Press Release

Press Release:

Maureen Armstrong of Essences of Tongcheng ISBN 978-1-6655-6297-3

From my home to yours with seasonal cheer!

During one bleak time years ago, I discover reusable. Each day during my daily walking regime of 10,000 steps, I review and make decisions on street-side free finds, and decipher reusability of roadside garbage like empty beverage containers. Accummulating garbage brings along negatives like bugs in my home but on results I claim successess with original wreath designs, artistic illustrations, spontaneous sketching skills and developing belief in conversation as teaching tool for English as a Foreign Language.

One former student in English as a Foreign Language, Donna from Tongcheng Teachers College in China, writes to me with complimenting originality after sharing one image of my recent wreath design with tinfoil, pine cones and metal butterfly attaching. Writing of her own affirmations into self confidences for speaking English, Donna will marry soon and grows in her professsion as leader in her company of fashion design. Donna, also goes by the name “Bella” when using English in her conversations and will write her Author’s Foreward in my new memoire, Making Tracks to be released in 2026.

Collecting beverage containers created my savings to travel abroad to China and at same time with savings account am offered bank credit card with its own line of credit. I borrowed on this credit card to keep monthly strata fee payments uptodate to remain solvent on my permanent home in British Columbia. Now labeled as a senior citizen I qualify for 30% off at our local thrift and second hand store on Tuesdays. If I donate to the store the offer of their store coupon remains at 20%. In the past our family’s Christmas season or setting up student apartment lifestyle included shopping at local second hand and thrift stores and finding decent household necessities or simple items otherwise not available anywhere else.

May this New Year in 2026 bring you much prosperity and happiness. Maureen Armstrong

www.maureenarmstrong.com and www.houseoftheredmug.com