You are here: Home / Archives for Tea Party Themes

A Mad Hatters Tea Party – Create Some Fun For Kids

September 22, 2011 By
Mad Hatters Tea Party

 

Mad Hatters Tea Party

 Tea parties are always a fun way to get together, but a Mad Hatters tea party is a different kind of fun. What a memorable way to create some end of summer fun for the kids.

Nonsensical and silly are the goals of this party. All the tea etiquette rules and sophistication of a traditional tea party go out the window, or should I say go through the looking glass?

If you remember, in Alice in Wonderland, the March Rabbit meets with Alice as he is running late for a tea party. The beginning of Chapter 7 in the story, Alice finds herself at a very long table, set for many for tea. Everyone is crowded at one end of this table. This, of course, is the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

The Mad Hatter has been condemned by the Queen of Hearts for ‘killing time” with his singing. As the story goes, all the clocks and watches say tea time, all the time. Alice is impolitely treated with riddles that have no answers and silly nonsensical poems.

This has all the makings of a very fun event and a way to get the kids to explore their creative side.

Let’s start with the invitations. Do you want hats to be the theme? Or maybe the theme is Wonderland and all the characters? Take time to make hand made invitations. Create your own silly rhymes to go with the theme. If you want others to dress up, make them aware of that in the invitation. Ask them to wear an outrageous hat. Or better yet, tell them you have a Mad Hatter hat making session planned.

To create excitement and anticipation of the event, deliver the invitations in costume!

Once you have the theme and have the invitations out, it is time to plan the tea party decorations. The Mad Hatter tea party is all about non conformity, so enjoy and mix and match your dishes, glasses and silverware. Use different chairs too! Table cloths in pastel colors and tea pots with flowers make a great table setting for this affair. Some paper lanterns or playing cards are great decoration ideas to consider too.

Consider creating a looking glass that every one walks through to enter the party into Wonderland. Find a place for the Cheshire cat or at least his smile to appear. And don’t forget Dormouse, he would be happy to be placed in a teapot on the table.

More on a Mad Hatters Tea Party

Now, time to plan the menu. It is a party for games and fun. Finger foods are perfect for this event. You can serve the same foods you would serve at any tea party, but have fun and get creative to on the names of the food. Remember, the sillier the better for Wonderland. How does Tweedledee and Tweedledum tarts sound? Courisier and courisier tea cocktails? The Mad Hatter did offer Alice some wine! So serve your ice tea drinks in plastic wine goblets to the kids. Take a ribbon and a name tag and tie it on the base of each glass. Write “Drink Me” on them. Make cookies that say “Eat Me”.

For a fun activity, allow your guests to become Mad Hatters, and create their own hats. It is a simple and fun activity for the kids. It takes newspaper, tape, scissors, flowers and a little creativity to make these as tea party favors. It is a great way to occupy the kids and allow them to make something memorable to take home.

This is a party to play croquet, card games and silly rhyming games. Depending on the age of the children, you can create games suitable for their age level. Some may love playing “opposites”. Everything in Wonderland is not as it appears to be. Make rules that everyone is called their name backwards and when responding to a question on should answer the opposite of what they really mean. It can create laughter as the kids get inventive with their questions.

A Mad Hatters tea party is a great and fun way to create some end of summer fun for kids! It allows them to be creative and silly. This is a party that will be talked about for years to come.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Connie Bednar has been a tea enthusiast all her life. She enjoys entertaining around tea themes and so her web site http://www.your-cup-of-tea.com was born. Learn more about the fun Mad Hatters Tea Party here on her web site Take the time to sign up for “Tea Note Speaker” her newsletter (look for the link on the navigation bar to the left-here’s a hint the link is toward the bottom) while you are there and take advantage of her complimentary tea e-course.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Filed Under: Children's Tea Party, Featured, Tea Party Themes Tagged With: , ,

Tea and Gardening Party

September 12, 2011 By
tea-and-gardening-party

 

tea garden tea party

There is still time for a tea time gardening party!

