Red and Black and Love All Over

I'm thinking maybe this adorable cup for tea today. Or, perhaps this one?

These stoneware cups, called Baking Days, are both made by Spode and come in sets of four. Either would look wonderful, really, and coordinate with the special decor hanging right now in our kitchen. My friend Patty, who is a crafter extraordinaire, created an amazing 'mum' for my birthday! She is on the Design Team for The Crafty Scrapper and I am the lucky recipient of some of her gorgeous work. Calling all Alice In Wonderland fans! Get ready to drool!

 

I know, right?! This hand made beauty has an Alice In Wonderland theme and is chock full of teatime goodies - where to look first? There is my initial, a sparkly bunny, teacups, a teapot, wooden letters, ribbons, flowers, glittery hearts, a tiny tin bunny cookie cutter, playing cards and tags. Let's take a closer look.

Be jealous! Just kidding, haha! Check out the detail.  Since I am a "January baby," she even added a dusting of snow on the leaves.

Look at what dangles below! I have never seen these decorative 'mums' before, but ya'll in Texas and throughout the south are familiar with them, right? Girls wear these to Homecoming Dances, so Patty shared with me.  HERE  is an article about it. They are a pretty big deal in Texas. And my birthday mum is a pretty big deal to me. Wow, it's amazing!

We nibble on Cranberry Walnut bread, toasted, and fresh orange slices with cups of Harney and Son's Earl Grey Supreme tea.

Patty made something else for me but I will share that later - keep your eyes peeled for it because it is equally awesome!

Be sure to stop by Patty's blog  to see what she has been creating, and tell her I sent you with love!

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Martha's Favorites

Artful Affirmations

Whatever You Want Wednesday

You're Going To Love It, Kathe with an 'e'

Antiques and Teacups
Rose Chintz Cottage 

Party Time

It is that time again for another magical 
tea party romp 
with
 a Fanciful Twist. 

I am joining the party! I hope you visit me on Saturday~

  Alice and Rabbit Sunset Tea

For: Lovers of Whimsy

Date: July 28

Time: The Hour with Sixty Minutes

Nice surprise...I won!

The Altered Alice Challenge blog had an Alice In Wonderland Christmas greeting challenge in the month of December. Here is the card I entered~

I am so happy that I won, but you should check out the blog to see the other entries...a nice variety! Thanks, Lynne, for the opportunity to win a Custom Crops credit and giving me the nudge to create despite the 'have to do's' on my list. It is always great to take out some time to nurture one's crafty side!

Three French Hens~ 3rd Day of Christmas

I had one of those rare nights when you just lie awake knowing the dark is ticking away and you are trying to fall asleep. I got up and drank warm milk, which was good but did not have the desired soporific effect. Oh well, I got to see the sunrise and was actually up before my sweet hubby! lol (that is really rare!)~ Ran some errands, got groceries and stopped by Michaels to get a nose for Herr Nutcracker. Remember the Advent Nutcracker I got for a steal yesterday? Check out the 'before and after'; look at his nose...or lack of... won't pass muster here~

And now with his new nose he passes inspection!

My husband sanded one side of a wooden bead and I painted it with Adirondack Paint Dabbers in a mixture of white, brown and rose. Sehr gut!

Today is the Third Day Of Christmas, which means we sing about French Hens. Why?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote The 12 Days of Christmas carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. One belief is that three French hens represent faith, hope and charity. Some also believe the hens represent the three wise men or the Trinity. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh is another explanation, since like French hens, they were very costly during the 16^th century.

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Here is a quick card I made using an Inkadinkadoo Mad Hatter stamp and a Stampin' Up teacup stamp~

I used;

• vintage book page, stamped with music score
• sheer ribbon and bakery string
• brads
• Bazzill cardstock
• houndstooth cardstock
• Distress Inks
• Foam dots to mount teacup
• Recollections mini rose, inked
• Zig H2O pen to color teacup and Mad Hatter

I am sharing this with~
Uncommonly Yours link party

A Wonderland Greeting~

Poinsettias are such a part of Christmas...you probably give one or recieve one at this time of year. Contrary to popular myth these plants are not poisonous, although nobody should ingest them because they are not food. (the link above takes you to FAQs for poinsettias)

Some interesting poinsettia history~

The Aztecs called poinsettias "Cuetlaxochitl." During the 14th - 16th century the sap was used to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) were used to make a reddish dye.

Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude.

In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, noted the poinsettia plant in his writings.

~The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful."

Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico being appointed by President John Quincy Adams in the 1820's. At the time of his appointment, Mexico was involved in a civil war. Because of his interest in botany he introduced the American elm into Mexico. During his stay in Mexico he wandered the countryside looking for new plant species. In 1828 he found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to a road. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina. Even though Poinsett had an outstanding career as a United States Congressman and as an ambassador he will always be remembered for introducing the poinsettia into the United States

I made a Wonderland themed Christmas card tonight and plan to share it at the Altered Alice blog. I used K and Company die cut poinsettias on my card~

I used:

• vintage book page
• bakery string and mesh ribbon
• stamped teacup, 1995 Stampin' Up 
• stamped Penny Black sentiment
• stamped Inkadinkadoo AIW rabbit
• S. Hunt Bella Blvd houndstooth cardstock
• Distress Ink

sharing this post with Uncommonly Yours