Personalize Your Tea Ball...

Today I am showing you a simple way to take an inexpensive tea ball and personalize it for yourself or someone you love with charms and jump rings from the craft store. This is so easy to do you won't believe it.

To make your own you will need:
-A metal tea ball with a chain
-Charms (order on Etsy, Ebay or find at your craft store)
-Jump rings (order on Etsy, Ebay or find at your craft store)
-Needle nose pliers

Step one - Assemble all your supplies.
Step two- Use your pliers to open the jump rings wide enough to slide the ring through one of the chains of the tea ball.
Step three- Slide your charm onto the jump ring and close with your needle nose pliers.
Step four- Repeat with as many charms as you would like to use.

* I chose a teapot with tea cup and a book, as it best represents my blog.

Fill your tea ball with 1 tsp of your favorite loose leaf tea...
Or package your newly embellished tea ball with some loose leaf tea, and some of your favorite cookies as a gift for a tea lover you know.

Thank you for joining me for today's Tea Time Craft. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

As The Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz

As The Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz was a treat to read! This Midnight Ink Cozy Mystery comes out June 8th and is a great read. I was thrilled Net Galley approved my request to review it and even though I am anxious for summer to start, I really felt Christmas Spirit in late may with this one. A complicated mystery, with twists and turns I had not expected. I found it both disturbing and delightful, and ends with a Christmas Eve wedding, a perfect balance. A very good read and a lovely way for you to spend the summer holidays, be sure to check this one out.

"Budewitz's finely drawn characters, sharp ear for dialogue, and well-paced puzzle make Jewel Bay a destination for every cozy fan."—Kirkus Reviews

"Clean-as-a-whistle dialogue, endearing characters, and a solid plot make this cozy a winner."—Publishers Weekly

"Cozy readers will relish the small-town,Christmastime frame accompanying details of frenzied wedding planning and running a family food business. And, of course, recipes, too."—Booklist

Erin is one smart cookie, but can she keep the holiday spirit—and herself—alive till Christmas?

In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy's Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily has turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.

When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he's been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she's found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve?

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or emailing me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Picked Off by Linda Lovely

I was asked to review Linda Lovely's second in the Brie Hooker Mystery series Picked Off and was excited to download my ARC from Netgalley. I loved the first one and the second one did not disappoint. This one had a bunch of great storylines and I enjoy the wannabe love triangle between main character Brie and best friends Andy and Paint. I also love that Brie is a vegan, which is such an odd part of the plot and yet comes together beautifully. Lots of animals, dogs and mayhem at their farm. The mystery in this one I very much enjoyed, the political twist was not what I expected and read really well not a predictable run of the mill plot line. I really enjoyed it. I could not put it down and I read it in one night. This one is out June 5th and well worth the read. A fine Henery Press book!  *Not sure why but Amazon has the cover below. I liked both covers but this is what it looks like if you go looking for it.

It’s been seven months since Brie Hooker, a vegan, moved to Udderly Kidding Dairy to live with her feisty Aunt Eva, a confirmed carnivore. But tonight there’ll be no family feud over dinner entrees. Udderly’s hosting a campaign fundraiser for Eva’s best friend, who hopes to be South Carolina’s next governor. The candidate’s son, a pro quarterback, is flying home for the wingding. And Brie’s eager to get a close-up view of the cute tush she’s admired on TV, even though she’s reluctantly sworn off even more tempting local beefcake. The campaign fundraiser promises to be a huge success until a pitchfork attack turns the goat farm into a crime scene—again. To protect her friends, Brie puts her sleuthing skills to work. Will she live long enough to find out who’s behind a vicious assault, a kidnapping, blackmail, and murder? 

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries

I bought Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes, actually I pre ordered it from Amazon.ca and I was so excited for it to show up on my ipad to read this past weekend.  A great first in what I am excitedly anticipating being a long running series. Based in Normal, Kentucky with a wonderful bunch of down to earth characters and a setting that was not seemingly to cozy to begin with but then as the story transforms so does the setting. I loved the grit, the comedy, the personalities and the predicaments that main character Mae West, finds herself in throughout this mystery and story. Loved everything about this one and especially the cover!  I have even preorder the next one from Amazon.ca!

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. A Campers and Criminal Mystery Series is another brainchild of USA Today Bestselling Author Tonya Kappes. If you love her quirky southern characters and small town charm with a mystery to solve, you're going to love her new cozy mystery series! 

Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars.

Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn't lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn't seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae's idea of camping has room service. 

By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she'll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren't always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top.

Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul's schemes, making her lower than tha lake scum in the residents' eyes. Mae doesn't think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake. 

Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp's short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge. 

Time is running out for Mae to prove that she's innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who've lost all their savings to Paul's Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake.

This one is out now and you can find it on Amazon by clicking here.
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review.  I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmial.com

Rockets Dead Glare by Lynn Cahoon

Always a pleasure to get approved to read a Lynn Cahoon book. Netgalley gave me a sneak peak at Rockets Dead Glare and I loved it. Actually I think this might just be my new favorite. Lynn makes the Tourist Trap Mysteries fun and I felt like it was a weekend away visiting this California town of South Cove and catching up with old friends. Always drama going on in town and this particular mystery and town event made for a great setting and a complex mystery. Lynn did a great job with Rockets Dead Glare and I hope that you will love this Lyrical June 5th release as much as I did.

South Cove’s local businesses are up in arms after volunteer fire chief Barry Gleason threatens to shut down anyone who doesn’t comply with the fire code. But when Barry schedules a training burn in an old abandoned barn, he is the only one who doesn't come out alive. Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—smells murder in the ashes. She’ll have to work quickly to nab a killer with a short fuse—or else everyone’s holiday will end with a fizzle . . .  
You can find Rockets Dead Glare by Lynn Cahoon on Amazon.com by clicking here.
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On my table and in my cup May 19-26th

Greetings from my table to yours this week. While I have had some wonderful books on my table this week I have also had some amazing people around my table and in my tea tent. Simple pleasure of being outside and in the comfort of friends has lifted my spirit this week and filled my bucket for sure. 

“Whenever you are lonely just look at the spaces between your fingers and remember that’s where my fingers perfectly fit”- author unknown. I found this driftwood on the beach his week when I was taking to my sister on the phone. It looked so much like a pair of hands. It is simple a beautiful reminder that we are not alone.

I will start with what has been in my cup this week. While my normal standby is the Vanilla Black tea I drink most often from Murchies, we have been enjoying the Wedding blend, Orange Pekoe and Murchies afternoon blend in the tea tent this week.  The Murchies Afternoon blend is a delightful tea that was once called Empress Afternoon Tea and was served at the Empress hotel in Victoria for years. It is a favorite of mine and my guests. 

 I ordered and am reading through Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes right now.  I ordered this book and already can tell I am going to love this series.  

 I read Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly, a very good read and first in a new series.

I also read Rockets Dead Glare by Lynn Cahoon this week, review coming up tomorrow. Love the Tourist Trap Mystery Series and this one was a favorite! 

This was a very busy and fun week, from the Royal wedding last week to spending Victoria Day with my nieces and friends at the Victoria Day celebrations to enjoying time in the tea tent with friends, both photographed and not, a bunch of great thrift store finds, a new bear and great reads. I feel truly blessed. 
Thank you for taking time to join me for a cup of tea and a week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Fancy Friday Finds- Ties, Bow Ties and Gloves

If you read yesterday's post then you saw that I have a new bear whom I am looking for a few bow ties for, which lead me to Etsy and today's post. While I have not found the right patterned fabric yet for Earl's bow tie, I did find and fall in love with some on etsy. Only my 10 year old likes bow ties, but I could not resist sharing these for the tea tent season.

Love and Dapper has a fun shop and they offer a variety of sizes in bow ties, what caught my eye was the lovely check pattern in this shop, I also liked the different styles offered, if I had it all to do over again I think bow ties would have been in more photos on my boys for sure. Click here for shop and listing. 

The Wedding Tie Shoppe has a tie I love, not that I could see any of my boys wearing it but I love the idea, I am a fan of the cabbage rose patterns and if you are going to a summer tea wedding or perhaps you know someone bold enough I loved this listing! Click here to see these in shop. 

A friend of mine mentioned this week about having tea at one of the queen's garden parties and how to get invited, she mentioned that there is a dress code and that while gloves were optional they were suggested. I have not thought of gloves for tea time but love the idea! I am not one who likes to have paint on my nails so gloves is a pretty neat way to dress up my hands. I was looking on Etsy for some vintage ones and found this listing in the Once and Future Etsy shop. I loved the little bowtie on these. I am not really a fan of the lace ones nor the sheer ones but these caught my eye and made my favorite list. Who knows maybe if I buy them I might just get an invite to one of the Queen's garden parties. Dear universe I am just putting it out there. You can find these and other lovely treasures by clicking here.

Thank you so much for joining me here for a cup of tea and a look at this weeks Fancy Friday Finds. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com