Monday 17 October 2011

Time for Tea

 Weekend walks followed by afternoon tea are a favourite of mine, and this weekend the weather was so beautiful it was wonderful to be out walking in the fresh autumn air and bright sunshine.....
....and then home to tea with scones, rock buns and cupcakes.....and my new tea cosy which was commissioned a while ago and is my project in this month's Crafts Beautiful magazine, in the shops now ;-)...
......i am not an adventurous cook though sometimes i try something new, like this delicious vanilla frosting from the  Humming Bird Bakery....
 There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. Henry James
......i have collected a lot of quotations about homely things over the years to use in my stitching, and there are quite a number about tea and the taking of it......
                       ....a little close up of the CB teacosy, with its ribbon and button on top.......
 ............and its decorative ribbon bow at the side......i enjoyed making this commission, and in the magazine there is a cupcake card to accompany it, if it's to be made as a gift.........
 ....some pictures of the colourful flowers and berries we saw on our walk yesterday afternoon at our favourite nearby gardens....it was stunning to see how just many things were still in flower there and to enjoy the sight of so many beautiful shrubs full of berries or rosehips......
             The mere chink of cups and saucers turns the mind to happy repose. George Gissing

There are still some mushrooms being made here, and i found some to photograph on our walks too, but they will have to wait for another post.....Thank you for dropping in to tea today in my little bit of blogland it was lovely to see you, thanks for your sweet comments and emails...and a big hellooo to my new followers. Wishing you a wonderful week with plenty of moments of happy repose....back soon xxxxxx

41 comments:

gillyflower said...

Such a pretty tea cosy, and the cup cakes look yummy!Afternoon tea is a real treat when surrounded by so much prettiness!
A feast for the eyes as usual, thank you - i have enjoyed stopping by!
Gill x

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Beautiful tea cosy Helen! :)
How true, nothing like tea and cakes and the clink of cups is indeed a happy sound!
Your autumn photos are very pretty, yesterday was a lovely day and it was great to get out and about, sadly I can't say the same for Monday morning as it's raining again (sigh). Hopefully the week will improve as we go along, have a great one anyway Helen. :)
Vivienne x

DearHelenHartman said...

Simply lovely. Can see how it would add a touch of charm to any afternoon.

sew said...

We have referred to the 'afternoon tea' quote many times since my daughter did 'The Portrait of a Lady'(from which I believe the line comes) for 'O' level English Lit., many years ago. We too are big fans of afternoon tea. I spotted your tea cosy in CB immediately when my copy arrived last week - your work is so distinctive.

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hello Helen,
Oh I loved popping in to have tea with you. I love your cosy and the tea and cupcake was delish! Your walk looked so beautiful with so much still flowering. Weather here was nice on Saturday, but Sunday was mostly cloudy, but makes for getting things done indoors. Lots of hooky making here, thanks for being my "first" buyer.
xoRobin❤

millefeuilles said...

Dear Helen,

How lovely to be invited to tea by you! It is indeed my favourite meal of the day and whilst my shelves are groaning under the weight of cookery books I have more cake recipe books than others.

Your tea cosy is a delight; those flower fabrics are so beautiful aren't they?

I really was touched by your comment today. Thank you. We are so sad and miss Sakura's little presence very much.

Have a beautiful week, Helen!

Patty Marker said...

What a beautiful tea setting and the treats look especially delicious. I love autumn walks so much is changing and settling in for the winter. Have a wonderful week, Patty

flowers on my table said...

I wish I could join you Helen, it all looks so inviting. Love the tea cosy, especially the little ribbon at the side. I must admit I am still thinking about your last post and the toadstools. I am thinking I would like to make some, perhaps in papier mache? You have inspired me! Today is the most dreadful day here, wet, wet, wet and windy. My daughter is off school sick. So I am going to light the fire, make some buns and say 'to heck' with the world.Lots of love to you, Linda x

Thedarkerside73 said...

What a pretty tea cosy so beautifu with its bow on the bottom.

Just love the cakes you made too they look really yummy. And that little tea pot is too cute too!


Hope you have a lovely week.


MBB x

Jenny said...

Your afternoon tea table looks so pretty and inviting Helen, I would love to join you!! The fabric for your cosy is so pretty, I haven't got my copy of CB yet but will look forward to seeing more pics of it when I do :) Enjoy the rest of your week xxx

Jane said...

I actually have my cup of tea here as I type Helen, thanks for letting me join you. It was indeed a gorgeous sunny weekend and we also enjoyed our visit to Southampton. There is still so much in flower but I think the first frosts will be with us soon. That is a lovely tea cosy you made. Have a creative week,
Jane x

Kentish Keg-Meg said...

Lovely colours still out in the countryside and gardens. Beautiful teacosy.Agree with Henry James about afternoon tea.

Deborah said...

I'd love to come to tea if you have it like this!! ;)

Bee happy x
Have a delicious day!

debbie @ happy little cottage said...

Hi Helen,

This is such a lovely post and I really want to like tea...can you tell this American girl what kind you use and the best way to make it? And really it's because I want to make a tea cozy just like yours :) Happy Day!

Mia said...

What a pretty teacozy, Helen! And like you would have read my mind, it was only yesterday I was missing one dearly and decided make on from tweed - we'll see how it'll turn out!

