The T-Cozy

New (Old) Stuff at T-Party Antiques

You'll now find the vintage goodness shown below in my Etsy shop.

 

 

Here's something I listed on eBay yesterday. This antique tin advertising sign has such wonderful colors and graphics. If it doesn't sell, it will most likely find its way into my Etsy shop, too.

And here's an idea of what to do with sweet little vintage planters like this 1940's shoe. They make perfect business card holders. So much more fun to have on your desk than one of those boring new metal or plastic ones, don't you think?

I've had this shoe planter for ages. I was about to sell it but now that it has a useful purpose in my studio, I think it's a keeper.

Susan

A Stroll Down Washington Mews

Yesterday, John and I spent the day in New York City's Greenwich Village. After a delicious brunch at a restaurant called The Smith, we people-watched in Washington Square Park for a while. Later, we strolled along cobblestoned Washington Mews, one of the most unusual private lanes in Manhattan.

Nestled among tall buildings, this gated block-long street consists of converted two-story stables. The north side of Washington Mews dates back to the early 1800's; the south side was built in 1939. Private streets for stables were common in places like London but were very rare in New York.

In the early 1900's, when the motor car was rapidly replacing the horse and carriage, these structures were transformed into airy studios for artists. Many of the brick stables were covered with stucco and decorative tiles.

Around 1950, New York University leased the entire street. Some artists remained, like the painter Edward Hopper who died there in 1966. But gradually, the buildings were taken over for offices and faculty housing. How lovely that NYU preserves and continues to use these charming structures. And how lucky those professors are who get to live in them!

 

This enchanting lane offers a glimpse into the past. What a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Susan

Elevating the Lowly Button

In preparation for making new button bouquets for my Etsy shop, I combed through my large tin of buttons yesterday. It's one of many tins I use for storage in my studio. The room's built-in shelves are a veritable patchwork of 1950's picnic tins. I love all of their different lithographed patterns and faux textures. With the addition of little hand written tags, these tins keep everything organized and within easy reach.

My favorite spot to do crafty projects is the drawing table in my studio which overlooks our back garden.

Inside this old picnic tin are thousands of vintage buttons, a stash I've amassed over the years from estate sales and flea markets.

These old buttons may not look like much, but when I root around for a while, I always discover beautiful ones to transform into my vintage button bouquets.

I love finding ones with intricate carved textures. Then I pair them up with larger plain ones and elevate them into little works of art. I made four bouquets yesterday. Aren't they pretty?

If you have a button collection and would like to try your hand at making a bouquet, click here for a tutorial I posted a while back. And if you make one, please email me a photo so I can share your creation with my readers in another post.

Susan

Projects for a Less Than Perfect Teacup

I made a quick stop at a neighborhood estate sale last Friday and purchased just one item . . .

. . . this beautiful Royal Grafton teacup and saucer for a dollar!

Even though I sell all things tea and I'm a former tea room owner, I never had the urge to collect bone china teacups. They are a bit too precious and delicate for my taste. However, this one called out to me; a lovely but sad set with a hefty hairline crack in the cup. I knew it would be unable to hold liquid without leaking.

So what to do with a gorgeous teacup that can no longer contain tea? I lined the cup with a smaller glass ramekin and headed out to my garden. The result is the sweet arrangement above.

Here are some other ideas along with links to crafty projects for less than perfect teacups:

If you like candles, simply place a tea light in the cup. The saucer is perfect to hold a pillar candle. And check out this tutorial that shows you how to turn teacups into candles using microwavable soy wax.

A creative blog called called mmmcrafts has an easy tutorial on making a teacup pin cushion.

Here's a more ambitious project for the garden --- a teacup bird feeder.

Any other ideas out there on how to transform a teacup with issues? Next time you come across one, don't be afraid to rescue it. Then recycle it into something fabulous!

Susan

Demystifying Rooibos Tea

I'm a Rooibos tea fan. And I want you to become one, too. Why? Because it's delicious and really good for you. Here is what you need to know about this beneficial herbal infusion.

What is Rooibos?
Rooibos (pronounced "roy-bos") is the Afrikaans word that translates to “red bush.” This herb, grown in the South Western Cape region of South Africa, is a member of the legume family. It is used to make an herbal tea that has been popular for generations.

