CreativiTEA (aka: What a Little Paint Can Do)

A few years back, my daughter, Lyndsey, and I decided that my bedroom severely needed an update.  The paint was a pale, violet (which I love,) but it had grayed and was just depressing.  It was a new era -- out with the old and cold -- in with the warm and vibrant.
;^)

We painted the walls a warm, sand (golden undertones) to go with the rich browns and turquoises that I wanted to eventually add.  (Well, actually, we started out with an antique/rose color.  When we put it on the walls, it turned a bright peach!  (Peaches = good to eat ... not so good on walls.)  We decided to save that for something else.  (Can't wait to show you what in a later post.)  Anyway ~~ back to the paint store and we came back with the "sand."   ;^)

See how it warms up the room and glows?  Very nice.  My room does not look like this now, of course, with a few years behind this photo ~~ it has evolved.  (That means there is a LOT more stuff in there.)  ;^)  And the canopy got sacked.  I don't know why.  I like it.  ;^)  Maybe I'll put it back.  ;^)

But what I really want you to see is the turquoise blanket box at the foot of the bed.

I LOVE my turquoise blanket box!  If you knew what it looked like before we painted it ~~ you would understand.  I owned this piece for years ~~ picked it up many moons ago at an estate auction for 50 bucks.  It was a pitiful brown and it was UGLY!  (But I could see the potential ~~ I don't know why I didn't paint it sooner ... for years I just tried to find a place to put it.  It was moved ALL over the house ~~ believe me.)

Well, now it is one of my favorite pieces of furniture.  I do have blankets stashed in it (AND lots of fabric.)  ;^)  (Haven't you heard?  ~~  "She who dies with the most fabric, wins!")  ;^D


If you enlarge this picture, you can also get a glimpse of what a little paint can do for cement floors.   Several of you who know, have been asking to see photos of my painted cement floors.  (I do NOT like carpet.)  My home had wall-to-wall carpeting for years.  I could not WAIT to rip it out and do something different.  Paint was the best option for me ~~ until I could afford tile or wood.  I will do an entire post for you on my painted floors sometime down the line.

Can't wait to show you some of the really cool, amazing things that we came up with to accessorize my room.  ;^)  It's my favorite room in the house.  (Mainly because going back to college means that I don't clean house much.)  Who has time?  Not me.  I just go to class and then sit in front of the computer doing homework all day (and night.)  But I DO keep my room clean and organized.  It's my little sanctuary.  ;^)

THANK you for stopping in!  Please, let me know you were here ~~ I love to hear your comments.  

Stay tuned for more CreativiTEA at CynDeeLyn's!  ;^D

My Favorite Iced Tea

Having grown up with Southern Roots as well as a blood-line with plenty of British in it,

a good cup of tea is continuously flowing through my veins.

I wake myself up in the morning with a cup of peppermint herbal tea.

I try not to drink much caffeine, but lately, I've been enjoying a glass of iced-tea (with caffeine) almost every day.

The best that I've ever found is from my tearoom days as creator/manager/chef of The Secret Garden Tearoom.  It is lower in caffeine than most black teas, but has the perfect amount that makes a great tea.

It is Peach/Apricot tea from Kevton Gourmet.

I became acquainted with Tonya and her mother through the wholesale market excursions that we would make to Dallas for the tearoom.

They are a fantastic group of people who enriched my life in many ways.  

A few years back I was able to make a trip to visit them in their Texas oasis.   I toured their shop and factory, learning a bit more about the process, as well as these innovative Texas women!

I encourage you to check out their website and read all about it!

Their tea really is the finest that I have encountered.  (I know I'm not an expert, but I know what I like....) and this is REALLY good!!!

Their Peach/Apricot has a mild, realistic taste that is very pleasant and refreshing.

I had some left over from the tearoom days (it has stayed fresh in the little aluminum pouch all this time!) and I have been doling it out as a treat now and then.

When I went back to their website today, I was SO excited to see that they offer it for sale on the web!

Yay!

I can replenish my supply!!!

;^)  ;^)  ;^)

Now I won't have to be so careful with my precious stash!

;^)

The Kevton teas make a lovely cup of hot tea, but I LOVE them iced....

I steep the bag in a cup of hot water for a few minutes.

I pour it into a pitcher and add about the same amount of cool water.  I sweeten it...(trying not to use sugar)...lately I've found "Truvia", a stevia-based sweetener than is supposed to be all natural.  I like it...it does not have a weird after taste.  (Today I was out of Truvia, and so I used Sweet 'n Low...)  I know!  I know!   Bad bad bad...but I was in a pinch and I wanted that iced tea!!!  

My other favorite Kevton flavored teas are the Raspberry (very true to life...not fake at all) and Vanilla Bean (that was a tearoom favorite!)  We also used the Black Currant in the tearoom and it was very nice.  All of the teas are excellent (the Jasmine, served hot is just heavenly!!!)

;^)

These teas also keep well in the refrigerator for a few days, especially if you have a piece of crockery.  (That's what we used in the tearoom.)

When I make it at home, it doesn't last that long!

Mmmm....as I've been writing this, I've enjoyed two glasses, and I am headed towards my third....

Ahhhh...

A perfect small joy to help shape my day....
Update:  2011 ~~ I have since learned that Kevton no longer exists.  SAD sad sad day.  ;^(   (If you find any of this tea ~~ please let me know.!  I miss it.)

A Father's Day Tribute to My Dad

There is no one like my Dad.  He has been proud of me since day one.

