A Busy Tea Time Tuesday

This teacup is Japanese Lustreware . You can see why it has been given that name. Look at the luster and shine. You can see my reflection in the bottom of the teacup as I took a picture of it. I have a lot to do before I am ready for the Lake Lawrence Christmas Bazaar this weekend. I have been up later than usual finishing Wee Little Sheep, felted balls, yarns, weavings...as usual, I don't have half what I had planned ready for this bazaar.A cup of black tea helps bolster me for a few hours more work.I will listen to Christmas carols too, they help keep me in the mood for Christmas crafting. Look at how neatly these little sheep line up for me. Wouldn't it be nice if my real sheep would? I have 4 of these Lustreware teacups & saucers. Although they are a matching set, each one is unique in that the details show they were hand painted. They vary oh- so- slightly.The bottoms of the cups have no markings, but the saucer bottoms say "HAND PAINT, Made in Japan".

The pink sheep is for you Joni.

To see more teacups , tea settings, and 'all things tea', just click onto the names of the ladies listed below~now I must get back to work! I am looking forward to taking tea with these ladies during my breaks.

• Martha at Martha's Favorites *
• Terri at Artful Affirmations *
• Lady Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor *
• Wanda Lee at The Silken Purse *
• Pam at Breath Of Fresh Air *
• Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage *

It's Almost Here!

This little granddaughter is already excited about Christmas. In early September she whispered in my ear, " Grandma, it is almost Christmas!" Of course around here it is always Christmas, a celebration of Christ, we just wait until the end of summer to resume playing Christmas carols. "One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind .He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats , does so for the Lord for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God." Romans 14:5,6 and "This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Liberty Blue ~ Tea Time Tuesday

Liberty Blue China, Historic Colonial Scenes~ Old North Church Made In England

This plate ( above) is one my husband and I bought on a trip we took a few years ago to the East Coast. We spent several days in Boston, visiting many important historical sites. Do you know they have a lot to say about Tea Parties there in Boston? See, it is even commemorated on this souvenir plate ( click onto picture for close-up). Hmm, wonder if the participants of that tea party were verbally castigated and mocked for protesting high taxes imposed on them by the British? ( Rhetorical question) Today's teacup goes very well with the souvenir plate. We bought this teacup in Cannon Beach this September and I posted a tiny bit about it but I am excited to showcase this teacup again today in more detail because the Liberty Blue China, just like the plate, celebrates important moments of our early American history. "Lovely Liberty Blue China Teacup and Saucers were produced as part of a set of china showing different colonial scenes at the center of the various pieces, surrounded by a floral graphic. " Liberty Blue China was made in England and designed to commemorate the American Bicentennial. How far we have come since the Boston Tea Party. We rebellious Colonists fought the British ,gained our independence at great cost in bloodshed ( British & American), and now as a nation consider the British among our best friends. "Patriot: characterized by patriotism, influenced by love of one's native or adopted land, intended for public good." Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary The teacup celebrates Paul Revere's famous ride,the saucer depicts the Old North Church where Paul Revere told 3 Boston patriots to hang 2 lanterns in the steeple warning of the British troops' coming. "It is easy to take liberty for granted when you have never had it taken from you." AU As an aside, every time I think of Paul Revere now, I think of Italian food! My husband and I visited Paul Revere's home in Boston and it is surrounded by Italian restaurants. The sight and scent of all that delicious food permeates the whole area.You cannot visit without having to stop and eat at one of them. Now, I will finish my cup of tea while I make notes to myself regarding my selections in the voting booth tomorrow. Remember, the privilege of voting came at a dear price. Exercise your right wisely, and pray for the leaders of our country , whether they are your choice or not. Please visit the ladies below to see more of Tea Time Tuesday ~

• Terri at Artful Affirmations*
• Martha at Martha's Favorites*
• Lady Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor*
• Wanda Lee at The Silken Purse*
• Pam at Breath Of Fresh Air*
• Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage*

