Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Odds and Ends Tea

I want to begin by wishing everyone a very happy Vernal Equinox, aka beginning of spring!


This might have been called Hodge Podge Tea rather than Odds and Ends Tea. Either way, as you can tell already, it's a very scattered post. First, for your viewing pleasure, green and white cups hold orange tinted tulips that match the color in the table runner, while a green tea pot holds miniature roses. Spring is truly HERE.


Of course, you might want to see the tea bags I saved from last week. They are finally dry and are now ready to use. I even have the cute little tags and strings, too. Those hibiscus bags are gorgeous.


Yesterday evening, my neighbor across the street brought me a big jug of Starbuck's coffee. She said it came from a party at her office and there was a ton left over. Of course I was more than willing to take it. After putting as much as I could in two pitchers, I used the rest to dye some book pages.


Then I remembered I had a bunch of cheese cloth I could dye, so I threw it in, too. I didn't wet the cheese cloth first, so it didn't want to accept the coffee very quickly. That meant I had to push it down into the coffee and when I did (you can see it peeking out below the paper), I accidentally submerged some of the papers more than I had anticipated. But just look how lovely these pages turned color when left in the bath for only a few minutes.


Finally, my friend Sally and I were at lunch the other day, and I had a glass of iced tea with lemon. It had a bland flavor, but was acceptable for restaurant tea.

My friend Kimmie and all the other Tea Tuesday players won't have odds and ends. They will have structured blog posts. Ones that make a lot of sense, in fact!! So please join them as I ponder where this post was actually and initially headed (grin).

20 thoughtful remarks:

Steph said...

I LOVE everything that you posted today!! the collage the flowers, the coffeee bath..and yes most of all SPRING!!! Happy T!!

Claire said...

thanks for tea :)
i've just posted over virtual coffee... i'm not quite so creative with my beverages as you - but i just LOVE all you do!
Spring is here too - i've posted lots of pics :)

voodoo vixen said...

Your neighbours must know you very well... because none of mine would think to give me a pot of left over coffee to play with...
I love the way coffee changes the paper in both colour and texture but i don't bath mine... just paint it on with a paint brush... yours looks like it would take less time!!
Love the spring flowers... nothing springlike here at the moment... -8 last night!! :(

Dianne said...

coffee with your Tuesday tea...brilliant! I suspect those book pages and cheesecloth will become pieces of wonderful art very soon. Happy Spring to you too!

bohemiannie! art said...

Love your scattered post! I've heard many times about artists using tea bags but saved my first one on Sunday from a cup of ginger tea. I dumped the ginger into the bird feeder and as always with tea leaves of any description...they ate every smidgeon! After flattening the bag and laying it in the sun to dry...I honestly must say that the result was sort of like your restaurant tea...bland. What is the secret to getting yummy ones like yours above?!?

Darla said...

Happy Spring! You do such interesting things with your coffee and tea. I mostly just drink mine :-)

Darla

Caterina Giglio said...

sometimes the best tea rambles ... like a lovely conversation at the kitchen table... and yes so very nice to be in such good company in the BOOK isn't it... what a great collection... thanks E!
ps I agree about the internet, it has really brought our community together. xo

Unknown said...

Happy spring!!! we're on the better side of our orbit now :)

love your rambling tea ... fun flower arrangement .... your coffee dye looks great - such great color from the outset! ... and I personally love restaurant iced tea :)

Happy T day! enjoy it!!!

Halle said...

Happy Spring...we were totally overcast today. Not so pretty and not as warm. Not complaining though...just commenting. :)

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I adore those orange tinted tulips! Interesting info on dyeing paper & cheesecloth and saving tea bags to use in your work. I have a feeling there is a whole lot of things I will be looking at differently!

Thank you for your comments on my cracking paint on the tyvek. I will try one of your suggestions!

Shoshi said...

What a wonderfully varied post, with so many things of interest, and lots of lovely pictures! You've got a lovely room, too, and it looks so organised!

Lol at the wallpaper/screensaver thing! The only reason I knew it was a wallpaper was because of the icons on the screen! No rocket science involved!!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #14

kay said...

wow what a fab room,you have so many great projects on the go :)
#51

Redanne said...

Great post (although I could not get to you through your link on Stamping Ground - had to go externally). You have a wonderful craft room and some great things on the go. Regards, Anne #66

Tracey FK said...

Great tea post and I think I am going to dye some pages with the dreaded strawberries and cream tea from yesterday... and I love love love that photo... makes me want to paint it... is it a photo you have taken??? love meeting up for tea...xx

donnalouiserodgers said...

thank you for persevering, really I have found a lot of people just need to update their internet browser, and clear their history and the problems go away,

you are actually quite something of a stamper, from the evidence i see on thy desk today... so there...

I think I might need to be looking at the next lesson but am still fiddling and faffing with the niche pages, I also think I might be politically (geopolitically) incorrect to call it Holland, but goodness, it wouldn't be my worse offence...

I was going to list the artists then thought - You really are a smart arse, rodgers, and no one likes a smart arse, so instead I shall say overall we have the effect of a Chagall...

Dx

Unknown said...

Hi Elizabeth, I have been collecting great storage tips this week but yours has to be the most original so far. Love your breeze block nooks! Hope you weather gets better soon. But rainy weather is perfect crafting weather. Thanks for popping by to say hello. Helen ♯35

Anonymous said...

I am glad that eventually you kept on trying with the comments.I really appreciate you trying.Thankyou.
I love looking at your blog.Love your creativity Elizabeth.

Yes ditto above(go to Google Chrome now-I was having loads of problems too.)

Suz said...

Elizabeth, i just ove your first picture. What a super piece of mixed media and modern art!
Hugs,
Suz

My name is Cindy said...

Lots going on and I am very envious of your studio, looks like a comfortableplace to create. Thanks for popping by to see me, hope the commenting problem gets resolved! Cindy WOYWW #17

Morti said...

I'm losing track of who I've been to and left messages, cos some of the posts seem familiar! ROFL

Love your workspace - even though it's in the basement, it seems really light and airy. fab....

Morti #124