Make-and-Take Tea Part 2 -- Teatime!

Welcome to our tea party! If you have come to The Marmelade Gypsy for the first time from Vanessa's Tea Party (see the bottom of this post for more info!), I hope you will enjoy. And if you are a regular Gypsy visitor, welcome home!

Last month I was showing you part one of our Make and Take Tea -- the Making part! Well, after we finished all those pretty hangings, we were hungry! Tea time!

Barb and I came up with this idea back last December -- at least, the idea of tea. (The Make-and-Take came later). We wanted a selection of sandwiches. Although we did our baking early, the real prep began the day before when we road-tested our food.

We had four kinds of tea sandwiches -- an open-faced pimento cheese on pumpernickel, egg salad, smoked salmon and of course, cucumber. As you can see, our first attempts left a bit to be desired. The fillings were terrific but the bread was too soft and our cutting was sloppy. That would be fixed!

We also pulled together our table, making sure quieter guests were next to someone more outgoing. Although, by the time they finished making their hangings, there was no quiet guest at the table. They had become old friends.



Tea day began with our set-up. Lovely china, ready and waiting for sandwiches! (We did put that pumpkin butter into its dish before the guests came to the table!)

Pretty flowers.



Party favors in place.

Pretty cups.

Barb's cousin Megan helped make sandwiches before she had to hit the road. It was a good thing -- we made about 100 tiny sandwiches for our guests (too many but the leftovers were a welcome take home, along with the hangings!)

We kept our guests in the basement till tea time and then the big reveal!

This tiered dish is one Megan had made from her grandmother (or great grandmother's) china. The lobelia in the cup at the top echoed the party favors.

We had sandwiches and sweets at both ends of the table so we didn't have to pass anything dangerous!

 

Of course the tea was flowing. Even on a warm and humid day, the hot tea seemed almost refreshing!

We did pass the fruit skewers -- there's only so much room on the table!

The cream scones were one of the day's happy hits. This recipe comes from blogger Marilyn of Delights from the Heart and her "Tea Party in Your Cupboard" book.They were to die for. We were glad there were a few leftover for the next day!

Scones were served with lemon curd, orange marmalade, pumpkin butter and clotted cream. The other deserts were iced shortbread cookies, lemon bread and pumpkin bread "sandwiches" with orange marmalade.

Everything was cheery and easy to manage. We used vintage mix-and-match dishes and Barb's silver. And of course, sweet cups!

Before the tea officially began and the guests came upstairs, Barb and I donned hats, gloves and pearls to share some tea etiquette. We were pleased to say that only a few rules were broken -- probably intentionally and definitely with good humour.

As the day drew to a close, our guests left with their twig hangings, flowers for their garden and leftovers. Pinkies up!

Barb was left with the dishes. (I offered after we cleaned upstairs and down but she insisted.)

I would have done the same thing!

Thanks for joining us at our tea party! You can find links to others at Vanessa's site as she hosts her annual Mad Hatter Tea Party event!