Camellia Teas of Ottawa

Camellia Teas of Ottawa was founded by Rebecca Cragg (nee Benoit) in 2005 after her return from living in Japan from 1998 - 2005. This group celebrates Tea (Ceremony) cultures from around the world and always welcomes new members. For more information, or to receive our monthly Tea Ceremony E-invite, contact Rebecca at ottawatea[at]yahoo.ca Also affiliated with the Stepping Stones Art Gallery, MONTHLY TEAS and ART EXHIBITS are held are her private residence in Mooney's Bay, Ottawa, ON Canada

Friday, January 19, 2007

Tea Report: January 13 - 14, 2007

Camellia Teas of Ottawa:

EVENT REPORT FOR:

Saturday - Sunday, January 13-14, 2007

(2:00 - 6:00 pm)

On January 13-14, we celebrated the beginning of the New Year with a Kimono demonstration and tea for 54 guests over the weekend!

Over the course of the weekend, we held sittings of Tea at 2:00 and 5:00 in the Winter and Summer Tearooms. In the mid-afternoon, we invited guests to try on kimono from the Camellia Collection. Those who did went to Tea at 5:00 in kimono! This was such a popular event that we are sure to repeat it at least once or twice a year.

· January 13 (Saturday) Tea Photos here

· January 14 (Sunday) Tea Photos here

In the STEPPING STONES ART GALLERY
The Obi Exhibition “Walls of Gold and Silk” featured over two dozen gorgeous kimono sashes from the Camellia Teas of Ottawa private collection. Ms. Michiko Mizuno (Sagami School of Kimono dressing) and Ms. Yuki Kurimoto (a high-level kimono dresser) spent nearly 3 hours preparing five knots in the gallery.

To read the Exhibition Brochure and see this beautiful collection, click on the link below.

· Walls of Gold and Silk in the Stepping Stones Art Gallery

New Additions at Camellia House!

The MIZUYA (Tea kitchen)
Behind the scenes, our volunteer Camellia staff delighted in the renovations of the new Mizuya (Tea kitchen) which made preparing Tea for guests even easier than before. We have come a long way! In November of 2005, the main TEMAE (hosts) had to make all the Tea for guests in the Tearoom (a challenge as the cast-iron kettles have only so much water). By January 2006 we were preparing Tea in the mizuya, but needed to perfect our timing. Having a proper Tea kitchen, with ample counter space for the preparing of sweets, the cleaning and drying of CHAWAN (tea bowls) makes the job of taking care of our guests so much easier.

The TSUBO-NIWA (pocket/mini-Zen garden)
Each month, we enjoy surprising guests with a little change or addition at Camellia House. This month’s project was the mini-Zen garden! With rocks from Home Depot and from around our property, Camellia founder created this echo of the outdoors in an unused closet. Tranquility corners like this add so much to our homes! Likely we all have a little closet we could make use of in this way!

Thank you to all who helped to make this such a special event!

posted by Rebecca Lyn Cragg @ 10:34 AM