Saturday, February 20, 2016

A teapot and a tea cosy....oh...and a li'l machine doodling!

Although a cup of tea, served in a fine bone china teacup, with a tea bag dangling from it's pretty side is perfectly acceptable, I do believe there is nothing quite like an ambrosial cup of tea poured from a pretty teapot, in which the tea leaves have been brewing for a little while.

I don't know anyone who, in their own home, hasn't at some stage in their lives enjoyed a cup of teapot, infused tea. Well, I believed this to be the case until I was chatting to a friend recently. Whilst I was waxing lyrical about the joys of a a cup of tea being poured from a teapot, I discovered  my friend didn't have a single teapot gracing her home. Incomprehensible....I know!!! This situation just had to be remedied....and expeditiously. After all one never can tell who  might pop by for a spot of tea, expecting a cuppa which has been poured from a teapot.....the Queen herself....or more importantly li'l ole me and my good husband!

As this week was my dear friend's birthday, me being me, thought gifting her with her very own teapot would be the perfect way to celebrate such an auspicious occasion. Now every gal should have at least one teapot....don't you think??

In search of a teapot I happened upon this pretty one. It is made by Ashdene and holds a capacious 6 cups and it comes complete with a metal infuser. The pretty pattern is called Tranquil. Such a pretty pattern with butterflies fluttering around the teapot and lid.





The art of tea drinking being a very old tradition and all, I thought my friend's teapot could be enhanced by the addition of a one-off, stitched, house tea cosy. Teapots and tea cosies......a match made in heaven. I had sooooo much fun stitching my tuffet a couple of weeks ago, that I thought I would enjoy a little more machine doodling.

I decided to use a little of the grey fabric that was left over from the tuffet. This grey fabric would help the house tea cosy stand up fairly well. After all we can't have a house toppling down, now can we.

After taking measurements and designing the tea cosy, I started to 'build' my house. I gathered some fabrics and began the process of free hand machine stitching......oodles and oodles of machine doodling.

I selected this grey and white chevron fabric for the roof; which is very cool as it resembles tiles on a roof; and a green floral fabric for the garden. As my friend's kitchen is grey, these fabrics will be perfect. Now every house needs pretty curtains at the window, so I chose a sweet, tiny polka dot fabric and stitched them to the windows.

THEN.....the fun began. I doodled and 'scribbled' a climbing vine, a cute as cute puppy dawg looking out the window, a chandelier (I do believe every home is that little bit more grander with the addition of a chandelier...or two), a cute table on which to rest a teapot, a flower garden and added fretwork under the eaves. So far.......very, very cute.

Now for the back. Another pretty polka dot fabric for the curtains and more machine scribbling. A sweet pussy cat looking out the window. She is checking where that pesky dog is. Then, some more machine doodling.....a tree and yet more pretty flowers growing in the garden. In this instance, I didn't draw the tree beforehand......I just went with the flow. 'Tis always the best fun stitching this way.





For the sides of the house, I machine doodled a vase of flowers and a teeny, tiny birdie in a bird cage sitting on the window sills......and more blossoms in the garden. I rather like doodling birdies and bird cages of late. =)


There we go, all stitched and ready to be built assembled.









I attached wadding to the front and back, and then stitched the front and back together, also inserting a chimney. After this step, I stitched the side inserts to the front and back. When the house was stitched I lined the inside to cover the messy interior.

The front.........















The back.......





The sides....



Mission accomplished......a cute, li'l house, tea cosy.




One teapot......one cute, house tea cosy and a vase of flowers freshly picked from my garden, to wish my very dear friend the happiest of birthdays.




A lovely gift for a lovely friend. My friend's friendship during the past year, which at times has been a little difficult, has made the good times better and the hard times easier. My lovely friend has made me laugh a little louder, smile a little wider and live just that little bit better. Indeed, she is a gorgeous lady!






Now.......of course brewing cups of ambrosial tea is not the only purpose for a teapot. I can think of one more.....can you??