Creativity & Economy- A Balancing Act

I went to 2 different fabric stores yesterday in search of some things I need to finish the handbags I am making from my hand- woven fabric. Most of my weaving is done using yarn and fiber from my own flock of sheep. Why am I telling you this and what does it have to do with going to the fabric store? Well, I learned that fabric is not cheap, and barely economical anymore. I discovered I have a treasure trove of riches here at home, carefully stored in baskets and boxes. Fabric is expensive! It has been awhile since I bought any fabric.I don't think anyone can save money anymore by buying fabric to make clothing. The cheapest fabrics I saw were no less than $4.00 a yard.Why would anyone buy fabric to make clothing or quilts when they can now be purchased ready-made far less expensively, and conveniently too? I also discovered many of the supplies I have saved and set aside to craft items using my hand-spun and hand dyed wool are worth far, far more than I sell them for. The fabric stores are selling an OUNCE of carded wool in little plastic bags for at least $2.00 , often a little more. Here all along I have undervalued the work of my hand, the produce of my flocks, my time, by grossly undercharging for them. I will have to charge much less than my items are worth though, to sell them. To make a little money, for what is the point of stock piling things I have made? It becomes a waste of time , resources, and energy to create. This is the dilemma I find many of the people selling beautiful handcrafts at the bazaars, Farmer's Markets, and boutiques face. What we are selling is an item that cannot ever have our time factored in on the price tag. That is O.K. though ( most of the time). I have the privilege of being able to stay home and make these things. I have the privilege of keeping sheep I love, to grow the wool to spin up into yarn to dye, weave, or sell. The one thing I keep losing track of though is that does not mean I should be undervaluing my craft as I am often guilty of . I am not being a good steward of God's provision when I under sell and under value the work of my hands and heart. Yes, I make many things to sell that are priced low so they sell quickly, I have to make enough money to pay most of the feed bill and booth fees.I always recover my product supply costs too. However, I am determined to remember thrift and economy do not mean cheap and of little or no value. That includes using what I have already, and using it wisely to produce items worth keeping if they are not sold. Worth passing down to another generation in the family. Why would any of us want to create our own clothing, furnishings, or any of the multitude of things we craft ?Could it be because we are compelled, or driven to consider the work of our hands and minds of far more value than economy? ----"People get into crafting because they love creating things." Jamie Turner ----- My desire is to remember the value of whatever I do in my life should be measured by God's standards. I am driven to create because God created me ( and you) that way. How I create and craft should also glorify God by not detracting from my responsibilities as a wife, mother,employee, sister-in-the Lord....and sometimes that is a real balancing act. Am I being a good wife and mother, or good steward of time if meals are not prepared, the house is untidy and cluttered , laundry not done because of MY crafting?Am I wasting resources, money,scarce storage space at home by making unwise choices in crafting?"An excellent wife, who can find?...The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain." Proverbs 31:10,11 ----These questions can be adapted to apply to anyone bursting with the need and passion to be creative, man or woman, married or single...the point here is we as human beings are driven to create in some fashion or other and often monetary gain is not the primary goal but a means to support the passion that drives our craft,talents, or our dreams.---- "Creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing. It is an attitude, an inner approach - how you look at things...whatsoever you do, if you do it joyfully, if you do it lovingly, if your act of doing is not purely economical, then it is creative." Osho "Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men." Colossians 3:23 "To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance it's beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it." Osho "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.." Ephesians 2:10 *Pictured is weaving I did in 2008~

Tea Time Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday is here again, the days are flying swiftly by. I have barely 3 weeks to finish making the items I hope to sell at the first of two Christmas Bazaars. I have been too busy having tea parties and as usual I am hurrying to catch up with my crafting. So what did I do? I invited one of my granddaughters over to spend the night and have a doll tea party with me later today.I still have two projects on my loom ( above) to finish, a rug only half done to finish, at least another pound of Goth's wool to spin up, and 100 Wee Little Sheep to make before the second weekend in November. Guess I'd better have a cup of tea. I watch my sheep outside the window that over looks my loom. The cat and one of our dogs sleep near-by.I can hear the Grandfather clock downstairs ticking loudly. Today is supposed to be very stormy. A good day to share with a granddaughter and have a tea party for lunch. She brought her dolls for tea.We will be very snug and cozy inside while the storm rages. I will get a fire going in the fireplace.We can nibble on cookies she baked last night while we sip our tea. So, back to teacups. Do you like my blue and white teacup? Blue and white are my favorite colors. ( I know, white is not a color) The cup and saucer are made by Royal Worchester of England. There is no given name for the pattern on the china but to me it looks to mimic Asian design. I am very pleased with this teacup & saucer. To see other beautiful teacups and tea times be sure to visit these ladies, and leave them a comment. Kind words and comments are like tasty tea time treats, well loved and savored~

• Martha *
• Terri *
• Wanda Lee*
• Pam *
• Lady Katherine*
• Sandi*

Precious In His Sight

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord;" Psalm 127:3

"Then some children were brought to Jesus so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said. "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:13,14

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

"Correct your son ( and daughters ) and he will give you comfort; he will delight your soul." Proverbs 29:17 "...but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother." Proverbs 29:15

"..But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him to have a heavy millstone be hung around his neck and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea." Jesus~ Matthew 18:6 "See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father, who is in heaven." Jesus, Matthew 18:10 It is very comforting and reassuring to know God watches over the little ones we love, and very scary for you if you are guilty of despising children or causing them to stumble. God calls children a gift.Good gifts are precious and usually given to us by someone who loves us, the best gifts come from God. He gives precious gifts to the just and the un-just. Praise Him! "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow." James 1:17

Eat Dessert First !

"In the hour, when death shall open the door into eternity- many things which now assume an 'air of importance' , will be found as light and unsubstantial as a child's dream." John Newton