I am not sure why Jenifer crafts these one of a kind little teapots the way that she does but I found them much too interesting not to share with you.  All of her hand-sculpted teapots fit in the palm of your hand and are glazed with green tea celadon and ivory crackle glazes.  The names she has chosen for each is as intriguing as its shape.  Shown here are:  mixed up, mr. flatty top and party pretty.

 

 

 

Came across a wonderful painter called Thomas  Hieronymus Towhey who has created a great collection of teapot paintings. Quite surreal and very colourful, they remind me of Alice in Wonderland.

 

 

As a child, many remember learning the song "I'm a little teapot, short and stout..."  Stephen Hansen, an adult and famous Paper Mache artist, interprets ideas of ‘whatever strikes his fancy,' such as the teapot song, into social lifelike events.  Using his creative mind and artistic abilities, he first conjures up a picture of subjects from a selected published story or song.  Then he molds and dresses his construed actors into Paper Mache pieces. 

 

Now as an adult, how do you interpret the "I'm a little teapot song"?   

Do you think it of it in a social context or revert to your childhood memories, remembering how your teapot looked while using your hands and arms?  

Just a "little" trivial tea thought for the day.  

Was out shopping earlier in London and was surprised just how many souvenir teapots with a British Theme were on offer in all the tourist shops.

I particularly liked the patriotic bus covered with the Union Jack…

 

 

 Since 1989 the Jangling Jack boys, Chris and Steve, have been combining home décor vintage objects with used industrial parts to create unique garden and interior art pieces.  On their Australian bush land residence, the men extend the lives of unwanted silver teapots, sugar bowls, teaspoons, cups and saucers.   The whimsical creatures shown here are a few of my favourite examples of these fabulous recycled tea set objects.    

  

"Discovery" can be referred to as the act of learning something or uncovering information that was previously unknown. 

I remember receiving my first miniature China tea set for my 5^th birthday.  That was the day I discovered tea.  My parents, grandparents, brother and sisters accepted my numerous handmade invitations to dress up so to attend my formal tea parties using my China set.   Decades later, I received another discovery set, only this time it was the introduction to green tea.  Years later another discovery set, the flowering tea.   

Sure I received some sets throughout the years that were just not my cup of tea, like the ant hill farm discovery set my brother gave me.  However, I still learned something new from it and have not forgotten the fact that he wanted to share his newfound knowledge with me.                

As I write this blog on my birthday, while having a bowl of green tea, I am thankful to those who have helped me discover life's simple pleasures that I may otherwise have never uncovered myself.            

 Legend has it that Chinese emperor Shen Nung discovered tea in 2737 B.C.  While boiling his water to reduce impurities the wind blew a branch into his pot.  The aroma and taste from the unknown branch, Camellia Sinensis, was delightful; hence, the discovery of tea. 

Conversely, the Indian myth claims that in 597 A.D., Buddhist Bodhimharma, in his fifth year of meditating in China, started chewing on a twig that caused his concentration to break his nine year goal of meditating.  The twig was from the Camellia Sinensis.

We will never know for sure since Ch'in Dynasty of Shih Hwang-ti had all historical records destroyed. 

One thing we do know is that tea is the number one beverage today.  We continue to discover not only the health benefits of drinking tea but the vast array of flavours produced with fruit infusions and the magnificent beauty of unfurling flowers that tea artisans create in the blooming teas.

This past month I moved to a flat lacking lustre.  My Asian influenced contemporary furniture did not bring the energy to the living area I had hoped for.  And because of a beautiful large 100 year old tree in front of the window, the sun only seeps through in the afternoons.  I was explaining my dilemma to a friend afar.  Several days later I received a very large package.  One in which not only brightened my day but added just the amount of zest I needed for my home, fit my artistic taste and expressed my love for tea.

 Inside was a thin, black framed reproduction of Francis B. Cadell's painting "Interior - the orange blind."  The Asian inlaid wall to the left of the painting matched my furniture.   The very large, bright orange blind in the background added needed colour and energy to my room.  My incessant wearing of silver, turquoise, coral and crystal jewelry is present in the forefront of the painting with the chandelier, the chair and the tea set.  Plus, I knew she had remembered my admiration for background piano music as does the painting.  Lastly, having tea is prevalent in the painting as is part of everyday in my lifestyle.

My reason for sharing this personal story is to remind us all that art does influence our lives.  It comes in many forms: artisan tea, paintings, photographs, sculptures, music and the written word.  So next time you find yourself needing to cheer up a dear friend's day, think of what brings that person happiness and seek out an artistic way to make a difference in their life.  I assure you one day the favour will be returned.

