A book of tea - cont'd

Still drinking tea

and

putting the wet tea bag

and a rusty bit or two...or three...

in my book of tea. 

This is my 299th post. And you know what that means...the next is one of those magical numbered posts. One that comes with a gift to celebrate the big 3-0-0.

Can you guess what the gift will be? What better than a book of tea? It seems only fitting since three of my loves - paper, rust and tea - are combined within. If you're interested, that is...

Details to come with the next post.

A book of tea

After seeing the Damien Hirst exhibit at the Tate in London, a mental palate cleanser of sorts was needed and I could think of no better...or more immediate...way to do so than to peruse the gift shop for treasures. 

I came away with what has become my book of tea. 

Well, tea and rust really although I think of it as my book of tea.

My tea bag stash has been featured on the blog so admitting that 

I keep my used tea bags when traveling should come as no surprise.  

And being the rust junkie that I am, no one should be shocked to learn 

 that I travel with a rusted washer or two...

because you just never know when one will come in handy.

What do you do with your used tea bags?

Searching for Roy G Biv - Yellow...updated

In the never ending quest to find Roy G Biv, 

I scoured London for examples of July's color and found them everywhere.

Hey Julie! This post is for you.

From the buoys in the Thames

to a building neaby

 to the dock behind the Tower Hotel

[where we stayed]

yellow seemed to be a favorite color.

It was used to transform a simple door

 

and add interest to a  metal sculpture along the Thames River walk.

Even the graffiti along Brick Lane used it well.

Looking up in London always provided a surprise or two.

This time a bit of color on an office building along the Thames.

 The bicycle leaning nonchalantly against this store front 

on Portobello Road was a favorite

 as were the glass knobs in another shop.

 Our last morning in London found me photographing 

this sculpture and it's watery reflection after an enthusiastic rain.

 There's even one of the most famous yellows of all, 

proudly displayed from Tower Bridge.

 Back home, these dancing ducks,

 that were a gift to the girls from Grandma Joanna,

 make my heart sing with silly happiness each time

I watch them shaking their tail feathers to the tune of the sun.

Have you got yellow?


Arzigogolare has the most intriguing yellows that she took in Venice. 
And if you haven't seen Julie's offerings, just click here.

Art math

Been cooking in the studio again. 

 Queen Ann's Lace + 

 rust on paper =

hints of snowflakes.

 Hydrangea +

 rust on paper =

 layers of patterns

and the essence of hydranea.

 Cleome + 

 a big rusted rectangle atop it = 

my favorite of the day.

London - Day 5 Portobello Road

Feels a bit funny to write the title of this post while sitting in my studio at home. We've been back in the States since very late last Wednesday night and I think...written with fingers crossed...that I've finally overcome the jet lag enough to write a coherent post so here goes...

Aware of our search for a tea set for the urchins, someone recommended Portobello Market to my husband. Being a fan of the movie Notting Hill and being aware that part of it was filmed along Portobello Road, I decided to that it might be fun to stroll along the street where Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts had also strolled.

What a delightful and interesting street to wander! The shops were filled with all sorts of bits - my favorite being a home decorating shop that sold door knobs, crystals, wooden letterpress, etc. 

Where Brick Lane had been ethnically diverse, Portobello Road was simply diverse. Tattoos + the shortest mini skirts ever + multiple piercings live alongside the obviously well educated and monied. As with Brick Lane, something caught my attention and just wouldn't let go until it had been explored. Portobello Road's something was AllSaints Spitalfields.

I had just crossed the street and was walking by a clothing store when several people in front of me stepped into the store's doorway to take photos of something inside.

 Row upon

 row upon

 row of 

 the most magnificent

 

 antique sewing machines lined the walls just inside the door.

And that wasn't the best part...oh no, not by half.

The best part was the fixtures that the clothing was displayed on. I don't know what the original use of half of the things were, but they were lovely and

rusted in places

 or just aged 

 and nicked from use.

 Shadows were cast by parts of printing or cutting tables

 while worn stools had stories to share.

 Shapes

 and sizes varied.

 There was a 25

 nearby 2 wonderful gears

 and 1 intriguing...butterfly?

Nearly 30 minutes later, I emerged onto the sidewalk still marveling over the fixtures in AllSaints and the fact that not once had an employee spoken to me, asked if I could be helped or inquired why I was taking photos or even if I had permission to do so. Perhaps they are accustomed to such actions/reactions from passersby...or perhaps they thought it best to leave the crazy lady photographing all the fixtures alone.