Handmade Tea Bag Coasters from Africa

Recently, my father-in-law went on a vacation to South Africa (lucky!) and saw all sorts of amazing things on his travels, including some interactions with lions and lion cubs on a safari trip!  I could only dream of traveling there some day.  He brought back some gifts for Paul and I, including these amazing coasters that I couldn't resist posting about.

The company is called Original T Bag Designs based in Cape Town, South Africa.  The company's philosophy is wonderful:

It has been said that if you are cold tea will warm you, if you are heated it will cool you.  If you are depressed it will cheer you and if you are excited it will calm you.  For a group of perviously disadvantaged people in Cape Town, South Africa, one cup of tea has indeed provided community, love, excitement and peace.  

 After used tea bags have been collected, dried, emptied and ironed, they are ready to take on their new life as a canvas that will boast intricate designs inspired by local South African life.  And so it goes, that each humble tea bag is transformed into a unique piece of art.

 We received these amazing handmade coasters that are each made from repurposed emptied tea bags with hand-painted designs on them.  They are encased with a glass top and a cork bottom.  The company also sells greeting cards, notebooks, decoupaged boxes, tea-light holders, mirrors, placemats, wrapping paper and more.

Unfortunately, I don't think that you can order from them on-line (yet) but they do have a complete website with their products pictured.  Hopefully, you will be able to place orders from them online soon!  Unless you find yourself in South Africa...then please feel free to visit shops where their items are available:  V&A Waterfront Blue Shed and Mainstream Shopping Centre, Hout Bay.

It was lovely to receive such a thoughtful handmade gift with meaning behind it!