Monday, January 17, 2011

Tea cozy love...

I love tea... I think I've mentioned it before. First thing in the morning, I plod down to the kitchen bleary-eyed, and pop the kettle on. It's a red stove-top one... I toyed with getting an electric kettle, but there's something about the urgent whistle of a stove-top that I find quite soothing... like it's shouting, 'Tea! Tea! Quick!' (which is exactly the sentiment I'm feeling when I get that cup of tea).
I start the day by having two cups of tea (to 'wet my whistle,' as my grandad used to say)... I would have more, but by the last sip of my second cup, the girls are awake, and my attention turns to Cheerios, milk, and settling disputes over princess dolls.


Anyhoo, in an ideal world, I would make a pot... When I was little, we had a big brown teapot (a 'Brown Betty'); whoever was first up in the morning would make the pot, and then we would all saunter downstairs at various intervals and take a cup from it. Our big brown Bess was kept warm by a tea cozy... and this is where my problem lay... You see, I'm currently the only tea drinker in the house (this is practically unheard of in Blighty), and so, when I make a pot, it gets cold... and, unlike some, I like my tea piping hot!


Anyways, to circumnavigate this problem, I decided to drag out the sewing machine and set about making a tea cozy. I used this website here to help me... I didn't follow it to the letter (mainly because I have no idea what I am doing), but it gave me the framework... and I would have never worked out how to line the thing without this helpful site. There's a couple of things I'd do differently if I were making it again.. like invest in a compass, so I'd have a more rounded tea cozy, and create a little loop in the top, so I can hang it somewhere... but, as they say, 'practice makes perfect'... so, I think I'll be making another for my English gal pal T... after all, you can't have a teapot without a tea cozy.


Have a happy start to the week all!
Lx

This post is linked to A Beach Cottage- Good Life Wednesday, pop over for inspiration!

29 comments:

  1. Goodmorning Laura! (here it's already 4 o'clock...) I have a teacosy too, never use it though... Actually, I'm drinking my tea just now, with milk, something that I haven't been doing for 17 years and after having my second one, boom! Milk is back in my tea.
    Anyway, what was it that I wanted to say....
    Oh yes, I really like your cozy not to be round, I think it makes it more unique! My sewingclass starts in March, can't wait, but I will start with something simple first.
    Well, enough chitchat, enjoy your Monday sweetie! Maureen xx

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  2. What a beautiful creation! I'm sure your girls will love tea when they're older and they'll treasure the tea cosy that their mum made.

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  3. Total tea drinker - never coffee, altho I love the smell of coffee just not the taste. My tea kettle has a dragon on the spout, so when it is whistling the steam makes it look like the dragon is breathing fire! Very cute tea cozy you made!
    xo Cathy

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  4. Your tea cosy looks lovely Laura! What a great effort, I'm sure I remember you saying you only just learnt to sew while your mum was visiting (I think that's right anyway).
    I'm very impressed! :) - Melissa xx

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  5. I think you did a beautiful job on the Tea Cozy. One would never guess you are a beginner sewer!

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  6. Hi Laura
    Well congratulations the tea cosy is superb!! you are a natural! Cheers.
    Jillxx

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  7. You have dobe a great job! It's lovely :)
    I love teacosies and have been thinking of making one as well. My friend Tara makes 'couture' teacosies that are real works of art. Her blog is listed at the bottom of my blogroll if you would like to take a look. It's called "Tales of a travelling Teacosy"
    :)

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  8. i think that cozy is just adorable, it looks like you do know what you're doing!

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  9. That's just beautiful! And I love the milk bottle! Cheers x

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  10. Laura I love your tea cozy!
    I have the same routine in the morning, into the kitchen before I am fully awake and put the kettle on the stove top, hearing the whistle makes me smile!
    {except I drink 4-5 cups every morning}

    Hugs,
    Dolly

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  11. A Brown Betty was on the top of my Christmas wish list . . . still is. Maybe this year? Tea is my guilty pleasure as my one cabinet will attest . . . it's full of tea boxes -- piping only! The kiddies have adopted the obsession -- tea only before school each morning. The tea cozy is perfect in its charm!