How is Rooibos different than black tea?
Rooibos is 100% caffeine free. A nice feature is that it doesn't become bitter when steeped for a long time. (Black tea tends to stew if brewed too long.) Rooibos also lacks the astringency found in black tea and has low tannin levels. Tannins can affect the metabolism by decreasing absorption of certain nutrients like iron and protein.

How is Rooibos similar to black tea?
Rooibos is the only other type of tea beside black tea that is oxidized. This fermentation process turns the green needles a deep red color and enhances its flavor. Rooibos is naturally sweet and slightly nutty (like me!). Most herbal teas are too light in body to combine well with milk, but Rooibos takes milk beautifully. So if you prefer milk in your tea, Rooibos is the one for you. 

Is Rooibos good for you?
Like black and green tea, Rooibos contains a number of phenolic compounds that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. These substances help protect the body from free radical damage. They also help to maintain the health of small blood vessels and connective tissue. Drinking Rooibos tea daily can help build the body's immune system. It is an antispasmodic. In South Africa it is very common to give rooibos tea to babies who suffer from colic. Red tea has anti-allergenic and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains high levels of quercitin, a flavonoid that inhibits the release of histamine and other inflammatory compounds. Rooibos also contains calcium, fluoride, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and potassium which contributes to healthy skin, bones, teeth, and enhances the metabolic processes. Amazing!

What has Rooibos done for me lately?
I drink Rooibos almost every day. Hard to say whether or not it's from the tea, but my health has been pretty darn good lately. I haven't had a cold in years. Really, it's been years! Plus, I haven't suffered from my usual spring time allergies that used to plague me at this time of year.

Where can I find Rooibos teas?
It's easy to give red tea a try. I recommend going with a flavored one. (Plain Rooibos is an acquired taste.) You can find Rooibos blends in just about every grocery or health food store. Trader Joe's has one called Ruby Red Chai and Starbucks offers African Red Bush. On my website, I carry a strawberry and cherry flavored Rooibos called Cherry Berry Good. Or course, I prefer to drink my very own Susan's Blend, also on my website.

What is Susan's Blend?
When I had my tea room, I worked with my tea purveyor to create my red tea blend, an herbal Rooibos mixed with ginseng, blackberry leaves, orange peel, rosehips, a dash of chicory, ginger root and a hint of cinnamon. Along with being delicious plain or with milk, Susan's Blend is 100% caffeine free and it can be enjoyed both hot or iced. Plus, it's a T-Party exclusive.

Free tea for you!
As a gift to my loyal patrons, I will include a free two-ounce sample tin of my signature Susan's Blend with orders over $20 (before shipping) on my website. This special offer will run through Tuesday, June 30.

I hope I've demystified Rooibos tea for you. Come on, give it a try!

Susan

A Rosy Walk Around Rowayton

Roses everywhere! Here are some of the lovely varieties I passed yesterday on my morning walk through Rowayton.

 

Such beautiful blooms!

Susan

Here Comes the Sun

After seemingly weeks of rain, the sun has come out today in my little corner of Connecticut. So I'm celebrating the sunshine with a sale on The T-Cozy's sister blog.

Click here to check out the reduced prices on Kitsch Encounter.

Susan

Going, Going, Gone

All of the rain we've had lately has kept down the distractions in my studio. (When it's sunny, my mind tends to wander.) Last week was extra busy. I sold several things on eBay and lots of items have been moving on Etsy and my website. Funny how some things sell in a matter of hours after I discover them; others can take months to move. But somehow, everything finds its way to a happy new home.

One evening, John joked about how my "shipping department" (that would be me) was up until 11 p.m. (that's late for me) packing up stuff to mail off. Sales have been brisk these days so perhaps the economy really is improving. Let's hope so.

Here are some of the things I said goodbye to last week . . .

 

 

Several of my favorite customers purchased items from T-Party recently. Such nice folks! One stated, "I love coming home from work and finding a package from you on my porch." Another is a local Scottie collector and she chose to stop by my studio in person to pick up her items. I'm always on the look-out for Scottie items for her. I hadn't seen her since I closed my shop and it was great to catch up with her.

