mel jacobson on thu 1 aug 02
i don't use small holes, i use one big one.
i don't really get it. you can hardly find
loose tea any more....just found some at
the greek food store...but, they have `cut way
back` he said. people use tea bags.
so, why the strainer?
it just gets plugged, full of crap.
i have a new thing...it is called a `stainless
strainer`. it sits on the cup. what a concept.
my teapots pour like magic, no splurting.
i keep my spouts at a 6 to 1 ration. or, six times
larger at the base. cut a clean hole the size of the base...attach.
sharpen the pouring spout.
at some point in the life of a crafts person we have to look
at what we make, ask ourselves....`does this still apply`?
it is like covers on sugar bowls. in the old days, we had to
keep out vermin. no vermin in the house anymore. (or, if
you do have them, get a screen for the window.)
so much of what we do, is based on 100 year old traditions
that have no application in our modern world.
it is like making beer stines with metal covers. they were used
to keep out dirt that fell from the floor above (cracks in the
floor/ceiling.) same with wide brim hats, keep the dirt out of your hair
and food.
think about it. how many people are going to buy your
teapot because it has a built in strainer. most of them
will curse it in a year. most folks want a teapot that pours
clean and steady...does not drip all over the table.
that is what i try and give them.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Alisa Liskin Clausen on thu 1 aug 02
> at some point in the life of a crafts person we have to look
> at what we make, ask ourselves....`does this still apply`?
>
> it is like covers on sugar bowls. in the old days, we had to
> keep out vermin. no vermin in the house anymore. (or, if
> you do have them, get a screen for the window.)
>
> so much of what we do, is based on 100 year old traditions
> that have no application in our modern world.
>
Ha, this has been a great laugh for me today... the vermin.
There was a discussion about tea pots and hot chocolate pots and the latter
had one hole instead of strainer.
That is how I reinvented my teapots, when I was trying to make decent ones
that did not need to sit down when
they got poured.
Most grocery stores have an impressive tea and tea utensil department.
Many danes still buy their teas in leaves. And, the stores sell just as
many tea strainers as
they do teapots. There is also this gadget that you can twist around the
spout to catch the drips. It looks more or less like
mini traction for the tea spout. My teapots are coming along and I can
actually pour them now without contraptions or messing
up the table cloth so much that I can't cover it with another tea cup.
It is also such a comfort sometimes, Clayart. I have been making new
dishes, and I have been struggling with the idea of a lid
or no lid for the sugar bowl. These are my struggles at times. Now I feel
supported by Clayart again, to do what I want to do, which is
make a sugar bowl that is open and not feel like a cheat. Hoorah for
positive enforcement.
regards from Alisa in Denmark
Hot and humid and no more strawberries.
Just starting blackberry season.
Liz Willoughby on thu 1 aug 02
Dear Mel, I hate to differ with the moderator, but there is a lot of
loose tea sold in the world. Here in Canada, China, Japan, Britain,
and even the good ol' US of A. Tea bags are great, in a mug or in a
teapot, but every once in a while a person WANTS to make real tea
from tea leaves, (including me). The holes put in a teapot work with
both, so if a customer only uses loose tea, there is no problem with
selling that teapot to him. I even put a hole in flange of the lid
for a tea ball chain, for that option. Takes about 10 seconds. I use
to use a tea ball with a chain and couldn't stand the look of that
chain hanging over the teapot.
People that buy my teapots love the attention of detail that goes into them.
Yes, of course, people want a teapot that pours well, does not drip,
but also the option of using loose tea in the teapot. One does not
necessarily cancel out the other.
But different strokes for different folks. That is all it is, and
wouldn't it be a boring world if we all made things the same way.
Back to being Meticky Liz
>
>i don't really get it. you can hardly find
>loose tea any more....just found some at
>the greek food store...but, they have `cut way
>back` he said. people use tea bags.
>so, why the strainer?
>it just gets plugged, full of crap.
>
>i have a new thing...it is called a `stainless
>strainer`. it sits on the cup. what a concept.
>
>at some point in the life of a crafts person we have to look
>at what we make, ask ourselves....`does this still apply`?
