Tea Cup Tuesday-Spring Flowers

Hello All!

Happy Tea Cup Tuesday!

This morning, I went out side early

and enjoyed the quiet beauty.

I enjoy walking around my yard...
seeing the new buds, and new blooms...
Smell the fresh morning air...
appreciate the birdsong,
and the beautiful morning sky...
What a feeling of wellbeing!

We only have a few days left of springtime...
Summer is just around the corner!

Today I am having some dragonwell tea by Adagio.

I think I have tried this one before, but did not really enjoy it.

I thought I might give it another go, 

and I was careful about the temperature of the water and steeping time.

This is what it looks like when the tea leaves begin to reconstitute.

Alas, I did not like it the second time either : (

Ah well, I have loved all their other teas.

Have any of you had this tea?

Do you like it?

My cup today is a Royal Grafton.
Isn't she pretty?
She seems to be a regular lately.

Here is the next chair for a Annie Sloan makeover!
I have had this chair for about a year,
and finally decided this will be the final out door garden chair.
Next post you will see how she turned out.
 (and yes, I think I am addicted to painting chairs)

She is all painted and sealed now...
and awaiting a new seat cover.

Which I am sewing today from some 

lovely cream linen.
When she is all dressed I will share her too : )

I am wishing you all the best week,
I am also wishing for weather more suitable for out door tea!
lol!
It has been raining cats and dogs here on and off for ages...
seems like ever since I planned My Garden Tea.

We have also had the breeziest springtime.
My tea tent has been flapping in the wind!
And next week it is time to share with you My Garden Tea
during Tea Cup Tuesday...
I know some of you are also preparing a special post for it.

And speaking of dogs...

Emma and Besty were sitting pretty for me....

They have been my companions out in the yard as I work on the tent.
They are sporting their new summer haircuts.

(they look so serious...lol!)

Hugs to you all!

Terri

If you would like to share your tea cups please join in

by linking your tea cup post below with Linky Tools below

T.T. and Annie Sloan Paints part Two...

Hello All!

How are you all?
Well I hope : )

This is the third chair I found for my out door tea time project.

She is a sturdy little chair, 

and once again, when I sit on her, my feet touch the ground : )

She had an interesting design painted on the chair back.

Looks like it was a faux burled wood treatment.

I love her two little spindles.

And here on the side, the grain is a "combed" on treatment too.

The years have not been kind to her embellishments.

She has a strong tight cane seat in fine shape....that is good.

I had to decide if I wanted to paint the cane on this chair too.

Here I have begun with an old white Annie  Sloan Chalk Paint.

No sanding, I just wiped down the chair with a damp cloth first.

I put two coats on her, including her seat after all.

Here she is all pretty!

After this I very lightly sanded some areas. 

Then waxed her down.

It is so easy to do, I think I may have done too much. 

But I still love how she turned out.

She really looks old. 

(even if I didn't like my distressing, I could just brush on one more coat and try again)

I must say, this paint is a dream to use.

The finished surface is a pleasure to the touch.

And I have such confidence knowing I can just paint right over it if I don't like it.

So Cool! 

Thank you Annie Sloan for applying your creative genius

and and years of experience to work out this fabulous paint!

Here she is with her sisters....

Here you can see her distressed and waxed.
Quite a difference from her pristine state above.

I am delighted : )
Thank you all for your kind comments about my new venture in painting!

As far as tea cups for my garden tea, 
I think this would be a lovely cup for outdoor tea...

Limoges

And this one too, a sweet little Limoges

She is light and paper thin.

So that is the update for how my garden tea area is shaping up.

It has been raining here for several days.
Tons of rain!
So my first garden tea has been delayed...
soon though : )

I love hearing back from many of you who are also going to post a garden tea on the 25th!
I am happy to hear many of your plans!

My Garden Tea

June 25th

Thank you very much for stopping by,

and for all your kind, funny, loving and supportive comments!

If you would like to join in Tea Cup Tuesday just go and create a post with your tea cup in it, then come back here and link that specific post below with Linky Tools.

Martha and I would love to come and see your tea time.

Hugs,

Terri

Tea Cup Tuesday-Tale of Two Creamers

  Hello All!

Welcome to Tea Cup Tuesday!

Today I am sharing two new finds...

I love cream and sugar china.

This pretty little creamer was sitting all alone on a shelf.

So graceful and such beautiful colors!

We looked for her sister, but to no avail.

She was very inexpensive, so she came home with me.

 Here is her only mark....351 or 356...
and maybe an incised line underneath? 

Can you all see that? 

Only one week later, after never having seen this style before...

I saw this little number sitting on a table at a flea market. 

The exact same creamer, only in white!

I spoke to the seller and he said he had fallen in love with it,

and bought it even though he did not need it. 

He thought she was made around 1905.

He had $10 marked on it...

he said, "you can have her for $5.

Now I was bringing her home too : )

She is just so pretty!

Maybe some day.....

...we will find their mates!

Until then, they will definitely be part of My Garden Tea. 