  

A group of researchers sought to determine just how much of this sweet candy would be needed to design a chocolate teapot that would successfully brew tea.  Using 1.3kg of melted dark chocolate, the scientists patiently manufactured a chocolate teapot with walls 20 mm thick.  Besides the lid which was for aesthetic purposes only, the teapot worked!  As shown below, after boiling water was added then tea and steeped for 3 minutes, tea was served.

   If you haven't yet figured out who these researchers are, they are the Naked Scientists.  The group from Cambridge University that explains science and conducts experiments in laymen's terms for the public on the BBC.

  According to one source, jasmine means heavenly felicity or happiness.  The use of jasmine dates back centuries ago when the Chinese used it as a flavourful and scented tea.  Unlike the tea plant, camellia sinensis, it is the jasmines' flowers that are used for tea, perfumes and oils.  The aroma is so exquisite that chemists have been unable to duplicate it.  Studies at Toho University School of Medicine in Tokyo have proven that jasmine stimulates brain waves and enhances mental alertness.  Even the production of jasmine is exotic; it is collected at night when the oils are most fragrant.  The fragrance is appropriately described as having a warm exotic, fruity tea undertone.  When researching about the flower, I pleasantly stumbled across this heart-felt poem written by a female whose name happens to be Jasmine. I thought it summed up this blossom to a "t."

Poem of Love

I pray this evening for all things sweet
a scent of jasmine for you all
when icy showers fall this season
I pray the world is filled with love

Tell your mother
tell your friends and kin
how much you care
give them a hug
and bear a smile

I pray for the families whose day was filled with loss
those killed in war
those grandparents who today passed
for the children who today weren't
loved

My heart goes out to all of you
as all I have to offer
is a scent of jasmine
a fragrance of love
from my heart

J.M.L.

 Some say Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) was the first industrial designer because of his uncanny ability to manufacture his many designs using an array of materials, all of which were functional and aesthetically appealing.  His teapots are prime examples of this innovative talent and knowledge.

 

Both The British Museum and the V&A Museum have a few of his rare teapots on display.  Why not consider spending a Saturday afternoon devoted to admiring the works of one of Britain's most famous designers of the 19^th century?   

The U.S. is preparing and hoping for change with their newly elected President Obama.  Apparently in August during campaigning, the opponents' campaign manager commented:  "Only celebrities like Barack Obama...demand bottles of an organic brew - Black... tea."  Obama's response:  "I do have to ask my opponent - is that the best you can come up with?  

One company took the opportunity to create an Obama Tea Blend called "Drink for Change" only available for a limited time, November 4^th - election day.  They guaranteed that the tea blend would be delivered before the inauguration in January of 2009. 

 

Since I am in the process of planning a tea party for my niece's 22^nd birthday this 3-piece cookie cutter "Teapot Set" and "Cup & Saucer" cookie cutter certainly caught my attention.  I know that she will appreciate me taking the time to make her favourite green tea shortbread cookies using these.  I realize very little icing is used in the recipe but I have seen teapot sugar cookies decorated to a "t."  For all of you creative bakers who drink tea I would think this is a "must-have."

  

 

 

 

According to a survey conducted by ActionAid, an international non-profit agency, legal professionals in Brit drink more tea than their engineering, architectural and building industry colleagues.  Seventy percent in this profession reported drinking more than 3 cups per day; 20% drink more than 6 cups of tea per day. 

After this was announced to the profession, two of the best comments posted on the lawyer.com forum website were:

• Is so much tea being consumed to enable them to bill clients for extra time spent brewing up?
• I drink a lot of tea... my favourite being Blossoming Tea.  Helps my diplomatic skills, I call it my tea of wisdom!

I read an internet article, written by Chinese Chef and Tea Master Hong Shu, that cleared up some of my confusion and questions about the tea plant, which perhaps you too have pondered. 

• All true tea comes from the plant, Camellia Sinensis, grown in China, other parts of Asia and in India. 
• True tea is black tea, green tea, white tea and oolong tea. 
• Tea plants are not the same as tea trees; the plants are bushy hedges that reach only 4 feet high (2.67 Cubits).
• These plants are harvested in spring, autumn and summer.  Even though the leaves are present in winter, the flavor is not.
• Plants must reach maturity before production, no less than five years of age.
• The attractive white blossom on the Camellia Sinensis cannot be used because of its sticky substance that detracts bugs from the leaves and to the flowers.
• In order to produce the best flavor, aroma and leaf structure, the ideal growing condition for the tea plant should not surpass 87 degrees Celsius (188.6 Fahrenheit) during the day.

For us tea drinkers, this should be one of our favourite plants and one that we are well informed of.