CREATIVE TUESDAY: DOTTY



Here's my offering for this week's Creative Tuesday, "Dotty Lady Bug". I was stumped with this one for some reason. The other day I wondered out loud, "What can I draw that has dots?" My three year old then turned to me and said, "Mommy, a lady bug has dots!" So, here you have it. A very quick non realistic 10 minute pen and ink lady bug drawn with dots:) Happy CT, everyone...( dot dot dot) :D

TEA IN NASHVILLE


(Nashville skyline on a Sunday afternoon)


After several weeks of blogging about everything under the sun but tea, I felt it was high time I devoted an entry to something Tea-related since this is really supposed to be a tea blog. I had originally intended on writing a review about an incredible book that I got for Christmas but with a weekend getaway to Nashville ahead of me last week, I decided to wait until I returned to write about a place I’ve wanted to visit for the last couple of years.

This past Saturday afternoon, accompanied by my good friend, Kimberly, I ventured to a delightful Tea Shop called World Cup of Tea. The shop is, oddly enough, in a newer shopping center but it’s apparent from the charming flagstone path which leads to the front door that one should not be put off by the modern exterior. We were greeted with flags hanging in the window; the center one being a Union Jack, the others represented China, India, and other significant tea-drinking/supplying nations. As we approached the front doors, I knew instantly that I had to learn more about the owner of this charming Tea Shop.


Twenty-five years ago Rosemary Staggs, owner of World Cup of Tea, experienced her first afternoon tea in England. As a result, she fell in love with everything tea-related. Since returning from that magical trip she embarked on her very own tea education and devoted countless hours to the study of tea. “Her accomplishments include the completion of Pearl Dexter’s Tea School and the Elmwood Inn’s How to Open A Tea Room Seminar, a level one and two certification from the Tea Association of the United States and countless other tea seminars. She has traveled to both India and China to learn firsthand about the cultivation and culture of tea. Rosemary has been published several times in Tea: A Magazine and hopes to continue her study for many more years to come. Though many may consider her knowledge of tea complete, Rosemary will always consider herself a student of tea.”(From WCT website)

The uniqueness of World Cup of Tea is that Staggs has created a global tea experience just south of Nashville, Tennessee. You begin your tea encounter at the wall of samples where each container holds a different blend. There is a lovely selection of white, black, and green teas as well as herbal infusions. The attention to detail at this shop is certainly to be commended as well. Staggs provides lovely personal touches which make this tea house warm and extremely inviting. During the week you may reserve your very own tea tasting with Rosemary but since we were there on a Saturday, we were unable to take part in that. Full afternoon teas are also available upon reservations or a box lunch tea which is what we elected to have.



(World Cup of Tea)


(The dark woods and warm golden walls of this place added a soothing serenity.)



(Kimberly, in all her maternal glow, savoring the various tea aromas at the wall of tea. )


(Tea table)


( We elected to sit at a low Asian influenced table. The entire tea shop is designed for a relaxed intimate tea experience)

Oh, and which blends made it home with us? Kimberly chose a heavenly aromatic jasmine blend while I selected Czar’s Samovar. The Samovar is a fragrant fruity blend of rich China, Ceylon, and Nepal Black teas with sweet currants. This tea brews a deep, coppery color with a long, lingering aftertaste.

So, if you find yourself in the Nashville area, make the journey to Franklin/Cool Springs and spend an hour or two at the World Cup of Tea. It’s a must for any tea lover and a place I am certain to return to again and again.

CREATIVE TUESDAY: PURE IMAGINATION



(Past Dreams - paper cutting-pen and ink)


For this Creative Tuesday theme, Pure Imagination, I decided to try another paper cutting. First, I sketched the figure and then cut the paper from the drawing( using it as a template)..I discovered mid-way through that I really needed sharper scissors ...You live and you learn, though, right? I added an Art Nouveau-inspired design and then some outling(dots) around the figure and the decorative design with my trusty Faber Castell pen.