Have you seen any of their kind before? 

******************

Here is another chair that I treated to a makeover with Annie Sloan Chalk paints. 

She was a little orange...

her stain had been applied many decades ago to look like wood grain. 

She has a good strong little cane seat. 

The ASCP stick so well to anything, I was eager to give this chair some loving care.

Now she looks like this...

I wish I could get a really good color shot of this..

she has such a fine pink coloring,

and the cream paint underneath,

looks really lovely, but doesn't show in image. 

I first applied two coats of Old White by Annie Sloan.

Then I added a few drops of red acrylic paint from my art room 

and mixed a nice soft pink. 

Two coats of this new pink color,

distressing the areas that would normally wear over time

and then waxing with her clear wax sealer. 

***HinT***

I have found makeup applicator circle sponges work well on the chair rungs.

Just smoothing the paint on like you would do foundation...

lol.....I loved the effect. So smooth looking, and so much easier

than trying to apply with a brush. 

Just my experience : )

I had to make a decision to paint or not to paint her lovely cane seat...

I am glad I did, it looks really beautiful, and I hope it wears well with use.

I think she looks delicious!

She is a "sit up straight" proper chair, 

and my feet touch the ground when I sit on her.

Yay!

The tea tent I am making is ginormous! 

Lol!

It fits over a canopy frame 10 x 10".

I am using a pile of old curtains and drapes from Goodwill.

Just a few more side projects and we will be done.

All I need is some good weather and my daughter and I 

will have our very first outdoor tea.

Yay!

(would you care to guess the maker on these cups?)

Thank you all so much for all  your lovely comments!

I am working on reaching you all back. 

Thank you also for sharing with me your preparations

for your garden tea.

I am glad we are all having fun : )

Martha and I would love to see your china too!

If you want to play along, just go and create a post with your tea cup(s) and then come back here

 and then link that post with the linky below. 

Thank you for stopping by today!

I hope you are all doing very well and are having a blessed week. 

Hugs,

Terri

A Surprise Gift of the Earth

Hello All! 

Happy Weekend : )

Yesterday I walked in to Goodwill to find this basket sitting on the counter.

(It is about 16 x 20" wide inside)

Oh my, but this is nice.....

: )

A whole basket full of shells.

Not the store bought kind, 

but the kind you pick up at the ocean year after year.

I think it was someones loved collection.

I was lucky it was already sitting near the front of the store.

I happily paid and carried out my very heavy find. 

$4.98!

This beauty was sitting right on top!

She is about 6" wide and almost looks like angel wings!

(this dark blue/gray shell looks very old...it has an amazing patina I hoped to catch in this image...but failed, it is so amazing in "person")

The basket was truly a delight to unpack.

Each shell I pulled out, 

Each rock I picked out,

All the tiny little quartz like pebbles....

They were just such a treat to see.

There were very interesting shells I had never seen.

And many shells I recognized.

What do you think of this one above?

He is a handsome one...

I have never seen a shell with this softened form.

Did he grow like this or was he buffed by the ocean?

Beautiful bumps and swirls.

This is his "head", I think.

Very swirly pearly!

Utterly delicate beauty!

There were many of these  small stones...

smooth, frosty round stones...

and tiny little quartz like stones...

While stacking these stones I couldn't help but think...

Of the need for balance in my life.

One thing that really helps me feel balanced is appreciation of beauty.

Beauty in everyday moments,

and Nature all around.

Finding this unexpected display of Nature's beauty

I was gifted many moments of delight

and balance.

Thank you to whom ever appreciated these shells, corals, and stones before me.

I couldn't help but wonder who...

and why this shell, and that shell, and who's name is written on that one shell...

I am thankful for this surprise gift from the Earth. 

Have any  of you had happy surprises lately? 

************

 I am joining Victoria in Universal Offerings.

 Thank  you for hosting Victoria.

Hugs,

Terri

Annie Sloan Paints-My First Experience

 Hello All,

I do not normally post twice in one evening!

But I had promised to share about the Annie Sloan paints,

and how my table and chairs are coming along. 

When I decided to create this fanciful outdoor tea area for myself,

I had visions of old painted chairs all around a lace covered table.

So off I went to locate some old chairs cheap...like 10 bucks.

On the way to reaching my goal for an outdoor tea area,

Once I had the chairs I needed to alter them to look like the ones in my vision.

I ran across the option of using Annie Sloan chalk paints

at a charming little antique shop near me called Two Old Birds.
But I thought they were too expensive.

I was sure I could make my own chalk paint,

and I checked out many recipes and tutorials on line.

Then I saw a few posts about Annie Sloan's paints.

I was so impressed with the bloggers experiences,
I decided to go for it.
I figured one way or another I was

saving money and time using such a reliable product from the start.
 And I was assured by many posts that the paints covered so well,

you actually needed less paint. 

Hmmmmmm

Since I was nervous painting furniture with pricey paint I started with something

I wasn't afraid to practice on...like my plain kitchen stool.

