It’s always time for tea!

 Welcome!

All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam app

Well, I am going to try to make this new Blogger format work. I have had limited success in the past couple of months. I keep hoping they will work the bugs out sooner rather than later.

😕

So, today’s blog adventure is 

All About Tea

I think this cutting is by Julene Harrison

There’s just something about a hot cup of tea...

Vintage advertisement (1920-1930)

We have recently had snow (!),
so out came the boxes of tea that have been put away for the summer.
We are pretty much hot tea drinkers only.

Colder temperatures call for hot tea!

One of my favorite artists, Inge Look

Okay, just gave up on the new format.
I am Sooo glad I can switch to the old one.
That goes away the end of this month.
😩

By Cardthartic, Pinterest

A Rosina tea cup from my collection

So many kinds of tea...
here is a nice chart to help with steeping times:

Courtesy of an article in BestofTips, 2017, Pinterest 

Tip:
Pour hot water into your cup first, then empty.
Now put your tea of choice in and add hot water.
It helps the steeping time and taste.

Created by inkspired using the WordPack app.

Meinesvenja, post from perpulchra, Pinterest

Cuecas na Cozinha, Pinterest

“There is something in the nature
of tea
that leads us into a world
of quiet contemplation of life.”

- Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living

Another favorite artist of mine, from Sydney, Australia
Matou en peluche (Etsy)

A Royal Albert tea cup from my collection

“A cup of tea would restore

my normality.”

- Douglas Adams

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, screenplay

Novelty teapot found on eBay, Pinterest & Etsy

Next is a fun chart I found that suggests

what tea to drink when you are

in a certain mood -

A Lenox teacup from my collection

Tea advertisement from the 1890’s

Vintageadbrowser.com

“My dear if you could give me

a cup of tea

to clear my muddle of a head

I should better understand

your affairs.”

- Charles Dickens,  Mrs. Lirriper’s Legacy

Stephanie/31 Daily, Pinterest

HubPages, Pinterest

Well, that’s it for today!
Thank you, sincerely, for taking the time
to read my meanderings
and letting me share beautiful art with you.
Oh yes! and also for giving me a place
to share paper dolls, quotes and poems.
❤️

‘Til next time,
inkspired 

Truth:
 (usually discovered either before coffee, or 10 am)
Be aware when pouring boiling water from the kettle;
it works best if the spout is actually 
over the cup.
Date learned: 9/12/2020, 8 am.

Weather and Doodling

Welcome!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...🎵 🎶

Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

We have been having typical weather here -

warm days of 75 degrees Fahrenheit,

then snow the next day, high of 30 degrees.

Next day - mild with enough sun to melt 2/3 of the snow.

We can drop or add 30 degrees easily in one day.

 Vintage advert 

So it’s time to ready your car for the Fall season,

Including but not limited to

Snow tires

Snow scraper

Windshield wiper fluid

Sun shade

Bottled water

Sunscreen

and various snacks.

Sandra Boynton cartoon

SnowCat

If you’re stuck inside because of the weather
let’s do some Zentangles!

A basic just for fun zentangle by inkspired 

A Zentangle found on Pinterest

The word ‘zentangle’ was created for this specific type of drawing art style. The ‘zen’ stands for the calm and peacefulness you can have by doing repetitive patterns.
The ‘tangle’ refers to the doodle part of the art form.

Found on Pinterest

Can’t draw?
That’s ok! Everyone can doodle, 
And that’s basically what zentangle is all about.

Do you know what USA President was famous 
for his doodling during meetings?
His doodles have even been made into a book!

First lightly sketch a basic outline - start with simple 
like a square, circle or simple shape.

A simple zentangle grouping by inkspired

(I like to use a multi-media paper in a spiral bound format.
The paper is smooth, so your pen doesn’t skip,
and the book lays flat.)

Then divide that shape into sections. 
They can be wavy, symmetrical, whatever looks good to you.
Now the fun starts!

You can purchase different handout sheets from the above web,
Teachers pay teachers


Starting with one section, start a pattern.
This can be any pattern,
Start with something simple like circles,
dots, squiggles, whatever you like to doodle.
Fill the section up with the same pattern.

Now move on to another section.
Pick a different pattern -
it’s not supposed to match or coordinate.

