A little early...

I'm posting 'tomorrow's' blog entry a little early, because I just have this feeling that tomorrow, I'll forget! And since I'm here and trying to procrastinate doing the dishes, I figured I'd go ahead and add to my blog.

Tea of the Month Club members:

If you haven't received this month's tea shipment, it will be arriving soon. All orders will be shipped by Thursday.

I wasn't sure which tea I'd make my tea of the month for August. But I let a few of my tea club members decide for me, I received quite a few emails from my members requesting that I make Summer's Harvest the tea of the month for August... and so Summer's Harvest it is!

I've also had a few requests from customers that used to be tea of the month club members but have had to drop the membership... to bring the membership back! So I will be working on that, and look for it in the coming weeks on the website! In the meantime, if you just can't wait, please email me and I'll set something up for you!

Last... but not least.... time for an artsy update!

I finished 2 more altered Carte De Vistes. Here's a before & after of the first one, I call the finished piece "Key to the Castle"...
















Next, this one is called "birdman" -- the original photo was kind of "creepy" -- he kind of looked like he belonged on the addam's family or the munsters! So, I kind of went with this idea, and turned him in to a guy who turns in to a bird monster at night.
















So that's it for now, I hope you enjoyed catching up with me!
~Anne

July 18, 2006: Winners of the Contest!

Hi Everyone!

Well, for those of you who frequent my tea website, you know that I ran a grand opening contest to celebrate the unveiling of my whole new site! Well, I've finally had a moment to sit down and collect myself... so I am ready to announce the winners of the contest!

The winner of a full-sized tin of tea *Winner's Choice!* and an Empress Style Tea Strainer is:

Tamma W.

The 3 runners-up, each winning a $5.00 gift certificate are:

Doris P.
Thomas F.
John R.

I have emailed the 4 winners, and they have 1 week to respond to my email. If I don't hear from them, then I will hold an alternate drawing and award their prize to someone else.

NOTE: The $5.00 gift certificate must be used at http://www.liber-teas.com and can not be redeemed for cash.

Anyway, I hope to hear from my winners soon!

That's all for now. Tomorrow, I'll have tea, tea of the month & art updates! yippee!!

~Anne

July 14, 2006: another quickie...

Hi Everyone: Just gonna take enough time here to post a new pic of a deco spread. This one was for Sharon's Ooolala! Deco......

There's a lot of sparkle on this deco, with rhinestone embellishments and stuff, which don't come out very clear on the scan.

I also finished a deco for Cheryl, called "children's literature" -- unfortunately, I forgot to scan it before I packaged it up... hopefully Cheryl will scan it for me!

~Anne

July 11, 2006: Just a quick post

Hi Everyone! *wondering if anyone actually reads this, or if I'm addressing everyone to no-one*

Anyway... I just have a quick update today, I have another altered CDV... this one I'm happier with than I was my first...

The left side is kind of blurry because the musical symbol is dimensional and lifted the card away from the glass of the scanner.

Thanks for checking in...

~Anne

July 9, 2006: More Art

Hi Everyone!

A real short update this time, more pics than words! This first one is my layout for Laurie's Belly Dancer Deco...

This next pic is my first attempt at altering a Carte de Viste. (A carte de viste is a smaller Cabinet Card)... I'm still a little unsure about this... since it's my first one... I'm not sure if I like it or not... What do you think?

So, that's it for now. Tomorrow, I will probably have a couple more Carte de Vistes... since I need to make 3 for an upcoming swap......

Thanks for checking in with me!

~Anne

July 8, 2006: Tea & Art

Hi Everyone!

I'll start with a quick tea update. For those of you who are awaiting your July tea of the month package, it will be shipped by Wednesday of next week! This month's tea is Strawberry... it's perfect for Iced Tea brewing! The strawberry flavor is subtle and sweet, and very refreshing! Just the ticket to quench your thirst on these hot summer days!

August's tea of the month will be Blue Eyes! (Another perfect choice for iced tea brewing, and a delicious treat for the kids! Shhh, Mom! don't tell them it's a healthy drink, they'll never know!)

Now... for more art updates. As I promised with last night's update, I bring you my Asian Deco. This is the cover of my deco, which I will send out on Monday to begin it's round robin journey:

This deco actually took me a long time to get started. A big part of the delay is due to the fact that I had a lot of 'zines to get finished, but another part was that ever lurking fear... I had something in my head of what I wanted, but I couldn't express it.

This deco doesn't quite match the original idea that I had in my head, but I actually like it better than my original plan... so, I guess that's a good thing!








I had some fun in my photo processing program this morning and tried a few effects. Here's the cover using the 'antique' effect... I think I actually like the pic better antiqued! It just sort of adds to the whole feel I was trying to convey with the deco.

I also did the first layout for the deco...

Thanks for checking out the blog!

~Anne

July 7, 2006: Decos!

Hi There!

I've been working on Decos today! It feels good to finally be working on something other than Zines. I love 'zines... but, sometimes, you need to do something else! :)

















The theme of this deco is "Mystic Mermaids" and it belongs to Sharon. This is side one to the layout I completed for her. It looks better in person! The scan kind of came out blurry.


Here's side two!



















This was a fun deco to work on.

I've also worked on the cover and first layout for an Asian Deco (my deco) and a Belly Dancer Deco that belongs to Laurie. I'll post pictures to those at a later time (the decos are still drying!)

Thanks for stopping by!

~Anne

July 6, 2006: More Art Updates

Hello Everyone!

Over the past weekend I've been finishing up the handmade 'zines I've been making for a swap. I've made a total of 8 so far (just enough for the swap) and I'll be making more over the next couple of weeks or so for the people who I'm doing private 1-1 swaps with, or am selling the 'zine to. So far, I've posted the first 3 centerfolds (each centerfold to the 8 zines is different), so, I think I'll go ahead and post the next 5 centerfolds today. The first three are 'zines 1, 2 & 3, consecutively... and here are the next 5:

The above centerfold is for issue #4.

The above artwork is the centerfold for issue #5 (LOL I just noticed that the corner was bent in the scan!)

The above artwork is the centerfold for issue #6

The above piece is the centerfold for issue #7

And finally, the above is for issue #8. I had a lot of fun exploring with different techniques on these centerfolds. I find that the more I create, the more freedom I begin to feel in my expressions, which is truly a joyful experience for me.

I hope you enjoy the artwork! Thanks for stopping by!

~Anne

July 3, 2006: 5:09 pm

Hello Everyone! Well it's a Monday evening, but it feels like a lazy Sunday to me. I think it's partially because hubby is off work today (and he's usually off on Sundays, but wasn't this week) and asleep at the moment, and partially because I want an extra day this week so that I can finish my project on time! Ha!

Anyways, I promised a few more tea updates the last time I posted (early yesterday morning, or perhaps LATE LATE Friday night?)... so here they are!