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  12. I just discovered your blog & loved it. I'm just new into blogging & have just finished off my own blog on fashion & interior design.
    scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com
    I had a lot of fun putting it together. I would love your feedback on it if you've got a spare minute.
    Cheers
    Melissah

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  13. Oh, Sweetie! Gee, you make me chuckle. I'm a non-tea (and coffee) drinker but you almost make me want to drink tea by the way you describe the ritual ☺. I am so impressed at your sewing. J x

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  14. I'm tea exclusive too ;) I have not given in to the fast heating electric pot and prefer the whistle as well - green jasmine in the morning and Tetleys with milk after noon.... Congrats on your new cozy! It looks fab! XOL

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  15. I'm really impressed - you tea cosy looks just perfect.

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  16. You tea cozy is like a big hug for the tea pot...and pretty too!! You make a wonderful seamstress!!
    My grandmother who was from England loved her tea too and whe I think of tea, I think of her. It had to be Earl Grey though!!
    Hope your cozy helps you enjoy a warmer cup!!

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  17. Laura, woman of my heart! Not only do I love that you can whip up a tea cosy yourself that is adorable, I'm a huge tea fan, and I like it hot! Tea is the bomb as the American's might say!! :)

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  18. i LOOOOVE your tea cosy....!

    i love that it's not perfectly round...i think something that looks home made, as opposed to *made-in-china* is far preferable lovely!!

    you will have that kitchen looking like ol'blighty in no time at this rate!!
    keep going- there is nothing like looking around your house and knowing you actual made the things you would have once bought!

    hugs from me to you...just to keep you warm....!
    melissa xxx

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  19. Laura, your tea cozy
    is darling and I like
    your pluck at taking
    a go without a lot of
    sewing experience! Like
    you, I like my tea piping
    hot {and am enjoying said
    cup as I read your blog}.
    A few years ago while
    visiting a gift shop in
    Victoria, B.C. I saw the
    most amazing tea cozy and
    am just sorry that I didn't
    splurge and get it. Instead
    of regular batting for an
    insulating lining, it was
    filled with down feathers!
    Not only was it squishily {is
    that a word?}lovely, but I
    can only imagine that it
    did a fantastic job at keeping
    the tea nice and hot. {SIGH}
    I've never seen one anywhere
    like it....
    Hope you are enjoying your
    week....I was SO sorry to
    read about your camera mishap.
    Wonder what you are currently
    using? Your pics are always
    really pretty.
    xx Suzanne

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  20. What a sweet post! I have a tea cozy, embroidered strawberries, that my mother in law gave me, her mother made it...I cherish that cozy with all my heart.

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  21. oh i love it!!!! i have two tea cozies!!! one with bumble bees and one from F&M {oh wish you lived closer... i make a pot every morning} 2 cups to "wet my whistle too" :)
    xo,
    LuLu

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  22. Hello Laura, I am a newcomer and a follower to your blog. I love all things tea and your blog is adorable. The tea cozy is fabulous. I hope you'll come by sometime, you're formally invited...LOL.

    Take care and have a great day.

    Lisa @ Lesapea xx

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  23. Gorgeous pictures and a lovely tea cosy!
    Have a wonderful day,
    love Maaike

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  24. Hi great blog - I love the shape of your tea cosy - its great. I have quite a collection myself and there is nothing like a good cup o' tea.

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  25. So creative! I need to make one of those for my tea pot. I like my tea to stay hot as well.

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  26. I love tea, tea pots, tea cozies . . . all things tea. I am spoiled though, in that my husband makes the morning pot and brings me a cup in bed.

    I am so happy to find your lovely blog and become a follower . . . Holly sent me.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  27. I love your tea cozy well done! And your christmas bunting, really pretty. I love sewing too, I've just had my first go at patchwork, I'll have to post it soon, I'm still clearing up from my twins 6th bday party yesterday! Thanks for visiting my blog, Sally x

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  28. You should try peppermint tea. I got my mom off drinking diet drinks by getting her to drink teas instead. Way healthier for you then soft drinks.

    -Zane of ontario honey

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