The Tea

This past Saturday, the women of our church hosted a tea. The church is located in downtown Pittsburgh so it is always a challenge to "stage" anything. It's not as easy as pulling into a parking lot and carrying your stuff 10 feet. You have to drop things off at the back door in an alley and then drive your car to a public parking garage to park. It will then cost about $5 to park. Our official term for this is "schlepping".

Knowing that, I have to say that everything turned out phenomenally well! We had 5 tables of 6-8 ladies each. Each table had a hostess (or 2)and each hostess was responsible for supplying her table with the linen, china, silverware and centerpiece or other table decoration. The hostesses outdid themselves. Every table was creatively and beautifully decorated. All of the women who came had a fun time.

We enjoyed the speaker, Janet Campbell, who is the Costumier of the Pittsburgh Ballet Company. She brought costumes from some of the productions and explained how she goes from drawings to finished costume. Fascinating! I was so engrossed in her program that I didn't take any pictures of her or the costumes. I did, however take pictures of the tables.

Bea's table was elegant and proper. Her good china, silver and crystal was used and flowers were abundant.Erika and Maggie shared hosting duties. The table was set using vintage clear glass dishes with a pineapple motif. Pineapple candle holders and a lovely plant completed the look. Simple but classy!

Janet chose an Herb Garden theme for her table. Each guest received a lavender plant and a booklet about the meaning of herbs. Please note the lace cascading from the back of each chair. Curtains folded and arranged through the chair opening and tied with ribbon! (That Janet is so clever!)Jeanne planned a fun table featuring her flamingo collection!Her table was covered with a raspberry colored cloth, and her Grandmother's antique china went well with the vibrant colors of her favorite birds! I'm sorry you can't see her outfit for the day. She wore flamingo embroidered capris and a rhinestone encrusted top....she's a fun lady!!!! Another fun friend, Anne, showed up in hot pink and lime green, wearing the perfect flamingo earrings. Of course she sat at Jeanne's table!

My table had a dress form theme. I used Tilly, my dress form, who came to the tea appropriately decorated in an antique collar, pearls and my Grandmother's cameo pin. At Tilly's base were a pair of vintage cotton gloves, a sweet embroidered hankie and a rose.My table runner was an embroidered vintage dresser scarf. I used pink Depression glass plates in addition to my china cups and saucers. My silver had belonged to my mother-in-law. I love old vinegar cruets and small odd bottles. They became small vases for beautiful miniature roses.

I made a place card for each place using dress form stamps from my collection.Using small $1 notebooks from Michael's, I altered the fronts and had a notebook at each place. This is how the notebooks looked before....

and after......All in all, it was an enjoyable event. The food was deliciously prepared by a caterer and served by three adorable servers.....

Roger, David and Bob

They did such a good job I took the one in the middle home with me! (The other two men are also husbands of our group) Thanks guys! You did a super job!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures of the tea. I think I'll go make some shortbread cookies now!