>
>think about it. how many people are going to buy your
>teapot because it has a built in strainer. most of them
>will curse it in a year. most folks want a teapot that pours
>clean and steady...does not drip all over the table.
>that is what i try and give them.
>mel
Liz Willoughby
RR 1
2903 Shelter Valley Rd.
Grafton, On.
Canada
K0K 2G0
e-mail lizwill@phc.igs.net
Martin Howard on thu 1 aug 02
Mel, your teapots may sell in the USA, but they won't do for the green
market in GB.
Many are using loose herbs, cut fresh from the garden, as well as loose tea
(india, china, green etc) for drinks, so they need a good straining teapot.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 6th July 2002
Gail Dapogny on fri 2 aug 02
Liz,
You are such a classy lady. You can disagree with such grace and kindness.
Just thought I'd mention it, especially since the list has been plagued
with a lot of unnecessary put-downs lately. (And Mel, you're a classy man
too!)
---Gail
Liz Willoughby said:
>Dear Mel, I hate to differ with the moderator, but there is a lot of
>loose tea sold in the world. Here in Canada, China, Japan, Britain,
>and even the good ol' US of A. ...every once in a while a person WANTS to
>make real tea from tea leaves, (including me). .... I even put a hole in
>flange of the lid
>for a tea ball chain, for that option. Takes about 10 seconds. ...
But different strokes for different folks. That is all it is, and
>wouldn't it be a boring world if we all made things the same way.
>
>Back to being Meticky Liz
Gail Dapogny
1154 Olden Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48103-3005
(734) 665-9816
gdapogny@umich.edu
http://www.silverhawk.com/ex99/dapogny (single historical photo - no longer
registered with Silverhawk)
Don Kimon Lightner on fri 2 aug 02
The reason for the sieve in Japanese teapots, especially the kyusu type, is beacause they are often used to brew Gyokuro, which is a tiny green leaf tea, made from very young tender leaves. Because the tea is small and breaks easily, they began adding sieves in trying to avoid getting leaves into your guests cup. I don't care for sives myself though. I like to go sievless.
Kimon
Rick Hugel wrote: Interesting thing in Japan is that the tea pots have strainer holes, but
then people go out and buy and/or the pots are already fitted with sieves
that fit exactly onto the edge around the top. After the tea is brewed and
poured, the sieve is taken out and the old leaves dumped. One would think,
"Heck, I'll just make them like Mel does." Sorry, won't do and won't sell.
Reminds me of the song from "Fiddler on the Roof" -- TRADITION!
>Mel, your teapots may sell in the USA, but they won't do for the green
>market in GB.
>
>Many are using loose herbs, cut fresh from the garden, as well as loose tea
>(india, china, green etc) for drinks, so they need a good straining teapot.
>
>Martin Howard
>Webbs Cottage Pottery
>Woolpits Road, Great Saling
>BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
>01371 850 423
>martin@webbscottage.co.uk
>http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
>Updated 6th July 2002
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
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Rick Hugel on fri 2 aug 02
Interesting thing in Japan is that the tea pots have strainer holes, but
then people go out and buy and/or the pots are already fitted with sieves
that fit exactly onto the edge around the top. After the tea is brewed and
poured, the sieve is taken out and the old leaves dumped. One would think,
"Heck, I'll just make them like Mel does." Sorry, won't do and won't sell.
Reminds me of the song from "Fiddler on the Roof" -- TRADITION!
>Mel, your teapots may sell in the USA, but they won't do for the green
>market in GB.
>
>Many are using loose herbs, cut fresh from the garden, as well as loose tea
>(india, china, green etc) for drinks, so they need a good straining teapot.
>
>Martin Howard
>Webbs Cottage Pottery
>Woolpits Road, Great Saling
>BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
>01371 850 423
>martin@webbscottage.co.uk
>http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
>Updated 6th July 2002
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
Rick Hugel on fri 2 aug 02
Tea bag tea! How ghastly! I'm like you Mel, I use a convenient strainer
to catch the stray leaves as I pour. If you need some bulk tea, let me
know. No shortage of it over here in Japan.