Dreaming or a euphoric dream-state was sort of the motivator for this one. Well, that and studying Pre-Raphaelite art for the last several months for a writing project.

DERBY WEEKEND IN KENTUCKY



It’s that time of year again in the Bluegrass State. Today is the Kentucky Oaks but tomorrow, May 1st, is the world famous Kentucky Derby. For most of us in Kentucky that means a weekend of Derby themed parties, dinners, and more parties! The Tea Society has had Derby Teas in the past where we’ve highlighted all things Kentucky, especially in reference to teas and food products. We've even designed our own Derby hats in the past years. But this year, with incredibly busy schedules from all, it seemed impossible to find a weekend where most of us could join together.



Some of our members are wearing their finest millinery and attending all the racing events. While our Polly, a well-respected and talented milliner, has been covered up in hat orders from around the globe. She will no doubt welcome a bit of breathing time after the race on Saturday. That is, until wedding season sweeps her up with more orders! For me, I think I will spend the weekend watching all the celebrations from a cozy seat in my parlor while sipping a hot mint infusion or a cuppa Elmwood Inn’s Kentucky Blend. On Sunday, however, I will take advantage of a tradition among many of the women in our region in wearing a fine Oaks or Derby hat to church on Sunday.

If by chance you would like a taste of the Derby, try the famous Kentucky Mint Julep(seen in the image below). Southern Living offers a recipe here.

THEME THURSDAY: LUNCH






Some of my most memorable lunches came after church at my Grandmother Coleman’s house. She referred to them as Sunday ‘dinners’ and they were always around 12:30 PM, just enough time for everyone to get to her house after their various services. Lunch for her was hardly what one might have every day. We had Sweet tea, lemonade and coffee to drink (no soda pop at her house). The meal consisted of at least two different entrees. That was usually fried (always prepared in a deep black cast iron pot) or baked chicken with dressing (sometimes turkey), a roast of some sort and even meatloaf as well. She had two huge vegetable gardens so in the summer we always had fresh vegetable dishes, at least six-eight to accompany the main courses, and then of course two or three desserts to choose from. Of the latter, cakes, pies and cobblers were always on the sideboards to tease us throughout the meal. I will say that in spite of the massive “lunch” on the table, we always had room for my Grandmother’s famous apple pie. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. It amazed us all that she managed to have feasts like this every week and refused to have anyone bring a dish. It would have been an insult to her to do so and she truly lived to prepare those meals. For her, it was a way to insure that the entire family would always at least be together once a week to fellowship. Needless to say, after these huge lunches/dinners, no one seemed to have much of an appetite for supper and if we did eat later, we usually took leftovers home from Grandma’s.

These days Sunday lunch usually consists of a salad and soup or a sandwich and some fruit with a cup of tea. That’s quite a far cry from those wonderful Sunday afternoon feasts, but much kinder to my waistline.

CREATIVE TUESDAY: EASTER


( Pieta` )


I was so thrilled with this Creative Tuesday Theme, Easter. This is such a beautiful celebration of Resurrection, redemption, rebirth, and renewal. It was fantastic timing because I had another project underway that fit perfectly with this theme. Our church issued a call to parish artists to create art for the stations of the cross, to use at our Good Friday service. I chose the 13TH station( 9th in some other observations), Jesus taken down from the cross. It didn't take long for me to know where to find artistic inspiration for this piece. I turned to two Pieta's, one of course by Michelangelo and the other by Carracci. The latter of which I drew the most inspiration from, with the poses of Christ and Mary. I used Michelangelo's work to inspire Mary's garment and head covering. I rendered the drawing with Derwent Graphic pencils on acid-free Strathmore smooth drawing paper.

The artwork will be on display at our church through Easter Sunday when after the service, there will be a silent auction for all the works. The proceeds will be donated to our mission team's Haiti relief trip.

Have a wonderful Good Friday and a very blessed Easter!

