Furry faces are everywhere in Scotland…in fact there are more flocks of sheep than there are Scots! Away from the busy streets of urban Edinburgh, lies miles of cozy, rural countryside where hill farms are the way of life and counting sheep is near impossible. We learned a lot about Scottish farm life on our visit, and made many farmyard friends along the way. Here are a few fun facts about our favorite cuddly creatures.
While we love summer for its endless adventures, fall is undeniably one of our favorite seasons. As the leaves begin to color and crisp, we begin to crave all things cozy – the sweet smell of freshly baked bread in the morning, a brim-filled mug of piping hot cider, soft and toasty socks to keep chilly toesies happy, and lots of layers! See our style recommends for staying warm this season.
Ten miles from the gray stone streets of Edinburgh, the wind rushes over rolling green hills, carrying with it the songs of birds and new lambs.
This hill sheep farm might be a tourist’s dream straight from the pages of every Scottish guidebook, complete with picturesque stone cottages you can rent year-round.
But it’s also a working sheep farm that has been a part of the Cowan family for four generations.
Alistair (Ali) Cowan takes a rare break from work to lean against a lichen-covered stone wall and talk about the 1,750 Scottish Blackface sheep who live at Eastside.
As summer comes to a close, and fall begins to breathe a sigh of cool relief, we leave behind the hustle and bustle of Glasgow and head for quieter, cozy pastures. From windswept highland farms to the far-flung isles of the Outer Hebrides, to the northernmost Shetland Islands, our newest styles draw inspiration from Scotland’s rural (coastal and countryside) regions.
This fall, Scottish florals are blooming all around…and we’ve got a bouquet of beautiful new prints for your little ladies! Learn more about Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the famed designer who inspired many of the lovely floral graphics featured on our girls dresses and tees.
From rugged mountains to rolling green hills, to its expansive vistas of sea and islands, Scotland (though a relatively small country) is famous for its incredibly diverse landscape. And its colorful history is rich in tradition and symbolism.
But it’s not all tartan kilts and bagpipes. Many of Scotland’s oldest, most well-known symbols feature wee beasties, both real and fabled. From the cheerful Scotty dog to the heraldic leòmhann (that’s Gaelic for lion) to the country’s mythical mascot, the unicorn, get the inside scoop on Scotland’s iconic animals.
To help everyone at Tea “go there,” we make a yearly contribution to each employee for international travel and exploration. Upon their return, our Tea travelers write a blog post to share their adventures with all of us (and the world)! We’re so excited to introduce you to Grace, our Assistant Designer for Girl. This past spring, Grace traveled to the small artisan town of Fujino, Japan where she had the unique opportunity of attending a 2-week workshop on how to sew traditional Hanten (a quilted, kimono-style jacket worn as a winter staple since Japan’s 18th-century Edo period).
Follow along as she shares her adventures!