CasaSugar

How-To: Removing Tea and Coffee Stains From Cups

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:15:37 -0700

I like to collect coffee mugs from all the previous incarnations of myself (jobs, vacations). But you might have noticed that tea and coffee tend to leave not-so-pretty stains on ceramic cups. So, I wind up with a lot to clean. Luckily, it's actually fairly simply to whiten my collection, and the task doesn't require a big smelly jug of Clorox.

Just fill the tainted cup with warm water and drop in a denture-cleaning tablet like Fixodent. Once the tablet stops fizzing, it will be whitened, and the tablet will also kill away bacteria. Want your toilet bowl to sparkle too? The tablet works on porcelain toilets too; just drop it in, let it fizz, and flush! Don't have denture tablets around? You can also use white vinegar to do the trick!

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Etsy Finds: Terrific Tea Towels

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:44 -0700

I'm a huge fan of tea towels. They're so versatile that I use them for everything from drying dishes to covering a batch of cookies to napkin substitutes. I like them even more when they come with a cute design, like all of these great towels I've found on Etsy.

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Casa Quickie: Tea Time

CasaSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:30:19 -0700

Break out the tea cups even if you're not observing tea time. Take advantage of Spring blooms, which are often already on a short stem, by arranging them in pretty, mismatched china. Displayed on a mantel or across a coffee table, these modest garden blooms can make a big impact.

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Desire/Acquire: Tea Set Lamp

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:00:14 -0700

The Anthropologie One-Lump-or-Two Lamp ($198) is quite cute in a British country cottage way, and I adore its espresso cup finial. But, I'd say it's a tad overpriced for a table lamp that looks so crafty, and that doesn't come with a shade. Luckily, there's a more affordable alternative that can be customized to fit your color scheme. To see it, read more.

Etsy seller Vintage Renaissance hand-crafts these Tea Set Lamps ($100) from vintage dishes so that each one is unique. You can choose your preferred color of Krylon spray paint for the base to personalize the lamp. Unfortunately, the shade is not included. I can see this lamp looking really cool with the right palette and a not-so-country-bumpkin shade. Personally, I'd go with a glossy white base and perhaps a tall, black, silk drum shade.

Etsy Find: Do the Dishes Tea Towel

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:30:48 -0700

Sometimes we all just need a straight talkin' to. That's especially true when the pots and pans are piling up. So beyond a bit of Palmolive and some elbow grease, perhaps the answer is the Show Pony Do the Dishes Tea Towel ($20), a fair trade organic cotton towel with the kitchen commandment spelled out in screen printed stacks of dirty plates. Perhaps you're a gal who goes for the three-packs of striped dish towels from the grocery store, so this one may not be for you. But I love me some tea towels, and have an ever-growing collection, so you can bet your bottom dollar that this Show Pony piece will show up in my kitchen.

DIY: Lilyvanilli's Rooster Tea Towel

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:00:55 -0700

I recently found Crafter user Lilyvanilli's beautiful hand-embroidered tea towel on Craftster. She writes that, "This was my first time using one of those blue, water-soluble markers and I gotta say, I'm hooked! The pattern lines came off so easy and it was really nice to be able to mess up on my lines and not have to redo the entire pattern. I highly recommend that marker for anyone doing lazy daisy stitch!"

For a close-up picture, read more.
Beautiful, isn't it? And I love her choice of colors. While I'm only an occasional embroiderer, this tea towel is inspiring me to start a project.

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Steal of the Day: Silver Porcelain Flower Tea Light Holder

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:45:24 -0800

To find out where to steal these super-sweet tea light holders, read more.

The Sprout Home Silver Porcelain Flower Tea Light Holders ($12.71) are hand formed from thin porcelain petals, then colored with glaze, creating a delicate flower shape to add romance to your tablesetting. No two holders are alike, although there are roughly five different styles. All will hold a standard tea light. I say go for three of 'em, and spread them around your dinnertable. Personally, I think they'd make a versatile housewarming gift as well. Their floral shape is feminine enough for your gal pals, but their silver glaze gives them an industrial, dude-worthy edge.

Nice and New: Urban Outfitters Tea for One Set

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:00:41 -0800

I'm pretty surprised by this ceramic pink botanical Urban Outfitters Tea for One Set ($24). The floral print is so different from their usual inventory—in a good way! It's classic and elegant, rather than seasonal and trendy. Each set comes with a single-serving teapot with lid and a matching mug that rests below it for easy storage. Maybe tea for one isn't as fun as tea for two (or three or four), but poured into this set, it's a treat! It would also make a great holiday gift for the single gals that you know.

Etsy Find: Ice Cream Lollies Tea Towel

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:00:22 -0700

I'm far from an Adam Sandler groupie, but there are a few of his movie scenes that always get me. One of these is in Mr. Deeds, when his character tries to sell an ice cream glove to investors — such a dumb idea but I still kind of understand the need for one. Since the fictional product was never produced, we'll have to make do by wiping down our sticky fingers with the MrPS Ice Cream Lollies Tea Towel ($16). The 100 percent cotton tea towel is hand-printed in retro turquoise with hand-drawn and photographic images of ice cream cones and popsicles, images synonymous with Summer Style. Sorry, fudgsicles not included.

Etsy Find: High Tea Spoon Cabinet

CasaSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:45 -0700

I've written about many common types of storage and even some that have stumped you. But, never a spoon cabinet. Only the Aussies (OK, and maybe the Brits) would designate an entire cabinet on the wall just for their spoons. I'll overlook this absurdity given my interest in the Tim Neve High Tea Spoon Cabinet ($45). The silverware storage unit received a modern update with a bold graphic illustration print used as a backing and a finish of glossy black paint, making it scrumptiously delightful. So, for those of you who have a vintage spoon collection, you can rest assured that you won't look one bit Granny for it — (even though you kind of are).