letters, ice tea & a welcoming sign

There are many things I enjoy but two things I believe many of friends know that I especially do: writing/sending letters and having tea. I've been writing letters since I was a child and never lost my love for handwritten mail. I believe by the time I was about 18 or so is when I started decorating envelopes, whether with drawings, clippings or even paint. Sometimes I wish I took a picture of each and every envelope I did that I was so proud of just to have a record of it. It inspired me to begin yet another little hobby tumblr, The Emphera Mail, where I will be posting photos of letters I send out. I'm also recording what posts and packages inspire me on one of my pinterest boards.

I also started getting together with a small group of good friends once a month for tea, sweets, savories, good conversation and fellowship. Again, in typical Andrea fashion, I started a blog for it as well called Kindred Gathering. I usually post the monthly invites along with a few photos of the treats. This time I forgot to take pictures but in place, I posted my very simple recipe for our little family's favorite beverage, Spiced Ice Tea Lemonade (or Arnold Palmer, whichever you prefer) and I thought I would like to share it here as well:

The days needs to continue on in other ways but before I leave, here are a couple of photos of with Nat and her 'welcome sign' she made for fairies (for those traveling past our front yard, of course). Have a great weekend everyone!

the tea is in the garden...

 Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company.  ~Author Unknown

I've had a flurry of ideas come into my head lately and so far, just this one has been materialized. It's almost appropriate, being in the month of March now, awaiting springs true arrival. I like the idea of having tea in a splendid garden and maybe one day I will get to do that with a few cherished friends (and of course, my sweet little girl). 

I also think I am approaching yet another slight sea change in my art. I want to explore a few different ways of seeing things and relating that onto paper. Not just paper too, for I have ideas for felt little dolls and the like. I have so many ideas and much to do but still, the whole concept of balance and discipline nip at my heels for attention. I need to buckle down and just do the things I have set out for me. Until then, I'll put the kettle on, warm this chill upon my skin and hope you do the same too. :)

tea leaves

tea loves

loves tea

lives tea

leaves tea?

never.

~Uniek Swain

Indeed, Madame, your ladyship is very sparing of your tea;

I protest the last I took was no more than water bewitched.

- Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

ten things

Miss Mathyld has tagged me to share Ten Things That Make Me Happy, so here I go...

one--my daughter and my husband (and my best friend)

two--the long history I have with him (we've been together since I was eighteen and he was nineteen) :)

three--drawing owls, seeing owls, anything pretty much with owls (but of course, you already knew that)!

four--collecting books, reading stories and getting lost in them

five--small gestures of kindness from friends and from unlikely people

six--the mysteries (and inspirations) of nature

seven--the magic of pretending and making memories

eight--letters and parcels in the mail (who doesn't like this?)

nine--learning to become a wee gardener of sorts

ten--many old, vintage things, including houses I can pretend to live in

eleven--a good cup of tea in quiet solitude

Okay, so I snuck in an extra one. But this one goes to eleven (for you Spinal Tap fans). The truth is there are so many things to make one happy. I think I kind of needed this, especially this week, when things have been a bit rough. We need to be reminded of happy things, right?

Well, I think I will not tag anyone formally this time but please, feel free to make your own little list of happy things :)

thankful things, random things and sharing things

Friday friday friday. It's almost afternoon, still and silent here. My tea mug slowly brewing a cup of Bright Mornings in a sweet silicone strawberry infuser. I'm sitting calmly here, allowing thoughts to breeze inside my mind and not whirlwind about. Yesterday was a trying day and I really don't want it to be repeated. Anxiety tends to knock on my door from time to time and yesterday it just barged in, unannounced and uninvited. It's been awhile since I have had a day like that and I don't intend really want it to happen again any time soon. I am thankful for the friends and loved ones who I was able to reach out to and pray on my behalf. So I wipe the slate clean of yesterday and I am focusing on all my blessings and good things I have today.