I don't remember if I *told* you about my current romance with Yerba Mate. See, once upon a time, I used to drink mochas quite frequently -- and I loved everything about them -- except how they made me feel shortly after drinking them. I'd feel nervous, jittery, and physically ill. Like I was about to hurl! So, I had to give them up, but it was a sad moment for me because I really did love them. I especially loved my favorite chocolate almond mocha... It was so delicious, decadent, creamy... just... YUM!

About a year ago, I tried Yerba Mate. I was less than impressed, to be quite honest. I didn't really enjoy it, and I didn't *get* why people were so excited by this drink. But, then, one of my vendors sent me a sample of flavored Mate... chocolate flavor, to be exact! And I was hooked! It tasted so similar to my dearly departed mochas, but I didn't have the jittery ill feeling that I'd get from them. So I decided I must try working with them more!

I think I've finally managed to perfect the flavor I was searching for... my chocolate almond mocha! I should have my first batch available for sale by mid to late month July! yes, this month! Woo hoo! Be watching my blog for the update on my Almond Mocha Mate!!!

Other Updates: I will have a batch of my allergy relief tisane in late this month. And... DO I EVER NEED IT! The allergies are hitting me hard this year, I'll attribute that to the wet winter and spring we had this year. So much green... so much pollen! If you also suffer from allergies, I recommend trying the allergy relief... it is very soothing and really does help with the symptoms (without the side affects of the OTC meds).

Now for some artistic updates... I've been really working hard to get my zine project done! Here's another centerfold....

Anyways... that's all for now... have a great Sunday... errrr... Monday evening!

~Anne

July 2, 2006: 1:22 am

Yep, a late night again.

I had actually typed out a long blog update earlier today (well, technically, yesterday) but I accidentally deleted it when I attempted to load a pic. Oh well.

So here I am again. I'm going to start with a tea update or two...

First, the tea of the month for July is *STRAWBERRY* ~ and is there really any more perfect tea for the middle of summer than my strawberry tea? In my opinion, no fruit represents the summer more than Strawberries. My tea has just a subtle strawberry flavor ~ a perfect choice for sun-tea brewing or perhaps you'd like to try my new iced tea recipe? It's the easiest way I've found to brew delicious iced tea every time.

Next... I'm sold out of my Liberteas Breakfast Blend, and I will have more in stock by the middle of the month. The same is true for my Chocolate Rose Romance -- although I didn't technically sell out of the Chocolate ~ I've blended a whole new batch because I've improved upon my recipe! A deeper, richer chocolate flavor -- more sinfully delightful goodness in every sip! This is truly a dessert tea worth trying... and with ZERO fat and calories, it's worth a second cup. (Note: the chocolate tea does taste better with just a dash of sugar and a splash of milk... but, even with these additions, the fat and calories are very low!)

I will be updating the blog this coming week with more exciting tea news.

Art updates!

I've been busy at the art table.

This is another centerfold to my upcoming 'zine ~ Discovering the Accidental Artist. As I may have mentioned previously, this is a zine unlike any other I've done, because each is handmade. I typed the text, printed it, and then cut and pasted it in to the pages of the 'zine. Every centerfold is different, making each 'zine a unique, one of a kind booklet.

This is the centerfold for copy #2.

I have really enjoyed working on this 'zine, because it's really challenged me, and also given me a chance to actually just... create art! After the crunch time of the projects that I've been working on, primarily the Sunergos zine, I felt exhausted. I mean, I did enjoy it immensely, however, there were times where I felt like I lost the artist inside me to a machine. So... this 'zine has really helped me get back to the artist within and has re-invigorated my muse!

So, that's all for now... thanks for reading along!
~Anne

June 30, 2006: 11:49 am

Time for a Tea update!

The last few updates have involved art, now it's time for some tea time updates! July is right around the corner -- OK... it's tomorrow! July's tea of the month is Strawberry. This is a flavored black tea with a sweet and subtle touch of sun-ripened strawberries! Nothing says "summer" quite like strawberries! Some of my favorite childhood summertime memories involve strawberries, like my gramma's delicious strawberry shortcake, and visiting the strawberry fields for freshly picked strawberries! Yum! (NOTE: I'll be moving the strawberry tea over to the 'tea of the month' category tomorrow)

I love my strawberry blend because the flavor is delicate, and allows the flavor of the black tea to shine through. Most of the fruit flavored teas that I've tried have masked the flavor of the black tea rather than celebrated it! Being a tea lover through and through, I found this practice to be disappointing. My strawberry blend is one of my favorite iced tea flavors too! It's very refreshing served chilled!

Speaking of berries, I believe that I spoke recently of a new berry blend on the horizon. That's still in the works. I'm still trying to perfect the recipe, and I've not come up with a balance that pleases me. But, I'm still working at it!

Other tea news: I'm taking my Chocolate Rose Romance down from my website (temporarily!) because during my 'tea blending playtime' I've found a way to improve the flavor! So, I've blended up a full batch of the NEW and IMPROVED Chocolate Rose Romance. It will be available after July 15th. The new flavor brings a richer flavor... a true dessert tea! Sinful chocolate flavor without the fat and calories!

I've developed a very timely herbal blend! I suffer from horrendous allergies this time of the year, and they really drag me down! Some days they're so dreadful that I can barely function! I used to take benadryl, and while it does help knock the symptoms out, it also knocks ME out... for a good 24 hours, I'm in a fuzzy haze! I've had no real success with any of the over the counter options, so I turned to a herbal approach. I've come up with a blend that I'm really pleased with, and it helps with the symptoms, and allows me to keep alert!

Well, that's all for this update. Thanks for reading along!
~Anne

Some more art...

Well, just one piece. here's one of the centerfolds for the 'zine I'm working on. As I think I mentioned before, each one is handmade, so each centerfold & cover will be different... The text content will all be the same in each 'zine made, but the artwork will all be different

So that's it for now... Have an artful day!

~Anne

June 24, 2006

More Updates: Well, for the next couple of days, I'll be super busy, trying to bind some 'zines. Back in April/May, I was part of a collaborative group that made a 'zine for a contest for Etsy. Don't know what Etsy is? Well you should! It's a great site for the artists... by the artists! It's a great place for artists to display and sell their artwork. The people of etsy have worked to make the costs of posting work to sell on etsy affordable (which is a must for artists... we're constantly starving!). Anyway, I strongly recommend that you support Etsy! Here's a link to my store at etsy.

Anyway, we did a 'zine for the coproduction contest at Etsy, where we needed at least 3 but not more than 7 participants (we went with 7). We made a 'zine -- and it sold out within 26 hours! Woot! So... needless to say, I don't have any of these left, but if you want to get a quick glimpse of what the cover looks like, here it is:

Anyway, each contributor to the 'zine gets 2 copies (one for themselves, one for a gift) and I need to bind the rest of them. See that binding >>>

I hand knotted it. I thought it would be a simple task, unfortunately, I learned it took a lot more concentration that I realized. See... once upon a time, back in college, I used to make and sell the hemp bracelets... and I could whip out a dozen or so of those in an evening... but using the same knotting technique on a book... is quite a different thing indeed.

