Tea Guild of Canada Event- Tea and Tales

We are at it again! Another great event organized by The Tea Guild of Canada.
   This year we are leading groups through four stations and telling tales about tea. Social history, tea ware etc. Its going to be a blast!
    Sign up soon as spots fill up fast. Ill see you April 6th at Montgomery Inn! It just so happens that it is on my birthday so I am going to be dressed in Kimono depending on the weather for the day.
    Come down to have a great day with The Tea Guild of Canada and enjoy tea and food pairing.
   See you there!

Recollection: Toronto Tea Festival

Tea Guild Board members conversing
by our Fabulous banners I threw together
With images we got permission to use.

   Everything went well this past weekend at the FIRST Toronto Tea Festival. As I am on the Board of Directors and friends with Tao of Tao Tea Leaf, I was running around most of the day helping out where I could. I stayed up late the night before to finish my "Tea Grid" finally. It was very rewarding to see it displayed after the long hours doing each section till finish. The only thing I wish I did was have the ability to bring more work. I had a gut feeling at Deserres while getting frames that I should have grabbed one for "Dream Gate" (A large work I finished late last year) and perhaps had room for "Monkey King" which currently is in my brothers room back home (it was a birthday present for when I had no money to spare... I had a bit for paper then attacked it instead).I am planning to feature larger and/or more diverse works. I did not hear if anyone liked my pot watercolour tea work , Guwan yin or the charcoal drawing. I got great feed back for "Tea Grid", the two  fashion girls and a bit for "Song Tea Tools".  Currently from this feedback I have decided to start working on more "Tea Grids". I am deciding if I should do a small edition of prints from this "Tea Grid". I would love to have 15-20 on hand.Anyhow, from the experience of finishing "Tea Grid" I am wondering if I should combine the India ink with Sumi-e ink... Perhaps "Mini- Tea Grid 2.0" will be the test.

Art section!

Business cards!

  While at Druham Pride I quickly took a picture of these before I forgot. I just adore my Tea Guild of Canada cards I got this week.
      I am debateing makeing simple cards for tea related things, that way for Tea Journey I can have the url on them.
     Art stores these days sell "trading cards" made of different materials. So I may just get a few packs of watercolour paper ones and make them all by hand. Maybe my chop will apear on them.  I do plan to get a square chop similar to my digital one on my banner.  These characters have "wu wei" and "wabi sabi", zen and Daoist terms. Wu wei I am always learning new things about. Although what it means to me is to become so proficient in something it comes easy. Practice and more practice. Wabi sabi is to see beauty in imperfection. Something we all should take to heart as nothing is perfect.
       I am going to continue to enjoy the Queer Stock show out here in Durham Region. More latter on the "Shen Nong" work!

On its way~

Carved chop

  I ended up wining the auction. So after talking to the artist most of the day it is cut and will be shipped when he gets the chance.

Sheng Nong studies

    Right now I am slowly working on the "Sheng Nong" work. I hope to do more studies before going back to it. I have some pictures from distressing the rice paper I had on the wooden support.  I have my business cards for my work and will have The Tea Guild of Canada ones latter this week. SOOO... I will post a picture to show them off~ I am still debating making a small amount of cards to Tea Journey. We will see. Perhaps once I go through all ..300 cards I have the tea aspect may end up on new cards. Why do I have 300 cards? I originally ordered 150, and there was some cut off on the one side. To fix it Moo sent me 150 more that they had fixed.

       I just picked up a bunch of movies to help inspire me.  Two weeks ago I also acquired Marlene Dumas' book "Measuring your own Grave". Such an inspiring book to have along side with my Lisa Yuskuvage one.    I am off to watch more of Chinese Paladin and work on more studies. Till next time, Ja ne~

Koi- I hope to do a work with the next few images

Beautiful mini garden in the mall

Little turtle hiding at the mall

 


 

Surprise at my door!

Thursday, I went outside to get some fresh air after watching a lot of Chinese dramas, I set up The Sorcerer and the White of Snake(白蛇传说) to load and went out the door. Upon opening it I found a box at my door which the customs label stated there was a tea cup inside. At first I thought I had forgotten about an e-bay or Yuuki-cha purchase I had made perhaps over my vacation. 
    Once I finally opened the box I came to realize this was the package from KingKoh who also sent me incense.
    This tea cup is a beautiful chawan. I am still in shock that I have this piece of art. Strangely enough I had just purchased a cast iron pot to use for chanoyu practice this very same day. Since opening it I have been starring at the bowl, picking it up and feeling the unique textures it has. 

     Koh left me a note inside of it, " I put this tea bowl in that I made as a suprise. It has a white Shino glaze with a white oak ash on the outside that turned green. The inside has crawled and stayed white. I also infuse my bowls with reiki energy. I hope you enjoy it."

 On a smaller green note says" Shinorei", which I believe is this bowls name. I am curious as to which kanji is used to write it's name. On another note, I am glad that this came when it did. I have been working on an assignment for Tea classes which I am to create a Problem-free-contemporary tea service. I choose Chanoyu to use as a basis, which I am slowly studying. The tea bowl, I am sure, will inspire such assignment. This gift made my week much better after having an Asthma attack on the way to work Tuesday, I am fine now though as I am taking various medications. I am off to grab a few things so I may work on an art piece this afternoon (after going to Tao Tea Leaf~). 
   I can not thank my friend King Koh enough for this amazeing surprise!

Majesteas- Website up and running!

Majesteas website- Robert and Ian are both part of The Tea Guild of Canada 

          After a lot of hard work from my good friends at Majesteas, it is finally up and running. Great timing too since Robert Gignac is off to China with Tao of Tao Tea Leaf latter this week. He has even started off the blog with an entry detailing information about various teas he will get to try.  I wish him well on his trip and a safe return with teas to try.
     

Teavana- In Toronto?

         Early February at the Tea Guild of Canada's "World in Your Teacup" event, we were discussing the rumours concerning Teavana. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this company it is American based and now they have branched out into Canada as of late. Their first location was in Alberta I believe late last year.
        I heard from a friend that this location was open and she recommended that I visit. Sadly they were not open yet and I could see that inside they still had yet to start the merchandising. Even still it is nice to have a tea shop in this area, as now I can have a decent cup of tea while studying before my Japanese class. 
        I am curious how well they will do in this part of town, perhaps it is an untapped gem for business with tea? When I shop in the area after or before going to the Japan Foundation Library with a cup of good tea, I always get asked if there is one in the area. The locations that asked were Sephora and Mendocino.
           We will see how things progress from here on in. 

Event Reminder! Please Join us!

Tea Guild of Canada: "The World in Your Teacup"

      If you are in the area please come out to our event. A wonderful afternoon of tea and treats, what more can you ask for? And if anyone is looking for late Christmas gifts or Chinese New Years gifts, I still have some calendars. They are 20$ and proceeds go straight to the Guild. Please support our group in our quest to teach others about this beautiful beverage!

Matthew Wocks Calendars to support the Tea Guild

     At our last meeting (last Wednesday) we were informed that there still is some of these beautiful calendars available. Considering their nature these need to be taken to warm-tea-loving-homes soon.
  Here is what the guild has to say about these beautiful pieces of art work:
"Tea Guild of Canada’s 2011 – 2012 (16 month) Calendar is available for purchase, though all Members get their first calendar free, as part of their membership. All the fantastic tea-related photographs were taken this past Spring in China by Matthew Wocks, who joined a team of tea experts as they embarked on a 19 day journey across China. The calendar is 30cm x 45.5cm, in full colour, and would make a great gift to any tea lover."


       I own one myself and quite like the energy it brings to the room. I can put something together to mail these to anyone who is interested. They are 20$ CDN, not including shipping. If you are not in the area and want one or have any questions concerning the calendar drop me a line. Bellmanart at gmail DOT com

All proceeds go to the Tea Guild Of Canada.