'Guilded Age' of Gourmet Confections: Ontario's Guild Chocolates is a treasure across the border!

Jaclyn Sanders (right) with BTS' Barb Gulley

In 1866, oil was discovered in Petrolia, setting off a series of boom periods for the small Ontario town. Nearly 150 years later, gold struck again in the form of hand-crafted, high-quality chocolate and its home is Guild Chocolates.  

Last weekend, we embarked on a remarkably short international trip to meet with the owner and award-wining chocolatier, Jaclyn Sanders. 

Though Guild Chocolates has been in business for over a decade, my husband, Chris, and I just recently learned about it. An upcoming tea event, hosted by the folks behind Guild Chocolates, showed up on our social media feed.  Afternoon tea and chocolate? No surprise, we're their demographic.

Guild Chocolates award-winning sweets, miniature works of art.

The shop is only open on Saturdays, so Chris and I carved out a weekend to cross the Blue Water Bridge, traveling the easy distance from Sarnia to nearby Petrolia, to meet up with the chocolate artist behind Guild Chocolates.

Jaclyn is as sweet and inviting as her chocolate and within a few short minutes, I felt like I was talking with an old friend. Her resume is impressive - studied Art History at Cambridge, lived in NYC for eleven years honing culinary skills -  yet she's equally down-to-earth and engaging and her passion for her craft is evident in all her chocolate creations on display.

Guild Chocolates is open only on Saturdays, but hosts special events throughout the year. 

The variety of confections include solid bars and truffles in various forms from frogs to bubbles. Many of Jaclyn's chocolates have won top awards in both international and national competitions. In fact, there's a six-piece sampler of some of the medaled chocolates (which we bought and loved!), including FruitTea, made with matcha, kukicha, peanut praline and raspberry.

That's not where the tea connection ends, however. Guild Chocolates also sells several loose tea blends and other tea-infused sweets. One of our favorites in the latter category is their Earl Grey chocolate, which received Gold in the Canadian Chocolate competition, 2023.

Earl Grey chocolates, recipient of Canadian Chocolate competition, 2023.

In addition, Guild Chocolate hosts special tea and chocolate events throughout the year with historical themes (Churchill, Titanic, Dickens, Frank Lloyd Wright), tastings and Afternoon Tea (which is coming up in May!).

Inspired by Victorian writer, artist and central figure of the British Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris, Guild Chocolates not only offers extremely tasty treats, but individual works of art in every bite-sized sweet.

Guild Chocolates in Petrolia, Ontario - a town that continues to strike gold!

Guild Chocolates is a delicious get-away. For those in the Detroit Metro area, a relatively short (1 - 2 hour) drive. We'll be crossing the bridge again in May, for more chocolate and afternoon tea.

For more information on Guild Chocolates, their hours, location and upcoming events, visit their website at guildchocolates.com.

Barb's Tea Service: Podcast of the Year!

Barb's Tea Service wins Podcast of the Year from ONTV Studios.

Barb’s Tea Service is excited and honored to share that we were awarded Podcast of the Year by ONTV Studios.

Last week, at the ONTV banquet and awards ceremony in Lake Orion, my co-host and arm candy, Chris, along with our son—and five-time BTS guest—Rob, joined me to dine and mingle with studio staff, fellow producers, and creators.

Awards ceremony hosted by ONTV's Ian Locke and Tracy Marsh.

Executive Director Ian Locke, who also served as Master of Ceremonies this past weekend, opened the evening with highlights of ONTV’s programming and achievements. After a delicious catered dinner, Ian resumed his emcee duties and, alongside ONTV’s Administrative Assistant and outstanding hostess year-round, Tracy March, presented the evening’s awards.

BTS' five time special guest - and son - Rob, joined us for the awards banquet.

After only two years in the studios, Chris and I were both surprised and thrilled to hear Barb’s Tea Service named Podcast of the Year.

Earlier this month, Chris and I were celebrating both our 70th podcast and our second anniversary. Looking back at our 2025/2026 highlights, we sampled over 30 different tea blends, hosted six special guests, and explored a wide range of tea and tea-adjacent topics -  from a dozen tea events  and travels to eight different states to milestone birthdays (Jane Austen and Chris).

Barb's Tea Service team of Barb and Chris Gulley awarded Podcast of the Year.

With all that behind us, we already know this year’s highlight. 😉

That being said, rest assured, we're not resting on our laurels. We've got another fun year planned full of more special guests, more tea and more surprises (mostly to us!). 

Podcast of the Year award will find a place of honor at the Gulley homestead.

We're thrilled to be recognized by ONTV, but, honestly, it's icing on the cake.  As we noted after completing our first year of podcasts, our regular trips to the studio feel more like visiting family than just "renting" space. 

A wonderful banquet, complete with swag bags.

A heartfelt thank you to ONTV Studios for their continued support over the past two years: Ian Locke, Tracy Marsh, Joe Johnson (Studio Manager), and Joey Tysick (Production Coordinator).

And to all our listeners, viewers, and special guests—thank you. As we like to say at Barb’s Tea Service, please stay tuned!

This item is trending. But what it is?

Antique silver items can serve as conversation starters -  in this case, what is it? 

Napkin holder?

Mail sorter?

Coaster carrier?

Those were just a few of the guesses I received when I asked a select group of millennials to identify this curious little object.

Creative guesses, all of them — and honestly, excellent ideas for repurposing. But none were correct.

According to two recent Country Living articles (“6 High-Value Silver Pieces That Buyers Always Search For,” Nov. 2025, and “5 Antique Styles Making a Major Comeback in 2026,” Apr. 2026), vintage silver of all kinds is trending again — including the humble toast rack.

A toast rack is exactly what its name suggests: a serving piece designed to hold toast. While undeniably charming in presentation, it also served a practical purpose — keeping buttered slices separated so they wouldn’t turn soggy.

Popular in well-appointed homes of the 1800s, when even breakfast demanded a bit of ceremony, the toast rack offered both beauty and function at the table.

Toast racks - not just for toast! Many are repurposing as mail sorters.

In the April article, Abigail Albers, co-owner of The Found Cottage in Hudsonville (my home state of Michigan), spoke about silver’s resurgence. She noted that “antique silver makes a great conversation starter,” and confessed she’s currently hunting for the “perfect antique silver toast rack to add a little charm to my brunch table.”

While some, like Albers, are seeking toast racks for their original dining‑room purpose, many modern buyers are more likely to use them exactly as one of our millennials guessed: as mail organizers. Prices today range from $100 to $600, depending on age, design, and whether the piece is sterling or silverplate.

I bought my own toast rack more than twenty years ago during a weekend of dining and shopping with friends in Holly, Michigan. I don’t remember the exact price, but it was definitely under $20. And for that modest sum, it has spent two quiet decades tucked into the back of my china cabinet.

Until now.

This week, I pulled out the silver polish and revived my long‑neglected treasure. Whether it ends up in our breakfast nook or my home office, I haven’t decided. For the moment, it’s enjoying a place of honor in our front hall — once again popular and a conversation starter for sure.

Roses of Silverbell: April in Paris and Lake Orion - antiques, tea and honey!

Kevin and Bonnie West, owners of Roses of Silverbell in Lake Orion

 

Roses of Silverbell is a Lake Orion gem filled with my favorite things:  antiques, honey and tea. The only disappointment for me is that I hadn't found this lovely shop sooner.

Last week, I, along with husband, Chris and son, Rob, journeyed past ONTV studios, our weekly podcast home, to discover more in Lake Orion's downtown, specifically Roses of Silverbell. Upon entering its doors, we were warmly greeted by Kevin West, who co-owns the store with wife Bonnie. 

Roses of Silverbell has its own line of honey and teas.

We learned that the shop has been at its current downtown location on Broadway for four and a half years. Bonnie, who joined us a little after we came in, said she had an antiques collection for years in her barn and this storefront was a natural progression of that business. 

After a quick perusal of the vintage items on display - an exquisite, eclectic collection of fine crystal and porcelain (e.g. Herend, Lalique and Orrefors), home decor and unique high-end bric-a-brac - I was drawn to a corner hutch filled with custom blended teas and honey.

Roses of Silverbell offers fine crystal and china, home decor and high end bric-a-brac.

Kevin W. explained his own journey of finding partners in both tea and honey, which has culminated into Roses of Silverbell's brand of products. Current tea blends offerings are about half herbal, half true tea in all categories (black, oolong, green and white). 

Honey varieties include special blends with wildflowers, western Michigan blueberries and apples from Blake's Orchard. 

Not surprisingly, we didn't go home empty.

Since our visit coincided with my birthday, Rob, treated me to both Wildflower honey and - it had to be - April in Paris tea! The latter combines black and oolong teas with red cornflowers and natural flavors of vanilla, pomegranate, caramel and bergamot. 

Brining home gifts in pretty packaging.

Tea for this month had to be April in Paris.

But, I wasn't the only one being shopped for. My niece's upcoming wedding reception is being held at a local apple orchard and cider mill - so we picked up some of that apple honey as part of the couple's treasure bath.

Roses of Silverbell is located in downtown Lake Orion on Broadway.

We absolutely loved Roses of Silverbell. We'll be talking more about the Wests, their amazing establishment and unique products in the near future. As, we like to say on our weekly BTS podcast, please stay tuned!