Oh well.

Anyway, I need to get those finished this weekend, so that's what I'll be doing! :)

After that I can focus all my energy on the few things I also need to get finished up -- my 'zine for the Gleaner swap, for example. I'm making each of these by hand, so each will be a one of a kind original. I won't be making many of these, needless to say. ha! Yeah, they're fun, and I love making 'zines, I love the process... so I'm not complaining. My muse just hasn't been really cooperating with me! When I have very little time, it seems like she comes up with the most time consuming projects! It would have been a lot easier if she came up with a 'zine that didn't require this much attention.

Oh well!

Here are a few other things I've worked on in the past few months...

























I made the photo as large as I could with this one, so that hopefully you could see it amid the blur...

This is an altered bottle cap. The reason the center is so blurred is that it's filled with a crystal lacquer, so it didn't take to the scan very well. The petals are made of a air dry porcelain compound, and then painted with acrylic paints and acrylic glaze. The center features a small picture of a fairy with a sparkly background, and then is filled with the aforementioned lacquer. I wish the scan could have come in better, I think these are a lot nicer than the scan represents.

I made a total of 8 of these, all with different fairies, and all look slightly different, since I hand sculpted the petals, and mixed the glazes and colors as I went along... so they all have their own little quirks. I made them a swap I hosted with my yahoo group, EccentricPastiche.

Hmmm... what else? How about some tea information? did I mention previously that I have concocted an herbal blend that helps keep my allergy symptoms under control? I need to get blending more of this! I made just a small amount of it to test it... and I like it so much!

Anyway... that's it for today... I have to go get busy!!!

Thanks for reading along...
~Anne

June 23, 2006 ... part 2!

OK... I'm back... and here to post a few more pictures of my altered book. The last two pictures I posted feature recipe card pull-outs... the first one has a library pocket, and inside is a card with tea time recipes on it. The second one has a tag with a recipe for chocolate tea bread. Here is a better view of the left side of the second set of pages... without the tag.

This is the last set of pages....

Here's the back cover....

Here is a scan of the cover with the ribbon tied... I made the tassels too!

Anyway... so that's it, my first real altered book. Even if it's not really, technically an altered book, at least, not an altered EXISTING book. I've found it's somehow easier to alter the blank books than it is to alter an existing, published, printed book. I'll get over this though. I will!!!

Thanks for reading along!

~Anne

June 23, 2006: Time for some art...

I have been working like crazy to get myself all caught up with my various art projects that I've got going! Here are some recent pieces I've worked on...

The right is a scan of the cover of an altered book I made as a gift for a friend. The theme I chose was "Victorian Tea Journal" since we both have a passion for tea. The altered book is an accordian book -- yeah, I'm still not quite over my hesitancy to alter a 'real' book and chose a blank book to alter this time. I'm getting better though, and I learned so much throughout the journey of creating this book.

I'm going to show the rest of the pictures of the pages gallery style....

I guess I'll need to make another post for the rest of the pictures.... I'll try to plot this so that this post will be on top, and the other pictures will be below.... But... no promises!!!

June 18, 2006: 1:06 am

Yeah, it's early... I'm kind of a night owl. I have a couple of updates that I wanted to post here...

Back on the shelves:
*My sampler tins are back in stock. I have a limited quantity of them, but they're here! I'll be posting them to my website soon, keep an eye out for them. Click here to access my website.

Out of stock:
*Momoko Melon ~ I will probably have this restocked by the end of July at the latest. This is my favorite iced tea, so I don't think I could be without it too long!
*Storage Tins ~ These were supposed to be in the same crate with my sampler tins, but were not. I probably won't get these in now until the end of July. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Of interest (possibly):
*I've been working on a new berry blend. I've been working on this blend for some time now (by request of a favorite customer of mine who wanted a nice mixed berry blend), but you know me, I'm not very easy to please when it comes to the right flavors for my teas. I think this is a good thing. :)

*I'm also looking for the best darjeeling I can find. I've been sampling several different varieties from several different estates... I hope to have decided upon one soon.

OK... so that's all the updates for now. Thanks for catching up with me!
~Anne

June 14, 2006: 11:20 am

Hello Everyone!

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since my last journal entry, so I figure it's definitely time to update it, and everyone who reads it! :) I was away from the 'tea cupboard' for about a week, but I'm back now and ready to serve you!

For everyone who has been keeping up with my happenings:

*As I posted previously, Red Velvet is in stock... and it is NEARLY sold out! So if this is one of those you've been meaning to try, I recommend you order some right away! It is June's tea of the month, so it's available at a special discounted price! This is one of my favorites for hot weather, because it's so refreshing served iced! Yum! To order or to learn more about Red Velvet Tisane, click here.

*My Earl Grey Creme is back in stock!

*My Sweet Caramel O'Mine is back in stock too! This one is one of my very best sellers -- so you better get it now while the gettin's good! I'm not sure how soon I'll be able to restock this one after my current supply is gone...

*Shangri-La is finally ready for shipment! For all you tea of the month club members, your May and June teas will be shipped out together (Shangri-La for May, and Red Velvet for June), and will be going out this week! This is a truly unique blend -- perfect for the warmer weather that's ahead! It's so delightful when served iced!

*Starry Night is also finally back in stock! This one is a very popular green rooibos blend that I've found to be nearly impossible to keep stocked! As soon as I get it back on my shelves, it's sells out! Hey... I'm not complaining!

*Chocolate Rose Romance is back in stock! Another popular blend!

*Liberteas Breakfast Blend is in stock, but I have a very limited quantity!! I won't be blending this one until next month at the soonest, so if you want some of this... you better get it now!

Here are a couple of other updates:

*Candy Shoppe will be ready for shipment around June 22nd.

*Honeybush with Vanilla will also be ready for shipment around the same time!

Well, that's all for my updates for now! Thanks for catching up with me!

How's about an artsy update?

Hi everyone:

Well, since I got my vision restored, I've been working like crazy trying to get caught up. Wanna see what I've been working on?



This is a chunky book page that I've been working on. It's my first real attempt working on 4x4s and also my first time working on a chunky book page. So it was an adventure, and a lot of fun.

I had to make 12 of these, so the background papers and the torsos are all different on them. The faces are all the same, except for small variations in color, because I used milk paints (reconstituted with water rather than milk) and watercolors so the color wasn't consistant. I liked it though, it make for an interesting look.

The wings are made of muslin that I dyed and then painted with metallic paint.