THEME THURSDAY: SIGN



I’ve never been much on reading or believing daily horoscopes but I must admit to recognizing more than a few similarities between myself and my astrological sun sign, Sagittarius. In the past, I’ve even had friends musingly christen me the poster child for the 'Archer’s' characteristic traits. With that in mind, how about the rest of you bloggers? To borrow from that ever ‘dated’ line from the 1970’s , “What’s your sign?”…and do you think you fit the characteristic traits?

Traits:
Sagittarians are eternal optimists. They have very positive outlooks on life, are full of enterprise, energy, versatility, creativity, adventurousness and an eagerness to extend most experiences for as long as possible( If they are pleasant, of course). They are dreamers and idealistic, drawn to travel and exploration. Because of this, they often select careers which will afford them that possibility. They are honorable, honest, trustworthy, truthful, generous and sincere with a passion for justice. Sagittarius is not a diplomatic sign like Libra and Scorpio. They are very straightforward, at times telling people more than they may wish to hear. They can be restless and dislike monotony. They are typically very extroverted and this lends well to situations where they will be in the spotlight. Like the other fire signs, they enjoy the outdoors. They are usually modest and are often religious. They are also strong-willed and good at organizing, a combination that gives them the ability to bring most projects to a successful conclusion( most but not all).

Mythology:
The sign in Greek Mythology is associated with the Centaur: half human, half horse. The Babylonians, however, identified Sagittarius as the god Pabilsag, a diety with wings and a lion's head.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

(For a wonderful dramatic reading of St. Patrick's Breastplate click here )

( In honor of my Irish O' Colmain (Coleman) maternal side)



( Drink lots of real green tea- Barry's Irish Breakfast of course! )


Wishing all of the friends and followers of the Ladies' Historical Tea Society a very Happy and Blessed St. Patrick's Day.

TO SPRING


The Enchanted Garden of Messer Ansaldo by Marie Spartali Stillman (1889)


To Spring

William Blake (1783)


O thou with dewy locks, who lookest down
Through the clear windows of the morning, turn
Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,
Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!

The hills tell one another, and the listening
Valleys hear; all our longing eyes are turn’d
Up to thy bright pavilions: issue forth
And let thy holy feet visit our clime!

Come o’er the eastern hills, and let our winds
Kiss thy perfumèd garments; let us taste
Thy morn and evening breath; scatter thy pearls
Upon our lovesick land that mourns for thee.

O deck her forth with thy fair fingers; pour
Thy soft kisses on her bosom; and put
Thy golden crown upon her languish’d head,
Whose modest tresses are bound up for thee.

THEME THURSDAY: BELL



(5 of my favorite cloche/bell and near cloche styled hats. The black lace trimmed one in the middle was a gift from Paula.)


In case you haven’t noticed from my profile picture or other random photos on this blog, my favorite hats just so happen to be cloches. The name of course is French for Bell. I’ve acquired many of them over the years and must say that one of my favorite cloches was given to me by a dear friend and Tea Society member, Paula Porter. In memory of Paula’s long battle with cancer, for others battling this disease, and for Barry’s triumphant completion of chemotherapy, I shall toss my bell shaped hat in the air and clap and rejoice in honor of all of you. Congratulations Barry!

This is for you!


Chemo at
Long last is
Over now
Caring
Hearts
Embrace and rejoice

...

TEA IN THE GARDEN





Ah, February, the month were if you’re an avid gardener, like me, the indoor seed sewing and garden planning begins this month. I gather my garden design magazines and books, mosey to the tall window in the stairwell where I can peer down into the garden, and begin to dream. This is always followed by an annual vow to keep on top of weeding this year, in spite of the heavy humid days of July and August. That shall not deter me! For I will have my trusty wide brimmed straw garden hat, to shelter my skin, and endeavor to pluck and pull away with St. Francis and the birds to keep me company.