Why.......a teapot can be a receptacle for a bunch of lovely roses. =)



One of my lovely teapots. This pretty is the Royal Albert, Lavender & Roses pattern which was gifted to me by husband many, many years ago.

Wishing all you lovelies a wonderful weekend. Until the next time........




Linking up to this week's parties at Stephanie's, Roses of Inspiration
Jann's, Share Your Cup Thursday
Bernideen's, BTTCG

57 comments:

  1. What an adorable tea cozy! I've never seen anything like it. You must have such a steady hand to be able to machine doodle like that. Your friend is so lucky. Have a blessed day.

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  2. Teapots are wonderful things. They are certainly an object to be used in
    many ways. I love sharing a cup of tea with my oldest son poured from a teapot. We have some terrific conversations and something we both love is
    how nice the tea tastes when you brew it.
    Teapots rule!! lol
    Cheers, Anita.

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  3. That tea cozy is seriously cute. Such beautiful work, too.

    I love those style of teapots (with the built in infusers).

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  4. {{{Big, Big smiles}}}}} Have a beautiful weekend.

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  5. Oh my, thats a gorgeous gift for your friend and I love, love, love the tea cosy, so pretty with your doodling.
    We also like to drink a cup of tea, three times a day.
    Have a nice weekend,
    hugs, Loes

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    1. Only three cups of tea a day?? ;) One can't quite get through the day without cups of tea, can one. Thank you for your lovely comments, Loes. Wishing you a great, great week. Kim Xx

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  6. Dear Kim:
    Oh my goodness - that is so darling. That is some sewing machine you have too!!! That's amazing.

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  7. What a beautiful teapot! I love butterflies!But the tea cosy is absolutely gorgeous!Congratulations. We make tea the Turkish way call demli which is a double teapot usually a metal one on the stove with boiling water in it and a smaller porcelain one on top of it with the tea leaves inside that get wet by the heat and they get infused and then we drink the tea with put a lit bit of the difused tea and some boiling water from the metal kettle. It is great!AriadnefromGreece!

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  8. What a lovely, so tender post, my darling Kim !
    It's always so pleasant to come and visit you here, my sweetest friend,
    may your Sunday be blessed with love,
    sending hugs to you across the many miles.
    Dany

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  9. You did find a beautiful tea pot for your friend and the cosy you made is wonderful. If I attempted to go with the flow and machine doodle I'm quite certain I'd end up with something entirely ungiftable! I wish your friend a very happy birthday and I hope you both enjoy many cups of tea from that pot together for years to come :)

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  10. Oh my goodness, this is the happiest blog post I have read all week. I know, it's just can't be that someone doesn't own a teapot! GOODNESS! So glad her birthday rolled around. You gifted her with a darling pot and the tea cozy is so adorable! I can't even stand it! I hope your friend continues to explore fine tea!

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  11. This post just plain made me happy! The teapot is so sweet, but it's the tea cozy that made me smile. Your friend is so lucky to have you in her life.

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  12. Your friend is very lucky to receive a beautiful teapot, cozy, and flowers. Good friends are hard to come by. I love drinking tea from my teapots. It is not easy finding tea leaves here and sometimes I have to buy them from the internet, but you are right there is something special about drinking tea made in a teapot.

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  13. Oh my gosh Kim ... I think I might just like to LIVE in that gorgeous wee house with the chandelier & the vine across the front ... & the wee cat & dog living inside would be just fine with me too. It is just beautiful & so perfect to accompany that lovely teapot ... what a gorgeous gift you put together for her with so much thoughtfullness. And yes, I too tend to use my teapots as receptacles for flowers often too.. Such a lovely post to brighten my weekend thank you x x

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  14. I forgot to ask ... do you pencil draw before you machine doodle?? I am not so sure mine would end up resembling what they needed to if I didnt draw in lightly first :-)

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  15. AND A LOVELY WEEKEND TO YOU TOO. A PRETTY TEAPOT FOR SURE, BUT THAT TEA COZY IS JUST ADORABLE. SUCH A NICE GIFT FOR YOUR FRIEND.