Rolodex cards! Been altering them like a crazy woman too! The theme this month was a self portrait with contact info on the back. So, I made a larger, 6x6 of my self portrait (as seen below) then I shrunk it in psp and printed it out for the rolodex cards.


The title of the piece is "painting a self portrait" -- the gnome is an inside joke (Hi Gail!) unfortunately, everyone else who is receiving the cards probably won't get the joke. Oh well. It was a lot of fun to do.

My next project is to make 2 mini-books for another group I'm in. I've already begun this, I've cut the covers out of some very thick book cover stock, and have bound the cover. Now, I'm working on the inside pages.

These have been really challenging because I'm stepping outside of my box, having never really bound a book before, but, I feel like my work with the zines has really prepared me for things like that, so it's been fun and I've not felt too lost or overwhelmed, except for maybe by the list of things I've gotta get done!

Anyway, that's all for now. Remember, Shangri-La will be ready to ship tomorrow! YUM!

~Anne

May 29, 2006: 10:32 am

Hello Everyone!

It's been a pretty crazy week! I just realized that I had forgotten to mention June's tea of the month in my last posting, so here it is...

My tea of the month for June will be Red Velvet. Some of you may remember Red Velvet, as I carried it for a brief time last year. This is a recipe I devised for a customer who was looking for a tisane that was similar to another tisane she had tried. I really like this one too, it's a real burst of delicious fruit flavors. I begin with a base of hibiscus and rosehips, and add the flavors of sun-ripened Washington pears & juicy-sweet blood oranges. The result is a velvet-y smooth, delightful flavor. It's a spectacular choice for iced tea... I love this one as a sun tea!

Well, that's all for my updates for now, I'll be working on my newsletter next. Have you signed up to receive my newsletter? If not, click here to sign up!

Thanks!
~Anne

May 25, 2006: 11:54 am

As I think I may have mentioned before, I lost a contact lens... I hate not being able to see. For whatever reason, I don't have as much trouble using the computer as I do doing other daily tasks, such as cooking or washing dishes... LOL! Some may think it's just me not wanting to do those things, but I think it actually has something to do with the fact that the computer screen is illuminated, and since I do have a mild case of night blindness, the light definitely helps with my vision.

Anyway, I have a few updates concerning tea:

Chocolate Rose Romance: will be ready to sell on June 2nd.
Sweet Caramel O'Mine: A slight delay in this one, it will be ready June 9th.
LiberTEAS Breakfast Blend: A very small batch will be ready June 2nd.
Honeybush with Vanilla: Will be ready June 9th.
Earl Grey Creme: Will be ready June 9th.
Starry Night: Will be ready June 9th.
Shangri-La: Will be ready June 9th.
Candy Shoppe: Will be ready June 30th.

I'm sorry about the delays on some of these... I had hoped they'd be ready for shipment on May 31st, but after a quick sampling last night of these, I realize they need some extra time.

Regarding After Dinner Mint... I am not sure that I'll be restocking this one, at least not for the time being. Perhaps when the cooler weather begins again in the fall, I'll be more in 'the mood' for this desert beverage, and I'll bring it back. If, in the meantime, you just CAN'T WAIT for it, please email me and let me know! I like to hear from the customers to know what you guys think of everything.

~Anne

May 20, 2006: 1:54 pm

Ack! I've lost my contact lens. I guess I should have prefaced that by saying, without some sort of vision aid, I can't see very well... I'm currently hunched over the comp screen to read it... with the screen about 2 inches in front of my face.

So... needless to say, I need new glasses... wanna help me get them? visit my website, purchase at least 25 dollars in tea and other stuff, and get a 25% discount on your total order, just use the coupon code "newglasses" in the coupon field at check out, and 25% will be deducted from your final order. This offer is only valid through May 26th.

Anyway... I guess I should be glad that ... if I had to lose my contact, I lost it now, instead of say, a couple of days ago... when I was going nuts finishing up two projects. I finished them before losing the contact, I'm glad to report! Want a sneak peak at what I've been working on? Here ya go......
This is an altered tea tin. I first sent it to an artist (Anne-Marie Richardson) in Australia, who added the wool papers. She did it in a pattern to represent the sea, mountains, soil and meadow. Then she sent the tin to an artist (Crystal Calhoun) in Florida, who added a wool fiber palm tree and the shells. Then she sent it to me, and I added the heron (porcelain air-dry clay) and the tree, as seen in the photo to the right.



The tree is a little hard to see with the lighting... but because it's dimensional so it's very prominient in the finished piece. Also, the leaf bunches on the trees were done with wool fibers. I also finished the lid with batik paper and porcelain tea leaves, and a sun charm. I really like the finished product... it's very nice. :)

I'll be including tea with the tea tin when it's purchased at my etsy store. (Note: It's not added to the store just yet, it will be up there a little later today though!) The teas that will be included are my new Namaste Chai (Fair Trade, 100% organic), Ming Jasmine (A sample of this tea I obtained for this project), and my Heron's Sanctuary tisane. Also included as a bonus will be an altered book style journal of the trials and tribulations of this project written from the tin's perspective.

The second project I've worked on is a 'zine!

This is the cover of the 'zine. (front and back outer cover). The paper is handmade by Crystal Calhoun and hand drawn by Ria Seaton. The title plates were created by Amber Dawn Goldish-DeLaCruz (BeauIdeal Zine), and I bound the zines with macrame knotting using hemp fibers). This 'zine is amazing... 7 articles written by 7 different artists, with different interests... it has a little something for every artist out there!!!

This was printed in limited quantities (Only 16 are available for sale) so my recommendation is to buy one AS SOON AS IT'S LISTED because it will go FAST!

Well... so that's what I've been working on... neato...huh?

~Anne

Blending Updates...

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick update on my blending activities... as I mentioned before, I'm sold out of my Sweet Caramel O'Mine... and we simply CAN'T hav that, can we? It's my best seller!

So, I got to work on this one right away... and I'm happy to report that Sweet Caramel O'Mine will be ready for shipment on May 31st.

Also ready for shipment on May 31st: LiberTEAS Breakfast Blend (also a best seller!), Honeybush with Vanilla, Earl Grey Creme and Starry Night... and of course, my newest tea blend: Shangri-La.

Because I blend in small batches, it's always a good idea to snatch up the teas you want as soon as they become available.

The following teas will be ready in June (actual dates to be released when I know them!): Chocolate Rose Romance & After Dinner Mint. I am not sure when I'll be blending more of the Heron's Sanctuary, but it should be in either June or early July.

To see what I DO have available... click here to visit my website!

Thanks everyone for your support! I really appreciate it greatly!
~Anne

May 15, 2006: 11:04 am

First things first: I've had a few requests to post pictures of a few things, so here goes:

This first is a picture of an art doll I made some time ago, as visual inspiration for my popcorn issue of EccentricPastiche...

I think I may have posted this one previously to the blog... but, I like her, so she bears reposting!

