New Teacups!

Here is something exciting for Teacup Tuesday: when I got home from Atlanta a great big package from Evergreen Enterprises was waiting for me. Inside, among other things, were these wonderful stacking cups in my Aeropostale design. Evergreen calls them expresso cups, but for me they are just right for tea. I got a kick out of using them to offer tea to a friend at dinner the other night.

Here is a closeup of the goldfinch cup. There is a goldfinch, chickadee, wren, and titmouse. Thanks for letting me share them with you! If you want to see more pretty cups, head over to Artful Affirmations or Martha's Favorites, our lovely hostesses (links at the right).

Atlanta Gift Show

Did you miss me? I have been in Atlanta for work and play. It was time for the summer Atlanta Gift Show. The summer show isn't as big as the winter one, but it was still a very busy time. People were certainly in the mood to buy, which gives me hope for the continued upswing of the economy, and I had many positive meetings with clients.











Highland has manufactured several sets of coasters with my designs. I really liked how they came out and the display stands look good too. I'm going to have enough coasters to last for the rest of my life once the samples arrive! I was especially pleased to see the Sweet Inspirations line pictured in "Gifts and Decorative Accessories" magazine.




And here is my line "Aeropostale" in the Evergreen Enterprises showroom. They have added new pieces to it since the January show. I'm very proud of it. (I am drinking my tea out of one of the cups right now. I'll show them on Teacup Tuesday).



After a long busy day a group of us met for drinks. I enjoyed seeing everyone so much, and meeting some of my "internet friends" for the first time was great. Back row from left to right:
Pudgy little me, Terri Conrad, Martha Collins, Joyce Shelton, Phyllis Dobbs, Sue Zipkin. Front row: BJ Lantz and Carol Eldridge. Kathy Weller, Tammy Browning Smith, and Janet Wecker Frisch were also there, but unfortunately didn't make it into the photo. Getting together was the highlight of the day!

A Tuesday Bonus

One of the benefits of Teacup Tuesday is that I get to play with my camera and try to set up a nice still life with the teacup. Someday some of these pictures might even turn into paintings! Isn't this teacup pretty? It is English, by Roy Kirkham. I got it at the discount store a couple of weeks ago. It is rather too big for tea, actually, but it is good for hot chocolate! I have placed it with some of my seaside souvenirs; a sea urchin from Maine, starfish and sea sponges from Florida....

Here are a few more Kirkham cups. As you can see, I have the mug that matches the teacup. I have a weakness for things with pictures of birds! The tray in the background is from my Aeropostale collection from Evergreen Enterprises.

Thanks again to Artful Affirmations and Martha's Favorites for hosting! Their blog links are on the right side of this page.

Brambly Hedge

Everyone seemed to like my teacups I posted yesterday, but I was surprised at how many people had never seen the Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem. I just love them. Her attention to detail is amazing! Here is the cover of a book I have, which I highly recommend. It has four of her stories, and a section at the beginning where she talks about her work and has drawings from her sketchbook. If you like Beatrix Potter, you will definately like Jill Barklem.



Here is an inside spread from the book. Please remember that these images are copyrighted. I am only showing a couple for the purpose of this book review, which I think I am allowed to do. Someone tell me if I am not! Look at the fantastic detail of the food and dishes on the shelves. That is one thing that impresses me most about these books: she has planned out every detail of her characters' lives. She mentions in the interview that the things they do and make are all physically possible. If you would like to learn more, her website is :
http://www.bramblyhedge.co.uk/

Guess What Day It Is

That's right, it's Teacup Tuesday!

Today I am featuring two very special cups. These cups are from Royal Doulton and they have Brambley Hedge artwork on them. Have you ever seen the beautiful Brambley Hedge books by Jill Barklem? I just love them. These cups are the ones that my daughter and I used to use when we had special tea parties. She's too old for that now, so now I imagine her using them with her own daughter some day. The Queen Elizabeth II coronation jug was my mother's and is another one I rescued from the Goodwill pile. The blue and white jug I bought at a flea market just because it was so pretty! The fabric in the background is from my "Purrfect Garden" line.

Here is a closer view of the cups. This style of cup is called a "beaker" in England. Someday I should probably look on Ebay for the remaining two in the series! Thanks for visiting me! As usual, if you want to see more teacups, head over to Martha's Favorites or Artful Affirmations.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone. It is shaping up to be a great day here. A lot cooler today, with a high of maybe 70 degrees. I am getting ready to go outside and watch the neighborhood parade. All the neighborhood kids gather at the clubhouse by the pool and decorate their bikes and scooters with streamers and balloons, then parade around the neighborhood. One of the Dads has a big drum, so he sets the pace. It is the most adorable thing you've ever seen. Our neighborhood is great for that kind of thing. It has a very friendly, small-town feeling. We have summer movies on the clubhouse lawn, Christmas cookie exchanges, a book club, etc. Then later today we are going to a cookout at a friend's house, then back here to watch the fireworks.

Hope all of you have a great day too!