Tea Caddy

Tea was introduced to England from China sometime in the middle of the 17th century. Together with the fragrant leaf came the respect for this drink and the ceremonial way in which it was to be prepared and drunk. At the time of its introduction, tea was believed to be therapeutic as well as delicious. The health benefits of tea were known in the East for thousands of years. In England people accorded it time and space and this alone must have had the effect of producing a sense of wellbeing. Tea was and remained extremely expensive for over a hundred years and therefore sparingly used.
The 17th century tea containers were bottle shaped tea jars in china, glass, silver, enamel and straw-work covered metal and later tea caddies were mainly wooden boxes often veneered in tortoiseshell or ivory. It is not until the second half of the 18 century that they were introduced in any numbers as a home-style accessory
( From Here).

In some houses children were allowed to reuse spent tea leaves and sell them as a muslin bags to poorer village people to earn some pocket money. Apparently it was a beginning of teabag industry.
Now tea caddies are mostly antique pieces, but a decorative tea box could be used to store the variety of tea bags. Nice addition to your kitchen, too!

Pick your own strawberry!

Pick your own strawberry grown in this lovely trough! You can grow herbs in it or use it as a storage container.

Summer Tea

I once came across a wooden tray, in a good condition, but a bit tatty and definitely boring.

After some thoughts I decided to decorate it in summer herbs theme, here we are, having tea in the garden!

And the bottom is not boring either...

My Second Home

I want to tell you about the second home of all that things I am making - a nice little shop - 70, Gillygate, York, YO31 7EQ. They are very welcomed there and cared for until somebody loves them to take them home.

The shop is on Facebook - Here, with some pictures of what they have to offer. The last picture shows Jemma, who runs the shop together with Anna, her friend (and mine!). If you are in York you are very welcome to pop in, look around and have a chat with these lovely and friendly ladies!

Kitchen Stuff

I am more garden person than kitchen person, but still I am doing some kitchen stuff from time to time. Here is a part of my kitchen collection: olive oil jug, memory board, country kitchen tray, peg rail, cutlery tray, utensil holder...






Anyone for a glass of wine - white, red?..

Poppy Field

This is my favorite time in the garden, poppy flowering time... They are so bright and bold and their beauty is so fleeting, it is just irresistable! I have a few varieties, this salmon pink "Princess Louise" is my darling. I am not very keen on orangy types, but look at the size! Of course they need their own watering can, and here we are!