We are now taking pre-orders for our latest official TheOneRing.net t-shirt – Peter’s Dragon! This black shirt, designed by Chris Lyons, features a stylized ‘Peter’s Dragon’ logo and the imposing eye of what we all hope will be the most magnificent Dragon to ever grace the screen! It is a geeky way to share your anticipation for ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.’ Shirts can be pre-ordered from now until Tuesday, April 9th 2013. For those of you not familiar with pre-order, this means the shirts will not be produced until all orders are in. We will then print and ship the shirts as soon as possible. And as a small aside, if you enjoy TheOneRing.net, purchasing shirts are a great way to support the site. The money we collect from making shirts goes directly to site expenses. Thank you for your support! [Purchase Peter’s Dragon T-Shirt]
Category: Other Merchandise
John Howe, legendary Tolkien artist and conceptual designer for THE HOBBIT and LOTR Trilogies, dropped us a note to remind us that today is the *final day* to bid on a very special piece of art that he and Alan Lee created in support of Robin’s Relief Fairy Tale Art Auction, a charity fundraiser where world-renowned fantasy artists have donated remarkable exclusive artworks to help raise hopes and raise funds for Robin Sullins’ new hands, new legs, and new life.
This artwork was created in New Zealand while the two artists were busy working on THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, but they took time out of their work schedules to craft something special for this fundraiser.
The story takes us back to the recent holidays, where Robin’s family had gathered for a long, pleasant Christmas meal that brought everyone together — but afterward, a small bite from an over-excited family dog would have strange and tragic consequences. Robin became infected with the Capnocytophaga bacteria, commonly found in cats and dogs but very rarely ever transmitted as an infection to a human, yet the devastation through her body ultimately caused the loss of both her legs and hands. More details on her courageous battle can be found here on the Robin’s Relief Fairy Tale Art Auction page.
Now, in an effort to bring light and hope to her medical struggle, world-famous fantasy artists such as Wendy Froud, Michael Parkes, Alan Lee & John Howe, Kinuko Craft and many others have donated EXCLUSIVE new artworks that will be offered on eBay through the month of March. All proceeds go directly to a Chase Bank account setup for Robin’s Relief Fund.
Unfortunately, eBay has been pursuing a policy of NOT ALLOWING the mention of a charity fundraiser anywhere on these auctions, and recently this amazing Lee/Howe original drawing of one of Tolkien’s elves discovering the most unlikely creature imaginable (at least in terms of Middle-earth) was taken down off the auction site and all the bids were lost! None to be restored… so now they have replaced the live auction and the artist greatly desires to bring some Ringers’ attention to it before it concludes later today. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY — the current bids are not as significant as they were before being taken down — SO PLEASE BID NOW — They are in the final hours of bidding on this item and every little bit helps.
Be sure to check out and bid on the auction here and find out more details on Robin’s brave struggle on their charity info site here. You can also follow updates on her surgeries and recovery on her Facebook page here. Thank you so much.
Some readers may already be aware of the delicious teas – Bilbo Baggins Breakfast Blend, Gandalf the Grey Herbal Tea and Hobbit Meadow Mint Herbal Tea – available from Mint Brook Meadow Teas. Our good friends there are supporting The One Expected Party and providing tea bags for our Afternoon Tea Buffet! We recently caught up with the folks at Mint Brook Meadow Teas to find out more about their adventures in Middle-earth tea making; here’s what they had to say:
Tell us how Mint Brook Meadow Teas got started.
Mint Brook Meadow Teas began when two dairy farmers were looking for a way to supplement their income because the price for milk continued to drop. People have always loved to make tea from the mint that grows wild along the creek banks here in Ohio, and they decided to see if there was a market for it commercially. The idea gradually caught on in local markets and the line was expanded to include blends of other herbs as well as black and green tea.
What made you decide to create ‘Hobbit Teas’ – have you always been fans of Middle-earth?
The dream for Hobbit tea was born when the director of the company, Dante Tropea, had the opportunity to hear the music of Howard Shore performed in Cleveland Ohio. He has been a fan of Lord of the Rings and all things Hobbit since his childhood, and thought it would be fun to be involved somehow. His creative gears started turning and he thought if there was anyone who could provide a quality tea worthy of Hobbits it would be a tea farmer. And by the way, we would love comments at our website www.hobbittea.com as to how other people first came to love The Hobbit. Please let us know.
