Newspaper & Magazine

Serendipity, Tea & Me ~ Part 2

April 20, 2012
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Serendipity, Tea & Me ~ Part 2

I am positively OVER THE MOON with happiness while telling you all that I am currently working on an article for one of my favorite magazines…TeaTime Magazine! It’s published by Hoffman Publishing (the same darlings that publish my beloved Victoria!)… It’s going to be a feature article called “The Tea Experience,” and I’ll be including most of my favorite tearooms with you. Oh! and did I mention…I’ll also be taking the photographs for this article? Yes. I will. What an amazing opportunity. I keep pinching myself just to make sure I’m not dreaming. I’m busy sipping champagne and celebrating with my family this weekend…but I look forward to writing a long, drawn out post all about my adventures in tea. I hope it’s not too boring for you. It’s...

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six senses saturday

March 17, 2012
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six senses saturday

seeing :: visions of quilts dancing in my head after working on quilts with my friend Clare on Thursday and Friday. Can’t wait to start sewing my quilt top together next week! I already know what I want to work on next tasting :: toasted bagel sandwich with cheddar cheese, smoked turkey, a soft basted egg, arugula, mayo, salt and fresh ground pepper…and a big mug of French press. mmmmm…. smelling :: Lollia ~ Imagine Perfume : A floral fragrance impression of the most beautiful day imaginable. Flowering Willow & Lotus float in, then flutter away…a trace of Orchid on their wings. Breezy Rice Flower and warm Coconut Milk mix with dew drop notes of Mandarin & Jasmine petals. Not a cloud in sight: a sun dappled, sophisticated scent....

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teatime tuesday & 10 things that make me happy

October 18, 2011
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teatime tuesday & 10 things that make me happy

10 things that make me happy 1. sitting under a homemade quilt while watching the beautiful Brit TV show, Downton Abbey, on PBS! 2. a quiet house and a few relaxing hours to myself 3. a sleeping, snoring kitty on the back of the couch 4. lots of yarn 5. tea in my favorite English ironstone cup 6. cinnamon raisin toast with butter and Dutch apple jam 7. DVR, Cable and Netflix Streaming…so I can watch when I want to 8. candle light and plenty of vanilla scented candles 9. a pile of my favorite magazines: Victoria, Mary Jane’s Farm, Food & Wine, Country Living, Phyllis Hoffman’s ‘Celebrate!’ and Donna Hay. 10. a fire burning in the fire place and that content ‘snuggled-in’ feeling that the arrival of autumn...

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tea article

October 9, 2011
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tea article

Once again my friend Sandy Erdman has included me in one of her fabulous newspaper articles. Sandy is a columnist for the Rochester Post Bulletin. This time we talked tea. Great article Sandy! Thanks again. ~Melissa

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six senses saturday

May 21, 2011
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six senses saturday

“Tasting, seeing, experiencing, living– all these demonstrate that there is something common to enlightenment-experience and our sense experience; the one takes place in our innermost being, the other on the periphery of our consciousness.” ~D.T. Suzuki ~Seeing~ This adorable recipe for Krabby Patties penned by Gracie when she was 5… ~hearing~ Christina Perri jar of hearts penguin ~feeling~ honored and excited to be included in my friend Sandy’s newspaper column again. Thanks so much! Beautiful article GF! ~smelling~ lilacs, rain and French roast coffee in the French press…mmmmm! ~tasting~ grilled magherita pizza…again! ~knowing~ “It’s neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation which give happiness.” ~Thomas Jefferson ~Melissa

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my vintage valentines & “book of love” brownies

February 13, 2011
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my vintage valentines & “book of love” brownies

~Valentine Treat 6~ My vintage and antique valentines are featured in this weekend’s edition of The Rochester Post Bulletin! My friend, Sandy Erdman, wrote a great article! There was only enough room for two of the valentines to be pictured….soooo… I thought I’d share some of my other favorites here. and the following selections are reproductions, but still very sweet… and now for that brownie recipe… ~Bonny Doon “Book of Love” Brownies~ Are you familiar with Bonny Doon’s Framboise “Book of Love” raspberry liqueur? This stuff,  simply put, is raspberries in a bottle. It’s so good, and begs to be served with chocolate. It’s amazing alongside a slice of my flourless chocolate espresso torte, or a piece of cheesecake. My raspberry brownie recipe takes this pairing one step further....

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Thank You BOYE!

January 30, 2011
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Thank You BOYE Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Company for featuring my beach house bath mat on your facebook page! Here’s what they said… “We love this bath mat Melissa knitted with our needles. Doesn’t it look like it belongs on the pages of a shelter magazine or pricey catalog? Well done!” BOYE NEEDLE COMPANY “Founded in 1906, Boye® Needle Company was the first American manufacturer of crochet hooks and knitting needles. Precision knitting needles, crochet hooks, supplies and accessories are the core of Boye Needle’s business. The high degree of quality and accuracy of gauge resulted in Boye sizing being the defined as the U.S. Standard and is used by yarn companies in making their patterns. Simplicity Creative Group is proud to count Boye Needle among their top...

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Rochester Post Bulletin Tea Article

November 29, 2010
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The tea article is live… read it here.  ~M

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Rochester Post Bulletin Columnist, Sandy Erdman, Talks Tea

November 28, 2010
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My friend and talented newspaper columnist for the Rochester Post Bulletin featured me in her latest story, “‘Tis the season for tea.” I will post a link to the online version of the article as soon as it becomes available on their website, but I just had to share a little excerpt of the article with you! She plugged the tea book I’m working on, “Scenes From a Tearoom~Memories & Recipes.” It was the first time I saw the book’s title in print, and it made me SO happy! As the weather gets colder, it’s an excellent time to cultivate the tradition of drinking and serving tea. Melissa Placzek of Red Wing agrees. She is the author of two luxury retreat books, and now a new book she’s working...

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Rochester Post Bulletin Article~Linens and Lace

September 21, 2010
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Thank you Sandy Erdman for featuring me in your antiques and collectibles article in the Rochester Post Bulletin. Once again, I have so enjoyed answering your questions about my collections! This week Sandy wrote about antique and vintage linen items. Read the article here. Best, Melissa

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