scrapologie : The Tea Party

There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head. "Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse," thought Alice; "only as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind".

The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it. "No room! No room!" they cried out when they saw Alice coming. "There's plenty of room!" said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table." (Lewis Carroll)

I think my love affair with tea and tea parties started when as a young girl, I read Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, and when I got to the chapter about a tea party celebrating un-birthdays, I was absolutely delighted. Poor Alice, she never did get that cup of tea but I grew to love tea, tea parties and any celebrations associated with tea. I collected teapots, teacups, tea linens. I felt as though I'd won the lottery when I stumbled upon a set of four enamelled silver tea spoons at a flea market, with fruit and flowers delicately handpainted on them. From strainers to tea cozies, silver toast caddies to cakes of sugar decorated with pink frosted roses, I love it all.

Later this week, I'll tell you about some of my favorite books about tea, I have a plethora of them, from books that talk about the history of tea, to ones that detail how to give tea celebrations and parties, to recipe books and poetry books - all celebrating tea. I really think I need to start a separate blog just about my tea obsession!

In the meantime, enjoy these lovely images: