7 Teacups Worth Collecting

Teacups don't need to be used just to drink out of. The delicate figure has been recreated into various functional and decorative pieces by artists and crafters. I browsed through a creative community to find some of the most unconventional uses for teacups. Oh, and a bonus one that you can actually drink from, which I added to the list just because I love it.

1. Fabric Teacup from Atelier Usagi's Quilt

This soft cup is made only for display or to stash candy and trinkets. I think it would be great for a kids room. Its sister cup was selected as one of the winners of a Martha Stewart crafter's contest (but I like the brown one more).

2. Teacup Night Light from Jeremy's Workshop

If you touch the spoon on the saucer, the teacup glows! You'll probably want this adorable little touch lamp for your room to keep you from total darkness, instead of giving it to your niece or sister... I definitely do!

3. Vintage Teacup Lamp from Capitulum Vii

Oh, I just love the rose on this lamp. The look of the cup plus the twisted rope create the perfect addition to a shabby chic room.

4. Lace Teacup from Glusk Designs

Terribly practical and beautifully delicate, I love that this doily can hold jewelry and trinkets in a way that they won't get lost or buried. And, it's such a creative take on a traditional teacup.

5. Teacup Birdfeeder from Gogo Garden

A tea party for birds!

6. Garden View Teacup and Saucer from Jessibel Designs

This teacup would be too gorgeous for me to add anything to it, if I were its owner. Although, you can keep jewelry or candy in the cup, which is wrapped in recycled text paper and hand painted.

7. Pint of Tea Mug from Mr. Teacup

This is for a serious tea drinker! I adore this teacup/mug. 

All images from Etsy

Vintage Tea Party for Weddings

The season for outdoor weddings has passed, but my favorite concept for indoor weddings is a vintage tea party. It's nearly impossible to come up with an idea that is as lovely and magical. This goes best with an entirely vintage theme for the wedding, where the bride would be dressed in a gown beaded with small pearls or delicate lace. Otherwise, a dress change could work specifically for the tea party. The finest teaware would be essential for setting the tone of the affair. I'm sure the scene would look like something out of a fairytale, and you'd be the princess!

Sources:
Bride, teacups, flowers

Just My Cup of Tea

Organizing tea parties or an afternoon tea break with your friends or family... oh yes, there is now an app for that. How much more exciting can technology get! I love how fashion and tech is constantly coming together in new ways, so it's wonderful to see that my second love is also joining the tech world. Just My Cup of Tea is an app that allows you to create tea groups on your phone, to organize an in-person get-together. Each person can also have a description of how they like their tea (a dash of milk and one sugar for me). Perfect prep for any tea party. Check out images of the app below, and find out more on the UK Tea Council's Facebook page.

A Taste of Summer: Lemongrass Strawberry Tea

The sun is finally out in London! I found another great summer tea that will go perfectly with this lovely weather, served either hot or cold. I bought Lemongrass Strawberry tea from The Tea House in London's Covent Garden. It is an herbal blend with lemongrass, strawberry, lemon, apple and pineapple pieces, and marigold petals. Even the combination of flavors sounds summery. I unrolled the top of the bag to release the blend's incredible smell. The lemon pieces and lemongrass were the strongest scents before brewing. 


I brewed the tea for 4 minutes, allowing the flakes to bloom inside my strainer. The strawberry and lemon scents came out even more after brewing, with just a little hint of the sweetness of pineapple. I could have sat at my table breathing in the tea for ages, it smelled so beautiful. The taste of my cup of tea was different than I imagined. I expected it to be more earthy and sweet, but it tasted more like a strawberry-lemon flavored drink with the strawberry dominating the taste buds. As I drank more, I also noticed a bit of natural apple juice flavor in the tea. It was incredibly delicious. I could have a cup of this tea every summer morning. 

The Beach in a Cup: Piña Colada Tea

Oh, sweet summertime. I miss it so much, and it's supposed to be here now! But, London weather is far too unpredictable to truly embrace the season. I decided to go out and buy a couple of new teas to, at least, bring a bit of summer into my kitchen. I tried a sencha piña colada flavored green tea from The Tea House in Covent Garden. It has pineapple chunks and flavoring mixed in with the green tea in order to create the taste of a tropical drink in a healthy form. 


The loose tea smells quite a bit how a piña colada tastes, and when it's brewed for 2-3 minutes, the aroma comes out even more. The green tea also blossoms beautifully in the strainer with the contrasting flecks of yellow. The cup of tea smells sweet and fruity, but just has a subtle taste of pineapple. It's really light and delicious, and has a great rich, pineapple color. It's great for summer, but doesn't beat a piña colada on the beach!

Simple Summertime Tea with Fresh Strawberries

Iced tea is ideal for warm, sunny weather. Here's how you can make some of your own.

Step 1: Brew a fruit flavored tea as usual. I chose echinacea and raspberry tea from Twinings. Make sure you use a large mug so you have enough water.

Step 2: Take the tea bag out after a few minutes and let it cool down. I let mine sit for about 15 minutes.

Step 3: Pour the cooled tea into a glass over ice.

Step 4: Toss in some freshly cut strawberries and enjoy outside!

Good Morning, Chai Tea!

I got the chance to sample another delicious tea from teapigs. I discovered the reason that they make their way into our flat so much, is that my flatmate's friend sells them at her restaurant. Great for me! This Indian chai tea smelled beautifully of cinnamon, slightly masking the other ingredients listed on the packet. I took a sip from my cup before adding milk, and the taste had a gentle spice to it. I added two tablespoons of skim milk and skipped the recommended addition of sugar or honey. The smoothness of the milk complimented the spiced tea perfectly. Definitely ideal for an extra caffeine kick in the morning, and the whole leaves packed into the little tea temples make it even better. Best chai tea I've had in a packet.

My First Formal Afternoon Tea

I've been in London for a year and a half, and I finally had the opportunity to experience formal afternoon tea just a couple of days ago. I was so, so excited! Afternoon tea is an English tradition, consisting of a small meal between 2pm and 5pm, to fill a gap between larger meals. My bff and I went to Hempel Hotel in Bayswater to enjoy personal tea pots full of aromatic leaf tea and delicious sandwiches and pastries. Our teas were incredible. I ordered organic jasmine pearls, and my friend had the silver needle tea. The fragrance of mine was light and flowery, matching the taste of the first cup. But, the second and third cups had a strong, sharp taste, and were naturally darker in color. My friend's tea had more of a regular, plain tea taste in the first cup, but after brewing longer, the white tea tasted slightly sweeter and fruity. The variety of sandwiches included smoked salmon and cucumber (my fave), ham and cheese, and egg with watercress. I also indulged quite happily in the scones and clotted cream. I wish I could have afternoon tea everyday! Seriously. Everyday.

Organic Chamomile, Fennel & Marshmallow Root Tea

Vodka cranberries all night Saturday, means the need for a relaxing cup of tea on Sunday. I had a teabag that was sitting in my room from one of the fashion week goodie bags, so I decided to try it today. The chamomile, fennel, and marshmallow root tea by pukka is 100% organically grown and contains fennel seed, licorice root, chamomile flower, gotu kola leaf, cardamom seed, ginger root, marshmallow root, and ashwagandha root. It's supposed to "calm and soothe" just like the chamomile tea I've tried before. It smells just like it, too. The tea tastes similar to the pure chamomile flower, but less natural and with a bit of syrupy sweetness that seems to slip right down the throat. It has a medium body, and full of flavor, but it's not my favorite. Brew a cup for five minutes, and see for yourself.