A Dream In The Making!
Every dream has to start somewhere, right? Ever since I was a little girl I have loved
tea cups and saucers. I don't really know why, I just have. Maybe it is because of their delicate beauty, and the gentile and mannerly pastime they represent - afternoon tea. When I was searching for my life's purpose, many years ago [about 15 years ago], and voiced my discontent to my mother, she told me to think back to when I was about 5 years old: what did I like to do? Wow! I really had to think about it, and that took some time and effort on my part. To my surprise I actually came up with several things. The first one was make-up, I was much more of a girly girl when I was a child, and I was always getting into my mom's makeup. I got into much trouble with this interest, as it was "off limits" to me, but that didn't stop me from experimenting with her cosmetics. The second was art, I liked to draw, paint and get into my mom's art supplies. I even plastered our stucco house with mud once, both the art thing and exterior home redecorating got me into big trouble too. The other thing I loved was tea sets. I remember vividly sitting in my paternal grandmother Josephine's boat of a car and begging her for a real tea set. She was convinced I would break it. My grandma Mildred [she was my step-grandma] had a collection of tea cups and I would beg her to hold them, but alas, she only let me look at them in her hutch.
tea cups and saucers. I don't really know why, I just have. Maybe it is because of their delicate beauty, and the gentile and mannerly pastime they represent - afternoon tea. When I was searching for my life's purpose, many years ago [about 15 years ago], and voiced my discontent to my mother, she told me to think back to when I was about 5 years old: what did I like to do? Wow! I really had to think about it, and that took some time and effort on my part. To my surprise I actually came up with several things. The first one was make-up, I was much more of a girly girl when I was a child, and I was always getting into my mom's makeup. I got into much trouble with this interest, as it was "off limits" to me, but that didn't stop me from experimenting with her cosmetics. The second was art, I liked to draw, paint and get into my mom's art supplies. I even plastered our stucco house with mud once, both the art thing and exterior home redecorating got me into big trouble too. The other thing I loved was tea sets. I remember vividly sitting in my paternal grandmother Josephine's boat of a car and begging her for a real tea set. She was convinced I would break it. My grandma Mildred [she was my step-grandma] had a collection of tea cups and I would beg her to hold them, but alas, she only let me look at them in her hutch.
My mother had a little ceramic tea set she would allow me to play with occasionally, but it wasn't mine. Finally, my grandma Josephine came through - was it Christmas or my birthday, that I can't remember, but I finally got what my little heart ached for - my tea set! My joy quickly turned to disappointment, as I realized it was plastic! Oh well. I played with it anyway and had many a grand tea party.
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Going through this memory lane process made me realize how I had forgotten what gave me joy as a child. Life's cares and responsibilities so easily crowd fond childhood memories that apparently can be used in your life as a career. After deciding that some how, in some way, I would make tea my business. Then one day I just so happened to be watching Martha Stewart Living [the show before her incarceration] and she had a guest who was in the loose-leaf tea business. I was fascinated because I grew up on the powdered stuff [cringe], so I went on line and ordered some tea from his website. I waited eagerly and told my mom what I had done. At last the package arrived all the way from Connecticut, but I waited until my next day off before opening the package. My mom and I made some tea sandwiches and treats for our family to enjoy while sampling the teas. I eagerly opened the dark, sealed envelope. I was immediately rewarded with the intoxicating fragrance of the tea leaves - "All the wasted years!", I lamented to myself. This was tea?! I was hooked. I knew what I wanted - a tea room! So, I started researching and reading everything I could get my hands on about the tea business, and anything having to do with tea. I slowly acquired tea cups/saucers, tea pots, spoons, plates - etc. At one point, I came so close to starting my business in Whittier's Uptown district about 10 years ago, but disaster struck. I was forced out of the co-op lease in the lovely Tudor building in Uptown by an underhanded and finagling fudge lady, and my dream was shattered! My husband is convinced that my dream building is cursed, because the businesses that occupy that building don't last. He might be right. Any how, at long last- I have another shot at this! By being able to sell my baked goods with a Cottage Food license, I can build a clientele and retail food experience while earning money, that will go toward opening my tea room - Heatherlea Afternoon Tea Salon or H.A.T.S for short.
What's In A Name?
I believe in the importance of names. So, what's with the name of this tea treats business, and my future tea room, you may ask? Well, Heather is of course, my first name. For those who don't know, "heather" is a type of erica, or heath, and is a flowering shrub native to northwestern Europe. In my opinion, heather was made famous via Scotland - a tea drinking nation. But the "lea" part is not my middle name - "lea" [pronounced: lee] means pasture or meadow, and it also means, believe it or not, a measure of yarn. Let me explain. You see, Psalm 23 is my favorite Psalm, and it is a pastoral Psalm meaning it has to do with pasture land. And at the time I was about to open my tearoom, I was going to rent space in the lovely Tudor building shown at the top and bottom of this page, with another budding entrepreneur, a wonderful lady named Jennifer. She was going to start a knitting shop [which she did], and was and still is, someone I love as my own soul.
The name seemed so perfect because of these factors. After I applied for my fictitious name statement, I actually started getting phone calls from people wanting to book a tea party, and many commented on the name - it sounded wonderful to them, and I hadn't even opened my doors yet! And the best part is that the acronym for Heatherlea Afternoon Tea Salon - is - H.A.T.S.! I love making hats and let's be honest, who doesn't like wearing a nice hat to tea? Anyway, that is why I have chosen the name: Heatherlea for my business name. I just thought you'd like to know =)
The name seemed so perfect because of these factors. After I applied for my fictitious name statement, I actually started getting phone calls from people wanting to book a tea party, and many commented on the name - it sounded wonderful to them, and I hadn't even opened my doors yet! And the best part is that the acronym for Heatherlea Afternoon Tea Salon - is - H.A.T.S.! I love making hats and let's be honest, who doesn't like wearing a nice hat to tea? Anyway, that is why I have chosen the name: Heatherlea for my business name. I just thought you'd like to know =)