a year of tea in {printed} review

I can still recall opening the tiny gold lock to my metal journal, resting the white cushion cover against my knobby knees under a floral bedspread as I scribbled childhood thoughts and poems. Those daily jots have been replaced by keyboards clicks and photos snapped throughout the day via my phone. While I feel grateful that I can document memories within a matter of seconds, I often fear they could disappear just as quickly with an accidental step on my clutch or even a tea spill that's simply too close to the laptop.

In hopes of preserving my teaspoons & petals memories, I've decided to take virtual files floating through chips and wires and transfer them to the printed page. The lovely Joy of Oh Joy opened my eyes to the creative ways of Artifact Uprising's Instagram Friendly Books printed on the most perfect 5.5 by 5.5 inch paper. AU is a true find and a reminder for us to pause and peer at our life on the page.

While my photos tend to skip about through life experiences, the common threads that runs through each snapshot are tea and flowers, which anchor teaspoons & petals. So, I sorted through steeps, tea leaves, petals, vintage cups and carefully chose favorites from 2012 that represented my year with the steeped leaf and the blossom, hence the the title: teaspoons & petals 2012. I intend to make a book every year to document my steeped journeys and maybe even an evolution of experiences, or even just tea taste preferences (will I ever give my heart to something other than a high mountain oolong? only time and more books will tell).

There's something so very magical about feeling the weight of a book in your hands, especially when the pages contain personal moments that call upon sensory memories. I've included a few shots of my favorite pages below. Maybe they'll find their way into the 2013 edition. I'll just have to wait and see what steeped snapshots this magical year has in store.

My tea-infused photos lead very busy virtual lives shuffling between my iPhone and laptop. In hopes of

reeing them of their life behind the screen, I created letting them find their place from beyond a screen I sent them on a physical journey to my doorstep. Yes, Inspired by Oh Joy's postn hopes of letting them experienc(thanks for the inspiration Oh Joy)