Wanted Madly: Tea Ring

I've been scouring the Etsy.com site lately because it is chock full of little gems and the most unique items, like this adorably kitschy Tea Ring!

The more I've gotten into tea, the more I have also amassed a gathering of crafty people who love to sew, craft and create. Many of my friends have opened Etsy stores. If you haven't checked out Etsy.com I most certainly would. Being an artist in many mediums myself, I love the DIY (do-it-yourself) spirit that is Etsy.com

(Make a Difference - Support Artists this Christmas Season!)

So it is no surprise that if you search "Tea" you will find things you never thought existed.

And this next Wanted Madly is no different. And for only $19 (+s/h) I ran to order it, however it is sold out. I have contacted the artist and hope to be able to...."ring" in the new year (ouch...so bad!) with this cute little band of Fun!

Madam Potts Examines All Things Tea

At a time that people are reflecting on being thankful, I must say that I am truly grateful that the response I get to my teas, my passion for teas, my custom blends and now my writings has been steadily growing.

I make and share tea because I simply love it so much. The richness that sharing tea with others has brought to my life is invaluable beyond compare. The people I have met, the trips I have made the journeys on which I have embarked upon all because of steeped leaves is a book that one day I shall pen.

Recently, I have been picked up by the ever-growing popular site www.Examiner.com as the Monmouth County Tea Examiner.

The Examiner is a portal for "All Things Local" in cities & states across the country. This site relies on paid Examiners to bring news and reviews of various topics -- and there on Examiners writing on every topic! Especially fun is the Food & Drink section.

Writers are paid based on the amount of traffic driven to the articles they write, so I am asking my readership to support my efforts as the Shore Region Tea Examiner.

My First Article can be found here: After Dinner Delight

Check out the stories, visit my posted Link Lists, share this all with your friends and family....and by all means please send me emails, comments and feedback!

Thank You All for Being a part of the Mad, Mad CommuniTEA!

The Big Steep

Often I am asked about the best way to steep tea. And what’s best depends on what type of tea you are drinking, what kind of equipment you own (or are willing to buy) and what fits most into your lifestyle.

I've written an extensive article on this subject as a guest post on The English Tea Store blog.

Read More here: "The Big Steep"

How Sweet It Is!

It never ceases to surprise me how many people apologize for wanting to put sugar in their tea, as if admitting a serious tea-drinking faux pas. I’ve always invited my guests to do what makes them comfortable and to drink their tea in any fashion they feel most pleasing. Still I get meek apologies as if they feel that sugar in tea is just plain wrong. It got me thinking, is sweetening one's tea a low-brow act of tasteless vulgarity?

Find Out More here: How Sweet It Is!

I Love Lavender!

It grew slowly.

My fascination....my preference...my love... of Lavender.

I cannot say with great authority who or what influenced or introduced me to the intoxicating floral scent, but indeed I have become quite find of its pleasant, clean aroma.

Be it powder, body wash, lotion, tea, satchets, incense or essential oil (in all its many applications), Madam Potts is simply Mad about Lavender!

So it only increased my heart's flutter to have received a lovely package from my "Tea Ami" from Paris, France...featuring none other than Lavender.

Was it the tea cup shaped, hand-sewed satchet, stuffed with Lavender as grown (as the note explained) from a garden in Provence.....or perhaps (what I detect as being:) the Earl Grey with Jasmine Flower & Lavender tea blend, "Espirit du Bouddha"...or the card depicting tea pouring in a lavender themed tea cup....

If I was not already planning to go to Hawaii in March, I would be headed to France. Delayed perhaps, but this trip will happen. And I shall frolic in the fields of French Lavender.

....merci pour l'inspiration!