NEW WEBSITE!

Camellia Teas of Ottawa is pleased to introduce you to our new website:

http://www.camelliateas.net/

Visit us at CamelliaTeas.net for updated information on our Group!

Best regards,

Rebecca Cragg
Founder, Camellia Teas of Ottawa
"Experience the Tranquility"
http://www.camelliateas.net/
info[at]camelliateas.net

Next Camellia Tea: October 14, 2007

Photo: Tsubaki-an, the new Camellia Teas of Ottawa Tearoom.

Sunday, October 14th, 2007

As we move indoors to our Winter and Summer Tearooms, Camellia Guests will enjoy Tea of two Tea schools. Tea reservations are ongoing and we offer sittings at 2:00, 3:30 and 5:00 as usual.

TEA RESERVATIONS:

Tea sittings fill quickly, so email info@camelliateas.net to reserve your place. Upon confirmation, directions to our Mooney's Bay location will be sent. Please specify if you require seating on the bench, or whether it is possible to kneel on the tatami.

ART EXHIBITION:

Photographer Dr. Paul R. Benoit, Haiku Poet Terry Ann Carter and Calligrapher Peter V. Quenter join us in the Stepping Stones Art Gallery for reflections on Canada's seasons.

WORKSHOPS: Haiku and Painting!

Award-winning Haiku poet, Ms. Terry Ann Carter also joins with a workshop on this Japanese poetic form on Saturday, October 13th from 1:00 - 3:00 and again on Sunday, October 14th from 1:00 - 3:00. Each class costs $10 per student, with a minimum of 10 students required for the course.

On both Saturday and Sunday, Calligrapher Peter Quenter will offer brush workshops from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. Contact info[at]exploringculture.net to reserve for these events. *Workshops fill quickly and are limited to 10 participants each with a cost of $10 per student).

Summer Evening Tea: August 14th, 2007

TSUBAKI-AN is Open!

After several months, our new Tea House, outdoors in the Zen Garden at Camellia House, received its first guests on Tuesday evening, August 14th, 2007. (photo at right of Tsubaki-an)

Our next Camellia Tea will be on Saturday, October 13th, 2007. Reservations for the October 13th Tea are currently underway.

For those interested in holding a Private Tea, Camellia Teas of Ottawa can design an afternoon or evening for you and your guests.
For more information, contact us at info[at]camelliateas.net

Tsubaki-an, (Tsubaki = Camellia; An is the designation given to Tea Houses in the Japanese language) was built with the assistance of a wonderful Team including:

Main builder: Mr. Yousef Ghasemi of North Renovations
Designer: Mrs. Rebecca Cragg
Financers: Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cragg

Door hanging: Mr. Will Bruce, Mr. Matthew Cragg (main door), Mr. Yousef Ghasemi, Mrs. Rebecca Cragg (sliding door)
Balcony: Mr. Mehrdad and Mr. Yousef Ghasemi (construction), Mrs. Rebecca Cragg (sanding)
Painting: Mr. Yousef Ghasemi, Mr. Matthew Cragg (exterior), Mrs. Rebecca Cragg (interior)
Interior Framing: Mr. Yousef Ghasemi, Mrs. Rebecca Cragg
Ceiling Installation: Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cragg and Mr. Jawaid Ismail (bamboo finishing)
Roofing: Mr. Yousef Ghasemi (roof extention and shingling), Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cragg (decorative thatch)
Tatami installation and interior trim: Mrs. Rebecca Cragg
Moon Window: Mr. Yousef Ghasemi (cutting/glass), Mrs. Rebecca Cragg (decorative bamboo)
Interior Window framing: Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cragg

Next Camellia Tea: June 2 - 3, 2007

Saturday and Sunday, June 2 - 3, 2007

The Camellia Team has had a very busy May with our Temae (hosts) working at the Tulip Festival's Japanese Pavilion, and Founder on Asian Heritage Month, so this June Tea will be the final Tea until October, when we reopen after renovations on Camellia House.

We look forward to NODATE (weather permitting) of the summer Season!
(The Nodate is an outdoor Tea Ceremony).

TEA SITTINGS (send an email to info[at]camelliateas.net to register)

SATURDAY afternoon, JUNE 2, 2007 at:

2:00 - TEA CEREMONY

ALSO at 2:00 - ORIGAMI WORKSHOP
To register, send an email to info[at]camelliateas.net
We will collect $10 to give to the Origami instructor to cover the costs of the imported Japanese papers which participants will use to create their art (and bring home).

3:30 - TEA CEREMONY
5:00 - TEA CEREMONY

***SPECIAL TEA LECTURE from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: details to be announced soon!***

SUNDAY afternoon, JUNE 3, 2007 at:

2:00 - TEA CEREMONY
3:30 - TEA CEREMONY

**SPECIAL TEA LECTURE from 5:00 - 7:00 pm: The Tea and Culture of Tibet, with a tasting of traditional butter Tea with Ms. Carrie Olivo. To reserve your place at this event, send a message to info[at]camelliateas.net by Friday, June 1.
We will collect contributions of $5 per attendee for the speaker's honorarium and materials.

Once your reservation is confirmed, directions will be sent to you.

If you would prefer to sit on a bench rather than kneel on tatami, please do let us know and we can make arrangements accordingly. We accept a $5 charge for the cost of sweets, brochure and Tea.

GRAND OPENING: The SSAG welcomes any and all to view the Zen White Garden and the works of our signature artist, Mr. Hans Blokpoel with a large installation piece entitled: "Sacred Circles: Releasing the Spirits".