🌹🌹🌹

For more information on Roses of Silverbell, visit their website Antiques - Welcome to Roses of Silverbell

Aldi for tea? Low budget finds for high end tea time.

Aldi's Spring Tea Time collection inspired my first trip to Aldi this week. 

An Afternoon Tea table outfitted by Aldi? 

To my surprise, the answer is "yes", and, like Garth Brook, I found I, too, have tea friends in low budget places.

Today, I paid my first ever trip to Aldi, a discount store that emphasizes bargain prices over upscale aesthetics and its own private labels over name brands. I've also come to learn, it has weekly "Aldi Finds" featuring seasonal and limited-time offers: this week, it's "Spring Tea Time".  

Toile teacups with scalloped saucers, sold as a set of two for the low price of $9.99.

It was time to pay a visit to my neighborhood Aldi.

As expected, there's a warehouse ambiance. The "Aldi Finds" are located on a few center aisles filled with a hodgepodge of items including children's toys, holiday decorations, garden supplies, home decor and, what I came for- an assortment of tea serving ware that were both pretty and pretty cheap.

While the display is a bit haphazard - a mix of thrift and dollar store friendly chaos - I was charmed by the Spring Tea Time collection. There were two styles, a blue toile and solid cream accented with a pink bow.

There are teapots, tea cups, plates and tiered trays (although, in our particular store, I did not see any evidence of the latter). There's also gold and silver toned teaspoons, table runners and other tea accoutrements to complement the tea serving ware.

I purchased the blue and white teacups with scalloped saucers, which come in a set of two, for $9.99.

A little Aldi backstory. . . 

I've seen these stores in various spots in our locale for quite a while, but never thought to patronize. Now that I have, I was curious about their origins.

According to a January 2026 Food & Wine article, Aldi’s story begins in Essen, Germany, in 1913, when Theo Albrecht opened a small baked‑goods shop. A year later, his wife, Anna, opened a grocery store focused on value. Their sons, Karl and Theo, took over after World War II, building the business around a limited product selection, minimal overhead, and low prices.

Rapid expansion followed. In 1961, the brothers split the company—reportedly over a disagreement about selling cigarettes—forming Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd. Today, they operate independently. Aldi Süd runs all Aldi stores in the U.S., where it arrived in 1976. Aldi Nord, meanwhile, has owned Trader Joe’s since 1979.

Aldi Finds, found in the stores' center aisles, feature seasonal and limited-time merchandise weekly.

Which brings us to Aldi in my neighborhood. Less than a year in its location, I drove by several times, but never stopped in. 

It took a Spring Tea Time to entice me, and I'm glad it did. 

𝅘𝅥𝅯'𝅘𝅥𝅯'  Cause I've got friends in low budget places
Where warm scones rise and Earl Grey chases my blue toile away
And I'll be okay
Yes, I'm quite big on social graces
Think I'll look through a bunch more battered cases
Center aisle of Aldi places  𝅘𝅥𝅯'𝅘𝅥𝅯'

Easter Egg Decorating! The history, family traditions and collectibles.

 

Beautiful hand-painted eggs, along with other Easter knick-knacks, add color & charm to holiday decor.

Easter Egg Decorating!

Easter weekend, for many of us, brings back memories of boiling a dozen or more fresh eggs in a large dutch oven, filling coffee cups full of water and food coloring and setting aside wax crayons and wire ladles in preparation of some hardboiled decorating. As a kid, I remember this as one of the highlights of the holiday and continued the tradition of not only dunking eggs - but hunting for them, too - with our own children.

As our kids got older, I took to decorating a few myself.

Although, I no longer dip and dunk with eggs at Easter, I still decorate with them. Eggs are popular accent pieces this time of year, and while most of us have at least a vague understanding of their connection with the holiday, I thought I'd dig a little further.  

A 2025 article in The Pioneer Woman explained the tradition of Easter eggs.

The connection has its roots in both Christian and pre-Christian customs. In many ancient cultures, eggs symbolized new life and fertility, representing the arrival of spring. Early Christians adopted this symbolism.

During Lent, a period of fasting before Easter, eggs were historically not to be eaten, so they were often hard-boiled and stored for later consumption.

Over time, this tradition evolved, leading to modern Easter egg hunts, and the decorated Easter eggs we use today.

The Easter kids table before the hunt.

Annual egg hunt & kite flying when the kids were young & we weren't grey.

That being said, I don't put all my decorative eggs in one basket. For the holiday, I have them spread throughout the house in various displays, starting with a hand-painted assortment for my tablescape centerpiece.

Last year, I was gifted delightful dozen of floral faux eggs from my talented friend, Carol D. She painted tiny flowers on each and they add a bit of color and a lot of charm to the table. 

