Spotlight on the Arts - Sanndi Art Mystical Expressions

Sanndi Thompson of Sanndi Art Mystical Expressions explains her art thus:

"Sanndi Art aims to help you decorate your home, studio, or office or just your own "special" sacred little space. Sanndi Art aims to create art that inspires, enchants, empowers you and gives you an uplifting feeling. Gazing upon something that you personally feel in tune with can do wonders for your body mind and spirit!"

Of course I love the whimsical nature of her work, but there is an easily accessible depth to it that keeps me coming back to it and has made Sanndi one of my favorite artists. She lives her art in all that she does, and is about the most gracious and generous spirit you could hope to meet.

In addition to all things musey, mermaidy, and bellydancy, she's recently created a series of tactile dress pieces, that are cute as prints and incredible as 3D originals. I was thrilled to receive a framed red fringey flapper dress for use at the launch of one of my 1920s Tea Cozy Mysteries novels.

Here's a smattering of her mermaid stuff.




If you're on Facebook, check out her page. It's always lovely, festive, and inspiring.

~Joy
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For the Love of Writing - Feb 2018

Get that rough draft finally finished or start that dream project that's been knocking around in your head. Our goal for the month is to write or edit 28K words.

For those who finish, there will be a drawing with a prize of formatting to turn your manuscript into both a digital and paperback book.

We will post inspirational ditties regularly during the month, especially on our Facebook event page, and we'll host local write-ins and meetups for those in SoCal.

Break a nib!
(i.e. good luck!)

Shop while you wait

No, this is not someone who's waiting for us to get a venue *wink*
It's a photo of one of our logo shirts available at our new Cafepress shop as submitted by a whimsical devotee 😃
Methinks the skeleton is smiling as a result of downing whatever was in that spooky martini glass on the arm of the chair.

First donation - check!

My big thrill of the day? Heading to the ATM to deposit our first 'official' check into the new & equally official Whimsicalitea nonprof bank account. Yay!

Visit our new Cafepress shop!

Huzzah! We have merchandise for the coveting at our new 
Cafepress shoppe

A Wickedly Ozsome tea party

We're back in fundraising mode at square one, friends. Please spread the word about our Ozsome Oct 21 tea to your SoCal friends xo 

We're still all mad here

Do you or a friend live near LONG BEACH, CA? 
If so, join us for an MADDER HATTERS TEA 
August 12, 2017
11:30am-2:30pm 

(Part of our Adventures in Whimsiland fundraising series) 

$45 includes AN 8-COURSE TEA so be prepared for the long haul:
1 - hot appetizer, cold appetizer & amuse bouche
2 - scone
3 - soup sip
4 - salad
5 - intermezzo sorbet
6 - sandwiches
7 - fruit & cheese bite
8 - 3 petite desserts

This is the 3rd of 4 Adventures in Whimsiland themed teas (Others include April 22, June 17 & Sept 23).

Please send funds: 
  • Either electronically to LECOLESIRENE@GMAIL.COM via Paypal as you would to "friends or family" (lest we be charged 'product/service' fees) 
  • Or through the post, by check made out to SIREN SCHOOL 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy #259 ~ Long Beach, CA 90803

*** ADDRESS GIVEN 1 WEEK PRIOR TO EVENT ***

Tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferrable if you can't make it at the last minute and want to give your place to a friend

Kind words from one of our pioneer questers

"I really enjoyed Riddle-Dee-Tea, Adventures in Whimsiland, Quest #1! It was fun clicking the hidden links and solving the puzzles. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore because the Quest takes you to many wonderful websites. This quest has whet my appetite for next year’s Spot of London tour to Scotland, London, and the return trans-Atlantic cruise on the Queen Mary II. I’m looking forward to the next Quest!" ~Dianne L.

17 June 2017 tea at the max

Oodles of thanks to all who expressed interest in our Off with Their Heads RoyalTea. We're chuffed to say the event is ever so sold out!

What exactly is a Parcel Quest

Welp, we've distributed our first sold-out batch of Parcel Quests -- specifically, the Alice-themed Riddle-Dee-Tea quest. Since we're asked daily what the heck a quest is, what it involves, and what you get, here's a peek at the contents as my fab friend Sharon opens hers over tea at the irresistible Paris In A Cup Tea Salon & Cafe. Sorry for the fuzzy pics -- was trying to be unobtrusive. Neither worked!

And to answer the aforementioned quest-ions, our quests involves receiving a parcel full of goodies to be used in tandem with online clues to solve a riddle.
"I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the quest. I eagerly await the next parcel. Cuppa in hand of course!!!"~Joan W., Astoria, OR















JUNE 17, 2017 - Off with Their Heads RoyalTea fundraiser

Do you or a friend live near YORBA LINDA, CA? 
If so, join us for an Off with Their Heads RoyalTea 
June 17, 2017 

(Part of our Adventures in Whimsiland fundraising series) 

$40 includes sandwiches, scones, desserts & themey fun.
  • Heart of Scone with Mock Turtle Cream & Jubjub Jam
  • An Elegant Thimbleful (Shrimp Cocktail shot)
  • Alice’s Ambrosia
  • Pig & Pepper Potage
  • Slithy Tove Savory
  • Off Their Heads Champagne Sorbet
  • Tea sandwiches: Cheshire Grin & Cackle, Bill’s Garden Baguette, Cucumber Rose, Hookah-Smoked Turkey on Toast 
  • \Petite Sweets: Father William Wafer Cake, Stolen Tart, Chessboard Bikkies 

This is the 2nd of 4 Adventures in Whimsiland themed teas (Others include April 22, Aug 12 & Sept 23).
Save $5 if you combine with the April 22 tea. Click here for additional combination discounts:

 Please send funds: 
  • Either electronically to LECOLESIRENE@GMAIL.COM via Paypal as you would to "friends or family" (lest we be charged 'product/service' fees) 
  • Or through the post, by check made out to SIREN SCHOOL 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy #259 ~ Long Beach, CA 90803

*** ADDRESS GIVEN 1 WEEK PRIOR TO EVENT ***

Tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferrable if you can't make it at the last minute and want to give your place to a friend

The Wonders of Wonderland tea party package

If you're mad as a hatter and enjoy all things Alice, there's a good chance you'll fall down a rabbit hole to book our Wonders of Wonderland tea party package for groups of #6-24.

$37.50 per guest {no children's menu available - nostra culpa}

Your five-course+ feast includes the following:

PRE-TEA NIBBLIES
'Drink Me' Punch offered in tiny corked bottles
Grapes, Cheese, Crackers

1ST COURSE
'Eat Me' Currant Scone with Mock Turtle Cream & Golden Afternoon Jam
A pot of Tea per table (refilled at no charge - up to 3 flavors total)

2ND COURSE
'Who Are You?' Mushroom Bisque shot
with Brie & Basil Blossom appetizer

3RD COURSE
Pink Flamingo Sorbet

4TH COURSE
Wedgelet Salade with mango bits, blueberries, sunflower seeds & berry vinaigrette,
served in a butter lettuce leaf
Tea Sandwiches:
Curiouser Cucumber
Humpty Dumpty Cackle
Looking Glass Leak & Cheddar
Cheshire Grin Almond Chicken

5TH COURSE
Our Dessert:
Taciturn Flower Pots
Painting the Roses Red petite Cupcakes
Chessboard Bikkies
~or~
Your Dessert:
You are welcome to bring in a specialty cake to replace our dessert,
in which case we will cheerfully waive our $3 per guest cake service fee
{As for cupcakes, we'd be delighted to handle those for you}

We have a variety of Alicey decorations to make your Wonderland event even more wondrous


Take a chance - save 20%!

Feeling lucky? Take a chance on our as yet unopen tearoom by: 
  • Booking a party prior to our Labor Day (4 Sept 2017) soft opening 
  • Hosting your event some time in September or October 2017
In thanks for your early days patronage, we'll give you 20% off your tea party bill!

APRIL 22, 2017 - Sneak Peek through the Looking Glass fundraiser tea


Do you or a friend live near IRVINE, CA? 
If so, join us for a SNEAK PEEK THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS TEA 
April 22, 2017 
(Part of our Adventures in Whimsiland fundraising series) 

Feeling Irish

Looks like the good fortune of the Irish came a week early for our budding shoppe: Lease signed, Deposit made, Aug 1 move in, Sept 4 soft opening, Sept 23 grande opening!


Riddle-Dee-Tea - clue & parcel quest


Quest A - Riddle-Dee-Tea - $29 + shipping
 
Visit our Adventures in Whimsiland page for DISCOUNT options

* * *

You may well know how a raven is like a writing desk, but have you any clues as to how a crow is like an iPad?

Find out as you solve this first of four Alice-themed quests hosted by Whimsicalitea.

After you’ve signed up, you will receive a package by post containing 4-6 tangible goodies along with instructions, all designed to help you solve the hatter’s mad riddle.

You will then take to the interwebs, using your deductions to follow our trail and find hints on our associated websites and pages.

After successfully completing this quest, you'll be welcome to participate in our remaining 3 quests that piggyback off this first one. There's even a discount for participating in additional quests.

Look for Absolutely Frabjous {May 1 - $39}, Cattitude {June 21 - $49} and Seeing Red {August 1 - $59}.


FALL down the rabbit hole Grande Opening

FALL down the rabbit hole with us at the grand opening of our shiny new event venue

Our Grande Opening day's program will unfold as follows:

  • 10am - Processional from village entrance, then doors open
  • SNARK HUNT BEGINS
  • 10:15 - Welcome & Drawing for Brooch tea (value $9.75)
  • 10:30 - Tour
  • 10:45 - RIDDLE GAME & Drawing for 1 Fantasy Fitness class session (value $15)

  • 11am - Tea served
  • 11:15 - Drawing for 1 Crafternoon Tea class session (value $15)
  • 11:30 - Crumpets served
  • 11:45 - HEDGEHOG CROQUET & Drawing for 1 Voice or Acting class session (value $15)

  • 12noon - Savory Morsels served
  • 12:15 - Drawing for 1 Fandom Friday event (value $20)
  • 12:30 - Sandwiches served
  • 12:45 - MAD HATTER MILLINERY & Drawing for 1 Red Boa Society event (value $15-25)

  • 1pm - Barely Berry Whizbang Punch served
  • 1:15 - Drawing for 1 Blue Stockings Society event (value $15-25)
  • 1:30 - Scones served
  • 1:45 - PAINTING THE ROSES RED & Drawing for 1 Gloves tea (value $17.75)

  • 2pm - Fruit & Cheese served
  • 2:15 - Drawing for 1 SpecialTea event (value $35)
  • 2:30 - Dessert served
  • 2:45 - LOBSTER QUADRILLE & Drawing for 1 Fancy Schmancy Birthday Tea (value $45)

  • 3pm - CROWNING THE MAD HATTER 
  • Adieu (with Sorrow Sweets)


Official celebration ends. Feel free to stay until the opening day doors close at 4pm

Event is no charge, btw :)