Another original inkspired design, mounted and layered to make a greeting card.

Getting the idea?
Now do a little research.
There are many many books out now 
with patterns, how-tos and techniques.

An original zentangle by inkspired printed and layered to make a greeting card.

Follow the directions and learn a few patterns.
Become familiar enough that you don’t need to look at directions anymore. You can draw them anywhere.
These will become your go - to patterns
you will use often.

Beautiful zentangle leaf found on Pinterest, drawn on specialty paper.

My favorite pens to use are EnerGel liquid ink pens
.05 needle tip by Pentel in black.
If you plan on printing out several of one design,
the black copies best.

Others prefer the Micron pens in black
or use all the different colors they come in.

Zentangle drawn with a white pen onto a real leaf
found on Pinterest

You can do this!
Really!
Once you get started I hope you find it to be a fun,
relaxing pastime that calms and refreshes.
You hardly noticed it was snowing outside,
didn’t you?

2 zentangle original designs by inkspired. Hand colored.

Share with us your efforts!

I am starting a new ‘tradition’.
I will be ending with a truth I have ‘learned’ from my experiences.
Hint: many have occurred before 9am.
I am not a morning person.

‘Til next time,
inkspired

Truth:
You will not find milk in the pantry.
Or in the plate cupboard.
😁

Trivia question answer:
President John F. Kennedy 

Leaves and Leaves and Leaves!

Welcome!

🍁🍁🍁

‘J is for Jack Frost’ From “The Fairy Alphabet”
By Fanny Young Cory
1877 - 1972

I got to crunch some leaves today.

Big, dry, crunchy leaves!

I kind of forgot how fun that was.

When is the last time you crunched some leaves?

Unknown photographer

This kaleidoscope always makes me think of Indian corn colors.

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

I came across a very interesting Leaf Craft, 

While browsing through Pinterest.

Aren’t those cool looking?

Anybody can ‘doodle’.

I would use a juicy white paint pen, so as to not tear the leaf.

The top photo shows more ‘zentangle’ type decoration,

While the bottom photo appears to be more doodling style.

W. Wordsworth quote

Unknown artist

I am saving a zentangle post for later.

People do quite a bit more with leaves and art also.

Sam Larson draws tiny silhouette scenes on his leaves:

Leaf art by Sam Larson

This Indonesian artist uses strong coffee to paint leaves with:

Ghidaq al-Nizar aka ‘coffeetopia’

Wow!

Take a look outside.

Take a short walk, even if it is just down your driveway

Or around the block.

Unknown credits

Enjoy the Leaves!

A Coles Phillips ‘fade-away’ girl painting.

October 1917 magazine cover art

Why not invite someone else to go on the walk with you?

October 1917 magazine cover

‘Til next time,

inkspired

🍁

Play with those Talking Veggies!

Welcome!

Pumpkin Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

As we enter the month of November 

my thoughts turn to the upcoming American holiday of

Thanksgiving.

Cred: Cartoonist Jon Russo

While it may seem that retail has pushed Thanksgiving aside 

it remains a unique American tradition.

1940 - 1950 illustration, artist unknown

Just don’t ask any Native Americans what they think about it,

as you might find out they have drastically changed their views on the subject after the first one.

😢

November 1937 magazine cover

Artist unknown 

Let’s talk of vegetables today,

an essential ingredient to any Thanksgiving meal.

Really.

Vintage seed catalog cover, 1901

I just love vintage illustrations!

Did you notice the turn of the century gardening tools?

Vintage seed catalog cover, 1899

Apparently in the past, we had different ideas

about advertising....

I mean nothing says 

“Buy me! Plant me! Eat me!”

Like these:

MOM!

MY VEGETABLES ARE TALKING TO ME!

“Yes dear, now eat your vegetables..”

Here’s a favorite,

Anthropomorphic vegetables, smoking!

Yep, nothing says healthy like smoking vegetables!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

‘Better to eat vegetables and fear no creditors,

Than eat duck and hide from them.’

- The Talmud

Vintage vegetable advertising, 1898

‘It’s no use boiling your cabbage twice.’

-Irish proverb 

On that thought, I will close for today.

Let me know what you think about talking vegetables

in the Comments section!

‘Til next time,

inkspired 

Vintage seed catalog cover, 1903