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  16. I'm sure by now she has seen this pretty? It's very sweet and made sweeter knowing it was hand made special for her ; h

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  17. That is the cutest thing I've ever seen. What a fabulous way to tell your friend how much she is appreciated. Deb

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  18. A delighted post !!!!!
    Thnaks !!!
    Anna

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  19. Oh Kim, I can only imagine this gift brought tears to your friends eyes as she can see all the love that went into this special gift. That tea cozy is just fabulous, have not seen anything like it and you put such great detail into it how wonderful and special it will be for her and sounds like it will match her kitchen perfectly.
    Now I know this is going to probably shock you but I don't drink hot tea at all..... but I do drink cold black tea, we have a machine that brews it for us so no wait time to get a nice cold iced tea.

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  20. Happy birthday to your friend. What a beautiful tea pot and your cozy is just so cute.

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  21. So very sweet of you. I am a tea lover and a lover of tea sandwiches. The only time I drink it this way is on special occasions at my favorite scone shop for high tea!!

    You have a very lucky friend, she does as well!!

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  22. Oh my you are a WONDERFUL friend... and talented to boot. That tea cozy is just the BEST. I wish I had the patience to do the "doodling" on the machine like you do. I REALLY enjoyed the post today! You know I adore teapots....... and tea cups and tea!!!

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  23. A beautiful tea pot, tea cozy and flowers. A very special gift. You will always amaze me with how you draw with your sewing machine. You are an artist!

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  24. I am in awe of you talent.. the cosy is phenomenal.... Love, love, love, it!!!

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  25. I posted a link to this the other day in my face book group: Afternoon TEa Across America. I knew they would love it! So glad you linked it!

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  26. Oh my goodness Kim, if that's not the cutest teapot cost ever!!!!!! Your friend is so lucky to receive that darling gift, plus the teapot and the flowers. I so would love to doodle on my sewing machine like you do. I must try it! I hope you can visit my post on my sewing room and my apron that I made.

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  27. What a lovely friend you are - the teapot and cozy are simply darling. Your talent is amazing - creating such cute things with your stitching. I love to put flowers in teapots - just seems the two go together.

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  28. What a very fortunate friend you have, Kim! Such a sweet, sweet gift - oh, she must have been so charmed and delighted! Every detail is so wonderful. Thank you for sharing this little treasure. The teapots are lovely, too! x Karen

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    1. I think my friend was delighted with her gift. =) Thank you for your lovely comments, Karen. Kim Xx

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  29. Oh my, you've done it again! You're friend is going to love her gifts, which I'm sure by now she has received them. The tea cosy is simply delightful! So glad you've made her join the teapot club. :) I have lots of teapots and cups, but have yet to make a cosy. Have thought about it, but just have never gotten around to doing it. Guess I need to remedy that! lol! So glad you'll be sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Thank you, Jann. Everyone should be a member of the teapot club. I look forward to seeing a tea cosy, stitched by you, taking pride of place in one of those gorgeous vignettes that you whip up, time after time. =)

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  30. Yes, every girl should have at least one teapot and for a few of us - many teapots. That is the most beautiful tea cosy I have ever seen and just today I was thinking about your thread painting. What a lovely set!!

    -Soma xx

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  31. What an enchanting tea cosy! Your friend will love her gifts.
    I got many wonderful ideas from this very inspiring post. Thank you!

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  32. What a delightful gift. It has something that can be shared with others and another that was created especially for that individual. Perfect gift idea.

