Experimentation...

I did really well at the last wine fest I attended! The weather was great and I sold out of 2 blends! Here was my table...

I'll be stepping up my display for the next events. I've painted my my cup holder a bright aqua, distressed it and put the bamboo strainers on it. I also painted my plate rack lovely burnt orange color and hung all my stainless infusers and hand-stamped muslin bags from it.

I'm painting a few other display items, as well. My new event table will be colorful and will definitely grab attention!

So... onto the experimentation...

I'm dehydrating these...

fresh lemons...

and these...

fresh Key Limes...
to try some new citrusy blends!

Did you know Key Limes are green inside, but have a yellow peel when ripe?

Stay tuned for the new blends and my May event schedule!

I'll be doing two wine fests and Lois' Cool and Groovy Garden Party! Details to come!

Back to the Winery Tomorrow!

Hopefully the weather will cooperate this week! I'm heading back out to the Florida Estates Winery again tomorrow with my teas and infusers. I've decided to  stick to teas and infusers, no more tea cup orphanage... It was fun and I did sell quite a few, but I want to concentrate on teas and brewing.

I did get some photos of my beaded infusers... I have a plate rack that I hang them on for display.

I also stamped unbleached muslin bags with waterproof ink and beaded the drawstrings to make reuseable tea bags!

I hung these on a cup rack. Pretty cool I think!

Here are some of the designs up close...

I'll be adding more designs and also making reuseable bags from batik fabric.

Wine Fest Rained Out...

I sold one bag of tea before we had to cover up for the rain... Then had to pack up between waves of wind and rain... Oh well... Next time!

Upcoming Event!

I will be at the WIne Fest at Florida Estates Winery in Land O Lakes, Florida with my teas and teawares on Saturday, March 31, 2012!

Come out and spend the day under the oaks drinking wine, listening to live music and shopping the vendors!

If you're in the area I'd love to see you!

The First Blends...

So, I've been experimenting with blends and have six that I like and am planning on marketing... at least for now... I wish you could taste them through the web... but you'll just have to settle for pictures...

Summer Green is a blend of China Green Tea, Lemon Grass and several additives including orange peel, rosehips, rose petals and Stevia powder. It brews up with a nice golden color and makes wonderful iced tea!

Summer Red, a blend of Rooibos, Honey Bush, Lemon Grass, rosehips, orange peel and Stevia powder. It's caffeine free, brews to a beautiful red and also tastes great over ice!

Sunset Spice, another lovely caffeiene free red, is a blend of Rooibos, Honey Bush, oragne peel, cinnamon chips, licorice root, whole and ground cloves, ground nutmeg and allspice and black pepper corns... It's great served hot on cool evenings or iced when the weather warms up!

Fragrant Morning is Se Chung Special Oolong, China Green, rose petals, ginger root and Yerba Mate. This dark brew has a floral but smokey flavor with a touch of ginger. I haven't tried this one iced, but it certainly won't be your grandmother's iced tea!

Rose Garden Black is blend of China Black and Darjeeling teas combined with rose petals, rosehips, and vanilla. It brews up dark and lovely and makes a very fragrant iced tea, as well!

Chillaxation Tea is a blend of all things relaxing... Peppermint and Spearment teas, German Chamomile, Valerian root and Scull Cap... Its green color and cooling mint flavor refreshes on a hot summer night and helps relax you for a good night's sleep!

Now that they've been blended and the flavors  have been allowed to mingle, I'll be packaging them, most likely in 2 oz packages. I'll let you know when and where I'll be offering them for sale! So... check back!

Long Time No Post...

I haven't posted in a few months and truthfully I hadn't done much with my teas either. I have solved the storage dilemma though. Tightly lidded glass jars, that are easily sanitized, stored in a cabinet. All my non-food supplies, such as bags and labels are stored on the bottom shelf and the teas are stored on the upper shelves. When I eventually contract with a kitchen, in order to be able to sell online, the cabinet can be easily moved there.

I have blended a few recipes... A nighttime tea, potentially called "Chillaxation," that is filled with herbs known for thier relaxation qualities, a spicy red I call "Sunset Spice" and last night I wanted a decaf blend for iced tea, so I put togehter something I call "Summer Red." I want to do a "Summer Green, " too... for iced tea. So I am making progress... even if it is slowly...

2012...

I'd like to wish you all a joyous and prosperous 2012. It has been a trying year for me and for many of you as well. Let's keep our attitudes positive as we move forward, giving thanks for the blessings we have, helping others when we can, accepting help when we need it and staying connected.

Peace to you throughout the New Year!