they don't yield the same joie de vivre. Then, along came Pinterest!

Initially, I felt left out because I usually have my ear planted on the pressroom wall. I missed this one! Then, I balked at the idea of another time syphon.

"I need another network like… Uh, will someone send me an invitation, please?" Within 2 hours I was naming my boards and pinning like a mad woman.

My earlier eye-dyllic posts speak of new beginnings and reconstruction. Here was a place to dream, group goodies, organize inspiration, gawk, and repin!

Okay, so how does the above photo correspond with this post? Well, I used Pinterest to pin the Heart Page Marker. Then, I folded up a dozen or so using beautiful origami paper. I turned one upside down to show how I reinforced the backside with self-adhesive, color coordinated Mat Stack.

As a dovetail to a future post, one of the hearts is placed in a wonderful book that I will be reviewing shortly: Small Space Organizing by Kathryn Bechen. This is a timely read for me because our living space has been downsized and space is precious.

Heart Page Marker

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Idaho

The "Pinch" That Stole Christmas (and the Friends Who Saved It)

The Pinch

As you contemplate the word PINCH, perhaps imagining someone grabbing a handful of flesh, allow me to redirect. The blasted PINCH is another thing entirely... 

In December 2011, we were days away from moving to Idaho. Everything, including Christmas, was boxed and labeled. Excitement superseded any sadness over forfeiting my own Christmas. After all, there was always next year, right?

Thanksgiving made its passage. I was eagerly planning the details of our first Idahoan Christmas. My list was short: 1) Get decorations from storage, 2) Make a grocery list for Christmas dinner, 3) Write Christmas cards.

Our decorations were easily accessible in a storage unit located where our mountain highway empties into Boise. Neither of our living situations up here have had garages, so paying for storage is a necessity.

The Revelation

Full-time employment had still not materialized and an unexpected move in November was not helpful. As Christmas approached, we realized that our storage payment had to be postponed until after Christmas!

I had waited 2 years and now Christmas was locked up! We were in a PINCH! All I had in my home was a tiny box of Hallmark ornaments — that were somehow packed with everyday items — and a tree skirt that was hanging in my closet after being dry cleaned.

The Rescue

Once my emotions subsided (and they did raise their ugly heads), I announced on Facebook that I was determined to overcome. It was not really a plea for help. Nevertheless, 2 friends came to my rescue. 

Dee Dee brought over a faux tree and provided a bin containing a mishmash of lights and old ornaments. Tina lent me a box of unused decorations. Within hours I had pieced together a very charming Christmas tree!

So what that I had never had an artificial tree or that light strands didn't match or that glass ornaments had to be turned to hide wear or that my own ornaments barely covered the front of the tree! My husband said many times, from his perch on the couch, that he thought the tree was amazingly beautiful. I thought so, too. And, we were both grateful for the love of friends!

What I Know

• Being flexible is freeing.
• Perfection is constraining.
• It came to pass, it didn't come to stay.

When life gives you LEMONS...

Lemonade?

When life gives you LEMONS . . . make lemonade? Due to a surplus of lemons in 2011, I have developed a more aggressive approach.

Reasonable?

This is my return-to-sender response. We have all lifted our shields to ward off the slings and arrows of those who, for some reason, choose not to rally with who we are. Then there are those attacks that smell suspiciously of hell.

Yet, God does use assaults and disappointments as raw material for something spectacular. He turns the negative into positive: setbacks into comebacks! He loves conversion!

Our response?

Joseph's words to his brothers after they had thrown him into a pit and left him for dead, were "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Genesis 50:20) Joseph obviously recognized God's hand in his circumstances.

It's safe to say that we can expect "God" results, but there are still things we should refuse to give place to. Then, maybe afterwards, we can make lemonade.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We truly are DREAMING of a White Christmas! Ordinarily, our landscape would be frosted with icy precipitation. Instead, our moisture is on loan to a North Pacific storm. Temps are in the teens and the sky is sequined with the galaxies. Forecasts continue to tease, but snow eludes us! 

It's our first Christmas in Idaho and my first time being separated from my California family. We have no relatives in Idaho, so our Christmas plans will include a morning fireside service at church and time spent in our cozy home. It already feels odd, but my husband and sons are gung-ho to begin something new.

Due to an unexpected relocation in November, my blogging fell on the wayside. I have missed it enormously and cannot wait to launch my new blogging year with a wonderful new book review!

I pray that you have a 

glorious CHRISTmas

and a New Year

flowing with blessings!