These next pictures are of a shrine I made some time ago as part of an 'altered dollhouse furniture' swap, called "My Cluttered Mind" ...

This is the outside of the shrine. Since the cabinet is made of wood -- I didn't want to cover up the natural wood grain with gobs of opaque paint, so I opted to give it a thin coat of Twinkling H20 wash instead, which gave it a nice color and shimmer, but didn't detract from the beautiful grain of the wood. I did the outside simply, because I wanted the real action to be on the inside of the shrine...

Now, I just love the inside of the shrine, I got to use a bunch of the nifty little objects that I've been stashing (yeah, I'm a packrat -- like most altered art artists, I guess!), so in reality, it was kind of a bittersweet creation for me, because I loved making it... but, I was sad to say goodbye to the shrine when I sent it off to be swapped! I didn't want to let it go, because a large portion of my stash was going along with it!!! haha!

On a more serious note, this shrine represented something big (artistically) for me... a big step for me, but to completely understand it, you'll have to indulge me in telling you a bit of a long story, I'll try to condense it as much as I can!

Before the birth of my first daughter, my art was very limited (not my art attempts, but the art that I completed... was very limited... to say... oh... ZERO!) because I was never very satisfied with what I was creating. I had convinced myself somehow that I wasn't a real artist because I didn't paint or draw the way I 'wanted' to... and since these were the only real artforms (at least in my mind) ... I wasn't a real artist... so I struggled with this for many years. It took me a long time to embrace and accept the fact that collage was a true artform and an amazing path of expression.

Once my oldest was born, my art voyages became limited because well... I was a single mom without much time on her hands, between work and daycare, and running around doing the things that I had to do. At this point, I became a crafter. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The stuff I was making... was fun, but it was craft, not art. I was just going through the motions to create something because I felt incomplete without at least creating something... but, I wasn't really creating art. I was making a lot of dried floral wreaths and polymer clay ornaments... but they were crafty... not arty.

Of course, this delves in to the whole art vs. craft debate, which I don't wish to start right now... so I'll just part this section of the story by saying, it was craft by my own standards, not art by my own standards. :)

Onward... when I returned to college, I explored many avenues of art, but most of my art education was limited to art history and the study of other artists... rather than a study of the artist within... because I didn't have much patience for that. I tried taking sketching classes, drawing classes, painting classes, but I'd end up dropping the class before long, because I simply didn't have the patience to have someone tell me how to create. The only techniques class that I actually completed was my ceramics course, which I simply loved.

Shortly after I completed college, I met my current husband, and we had my second (and last!) child, also a girl. She is a bit more exploratory than my first... who would be content if I sat her down with a pile of toys... where as my youngest... wanted to help me with my art... so I had to put that stuff up for a while. At this point, I was beginning to explore the joys of collage... and lets face it... you just can't really do a lot of cutting and pasting if you have a 8 month old on your lap who wants to help! :)

So, I put my stuff away for a couple of years, until she was able to let mommy have her art time. Still... the stuff I was creating was rather cutesy (Nothing wrong with this either, a lot of the stuff I still make is cutesy, but, I find myself more satisfied artistically when I am doing stuff... not so cute), and I still felt like I was crafting -- going through the motions, and not really creating art.

Even as I started the progression of getting in to altered art and ATCs, much of my stuff had a sort of 'pretty' appeal and felt not quite like the artistic expression that was clammoring inside me.

This shrine represents for me an escape from that oppression... I really felt -- for the first time -- that I was making art... and this shrine will stand as a monument (in whose-ever hands it has been entrusted) as that first real step I needed to take toward embracing the fact that I am indeed an artist, and an altered art artist at that!

So... no real news on the tea front... except... PLEASE VISIT my tea website and buy tea! LOL

Thanks for reading along!

~Anne

May 11, 2006: 8:33 pm

Yeah, I just posted yesterday, but I have some exciting tea news!

My Momoko Melon Oolong tea is ready for shipment NOW! This is a delicious flavored Oolong -- imagine the flavors of sweet, juicy summer melons combined with the uniquely smooth flavor of Formosa Oolong! It's absolutely delightful! I can't decide if I prefer this one served hot or cold -- both are truly wonderful!

My Masterpiece Chai is also ready for shipment NOW! This is one that you should get while it's available because it GOES FAST! My Masterpiece Chai is unlike any other chai you've tasted! This is my very own top secret recipe!

Finally, I have one more NEW chai tea to tell you about: Namaste Chai! This is a 100% organic, fair trade certified tea. Fair trade certified teas offer you the opportunity to enjoy top quality and flavorful teas while directly benefitting the lives of the tea pickers and their families. Namaste Chai is Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International.

And... now for an update on my sold out list: Heron's Sanctuary, Sweet Caramel O'Mine, LiberTEAS Breakfast Blend, Chocolate Rose Romance, Earl Grey Creme, Honeybush with Vanilla, Candy Shoppe, Starry Night, & After Dinner Mint. ZOUNDS! I better get busy blending!!!

Thanks for checking in!
~Anne

May 10, 2006 ~ 11:06 am

Hey!

So it's been a couple of weeks since my last blog entry. I finally got my new and improved website up and running! I'm really excited about it. It's exactly the website I've always wanted! (Thanks RD -- for all your help with it!)

What's really great about the website (besides everything!) is that I also get a great shopping cart that goes along with... it allows me to offer discounts, which is really cool!

So, what's new in the world of teas?

This week, my Momoko Melon tea will debut! It was actually supposed to be April's tea of the month (it's just late!). It begins as my Formosa Oolong-Choicest tea with a delightful summer melon flavor!

Coming soon: Shangri-La! This is a blend of Chinese & Japanese green teas, and a malty Assam, blended with the tropical notes of coconut and lime. It's amazing! I love this tea served both hot and iced!

Also... my Tisane with no Name... is nameless no more! I've decided to exalt the town that has become my home... Ridgefield, WA! Our town is home to a Wildlife and Bird Refuge, and our annual BirdFest is a pretty big deal! This year, the Great Egret is the celebrated bird, and since not many people recognize "Egret" -- I decided to embrace a similar bird... the Heron! So, now, my newest Tisane is called Heron's Sanctuary. It is a blend of lemongrass, mint, orange peel, hibiscus and rosehips. The flavor is refreshing and light. And... best of all, $1.00 from each sale of Heron's Sanctuary Tisane will go to the Refuge to support their continued efforts to preserve our wildlife.

Currently Sold Out: LiberTEAS Breakfast Blend (will have more available May 21), Honeybush with Vanilla (will have more the week of May 28), Potpourri (not sure when this will be restocked), Earl Grey Creme (will have more the week of May 28), Sweet Caramel O'Mine (will have more in June).

That's all for now! Thanks for reading along!
~Anne

April 20th, 2006 10:32 AM

It's been 21 days since my last post? Wow! time has been flying by!