Plan this tea party for a warm month when the garden is ready for a big round of planting, weeding, pruning, or harvesting. Make sure that there will be a reward for your tea garden party guests to take home in appreciation of their hard work, in the form of a treat from the garden or some homemade cookies or preserves.

Invitations to your tea and garden party can be store-bought, handmade, or printed on your computer, as long as they are flowery and bright. Ask guests to wear their best wide-brimmed sun hats, comfortable shoes, and sturdy gloves. Avoid the hottest hours of the day by asking them to arrive after three o’clock. 

For your tea and garden party: Set up a long table with pitchers of iced tea, glasses, and any tools they will need, such as  clippers, trowels, stakes and ties. Pile a decorative tray with damp tea towels for wiping hands and brows, and don’t forget to offer sunscreen and hand lotion. Let your gardening tasks inspire the decorations:

For a weeding session, fill a glass with water and samples of the weeds you want them to remove. If it’s hard to tell the weeds from the plants you want to keep, fill a second glass with samples of the good plants they should leave intact. Make hand-lettered signs saying, “Weeds” and “Please Don’t Pull Me—I’m a Carrot” to label  your samples.

For a pruning session, stand a typical branch in a tall vase and clip off a example of what needs to be pruned. Tie a colorful ribbon around the piece you cut off and lay it next to the branch. Tie a matching ribbon around the branch to mark the place you removed the piece from.

If your guests will be planting, pile seed packages or bulbs in pottery bowls or woven baskets lined with cloth napkins. Provide wooden spoons or silver serving spoons from the kitchen, if you’re short of garden tools to dig in soft soil.

If it’s harvest time, arrange two plates with samples of your crop. One plate will have samples that are ripe and ready to be picked, and the other will hold samples of fruits or vegetables too young, small or otherwise not right for picking.

In another part of the garden, or on a shady porch, set up chairs for resting, and a table laid with pastel linen and your best tea things. Bring out a portable CD player so your guests can enjoy traditional Irish and English folk music while they garden.

When it’s time to eat, call the guests over to relax and enjoy a light menu of:

  • More iced tea
  • Sparkling water and fresh mint leaves to add to iced tea
  • Two flavors of hot tea: one flowery, like Earl Grey,  and one fruity, like blackberry caffeine-free tea.
  • Tomato and cheese sandwiches on homemade bread
  • Celery sticks with yogurt-and-dill dip
  • Carrot cake
  • Seasonal fruit
  • Cookies decorated with pink, white and yellow icing and sprinkles
Filed Under: Featured, Tea Party Themes

Planning A Seasonal Tea Party

September 5, 2011 By
christmas-theme

Celebrating the seasons with tea is a natural way to transition from one cycle to the next. Teas were traditionally available as the seasons changed, and honoring the natural growth cycle of tea plants is a fun way to share seasonal teas with friends and family. It is also a great way to sample teas that you or your guests may not be familiar with. It is now possible to grow all types of teas year-round, and as such, many people fall into a “tea rut.” Using the seasons to mix up your teas may lead to your next favorite blend.

As the seasons change, there’s no better reason to host a tea party! Teas are enjoyable year-round, and you’ll find yourself with all sorts of reasons to host a tea party. One such example is to share the wonders of the different types of teas that lend themselves to each season. Light, fruity teas are perfect for the summer, while heartier teas are a great comfort in winter.

Activities

Hosting a seasonal tea party can incorporate any of the season’s traditional activities, or it can be anything else you want it to be! Guests may enjoy brewing their own, experimenting with different preparation methods, or learning about teas from around the world for each season. Incorporate different tea traditions for the teas you are serving. Alternatively, consider celebrating a seasonal element, such as a solstice or holiday.

