Gifts for Tea Lovers

Hi, its been a while since I've feautred a themed gift post so here is one of my personal favourites, gifts for tea lovers. Those who know me realise I don't get very far in life without my cup of tea, and can't pass a shop window or store display that consists of anything tea related. You can get wonderful tea gifts in local stores and online, both old and new, so here are my favourite tea things, and the online stores I stalk!



The picture above is a cute little trinket holder my Mum got for me, I love my little teddy teapot! This is just the sort of little thing you can pick up almost anywhere for under $10, often well under that price.

This photo has two of my favourite items, my mini tea service for one, the teapot sits inside the cup and in the background is my favourite tea cosy, bought from britgal designs on etsy (www.britgaldesigns.etsy.com) she has just the best prices of all the online sellers I have seen, and her work is beautiful, speedily delivered, and keeps my tea hot for around an hour!

I have had this miniature tea cup and saucer since I was a preschooler, my Nanna gave it to me, and as she drank her tea I would drink water out of mine, this is one of my most precious possessions, it is well worth considering getting a china tea cup or pot for the little girl in your life, it will become an heirloom no matter how little it costs you, and if you are worried about it breaking, just get a cheap used one, like the teapot below, Mum brought it home for me after her club auction she got it for $2 and I love it!

Don't forget real tea fanatics would love photos, or vintage postcards of anything tea related, I took this photo in one shot earlier this year and it makes a lovely card. I'm sure you could take a photograph that would also frame nicely.

My favourite online tea gift suppliers are

customcozies.com and rose and teacups (I have lost the exact address but found them by
googling teapot teacup charms, and yes, they have gorgeous tea charms for bracelets and jewelry)

Don't forget www.etsy.com and search for tea, teapots, tea cups, you will have a ball!

Celebrating My New Camera!

I got my new camera with macro lens today, so now I will be able to sell the creations I wasn't able to photograph before.

First we have these beautiful glass frog charm earings, with tiny flower button in centre.

Above are my favourite glass charm creations, these amber dragon earrings that spiral around and have a ruby glass flower hanging above their head.

Silver leaf earrings with glass flower and leaf charms

Aquamarine Necklace

I made this necklace this morning to sell on Etsy, I wanted to make the most of the opportunity to sell for the northern hemisphere summer, but I really don't mind who buys it!

I had the twisted glass feature bead left after making earrings (why do bead makers sell uneven quantities of beads - oh that's right, to make us buy more packets to balance it out! - well I showed them!). As it is part golden green, and part blue, and sparkles so charmingly, I knew I had to make a completely blue and green and in between necklace!

There are glass, crystal, and jade stone beads in this necklace which has a drop of 25cm (just over 50cm total length).

Such a refreshingly cooling piece to look at and wear during the summer heat, the necklace is available at www.starzyia.etsy.com or click on the my etsy link on the right of this page.

Easy Gift and Trinket Boxes

Having made my mum a necklace for her birthday, I spent today decorating boxes so I could choose one to put her gift in, and a pretty box that is durable serves as a trinket box she can always keep it in.

The boxes above both came as plain pink boxes from Spotlight, the larger one (top of picture) has a printed panel from a tissue box glued on, I love this image of spring blossoms. The corners are embellished with flower gems sent to me by Jace, www.jacemakes.blogspot.com

The smaller box has a fabric flower on it and it sparkles with its very fine thread of gold running through it, and pearlized bead for centre. The petals are individually made then sewn together and glued onto the box.

This box is an upcycled Avon necklace box that I covered in plain lavender wrapping paper, and then glued two glittery flowers on, one white, one very pale pink, these are bought in multi packs in craft stores and sometimes even the $2 Shop.

This is another premade box from Spotlight, I covered the lid with glitter print cardstock, and attached a sparkly fabric flower with pink pearlised beads in centre, I bought this flower at the beading and craft fair this year for 20 cents.

Thank You Jace!

Today I got a bundle of joy in the mail box, my pay it forward parcel from Jace, and I am thrilled, she has been so generous and everything is delightful. Jace has a blog here you can visit it via my blog roll, or www.jacemakes.blogspot.com and please, please, visit her wonderful store on etsy www.jacemakes.etsy.com where she sells the most gorgeous handmade items.

I received two of her handmade origami book corners, as seen above (sorry about the dodgy photo!) these are used as bookmarks and are one of the standard stock items in Jace's store.

I also received this gorgeous bag charm, wonderful, such perfect work, these and mobile phone charms are also in Jace's Etsy store, and can be viewed on her blog. I have never had a bag charm, so the hardest and most fun part was deciding which bag the charm should be attached to, of course it is easy to swap, but I picked my favourite large plum coloured bag.

The bag charm is hand crocheted and beaded with the utmost care and attention, and is just a joy to behold.

I really recommend visiting Jace at her blog and her store, and I hope you will, by the way Jace is also beginning to make ATCs and they are going to go like hot cakes I just know.

Thanks Jace, you have made this a wonderful day, and I will think of you every time I see my beautiful bag charm, and use the book corners. And thanks for the bonus craft supplies, I will show you some of the finished products when they are done, I am burning to create with them already!