OK, so what the heck have I been doing? Well, when I have been able to get on the computer, my time has been distributed between building the new website and keeping up with my yahoo groups.

I've even taken on two new, time sensitive projects... which when I think about it, it boggles me that I would do such a thing! Ha! I don't have time to do the projects I already have, much less do these two... but here I am...

The two projects are part of the collaborative effort contest that is going on at Etsy. The first is a tea tin project, we have 3 members in this collaboration, including myself. We're altering a tin which will also feature some tea inside. The tea that I'm getting for the tin will be a fair trade, organic tea... a new one! I haven't decided if I will be carrying this as part of my regular line of teas... but, I just may... it's quite delicious! I'll tell you a bit more about it if I decide to carry it. :)

The second project is a collaborative 'zine featuring 7 artists, including myself.

So, I've been really busy with these projects!

Hopefully, I'll have time to update you a bit more with the next entry.

Been Busy!

Hi Everyone!

I've been busy lately... as some of you know, what you now see at my new website is merely temporary. I'm currently setting up a whole new website behind the scenes. I've been truly lucky to find such a good friend in Rebecca -- her website is here -- and she has been helping me with the set up of my new site, from templates to servers to shopping carts! When all is done, I will have an awesome site that will allow for the use of coupons & discounts, have all the bells and whistles and gadgets I want in a site, plus... (and this is most important, at least from my point of view) I'll be able to charge a more accurate amount for shipping!

Right now, I have the paypal shopping cart, and it's great, especially considering it's free. But free does have it's limitations. I can't offer discounts and coupons, and I have to have a flat rate shipping table OR a percentage of sale shipping table. I can't charge according to WEIGHT... which became very problematic, especially when I was selling scones mixes, because while they are not very expensive, they are heavy, so I found myself in a quandry... do I overcharge everyone for their shipping to make up for this, or do I charge more for the scones mixes and potentially lose sales because of the high markup? So, rather than do either of these, I ended up just breaking even on my scones mixes.

Which is one of the reasons I chose to not sell the scones mixes anymore. Another reason is that I really wanted to simplify things. I wanted to focus on my strengths within the tea market, and I feel my strengths consist of blending superior quality teas. My tea blends are uniquely delicious, not your everyday garden variety! I create blends that are stimulating to the senses, not just flavorful, but also delightful to smell and to see! I believe that tea should be a total experience to behold, something that brings joy and exuberance ... not just a casual and almost careless activity.

So, you won't find scone mixes, petit fours, fancy strainers and teaspoons, nor fine china and cast iron teapots at my site. The only accessory available on my site now will be T-Sacs, which I will continue to carry because I use them for my free samples (every purchase 'earns' a free sample!) and also because they are in great demand from my customers.

And of course, you'll find the best tasting tea at my site. But you already knew that!

Well, that's all for now. More changes are afoot with Liberteas... but I will inform you of them as they begin to manifest themselves...

Thanks for reading along!
~Anne

Well, it's been a few days since I've last posted here... but I do have a pretty good excuse! I've been pretty busy (still working at getting all caught up, and it seems like the closer I get, the further behind I fall!). I have been working on some artwork though, mostly my two 'zines, but also some other fun stuff.

This is a picture of a recent button/card swap I participated in. I made the buttons out of polymer clay and embossing powder, and then after curing I brushed with a light coat of lacquer laminate to give them a seal and some shine. They were a lot of fun!

As I mentioned earlier, I've been working on my two 'zines. I've got all the material copied, I'm just assembling now. I have two 'zines that I'm working on, the first is an extremely personal issue that where I've focused on "Moving" ~ a quick, non-reflective look at my past tells me that I've moved some nearly 30 times in the less than 40 years that I've been alive, and that certainly gave me a lot of material to reflect upon.

The second 'zine I've dedicated to "decos" ~ one of my favorite little artforms! If you don't know what a deco is, perhaps you should order a 'zine from me to learn more! hehe!

As far as tea goes, this morning I'm enjoying an Irish Breakfast blend I received from a vendor recently. Quite nice. I like the robust edge of Irish Breakfast, and I've played around with my own recipes of Irish Breakfast blends. The recipe I finally came up with was a Creamy Irish Breakfast. The addition of vanilla creme flavor brings out the subtle, naturally caramel-ly characteristics of the teas, and helps to smooth out the vigorous flavors which make the Irish Breakfast blends... well... an Irish blend.

I'm all sold out on my Creamy Irish Breakfast for this year, and I will only be blending it once a year, just in time for St. Patty's day!

Over the past few days, I've come to a decision about my tea business, and how I'll be shaping my little company, but more on that at a later time. I have an appointment today that I'll be late for if I am to sit here all day and tell you about that!

Lookie! I'm here!

Incredible! Only two days have lapsed since I last posted to my blog. Let's hope this is the start of a more productive trend.

Not that I've not been productive in the past, just with other things.

I'm FINALLY finished with my 'zines. The last of them are going out tomorrow and Wednesday. It's been a long journey... a very fulfilling and happy one, but still, long! I hadn't anticipated that it would take me so long to complete these.

I've actually been able to focus on other artwork as well. I'm nearing completion a mini-zine for the Gleaner swap, as well as the mini-zine that I'll be submitting for the swap within my own yahoo group.

I've even managed to get involved with a few other art swaps. It felt good to do those, because it had been so long since I've worked on things other than my 'zines. And... of course, I've managed to finish a few decos along the way too!

Well... that's all for now... maybe I'll be able to sign on again in a couple days!

~Anne

Neglectful me...

Hi there... again, with the neglect. I should be turned in for blog abuse.

But... I think my life is finally settling to the point where I can feasibly set myself a goal of updating on a regular basis.

As some of you may have noticed, I no longer have an accessable website. This is because I am working on a new site. It will be up and running within a couple of weeks, and of course, I'll update you when that happens. I will have an all new (more reliable and cost efficient) server, and an all new look on the website. I hope that the changes are agreeable!

Another change that has occured as a result of the aforementioned change in server, is a change in URL. My previous server was unrelenting in the release of my domain, so I will have a different URL and then when the old domain is available again, I'll obtain that and have it forwarded to the new site.

Because of everything going on, it's set me back on a lot of projects that I had planned, and a lot of things that people have been waiting on... and I'm terribly sorry about that. I'm nearly caught up though, and I feel really good about that. Things are definitely on the upswing. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they remain that way!

What's new in the land of LiberTEAS? Well, if I haven't mentioned it before, I finally have finished/perfected and blended my first batch of LiberTEAS Breakfast Blend. This is a very complex blend of teas. Most breakfast blends are a blend of broken Assams and Ceylons, mine is a blend of high grown Ceylons, Whole and Broken Assams, Niligiris and Yunnans. I've also added a touch of African Honeybush and vanilla to round out and smooth the flavors of these exceptionally unique tea flavors. This tea is a delight to all the senses!