Another customer (one I'd like to clone because she so "gets" T-Party) also came by to pick up her purchases. After she got home, she kindly emailed me this message, "Thank you not only for the easy merchandise pickup, but also for inviting me in. It was so much fun to see your studio. When I got home I carefully unwrapped my packages (where do you find that neat bakery string?) and was even more delighted with my purchases. The sombrero is even better "in person." I do some sewing and sometimes misplace my thimble, or leave it where the cat can get it and it disappears. My sombrero and needles will be kitschy, handy, and won't skittle under the refrigerator. I adore the quirky tea bag rests. I opened the tea; smelled it; perfect. Then there was the ugly intrusion of having to go to the dump, but I planned to also pick up some whole wheat flour so I could make the muffins when I got home."

And a little while later this photo was waiting for me in my inbox . . .

She baked my muffins and they came out perfect! (Nice touch with the pecan on the top of each, don't you think?) I hope she and her family enjoyed eating them, too.

Last week was so productive and fun. I look forward to seeing what this week will bring.

Susan

The Alphabet That Was Good To Eat

This darling 1932 ABC book was one of my finds at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market a couple of weeks ago.

The Alphabet That Was Good To Eat is about a little girl named Patsy who is having a difficult time remembering her letters. Then her imaginary friend, Bilo, suggests that she think of a food for each letter of the alphabet. Every night before bed, Pasty thinks of something good to eat, starting with A all the way through to Z. She makes up a little story to go along with each letter and before long, she proudly learns the entire alphabet.

What a wonderful story by Louise Price Bell. This endearing book
is filled with the sweetest color illustrations by Dorothy Whidden.
Have a look . . .

Utterly charming, don't you think?

Susan

My Whole Wheat Banana Walnut Muffins

This recipe is one that I have tinkered with for some time now. I'm always looking for a healthy treat to go with my afternoon tea, and these muffins are a perfect compliment to my daily cup of Susan's Blend. I've replaced many ingredients with ones that are a bit more healthy and low-fat like whole wheat flour, margarine and skim milk. It's also egg-free. Plus, you can make them into muffins or bake them in a bread loaf pan.

Susan's Whole Wheat Banana Walnut Muffins
Ingredients:
1/3 cup margarine; 1/2 cup sugar; 2 cups whole wheat flour;
1-1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 3/4 tsp cinnamon;
1 tsp vanilla; 2 ripe bananas, mashed; 1/2 cup skim milk;
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the margarine and sugar. (I usually melt the margarine a bit.) Then stir in the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Add the vanilla, bananas, skim milk and walnuts. Mix well. (If the batter is too dry, add a splash more milk.)

For Muffins: Pour the batter into an oiled muffin pan. Sprinkle the top of each with a little sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until light brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

For Bread: Pour the batter into an oiled loaf pan. Sprinkle the top with a little sugar. Bake for 40 minutes or until light brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Voilà! Wondering why there are only ten muffins on the platter? We couldn't resist. Hannah and I each had one hot out of the oven! I hope you'll give this recipe a try. If you do, let me know is you have any suggestions. No reason why I can't keep tweaking the recipe.

I wanted to thank all of you for your kind comments on my last post. It's always so nice to hear from you and I  enjoyed reading about why many of you read and have blogs. Don't you think the bloggers mentioned in the article (those seeking only fame and fortune) have really missed the boat? The blogging world is a community filled with inspiring and caring people. I am so grateful that it enables me to connect with those who have similar interests and who validate my creative pursuits. That alone is worth a fortune to me.

(This post is linked to Kimba's DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land. Check it out!)

Susan

To Blog Or Not To Blog?

I've been thinking a lot about an article I read by Douglas Quenqua in yesterday's New York Times called "Blogs Falling In an Empty Forest." It talks about how many people begin blogging with lofty aspirations; with hopes of landing a book deal or quitting their day job. But apparently blogs have a higher failure rate than restaurants.