What makes your teas particularly ‘hobbity’? Do you think the inhabitants of the Shire would enjoy your teas?
Our Hobbit tea line includes mint as well as other herbs, which we grow here on our farm. As you know, hobbits are fond of all things grown in the earth and they love to work in their fields and gardens. I think the habitants of the Shire would really enjoy having a cup of Hobbit tea for breakfast and second breakfast and all throughout the day!
Would hobbits approve of your business style? (Do employees stop for second breakfast?!)
We are in the middle of Amish country, which is not that different from Hobbiton, so I think the hobbits would feel quite at home if they should ever stop in! Our favorite part of the business is farming, which I think the hobbits would find very agreeable. The employees do enjoy stopping for a “second breakfast” of tea and pastries on occasion!
You have some lovely artwork on your boxes – can you tell us about the artist and the design?
The art on our boxes is not the work of just one artist, but rather a compilation from a number of young art students who love Middle-earth as much as we do.
Do you think the Professor himself would approve of your teas?
We can only hope. If there is any of our teas a ‘good English person’ should like, I think it is our Bilbo Baggins Breakfast tea. This is a black tea with orange peels and cinnamon. [greendragon says, as a Brit and fervent tea drinker, I can confirm that the Bilbo Baggins Breakfast Tea is superb!]
Do Mint Brook Meadow Teas make other teas besides the Hobbit Teas?
Yes, we have our own brand of nine different teas. They are listed at www.mintbrookmeadows.com
Any plans for any further Hobbit Teas?
We are planning to expand the line of Hobbit teas in the near future. Any suggestions for new blends? You can send us ideas at info@mintbrookmeadows.com
Thanks to our friends at Mint Brook Meadow Teas for supporting The One Expected Party! It’s not too late – buy your ticket here! And you can order teas to go with your second breakfast – or elvenses, luncheon, dinner, supper… – here.
Welcome to the latest “Getting to know…” questions that need answering. Based on the old Getting to know you threads that I used to post on the message boards here on TORn, so those familiar with them will know that the questions can be a little crazy and the answers even crazier.
This month we’re asking questions of uber fan from Brisbane Australia, Peter Kenny.
Hi Peter and thank you for joining in 🙂
Kelvarhin: What piece of Tolkien ephemera began your collection?
Peter: My very first Tolkien Book was a single volume paperback edition of The Lord of the Rings given to me as a gift in 1976. I still have that original copy in my collection.
Continue reading “Getting to know Peter Kenny”
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Entertainment Weekly revealed one of four ‘collector’s edition covers’ of their upcoming December 14 issue today. The cover features a prominent picture of Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), and also has a little teaser about a first look at the next film. No details yet on how extensive the ‘first look’ will be. The edition hits news stands on Friday, December 7th, so we don’t have to wait long to find out! Read more…
You may remember reading about these awesome ‘Dwarvish’-looking 3D glasses, when we posted this story back in August. Now you can buy your very own pair! The folks behind the glasses, Look3D, tell us this:
‘Look3D, along with Warner Bros. and RealD, have created these ‘Middle-earth’ inspired 3D Glasses specifically for the new Hobbit film! Look3D has only created 5,000 units of the limited edition packaging, and these will be available for a limited time on Amazon.com in the US, and through www.look3d.com. The limited edition pack comes with the 3D glasses and branded soft cloth bag.’
There are a few ways you can get your hands on these fabulous glasses. They are available at ‘Made in Middle-earth: Wellington’s Hobbit Artisan Market’ – so those of you lucky enough to be in New Zealand for the Premiere can head over there and snap up a pair. We’re also excited to let you know that the good folks at Look3D have given us pairs to give away at some of our Line Parties – so if you come along to one of TORn’s Line Party events, you may win a pair of these glasses. Click here to look for a Line Party near you.
If you’re NOT in Wellington and you don’t want to chance your luck on winning a pair, don’t despair – you can order online at Amazon.com! The glasses are only $10 – order your own pair now, and watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in style! Click here to order.