Distinctive-Decor.com Blog

Joyce Shelton Tea Party

The Joyce Shelton Tea Party collection features bold colored teacups, teapots, tea-for-one sets, plates, bowls and much more.  The Tea Party collection is designed by Joyce Shelton, a former fashion designer. The collection's appeal comes from the bright, bold and contrasting color scheme that Shelton has employed well.  The bright and vivid colors are not all that it has going for it.  The collection is made of very nice quality ceramic. Just looking at the pieces makes you feel a little bit happier.  The Joyce Shelton collection is ideal for casual tea parties and she has designed everything you need for a festive tea party all the way down to the place mats.

 

Our Opinion: Saeco Makes the Best Espresso Machines

Super-automatic espresso machines are expensive; super-automatic espresso machines are an investment.  Like me, I am sure you want to know all the facts before you buy.  You can make yourself go crazy looking at and studying all the online espresso machine buying guides.  So today I will cut through all the technical stuff and just shoot straight from the hip.  I have used most of the high-end espresso machines and I believe that Saeco espresso machines are the best in the market. They are more more intuitive to use, better thought out and make the best espresso.

While all super-automatic espresso machines have a learning curve, Saeco machines are the simplest to learn.  (When I refer to a super-automatic, I mean an espresso machine that grinds the coffee beans for you, tamps or compresses the ground coffee, brews it and drops the brewed coffee grinds into a bin.  A super-automatic does this with only one touch of a button. In short, it does all the prep work and brewing for you.)  Saeco espresso machines are easy to program, have nice displays or readouts and simply are easier to navigate.

When I say Saeco espresso machines are better thought out I am referring to design, the outside housings are easy to clean, their bean hoppers (the area that holds whole beans) seal in coffee freshness with their Aroma Seal around the hopper's circumference that keeps out oxygen (coffee is a lot like bread in that oxygen will make it stale). The brew group (where the coffee is brewed) is removable.  You can clean it whenever you want.  Other manufacturer's brew groups are concealed and can never fully be cleaned, but more on this later.  Saeco machines use ceramic grinders that will not deteriorate over time, will not absorb odors or flavors and offer a consistent grind.

The most important thing to consider when investing in a super-automatic espresso machine is the quality of the coffee it dispenses.  I know the quality of the coffee is about the beans, mostly, but let's assume that all variables are equal--the water is the same, the beans are the same, etc.  The only thing that is different is the espresso machine used to brew the espresso.  Seaco will produce a purer cup of coffee than all others simply because it will have a fresh and clean brew group. 

Saeco super automatic espresso machines have removable brew groups while the other manufacturers' brew groups are sealed. You can rinse off the coffee oils and other coffee debris from the Saeco brew group and you cannot with the competitors' versions. Over time--with the competitors' machines the coffee oil build up becomes rancid and produces off flavors.  No matter how you try to clean away this oil and residue, you will never get it completely clean with their cleaning solutions and cleaning tablets.  The only way to get the brew group clean is to pull it out and rinse it off. Saeco allows this; the other guys do not.

Saeco's competitors make fine espresso machines with nice bells and whistles, but at the end of the day what matters is the cup of coffee being dispensed.  Saeco offers you the cleanest and purest espresso you can make in a super-automatic espresso machine.  If I were going to buy a new espresso machine today for my home or office, it would be a Saeco because I want true coffee flavor and not coffee that is tainted with residual rancid oil from brews I made one or two weeks ago. You can taste the difference with Saeco super-automatic espresso machines, seriously.

Match Italian Pewter | What is Pewter and What is Pewter Made From?

Not all pewter is created equally.  Pewter is an alloy of three metals: tin, copper and antimony--a flaky blueish-white metal.  For pewter to be called "pewter" it must contain at least 92% tin.  Pewter is considered a semi-precious metal due to its tin content.  Did you know that tin is the fourth most expensive metal next to platinum, gold and sterling silver?  It's true, and this is why you should demand high tin content in the pewter that you buy--whether it is a figurine or a pewter ice bucket.

Higher qualities of pewter alloy like the alloy Match Pewter uses is 95% tin.  The higher the tin content, the higher the quality of pewter and more handsome the appearance of the pewter. A higher tin content produces a beautiful luster and superb finish.  While the best pewter has a high tin content, you need to be assured that the tin used is of the highest quality, also.  Stick with manufacturers who are up front about this. Sure, they will probably sell more expensive pewter, but you know that you are getting an heirloom-quality piece.  Many label their product as pewter and use a number of white metals like aluminum to give their product the pewter look, but what they make is not pewter.

When we went looking for a line of pewter for the kitchen, table and home we had to educate ourselves on who makes the best and safest pewter.  We found Match Pewter to be the company who is forthright with their pewter alloy recipe, has the best Italian pewtersmiths making the product and arguably has the finest pewter designs in the marketplace.  All Match Pewter is FDA approved, lead-free and 100% food safe. Match Pewter founder David Reiss, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate, is committed to making the highest quality pewter bowls, chargers, vases, centerpieces, flatware, stemware and tableware. To do this, he contracts the the best pewtersmiths in northern Italy who use age-old techniques to make Match's pewter.