Dad loves unconditionally and always has...through thick and thin....

 Dad loves my daughters, and has taught them how love is really supposed to be demonstrated.  (They have a lot of fun with him, too....)

My Dad taught me how to love and laugh...he enjoys family more than any man I've ever seen.

He has continued to pass on that love to my grandchildren....

His love and laughter are contagious...

 He supported me in this walk down the aisle...and twenty-two years later, was a pillar of strength as I picked up the pieces and reconstructed my life....

He has been "Papa" to my daughters and even walked Aubrey down the aisle....

 They broke the mold when you were created, Dad.  There is no one like you.  I love you, Happy Father's Day!

Mother/Daughter Shabby Chic Pink Rose Chairs Project

Lyndsey and I combined our efforts to breathe new life into these Pink Rose Chairs.

She painted the previously very ugly brown chairs that I got for $5 each at the Salvation Army, a Two-Tone Rose.

 Lyndsey alternated the light and dark pinks on the two chairs.  The sage green vinyl seats stayed exactly the same and are so much better with the pink than the brown!

We added round finials to the top...(Like little rose-buds!  ;^) )  She "roughed up" the paint a bit on the edges of the chairs to give the "shabby-chic" worn and loved look.

She recruited me to paint the roses and vines.  I had done not much of this since my tole-painting days...(Thank you, Aunt Margarett for the lessons many moons ago!)

  As usual, I loved the results and wanted to keep them...but off they went to Lyndsey's booth, Flying Whimsy, in the Antique/Vintage/Crafts Store.

It was great fun and they turned out better than we anticipated...so hopefully we will sell them to a loving home where pink is perfect!

;^)

Spring Morning Surprise!

My dining table had been covered with books and papers and pencils and pens and calculators and and and...well, you get the picture.  When Lyndsey stayed with me for a few days last week working on furniture projects for her vintage/up-cycled/antique/crafts booth she brought a few things for me.

Not only was my table in need of some rejuvenation, so was I.  College classes have taken over my entire house, which has been sorely neglected.  I needed some r & r!!!  What a surprise when I woke up one morning and found this still life, waiting to sooth my jangled outlook!   ;^)

Lyndsey took a vintage table cloth in a perfect turquoise and added a tiered plate that she had constructed herself with a silver candle-holder in the middle.  Layered on were vintage crocheted hankies with butterflies.  Here began the butterfly sub-theme...there are butterfly candy dishes, in which she tucked in tiny pastel colored Easter eggs.  

 

She cut out turquoise paper butterflies and scattered them across the cloth. 

She added a pink rose teacup with an embroidered hankie and a pink velvet ribbon and pearl book-mark that she had made for me.

 

The message is decidedly positive!  It gives me something peaceful and fun to look at in the midst of everything else that is so hectic!

It is immediately soothing.

It is exciting, too, as we seem to springboard ideas like this off of each other quite well.  I have decided not to go back to work at the restaurant.  I am going to join Lyndsey in creating fun and beauty in the Flying Whimsy booth!!!

I am very excited about that...more info to come soon on that subject.

;^)

What could be a more perfect ending than chocolate?

;^)

(Well, this vintage bunny is pretending to be chocolate...he's actually some kind of resin, but he looks like chocolate!!)

(Shhhh....don't tell him...NO calories!)

;^)

Here's to a hope of bright spring days for you!

(And some chocolate, too.)

;^)

Gingerbread Fun

My mother and I were talking one day a while back.  I was reminiscing about a little cradle that she had made for me when I was a child.  She made it out of an oatmeal box.  While we were talking, Mom said, "I wish I had one of those now."  So, seeing how Ms. Claus overheard that comment, she set to work on it.

;^)

(Ms. Claus eats a lot of old-fashioned oatmeal....)

;^)

 

This is the cradle, which I covered by gluing fabric and ribbon to.  I used 8 1/2" x 11" pieces of paper to fit to the cradle and custom fitted the pattern (after marking off where I wanted to cut it with a pencil.)  I don't suppose any two of mine would ever turn out the same, as I've made more, and I'm not precise enough to come up with an exact pattern.  ;^)  (Patience is a virtue.)  ;^)

 

This is the Sweet Gingerbread Baby and her little Cuddly Cardinal.  (Mom collects cardinals.)  I made them from a pattern that I've had for years and years.

 

This is the Cozy Comforter that I lined with fleece and tie-quilted just like my Grandma used to do.  ;^)

I also made the perfect plump pillow for the Gingerbread Baby to rest her little head on and dream of sugarplums before Santa comes next week.

;^)

 

Oh, yes.  How perfectly cuddly.

Shhhhh!  (Baby sleeping!)

;^) 

Upcycled Inspiration

Sweater Before...

 

Sweater During...

Sweater After!!!

 

Rainbow Rosette and Stitching

Up Close...

 

Rainbow Rosette!

 

Vintage Buttons and Fabric

Up Close...

This may be for my niece for Christmas.

I took my inspiration from my friend, sallymandy at 

The Blue Kimono, whose work on her etsy shop The Blue Kimono Studio is unparalleled!

I've had these sweaters in my closet (picked up here and there at thrift shops) for several years...awaiting the right moment.  I had read a magazine a few years back and had seen upcycled baby sweaters.  I've wanted to do this ever since, but the impetus just wasn't there.

Thank you, sallymandy!!!  

;^)

(Your work is SO top-notch...I know your etsy shop is going to take off!)

;^)  ;^)  ;^)