Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Tea for Three

The porch is all spruced up for the Porch and Patio Party, and the tea set has been repaired.  It’s time for tea.  Ben and Claire will be arriving tomorrow night and bringing my mother, so our girls’ Tea for Two has turned into Tea for Three.

tea 001

tea 003 Since this tea set that I found on eBay was the inspiration for my Tea Party, I decided that a vintage theme would be appropriate.  I used an old tablecloth that I picked up in an antique store somewhere years ago, and the tulips were still in good shape from the Porch Party, which is a good thing because I don’t have much blooming in my yard right now.

I have a pretty good collection of plates, cups and saucers that I’ve found on eBay, but not enough to do “matchy-matchy,” so I just went with “mix and match.”  They all have similar colors, so I think it works.

tea 010

I’ll be using Winchester by Johnson Brothers.  I have several of these plates and cups that I mix with other Johnson Brothers china in similar colors whenever I have a coffee or tea at my house.

 

tea 006 Claire’s place is set with Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles.  These are actually my “everyday” dishes.  LBeau thinks they are too old fashioned looking, but I love them.  This is an old pattern that Johnson Brothers has begun making again. 

tea 012 I’ll let Mother use the Ridgway’s Devon-Ware that matches the tea set.  My original two Devon-Ware plates came from a set that Mother has.  I think they were handed down from my paternal grandmother.

 

tea 009

The butter spreaders and teaspoons are from some old silver that was given to me by my Aunt Sissy.  They originally belonged to my Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Don Blanchard.  I am certain that the “B” monogram is what got them passed down to me.  The napkins are from April Cornell.  I always use cloth napkins for meals, so these been washed so many times that they go perfectly with the vintage tablecloth.

tea 1002 Today we’re having biscuits with butter and orange marmalade that I uncovered when I was cleaning out the refrigerator yesterday.  Note:  Come back on Metamorphosis Monday for a peek inside my fridge.

For more beautiful tablescape ideas, be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch, where your sure to find something wonderful that Susan dreamed up while she was napping.  She’ll also have links to all of the other tablescapes.

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35 comments:

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I'm coming over now. Yum!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a lovely tablescape for a great tea. I love all of your dishes. They are all just gorgeous, and the tea pot and creamer and sugar are stunning. I love using different plates in coordinating colors and patterns. I think it makes everything so much more interesting. Love it all. Hugs, Marty

Domestic Designer said...

What a lovely tea! I love the way you used all of your vintage pieces! The color is so pretty. I know you and your family will have a lovely time!

Barbara said...

Kathy, Your table looks so warm and inviting for a tea party. Hope you all enjoy it.

Thanks for coming over, please come again.

Unknown said...

It is a beautiful tea! I love the color scheme and how everything is mixed and matched.

ellen b said...

Kathy I love tea tables, love pink and love your table for 3!! That Johnson Bros.pattern is so lovely!!
Just beautiful....

Kammy said...

Oh Kathy,
I love how you mixed the dishes and
they match so well. I am sure you
will have a nice tea for three.....
Thanks for sharing and I will be
back on Monday to see that fridge...LOL
Hugs ~ Kammy

Barb @ The Everyday Home said...

Kathy - just beautiful. I am so glad you were able to get your dish "problem" resolved. It was so worth the wait. I loved this teascape! I hope you join me on Tea Time Tuesday starting next week. Thx so much for sharing this special tea....Hugs, Barb

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful Kathy!! All three of you will just have the best time in this setting. What a treat to see your porch. My regards to your mom. dw

xinex said...

So lovely! It is so nice to have tea in the porch too!...christine

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

I do love how you've pulled everything together. I'm very fond on vintage table linens - what a pretty tablecloth you have!

Valerie said...

Hi Kathy.

Tea for Three looks absolutely lovely! I like that it isn't matchy-matchy and instead looks thoughtfully arranged! Very pretty.

Blessings to you,
Valerie

Anonymous said...

I dearly love your tea table! I love the old fashioned look and you've done it up so well! Beautiful dishes too!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Unknown said...

Happy Mother's Day to you and all the mothers in your family. I love your porch...I'll be glad to get the pollen cleaned from mine (assuming the rain stops anytime soon), so that we can begin our seasonal dining outdoors. I'm so anxious to try out the Writer..check back soon to see if I need your expertise:)

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

This is all so beautiful! I like mis-matched dishes better than matchy-matchy! Have a wonderful tea party!

Katherine
P.S. - Did you see someone told about using a copper penny in the tulips to keep them from drooping.

From the Old InkWell said...

LOVE LOVE the mixy matchy! The plates, tea service, everything is just so homey and sweet.

Lorna ~ Lace and Ivy Cottage said...

I'm a tea fanatic and I love your tea setting. Absolutely lovely!

santamaker said...

What a great table. Just adore those dishes and oh my, those biscuits look amazing!

Unknown said...

What a lovely and inviting table. I hope that you enjoy a wonderful Mother's Day weekend.
Happy Twirls

Martha said...

What a lovely tea table -- I love the mix and match of the dishes -- and your pinks are very pretty. I do the same with mine only mine are blue and white. It all goes together well doesn't it, when everything is the same color that it doesn't have to be matchy matchy.

All of your plates are lovely and I, too, like Britain's Castles and I don't think it's a bit old fashioned!

Chandy said...

It works, it works! What a lovely table! I love the mix and match look the colors! Great job!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

love the tea for three! Happy Tablescape Thursday ~ Susan

Carla said...

Ohh Kathy this is really lovely...yum yum!
c

Candy said...

Tea for Three...much more fun than two...triple fun.
Looks like a great mending job on the tea set.
I'll bring some Wild Mustang grape jelly MIL makes. Picked from our property.

Happy MOM day to you,
Candy

Tara said...

Everything looks so beautiful. How blessed your tea time guests are that you put such thought and care into their visit. Even if they are just FAMILY. I think they deserve our best, because they are the ones that don't always get it!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Happy Mother's day! How pretty your table is and I love the mix and match!

Unknown said...

That tea set is absolutely beautiful! Great idea for a tablescape!

~Really Rainey~

Robin said...

You have set a perfect tea......absolutely lovely.

Have a beautiful day.

Carla said...

Oh Katie Photoshop's own instructions are notoriously awful. I don't know anyone that can make head or tail of them! I have learned by doing, but if I need some more detail information or technique, I usually run a search on google, and get quite a lot of good sites. I'll try and compile a list and email it to you asap.
best
c

Diana LaMarre said...

I love the mix and match look. It is so much more interesting than using all the same dishes. Very Victorian and beautiful.

Dana and Daisy said...

how sweet! I love it!

Tonja said...

I love the table and all the dishes! Just beautiful! Love the tablecloths, too! I hope your tea party is extra special!

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Oooh! I love all your dishes. I love how they are not matchy matchy. And I love the tablescape. Fabulous tablescape.

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

Your dishes are lovely and I love the tulips. It all looks beautiful!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Kathy, as you probably know, I don't like "matchy-matchy", so I love your tablescape. All of it coordinates so well, and is much more interesting than if everything matched. laurie