Christmas Tea...Table Top Tuesday

     It is near zero in Illinois today, the perfect weather for a steaming cup of tea with friends. The inspiration for my table was a tablecloth and napkin set that I found when I cleaned out my mom's things this summer. It still had the tags on it and all it said was "hand-embroidered". I have no idea where she got it, but it had to come home with me! It is a smaller cloth, so I opted to use it on my coffee table today.

     As you can see, it is gorgeous. There are bells and bows embroidered all around the center of the cloth.

     For plates, I used Crate and Barrel white with a red "ruffle" as a background for new ornament plates that I found at a Tuesday Morning store in Florida. Each plate is different.

I turned this one the opposite direction because it looked so much like a Christmas tree.

Silver-plate spoons are the only flatware on the table.

You've seen this pattern (Enchanted Rose) many times.

This is my favorite of the plates!

The cups are Sango Silent Night.  I'm showing you the saucers,

but there wasn't room on the table for them.

This precious teapot was arrived in a Christmas Giveaway

from Gloria @ Happy To Be last year. I couldn't

wait to get it out and use it!

The cookies are called Snowballs. They are so easy to make...

2 ingredients (Vanilla Oreos and Cream Cheese) 

and whatever you want to dip/roll them in.

I almost forgot to show you the napkins!

I am joining Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

I'm also joining Lady Katherine@ Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

for Tea Time Tuesday

Taking Tea With Alice-Table Top Tuesday

     While dusting a shelf today, I came across a book I had forgotten I had. It is the sweetest book about tea parties and pretty things. I took a few minutes to stop and read through the pages.

     I drink tea every day, so does my husband. I even make my tea with tea leaves instead of tea bags most of the time. What I forget to do, is "make it pretty"! I tend to make my tea in an oversized mug, carrying it around the house with me as I do whatever I'm doing that day. Tea should be special sometimes. It should be elegant.

     It doesn't always have to be a "party" for several guests. There doesn't have to be course after course of scones and little sandwiches. Sometimes taking tea can simply be a pretty cup, a fresh flower and a simple cookie. It is more about how it feels than how it looks!

     So, I poished my favorite sterling silver tray. I got out my white teapot with pastel blossoms and the matching cups and I made some tea.

     The cups and teapot were a gift from my parents for Christmas several years ago. They  are Sadler Wellington, fine bone china.

A few lingering roses from my yard add a touch of color.

I like my tea with just a little sugar.

The napkins are actually paper hand towels.

I love to use them as napkins because of their size and shape.

Now that is how we should enjoy a cup of tea.

Don't you think we would feel so much better

if we would savor the moment once in a while?

*Taking Tea With Alice was written in 1997.

There appears to be a newer edition currently available on Amazon.

I am linking today with:

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Lady Katherine @ Lady Katherine Tea Parlor for Tea Time Tuesday

Kathleen @ Faded Charm for White Wednesday

    

Tale As Old As Time...Table Top Tuesday

Tale as old as time

True as it can be

Barely even friends

Then somebody bends

Unexpectedly

Just a little change

Small to say the least

Both a little scared

Neither one prepared

Beauty and the Beast

Ever just the same

Ever a surprise

Ever as before

Ever just as sure

As the sun will rise

To sing along...click here

tray-vintage sterling from my parents

table cloth-vintage

Mrs. Potts and Chip tea set-My daughter's (1991)

candlestick-garage sale ($4)

cloche-Crate and Barrel

rose-my yard

I am linking today with:

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Lady Katherine @ Lady Katherine Tea Parlor for Tea Time Tuesday

Linda @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

'

Tabletops and Teacups...A Favor and A Giveaway Signup

     My baby girl, Nike (my kids were runners) is in a contest over at Fifi Flowers. She is picking 6 dogs to paint for a wonderful cause that will help sponsor service and guide dogs. Our Nike is a 14-year-old Beagle and thinks she runs the show around here. This picture was taken a year or so ago, when she could still jump high on her own. I couldn't find her one morning...and when I started searching, I found that she had jumped up on our bed and "tucked herself in". You can tell by the look on her face, she knew that she was in big trouble. I know she won't be with us much longer and having her be chosen a part of this project would be such fun. However there are other darling dogs in the running as well. If you have a moment, please run over to Fifi Flowers and vote for 6 dogs (Nike is number 3). This is the last day to vote.

Click Here to vote!

     I've decided to use this antique washstand that I recently moved into my daughter's room as a place to display some of my favorite things I want to share with you. Last week, it was my tiny child's tea service. Today, I'm showing you my teacup collection.

     When I first got married, every Christmas my mother would give me a teacup and saucer. Her mother had done the same for her. After 8 Christmas packages, she said I had enough to have the ladies in for bridge and everyone would have a different teacup. Well, I've never had ladies in for bridge, sorry mom. I have had them in for tea or coffee and on occasion I have pulled out these teacups. They always make for great conversation.

The Lilly of the Valley cup and the Yellow Rose

are both Regency English Bone China, Made in England.

The remaining 6 are Queens Fine Bone China,

 Rosina China Co. Ltd., Made in England.

Some have pattern names, some don't. Above are

Yultide, Wildflowers and one with no pattern marking.

The white flowered cup is marked December-Christmas Rose,

the soft pink and yellow blossom cup

 and the bird cup have no pattern name marked.

     I added a vintage pink runner, a silver footed tray that was my mother's and some very delicate paper napkins along with my Hobby Lobby bargain bird and a few flowers to pull it all together.

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway.

Just click here to read all about

it and to get your name on the list!

I'm linking today to:

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Lady Katherine @ Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor for Tea Time Tuesday

Please visit our lovely hostesses.

Tiny Tabletop Tea

     A few years ago, I taught etiquette classes for children. I was thrilled when I found this darling child's tea set to use for my class. It is Edelstein Bavaria (Made in Germany) and I found it on Ebay. I set the "table" on an antique washstand, using a vintage cloth, a silver tray that was my mother's and a Lizzie High Doll celebrating her birthday.

     Many years ago, I had a gift shop. One of the perks was to be able to buy things for myself at market. I had forgotten about this picture, until I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago. Each of the four sections is hand painted and represents a season of the year...in tea. It hung in my home for several years, but I think I'd prefer it now without the gold frame. What do you think?

I am linking today with:

 Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Lady Katherine @ Lady Katherine Tea Parlor for  Tea Time Tuesday

Linda @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Please visit our lovely hostesses!