I've been a little behind in keeping up with so many wonderful creative people so I missed this post entirely from Heather of Audrey Eclectic. I know Mathyld of Encore Petite already filled hers out and so, here now, seven bits of randomness (or perhaps, confessions):

1. I sing along better to male vocalists than female
2. I like watching Wizards of Waverly place, even if my daughter isn't
3. As an adolescent my favorite animals were panthers, wolves and bats and often wrote biology papers on them
4. I'm the youngest cousin by eight years on my mother's side of the family
5. I have dyed my hair practically every color (I was a red head for several years actually)
6. I have loved tea since I was seventeen
7. Littlebighead was a name that my husband came up with for our daughter when she was a baby. She was born with a huge amount of black (buckwheat-like) hair that never fell out. When she would tottle around she looked like she had this big ol' head from the back because of all her hair. :)

I am not sure who I should tag, but if you're game I officially tag:

Violet Folklore

Astral Boutique

GardenMama

5 Orange Potatoes

Little Black Forest

MoonshineJunkyard

Sarah Blank Studios

Whoever else would like to join the bandwagon, come on aboard too :)

+++

Today I would also like to mention a few things. First, thank you to all of you who commented on my previous post about my health issues. There is nothing like knowing that others care about you. I haven't had a chance to respond back to everyone but know that I am deeply grateful for all your words, well wishes and encouragement.

(natalie, age 4)

I also want to share how proud I am of my little Natalie. Today she is having her valentine's at school and instead of buying cards for her classmates, she wanted to make them herself. At first I was thinking it would be so much easier just to buy them, put a little candy with it and be all done but she was diligent and I am glad she was. It shows a certain thoughtfulness into making something with your own hands for your friends. She has such a huge and caring heart and I finally came to my senses and helped her with her endeavor. We cut out butterflies on pink and red stock paper using a die cut a friend had given me. On the blank side, on the right wing I wrote in each one "Just fluttering by to say Happy Valentine's". She wrote the name of her each classmate and her name on the left hand side and decorated it all with flowers, dots and such. She also didn't want to include a lollipop because 'they are not healthy' (though she would quickly take any sweet thing you gave her)!

I am very proud of her and I hope she will continue to have a loving character like this. My husband reminds me though, that sometimes others are not as considerate. He hopes that she will never have to experience any heartbreak from someone who doesn't appreciate this value of hers. I know the world can be a rough place at times, especially when you are not like 'everyone else'. I just hope we do all we can to encourage her to be herself and that she can always find strength in herself, in those who love her and in Him.

Well, I have photos to upload so that I can share with you all from our little trip to a local arboretum this past wednesday. I suppose I should find the camera first. Until then, have a very lovely and sweet weekend.

serena and tea!

The past few days I have been blessed with a few nice surprises. My aunt and uncle who live in Hemet came over to visit this past Saturday and we all had a great time. I hadn't seen my aunt in quite some time and it was so nice to see her looking healthy, well and jovial too! She brought a few gifts over and it was like christmas! We were blessed with yummy teas like pumpkin cream chai, pomegranate green tea and delicate white teas with honey sticks, tea pots and sets too.

Also this week I got a nice little owl post, literally, from my friend Mathyld. Serena the Wizarding Owl is home at last! She made herself quite comfortable upon arrival and even began to enjoy the new tea pots and such with us.


One of the first things Serena did was to peruse books we have all over the house.


She absolutely fell in love with my new owl tea pot my Aunt gave me. I told her how thrilled I was to receive it :)


Eager to use my first Yixing clay teapot (also given to me by my aunt), I made some delicious Blueberry tea given to me by a dear friend who lives in England right now.


Serena, a bit tired from her long journey from Paris, couldn't wait for a cup herself.


While we waited for it to brew, I showed her the beautiful Yixing Tea set that my aunt gave Natalie...


...and this absolutely darling porcelain set she gave her as well.


I think Serena felt quite at home!



Serena came just in time to be with us for this autumn season and I am ever so thankful to Miss Mathyld for sending her my way...

fairy flower tea

Last week Natalie made her first tea blend. I gathered the ingredients for her and she made up her own measurements for each herb. She has named it Fairy Flower Tea and it is delightful!

a photo summary

As I look at the photos I have taken in the past few days, I feel like I am a bit behind in my sharing. I suppose a little recap is the best way for an overview so, here are photos...

