On Tips and Tea on Tuesdays, I will cover a topic and hopefully provide you with some tips that will be helpful! And just as an afterthought, tea may occasionally be a cup of Joe!

Tea today, is a blend of rose hips and hibiscus, quite lovely, a little tangy, with a nice fruity aroma. I was looking through my collection of pink china pieces, and came across these darling little “watchamacallit” (a highly technical term) vessels. These had belonged to my husbands grandmother, and I just think that they are so dear. I wanted to include the antique lace and mother of pearl fan in the photo, as it makes a beautiful backdrop when paired with my favorite heart-shaped wreath.

My Fair Lady: No, this does not look like Eliza, however, she is wearing a pink garment, and the colors remind me of Eliza’s day dress that she is wearing, while confronting Henry Higgins in his mother’s garden. This piece started with a vintage reproduction cigarette silk. I had saved it for many years, waiting for just the right project to use it on. I used the project to demonstrate how you can “mix the old with the new”, in my book, Creative Embroidery Mixing the Old with the New.

Here are the details:

• 1900–1940: Wavy pink and white trim, mother-of-pearl buttons, glass buttons, pink glass hexagon beads, sequins, pink ombré silk embroidery ribbon.
• 2000–2010: Floral fabric, floral bridal appliqués, green silk embroidery ribbon, reproduction print cigarette silk (center).
• New: Green satin ribbon, cotton lace, glass seed beads, cotton floss, perle cotton.

Tips for Mixing the Old With the New:

• Begin with a print that incorporates all of the colors that you want to include in the project.
• Look for colors that are used throughout the eras—reds, pinks, yellows, blues, greens, browns, tans, and creams.
• If the shading of your fabrics are slightly off, layer a piece of lace or ribbon over the fabric, and this should draw the attention to the embellishment details.
• Include personal details like buttons, buckles, and old jewelry parts, to add in additional interest.

Happy tea drinking and stitching to you! ~Christen

PS: If you have any questions or thoughts, just leave a comment! See Tips, Tricks, the Basics, for more helpful ideas.