International Giveaway!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hi friends! Since I had so much fun last time with my giveaway, I thought I'd do another one. I have two prizes this time. The first prize is a hand painted tea bag by artist Ruby Silvious (find her website here). She has donated this beautiful work of art for other tea lovers to cherish and enjoy. The second prize is Matcha green tea. I'm doing this giveaway with Rafflecopter, which makes it easier for you to enter and easier for me to find a winner. I've done a short interview with Ruby about the amazing prize she's donated. Below is the prize that can be won and then let's have a look at the interview...then to the giveaway process!
Copyright Ruby Silvious
Above is the stunning painting done on a teabag that can be yours if you win the giveaway! Now to the interview with the amazing artist, Ruby.
Ruby: As early as five years old, when my Japanese great grandmother taught me how to fold my first crane. On the paternal side, I was inspired by my father, who was a self-taught artist and calligrapher. I remember drawing a portrait of my youngest sister when I was 15.
Leah: When did you start experimenting with painting on teabags, or pistachio shells, as I've seen?
Ruby: Two years ago, I read about a community in South Africa that produced handmade products out of used tea bags. The idea of reusing something that I was tossing out everyday, and creating something beautiful with it, fascinated me. By then I already had a collection of pistachio shells that I had been doodling on with markers when I discovered the common denominator. I've been working with recycled and discarded materials ever since. In addition to teabags and pistachio shells, I also paint on egg shell shards and origami-fold paper bags and crumb wrappers into mock brassieres. It's been fun!
Leah: How can people see your art if they're interested in purchasing it?
Ruby: Local museum shops in upstate New York carry my tea bag designs. You can also purchase my art on my website: www.rubysilvious.com
Leah: Why do you want to giveaway a piece of your art to the other readers?
Ruby: People have this notion of what traditional art should be. By bringing new life to everyday, familiar things, I hope to inspire new forms of creativity.
Leah: What's your favorite kind of tea? How many cups of tea do you have a day?
Ruby: I am, by no means, a tea connoisseur. Twinings' Earl Grey tops my list of favorites, with Ambessa's Choco Nut Blend a close second. I drink 2-3 cups a day and I prefer bagged tea - for obvious reasons!
Thank you so much to Ruby for donating this amazing work of art and for answering the interview questions. For those wondering, last giveaway winner Gary is very pleased with his prize. He sent me this photo of him with the tea a couple weeks ago:
Leah
