“A proper tea is much nicer than a very nearly tea, which is one you forget about afterwards.”~A.A. Milne

“Teapot”  art by eileen tomson

Architect, Michael Graves designed the Alessi tea kettle in 1985. This Alessi designed tea kettle has sold more units than any other item in Alessi history. It is also one of the most sought after whistling kettles in the world. This water kettle is often miss-called the Michael Graves tea pot. Alessi introduced the actual Michael Graves teapot in 2005 to accompany the bird whistling kettle. Both the Graves teapot and the original 9093 kettle are 18/10 stainless steel kettles. The Alessi bird kettle has a personality, with its simple geometry. The dots on the bottom are to signify heat as the kettle is placed on the stove top. The shape of the grooved handle is blue to signify it is cool to touch. And , best of all- the bird whistles. Michael Graves designed the whistling bird large enough to take off when it is cool if desired. The 9093 was designed to blow water faster than any other stove top kettle on the market. This was accomplished by giving the water kettle a broad base that fits on the stove top. The Graves kettle then narrows towards the top creating a very efficient kettle.

Teapot designed by Michael Graves

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“Black Tea Trinket” Laser cut relief on dyed paper by nicole maron

“Orange Tea” by nicole maron

“Newspaper Tea”  by nicole maron

“Passion Fruit Tea” laser cut relief on dyed paper by nicole maron

“Teatime” Embroidery by Nicole Maron

Collagraphy is a printmaking process in which materials are applied to a paperboard or wood. The word is derived from the Greek word koll or kolla, meaning glue and graph, meaning the activity of drawing.

The plate can be intaglio-inked, inked with a roller or paintbrush, or some combination. Ink or pigment is applied to the resulting collage, and the board is used to print onto paper or another material using either a printing press or various hand tools. The resulting print is termed a collagraph.

Collagraphy is a very open printmaking method. Ink may be applied to the upper surfaces of the plate with a brayer for a relief print, or ink may be applied to the entire board and then removed from the upper surfaces but remain in the spaces between objects, resulting in an intaglio print. A combination of both intaglio and relief methods may also be used.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12520056@N07/sets/72157622313471786/with/2136030143/

Nicole Maron will be attending her senior year at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson in the Fall. Nicole is a very talented artist and will graduate with an Art degree with an emphasis in printmaking, and just happens to be my sweet talented daughter.

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Teapot art by Joana Vasconcelos, Versailles, Paris

Joana Vasconcelos is a Portuguese artist. She was born in Paris in 1971 and now lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal.

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A Proper Cup of Tea

• Bring water to a boil in a teakettle.

• Warm a teapot. Fill the pot with boiling water and allow it to sit for two to three minutes. Drain the water from the pot.

• Place one tablespoon of tea per cup of water into the pot plus one extra tablespoon.

• Fill the pot with water and allow the tea to steep for two to three minutes.

• Strain the tea into cups.

• Add milk and sugar to taste.

http://alittlezaftig.com/?p=2433

Art: Joana Vasconcelos’s exhibit in Paris was the most visited in the last 50 years – France

http://www.afternoontoremember.com/learn/etiquette

http://www.ehow.com/how_5079867_drink-tea-like-english.html

http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845426_serve-high-tea-home.html

http://www.bard.edu/