Queen's Guide to the Fabulous Tea Party...

"I'm late, I'm late! I'm very, very late!"

Poor Rabbit. It is his first time hosting a party. He was invited to create his own soiree by the lovely Vanessa at a Fanciful Twist, and now he is worried if he can pull off a fabulous tea party. I decided to create a "How To" list for this handsome hare, and he was so delighted, he asked me to share :) Obviously delicious treats and tasty tea are a must (and perhaps some Flamingo Croquet) but some other things to consider...


The Invitation List

Since conversation is just as important as to what tea to brew, it is crucial to invite interesting people who not only are witty, but can wear party hats with panache...
These gals know how not only how to rock their powdered wigs, but how to sip their tea without mussing their ruffles...



The Ambiance
Please note I did not say "decorations." One must create an ambiance, an atmosphere, a magical place that transports the party goers to a realm of wonder. Indoor or outdoor, you must find the perfect nooks to tuck in unexpected lovelies, and they should include flowers, fancy china, and linens...




Party Favors
Without pretty little gifties, your party may feel more like a simple snack time. Homemade favors are best, the more unusual and eclectic the better...
This is a paper teapot I created a few years ago - perfect for place settings!


Couture

One must throw themselves into her attire with reckless abandon. Large hats, layers of lace, and of course, as hostess, a fabulous apron...



And there you have it! Some simple guidelines to help you created a lovely tea party that will keep the party goers talking for months! So get your tea cozy ready, cut some flowers, and tie on that apron - and go visit the other party hostesses today!




Credits
All vintage photographs are from my collection of adopted ancestors. The Alice in Wonderland illustrations are from the Library of Congress. The watermarked images are of my creations and other pretties (such as the apron and stack of linens), and the fabulous photos of flowers and such are from http://www.countryliving.com/.

A Place for Everything...

So busy lately! Is it just me, or does it seems like that the nicer the weather gets, the faster the days go? I know there are more "daylight" hours, yet it seems like I am still running out of time. Of course, the nicer weather means I am outside more, playing in the sun with the boys, helping them plant a vegetable garden, and trying to soak in some sunshine.

Before the nice weather arrived, I did spend some time cleaning my studio. I organized and prettified.

 I have a large shelf by the window, and I like to keep flowers and ribbons at hand. I use a lot of bowls, boxes, and jars so I can see my supplies. If I can't see it, I forget I have it - so I like to keep my pretties visible...

My best storage solution for ribbon: mug racks. I got several of these vintage looking, white chippy racks and then hung them vertically, and the rolls of ribbon fit perfectly! Not only are they pretty, they are easy to access.

Storing supplies is one thing - crafting a creative ambiance is another.  I like to tuck in unexpected notions with my supplies for little bits of unexpected inspiration. Antique photos and orphaned pages from a vintage book are nestled in a box of tea-stained ribbon...

I adore polkadots - so I need to keep my dotted ribbons handy! A fancy dowel is the perfect home to rolls of ribbon. The paper flowers I made are a nice nest, and I had these fabulous old Bingo cards which needed a place to stay...

A love of words and letters. Old printer trays are ideal for storing chipboard letters. One tray is for plain letters, the other for decorated letters.

All little bits are kept in little jelly jars and little tin cups. Easy to see, easy to use. Buttons, bottlecaps, hatpins, and more...I put the jars on an old cookie sheet, so I can just lift the entire tray up to my work table if I need to.

Of course, that was a while ago, and it doesn't look nearly so tidy anymore. I am a messy crafter. When I work, I like to spread everything out, and right now my crafting table is covered in scraps of paper, bits of fabric, and a few half-finished projects.

However, seeing how nice it can be in there inspires me to clean.

The next rainy day.

I promise...

Fun with Dick and Jane...

If you are a follower of my blog, you know I just adore vintage goodness! So when I saw this fabric a few years ago, I just had to have it.  Now bear in mind, I wasn't even sewing then. I was strictly a paper girl working on scrapbook pages and paperbag albums. And while I would incorporate the occasional swatch of fabric or strip of lace into a paper crafted goodie, I never bought yardage of anything :)

So it sat in my stash of goodies,

Until last week! I was digging in my stash, and found my lovely "Dick and Jane" fabric. Perfect for my newest obsession - Pillows.

It measures 12x12, and has an envelope enclosure in the back so it is easy to clean. I have it listed at Artfire, and I think would be a super cute Mother's Day giftie :)

Here are a few more that I have created...

Have a fabulous Thursday! I have fabric scraps all over the house, so I seriously need to get cleaning...

Well, hey there!

 You would think I was a bear. I feel like I have been hibernating since Thanksgiving... only I think bears emerge all skinny and cranky. I think I have gained a few - but at least I am a happy bear! So what have I been up to? Sewing, reading to the boys, crafting, playing pirate, baking pies, and planning for spring!

Johnny and I made another PIE - he loves the show Word World, where "words come alive," and one of his favorite episodes is where Pig makes a PIE. The letters come together and form an actual pie... so we made one too! It was a raspberry and strawberry pie, and it was delicious...

I also have been playing with some of my stashed vintage texts. I used pages from a 1916 children's magazine and covered chipboard letters. Perfect for titles for scrapbook pages and other altered art. I am also working on some little chipboard houses using the advertisements from the magazine. I love the timeworn patina from these pages, and the charming ads and stories! Apparently my cat, Bastet, does too...

 I have had this obsession with wanting to grow veggies in my backyard, but in containers because we are at the bottom of a hill in a subdivision where all our neighbors use chemicals on their lawns. So I tore out some plants (sorry hubby...) with the grand vision of making raised gardening beds. Well, Sunday we had temperatures in the upper 70s/low 80s, and the boys were out with daddy while Mama made lunch. Daddy, being the awesomely fun dad that he is, let them play with the hose.  I came out for our sunny picnic lunch loaded down with sandwiches, and saw my little darling piggies - I mean boys - covered in mud.

They were so proud of their mud hole. So pleased at the knee deep sludge they had created...

 Good thing they're cute.