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  33. A beautiful post, Kim!
    Such a delightful tea cozy..a truly wonderful gift.
    And O those flowers and teapots. *sigh* :)

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  34. I don't believe I have ever seen a tea cozy that was also a work of art! This is so adorable and the little details are very ....? I don't think I could use my machine to make such a tiny scalloped edging! Just beautiful Kim!
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog

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  35. Hi Kim! Special friends deserve the best! What a wonderful gift! The tea cozy is adorable I love all precious embroidery! I have lots of teapots and cups, this with butterflies is so beautiful! I begin all my days with a delicious cup of Early tea. By curiosity, Catherine of Bragança a portuguese princess married with King Charles II of England, took for England the orange marmalade and the habit of drinking tea. Wonderful flowers too!
    Enjoy the rest of your week!
    Hugs and love from Portugal,
    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  36. I love tea from a china teapot.
    What a lovely friend you are to put so much thought and love into your friends birthday gift. She must have been over the moon, I know I would have been :)

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    1. Trish, my friend, is a very special lady and friend. She has shown me many kindness this year, so I thought I would thank her with my wee small gift. I too, think tea is all the lovelier when served from a china teapot. Thank you so much for your lovely comments. Kim Xx

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  37. You are such a good friend to your friend too. What a thoughtful gift of the teapot, and such a sweet teapot! And I love that you created this wonderful whimsical tea cozy to go with it. Thank goodness you have saved her from a teapot-less home ... cheers!
    Wendy

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  38. That is the best post ever for share your cup! Charming by the inch. Your tea cozy is adorable and you have a lucky friend!!

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    1. You are very sweet...thank you! Thank you for visiting my little corner of the world. Kim Xx

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  39. The house tea cozy is amazing! I'm also a fan of the pretty butterfly teapot. I'm sure that your friend loved everything!

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  40. I love your tea cozy. It is so cute. Your are a talented lady. Have a great day! Martha

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Your comment has made me smile. Kim Xx

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  41. Kim, you are a friend extraordinaire! What a beautiful gift from the heart this is, never mind the countless hours spent assembling it. Very special indeed. Love, Mimi xxx

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    1. Aww.....thank you, Mimi. Whilst my little tea cosy did take a little while to 'build', those are the very best presents aren't they....the ones that are handmade with love.

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  42. Your friend is very lucky to have such a talented friend as you! The teapot is lovely and the tea cozy so darling! Nancy

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    1. Thank you, Nancy. It was a fun li'l house to stitch. Hope you are enjoying a lovely day. Kim Xx

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  43. I absolutely love the teapot you found for your friend and I loved the memories your post evoked. When we lived in Jamaica, our English neighbor had me over for tea nearly every afternoon. She taught me about the correct way to prepare tea. And, she made the most delicious treats for us to enjoy with our tea.

    And, I just love the idea of machine doodling. I have to come up with something to make so I can give it a try.

    Thanks for sharing at SYC.

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  44. Your friend must have been over the moon, Kim. I can't decide which is more adorable, the teapot or the cosy. You are a wizard with a sewing machine.
    Amalia
    xo

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  45. Kim I love my tea and yet have never had a teapot! WHAT!!! Your post today has inspired me to keep an eye out for an adorable one like yours. ANd oh that tea cozy is truly fantastic! I so love your style.

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  46. My goodness, I'm blown away! What an incredible treasure you created for your dear friend! What a blessing for her to have her very own teapot and tea cozy that surely is the most delightful cozy ever created, right down to a buttoned vase, vining flowers and leaves, and cozy curtains blowing in the breeze! You, my friend, have incredible talent!!!! I have teapots, but no tea cozies, and I have often thought of crafting one, needing a pattern of course. I love how you just created this cozy out of a creative idea, and how incredible it is! Enjoyed this post today, immensely!

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  47. You really are a clever creative woman, I adore the teahouse with such a lovely chandelier and cute pets and trailing plants; I have a few very old teapots from antique stores of which I use one every saturday when making tea for my visiting family, I would love glass shelves in my kitchen to display my teapots and teatins. Love your work !

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  48. What a lovely gift. The teapot is cute, the flowers are beauitful and the tea cosy is so thoughtful. You have such a wonderful imagination to be able to come up with that cosy design, and all of the details in and around the house! It's beautiful.

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  49. The butterfly teapot is just so pretty and the teapot house cover adorable. I bet your friend loved both of them. Hugs ValeryAnne.

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