Decorations

How you decorate for your party will depend on the season and if you are a focusing on a particular theme. Should you celebrate the change of seasons or a solstice party, focus on decorations that represent the upcoming season. As spring moves into summer, for example, a wide array of wildflowers may be available. Choose bright, cheery colors and lightweight table settings and linens. If you are in the midst of winter, deeper colors are more appropriate, as well as heavier table settings, such as hearty mugs or heavy glasses. Consider all aspects of your decor when planning your party.

Use decorations from nature. Pinecones are great in winter, flowers in spring and summer, and wheat or other harvest items in the fall. Incorporate colors of each season, using pastels in spring, bright colors in fall, browns and oranges in fall, and deep colors in winter.

Music

Music selections for your parties can vary greatly. Consider “The Four Seasons” for fun! There are also a number of other seasonal music compilations or selections based on a particular season, such as George Winston’s CDs. A trip to your local music store or a quick online search can lead you to a number of seasonal music selections.

 

Invitation Ideas

Choose invitations based on the time of year. Coordinate your colors and consider making your own invitations using specialty papers that represent your theme. Commercial invitations may work just as well, however, so there’s no need to rule them out if you’re not keen on the idea of creating your own. You may find that the perfect seasonal invitation already exists.

Foods

What should you serve at a seasonal tea party? Rely on natural foods that are available during the time of year and work those into your offerings as much as possible. Obviously, this may be easier during some months than others, but it provides a good starting place. Use a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and create complimentary main dishes or appetizers. There are a number of cookbooks available that focus on seasonal foods and these can be a good reference source if you’re stuck for ideas. An online search may also be useful.

 

Teas

During the winter and cooler months, hearty teas like Yunnan, Assam or Keemun warm the palate and the body.  You can even pick from this years crop by going to  www.TeaSource.com.

A refreshing green tea like Mountain Spring Jasmine is perfect for summer months, or perhaps a fruit filled herbal such as Wild Berries and Blossoms, which offers an excellent cup of iced pleasure. Both of these teas are available from www.MightyLeaf.com.

 

Love this article?  Here are some more!

 How To Fold Napkins For Tea

 The Guide to Planning a Tea Party–Spring Edition

 

Tea Party Girl asks:  What is the next tea party YOU are planning?

Filed Under: Tea Party Themes Tagged With: , , ,

Tea with Agatha Christie

September 1, 2011 By
Agatha-Chrstie

In a small theater in London’s West End, I discovered Agatha Christie.  Her mystery play “The Mousetrap” has been running continually since it opened 1952.   It’s surprise ending reminds the audience that a great writer can always surprise you.   When the curtain closed.. I was officially a die hard Agatha Christie fan.

The last 13 years my life has been devoted to all things tea.   I quickly discovered that not only was Ms. Christie an avid tea drinker but she often wrote about it in her books. (she wrote 80 stories and plays in all!)

Here is a fun quote from “And Then There Were None”

 

“Will you pour out tea, Miss Brent?’ The el­der wom­an replied: ‘No, you do it, dear. That tea-​pot is so heavy. And I have lost two skeins of my grey knitting-​wool. So an­noy­ing.’ Ve­ra moved to the tea-​ta­ble. There was a cheer­ful rat­tle and clink of chi­na. Nor­mal­ity returned. Tea! Blessed or­di­nary everyday af­ter­noon tea! Philip Lom­bard made a cheery re­mark. Blore re­spond­ed. Dr. Arm­strong told a hu­mor­ous sto­ry. Mr. Jus­tice War­grave, who or­di­nar­ily hat­ed tea, sipped ap­prov­ing­ly.

 

Agatha Christie actually wrote a short story entitled “A Pot Of Tea” starring her young detectives Tommy and Tuppence in her collection “Partners in Crime.”

 

If hosting your own Agatha Christie tea party consider the following suggestions:

 

#1 The 1957 version of “Witness for the Prosecution” is fantastic.  Gather your friends around the flat screen,  sip tea and drink in the mystery.  This play had a surprise ending that is sure to start avid discussions amongst your guests.

