teaspoons & petals

pretty pin

I've had my fair share of tea stains. But let me just say that I'm more upset for the lost drop than the frock that has to undergo a bit of heavy duty cleaning. And now with an apron or a tucked towel I greet an afternoon of steeping with a delicate shield. 

Although, I can now happily wear my tea thanks to Jo, a lovely tea consultant from A Gift of Tea. Her handmade Camellia Sinensis pin is a delicate reminder of the steeped origin. Petite and precious, it sits ever so daintily in one of my many tea cups when its not pinned to pocket. Many thanks to Jo for this sweet gift that I wear with pride as I patiently steep my tea leaves. 

terrain escape

We all need an escape now and then to feed our imaginations. And sometimes you don't need to skip into the forrest to find your secret garden. When I need some creative space from the City of Brotherly love, I take  quick trip to terrain at styers.

It's hard to believe that this natural mecca is a stone's throw from a strip mall, but I promise you that the moment you take a step onto their gravel or through the doors, you'll feel as though you spread your wings and flew to never never land.

Here's a visual journey of my afternoon in their shop, garden and cafe for a sip of jasmine tea. p.s. I picked up a few delicate, glass pieces that inspired new tea party thoughts and signature sips. stay tuned...

music & tea

Every now and then I'm convinced that my heart beats to a jazz rhythm, scatting along as I sip pots of tea. From singing to Ella's tunes as a child to crooning with a full jazz band in my teens, the soulful sounds always bring me home.

The City of Brotherly Love is bursting with musical moments, especially during the Philadelphia International Festival of Arts. While buzzing through my daily routine, I made sure to pencil (change that: permanent marker) in the chance to brighten up my evening with a Jazz performance at the Kimmel Center by Donald Williams, who has been playing Funk, Jazz and Blues since 1975 (take a peek at the man and his band in action above). 

No need to sing along to a sad song with Billie Holiday for missing the jam session, because there is a final free performance as part of PIFA Jazz Tuesdays on April 26th from 5-7pm. Although if you can't skip over to the Kimmel Center tomorrow, pencil in Paris-When It Sizzled, and join the "musical journey that will take the audience from Paris to Harlem and back again" (April 28th-Indep Seaport Museum). 

Jump back to my original lust for jazz and tea, and take a peek at my Music & Tea collection in the teaspoons & petals' haiku teaware line. While sipping tea, I treated my senses to the caffeinated musicality of the lady songbirds of jazz & blues: Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday and Etta James. Their smoky notes inspired this line of original haiku that features 5 haiku exploring the intimate relationship between tea and music.

So as I curl up with a vintage album of Ella and a sip of a rich, roasted Oolong in my Ella Cup, all I want to know is, what songs make your steeps feel like home?

Stay tuned as teaspoons & petals explores the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts through May 1^st. This post is supported by PIFA and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

sneak peek: teaspoons & petals' haiku vintage handkerchiefs

Bits of of gold paint and vintage handkerchiefs are making my heart skip a beat. I couldn't wait to share these new beauties with you. So, here's a sneak peek of the teaspoons & petals' haiku vintage handkerchiefs.

While making my way through antique stores and vintage boutiques in Philadelphia and New York, I carefully hand selected the most perfect handkerchiefs from days past. From floral borders, pink embroidered petals, to mint green hues, my collection started to grow. 

After learning the art of screen printing and making my very own teaspoons & petals screen filled with my tea haiku, I carefully added bits of golden tea syllables to the vintage handkerchiefs. Beyond the tea words, my screen is dotted with hand drawn tea pots and cups that find their way onto the lady-like fabric.

I'll be singing along to radio and screen printing to my hearts content for the next few weeks. So, keep an eye out for their arrival in the teaspoons & petals etsy shop. 

the glass is always half full

Take a peek at my guest blog post and glass teaware gift guide on Sanura Weathers's delicious blog, My Life Runs on Food.

from alice & the ladies of jazz, with love

When it comes to matters of the heart, I'll be the first to admit that tea is a great love that's shared my many. And if your sweetheart is also fond of alice...in wonderland or the dear lady songbirds of jazz and blues, then I want to introduce you to a few tokens of affection from the teaspoons & petals haiku teacup collection just in time for the holiday of the heart.

 

Tea for two, a sweet sip and a few thoughtful words. I'm sure Saint Valentine would approve.

p.s. mention the phrase "be mine" in your etsy order message, and I'll slip in a free sample of tea for you to steep and sip on the eve of the 14th. all you'll need is the bow.

photos taken by the lovely Courtney Apple

tea gift guide guest post on two brunettes

I often peek at Carolynn’s whimsical and imaginative illustrations on twobrunettes as I sip one of my flowering teas. Her delicate details tend to inspire creative writing bursts on my blog. Naturally, I was thrilled to write a guest post for her and create a tea-themed gift guide from Etsy. Take a closer look...

tea gift guide: foodzie

 

Foodzie ("an online marketplace where you can discover and buy food directly from small passionate food producers and growers") is my one-stop online shop to find delicious sips and bites from some of the most wonderful edible artisans. In honor of the holiday season, I decided to highlight a few of my favorite tea treats on my wishlist in this special gift guide.

