Learning

There are so many things to learn about a new business, until you hit your first year mark I think a business is still very new.

I like to think that I did a good job with keeping every receipt that I ever got when it came to business stuff. I understand a lot better how to arrange them all now than when I started, which is a good thing because there are a lot of them!

Then there's marketing. Whew, marketing is something that I don't think I'll ever be anywhere close to perfect with. I have a facebook page, a tumblr, a twitter, an etsy shop, a blog (you're reading it).... I'm thinking about a Pintrest account too. Still playing with that though. It's really a lot to keep up with! Do any of you use Pintrest? What do you think of it?

Tea Balls

Also known as "tea steepers" or "infusers" this nifty little tea balls are a great way to brew loose leaf tea.

Especially when they're decorated with handmade lampwork beads! 

Cranberry Pink with Goldstone designs. Available on Etsy.

Metallic shades of gold blue and purple over a magenta base. Available soon.

Periwinkle blue swirled with grass green and encased in clear. Available soon.

Deep pink overlaid with metallic blues and purples. Available on Etsy.

Organic ivory yellow with shocks of purple and green. Available on Etsy.

Purple with mirrored silvers and golds. Available on Etsy.

Ivory and blue. Available on Etsy.

Things I've Been Doing

Here are some of the things I've been working on:

Kickstarter #2 successfully finished.

Started a Tumblr.

Working on all sorts of Etsy stuff for Dryad Tea.

Getting ready for holiday tea parties.

Lots of cleaning.

Sewing. Less than I want, but more than I was.

Finally!

I haven't been so happy to be this close to the end of a project in a very long time. Tonight I finished all of the things for the Kickstarter. Yes, that Kickstarter. The one that came to life back in April and promptly ate my soul.
Well there's the end of the tunnel. After 7 total supply orders, countless cursing and test tasting, getting opinions and running around like an insane person. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow I finish packing the boxes.

See, I managed to get most all of it done in stages, up to the $60 rewards. But when looking at what I had left, I couldn't do it in stages. I had to put nose to the grindstone as it were... and I packed and packed and packed. I blended and prayed.

It's really exciting to be honest.

Will I do it again? Probably. I have too many ideas swimming in this brain not to. Will it be soon? Probably not. Maybe in two months? Maybe next year? Who knows. All I know, is that I have SJ Tucker songs on my brain, screaming to be brewed into tea. Oh yeah, and I have her permission. :)

Busy!

Well, let me tell you that life isn't slowing down at all!

From gigs to work to kickstarter and back. Crazy days have come and gone and I hope that they're winding down... knowing full well that they most likely are not.

This weekend Pandora Celtica heads to Beltania. This is where I will be... camping. Imagine it with me now, this Pooka... camping. I'm not going to fib, I'm kind of worried about it. I don't so much do camping, I haven't in the past because I don't consider anything but sleeping in a tent to be camping. I've been sewing, broke out my new serger and everything. I thought that maybe I was crazy yesterday- see, I'm making coats... and then the rain started, and I saw the forecast for this coming weekend. More rain. So! I refuse to be a wet Pooka. Coats it is!

Gearing up for Scarborough too... and then there's the Kickstarter.

So, I officially have so much tea to make that my head is threatening to spin right off my neck. I am sooo grateful for the people that have offered to help keep me sane. You all are so amazing!

And the band's kickstarter... I'm hoping that's going to go up... tomorrow? Don't hold me to it though :)


Time to run!
<3

Choices

In the last post, you found me at the brink of realization. I ran with that realization... right into a wall. Which I scaled, and found the other side full of... choices.

The past month has been so very full of choices it isn't even funny. I have made many of those choices gladly, and some I have made begrudgingly. Regardless, the choices have been made and I can not and will not look back. ....Growth can really suck sometimes.

But then! I reach the other side of these choices, and look at the vast field between where I am and where I might want to one day be- and let me tell you, it is breathtaking. 

I have started a new business venture. Inspired by three things, my once best friend and forever sister, my love of tea, and my band. This was one of those choices that I made that I wasn't fully aware of the.... path it would take me along.

But, I am there. No use looking backwards.

There is a Kickstarter to start the project off right. And after the Kickstarter you will be able to find the teas at Pandora Celtica shows. I am very excited about this.

And a new chapter starts.

Tuesday Tea Post

On Tuesdays I normally post a tea review. I admit, I slacked off this week and I've been drinking some old favorites (that I've already reviewed). So what does that mean for this Tuesday's post?

A question.

How do you like your tea?

