Tea Time Tuesday #154

Yesterday the postman delivered a package that I have been waiting for for a quite some time. I signed up for the Tasha Tudor Valentine's Day and my package never came. My partner lives in New Hampshire and has been snowed in a good amount of the winter. Her hubby forgot to mail my package too, so it was really late in arriving.  I was thrilled with her box and what she chose for me.
She learned that I was watching the Victoria special on PBS and discovered that I love all the English shows on PBS. She put together a little tea in a box gift.

I love the dainty cup and saucer. The colors are perfect and it's a fun addition to my collection.

Here's the markings on the bottom of the cup...it's marked Old Royal Bone China England.

This sweet little porcelain lady was also included. Isn't she wonderful? Do you think she is keeping a secret? I think so.

I loved the card that Allyson sent...very Victorian and so pretty.

And what a grand box of PG Tips tea! It's such a wonderful tea...always a classic.

Nice and hardy for a rainy day.

I can buy King Arthur's flour out here in Oregon. I was happy to find a package of their scone mix in my box! How fun. I can't believe how delicious this mix is. I made them in the drop form, which is so easy and it's pretty hard to fail. Jimmy was just thrilled. He loves cranberry orange. It did give a little recipe for a glaze that really added a nice touch.

Yummmm....the finished projects.

Flaky and so flavorful.

Such a delightful treat on a rainy day. I will be participating in the Tasha Tudor Easter exchange and Stephanie's Tea Cup exchange next. Happy Tea Time. 

Monday Made....Valentine Mailbox

My TAKE PEACE  Tasha Tudor group, enjoys a sharing day on Monday. It is a day to post things that we have made or that someone else has made for us. I shared a variety of handmade Valentine cards last week. Since I save all my Valentine cards and letters until February 14th, I thought it would be fun to make a mailbox. My friend Belinda made one for her cards too. At first I was thinking of a rounded top mailbox but decided to look online to get inspired. I happened upon a YouTube tutorial that was made by a blogger friend of mine....Terri at Artful Affirmations. I mentioned her last Monday as I had used her idea for a little paper slipper Valentines.

Anyway, I really had fun making this box out of a shoebox. I wanted mine to open on the side so that I could get my envelopes out on the big day! She was kind enough to send some ideas and I figured it out. The box I had was just perfect as it was hinged on one side. I can just open it and retrieve my mail!

I had the perfect saying to decorate the box with little flowers, charms and stickers.

A look inside to see all my cards "in waiting"! I have so much fun on Valentine's Day opening all my treasures.

Terri used a real vintage glass door knob on the top of the box, but I used one I found at the craft store. It's smaller and worked well for me.

The little feet are wooden and can be found in packages of two at the craft store. Terri suggested brushing them with a stamp pad and  then use a glue gun to attach them. It all worked well.

So here's my mailbox! It's pretty cute. As with any project, you learn as you go. I would change a few things if I made another one. It is in my tea room holding my paper treasures.

I'll be sharing this with Stephanie on Tuesday for her Roses of Inspiration.

You still have a few more days to sign up for my Give Away!

Welcome February! Time For Making Valentines!

Welcome February! A new month filled with lots of fun and love! Valentines is high on the list for sure. It's such a fun holiday to make your loved ones and friends fell special.

On my Tasha Tudor group, we have started "Monday Made" to share anything that we have made or maybe something that someone else made for us. Another fun day for the members and a great way to get to know more about the members.

I am participating in my tea group's (ATAA) Valentine card exchange and they have to go out in the mail today! I spent most of yesterday working on them. I can't show you my design for this year, as I don't want any members to see them via my blog or other groups. There's lots of cross overs, as you bloggers know.

I just love to make Valentine cards! It takes time but I love it. I'll share a few from the past.

The tea pots turned out cute last year.

The cameo cards were a favorite of mine.

These are little shoes that were cute...these took a lot of time. I found them on another blogger's site and need to give Terri the credit. You can find her blog at Artful Affirmations. She is an amazing artist and so sharing. I hope you stop by. 

Tea Time Thursday #65~ ❤Sharing Valentine Exchanges❤

Oh, how I love Valentine card exchanges! Before the month slips away, I want to share some more fun that I had this year with my Tasha Tudor Take Peace group and my Afternoon Tea Across America (ATAA) group. I always have to wait to do these posts as I don't like to give away my surprises before the holiday. The excitement begins with a trip (or two) to the craft store to gather up paper and a variety of goodies for the occasion.

