I love oriental cards, so these asian cuttlebug folders are definitely on my list. Gorgeous! Gorgeous!

Good news is that they are available at a special bundle price - $US29.95 - not bad at all. I have a birthday coming up… time to start dropping hints.

I was thrilled to see that 4 of the folders are the you beaut larger 5 x 7 size, so they cover the whole card front. 4 of the folders are at the traditional A2 size. The designs are elegant, and many could do double duty for other cards, not just oriental ones.

Take a sneak peek and let me know what you think. I can see quite a few oriental cards in my near future. How about you? Can’t wait to get my hands on these cuttlebug folders.

Here’s the full list of 8 folders

• 5×7 Emboss, Plum Blossoms
• 5×7 Emboss, Oriental Weave
• 5×7 Emboss, Kimiko
• 5×7 Emboss, Bamboo
• A2 Emboss, Japanese Scales
• A2 Emboss, Mandarin Screen
• A2 Emboss, Koi
• A2 Emboss, Lanterns

Christmas Gingerbread Men Decorations

• Before cooking make a hole in the top of each Christmas gingerbread man.
  

  Christmas Gingerbread Man Buy From Art.com

  When cooked, cooled and iced, thread red ribbon or gold thread through the hole to make the gingerbread man into a Christmas tree decoration.

• Use other Christmas cutters or paper template shapes for e.g. Christmas Trees, Snowflakes, Angels, Stars etc. for Gingerbread cookies or Gingerbread Christmas tree decorations.
• Christmas gingerbread men make great gifts for teachers and neighbors too. If adding a hole, thread through a ribbon with a gift tag, complete with a personally written message or drawing.

Win a magazine subscription to Super Food Ideas, a great Australian magazine chock full of recipes, food ideas etc. Even if you don’t live in Australia, you’re still eligible. Instead of the magazine, you’ll get the equivalent amount (approx $AUS 32.00) in cash… can’t get fairer than that.

For further details, check out Prizetastic. Look around while you’re there… it’s a great site.

Jen’s generosity is something I’ve come to find in the blogging community - the sense of sharing and community. (It’s a great site too and well worth a visit).

My son and his partner are absolutely thrilled and promise to show me all the bells and whistles of the new gadget when we catch up with them for Christmas. As catch ups are rare, given our different locations far from each other, thet phone will provide a link for us.

I’m especially looking forward to video of the new baby. Here’s my winning entry.

Thanks again Jen!

My son and his partner are about to become a first time dad and mum, and I’m going to be a first time Grandma. Exciting times all round, and we’re all thrilled. The only thing is they live far away in another part of Australia and unfortunately, frequent travel won’t be possible.

I’d love to give them the C902, as the next best thing to being with them in person would be for them to be able to send us video and photos of our new grandchild instantly at the touch of a button. Being part of everyday happenings and milestones as the young family blossoms, would make it feel like we are all together.

Her kids love it too. In fact, she says she bribes them with it to do their homework. This looks yummy and easy to make.

To a Teapot was written over a century ago, but the sentiments are still as true for tealovers today. Tea, teapots, friends, families, trials, tribulations, tea parties, celebrations, and just a chat and good company… the teapot is there throughout.

The poem comes from The Versebook of A Homely Woman by Elizabeth Rebecca Ward (born 1881), writing under the pseudonym of Fay Inchfawn. Ward’s children’s poem, The Flight of the Fairies, about fairies packing up to go back to their summer fairyland is also a delight. It would be great for a fairy tea party or theme.

To an Old Teapot
by Elizabeth Rebecca Ward

Now from the dust of half forgotten things
You rise to haunt me at the year’s Spring cleaning
And bring to memory dim imaginings
Of mystic meaning.

No old time potter handled you, I ween
Nor yet were you of gold or silver molten
No Derby stamp, nor Worcester, can be seen
Nor Royal Doulton.

You never stood to grace the princely board
Of monarchs in some Oriental palace.
Your lid is chipped, your chubby side is scored
As if in malice.

I hesitate to say it, but your spout
Is with unhandsome rivets held together
Mute witnesses of treatment meted out
In regions nether.

O patient sufferer of many bumps
I ask it gently - shall the dustbin hold you?

And will the dust heap, with its cabbage stumps
At last enfold you?

It ought. And yet with gentle hands I place
You with my priceless Delft and Dresden China
For sake of one who loved your homely face
In days diviner.

Enlarged View

The enlarged view better shows the nuances of colouring, light, shade and toning that Cassatt has used to show reflections, and to add a luminescent quality to her art work.

Shades of Pink

Apart from the various shades of pink in the dress, fading to almost white, note the pink touches throughout the painting. The most obvious of these are on the armchair, Lydia’s face, and on the wall. These add to the illusion of light and reflection.

