Laura's Tea Room

The smell of freshly brewed tea is the first thing that hits you: apple cinnamon, coffee cake. It's poured from a teapot covered in cloth to keep the contents extra warm. They're expecting you to stay a while.

This Friday afternoon I visited my newest, most favorite spot in all of South Carolina: Laura's Tea Room. It's a little shop off the corner street in the historic district of Ridgeway, South Carolina. 

​I discovered it by accident by complaining on the internet about how there's no good tea shops in South Carolina. Someone recommended Laura's Tea Room. I noticed it was a 45 minute drive, grabbed my keys, and left for the best high tea experience I've ever had. As I paid my ticket, the cashier told me to come back soon.

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"Don't worry," I jested. "I'll be here every week."

And this Friday I made good on it.

 I left work at my part time job as an admin assistant an hour early to have tea again.

While wandering the shops– all of which are family-owned– along the street, I met Deborah, a sweet woman who seems to radiate kindness. It's something she and this town have in common. 

Deborah owns the Eclectic Closet, a quaint shop with pale pink walls. Naturally, I mentioned how pink is my favorite color, and we started chatting about art. 

I mentioned I was an artist, and shared some of my artwork with her. She invited me to bring some of my new greeting cards to her store, and purchased them wholesale.

​Greeting cards are something new I'm trying out in my business. So far I have cards stocked in If It's Paper (downtown Columbia, SC) and now the Eclectic Closet. I have yet to list them on my website just because of time constraints, but one day I'll get around to it. They occasionally find their way to my art market table as well.

After delivering the greeting cards is when I found myself back at Laura's Tea Room.

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They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, though to me, beauty is intrinsically linked with feeling.
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It’s more than sight- it’s energy- and I’ve rarely found something or someone beautiful without first loving how they make me feel. Once you get that feeling, you blink, and it’s like your sight recalibrates- the beauty shines through.

That's what turns ordinary objects into extraordinary ones. That's what turns strangers into the most important people in your life.

In the words of my favorite film, The Little Prince: The world may have many roses, but it's the time you devote to your rose unlike any other. And it is only with the heart that one can see rightly.

​And to me- Laura's Tea Room is that. Just so beautiful.

I order the apple cinnamon coffee cake tea along with a sandwich and soup. The waitress gestures to the cupboard for me to pick out my own teacup. 

​I picked out a purple tea cup today– another one of my favorite colors– And take a few slow sips, staring straight ahead. 

It's almost as if the universe has a sense of humor– the witty, observant humor I love– because right in front of me is a pink sign that reads:

Life is good.

What a perfect and sweet reminder– and today I agree.

As I'm building my art business, I frequently find myself in the pitfall of trying to do it all. Being consumed by racing thoughts, always trying to stay one step ahead. 

That's my old programming, anyway. This month I've been writing a new one.

My new programming says– Slow down. What is meant for you will not miss you. Trust that it will come in time. And until that time, enjoy the journey.

Sometimes it's easy to believe there are things out there in the world that will make the happy happen, and you have to go out and grab it. Get it. Achieve it. 

But I try to remind myself daily that the happy happens first in here.

I remind myself: I am here. There's nothing to get. I have everything I need right in front of me.
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What we need more of is not more of the stuff out there, but more presence. More gratitude, more space, more slowness, more appreciation for what's in front of me now because it won't be here forever.

I don't want to be so fixated on what happens next that I miss the now– And right now, I have everything I need.

My apple cinnamon coffee cake tea, a turkey sandwich, and some chicken gumbo soup.

Collect the Sketch:

Tea at Laura's Tea Room (Original Ink Sketch)

$55.00

9x12'' Original Ink Sketch from My Sketchbook.

While having tea at Laura's Tea Room, I sat and created this sketch. Tea is one of my favorite Small Joys, and I was so happy to find this tea shop.

Details

• Includes certificate of authenticity, packaged inside a plastic sleeve and cardboard backing.
• Because this page is removed from. my sketchbook, it may be slightly smaller than 9x12''.

Shipping Details:

• Orders are shipped via UPS within 3 business days of the order being placed.

Email: [email protected]

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