A Tea Cup Exchange

Oh what a happy week for mail it was this week! My dear friend Stephanie over at The Enchanting Rose hosted a teacup exchange this past month.  Here are her words on how it all began:

The idea of this exchange formed one day while I was looking at my collection of tea cups and I thought to myself that it would be a joy to bring ladies together over a cup of tea. The first exchange was a success and soon mugs were included

since everyone has different tastes and styles.

I am rather late getting involved with the teacup/mug exchanges as this was my first one (and this is the 7th time the exchange has been held), but you can be sure I will be joining whenever Stephanie does this again!  What a joy it was to be able to make not one, but two new friends!  You simply join by sharing your email address, and a few small things about yourself, and shortly Stephanie contacts you with your new exchange friend to whom you send a teacup.  In return, a different friend receives your name, and you receive a teacup from that friend.  So, in the process... you receive a beautiful new teacup (or mug) and two new friends!

I am a tea lover, and drink lots and lots of hot tea, and since a cup of hot tea is always best with a friend, in this tea exchange you are blessed to both send a teacup and receive one.  Along with the teacup extra goodies are included, and oh my how fun this was!  It was fun to put together my package for dear Kathryn who blogs here.  And in return I received my special package from dear Linda who blogs here.

My package arrived on Monday, and it smelled good even from the outside!

Smiles! Oh yes!  I was smiling, from ear to ear!  Do you see the stitching on the card? Linda is an amazing seamstress, and she "sewed" this card for me, just darling!

The package had each item beautifully wrapped and covered in pastel bubbles, to ensure nothing would get broken.  Everything arrived in perfect condition, and oh the joy I had of unwrapping each one!

A handmade teabag holder!  Just adorable!  Such thoughtfulness and beautiful handiwork - see the lovely stitching, just adorable! Something I will treasure always!

And such a mouth watering collection of tea bags!  Honey Lavender Stress Relief, Perfect Peach Herb Tea, Lipton Green Tea, and Twinnings Chai Tea - a fabulous mix for me to enjoy!

And oh.my.goodness!  The Teacup.  She was beautiful.  I love the unique ruffled edges of the cup with the gorgeous rose print and gold edging.  I couldn't have chosen a prettier cup if I'd tried!  I have no teacup like this in my collection, and what a joy it will be to have!

I couldn't wait to put the tea pot on and enjoy my new teacup right away... but wait... there was more!  My goodness!

Oh how could she have known (I never mentioned my love of writing in my little note about myself)... but I have a collection of journals, and I was getting low, and actually was in need of a new one... oh how the Lord provides, without us ever even needing to ask!  And the most beautiful handmade bookmark!  Oh, what a beautiful gift, and the journal and lovely bookmark will make my quiet time with the Lord even more special!

I wondered what it was that just smelled so divine... apple cinnamon fragrance sachets... oh the aroma was just intoxicating and yummy!

What?  I couldn't believe there was more to my package!  I already felt like my heart couldn't hold any more... but there it was, one more beautiful package to unwrap.  It was a package of John Wm. Macy's SweetSticks "Java Cinnamon".  I have never heard of these before, and ooh, they looked so yummy!

Here is the picture of all the precious goodies that were packed into the box so carefully, and with such tender care.  What a beautiful gift to open, and how special I felt as I smiled (Linda was right, I was ALL SMILES) as I enjoyed the contents of her beautiful package to me.

Do you see how the entire gift is color coordinated in rose and green, just darling, and I loved every special little touch of love that was put into it!

Oh what fun I will have filling this journal up, sipping hot tea, and enjoying the lovely smells of apple cinnamon while I munch on my java cinnamon SweetSticks.  Life doesn't get much better than this!

And hidden within the pages of the journal are these sweet little cards... so fun!

Blessed I am indeed... such a bountiful gift, and so appreciated.

Thank you again, dear Linda for your generous gift.... everything was amazing!!!! .... and those SweetSticks are simply sublime!  I've already looked for them online to buy some more!  The website to purchase them is htttp://www.cheesesticks.com  should any of you be interested... What a delightful teacup package this was, with pure enjoyment for many tea-times to come!

And the tea cup delight has continued!  Since receiving my amazing gift from Linda, I sent her a thank you card, and a little handmade bookmark.  She blogged about the gift I sent her here.  If you'd like to see more of Linda's work, she is a seamstress, and has beautiful creative items in her Etsy shop Eastern Ave Designs which you can see here.  I've enjoyed the communication so much with Linda since I received my special gift from her... what a blessing this has been!

And then dear Kathryn sent me the most amazing "thank you"!  A beautiful card arrived in the mail, along with two handmade items from her Etsy shop! Isn't she quite the talented lady!  I just love the beautiful cameo that comes with a clip so it can be clipped on clothing or hair!  And the incredible bookmark!  The little saying on it says:

"Be you to others kind and true, 

As you'd have others be to you; 

And neither do nor say to men, 

Whate'er you would not take again."  

What a precious quote presented in such a beautiful fashion!  I just love the attention to detail wtih the lace, the embellishments and ribbon!  I will cherish these little thank-yous so very much! You can find more of Kathryn's work in her Etsy shop here! 

What a blessing this has been in so many ways... and the correspondence back and forth with both Kathryn and Linda has been so special to me.  Really the friendships made in this tea exchange means as much or more to me than anything, and the special gifts just the icing on the cake!  I am so very blessed! 

If you would like to see all the teacup exchanges that took place, Stephanie is having the reveal on her blog October 14th for all those who participated.   I will be forever grateful to dear Stephanie for opening up this wonderful opportunity for us.  :)