10th Tea Cup and Mug Exchange

This spring was the 10th Tea Cup & Mug Exchange that Stephanie at Enchanting Rose puts together twice a year.  I have participated for the last couple of years, and it has always brought such blessing and joy into my life.  If you would like to know more about the teacup & mug exchange, please visit Stephanie's website at The Enchanting Rose to learn more about the teacup & mug exchange.  There will be another one this fall, Lord willing.  This year there were over 200 ladies who participated, and that becomes quite a challenge for Stephanie to try to organize this, and each of us who participate in the exchange appreciate all the effort that goes into this, and feel so very thankful her efforts!

When Stephanie emailed me who my teacup exchange partner would be, I was so excited to find out that my  teacup exchange partner was from a town in Texas who my husband's brother was looking at buying property in.  In fact, as the email came in from Stephanie, my husband was on the phone with his brother discussing the property that was in the very town my exchange partner lives in!  My new exchange partner, Doniene blogs at Nowitsjusyquilt.blogspot.com, and is a precious Christian lady who is a very busy woman.  She helps her husband ranch and raise cattle and goats, and also loves to quilt. She and I have emailed back and forth and it has been such a blessing to get to know her better.

For her gift, because she lives on a Texas ranch, I had fun putting together some Texas themed items for her.

I found the cutest teacup at a local antique store, and thought it was quite one of the most unique teacups I had seen.  It also had a matching butter pat dish, but I found that it fit perfectly on top of the teacup, and would make a lovely teabag holder too.

I also included an assortment of other goodies including some handmade items that I made - a potholder, a bookmark, a teacup coaster, a country themed journal and pen, as well as the card.

 I included a few other sweet goodies including chocolate flavored tea, some Werther caramels and Cadbury fingers.

While at the antique store shopping for the tea cup, I came across the lovely square quilted pillow that someone had made, and sent it along in the package to Doniene.  It was such fun to put together this package for Doniene, but even more, a joy to get to know her better, and for a new friendship to take place.

My package arrived and upon opening it, each item was beautifully wrapped, and it was fun taking each little gift out.  First up was the card, with a gorgeous teacup on it.

Each item came wrapped so lovingly in pink tissue tied with sparkly pink ribbon.

A BEAUTIFUL tea themed journal was the first to be opened, and oh my, it is beautiful!  I just loved the beautiful teapot on the front, and one can never have too many journals!

Pure Leaf green tea is a brand of tea I've seen in stores, but never bought for myself.  I couldn't wait to try it out, and as soon as I finished opening everything, I brewed myself a pot of this tea.

Along with the tea and journal there was a lovely floral embroidered handkerchief, a teapot steeper, and a teabag holder.

And of course, chocolate!  I love Ghirardelli chocolate!

The loveliest teacup that Cindy sent to me was not just beautiful, but it was very precious and cherished.

Cindy told me she had been out shopping for a teacup for me, but then decided to send one of her very own grandmother's cherished teacups to me!  Oh, it brought tears to my eyes to know that my new friend, who had not even met me, was willing to part with one of her grandmother's cherished tea cups to send to me!  It was special beyond words, and this beautiful teacup will be lovingly cherished by me too.  

It is a Clarence Bone China set made in England, and it matched perfectly with the tea journal she sent me too!

What a beautiful blessing this teacup exchange has been once again!

I found the perfect spot for my new teacup.  It is a beauty!

My daughter was home on spring break, and we decided to have an impromptu tea party with my new teacup and goodies.  I made some blueberry scones from a recipe that Amy of God's Grace Overflows had shared (and oh my, they were delicious!) and we brewed a pot of the Pure Leaf Green Tea.

I had quilted these little tea cup coasters and they added a touch of beauty to our tea.

It was a lovely afternoon, with the beautiful tea package sent to me, and enjoyed with my daughter. Do visit Cindy who blogs at Considering It All Joy, what a precious lady she is, and I've been blessed by our new friendship.

The loveliest part of this tea exchange is not just the package that arrives in the mail, or the one you send, but it is the sweet friendships that develop because of it, and I am so very thankful for the incredible efforts that Stephanie puts into this tea exchange, to make it such a blessed time for all. Already, I can't wait for the next one!

If you want to read more about the tea exchanges, and to see what other ladies received in their tea/mug exchange, please visit the 10th Tea Cup & Mug Exchange linkup party here, and you will be able to see all the tea loveliness there!