It's Tea Time

The other day I was thinking about making teapots; I seem to be in a clay thinking rather than clay making phase. There's been my painting class, sorting items out of the treasure bus, reviewing old photographs, various local functions, health issues, then the flea markets, and other pursuits, but at least I'm thinking about clay. I've only made a few teapots in clay. Making a teapot, at least for me, is something I need to warm up to.


I went to the library and checked out several books on the tradition of drinking and serving tea. No wonder I am thinking of teapots and tea time, it's Spring, the perfect time to have a leisurely tea party, don't you think?


Later in the week I was at the grocery story and I decided to peruse the magazine section. I stop there to do what I call magazine window shopping. I don't purchase the magazines, I just look. For some reason I splurged on this Tea Time magazine (cover in first photo). The dainty and brightly colored teapots and the whimsical tea table displays inside won me over.

I saw there was an article inside Tea Time magazine about tea rooms/shops in Tampa. Tampa is about an hour's drive South of me. I'll have to take a trip there one of these days. On the net, the magazine website has extras to go along with the magazine issues. Oh, look at the bottom magazine cover, gluten free recipes inside, I just noticed that, meant to be.

I started remembering times of my youth when I'd have tea parties outside with my siblings serving them in a my tin tea set. The one I had is something like the photo I have shown (borrowed from the net for illustration purposes). I remember I used to pick oxalis and serve that with imaginary tea, usually water, but sometimes sassafras or cool aide.


As I was leafing through the magazine I discovered an article tucked in the back about the Seagrove Potteries referencing the Teapots and Teacups show at The North Carolina Pottery Center now through April 30, 2011. I remember my friend and fellow blogger Meredith of Whynot Pottery posting about the show see examples of the teapots here and here which are on display.


If you have the opportunity please visit the exhibit or if you're thinking of purchasing a gift, think about a handmade pottery and teapots. Steeped in tradition, you can't go wrong with a teapot to use for daily tea, a tea party, or just to display for it's beauty.

You could even have a tea party with a relative, a friend, your child or grandchild, wouldn't that be fun? Spread a table cloth on the ground or on a picnic table in the shade, bring out a tea set and some tasty morsels, and have a wonderful tea party. Happy Spring to you; it's tea time.