This year, however, I am finally planning to do something that I have always wanted to do, grow my own tea garden. No, not an herbal tea( infusion) garden; I already have a corner herb garden, but a real container tea garden where I will grow the Camellia Sinensis to have my own organically home grown tea. Granted, in a contained state it would yield very small quantities, but just enough for an occasional treat. Can it be done in a town garden, outside the ideal conditions found in a lush tea plantation? Of course it can! Though, I must consider that my single plant Tea Garden will not winter over here in Zone 6. Therefore, it must be kept in a container which will have to be brought indoors to be nurtured through the cold winter months. Much to my delight, I have been reassured by some tea purveyors and nurseries that it can indeed be done with fairly good results.

In researching what will be required to grow this wonderful plant, I have discovered that this will be not only a challenging experiment, but also an act of exercising great patience on my part. It will require patience because it takes 3 years before the plant will be ready for the tea leaves to be harvested. That will make it challenging because, sadly, patience is not a virtue that I am known to possess. However, this information is not a deterrent, but rather a motivator telling me that I need to try my hand at this. I will also keep a Tea gardening Journal here on this blog to make me accountable to the entire blogosphere for my Tea cultivating adventures.

Facts about growing Camellia Sinensis:

Camellia Sinensis plants are actually trees, which in cultivation are pruned to 2-5 feet. They are evergreen plants with fragrant white flowers appearing in fall making them attractive for ornamental use. The plant likes well-drained and sandy acidic soil. If growing ‘tea’ in a container, add sphagnum moss to the potting mix.

Cheers!

CREATIVE TUESDAY: Muse Within


( Muse Within )

For this week’s Creative Tuesday theme, Muse , I did a simple pen and ink line drawing.

My ‘muses’ are always artists from the past. Of course the Pre-Raphaelite painters hold the greatest inspiration for me, along with 19th century Paris Academe masters. The latter required their students/apprentices to use sculpture from antiquity as models to perfect the human form and I do this with my students as well. I actually still use a lot of statuary for models in my own drawings/illustrations, altering them in subtle ways, even idealizing them to reflect a certain mood or to give a particular appearance. This drawing was a combination of those influences and resources. My ancient muse here is gazing into a mirror, searching for her own inner muse.

THEME THURSDAY: RED



( A view from my red-walled parlor with a print of Rossetti's A Sea Spell above the fireplace mantel. This is my favorite spot to cuddle up with a hot cuppa Earl Grey and a good book. )



Hold then thy heart against her shining hair,
If, by thy fate, she spread it once for thee,
For when she nets a young man in that snare
So twine she him he never may be free.

(Lilith, translated from Goethe by Dante Gabriel Rossetti)

They peer out from beyond their idealized existence, skin luminescent glowing and flawless, faces belonging to goddesses, saints, and sirens. Their heavy lidded eyes stare dreamily off into a distant alter- reality. Their feminine mystique exudes through their full ruby red lips. They manifest into our world by way of rich vibrant paint on canvas, straight out of ancient mythology and medieval legend.

Commanding, powerful bodies, languid swanlike necks, and striking features almost always served as a prerequisite in order for these women to be christened a “stunner”, an affectionate term given to their specially selected models by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Morris, and A. Charles Swinburne. Rossetti and company elevated common, mortal, milliner’s assistants, shop girls, daughters, and mothers to tragic heroines and romanticized deities.

Perhaps the most peculiar feature that these seductive creatures often had in common was their flowing red hair. This was an attribute greatly desired by the above mentioned artists, among others, of the period.

Below is an offering of some of my favorite Rossetti's, all featuring one of his beloved "stunners", Alexa Wilding. She is seen in all her glory with alluring fiery serpentine red hair so often associated with that of a Pre-Raphaelite muse.




(A Sea Spell, Rossetti)


(Veronica Veronese, Rossetti)


(Lady Lilith, Rossetti)


( Roman Window, Rossetti)

CONTEMPLATION


(Image from Kerala Tea Garden)


Tea Garden

In this world
it is easy to travel
to new places and fascinating landscapes.
What matters is
that we lift the veil from our eyes,
open ourselves to a new voyage of perception,
and arrive in paradise.