In the article, they sight a surprising statistic from a survey by Technorati: only 7.4 million out of the 133 million blogs the company tracks had been updated in the past 120 days. Essentially that means 95 percent of those blogs have been abandoned. Some blogs die from lack of readership; others from lack of time. Some people prefer the more immediate venues of Facebook and Twitter to blogging. (Not me.)

Technorati's chief executive, Richard Jalichandra, claims that though there are 7 to 10 million active blogs on the internet, between 50,000 and 100,000 of them are generating most of the page views. He states, "There's a joke within the blogging community that most blogs have an audience of one."

So why blog? Or better yet, why continue to blog? For me, it's a welcome form of self expression. It enables me to dabble in my love of the visual, particularly photography. It allows for the presentation of an idea in great detail, if you wish. Twitter and Facebook offer quick sound bites, not a juicy story.

I feel that there just isn't enough time in the day to keep up with all of the social networking sites out there. Do you agree? Plus, so many of them seem like a big numbers game --- how many "friends" does one have on Facebook; how many "followers" on Twitter. But are they really friends? And do those followers really follow the tweets of the hundreds they are following? I doubt it. And though there are those who feel that the only way to be a successful blogger is to rack up comments, I know that most readers appreciate a pleasant diversion and don't want to feel obligated to leave a comment. And that's OK with me.

Blogs offer a personal view of someone's world. It's a perfect forum for providing visual inspiration. I love to see what other bloggers create, particularly in their own homes and studios. Sharing what one is passionate about --- I find that inspiring. I can only hope that The T-Cozy has been that for you.

Sure, there have been quiet times while blogging when I ask myself, "Is anybody out there?" But then I'll a receive a heartfelt comment or an enthusiastic email, and I feel reassured that I must be doing something right. Because even after 27 months and 454 posts, to me, blogging still feels right. So I'll keep on posting and I hope you'll keep on reading.

Susan

Making This Picnic Season More Green

Now that the warm weather is upon us, don't you feel the urge to pack a picnic and dine outdoors?

Whether you head to the seashore, a local park or your backyard, having a picnic is the essence of summer. And one way to make outdoor meals a little more Earth friendly is by setting your picnic table with reusable dishes and cutlery.

In my travels yesterday, I came across this 42 piece set of 1960's Melmac picnic ware designed by Alexander Berna. In white and aqua with touches of gold, the set mixes and matches solid colors with a pretty floral pattern. The teacups have a very cool shape and I love the handles on the bowls.

Keep your eye out for vintage picnic ware when you explore flea markets, estate sales or thrift shops this summer Sets like these are dishwasher safe, are virtually unbreakable and will save you money since you'll never need to purchase paper or plastic plates again.

A "green" picnic is good for the environment. By using reusable dishes, you'll be keeping one-time-use paper and plastic plates and cups out of the trash. And best of all, vintage sets like these add a fun, retro vibe to the meal.

Happy picnicking!

Susan

Join Me in My Garden

How I love spring and early summer in my garden. Most of the perennials are early bloomers, so it has been prime time for my plants over the last three weeks. Since most of you can't stop by for a proper garden tour and a cup of tea in my back porch, here is the next best thing; a little blogy garden tour . . .

Thank you for joining me in my garden!

Susan

Early Morning Fun at the Elephant's Trunk

What better way to spend a glorious Sunday morning than at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market!

John was kind enough to accompany me on yesterday's early morning jaunt to New Milford, Connecticut, about 40 miles from Rowayton. We left at 6 a.m. for the drive north so we'd be there when the gates open at seven. Being a morning person, I prefer to arrive early before it gets crowded.

There were all sorts of interesting items. This unusual Hooiser cabinet particularly caught my eye. I just love old Hoosiers like this one, but I used restraint since I already have a beautiful oak one at home. But if I still had my shop, it would have been another story!

I only bought "smalls" that would fit in my green vintage shopping basket making the trek up and down the many aisles a lot easier. Here's what came home with me . . .

Great stuff! Little by little, I'll be listing these finds on Etsy and Kitsch Encounter, the T-Cozy's sister blog.

It was such a fun morning at the flea market. It took us just about two hours to walk the entire field and we were home by 10 a.m. Our kids weren't even up yet and the beautiful day was still young.

Susan