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This GIVE AWAY has ended and a Winner was selected. My next Give Away will be this Spring and be held on my Kimberly Shaw Facebook Page if you'd like to stay connected there.
A Give Away drawing for 14 Christmas Teacup Greeting cards is happening this week on my Kimberly Shaw Graphics Facebook page.
Give Away winner will be randomly selected and announced Sunday December 6, 2015. Cards can be mailed the following day Monday Dec 7, 2015 or as soon as winner responds with mailing info. Good luck!
I adore the handles on these teacups.
Here's a sneak peak from a photo shoot taken while setting up an idea for a new Teacup greeting card. While not fully developed, I'm considering using these models as inspiration.
A sneak peak at what I'm working on in the Studio today. I'm painting a Shelley teacup which was on loan from a friend. I love its curviness and blue accents on the rim and handle.
This is my second attempt at this design. My first painting was OK, but not exactly what I had in mind, so I choose to do it over. Glad I did, I'm much happier with this one.
Here's my personal critique of my original artwork:
I wasn't thrilled with the bright background color or design, nor the color of the ribbon, or the flowers in the foreground. The overall color of the shadows on the teacup were too warm making it look muddy. I also thought a tighter weave on the lace over a richer blue would look better.
Is milk added to the teacup first, before the tea is poured, or is milk added after the tea is poured?
If you're like me, Breakfast teas are my favorite, and they are delicious with milk.
The practice of adding milk to the cup before scalding tea is added was to ensure the fragile teacup wouldn't crack from the heat. Completely understandable, a cracked teacup is heartbreaking.
Modern, even vintage, china can withstand heat better than antique pieces, so the practice has died down some. I would guess for traditions sake, or as a familiar childhood memory, milk is still added to the cup before the tea.
Once when I was about ten and my brother nine, we went to a friend's house after school. His British parents offered to bring us a snack of tea and cookies. First the tray of teacups arrived with the cookies. In each cup was a splash of milk, and to me this was new. In fact, I thought the teacups were dirty and the milk was left from previous use. When the tea arrived my confusion was explained and we enjoyed a wonderful treat.
Adding milk after the tea is poured to to ensure just the right amount is added without overpowering the tea.
So now the big question, and I think you know what I'm going to ask. Yep, you guessed it.
When do you add milk to your tea?
I'll be the first to answer my own question. I love adding milk last. It's the simple pleasure of watching the white milk swirl in the dark tea making what often looks like weather patterns in my cup.