From Looking Deeply into Tea
By Shelley Richardson

A WINTER BRUNCH




This past Sunday, the ladies of the Tea Society joined me on a very rainy January morning to venture to the historic town of Midway, Kentucky to celebrate our first Tea Society event of 2010. We did so with a wonderful Sunday brunch. Our destination was my favorite restaurant in Central Kentucky, The Holly Hill Inn. I have blogged about HH Inn in the past but it is such a magical place that I had to post a short one about it again. I highly recommend dining here to anyone who may find themselves in Central Kentucky, especially with the World Equestrian Games coming to our neck of the woods this year. Most Kentuckians are filled with excitement that our state will be hosting this amazing event. My mind is a flutter, formulating ideas for a unique Tea Theme to commemorate this occasion as well.

As for the restaurant, there are so many reasons to adore this place and the most obvious is of course the delectable cuisine, described as “Southern with a Twist”, and prepared by New York Culinary Institute graduate- Chef and owner, Ouita Michel. Southern Living had a lovely write up about her, and the Inn, in an issue last year. What I love so much about the picture below is the table she is seated at is perhaps my favorite spot in the entire restaurant. I have sat opposite that table many times and always get lost gazing at the artwork on the wall and through the window behind her there. It's magical in that corner when the room is dim and the light invades through the panes, dancing and glimmering on the white walls. It is truly a very romantic setting.

We spent at least an hour and a half, laughing, talking, and enjoying being in the company of friends- reveling in the sometimes lost art of conversation. I must say that the Inn is not a Tea room and there are actually places much better suited for a hot cuppa, but the ambiance and cuisine of this place makes it more than worth your while to have a quiet serene Sunday Brunch among friends.



(Image of Chef Ouita Michel from Southern Living Magazine online)


(Image of my favorite table from Holly Hill Inn Website)


( Tea Society Members at brunch:(on the left) Polly, Darleen, and Natalie. Caroline is seated beside me. Hum..I still haven't named this latest brown cloche with feathers...I must think on this some more:)

THEME THURSDAY: BREAD

Homage to the Scone






We eat more than our fair share of bread at our Tea Society events, and being a “southern girl” I’ve certainly grown up eating lots of my Grandmother’s mouthwatering buttermilk biscuits and my Mother’s delectable cornbread. Yet, when I think of bread, my first thought is of the Scone...

Ah, that trademark sidekick to the ultimate cuppa. I’ve made them so often for tea events that I think I could make them in my sleep and I can’t really imagine a tea event without them. Being the history buff that I am, of course I had to delve into the origin of this wonderful tea accompaniment.

When I think of scones, I tend to associate their appearance at the "Tea Table" with refinement and a traditional English Afternoon Tea. However, the origin of this bread is believed to have been in Scotland. In its earliest form, it was a simple quick bread made with oats and barley flour. It was often shaped into a round mound and scored or cut into wedges. The dough was then baked on a Scottish griddle or “girdle” over an open fire.

Where did the name come from? It is believed that this popular Tea bread took its name from the Pictish Kingdom of Scone (Scotland). The exact origin of the name is possibly Dutch, German, or Gaelic. The pronunciation is also intriguing and debatable. Throughout Great Britain one may hear “skaun” or “skoane”. Either is considered acceptable. I have to admit, being born and raised south of the Mason Dixon line, I tend to favor the latter, “skoane”, drawing out the “oa”, of course…

Ah...care to join me for some cream cheese and pecan scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream- all with bottomless pots of Barry’s Irish Breakfast?

THEME THURSDAY: SURFACE




I’ve always had this very strange fascination with old gnarled tree roots, the kind of roots that have burst forth to the surface of the soil like Merlin’s languid fingers. They tickle the earth and in time become covered with a coat of deep green lichen. They embark outward on a journey of discovery, for something more- something once feared to be buried and lost. They seem forgotten in years of dormancy but waiting for the opportunity to spring forth once more to reveal that life is still contained there.

