Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Cross-stitch teapot

This is the latest piece of tea theme cross-stitch that hubby has completed for me.  I knew this transferware teapot would be beautiful.  I’m very pleased with this piece and can’t wait to have it framed and displayed. 

IMG_0502

You can see how quickly he worked since I posted about it here at the end of May.  He has now started a cross-stitch birth announcement for my younger daughter’s first baby.

Makes me think that I need to get back to my sewing and paper arts and quit wasting so much time on Words With Friends and Candy Crush Saga.  ☺ 

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Breville Variable Temperature Kettle

Breville kettle

I’ve always used electric kettles – they are so convenient.  It drives me nuts on vacation when I must boil my water for tea in a pot on the stove – seems to take forever and it is tricky to pour the water out without spilling it all over the place.

One of my longest lasting kettles is my Russell Hobbs.  I still use it once in a while and sometimes take it with me when I travel.  My everyday kettle is a UtiliTEA model by Adagio.  I like that you can set the temp for boil or just hot for green tea.  That said, I’m not sure that the temp control is all that accurate.

The Breville Variable Temperature kettle above will be my next model.  I love that you have buttons for green tea, white tea, oolong, French Press and black tea.  It seems well made in stainless steel and is detachable from the base, a really handy feature.  And if you put the kettle on and then get distracted by something, there is a hold button to keep the water at the right temp for 20 minutes. 

Relaxing Cup of Tea   

This kettle is a quite pricey ($129.95 on Amazon).  Before I decide if this would be a smart purchase, I’d really like to hear if any of you have used this kettle and how do you like it?