Use of White

The white is extended through the gloves, the flowers, and shading throughout. The gold rim on the cup ensures that this is not lost in the painting, and also adds again to the reflective effect. White is also a unifying colour.

Time for Tea in the Victorian Era

The resulting painting, Cup of Tea of Cassatt’s sister, Lydia, is a very restful portrait of a “time for tea” ritual. This painting is also known as Portrait of Lydia. Cassatt, like her fellow Impressionist painters, painted scenes and people going about their everday life. Having a cup of tea was very much a part of everyday Victorian life, not only in Paris, where this portrait was exhibited, but in England, Europe and America.

The Newly Discovered Pastime of Afternoon Tea

It was around this time, that having a cup of tea on one’s own was extended to inviting friends to Afternoon Tea. The origin of afternoon tea is usually attributed to the Duchess of Bedford in England. The relaxing ritual of drinking a cup of tea, was developing into a social event. Later, these events included entertainment and tea dances. These are still held today in grand hotels such as the London Ritz and the Savoy.

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American Impressionist painter. As there were few opportunities in America to further her studies, she went to Europe and settled in Paris, where she joined the Impressionist movement. Her compatriots in the Impressionist movement were the likes of Degas and Renoir.

Mary Cassatt lived in Paris for many years, returning to America to live only later in life. It is thought that this painting was exhibited in the Paris art exhibitions, known as “salons”. When in America, Cassatt lobbied art galleries, museums and private collectors to make sure that Impressionist works were represented in their collections.

Her family and friends were frequent subjects, as in The Lady at the Tea Table. Cup of Tea, also known as Portrait of Lydia is of her sister, Lydia Simpson Cassatt, who also featured in some of Mary’s other paintings, such as Lydia Crocheting in the Garden at Marly, now housed in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About the Painting - Cup of Tea or Portrait of Lydia

Cup of Tea is more about the relaxing ambience of Lydia enjoying an everday ritual of a cup of tea, than a detailed portrait of Lydia herself. Like her fellow Impressionists, Cassatt drew from everyday life for her inspiration and subjects. In particular, many of her paintings feature women and children going about their daily work and social interactions.

Techniques and Effects

The shades of pink and the use of light to effect a shimmery effect and reflections, add to the serenity of the scene. This portrait of Lydia shows Mary’s skill in using colour and light. This was one of Cassatt’s earlier Impressionist works. The nuances of shading and luminscent quality of the colours in Cup of Tea can be better seen in an enlarged view of the painting.

Experts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art said about Portrait of Lydia

Great attention has been devoted to the effects of reflected color, for example, the luminous quality of the pink dress is reinforced by pink on the arm of the chair, the underside of the saucer, the white glove, and the woman’s face. Through the sketchlike green background, unprimed canvas is visible in peripheral areas. While the use of the canvas as part of the composition contributes to the spontaneity of the image, it was criticized by the establishment, who thought this avant-garde innovation evidenced lack of finish.

Where You Can See It

This painting is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
It is oil on canvas - 36 3/8 x 25 3/4 in. (92.4 x 65.4 cm)

Tea can be used as more than a beverage. If you have any household hints to share about using tea or coffee at home, we’d love to hear from you.

{html_blob name = ‘important_information’} These household hints and tips have been collected over the years, and come with no guarantees. They do not constitute advice. Use your own discretion if you want to try them. Unless otherwise stated, all hints apply to ordinary black tea.

At Home - Household Tea Hints

• To give an antique look to a white or cream lace tablecloth or runner, soak them evenly in cold strained tea for about an hour. Iron while still damp. For a lighter colour, use weaker tea, leave for less time, or remove excess moisture after soaking.

Dyeing with Tea
Read more specific techniques, tips, ideas and information on using tea for dyeing for crafts and table linens.

In the Kitchen - Tea Hints

• To remove odours from pans, rub them with damp tea leaves.
• Marinade meat, chicken or fish in tea infusions such as Lapsang Souchong.
• Soak dried fruit in tea rather than water for added flavour. Experiment with different teas such as fruit teas.
• When making gravy after cooking meat in a pan, add some cold or hot tea to the juices in the pan for added flavour.
• Use tea in fruit punches. We have a Tropical Fruit Punch and a Pineapple Fruit Punch recipe for you. Both have tea as an ingredient.
• Substitute cold tea in baking for half the liquid in rich cakes such as fruit cakes. This adds to the colour and makes the flavour more mellow.
• Make ice cubes with cold tea. Add sliced strawberries, a small grape or other fruit for colour interest and flavour. Add the ice cubes to a fruit punch or iced tea drinks. Unlike water ice cubes, they do not dilute the drink when melted.

Cleaning - Tea Hints

• Clean mirrors, glass, windows and chrome with strong strained tea - the stronger the better.