Last friday was the Family BBQ and performance at Nat's school. I was presented along with all the other new Officers for next school year's PTA (yes, i joined and it's a whole other world for me! Wish me Luck!) Also, Nat's class performed "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and I took a short video of it and posted it onto my facebook.

Saturday was my niece's sixth birthday where the girls got to go to Build A Bear (Natalie picked out a panda and named her Sabrina) and afterwards headed back to the family's house for a BBQ! I have more photos that I will be putting up on my Flickr.

Sunday was face painting day and Natalie eagerly and joyfully painted both a heart and a bumblebee on both of my cheeks. Daddy was next with a flower and a shining sun. I decided for a nice little garden to paint all over her face :)

I've also been trying my hand at making a few herbal tea blends myself and so I have made two kinds that are very simple. The first I like to call 'fox in the flowers' with chamomile, hibiscus and licorice root and the second is 'honey blue' with chamomile and lavender. Maybe one day I will have a little Herb and Flower shop set up!

Yesterday before our day at disneyland, my husband surprised me with two books I have been wanting, The Backyard Homestead and Wicked Plants (which is a pretty fascinating read thus far. I am really enjoying it!)

egg carton owls and a paper wish house

today we decided to make a few things out of egg cartons. i had an idea to make little owls and so we did. i first made a snowy owl, just to make sure the craft could work. my second owl is a brown one, not as elaborate as the first but still cute. nat decided to make a red, purple and green owl. here, the whole egg carton owl family...

i also 'finished' up her dream box house i've been making (or rather, getting ready for her) for the longest. once, at knott's berry farm, we saw these small wood carven b

oxes called wish boxes. the story was that you would put your wishes in these tiny boxes. of course she wanted one but i thought i would make a little something for her. she helped me paint a shoebox red on the outside (and a little on the inside) and i did the rest. i made a little house with a mail box (though i have to find a better way to secure it. it's leaning a bit). the mail box has little papers i cut for her to write her wishes on. after she writes her wishes, she removes the roof on the house and puts the wish inside. instant wish box house!

i don't believe in reading tea leaves as an answer for what's in my future but sometimes i do like looking to see what shapes come about from the remains. today i think i see a large oak tree in a field with the leaves blowing away from it in the wind. what do you see?

letters and tea staining...

this week has been wonderful. natalie seems to have finally adjusted to school and her behavior in the mornings bring me such happiness. i am truly thankful! i've been trying to do some things but hopefully i get to the post office today (my car is 'sleeping' at the moment and doesn't seem to want to 'wake' up for me to drive it). i have several boxes to send out including an etsy order (thanks so much johanna! i hope you enjoy the mandrakes!) i've written a few letters this week to new mail friends which i am very excited about it. i was able to use my new owl seal as well. it's little things like this that bring small joys into my heart. they really do.

i've been thinking for some time now on how i could tea stain paper. the other day i drank some mighty leaf pomegranate acai decaf black tea and reserved the leaves after. it such a beautiful infusion with a rich berry color. i tried out two different ways of staining on two pieces of medium drawing paper.

after i take out the infuser from my tea i place it in a small dish that strains the liquid into a bottom dish. so with the first paper, i actually took a painting brush and brushed the tea liquid onto the paper. of course, the tea caused the paper to curl a bit in certain areas but i am still going to try to draw something on it and maybe pressed the paper a bit with a few heavy books.

on the second paper i took the tea leaves and rubbed them all over. then i let the set over night. the next day i brushed the leaves off and they left a wonderful pattern on the paper. i'll try drawing something on this paper too but next time i am going to try drawing on the papers before and seeing what the outcome of the tea stains will be.


today is the first of spring and i just want to wish everyone a very happy spring season!

my encore petite!

hooray, i finally got my little package from mathyld of encore petite. she sent me the sweetest little things i am so very grateful for her and our blossoming friendship.

look at these adorable house pins she made for natalie and i. of course, nat was just thrilled to receive a little gift all her own.

tea from her mother's tea shop in france. i can't wait to try it (i am waiting until nat gets home from school so we can have it together).

more delicious teas! i already had the inuit herbal tea this morning. it's juniper and had a very nice, different flavor i hadn't had before.

again, our little house pins, side by side. i can't thank you enough mathyld!!