This is my offering for ATAA...I cut out the teapots, glued paper heart doilies onto the card and then deocrated the post with bits and pieces. This year we were to enclose a sample of tea and a favorite recipe. I sent a recipe for Marmalade Muffins that was from a Crabtree and Evelyn cookbook that I love.

My Tasha Tudor exchange was a little bit different. We send a tiny Valentine card from our dolls to the other dolls. I like to include tiny gifts for the dolls too.  It's fun to send tea and little candies too.

I had this glass mailbox that I have had for years. I thought it would be fun to put my incoming Valentines in it, as I like to open my cards on Valentine's Day.

Lots of cards and little fun packages from some special friends.

Here is a look at my cards from ATAA! So fun. I love all the handmade cards. Very pretty. I will probably put them into an album.

Look at all the sweet Tasha Tudor cards from the exchange!

I have shared the fun I have with my friend Lynda and the friendship ball. I have been hoping to find another one to have fun with LaVonne. I found one a few weeks ago...perfect timing!

I filled the ball with tiny gifts for Miss Annabelle. We will send it back and forth now...yes!

My dear friend LaVonne never forgets me! Lots of good things.She even found me dolly Valentines!

The little red shawl was for Hitty! It is tiny and well made. I had to try it on and it fit perfectly.
Hitty was very happy with her gift!

Annabelle asked me t pst some pictures . She has her table all set for Valentines! Tea time!

Annabelle wanted to use her new red teaset. I think it's a lovely set indeed!

This is her other table, set for tea also.

Annabelle's dessert table.

Annabelle found this sweet little blanket box. I love it and she put it to good use!

Hope you enjoyed my little review of Valentine's! Happy Tea Time Thursday. I am off with a friend for the weekend up in the Seattle area.

Tea Time Thursday #34 Valentine's Mail Before ♥ After ♥ and Inbetween ♥

Those of you who know me, know that I like to save up my Valentine cards until February 14th arrives. I belong to a few groups that do exchanges and also have some really nice friends and blogger friends who send me cards and such. Sometimes, I get a bit behind and the cards have to wait. I just like to have a quiet time to open the arrivals and really enjoy them. So much time and thought goes into all of this and I want to really appreciate it all. So with all the birthdays that have been celebrated, I just got around to opening my goodies last night! Shame on me! Here is the before and......

here is the after! Such a basket full of love and delights!

I wanted to share all the cards from my tea group for Tea Time Thursday this week. I belong to a great and very active tea group~AFTERNOON TEA ACROSS AMERICA.  You can find it on Facebook if you are interested. It is a closed group, but LaDonna would be happy to help you join. If you love tea, this is just a great group. Lots of interesting stories, recipes and information. For our card exchanges, we send a card, a tea bag of sample of loose tea, and some tuck ins! I always love to see how creative the gals are with their little goodies that they add...stickers, recipes, cup cake papers, tags, ornaments and bookmarks.

This is a very cool tuck in about the Legend of St Valentine. It's a postcard and a little ornament you can hang.

More tea time cards and treats. Thank you to everyone on the group who participated. It was really fun.

Of course, I can't forget my Tasha Tudor group exchange! Not many joined this year but it was still fun for those of us who wanted to play. Thank you Nancy for the lovely embroidered napkins!

You know, Annabelle gets Valentine cards from her dolly friends across the country. Here she is checking the mailbox to for her cards! Oh, one from Canada this year.

She had her table set for tea too. She loves tea as much as I do! She really wishes her friends lived closer.

More sweet cards from friends. My friend Sha sent me the cutest item...a wooden puzzle that is called a Church Puzzle. Years ago, the parents would make them for the children to keep them busy and quiet at church. I have heard of hanky dollies for church, but never puzzles. This on has a Valentine theme.

Christine sent a darling little envelop filled with her wonderful paper creations and of course, a Valentine for the dolls. She made my Maggie doll and has such a fun style that I so enjoy.

I can't for get my blogger friends out there! Denise made me a great hanging card and sent a vintage quilt block! Very special.  Shawn makes lovely cards and sent tea and a lavender sachet. What a surprise. And I can't for get sweet Stephanie. I'm sorry this phot didn't really show her items too well.
She makes the sweetest little goodies. Bookmarks, a magnet, cut out hearts, glitzy paper clips and a little spool hanging heart mobile. It's all wrapped up in this photo but it's really neat. Thank you blogger friends for your treats and cards.

So February is almost over an I always hate to say goodbye. It's a busy month for us with one more birthday to celebrate.It's been so fun. I know most of you are sick of winter but I hope you had some fun this month too.