If you already have a piece of Match Pewter or are interested in purchasing a Match Pewter piece you will notice that there are stamps on it.  A stamp that will always be present is the "95" stamp denoting the content of tin in the piece.  You might also have an "M" stamp present, which stands for Match. There may be up to two more that indicate in what region in northern Italy your piece was made and the workshop where it was made.  All pieces will have at least two imprimaturs or hallmarks on them. Some pieces are classic designs with historical references.  These pieces are cast directly from molds made from original antiques.  When you see symbols and initials on the front of some Match Pewter pieces they have been picked up from these molds.

Just a quick note about Match Pewter flatware.  Match has created beautiful flatware using pewter for the handles.  All food surfaces are made of high quality 18/10 stainless steel.  The knife blades are actually forged with the handles creating a very solid knife; the blades are not simply stuck into a pewter handle.

Pewter requires little in the way of care, but it can discolor if you leave something acidic in it.  If your pewter does discolor it can be cleaned up easily with a good metal polish or "0000" steel wool.  Caring for and cleaning pewter is not as hard as some might lead you to believe.

Match Pewter creates an entire line of pewter for the desk, kitchen, bathroom and bar.  They offer pewter picture frames, vases and centerpieces, candlesticks, candelabras and lamps, pewter chargers and platters and bowls.

Tea for One Sets: If You Drink Tea, You Should Own One!

For those of you who do not know what a tea-for-one set is-it is a stacking teacup, and teapot.  Most of the time the set includes a saucer, but not always. Essentially, tea-for-ones allow you to brew tea in the set's teapot that holds just enough water for its accompanying cup.  What makes tea-for-ones desirable is that they can brew and serve one cup of tea without brewing an entire pot and they bring about a sort of special gentility when using them. There are few things as comforting as curling up on the couch drinking a hot cup of tea.

Tea for one sets come in a variety of styles, colors and configurations, but mostly they stick to the stacking configuration.  You can purchase more formal tea for one sets or casual tea for one sets depending on your personality and they way you want to feel when you drink your tea.  We have a number of them to choose from at home depending upon our moods! Enjoy your morning or afternoon tea in a tea-for-one that fits your personality.

Trudeau Water/Hydration Bottles and Travel Mugs

 

Trudeau Corporation began in 1904 by importing and making smoker's accessories and religious articles. Throughout the years Trudeau ownership has transformed the company into a leading kitchenware manufacturer and innovator. They offer an extensive range of kitchen products and many other items for daily use like water bottles, thermoses and travel mugs, salt and pepper mills, fondue and bar ware.

In July of 2002, the Wall Street Journal named Trudeau travel mugs "the best car cups." All Trudeau travel mugs are double wall insulated keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for up to 2 hours. They feature a unique lid that allows for drinking around the entire lid's circumference, making them ideal for right and left-handers. When the lid is closed the mug will not leak, guaranteed. With a wide variety of colors, designs and materials to choose from, it is no wonder why they have gained such a following and garner much attention. 

Trudeau hydration bottles are eco-friendly, BPA-Free, leak proof and double-wall insulated bottles that contain a rubber straw that is easy on your teeth while exercising. When the lid is turned to the closed position, the straw doubles back on itself and creates a leak-proof bottle.  With all the talk about drinking more water, these bottles can go with you everywhere (each bottle has a carabiner for attaching to bags or belt loops) and each has measurement indicators printed on the inner wall of the cup to let you know how much water you are drinking.  The double wall insulation keeps your water colder longer.

The smaller-sized hydration bottles are great for kids.  You can put them in their lunchboxes since they do not leak when they are closed. Our children use them when we travel because, even if the straw is opened, spills amount to only a few drops.  When the lid is closed and the straw enclosed, no liquid will seep out. The bottles are really durable, also.  We have driven off with a bottle on our bumper or hood too many times to count and have not broken a bottle. They are made of virtually unbreakable SAN material. There were a few scratches, but the bottle was fine.

We give every new employee a 24 ounce hydration bottle to use here at work and all of them have purchased extra bottles for their children and spouses.  Sure, we want them to have the product in their hands, but almost as important--we want to save our computers from spills and our papers and desks from sweat rings (the double wall insulation prevents cup sweat) . If they drink hot tea or coffee, we give them a Trudeau travel cup to prevent hot spills that can ruin computers or papers on their desks or burn them.  Believe it or not, Trudeau mugs have saved us from a few workers compensation claims! We recommend all businesses look into the Trudeau hydration bottles and mugs for these reasons.

New Franz Collections-- Prima Ballerina, Columbine Wildflowers, Tea For Two and Kathy Ireland Forever Wedding

Franz Collection has released 4 new beautifully made collections to their already well-received line of functional, FDA approved fine porcelain tableware and collectibles. You will be astounded by the quality of Franz procelain. The combination of Chinese artistic elements and Art Nouveau elements and its masterfully crafted aesthetic beauty make Franz widely adored and collected. All pieces are hand-sculptured and hand-painted.