>Dear Mel, I hate to differ with the moderator, but there is a lot of
>loose tea sold in the world. Here in Canada, China, Japan, Britain,
>and even the good ol' US of A. Tea bags are great, in a mug or in a
>teapot, but every once in a while a person WANTS to make real tea
>from tea leaves, (including me). The holes put in a teapot work with
>both, so if a customer only uses loose tea, there is no problem with
>selling that teapot to him. I even put a hole in flange of the lid
>for a tea ball chain, for that option. Takes about 10 seconds. I use
>to use a tea ball with a chain and couldn't stand the look of that
>chain hanging over the teapot.
>
>People that buy my teapots love the attention of detail that goes into them.
>
>Yes, of course, people want a teapot that pours well, does not drip,
>but also the option of using loose tea in the teapot. One does not
>necessarily cancel out the other.
>
>But different strokes for different folks. That is all it is, and
>wouldn't it be a boring world if we all made things the same way.
>
>Back to being Meticky Liz
>
>
>>
>>i don't really get it. you can hardly find
>>loose tea any more....just found some at
>>the greek food store...but, they have `cut way
>>back` he said. people use tea bags.
>>so, why the strainer?
>>it just gets plugged, full of crap.
>>
>>i have a new thing...it is called a `stainless
>>strainer`. it sits on the cup. what a concept.
>>
>>at some point in the life of a crafts person we have to look
>>at what we make, ask ourselves....`does this still apply`?
>>
>>think about it. how many people are going to buy your
>>teapot because it has a built in strainer. most of them
>>will curse it in a year. most folks want a teapot that pours
>>clean and steady...does not drip all over the table.
>>that is what i try and give them.
>>mel
>
>Liz Willoughby
>RR 1
>2903 Shelter Valley Rd.
>Grafton, On.
>Canada
>K0K 2G0
>e-mail lizwill@phc.igs.net
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
Snail Scott on fri 2 aug 02
At 08:10 PM 8/2/02 +0900, you wrote:
>Interesting thing in Japan is that the tea pots have strainer holes, but
>then people go out and buy and/or the pots are already fitted with sieves
>that fit exactly onto the edge around the top. After the tea is brewed and
>poured, the sieve is taken out and the old leaves dumped.
My mother had a glass (Pyrex?) teapot which has no strainer
holes in the spout. Instead it has long cup-like insert which
rested on the lip, and had many tiny holes at the bottom
perimeter to act as a strainer. Watching the tea steep and
diffuse inside the clear glass was sort of fascinating, but
the system should work fine in clay, I would think. The strainer
holes weren't circular, but more closely resembled the effect
you'd get by pulling a coping saw across the bottom corner of
the strainer insert until the kerf penetrates to the interior.
It makes for a very small hole on the inside surface, and I'd
think that it could be done on very stiff (or even almost-dry)
clay with little need for cleanup of 'cling-ons'.
-Snail
Steve Dalton on fri 2 aug 02
on 8/1/02 4:52 AM, mel jacobson at melpots@PCLINK.COM wrote:
> it is like making beer stines with metal covers. they were used
> to keep out dirt that fell from the floor above (cracks in the
> floor/ceiling.) same with wide brim hats, keep the dirt out of your hair
> and food.
>
> think about it. how many people are going to buy your
> teapot because it has a built in strainer. most of them
> will curse it in a year. most folks want a teapot that pours
> clean and steady...does not drip all over the table.
> that is what i try and give them.
Mel,
You made a good case on teapots with strainer holes, but I'm going to be
picky! It's steins not stines! I'm not a perfect speller either.
Back to strainer holes. I've made them both ways until I realized that my
big hole teapots were selling slower than my strainer holed ones. Reason
being, the majority of my customers still use loose leaf tea.
All in all, it could be related to regional.
--
Steve Dalton
Clear Creek Pottery
Snohomish, Wa
sdpotter@gte.net
Rick Hugel on sat 3 aug 02
"CLING-ONS" Is that something like the creatures from Star Trek, or am I
mixing my synonyms?
On a more serious |:| line, the cups you describe are easily found in
Europe. They're for brewing a single cup of tea. Had one once but it got
broke. Often thought of making one just to see if I could.
>At 08:10 PM 8/2/02 +0900, you wrote:
> >Interesting thing in Japan is that the tea pots have strainer holes, but
>>then people go out and buy and/or the pots are already fitted with sieves
>>that fit exactly onto the edge around the top. After the tea is brewed and
>>poured, the sieve is taken out and the old leaves dumped.
>
>
>My mother had a glass (Pyrex?) teapot which has no strainer
>holes in the spout. Instead it has long cup-like insert which
>rested on the lip, and had many tiny holes at the bottom
>perimeter to act as a strainer. Watching the tea steep and
>diffuse inside the clear glass was sort of fascinating, but
>the system should work fine in clay, I would think. The strainer
>holes weren't circular, but more closely resembled the effect
>you'd get by pulling a coping saw across the bottom corner of
>the strainer insert until the kerf penetrates to the interior.
>It makes for a very small hole on the inside surface, and I'd
>think that it could be done on very stiff (or even almost-dry)
>clay with little need for cleanup of 'cling-ons'.
>
> -Snail
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
Bonnie/Jeremy Hellman on mon 5 aug 02
Hi all,
I bought one of Liz' fabulous teapots, and it is truly a work of art PLUS it
is functional beyond belief. It pours without even a hint of dripping. Pour
slowly, pour quickly, pour at "normal" speed and it works.
Did I say it is gorgeous? It IS gorgeous-- in all respects, from design
through glazing. Liz says that attention to detail is a selling feature--
believe her! Hers is NOT a teapot made in Ceramics 101.
Sometimes I use loose tea, and I have a tea baller (actually I have several
different kinds). Loose tea is sold in a lot of places. Everything about
Liz' teapot is beautiful, and it's nice to be able to use loose tea when I
want.
Anyway, my point is that Liz is an expert, and she does what she says. (And
she doesn't need me to tell you that she's a master, but I'm saying it
anyway. )
Bonnie
Bonnie Hellman
----- Original Message -----
From: "Liz Willoughby"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 2:14 PM
Subject: Re: holes in teapot
> Dear Mel, I hate to differ with the moderator, but there is a lot of
> loose tea sold in the world. Here in Canada, China, Japan, Britain,
> and even the good ol' US of A. Tea bags are great, in a mug or in a
> teapot, but every once in a while a person WANTS to make real tea
> from tea leaves, (including me). The holes put in a teapot work with
> both, so if a customer only uses loose tea, there is no problem with
> selling that teapot to him. I even put a hole in flange of the lid
> for a tea ball chain, for that option. Takes about 10 seconds. I use
> to use a tea ball with a chain and couldn't stand the look of that
> chain hanging over the teapot.
>
> People that buy my teapots love the attention of detail that goes into
them.
>
> Yes, of course, people want a teapot that pours well, does not drip,
> but also the option of using loose tea in the teapot. One does not
> necessarily cancel out the other.
>
> But different strokes for different folks. That is all it is, and
> wouldn't it be a boring world if we all made things the same way.
>
> Back to being Meticky Liz
>
>
>
> >
> >i don't really get it. you can hardly find
> >loose tea any more....just found some at
> >the greek food store...but, they have `cut way
> >back` he said. people use tea bags.
> >so, why the strainer?
> >it just gets plugged, full of crap.
> >
> >i have a new thing...it is called a `stainless
> >strainer`. it sits on the cup. what a concept.
> >
> >at some point in the life of a crafts person we have to look
> >at what we make, ask ourselves....`does this still apply`?
> >
> >think about it. how many people are going to buy your
> >teapot because it has a built in strainer. most of them
> >will curse it in a year. most folks want a teapot that pours
> >clean and steady...does not drip all over the table.
> >that is what i try and give them.
> >mel
>
> Liz Willoughby
> RR 1
> 2903 Shelter Valley Rd.
> Grafton, On.
> Canada
> K0K 2G0
> e-mail lizwill@phc.igs.net
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
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