My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Time for Tea!

Good morning! I love "tea parties"; although, I don't drink regular "tea." I gave it up years ago, but I do drink herbal teas now. But I thought I'd share with you my "tea party" today. How fun!!

Tea parties aren't about just drinking tea; it's about rituals and traditions also. I have some Old Country Roses teacups and saucers my daughter gave me to decorate and put up for sale on ebay and I have. But I always, always drink out of a china cup. I'm a china collector - plates mostly, but we eat off of china every single meal. It isn't just for show in this house. No, sirreee. It is used every single meal.

In my tea party above I have a lot of pieces that foster memories for me. The little sugar bowl was bought for me by my hubby at an estate sale for a neighbor many years ago. He thought I'd like it as a remembrance of her. He bought another bowl too, but it isn't in this picture.

The teapot is just one of several I have collected over the years. They all have roses or flowers on them in one way or another.

The plate in the background has real thick gold all around it. It is so shiny that is very hard to capture on photos, but it is absolutely gorgeous and stunning in person. I have 4 of them and love them. They cost a small fortune but I won them.

The teacup is, of course, OCR and has a teabag in it called "orange spice" and it is wonderful hot or cold. I always add lots of lemon to my teas because I like them weak and not strong with lots of sweetener. The teaspoon is a set of silver my hubby bought over in Japan about 40 years ago for us.

The little "honey pot" is one I found years ago and has a sentimental meaning for me. It has the requisite roses! :-)

The little pink plate is also gorgeous. I've put on it some faux pastries that I've made. I don't sell them but have given some away. Some of them were made by Natasha in Australia - a very talented lady who is very sweet herself! But I have lots of "eye candy" around my home. It's the only way I could live!! Love it.

The little pitcher is one of several I've collected also. I love pitchers. This one I've used as a vase and put some roses in and have it on my living room coffee table.

The vase of roses actually contains some paper roses I made and painted with watercolors. They are very time consuming so I don't make them a lot, but they are lovely when I do make them. It took me a while to "perfect" that rose.

I've used a vintage tablecloth and a napkin with a ribbon rose I made as a napkin ring........yep, I collect napkin rings also. Have dozens of them. I just put them in a bowl and sit them around usually, but since the move I've put them away somewhere and can't find them.

The little tags are some I printed out especially for hang tags which is my latest endeavor. I always have to be making something or I figure I'm "not doing anything."

So that's my tea party for you today. Enjoy and let me hear from you. I love the ritual of taking tea and chatting with friends about my favorite subject: decorating and creating beautiful things for the home.


21 comments:

  1. Love your tea party!! Those plates are beautiful & the roses look soooo real!

    I've got to run make my pics for mine!!!

    Love,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  2. Hi Connie, loved my visit to your tea party today. The setting is so pretty and I love viewing all your treasures. Just beautiful!
    celestina

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  3. My favorites are your hand made paper roses which are divine and look so real and the little pink plate holding the sweet treats. Everything is really pretty, thanks for the invitation.

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  4. Oh, how sweet! I enlarged the photo so I could see all the details...... I like how you shared the meaning behind your special pieces. (I think I have that same sugar bowl, or at least similar).
    Please stop by my blog for my tea today too!
    :)

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  5. Connie! Your tea party looks gorgoeus! I love your teacups and those yummy goodies!

    Heather

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  6. Love your Tea Party! Thank You for letting me be your guest, Beautiful!

    Angie
    http://www.scrapnmomsmoments.blogspot.com/

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  7. Lovely tea collection. I've collected napkin rings and other things too. I love the shading affect around your photo. You can join me for tea anytime...

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  8. I clicked on the picture to enlarge it before I read on...I thought the roses were real ! Everything is so beautiful...thank you for having us to tea...

    Francie

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  9. Your china is GORGEOUS!! Everything looks so yummy and beautiful...I love the tulip tea pot! Thank you for a lovely tea. Melissa

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  10. Thank you ALL for the gracious and lovely comments. I enjoyed it immensely.
    Connie

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  11. your tea party is very nice. very pretty treaures.

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  12. Wow, so much color, all goes together so nicely. The treats are darling and don't you love using china that have special memories.
    Very pretty, Connie

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  13. Gorgeous dislplay Connie!! Old Country Roses is my favorite china pattern. Chad and I got to eat off those both mornings at out B&B. I squealed with joy and the inn keepers served it both days instead of switching each day like they usually do! I hope to own a full set ~ when the kids get older! I love that you and Jack eat off china every night. That is wonderful!

    Love ya,
    Amy

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  14. Just beautiful! Thank You for the lovely tea party, I enjoyed it!
    Stephanie

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  15. Ooh Ahh....You perfected those roses. How pretty! I enjoyed reading all about your tea party and the special meaning of each piece. Please come visit mine. ~ Lynn

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  16. Very pretty tea table!

    LaTeaDah
    http://www.gracioushospitality.blogspot.com

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  17. What a sweet husband to know to buy that sentimental (and pretty) piece for you.

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  18. It is all so pretty. My favorite is the plate in the back.

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  19. What a lovely tea! You are right about it being more than just drinking tea. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  20. Hi Connie, I have enjoyed revisiting your tea today and seeing your pretties again. I could never tire of that my friend. Thank you for stopping by my tea today as well. The cinnamon rolls were good, I hope you enjoyed them too. LOL!
    celestina

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  21. Beautiful job Connie. Thanks for the party. Glad to see you are on the mend.
    Karen

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.