Mother's Day

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."   1 Cor. 13:4-8a

Happy Mother's Day!

Coming Soon--Sweet Necessi-Teas Events

A Vintage Mother's Day Tea

As you probably know by now, I am a romantic at heart who loves the elegance of eras past.  It only follows that I love afternoon tea and everything that goes along with it.  I am also a collector who believes in collecting what I love and living with it, not saving it for a special occasion.  Therefore, over a period of many years of hunting through antique shops, estate sales, flea markets, and charity stores with my best friend, I built up a rather large collection of vintage linens, china and decorative accessories that I use for entertaining. When I began to run out of display and storage space in my home, I decided to combine my two passions, collecting vintage china and planning tea parties, and open a new division of my retail business.  Later this month, my new venture--a vintage china rental and event styling company-- Sweet Necessi-Teas Events will dubut.

Although growing in popularity in Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, this will be one of a handful of such companies in the US and the only one in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  Based in the town of Double Oak in southern Denton County (Texas), we will supply our vintage china and styling services to Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lewisville, Grapevine, Southlake, and surrounding areas. Below are a few of my tea party photos to get a feel for what Sweet Necessi-Teas Events is all about.

I look forward to helping you create an elegant vintage atmosphere for your next special occasion.

Happy planning!

Karen

A Tea Party??? Part 3

Planning Your Vintage Tea Party - A Step by Step Guide

One Month before the party:  

·        Make a guest list.

·        Select a date and check for availability with Sweet Necessi-Teas Events.  Once confirmed, send out your invitations.

·        Decide which type of Afternoon Tea to host--Cream, Light, or Full.

·        Select your tea party package and/or order a la carte from the gallery/price list at Sweet Necessi-Teas Events.  Don’t forget to add decorative accessories!  Also, you may want to have additional tea pots in order to brew a variety of teas for your guests.

·        Plan your menu.

·        Select tea choice(s) if ordering the Royal Tea package at Sweet Necessi-Teas Events.

One day before party: 

·        Pick up china and accessories from Sweet Necessi-Teas Events.

·        Purchase fresh flowers

·        Purchase groceries.

·        Set and decorate table .  Set up buffet station, if needed.

·        Do food prep and/or Prepare foods that can be cooked/baked ahead

Morning of party:

·        Complete food preparation

Just before guests arrive:

·        Set out food and accompaniments, such as milk (not cream), sugar and lemon slices

·        Boil water.  Brew tea.

·        Relax and enjoy your guests

Tomorrow:  A Big Announcement!

A Tea Party??? Part 2

Continuing our conversation...

Types of Afternoon Tea

Contrary to popular belief, High Tea is not the same as Afternoon Tea. High Tea was enjoyed by the British working class as their evening supper, served at the “high” table with heartier fare than the tea sandwiches and scones that are now associated with afternoon tea parties.

Afternoon Tea was served in the late afternoon to provide sustenance between lunch and the traditional late evening meal. (Afternoon Tea was also called Low Tea because it was usually taken in a sitting room where low tables were placed near sofas or chairs.)     

There are three basic types of Afternoon Tea:

Cream Tea- Tea, scones, jam and Devonshire or clotted cream
Light Tea - Tea, scones, and sweets

Full Tea - Tea, savories, scones, sweets and desserts
 

Next week: Planning Your Tea Party--Step-By-Step

A Tea Party??? I Can't Do That...

When thinking about hosting a tea party, do you find yourself overwhelmed? Relax. It’s not as complicated as you think!

An Afternoon Tea Party is suitable for many celebrations. When you'd like to host a party that isn't as involved as a dinner party, a tea party can be the answer. It's an ideal format for a bridal or baby shower, a graduation or retirement party, a birthday celebration, or time to catch up with good friends.

The food is prepared before your guests arrive, and is either presented buffet style, or by passing plates of goodies at the table. The only thing you need to serve is the tea itself, leaving you plenty of time to relax and enjoy your guests.

Your guest list can include dozens of people or a few close friends with whom you'd like to share an intimate conversation.

In many parts of the world, tea time is an honored tradition of refinement and elegance where tables are set with china, silver, and white linens. These add polish and grace to the occasion and, in our fast-paced world, they remind us to slow down and enjoy the moments that add meaning to our lives.

Join me tomorrow for more about hosting an Afternoon Tea Party... 

Tea Cup Tuesday

I was rearranging the contents of my kitchen cabinets yesterday--moving my vintage tea sets to make them easier to access.  I have several sets and like to rotate them according to the occasion.  One of my favorite sets is a hand-painted Bavarian set for two.  I found it at an estate sale last year and was taken by its beauty.  Just look at the detail!