1. Chocolate Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies from Whimsy & Spice   2. Matcha Green Tea Assortment from Kyotofu   3. Genmai Cha from Tavalon Tea   4. Tea-infused truffles from Charles Chocolates and Teance Fine Teas   5. Double Chestnut Macarons from Kyotofu   6. Hibiscus Soda Syrup from P&H Soda Co.   7. Lavender Infused Honey from Honeyrun Farm   8. Blood Orange Tea from Zhi Tea

tea today: reserve tea package from walker tea review

Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to meet a select group of tea connoisseurs who have opened my eyes and introduced my palate to an incredible array of teas. I often look to Jason Walker of Walker Tea Review, as I greatly respect his tea knowledge, opinions and videos that help me seek out the best of the best within the grand tea world.

He graciously sent me his top rated, hand selected Reserve Tea Package with China Cha Dao’s Jinma Orange pu’er, Naivetea’s Dong Ding oolong, Teance’s Lu Shan Clouds and Mist green. As I opened the box (near my brightly lit tree), I couldn’t help but feel the same joy and anticipation of a child opening his or her Christmas present. Inside the package were 3 hand selected and highly ranked teas that deserved to be in Jason’s Reserve collection.

Before my words wander into individual reviews, let me just say that this is a fabulous gift for a tea novice or connoisseur. I even recommend purchasing this package for your home so that you can host a tea tasting party, because what truly matters during the holiday season is spending time with family and friends (and it might as well include a few steeps and sips). I highly recommend this tea pacakge, and hope that you treat yourself (or a dear friend) to this wondrous trio.

China Cha Dao’s Jinma Orange pu’er  As I unwrapped the plastic and paper casing of the Jinma Orange pu’er, I was delighted to find yet another layer. The dried mandarin orange peel fragrantly encased the aged tealeaves. Nestled under the carefully cut lid of the dried orange were beautiful pu’er leaves. The sweet citrus fragrance lingered in the air as I spooned the leaves into the infuser.

After bringing the water to a boil and allowing it to cool for a minute or two, I gently splashed the leaves with hot water to offer a quick rinse (and discarded of that liquor).  The leaves now refreshed and awakened, were treated to an official infusion bath of warm water. The aged leaves painted the liquor a deep red/amber shade as the 4-minute steeping time elapsed. The sweet orange aroma seemed to quiet down as the earthy, musty scent filled the air. It reminded me of the aroma of a fall forest after a long rainfall.

First sip: A soft taste with a gentle earthy flavor that reminds me of mushrooms. The subtle sweetness, brightness from the mandarin peel still finds its place in the flavor. It’s smooth and soothing, and coats the tongue with a silky finish. This pu’er is perfect for those not quite familiar with this aged tea treat due to its gentle flavor. It would be wonderful to savor with friends as it does well with multiple steepings.

diy holiday tea gifts & treats

It's hard to believe that a week has slipped through my fingers since last weekend's Steeped In Beauty Holiday Workshop. I was overjoyed to have met an incredible group of women who joined me on that chilly Sunday to talk tea and learn about my tea crafts and recipes.

Since the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can send us into a frenzy, I thought I would share a few crafts, treats and tips from last weekend's workshop. Gather your friends, put the kettle on, and craft away the chilly blues while sipping your favorite tea.

Chocolate Mint Sip-Candy Cane Tea Treat (shown in photo above) Using alphabet stamps (from any craft shop), stamp a holiday message onto a small cotton bag (my favorite mini bags to keep around the house for tea crafts or when you want to share loose tea with a friend). Fill the bag with dried mint. Write recipe for Chocolate Mint Sip on a manila shipping tag (steep mint leaves in hot chocolate, remove mint, add Candy Cane, enjoy!) Tie  manila shipping tag to the Candy Cane. Perfect stocking stuffer for children or friends in need of a decaf treat.

Lavender Tea or Tub Using alphabet stamps, stamp a holiday message on a small cotton bag. Fill bag with lavender buds. Place lavender sachet, unbleached tea filter, and a manila shipping tag with handwritten lavender recipes (a lavender simple syrup or instructions for a simple lavender bath) inside a clear gift bag. Seal with ribbon or staple closed with a holiday gift tag. These make wonderful gifts for a hostess and teachers. Make a few extra to use as goody bags for your next tea party.

Craft Tip: Use leftover tea to stain your manila shipping tags for a vintage look. Simply reheat the tea to boiling and then place the shipping tags in a shallow pan on the hot tea. Leave in for 10 minutes. Remove and place between paper towels to absorb liquid. When they are almost dry, place between two heavy books for a crisp finish.