These lovely teacups are made by Carol Broadley of Carol Broadly Pottery on Etsy

Tea Review - Red and Green Company: Red Plum Tea

Blend Name: Red and Green Company Red Plum Tea

What the company says:  Grown at the famous Dragon Well Tea Plantation in Hangzhou -renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty- red plum tea is processed using a unique method of fermentation and roasting which produces a smoky aroma and rich, malty flavor. Appropriate with sweets or rich foods.

Sweetener Used: None
Milk Used: None

Steeping Time: 3 minutes

Overall Opinion: The tea smells like any other black tea. Upon steeping, there is a slight plum taste, but still a very strong black tea. It's a good tea but it probably needs sweetener to accent the flavor.

Tea Review - Fae Inspired: Minterrific

Blend Name: Minterriffic

What the company says: A tea to turn your taste buds upside down! A blend of spearmint and peppermint, combined with the boldness of cinnamon, spicy cloves, and rose hips for an extra kick of vitamin C, not to mention my “secret ingredient”. What is it? I’m not telling! This herbal infusion is perfect for those who don’t imbibe in caffeine.

Sweetener Used: None
Milk Used: None

Steeping Time: 3 minutes

Overall Opinion: Wow. Okay, wow for real. I love this blend! The smell is an amazing mix of mint and clove. The taste of the the is minty but not overpowering. The clove adds an amazing note as well. Super soothing on sore throats and upset tummies.

Tea Review - Cozy Leaf: White Jasmine

Blend Name: White Jasmine

What the company says: (Organic Contains Caffeine) Warm and smooth start to your day! Green tea has a tremendous amount of health benefits including its potential to fight cancer and heart disease as well as lowering cholesterol, burning fat and preventing diabetes. Not only is this incredibly good for you, it also tastes fantastic!
Organic Ingredients: Jasmine Green Tea, White Peony Tea, Heather Flowers, Rose Petals
Taste: Smooth and flavorful with a soft floral touch

Sweetener Used: None

Milk Used: None

Steeping Time: 3 minutes

Overall Opinion: First sniff yields a tea that smells like any other jasmine green tea. My first sip: Green tea, but softer than most. I didn't taste any of the floral notes either, just green tea. I'm not saying it's a bad green tea, just more... bland than I was expecting. I will try this tea again, perhaps with sweetener and a longer steeping time. 

Tea Review - Ashby's of London: Cinnamon Plum Tea

Blend Name: Cinnamon Plum Tea

What the company says: Flavored with fresh ground cinnamon and the rich essence of plum.


Sweetener Used: None
Milk Used: None

Steeping Time: 4 minutes

Overall Opinion: The smell of this tea threw me off. Too sweet for my personal tastes and it reminded me of a pie or something similar. I couldn't smell the cinnamon or the plum, just sweet. The first taste yielded a tea too sweet for my palate, even without sweetener. I admit that I only tried one more sip before giving up, this blend just isn't my thing.

Tea Review - The Tea Table: Lychee Congou

Blend Name: Lychee (Lichee) Congou

What the company says: "Lichee Congou tea is made by combining fine China black tea with the exotic taste of lichee fruit, which adds an amazing fragrance and and natural sweetness. This tea is great hot, but just stunning as iced tea! Also great blended with either Earl Grey or Jasmine Yin Hao, then serve over ice."

Sweetener Used: None
Milk Used: None

Steeping Time: 3 minutes

Overall Opinion: I love Lychee, I have to say that first. This of course means that I had high hopes when trying this tea. The smell of the tea (in the tin) was really great. Very much the lychee I was hoping for. After steeping and the first sip, I found that the black tea is not overpowering at all. The lychee flavor is still very strong after brewing. The tea itself felt more like a green tea to me, most likely because I went for 3 minutes and not the full 5 that they tend to allow.
Even cold the tea is very light and flavorful.

Tea Review - Fae Inspired: Sunshine Honey Lavender

So here I am, you all know that I Love Tea. Like, adore it beyond anything (well almost anything, see: glitter and keys.)
I'm going to start a weekly tea review, or at least try to make it weekly. Tuesday nights to be exact.

I'll be reviewing any tea that I buy or any tea that shows up at my house. (This may or may not be a hint.)

This week is a tea blend from one of my favorite tea shops. Fae Inspired (aka Faerie Tea).

Blend Name: Sunshine Honey Lavender


Sweetener Used: None
Milk Used: None

Steeping Time: 4 minutes

Overall Opinion: At first smell while steeping this blend is a very strong lavender, I was afraid that the blend itself would taste strongly of lavender as well but I was very pleased to find it was just right. The lavender is not overpowering at all, and I for one am not a huge lavender fan. The aftertaste is reminiscent of a Japanese rice candy.
This would be a very good before bed tea if the drinker was not susceptible to caffeine, otherwise I would suggest the Rooibus Honey Lavender tea.