When I was a very young art student, I had this enigmatic professor who took my studio class out on drawing days to forgotten cemeteries in search of the most interesting trees with these wayward surface roots, so large that one could carve a bench from them and certainly called to mind roots from Tolkien’s Fangorn forest. I sat, mesmerized, before stately oaks and maples, ancient, weathered, hypnotic and seductive. I longed to know their history, to be close to them, and to glimpse into a mirror of the past to see all that transpired before them. I still do.

Why do roots that normally stay underground, cloaked in darkness, emerge from the soil? Science explains that roots often grow more shallowly beneath the soil than many of us ever imagined; it depends largely on the type of tree. The surface soil might erode and make way for the roots to expand and erupt, in very much the same way that a tree trunk expands with age. The older more mature roots of trees will increase and grow larger, waiting until the time is right to rise to the surface, spread, and extend outward. To me this is a strange sort of freedom from the depths of the earth. Is this a final chance for these great wonders to reveal that there is more there than meets the eye? I believe that they could be making a plea to the natural world and to all that stumble upon them, that they might truly be seen.

CREATIVE TUESDAY: CHEERIO-EARRING




“Cheerio-earring”

Ah…here’s my Creative Tuesday offering this week. My gold hoop earrings served as the source of inspiration. I drew a line drawing of an ear and then used a stippling effect/technique ( simply to draw by means of dots or small touches)to add values and shading. My weapon of choice was a trusty Faber-Castell PITT artist's pen…My son got quite a chuckle out of this, but I think it made my daughter hungry as she’s been asking for cheerios all morning…

HAPPY HOT TEA MONTH





As I’ve noted on my sidebar, January is in fact National Hot Tea Month, so sayeth The Tea Association of the USA, Inc., The Tea Council of the USA, and the Specialty Tea Institute (STI). Personally speaking, I need absolutely no excuse whatsoever to partake in anything Tea related. The intimacy, ritual, and of course the pleasing taste alone is all the enticement needed for me, as well as many other loyal Tea Society bloggers. However, the below information might be of particular interest for anyone looking for health benefits as an excuse to enjoy a hot cuppa (or two or three or four or five).

Drinking hot tea has the great potential to help you stay a bit healthier during the cold and flu season of which we are in the midst of. According to Harvard University, theanine, a natural ingredient found in tea, supports the immune system. One cup of tea contains approximately 25 mg of theanine. Therefore, drinking multiple cups of hot tea, daily, is recommended to boost your immunity.

Better yet, according to clinical research, drinking up to five cups of Black Tea for 2-4 weeks will boost ones immunity four times over. The results also show that Black Tea increases the body’s natural resistance to infection.

In addition, tea also contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. These properties aid in battling free radicals which are believed to damage elements in the body, such as "genetic material and lipids", resulting in many chronic diseases.

With all the wonderful health benefits of tea, what are you waiting for? Put the kettle on and enjoy!

WELCOME 2010


( Twilight Fantasies by Edward Robert Hughes- 1911 )


Ah, another year is on the verge of being born, and so much promise and possibilities lay before each of us to begin again, renew, recreate, or perhaps rediscover our true selves. Though, as many other bloggers have noted, I, too, typically steer clear of your typical resolutions ( dieting, exercising more, etc.) I will, however, challenge myself to welcome this year with nothing but optimism and positive energy, with the knowledge and belief that anything truly is possible.

With all that said, may your New Year be filled with love, laughter, joy, passion, excitement, blessings, courage, tranquility, harmony, bliss, encouragement,wisdom, discernment, forgiveness, positive affirmations, prosperity, and success. May your lives also be filled with beauty, the kind that gives you such pause as to take your breath away and restore your souls.

Wishing each and everyone of you, dear bloggy Tea Society friends, a very Happy New Year!