This facinating abstract sculptor will work alongside the talented IKEBANA practitioners in the Ottawa area who will produce works in the same containers as the sculptor, and on the same theme. Those interested in participating in the Ikebana exhibition should send an email to steppingstonesartgallery[at]yahoo.ca to register.

March 31 - April 1 TEA & EVENTS: Fully Booked!

Next Camellia Tea: March 31 April 1, 2007

CAMELLIA TEAS of OTTAWA!
Spring Sakura Tea
March 31, April 1

This month we feature:

Tea, Workshops in Knot-tying '& Calligraphy and Moroccan Cooking Class!

UPDATED MARCH 25:
Saturday, March 31: Sitting at 3:30 (5 spaces remaining)
(Saturday at 2:00 and 5:00 are already fully booked)


Sunday, April 1: Sitting at 3:30 (4 spaces remaining)
(Sunday at 2:00 is fully booked)



Spring is in the air! We are delighted to welcome guests back to Camellia House after a short winter, full of sunshine! Come and experience the tranquility of the Winter and Summer Tearooms with hosts from 5 different schools of Tea.
To reserve your place, send an email with preferred time to info@camelliateas.net

NEW WEBSITES! We are in the process of building sites and appreciate your patience..
Have a peek here!
www.camelliateas.net
www.steppingstonesgallery.net
www.exploringculture.net


IN STEPPING STONES ART GALLERY


WORKSHOP
Saturday, March 31, 2007
From 2:00 - 4:00




On Saturday Afternoon, Ms. Samantha Lee will be in the gallery to help us create intricate Asian knots that are commonly made throughout East Asia.
Ms. Lee will bring materials for you to try! Advanced registration for this event is required as it takes an hour or more to create these incredible knots. Send email to Rebecca at info@camelliateas.net to register for this event.


UPDATE March 25: ONLY 4 SPACES REMAINING
Saturday, March 31, 2007
EXPLORING CULTURE NETWORK RECEPTION (www.exploringculture.net)
March 20: Thank you for your interest,
this event is currently fully booked.
SCHEDULE:
7:00 - Potluck Dinner from Exploring Culture Members (recipes to be featured in the Exploring Culture Cookbook, released in January 2008)
Evening Entertainment from 8:00 pm
1. Mr. William Bruce with a short presentation on Investment Tips
2. Mr. Farahi, Iranian Opera Star will delight with three arias





SUNDAY, April 1, 2007
PERSIAN CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Experience the Calligraphy of Persia!
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
March 25: ONLY 4 SPACES REMAINING
Join us for a pre-tea Calligraphy experience with Master Farahi, Calligrapher from Persia in the Gallery from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm! Register early for this event as spaces are limited to 10 guests. Email Mr. Matthew Cragg at info@steppingstonesgallery.net to reserve your place!





APRIL 1, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Cuisine of Morocco with Professor Ming Tiampo!

UPDATE: only 9 spaces remaining - info@steppingstonesgallery.net to register.

Join us for a delightful afternoon of cooking and sampling the savoury couscous of Morocco!

February 3-4 Next Tea!

Join us for a Special February Tea
Saturday and Sunday, February 3 - 4, 2007

SATURDAY, February 3, 2007
Sittings at 2:00, 3:30 and 5:00

SUNDAY, February 4, 2007
Sittings at 2:00 and 3:30

Come and enjoy the Winter and Summer Tearooms with the Teas of Urasenke, Omote and Omote-Sei-Ha schools. Both have benches for those who prefer, and we will have plenty of room on the tatami for those who enjoy kneeling. This month we're delighted to announce the completion of our Mizuya (Tea Kitchen) thanks to the help of Mr. Yousef Ghasemi.

For more information on reservations, read below.

The Stepping Stones Art Gallery presents:
This month, our Tea Guests will enjoy the Abstract oil paintings of YANOOK (aka Yannick Fleury) who works on a theme inspired by Japan.

We thank The Preston Catalogue for its support of this exhibition.
http://prestoncatalogue.com/


For more on ART EXHIBITS, visit the Stepping Stones Art Gallery
http://steppingstonesart.blogspot.com/


RESERVATIONS FOR TEA:
mail to: ottawatea[at]yahoo.ca

Teas will be at our usual times: 2:00, 3:30 and 5:00 (on Saturday, on Sunday, 2:00 and 3:30 only)

Send an email to ottawatea[at]yahoo.ca
Once your reservation is confirmed by email, directions will be sent to you.
No training, or materials are needed.

A $5.00 charge (per person) covers sweets, tea, brochures and admission to the Gallery and Children are welcome to attend our Camellia Teas.

Location: Once your reservation is confirmed, directions will be sent to you.
Attire: Comfortable pants for men; long (past knees) skirt for women (as they are more comfortable when kneeling; pants are of course welcome if preferred).
Clean white socks are also needed to enter the tea room (to protect the delicate tatami mats). No jeans please (these too can damage the tatami as they are rougher).

2007 Media Interview

2007 MEDIA INTERVIEWS
WITH CAMELLIA TEAS


January 30, 2007 (11:40 am)

Daytime show hosts Terrilynn Radar and Derick Fage (Rogers TV - Cable 22) Interviews Rebecca Benoit about the Japanese Tea Ceremony and local Tea events. Visit: www.rogerstelevision.com/ and search for Daytime for more information.


January 29, 2007 (1:00 pm)
Aired on CBC TV's Living in Ottawa, the 4-minute segment done in May 2006 for Ottawa Asian Heritage Month was shown again. Click on the link below to view the segment (link will expire)

http://www.cbc.ca/livinginottawa/?page=segment&sid=530