#2 Serve a hearty English Afternoon blend like Albert Square Blend from http://TeaSource.com

#3 Make classic English scones as described in detail at the Joy of Baking.com  Follow this link for a video and written instructions.  http://joyofbaking.com/scones.html

#4 Before the end of the film, ask your guests to write out “who done it” and drop it in a hat.  Read the conclusions aloud, watch the end of the film and allow time to discuss.

An Agatha Christie tea party can be memorable without being complicated.

 

Need a great favor?  Consider buying inexpensive paperbacks of some of Christie’s finest mysteries.  These are often available on Amazon.com

 

Have you read these Tea Party Girl articles?

Winston’s Wartime Tea

Tea Mystery Books You May Have Missed

The Top Ten Reasons a Daily Cup of Tea is Essential to Living

 

Tea Party Girl Asks: What’s Your Favorite Agatha Christie Book?

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Tea Party Themes Tagged With: , ,

Jane Austen Tea Party

July 11, 2011 By
pride1995

As time goes by, Jane Austen and tea never go out of fashion. In fact, they’ve both become almost trendy in recent years. So what better way to celebrate Jane Austen’s genius than with a tea party re-creating a few hours of her everyday life?

Invite guests to bring along a favorite passage from one of Austen’s books. The invitation can include a pictures of typical costumes from the early 1800’s. Encourage guests to consider wearing a shawl over modern clothes or experimenting with period dress. Empire waists were popular then, as were choker necklaces.

Bare polished wood was the look in decorating at the time, so be sure to have at least one dark wooden table to set off your most charming porcelain knick-knacks. Print out some scenes of Regency England from this Jane Austen website: http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/rgnclfil.html. Glue them to rectangular doilies and hang three doilies vertically, at least four inches apart, on a long strip of velvet ribbon. Hang heavy tassels from lamp pulls, window shades, and curtain tie-backs.

Greet each guest with the offer of a glass of sherry. Invite them to choose refreshments from a buffet table covered with a white table cloth, with lace borders separating the four areas serving tea, sandwiches, scones, and cookies. Run dark green ribbons through the lace borders for a decorative effect.

Have several card tables set up around the room, covered with dark green cloth. Each table can be set with a small teapot filled with hot water, plus milk, sugar, thinly sliced lemons, napkins, and silverware. The hot water is for refilling guests’ cups if they have kept their tea bags or are using individual tea strainers. Have a plate of sweet butter and a bowl of jelly at each table. Use tall candles in polished brass candlesticks to cast a flattering glow down on the seated guests.

As guests settle in, they can take turns reading their chosen passages from a Jane Austen book. If anyone has chosen a section with several speaking parts, ask for volunteers to act out the scene. If people seem shy about reading to the whole group, let them read just to the people at their table.

The Austen family liked many kinds of music, so you can’t go wrong with anything by Bach, Haydn, or Handel, or with Scottish or Irish folk songs. If you have guests who like to sing, invite them to perform, perhaps accompanied on the piano.

Once each table has four guests, announce the opening of a game of whist. No Jane Austen novel would be complete without a few rounds of whist among friends. This card game is simple enough for players to learn the rules in a few minutes, unlike its offspring, the game of bridge. Give each table a copy of the rules of whist, which you can print out from this website: http://www.pagat.com/whist/whist.html.

Menu:

  • Sherry
  • Green and black tea
  • Sliced chicken and cucumber sandwiches
  • Dilled salmon and cream cheese sandwiches
  • Drop biscuits
  • Freshly sliced French bread
  • Violet, mint, or rose jellies
  • Camembert cheese
  • Pound cake
  • Almond pudding

 

 

 

Like this article? Have you read these?

Jane Austen Lived Before the Inventor of the Tea Party

How to Take Tea with Jane Austen

Books and Tea ~ Creating a Literary Tea Party

 

 

Tea Party Girl Asks:  Are you a Jane Austen fan?

Filed Under: Tea Party Food, Tea Party Themes, The Tea Party Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »