Chip Carved Tea Box
This project hasn’t started yet! There are two reasons that I want to incorporate this project into the process. The first is because I found chip carving through randomly scrolling through Instagram, and I really wanted to try it. So I bought a bunch of stuff to learn. New craft, new exploration, perfect pairing. The second reason I wanted to do this project is because the Monk and Robot series introduces the idea of a tea monk. A few years ago, my partner provided me with a gift that was packaged in an authentic tea chest. The chest was tin lined. I love the idea of a tea monk, and I want to take some time to explore the practice of shipping tea in tin lined boxes with the concept of a tea monk whose profession is a mix of listening and providing the right tea for the situation. So, that’s where this project is coming from. Stay tuned to see what happens in this space!
Exploring the Process
A new craft means a new exploration. I already have a few tools to explore this option, and I’m excited to dig in. Specifically, I have the book “Chip Carving: Techniques for carving beautiful patterns by hand” by Daniel Clay along with several practice boards that go along with his book. So, that’s where I’ll start. Once I do more with that, I’ll add a link to it below.
Project: Tea Box
As I start to work on the actual tea box, I’ll post more info here! I’m not yet sure what the design will be, or how custom it will be, but it will be something that relates to the overall themes that I pull out of the text. I also have some ideas on how I can make it tin lined, and ideally will have the opportunity to do some research into this history of tea shipping.