While much of my collection is seasonal, there are some that are on display all year, including marble eggs in antique silver cups and two tiny Halcyon Days special edition eggs. The former, my husband, Chris, bought fifty years ago in a vintage shop while touring England as a teen. The latter, also from Chris, were birthday presents to me roughly twenty years ago. Those, too, have a history in England.

Ruby Faberge Egg flanked by two Halcyon Days enameled eggs.

Per their website, Halcyon Days was founded in 1950 as an emporium of antique gifts in Mayfair, London. The art of enameling on copper had nearly vanished when Halcyon Days set out to revive this artisan craft, breathing new life into a centuries-old tradition. By 1970, the company had established its own production facility, laying the foundation for the expansion of its offerings. Still operating, last year it celebrated 75 years in business. 

These lilliputian eggs are constructed with two halves - hinged or twist tops. Latest limited edition Easter egg is $455 - perhaps, a bit too eggs-travagant? (oh, come on, you knew I'd throw in at least one awful egg pun 😉). 

Matilda lays no golden eggs, but adorably contributes to the holiday decor.

Then there's the adorable porch goose who lays no golden eggs, but still contributes to the seasonal decor.  Matilda greets guests this weekend in her bunny garb.

Whether you are celebrating the season with eggs that are real or faux, edible or decorative or a combination of both, we wish you all a happy holiday!

For more Easter decor, including some festive napkin folding instructions (bunnies, roses) check out our blog: Polished Holiday Tablescapes - Creative Napkins and Shining Silver. 

The New Boardroom: Designated home space for puzzles, games and more!

Elevate your game night experience with upscale furnishings and games that are both fun and pretty.

 

A folding card table, mismatched chairs and a Monopoly board with a torn cover are no longer satisfactory for the trending game room. While a designated place in the home to congregate with friends and family over cards or Clue is nothing new, the attention to style in such space is growing in popularity with furnishings such as coffee tables with built in chess boards, thoughtfully curated games on bookshelves and puzzles that double as decorative items. 

Get ready to up the game for your game room.

This month, a New York Times article featured homeowners who are not only carving out space for fun and games, but with an emphasis on sophistication and comfort. These rooms provide a sanctuary from the fast-paced digital world.  As Roxy Owens, owner of home decor company Society Social, explains, "When things feel uncertain, there's a tendency to revisit the things that brought us happiness. For so many people, that's games."

In:  Games and books in attractive display

Out:  Torn covers and cluttered collection of board games.

Society Social recently launched a limited-edition furniture collection for the modern game room which includes gaming chairs, retro rockers and a checkmate game table. The latter is made of solid Mahogony in an updated Queen Anne style featuring cabriole legs and a removable top which reveals storage space for favorite games. At the price of $3, 695, it's already sold out. 

Vintage game space: Family room with card tables.

Mahjong, which is also on the rise, pairs perfectly with a well-appointed game room. Meghan Jett Trottier, founder of "Oh My Mahjong" which sells pretty mahjong tile collections starting at $400, worked with an interior designer on her home game space. She notes the game can be an outlet for creative visual expression, knowing women who use their collection of mahjong sets to display "tilescapes" - the mahjong version of tablescapes.

Trending: Classic games in attractive packaging.

Millennials I know well, my children and my niece, are great game enthusiasts and regularly host game nights at their respective homes. In fact, my niece registered for WS Game Company's attractive book-style collection of classic games for her upcoming wedding, including a family favorite, Risk. These look great on the bookshelf, of course, but can also add a touch of refinement to a neglected end table, curio cabinet or, for all you Risk fans, any European country you plan to overtake.

Another game night enthusiast is Meghan Markle, who hosted a Mahjong party with close friend (the "Maj Squad") on her Netflix series, "With Love Meghan". Having the show filmed in a rental house, however, makes it hard to discern if the Duchess of Sussex has her own well-appointed game room at her nearby Montecito mansion.

Gaming on a budget: Pinochle tablescape in kitchen.

I am behind this game room trend, but with a slightly more limited budget. I am in favor of a well-set pinochle table (see BTS blog from Apri, 2020: April Tablescape is in the cards) and a refresh on well-worn game boxes. 

Tea shops and world domination, keep Australia. . 

. . . but let me savor Earl Grey

And, less you think this trend has nothing to do with tea, I offer up a game in my own collection "Prosperitea". It, too, is not only a fun game to play, but adds a bit of elegance to my living room hutch. And, while the goal of the game is to be the "most prestigious tea shop", it has all the components of a Risk-infused competition (take Australia, but leave me the Earl Grey).

Wherever you gather for friends or family gaming, we know, the best addition is a fun time - that and having a successful Australia strategy with a cup of your favorite tea.

Let the games, and steeping, begin!