To accompany my Breakfast Blend, I've also created a uniquely different Decaffeinated Breakfast Blend. This is not merely a decaffeinated attempt at the regular blend; rather, my Decaf LiberTEAS Breakfast Blend possesses it's own, unique flavors and characteristics that stands on it's own. This tea is amazingly satisfying... you won't miss the caffeine!

Both teas are absolutely incredible and must be experienced to be believed!

What else have I been up to? Well... in time for St. Patrick's day, I created a sublime Creamy Irish Breakfast Blend. I blended very limited quantities of this tea, and it has already sold out! Ahhh... but it is delicious! Be sure to check back with me next year for a new batch!

And... I haven't been blending only black teas recently... I've also been working on some unique Oolong and Green tea blends, as well as an amazing herbal Tisane.

The first I'll talk about is my new herbal tisane. This one I only have limited quantities of at the moment, because I wasn't sure of the result! I was just kind of messing around one day at the tumbler and I concocted this amazing tisane of lemongrass and mint. It's got a zesty fragrance that is enticing and the flavor is lively and invigorating and oh! so! good!

Unfortunately, I've yet to concoct a name that I'm satisfied with... so for now, it's known as "My New Tisane with No Name" ha!!!

The second blend is a green and black tea blend that I have called Shangri-la! It's another tea that simply defies explanation... it's one that must be experienced. So amazingly good.

The final blend is a blend of Oolong tea and sweet summer melon flavors. I was skeptical at first, because I simply adore Oolong tea and it's naturally occuring sweet fruitiness... and I wasn't sure how it would pair with the flavor... but, it is very good. The melon flavor is not overwhelming, it's subtle and dreamy!

Well... that's all for now, I've got a lot to get done, and the time is ticking away!!!

Thanks for reading along!

I've been neglecting my tea journal... and I'm very sorry for those of you who actually read this thing! The past few months have been really nuts for me. We had to move from our house earlier this month because the owners (we were renting) sold the house. It was something that came pretty much out of left field for us, totally unexpected, and having to find a place and move within 30 days isn't always easy, especially when you want to stay in the same town! Here in Ridgefield, rental house availability is a feast or famine situation... either there are a lot of houses available or there are very few! Well, unfortunately for us, there were very few, so we had to settle for a smaller house, but, at least we've got a roof over our heads, right?

The best thing about our new house is that we have a nice size garage that I'm going to be able to turn into an art studio, so I'm excited about that.

If having to move from our house wasn't enough craziness for us, right before the move, my husband was hospitalized for kidney failure. Fortunately, he pulled through it well and is doing really good now, but he had to be in the hospital for 9 days, including the days that the major part of the move took place.

Want more craziness? Ha! I've only just begun! My computer hard drive died and then I went in to negotiations with my server to get my domain back from them. So that's why you can't find my site! I hope to get it back up and running soon, but in the meantime, if you need teas, be sure to contact me via email. I'll get you hooked up!

With all this stress, I've hardly had time to focus on the things I really love (tea and art, of course!) I've fallen very behind on everything and for that I apologize sincerely! I hope to get everything back up to normal and running smoothly as soon as possible, not just for you... BUT for me!!!

Thanks for reading!

Wow... I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted on my blog! I'm really sorry (for those of you who actually read this thing!) but I've been really busy working on 'zines. Since I last posted, I've published 4 'zines, 3 for various swaps I've been in, and 1 is my full-scale 'zine. The 'zine is currently being assembled, which takes a lot of time, so that is why I haven't been here blogging much.

To the left is my first attempt at a zetti-ish artwork, and also my first attempt at an art doll. I think she turned out ok. I made her for one of my aforementioned 'zines... the "Popcorn Issue." I made this 'zine for the 'Zine Pool swap that ended September 30th. I thought the little clapperboard that I used for this doll was really neat and I wanted to do some sort of project that highlighted this alterable item. (I also included one of these clapperboards -- not the finished doll -- just the clapperboard -- as a freebie goodie in the 'zine)

Tea-wise ... I have a great deal to report! My Masterpiece Chai is finally back in stock! Another tea that is back in stock (in limited quantities!) is my Sweet Caramel O'Mine. These two teas are my best sellers!



To the right is one of my newest additions to my inventory --tea gift bags! These bags are lovingly handmade, with vintage materials such as ivory satin, ribbons and beads. The picture simply does not do these bags justice, they really are beautiful.

These bags are available on my Tea Time Gift page.

Other great additions to my inventory include J&M Tea Cookies... these are so good. They are light and delicious, and simply melt in your mouth.

Well... I don't have a lot to report this time around, mostly because my mind is on my 'zine and assembly... which I need to return to now~

Thanks for reading along!

September 10, 2005 ~ 2:16 pm

Hiya!

Again, quite a lapse between postings... but with good cause! I've been busily working on my 'zines, trying to meet my deadlines. I'm still working on the discipline issues, maybe eventually, hopefully, I'll be able to work on it so that I'm posting nearly every day.

To the left is one of my more recent efforts, an ATC that I made using Grace's Hand Dyed Silk Fibers. I used them, gluing them in strips, side by side, overlapping only just slightly. The result is a funky kind of pattern that plays off nicely with the dancing blue abstract figure that I painted(using Twinkling H20s) on foreign text ephemera.

I would post a link for the twinklers, but, I don't have a current link... my previous supplier has decided to stop carrying the twinkling H20s... so now I need to find a new source! They are wonderful watercolors! I just love them!

Now... on to tea matters... this morning, I've had 3 cups of tea already, now working on cuppa #4! I started out with two cups of my new breakfast blend (LiberTEAS breakfast Blend - available soon!) -- quite an interesting side effect with tea blending... is that in the course of working on just the right blend... you make a blend that is equally as delicious (if not more so) than the blend you're looking for, but still doesn't exactly fit what you're looking for.



That happened to me as I worked on blends for my breakfast blend... I made a blend that is quite adaptable as a breakfast blend, although it wasn't quite what I was trying to acheive for my "LiberTEAS" blend... so now I have 2 breakfast blend recipes!

The second one won't be introduced to my line for some time however, perhaps not until next year... which will give me ample time to think about how I will market it, and what to call it!

The second tea that I have enjoyed today is my Sweet Caramel O' Mine (Yes, I'm an Axl fan). The depth of flavor to this tea is really remarkable, it surprises even me! I created a complex base of tea, using High Grown Ceylons and Malty Assams. The result is a full bodied, robust yet smooth and malty tea which compliments the rich and smooth creamy flavor of the caramel. It's so delicious... it may just qualify as my new (current!) favorite tea!

