Angela Webster McRae's Blog, page 151

Victoria Classics—Linens, Lace & Monograms

The loveliest new magazine I've seen in ages has landed on the newsstand, a Victoria Classics issue titled "Linens, Lace & Monograms."
As soon as I spotted it, I knew I had to have this one. I especially found useful page 17, which tells us the purpose of various sizes of napkins. Tea napkins, according to the article, are 12 inches square.
I was not at all surprised to spot a few teawares in these pages, but even if I hadn't seen a single teacup, I found it so utterly soothing to simply gaze upon pretty, filmy, lacy, feminine things for a while. I also enjoyed the stories about three enterprising women who followed their passion and made a business out of their love for vintage textiles. I suspect many of you would enjoy this issue as well, so if you spot it while you're out and about, you might want to take a peek inside!

The Amazon gift card goes to …

Marilyn Miller! And since I know how to contact Marilyn, I've already got an email headed her way. Thanks to all of you for playing along on Valentine's Week this year, and I hope you have a very Happy Valentine's Month!

Teatime images from The Met

Would you not love to come across a teapot like this one someday? I hit the cyber brakes the moment I scrolled up to the eagle perched atop this silver teapot, which the Metropolitan Museum of Art says is attributed to silversmith Christian Wiltberger of Philadelphia.
And how did I happen to come across said teapot? My friend Lynn has once again alerted me to another wonderful new resource for digital images in the public domain, The Met, and I found this there. (You can click on the image to study the teapot in even more detail. It is exquisite!)
In addition to its images of teapots and other teawares, there are also images of famous tea-related art, including some well-known Mary Cassatt paintings (I have always loved her work), and some photos as well. There are so many great uses for these images, and not just blog posts! They can be used in presentations about tea, and I love the thought of using tea-themed artwork to create invitations to teatime. If you'd like to check out these images for yourself, I'll share with you the link that Lynn so kindly shared with me: This one. Enjoy!

The winner of the Mary Engelbreit stickers is ...

Misty! And Misty, I've just sent you an email asking for your mailing info so I can get these headed your way. Congrats!

Valentine's Week Giveaway #7

This valentine is large ( about 8 x 13 inches) and is actually a three-dimensional card that folds into place and stands, but I don't think you notice all the detail unless you see the scan. I love the saying on this one: "I pray that your Heart's Garden / May be set with Sweetest Flowers / That your life be like the Dial / Telling none but sunny Hours." Yes!
This card was given to Miss Bragdon from Edson McKenzie and Antonio Di Bona. I had to do a search for the name "Antonio Di Bona" because it sounded so exotic, and I found this on Ancestry.com. Some of you genealogists, could this be the right Antonio? If this is the Antonio who sent this valentine and he was 39 in 1940, that would mean this card was probably sent in the early 1900s, right? It's fun to imagine the past lives of my valentines.
I couldn't decide whether to look for more stationery or another book, so for the final Valentine's Week giveaway, I decided on a $10 Amazon e-gift card that you can spend on whatever you like! Please note: You MUST provide a way for met to get in touch with you if you're the winner. Just leave an "Enter me" to this post between now and 7 a.m. EST tomorrow, Feb. 15, and you'll be entered to win. Good luck, and I wish a very happy Valentine's Day to you all!

The tea towel winner is …

Beth R.! And Beth, if you'll send me your snail mail address via the email button at right, I'll get this headed your way. Congrats!

Valentine's Week Giveaway #6

This sweet valentine, dated 1938, is probably one of the older ones in my collection, and I've never seen another like it. "Serv-ice is my motto, so don't tea-ze me, be my valentine," says the little girl. Note the silver foil on the teakettle. You'd think that was just glued on the front of the valentine, wouldn't you?
But nope, it's actually inserted beneath a piece of paper on the back, which I found an interesting construction method. The card says, "To Mary Ellen from Wilda." Don't you love the name Wilda? I may have to name one of my characters Wilda one day in honor of this valentine! (I like the name Mary Ellen too, by the way, but I've known plenty of Mary Ellens but never a Wilda!)

And for today's giveaway, I found another package of these stickers that were such a hit once before. These are from Mary Engelbreit, whose cheerful designs never seem to go out of style. If you'd like to win them, just leave an "Enter me" to this post between now and 7 a.m. EST tomorrow, February 14, and you'll be entered to win. (US and Canada only, please.) Good luck!

The Irish Teatime Recipes winner is ...

Lynn K.! And Lynn, I've just sent you an email to be sure I still have the correct mailing address for you. Congrats!

Valentine's Week Giveaway #5

This adorable little valentine is one I'm especially pleased to share this year. You see, it was actually a gift from Heidi T. several years ago, but I accidentally filed it away with some non-Valentine's Day cards and didn't rediscover it until last year after Valentine's Day. I saw a listing for one just like this on Etsy (the only other valentine like this that I've ever seen), and I thought, "Wait a minute! I have that one!" And so I delved through every bit of paper in my office until I found it—and it was like receiving the gift all over again! I love that the sweet waitress is serving up a tray full of hearts at this teddy bear tea.
The card is signed "Your cousin, Marian H." I don't guess I've ever received a valentine from a cousin, but then I've never sent one to a cousin, either, so there's that. But I do have a "Marian H." in my family, one of my aunts, so I thought that was interesting.
Just as they were featured on today's valentine, teawares and hearts are also featured on today's giveaway, a pink tea towel that struck me as perfect for a Valentine's Week gift! If you'd like to win it, just leave an "Enter me" to this post between now and 7 a.m. EST tomorrow, February 13, and you'll be entered to win. (US and Canada only, please.) Good luck!

The London journal winner is ...

Barbara Legener! And Barbara, if you'll send me your snail mail address via the email button at right, I'll get this headed your way. Congrats!