Monday, September 26, 2016

Tea Box Art

Happy T Day everyone.  Its is another Tuesday already.  This has been one of the fastest Septembers for me. Usually this month just pokes along as though time has slowed way way down.
I just want to mention that today my husband is having his heart bypass surgery (so keep you fingers crossed for him please), and I'm not sure if I'll get back to everyone today or not. It all depends how energetic I feel tonight. I will be by though, so please have a little bit of patience.
So today for T Day I have some tea art.
Last Saturday I met a good friend of mine for lunch.  Even  though we only live 15 minutes apart we hadn't seen each other since April. Besides catching up, we played tourists. The town next to ours is a huge tourist town (the oldest summer resort in America they claim-and also where some influential people have summer homes-including former US presidential candidate Mick Romney.) After we ate our sandwiches, we went and poked around some of the little stores. It was fun as I hadn't done that for probably a couple of years. In the kitchen store we found these fantastic hand decorated tea boxes from Kenya.
You may have seen these before, but I had not. Each box is hand decorated with cut outs. They are each unique, and how fantastic are those scenes?
 The designs are made from dried banana tree bark turned into paper.
 This company was the brain child of a woman in her early 20's. You can go to the company  website and read about them, including seeing photos of all the woman artists who create these wonderful boxes.


According to the sides of the box they say that 100% of the profits go to help orphans in Kenya with schooling. According to their website this supports 29 orphans. The tea is also grown and picked and packed  to help create jobs for Kenyan women. According to the box Ajiri means to employ.
I bought a couple of boxes. After I drink the tea they will make  beautiful little storage or gift boxes.
I am linking up to   Altered Book Lover on Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog. T Day is when we share some type of drink related post.
While we were out we saw a couple of interesting signs.
 I liked this one outside of the pet boutique.
And outside of the yoga studio.
They were also having an antique car and boat show on the town docks. We took a little walk through and then ate our sandwiches on the deck of a sandwich shop that overlooked the show.

 And this car made me laugh. You have to sit upon the horse in order to drive it.
 Plus for T Day, Moxie is one of those local soft drinks. It tastes like a cross between cola and root beer. Not popular, but still made and you can find it at some stores.
I think it would be a little sketchy to ride this horse down the road.  There's no seat belt nor any protection around you. Guess its like a motor cycle only higher off the ground. :)
And here's another page for Art Journal Journey. More Back to School. Thanks Elizabeth for this fun topic.
That's it for me. Happy Tuesday everyone.

15 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I have never seen this tea, but I've got gift/greeting cards made by this company. The cards are blank on the inside, so you can write anything you like. And they look very similar to the people on the tea boxes. This is a wonderful post, because I had no idea Ajari made anything except their cards.

Laughed at the price tag sign. It was very clever.

Those old cars were amazing. I had no idea what some of them were, but I recognized the old turquoise Chevy. I would not want to drive the Moxie, even though it looks like it would create a lot of attention on the road.

I LOVE your Einstein quote and AJJ page. Those flash cards are fun and your background is wonderful. So many things to take in for this entry, too. Great job and lots of thanks for sharing it, too.

I'm thinking about your husband and hope all is well. I know you must still be worried, but I'm sure he's in great hands.

Thanks for sharing your AJJ entry, and your tea boxes and car and boat show with us for T this soon-to-be Tuesday.

baili said...

i want send you my best wishes for your hubby's bypass may God bless him with perfect health .
loved the tea boxes art and and their cause specially ,loved the horse and antique car show and that splashing water so beautiful ,thank you for sharing dear

Valerie-Jael said...

Wat a gorgeous post! First off, good luck for the OP today, I will be thinking of you both. Love the art journal page, thanks for another lovely entry. And of course, those Tea boxes are fantastic, so pretty. Great sign in the pet shop, too! Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

johanna said...

this post is brimming with interesting stuff: i LOVE These tea boxes, the blackboard is too funny, the cars (with horse!) so beautiful... you played to be a good Tourist!
happy t-day!

froebelsternchen said...

First of all I am thinking of your hubby today and keep my fingers crossed!♥♥♥
I love this clever special fantastic page and all this wonderful things to look at on the photos ! Great place - lovely shops !Always a blast to see your photos! O.k. I mentioned that often before but it's just TRUE!!!
Thank you for another fabulous idea to the september's theme at AJJ Erika and best best best wishes for his surgery♥♥♥
Happy T-Day my friend!
oxo Susi

Meggymay said...

A wonderful post to read, you must of had a lovely day out with your friend. The photos are all fantastic, I had to smile at the horse/car and could imagine it on a country road.
Hope the day has gone well.
Happy T day.
Yvonne xx

~*~Patty S said...

Nice that you got to spend time with a friend.
That tea looks great and what a wonderful thing to help the orphan children! I have not seen it before.
Keeping your husband in my prayers.
Take care of yourself and Happy T Day oxo

~*~Patty S said...

Oh and eventho I am not a big fan of math per se ;-)
Your page looks super. You always do such a great job with your lettering and collage layouts!

Krisha said...

Prayers for your hubby and you today!

I would have bought the Ajiri tea for the box alone! Those are so gorgeous.........and hand made....WOW! You must let us know how the tea tastes.

I enjoyed being a tourist with you and your friend this week....great photos......driving Moxie??? Probably not for me, but I bet the view is good...*grin*

Your AJJ journal page is just great! Love the background and all the elements you added.

Happy T-day and thanks for the comment.........never had a corn dog huh? If you get a chance you must try one!

jinxxxygirl said...

Erika that horse car has my vote!! Wow! I would so ride that...lol Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos with us this Tday!! Hugs! deb

Divers and Sundry said...

I know you and your DH will be happy to have this surgery safely behind you. I trust he'll have a speedy and uneventful recovery.

I've never seen tea in packaging like that, but I'd be the tea just for the tin it's in :)

Happy T Tuesday -or whenever you see this ;)

Let's Art Journal said...

Wonderful post Erica! I'm keeping everything crossed for your husband's surgery today and wishing him well :-). Aren't those tea boxes from Kenya just wonderful, it is such a great way to be able to share your art as an artist too! I'm in love the giraffe one - I don't know I'd be able to part with them both once the tea had all gone, I think one of them would probably have to adorn my craft room :-). I love the dog sign, it is so funny and made me smile! As for the cars, they are so cool and remind me of the monthly local Classic Custom Car and Bike Meet we have here, called "Burnouts and Bangers". Never seen anyone sitting on a horse though to drive ... lol :-). Wishing you happiness this T Day! J :-)

Anonymous said...

Love your page and tour of the tea shop. Hoping that all is well with hubby. xox

Carol said...

Here's hoping all went well for your husband ♥ Love those tea boxes too and would definitely have bought some of them. The Horse Car is a stitch for sure. So glad you had a good day out with your friend :) Sending healing thoughts and prayers your way.

Jeanie said...

These tea boxes are definitely works of art. I would use them for pencils or brushes when the tea is gone if I didn't first give them away!

I loved your visit to this wonderful little town. Very pretty and I'll bet you had such a terrific time, too.