Send Warm Wishes Using scrap paper (or colorful patterns from old magazines), cut a cup shape that is a bit larger than a packaged tea bag. Sew the paper cup onto blank cardstock ( sold metallic colors really make the paper cup pop). Place tea bag inside the paper cup. Write a message and share a tea recipe/tip (for example: steep Mighty Leaf's Orchid Oolong-shown above-in hot chocolate for a sweet treat with hints of coconut, oolong and floral notes.). Send to friends who don’t live around the corner or use as a place card for a tea party.

Tea Craft Tip: Buy supplies (dried lavender, dried mint, small cotton drawstring bags, manila shipping tags) in bulk and use them to create crafts that last beyond the winter holiday season. You can easily adapt the crafts above for tea parties, mother's day, birthdays, or just a simple tea treat to say hello.

Make sure to check back soon, as I'm bursting with gift guides, tea crafts, recipes and other tasty tidbits to hopefully keep you sane and cheery during the holiday season. Warm wishes to your & yours!

happy tea holidays! love, martha

Although it's easy to use your hand to swipe a credit card during the holidays, I prefer to have my "handmade" gifts come from the heart and my craft box. As I browsed Ms. Martha Stewart's hostess gift list suggestions, I came across this handmade set of tea sachets.  Fill the sachets (paper filter bags, cheesecloth, etc) with a loose tea or dried herbs and add creative tags. Simple and beautiful.

p.s. I will be posting a recap of last weekend's Steeped In Beauty: DIY Holiday Gift Workshop filled with handmade tea gift ideas just in time for last minute hostess and holiday gifts. Hooray! So keep your eyes peeled and your cup warm and ready....

you're invited to {steeped in beauty: DIY holiday gift workshop}

As the first icy flakes fell from the sky on Thanksgiving, I welcomed the holidays while sipping a cup of orchid oolong and anxiously anticipated what was in store for the joyous season.

Our calendars are bursting at the brim with holiday parties and gift wish lists. So in an effort to keep you calm and your home filled with handmade gifts to share with friends and family, I teamed up with my friend and colleague, Jolene Hart (natural beauty expert), to offer the second Steeped In Beauty event....

and you're invited....

Steeped In Beauty: DIY Holiday Gift Workshop

Sunday, December 5th, 2pm-4pm Philadelphia

Indulge in an afternoon of tea and natural skin care through interactive cooking and crafting demos that highlight DIY gifts to give family and friends this holiday season. Learn how to prepare holiday treats, tea blends and homemade natural beauty products that make ideal holiday gifts. While sipping tea, you'll also learn about the impact of tea and natural beauty on health and wellness.

We'll share gift bags filled with our recipes, natural beauty samples, Rishi's white detox tea/green oolong tea, Mighty Leaf's orchid oolong and Tbar tea shop frequency cards. All guests will be entered to win one of several raffle prizes, including a personal health and beauty coaching session with Jolene, a tea party consultation with Alexis, and gift certificates to Tbar tea shop. Guests can also pre-order Beauty Is Wellness health coaching gift certificates, teaspoons & petals tea party consultation gift certificates, and haiku teaware from teaspoons & petals for holiday giving.

I hope you will join me in learning a bit more about how and why it's so very special to have tea in our lives. Looking forward to seeing some friendly faces as we sip, cook and talk tea.

Here is your ticket...

p.s. why not make a day of it with friends? have brunch in the city, come to Steeped In Beauty, and then stroll down 3rd St and peek into the fabulous boutiques. sounds like a lovely Sunday with friends during the holidays, if I do say so myself.

Many thanks to Stacey for allowing us to use her lovely photograph, and to Lisa Snellings, who hand crafts the lovely Poppet creatures shown in the photo. We recommend that you check out both of their fabulous sites.

tea gift guide: terrain

I'm anxiously awaiting Design*Sponge's DIY Event at Terrain next weekend. I can hardly contain my excitement and am dreaming of herb infused cocktails (one of the tasty how-to demos) and previews of Grace's new book. In an attempt to calm my crafty jitters of joy,  I took a peek at Terrain's online shop and carefully selected my favorite items for this tea gift guide.

With the holidays nipping at our heels, you could easily put together a perfect gift set for your favorite tea lover (not to mention, the perfect host & hostess gift for holiday parties). Or, just pick a few pieces and create your very own warming tea ritual for the chilly season.

{the honey flight sends me swooning & will definitely find its way into my shopping bag at Terrain next weekend. I'll consider it a parting gift!}

1. Styer's Garden Café Mug

2. Ames Farm Honey Sampler

3. Olive Wood Honey Dipper

4. Disposable Paper Tea Bags

5. Organic Lavender Flowers

6. Four Cheese Honey Flight

7. Let it Bee Honey

8. LouLou's Rose Petal Jam

9. Teapots & Jugs Dishtowel

10. Cedar Rose Facial Steam

11. Mint Mug