The elegant Prima Ballerina Collection uses fluid shading and depth to emphasize the two players in the collection: the elegant ballerina and the graceful swan.  These collection-worthy pieces will make a fabulous collection for the swan collector and the ballet lover. The collection consists of a wall plaque, teacup and saucer, teapot, tea spoon, creamer, sugar and vase.

Columbine Wildflowers is a whispy and fluidly designed collection featuring blue ane white Columbine wild flowers. The creamy backdrop is accented by beautiful pink columbine flowers and buds that run up, down and around each piece.

Kathy Ireland Forever Wedding Collection artistically symbolizes the beatiful nature of marriage.  Each piece is adorned with subtle white flowers highlighted with blue and butterflies. Each piece is hand-painted and hand sculptured of fine porcelain.

For the orchid and tea lover Franz has released the Tea for Two Collection that consists of a handpainted and hand sculptured tray, cup, and teapot.  This elegant set is begging to be used for tea among close friends.

'These four newly released collections simply are outstanding! They make beautiful gifts and collectibles.  Of course all pieces are fully functional for the table and meet or exceed FDA approval guidlines for food safety.

Teaposy

What is a "teaposy"? A teaposy is a hand crafted blooming tea made of Silver Needle white tea. Among the rarest of all teas, Silver Needle white tea has a soft, delicate flavor. This special tea is produced in China's Fujian Province. The new buds are plucked from the tea bush before they open and withered to allow the natural moisture to evaporate before drying. Teaposies are made with the select spring and autumn harvests and scented with floral jasmine during peak season. The white tea is then accented with herbal flowers and fastened with natural cotton thread.

Teaposies are available in 8 distinct varieties including Butterfly, Calendula, Falling Water, Heart of Love, Lady Fairy, Let it Snow, Noble Essence and Red Song, or in a Teaposy medley assortment. Each box contains six individually vacuum-sealed blooming teas. For best results brew with boiling water in a heat resistant glass teapot like the Teaposy Tea for Two teapot or the Teaposy Daydream Teapot. Teaposies take several minutes to bloom. Pour your tea and then continue to add boiling water to the pot as you can get 4 to 6 pots of tea from one teaposy. You may continue to enjoy the beauty of the teaposy for several days by adding cold water to the pot. Do not pour directly over the teaposy - pour gently toward the side of the teapot. By changing the water frequently the teaposy may look beautiful for weeks!

The Teaposy Garden gift set and Teaposy Blossom gift set make wonderful gifts! Don't forget Mother's Day is coming soon - May 13, 2007!

la Pavoni Espresso Makers

Desiderio Pavoni created the first espresso machine in 1902. The la Pavoni Spa was established in Milan, Italy in 1905 to market this product. The la Pavoni company has been manufacturing machines for espresso and cappuccino coffee since its inception. From the outset la Pavoni has been involved in research and development of new products, design, production, sale and after sales service. We are pleased to add la Pavoni espresso makers to our selection of high quality kitchen wares at Distinctive Decor. Not only do these make fabulous espresso, they also look fantastic on your countertop! Read more about the la Pavoni Lusso espresso machine in the "Tips & Recipes" Blog by Marcus.

Royal Patrician Introduces New Collections for 2007

Royal Patrician has started the new year with the introduction of three new collections. Royal Patrician Fuschia features elegant fuschia buds and leaves on a white bone china background. The Misty Rose Chintz Collection is adorned with large roses in beautiful shades of pink and yellow. Last, but certainly not least, is the new Poppy Bouquet Collection. This collection features a bouquet of poppies in shades of cream and red. Each of the Royal Patrician teaware items are crafted in England of fine bone china. All of the teapots, tea cup and saucer sets, dessert plates, sugar and creamer sets, and trays are trimmed in gold. We are currently running a Royal Patrician special with savings of 10-75% off suggested retail prices.

Mustardseed and Moonshine

The kids are back in school and we are gearing up for Fall! We have added many new product lines in the last few weeks and I will feature one in each blog. Mustardseed and Moonshine - We cannot believe that we did not come across this sooner! The line includes tea cup and saucers, coffee cup and saucers, large teapots, small teapots, sugar and creamer sets, plates and more!  Each piece of Mustardseed and Moonshine is botanically inspired and really does look like a fresh picked flower. Artist and founder Kate Carlyle oversees the production of each piece by a team of highly skilled artisans in her studio in Cape Town, South Africa where each petal is applied one at a time. It takes an average of 17 days to complete just one piece of Mustardseed and Moonshine. A piece of Mustardseed and Moonshine is truly a collectible to be cherished as a family heirloom, but, believe it or not, each piece is also oven, microwave and dishwasher safe! Oprah selected the daylily cup and saucer set as one of her favorite things in April of 2005. What else can I say? We all know she has great taste!