All I did was give it a little roughing up with some medium fine grit sand paper to take the sheen off.

Then I gave it two coats of A.S. Louise Blue chalk paint.

It went on smoothly....and it stuck well to the well varnished surface.

The brush strokes were quite noticeable but I was o.k. with that at this point.

The coloring is lovely, and so is the feel of the chalk paint.

The paint dries quickly, so one needs to work fast.
Eventually I learned to not leave the can open,
so the paint does not dry out as quickly.
Also, I added a few drops of water when
the paint seemed to be too thick. 

Next coat was Old White. I actually did two coats.

 And I realized that each coat took less and less paint.

I was amazed at how little paint it did take.

The last step was to reveal some of the blue underpainting,
by sanding lightly areas that would normally show wear...
like the stools edge, the corners of the legs and the middle top of the rungs.

I found the chalk paint easy to work with, it dries beautifully,

and a very light sanding produces a silky smooth surface.

Even though my paintbrush left large bristle marks, it looks fab.

I can see the marks, but somehow it suits this piece.

I am wanting to do some kind of transfer or painting on the top of this stool.

Soon....   : )

Next, I will show my first finished chair! 

Yay!

Once I had done my kitchen stool, I felt like I could move on to one of my new chairs.

Not much to look at, but good bones.

 I found her broken, cheap and lonely at Goodwill.

All I could see were the possibilities.

Yay!

The first thing I did was clean it up,

My dear hubby did the hard work of sanding it,

and he even took it apart and made sure

all the joints were tight and secure.
Thank you sweetie!

I later learned that with Annie Sloan paints you do not need to sand at all!

I was glad to skip this part on the others chairs I did.
They still look really good, even without sanding.

 Here she is with her first coat of white A.S. chalk paint,

and you can see I have just begun with the Louis Blue along the front and one side.

I do love her details!
(and I loved her in old white! but I was so curious to try the blue...)

She got two coats of Louis Blue chalk paint.

To finish her off I gave her a good rub down with the soft wax that Annie has developed.
I had to choose between clear and dark wax...
I decided on clear as I thought the dark would not be cheery enough.
It was easy to rub on with a soft cloth and then buff out with a new clean soft cloth.
The wax really is luscious, and works beautifully.
The color intensified slightly as it was waxed, then dried a tad lighter.
The end result, just a little darker than non waxed Louis Blue

A close up of the front.

The paint surface feels silky smooth.

It has a heavenly look to it,

 (it looks much more blue in this image than in 3D)

Here there is only a little distressing, I did more later on  before I waxed her.

Ta da!
Doesn't she look pretty with her floral print on?

She is ready for our first garden tea!

I was totally delighted with Annie's product.
No wonder, as the woman has been an paint alchemist for many many years!
Annie Sloan Unfolded  is the name of her online site for the United States, as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Next post I will share the next  two chairs and some more preparations.
It is good to have a project!

Thank you for stopping by!
Hugs to you all!
Terri

Tea Cup Tuesday-Tea Tents, Painted Chairs and Tea Cups

Hello All

Welcome to Tea Cup Tuesday!

Happy Memorial Day as well,

As this is still Monday night for me. 

It has been a lovely day. 

For me, having tea is a affirmation of life.

It is easy to pop open a can and drink something sweet.

But having tea is much more than satisfying thirst. 

It is being willing to satisfy a deeper need.

A need to pause...

To breathe....

To savor...

and to contemplate...

To have tea, one must stop and prepare. 

Choose your tea, choose your cup,

Set up your tray....

Maybe even find a peaceful spot and a good book. 

These things just come naturally when you think of "having tea".

And for me, a welcome  and grounding experience every day. 

**************

I have heard from many of you that

you too are fixing up an area out doors for tea!

Yay!

We would all love to see what you are doing to prepare. 

I am enjoying the many preparations getting ready for My Garden Tea.

The best spot in the yard has been picked,

A basic tent/canopy found...cheap...

The pale pink chair in the first image, I just finished today

: )

The basket of linens, "lace" drapes and old tablecloths

are part of my grand tent plans....

just wait! 

The idea is that I can set up my tea tent with my daughter

at a moments notice

and have tea outdoors in a romantic setting.

The tent must be easy, the chairs and table lightweight,

the china easily found and carried out. 

(I have a plan for this too)

I want it to be easy to do,

not a chore...

and for it to take a few minutes. 

And be cheap!

Lol!

Think I can do it? 

: )

  You will find out....

 June 25th

 If you would like to join in My Garden Tea, a one time blog event,

just have your tea outdoors in an area you have prepared,

before our My Garden Tea blog hop on June 25th
and link your post about it here.

You can share your preparations too,
like me, in earlier T. T. parties. 

Even if you are not participating in My Garden Tea that
Tuesday the 25th of June,

you can still share your normal tea cup post with us.

We don't want to miss anyone at all

 : )

I am posting another post right away, I hope this is not confusing.

But I promised I would share about Annie Sloan paints.

Hugs,

Terri