Thank you so much for truly inspirational pictures and post again!

Happy new week!

Yours,
Mia

Madelief said...

Dear Helen,

Your commission to the magazine looks lovely! It
s such a pretty tea cosy. It matches your Cath Kidston teapot and PIP plates perfectly!

The Hummingbird bakery cookbook is one of my favourites too. Do you know the book by Fiona Cairns 'Bake and Decorate'? I think you might like it too! It's simply beautiful with delicious recipes.

Have a lovely week!

Lieve groet, Madelief x

jill said...

Hi Helen,your afternoon tea looks lovely,sounds very tasty just what is needed after a nice autumn walk.Love your tea cosy thanks for sharing with us all.Love Jill xx

my4lilgirls said...

Tea was delightful, all those yummy bakes mmmmmm!!
I love your beautiful tea cosy, i really must make one & a coffee pot cosy also, they really are the finishing touch, beautiful!!!
Lots of love Karen

harmony and rosie said...

Helen, your baking looks every bit as delicious as your sewing. So fresh and neat and pretty.
Happy week to you
Kate x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. I bet afternoon tea at your is a delight :)

Scented Sweetpeas said...

oohh what a lovely tea cozy and gorgeous flower and berry photos. I hope you have a lovely week full of afternoon teas :-) xxx

koralee said...

So pretty...I love love that tea cozy and your plates and teapot...so fun. I had a weekend of pretty china too...oh the joys in our lives! We are blessed...hugs.

Naturally Carol said...

Hi Helen, I've just taken afternoon tea myself..a piece of brownie that I made to take out tonight for a supper! I have enjoyed your pretty teasets and cakes and of course your new tea cosy. A hot cup of tea is all the better with a bit of cool autumn weather!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Everything is so bright and beautiful in your corner of the world. Your tea cozy is lovely. I am slowly trying to get back into stitching again. Takes much more concentration than crocheting. :) Have a wonderful day. Tammy

Catherine said...

The tea cosy is beautiful! Afternoon tea sounds delightful! Cx

Simone said...

I like the 'chink' of cups and saucers. Lovely tea cosy and delicate cakes. A delicious tea after an afternoon walk sounds like my cup of tea! Have a lovely week Helen. x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Your pretty tea cosy looks perfectly placed Helen...everything looks so wonderfully inviting!...I have the Humming Bird Bakery book and have made several of the delicious cakes with my daughters...it's great fun...
There's nothing more beautiful than the perfect Autumn day for a stroll....but sadly lots of blustery wind for us today!
Susan x
P.S Love your delightful quotes!

Ikealady said...

Looks yummy !
Have a nice week.

KaPaworld said...

What an inpiring pictures....Bravo!!

Poppy said...

The tea cosy is so pretty! I always leave your blog with a smile on my face.

Lou xxx

flowers on my table said...

Hi Helen, many thanks for your visit and comments on Halloween. Lois is feeling better, she is sprinkling 'pixie dust' (edible glitter) onto cupcakes, as we speak. Even though it's past her bedtime! Thankyou for your kind words. I find Blogland, such an uplifting environment, and I am very appreciative of you taking the time to visit and comment. Have a wonderful week, love Linda x

Bobo Bun said...

All looking beautiful as usual. How we love afternoon tea ceremonies here aswell. Mind you I loathe tea so pour coffee into my cup. It's the cakes every time for me.

I might not be a tea drinker, but I do love a tea pot and cosy and that's a beauty Helen.

X

Teresa Kasner said...

Dear Helen, again, a lovely post with eye-candy photos. Makes me want to have a cup of tea. But I'm busily watching my husband with a chainsaw 20 feet up a ladder trying to cut down a dead maple tree! :-|

((hugs)), Teresa :-)

patchworkandlace said...

Ilove afternoon tea it reminds me of my childhood and as a treat on a sunday we would have a long walk with all my brothers and sisters in the fresh air then stop off at a tea rooms for tea ,sandwiches and cakes ,such special unforgetable times x

Pomona said...

The tea cosy is really lovely - and I definitely agree with the Gissing quotation! I never associate him with such happy thoughts . . .

Pomona x

Lorraine Young Pottery said...

The rose and the tea cozy are uplifting and a bite to eat to top off the eye candy :-} Lorraine

My Little Home and Garden said...

Helen, I'm eyeing the scones in your tea post. They do look yummy and lucky are the people who got to nibble your treats!
-Karen

industrial rubber floor mats said...

What a beautiful tea cozy and gorgeous flower and berry photos. The Hummingbird bakery cookbook is one of my favorites too.

Teje Karjalainen said...

Dear Helen, what a lovely post! Your photos are so sweet and beautiful! That tea cosy is really wonderful!
Have a lovely Sunday and great week!
xxx Teje

koralee said...

So sweet friend...my weekend list has just grown and it is already Sunday...oh dear...best get another cup of tea and think about it for a while.
Love your sweater..that cornflower blue is stunning.
xoxoo

GardenOfDaisies said...

Your cornflower sweater is the most gorgeous shade of blue! And I love your pretty tea cozy and the little tussie-mussie. Each time I stop by your blog I know I will see beautiful things.