A Bridal Shower and Tea

Afternoon Tea

Springtime Tea

 

Who could have known that the day I chose to have a clothes swap and tea would be the day we woke up to a snowstorm with blustery winds to create whiteout conditions?

 

 

But with all the baking ready to be consumed, there was nothing for it but to forge ahead. It was rather ironic that I had picked a yellow and green "spring" theme!

 

With vanilla cake Lemon Queens filled with freshly made lemon curd, as well as

 

 

lemon tarts, amond crescents and two types of shortbread: the soft kind with piped yellow icing flowers and traditional Scottish shortbread.

 

 

We ignored the snowy conditions outside, making pot after pot of tea. After all, there's nothing like a treat-filled tea to raise the spirits!   

Warming Up Winter with Ikebana

After attending an Ikebana Exhibition at the Japanese Embassy, I was inspired to create an arrangement of my own.

So I took myself off to Belfiore, a favourite flower shop of mine, to see what wonderful exotic blooms they had to offer that day.

 

I chose some beautiful orange Star of Bethlehem,

some mimosa with its cascading tiny yellow pompom buds,

 

as well as some long-lasting orange and yellow alstroemeria.

 

combined with a glossy green leaf and interesting pieces of driftwood. Et voila!

Spring Comes for Tea

February's over, which means it's time to create the March window display for my favourite tea shop.

 

So with the theme of spring arriving, and nature showing signs of coming back to life, I chose teapots, cups and bowls in shades of brown, like the earth, and robin egg blue.

With twig and moss balls, tree bark, and branches to add a touch of woodland...

and speckled eggs dotted about here and there.

I can't wait for nature, the real one outside, to catch up!

Nothing but Blue Skies

 When it seems like there is no end to winter, sometimes the best thing you can do is to just get out and take a walk in the woods on one of those bright sunny days when there are blue skies and crisp fresh air. So what do you do when you wake up and not only is it a grey winter's day, but it is also raining? Well, you do the next best thing, you make a cup of tea and have a look at the photos you took a few weeks ago when you actually did take that walk in the sunshine.

Happy Valentine's Day

Buying Second Hand

An interesting fact, quoted from the November 2011 edition of  Britain's Country Living magazine:

"If everyone in the UK bought one reclaimed woolen garment each year instead of new, it would save 371 million gallons of water (more than a reservoir)." Source: Waste Online

Here's to buying second hand! 

A Return Engagement

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Here I am getting to dress the window of my favourite tea shop once again. Turns out it's something I love to do. I thought I would! So much fun. This was the February window, so Valentine's had to  play a part.                                                    

Once again my sweater hearts made an appearance.

Lots of pretty chintz and florals in various shades of pink. 

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to highlight a line of jewelry made from bits of china.

Tea for two?