Etiquette--Part 3

Continuing the conversation on etiquette with a final excerpt from the Ladies Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness:

"Politeness, being based upon real kindness of heart, cannot exist where there is selfishness or brutality to warp its growth.  It is founded upon love of the neighbor, and a desire to be loved, and to show love.  Thus, where such pure, noble feelings do not exist, the mere forms of politeness become hypocracy and deceit."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday, I promised to wrap up the conversation with my own thoughts about how this relates to afternoon tea. On the first day, I was lamenting that our society has lost something and it has diminished us.  That something is politeness.  Not just the outward facade of politeness, ("Yes, Ma'am" and "No, Sir") still seen in parts of the country; rather, true politeness as described in the book--based on the condition of the heart.

Etiquette and politeness are bound together because the first dictates that some form of the latter be employed.  Afternoon tea is a great vehicle to teach the basics of etiquette, to discuss the concept of true politeness, and then, to practice hospitality. 

It's not too late to reverse the course of our self-centered society.  Start the trasformation.  Invite a young person to tea.

Etiquette--Part 2

Continuing the conversation about the importance and essence of etiquette:

"Many believe that politeness is just a mask worn in the world to conceal bad passions and impulses, and to make a show of possessing virtues not really existing in the heart; thus, that politeness is merely hypocrisy and dissimulation.  Do not believe this; be certain that those who profess such a doctrine are practising themselves the deceit they condemn so much.  Such people scout politeness, because, to be truly a lady one must carry the principles into every circumstance of life, into the family circle, the most intimate friendship, and never forget to extend the gentle courtesies of life to everyone.  This they find too much trouble, and so deride the idea of being polite and call it deceitfulness.

True politeness is the language of a good heart, and those possessing that heart will never, under any circumstances, be rude.  They may not enter a crowded saloon (a large room or hall for receptions, public entertainment, or exhibitions) gracefully; they may be entirely ignorant of the forms of good society; they may be awkward at table, ungrammatical in speech; but they will never be heard speaking so as to wound the feelings of another; they will never be seen making others uncomfortable by seeking solely for their own personal convenience; they will always endeavor to set every one around them at ease; they will be self-sacrificing, friendly, unselfish; truly in word and deed, polite.  Give to such a woman the knowledge of the forms and customs of society, teach her how to best show the gentle courtesies of life, and you have a lady, created by God, only indebted for the outward polish to the world."

                          ~~excerpt from  the introduction in The Ladies Book of Etiquette by Florence Hartley

Another excerpt tomorrow and some of my thoughts as how this relates to tea...

Etiquette

Etiquette--(noun) a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class or group.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was thinking about how much things have changed in my lifetime.  More specifically, the social graces or etiquette (or lack thereof) in our culture. What prompted my musings?  While searching for a guide to tea etiquette, I ran across a book from the mid-19th century, The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, Fashion and Manual of Politeness: A Complete Handbook for the Use of the Lady In Polite Society by Florence Hartley.  Her introduction is one of the most thought-provoking passages that I have read.  Try as I might, I cannot help but feel saddened that this line of thought is so far from the norm today.

An excerpt: 
In preparing a book of etiquette for ladies, I would lay down the first rule, "Do unto others as you would others should do to you."  You can never be rude if you bear the rule always in mind, for what lady likes to be treated rudely?  True Christian politeness will always be the result of an unselfish regard for the feelings of others, and though you may err in the ceremonious points of etiquette, you will never be impolite.

Politeness, founded upon such a rule, becomes the expression, in graceful manner, of social virtues.  The spirit of politenessconsists in a certain attention to forms and ceremonies, which are meant both to please others and ourselves, and to make others pleased with us; a still clearer definition may be given by saying that politeness is goodness of heart put into daily practice; there can be no true politeness without kindness, purity, singleness of heart, and sensibility.

More tomorrow...

Tea In Texas

The May/June issue of Tea in Texas has just arrived.  What a wonderful cover!  I always enjoy the travel articles--they are always about places that are close to my heart and an enticement to take a weekend trip.  A nice addition this month is a new feature, 2011 Best Tea Products.  Imagine my surprise when I spotted my Afternoon Tea Society ( a subscription tea party service) listed!  Wow!

If you live in North Texas, be sure to make plans to attend the 2011 Texas Tea Affair in Richardson on June 5.  I attended last year with my daughter and we had a wonderful time!  This year's featured speaker is author Millie Coleman, who will speak on the History of American Tea Rooms.  There will also be a cooking demonstration by chef Carol Landers on Decadent Teatime Desserts.  Finally, the event includes a chocolate and tea tasting  and a Full Afternoon Tea.  Need I say more?  For tickets and more information, call 832-922-9335 or email Affair@TeainTexas.com.  I hope to see you there!