Friday TeaDay 1/16/09 Tea is candy, 2009 budget?

[Cinnamon Kitty]

I honestly don"t know. I am guessing around $500. It depends on how much moving out of my parents' house, which should happen sometime in the next few months, costs compared to what I get to make at my job. It also depends on how well I can resist the temptations of new teas and Shincha.

I am enjoying some Water Sprite oolong from TeaSource while petting the sleeping dog curled up on my lap.

[Space Samurai]

Really nice Hokujo piece, Space! Attractive, contrasting striations and really nice rounded shape. And no "dent" like many of his works, what is up with that anyway? I can not figure out what purpose it serves.

I think its purely decorative, an artistic whimsy of Shimizu-san.

What I like about this pot is that its various parts share at least one thing in common with my various Hokujo wares. The handle is the same as my samashi, and so forth. It brings to mind a fashion designer mixing and matching, adding this belt so such and such dress to create something different.

Looking at a larger variety of his work, I feel like I can catch glimpses of his mind, his personality. I would guess he is somewhat structured, and there is an artistic simplicity that speaks of humility.

Drinking some fukamushi now.

[scruffmcgruff]

I think I've seen the dent in various other pieces of Japanese pottery; I assumed it was to emphasize imperfection/wabi-sabi/etc., but I could be wrong.

[chamekke]

I think I've seen the dent in various other pieces of Japanese pottery; I assumed it was to emphasize imperfection/wabi-sabi/etc., but I could be wrong.

That is my impression. For example, I have a Bizen kensui (waste-water container) for tea ceremony that has one of those little dents. I think that the slight irregularity is meant to be aesthetically pleasing... a sort of "cute dimple" perhaps, that gives the piece some personality. It's certainly a very common feature on (otherwise) round pieces.

[teaguru]

I said less that $600, because I didn't think $500 would cut it. I'll aim for less than $500, but this gives me a bit of leeway in case I spot something really nice.

I just finished a cup of chrysanthemum tea (and I at the flowers too!) and now I'm onto...one of my herbal concoctions I think. I believe it's time for my Digestive Aid. Gotta digest that chicken!

[Chip]

I think I've seen the dent in various other pieces of Japanese pottery; I assumed it was to emphasize imperfection/wabi-sabi/etc., but I could be wrong.

That is my impression. For example, I have a Bizen kensui (waste-water container) for tea ceremony that has one of those little dents. I think that the slight irregularity is meant to be aesthetically pleasing... a sort of "cute dimple" perhaps, that gives the piece some personality. It's certainly a very common feature on (otherwise) round pieces.

It is such a bizarre commonality seen on multiple craftsmen/artist pieces, almost like a "kilroy was here" thing. Or a "peace sign" popping up all over. I used to think, wth, am I holding it wrong, are one of my appendages supposed to fit in there.

Because I do not understand it, it bothers me. If it is simply an "intentional imperfection" I will almost be disappointed on some level I think, since I did not think of it for years.

Why else does the "imperfection" explanation bother me, maybe because they are soooo perfect in other ways. Perfect lid fit, cover the hole and the water stops immediately. They have a perfect balance being able to stand on their handles. There are many "perfections."

Kame Gyokuro from O-Cha in my Korean pot. This stuff is stellar. If this stuff was a kyusu, it would not have the dent on it.

[Chip]

Whoa, imperfectly perfect...

[brandon]

I can get behind dimples.

[chamekke]

I have to admit, I'm not too crazy about the indentation on that kyusu. It doesn't strike me as especially appealing.

But later this evening I'll post a couple of examples of what I think are "cute dimples" on the show-and-tell thread. Who knows, you may be converted yet

[Ron Gilmour]

Sadly, I'm not very good at budgeting, but I really HOPE that my tea expenditures will be under $500. I drink a lot of black tea, which tends to be relatively cheap.

Currently finishing off the last of a bag of Makaibari Estate 2nd Flush Darjeeling. I'd give it three out of five stars. A perfectly pleasant SF, but there's nothing very distinctive about it. I doubt that I'll seek it out in the future.

[Chip]

I have to admit, I'm not too crazy about the indentation on that kyusu. It doesn't strike me as especially appealing.

But later this evening I'll post a couple of examples of what I think are "cute dimples" on the show-and-tell thread. Who knows, you may be converted yet

Please ... hit me with your best shot! I look forward to it.

[jazz88]

You should have had an option "don't want to know"

Having most delicious cup of Silver Needle + I added some Osmanthus which a friend of mine brought back from her trip to China. I'm getting very much into the white tea lately.

[brlarson]

Last cups of the day are form an '05 Xing Hai Meng Hai sheng.
Sweetness of steamed baby carrots in the first cup, developing overtones of cigar tobacco and bok choy and undertones of cooked carrot in later cups.
It is a warm end to a cold, difficult day.

Good night folks.

[bcos]

I'm absolutely terrible at budgeting. So I might say $200 now but I know that in a few months I will probably break that level.

[chamekke]

I have to admit, I'm not too crazy about the indentation on that kyusu. It doesn't strike me as especially appealing.

But later this evening I'll post a couple of examples of what I think are "cute dimples" on the show-and-tell thread. Who knows, you may be converted yet

Please ... hit me with your best shot! I look forward to it.

Here you go:

chamekke's dimpleware post