Tea Stands for Tuesday - 12/19/17

Time to gather at the Altered Book Lover blog for the last Tea Party before Christmas.  

I broke out the Holiday Blend from our favorite coffee shop.  I haven't decorated because we will be at the river for Christmas. There are lots of windows decorated in the shops along my usual morning walk though.

I liked the plate for Santa's cookies.

This paper star was impressive.  Taking photo's through glass can have interesting results.  In this case it caught the reflections of the street and buildings behind me.  Happy accident.

 

There are roses still blooming in December here.

Wishing everyone the happiest of holidays.

Creative Do-overs

Do you like to try new things?  I do.  I enjoy the creative process and the chance to explore a new technique.  Sometimes it requires a do-over though.

My latest adventure was rust dying.  I read Elizabeth's tutorial but I was at the river when I had a chance to try it and didn't have my computer so I'm sure I forgot some important parts.

A scrap of muslin with the one and only really rusty spot achieved in this adventure.

A scrap of an old white cotton t-shirt.  I actually like the mottled effect on this piece.

Another muslin scrap.  Not quite as orange as the photo but it does have that one dark dot.

I wrapped the rusty pieces with the fabric and tied everything with twine.  I used a water/vinegar mix.  My pieces were submerged in the liquid.  Maybe that was too much.  I only had three days there so I didn't leave the pieces wrapped and let them dry.  Maybe I should have.  

I'm going back to read the instructions again.  Any additional hints would be appreciated and I will try again at some point.  Can I use the same rusty pieces again?  I left them outside to weather.

These fabric pieces will be used for something but my goal is to have more rust "shapes" show up.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 12/12/17

There is so much going on this time of year.  It is time to take a break, fix your favorite drink and join us for tea with Elizabeth.

Are you wondering if I switched coffee?  Just a temporary drink I guarantee.  Someone went to Hawaii and brought us back a pound of coffee from a coffee estate there.  Nice, smooth, mild.  That doesn't even sound like me and coffee.  Still, a thoughtful gift.

The Meal Ticket

This time of year if you have to go out shopping or, heaven forbid to the post office, then you need a treat.  Mine was a late breakfast at a local favorite called The Meal Ticket.  It is owned by a charming couple, he cooks she waits tables.  

Our tangerines are very abundant this year.  I keep hoping they will be ripe by Christmas.  Did you ever receive an orange in the toe of your Christmas stocking?  I didn't.  However, we lived in Oregon and as a small child I remember getting a box of oranges carefully and individually wrapped in tissue from an uncle who lived in "sunny California".  Now I have orange trees myself.  Life is funny.

Hope you have a great day and if you are busy remember to take time for a cup of tea.

Distressed

Distressed.  Both me and the clothes.

This past week included a shopping trip with the 15 yo GGD to buy her Christmas present.  It is evident that I don't go shopping much.  I was really shocked.  We were in a nice shopping area, chain stores but not big box stores.  The stores were a mess!  Not a mess from shoppers but a mess in the way they were set up.  Crowded aisles,  piles upon piles of whatever, "Sale" signs everywhere.  And then there was this.

Found at Macy's

For nearly $100 you can buy a cashmere sweater complete with moth holes.  You don't have to wait for your own moths to munch, the work is done.

Fortunately this isn't the GGD's style.  I told her if she were wearing it I'd be running around behind her saying "Oh, let me mend that for you honey".

I'm done shopping.  I couldn't be happier if I never had to go into those stores again.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 12/5/27

Good morning everyone.  If you visit Elizabeth who hosts Tea Tuesday you will know how excited I am to be able to post this photo.  

Those who know her know that Elizabeth collects rocking horses.  I recently received this rocker from a friend who is moving.  The horse is all metal with just the kind of chippy paint that makes it perfect.  I'm drinking some green tea in a green cup and enjoying the new addition to our guest bedroom.  I will think of my friend who gave it to me and my friend Elizabeth every time I see it.

 I'm setting this up to post later as I will once again be at the river with no computer by the time Tuesday rolls around.  I will try to catch up with everyone in a day or so.

Second on the Second - 12/2/17

For this 2nd time around I dipped way back into my blog files to 2009.  I was recently sorting through some of the many old photos I still have and recalling the ones I had used creatively over the years.  Please join us at Altered Book Lover to see what things are appearing for the second time around.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2009

Friends Card

Dipping into the box of mystery people once again.


Click on the photo to enlarge it.

This photo has a definite sepia tint, mainly from aging I think. I wanted to stay in that color range with the card.

The ribbon is from the wrapping on my birthday present from  Vallen. I scanned this picture so the ribbon is flat, in real life it flutters a bit of course. I used bits and pieces from my ever growing stash of found papers and paraphernalia for the rest of the card.

Have you written to a friend lately?