To the right is one of my ATCs I made a couple of months ago, featuring a background technique I call "Wax Splotch". I paint Twinkling H20 quickly on the surface of the cardstock, and while the paint is still wet, I turn the cardstock over, and press it firmly against a piece of wax paper, creating a "splotched" appearance on the background. It looks really cool... even though the pic doesn't really show it... it's much more impressive in person. I use this technique on dominos (works really well on dominos because the twinklers don't absorb or dry on the dominos quite as quickly as they do on cardstock) and on puzzle pieces (primed with gesso first).

Well, that's all for today... thanks for reading along!
~Anne

September 3, 2005 ~ 11:04 pm

Hello Everyone~ Wow... I'm actually posting to my blog 2 days after I posted previously... something I've not done in a while... so, I'm proud that I've mustered the disicpline to do so.

To the left is a picture of one of the first ATCs I ever made, called "Pretty Tied Up," inspired by one of my favorite songs by my favorite band, Guns N' Roses. The ATC was made as part of a Song Title/Lyric swap I took part in several months ago, and it remains one of my favorite ATCs that I've created.

Today I've injured my shoulder, not sure exactly what I did, not sure if I slept on it wrong or what... although I don't recall it hurting earlier this morning, so I'm thinking I must have reached wrong or something... either way, it's left my right side pretty stiff and painful. Hopefully after a good night's sleep, it will be less painful tomorrow.

However, the pain has kind have left me somewhat unable to work on anything artistic, because my shoulder won't let me forget it hurts! I guess it is fortunate that over the past couple of days I've been somewhat productive... and hopefully this won't keep me disabled too long.



To the right is a picture of a puzzle piece I've recently altered for a swap. This wasn't for a group puzzle effort, but instead just a puzzle piece swap with an Asian theme.

I enjoyed several wonderful teas today, after several months of not trying any new teas (trying to focus onnot over expanding my collection) I've decided that instead I'm going to change my collection pretty regularly, this way I'll have the opportunity to enjoy many different teas, as will my customers.

So with that thought in mind, I tried the following flavored green teas today: blueberry green, lemon green, Earl Grey green and Vanilla Green. I really enjoyed all of them, but I think my favorites thus far are the blueberry and the Earl Grey. The vanilla in the vanilla green was a bit too delicate for me -- which is something I've found with most of the vanilla flavored teas I've tried. I find that I prefer vanilla as PART of a blend, rather than being the main focus of flavor.


To the left is my final picture to be featured this evening. It's a picture of a porcelain mask that I recently embellished for another swap I took part in. These little masks are a lot of fun to paint... I love working with Twinkling H20s on them because the porcelain really absorbs the colors so deeply. One of my favorite techniques (and one I used for this particular mask) is to paint a base color (or several base colors as I did here, with a dark blue, a raspberry and a bronze colored paint), then, after the paint has dried, I take it to the sink and rinse it off. Remnants of the color remains deeply embedded in the porcelain, and while it looks like the color is completely gone under water, when it begins to dry, the color reappears. Then, I take the mask and paint a coating of white twinkling H20 over it and it gives it an almost pearlescent look.

You can get a mask of your own at B-muse and if you click on the gallery, you'll see some more examples of amazing masks for inspiration! Be sure to tell Vickie (the owner of B-Muse that I sent you! She's a wonderful person... fast with shipping out orders too!

OK, so I think I'm going to head off to bed, and hopefully some rest is just what this shoulder needs.

Thanks everyone for reading along! Have a perfectly tea-lightful, artful day!

~Anne

Hi Everyone! It's been a lonnnnng time since I've posted anything to my blog... and I decided it's time to change it just a bit... it's going to still be a tea journal, but I'm going to add some visual interest as well... I mean, I've got my art, why not include it?

To the right, you'll see one of my very first ATCs I ever made, for a 'color' themed swap. ATCs are "Artists Trading Cards" -- much like baseball cards are trading cards amongst baseball fans... ATCs are trading cards amongst artists.

So, you're probably wondering what the heck I've been up to, to keep my blog dangling for so long! Well... I've been working hard to get my site back up, I had a bit of a problem with my server. Now that it's back up, I am making changes to it left and right, including a big change to the way I handle my Tea of the Month club. These changes were designed to make the club more efficient and a better experience for my customers.


I've also been very busy trying to make my dream of creating a 'zine a reality. I'm actually at the point where I see the light at the end of the tunnel and have started to accept pre-order payments! I've already SOLD OUT of my artist edition... the Artist Edition is the same as the first edition except that the Artist Edition will include a different, unique, one of a kind, hand collaged cover, where the first edition will be a printed cover. If your interested in purchasing your own copy, email me at mailto: eccentricpastiche@yahoo.com or you can join my yahoo group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eccentricpastiche/

Above is a scan of one of my most recent works. This is an "Altered Sherriff's Badge" (Purchased from http://www.outsidethemargins.com ) that was part of an art challenge from one of the yahoo groups I'm a member of. I really wasn't sure what I was going to do with the badge... but I knew I wanted to cover it with clay, since clay is one of my favorite mediums. So I started working the clay to make it soft, and I came out with this really cool blue green swirl that reminded me of the painting Starry Night by Van Gogh (my favorite painting) so I let my muse take it from there.

As far as tea blending goes, I've been busy in that department too! I've been working on 2 new blends, the first, my own breakfast blend. I felt a little weird being a business called "LiberTEAS" and selling English Breakfast Blend... it just sounded weird, you know? So, I decided I needed a LiberTEA blend! And I set out to create a deliciously different breakfast blend that would be deeelish! I wanted it to have a unique base of flavors, so I brought together the exceptional flavors of High grown Ceylons, Flavorful Yunnans, Robust Assams, and Lively Nilgiris. Then I added a bit of honeybush to give it a nice, rounded flavor with a hint of sweet honey-like flavor and then I added just a touch of vanilla to make it smooth and creamy. The results is a taste sensation unlike any you've yet to experience! This blend will be available in October.

The second blend is a Caramel flavored tea. I wanted something smooth and yummy... something that made you want to curl up in front of a fireplace with a cuppa on a chilly fall evening. Something that whispered of the delights of Autumn! What more enticing than Caramel? My caramel blend combines the finest Ceylons and Assams together providing a full-bodied, malty textured base along with the sweet buttery flavor of caramel... making a smooth, rich flavorful cup!

Yum!

I had a cup of the caramel this afternoon, and all I can say is that this tea definitely met my expectations... I recommend trying it with a sprinkling of sugar (brings out the sweetness of the caramel) and a splash of milk (brings out the creamy consistency of the caramel) and then let it cool just a few moments before indulging. It's a much tastier tea when it's had a chance to cool just slightly (where it's not piping hot, but still quite warm!)

Well, I guess that's enough for me for today... maybe I can keep my commitment to posting to this on a regular basis now that I've decided to incorporate my art into it too! Let's hope so!

Tea-lightful Cheers to all!
~Anne