April 1, 2008

Tuesday's Tea Time ~ Gracious Hospitality's Blog-A-Thon

This week La-tea-dah's theme for the Hospital-i-tea Blog-a-thon is Decor-a-Tea. Being the tea lover that I am, there's tea accoutrements all over my house! Here are a few places in the main areas that have been graced with the thought of "Tea":


This vignette is in the little bit of hallway off of the great room leading to the main bath and children's bedrooms. There isn't much space here so just a small touch is all that could be used. This darling cup and saucer was a gift from my Secret Sister a few years ago. The charming clock is a gift from my husband ~ it plays a different bird's song every hour on the hour.


This grouping is on top of the pie safe in my kitchen. The tea set is a prized possession my parents brought back from South Africa after I was newly wed. I remember taking tea in South Africa with a similar set during my childhood there. The teacup stand holds a few of my teacups and a small teapot. The green teacup is a keepsake from the week we spent at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island a few years ago. The little book standing beside the stand is by Susan Wheeler, " Tea with Victoria Rose." It kind of ties all my different themes together~roses, bunnies, pink and tea!


My favorite Bunnies by the Bay rabbit, a chocolate pot, tea for one, and tea cup in my favorite china pattern adorn the top of my refrigerator. Don't you love the fake cake and slice of cake made with ~ dried rose buds ~ of course!

A sweet card depicting two bunny girlfriends having tea~all decorated especially for my birthday by a dear friend. This sweet grouping is on the front of my refrigerator.


This is my trash can! Isn't it pretty with it's tea sachet hanging from the handle, teapot lamp from my dear daughter and another piece of the Tea Time lace under the pretties!
This is a close-up of the collection on top of my secretary ~ see the Tea pot on the lace hanging down from the top? Just love that lace!


This beautiful oak secretary with it's curved glass door houses the rest of my Blue Peony china and my cookbook collection. There are a few of my tea accoutrements mixed in with the china~ just to make it all look prettier!


This grouping is on the wall in my dining room. My youngest sister, Amy, gave me the charming picture for my birthday many years ago. D. Morgan painted this dear print of sisters having tea. Around the picture is this poem:

Memories of childhood may someday fade
But never the special games we played.
Though our tea party days have come to an end,
You're always my sister ~ always my friend.


This curio is in the living area of the great room ~ right next to the dining room. In it, I've displayed all my Old Country Roses china ~ including the regular teapot and a chintz teapot in the Old Country Rose pattern. Later this week, I will plan to post more pictures of my living area. I'm making a victorian style valance for the window and plan to re-arrange the furniture so I can add an ottoman I'm bringing up from the family room!

I hope you've enjoyed your little visit to My Cottage Tearoom!

Don't forget to visit La-tea-dah at gracioushospitality.blogspot.com for more posts on decorating with tea!

25 comments:

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

What beautiful tea things you have, and your house and furniture, etc. are just gorgeous! I enjoyed seeing everything!

Katherine

La Tea Dah said...

Denise, your tea collection is very inspiring. You have put everything together so beautifully with no detail left out. I love the tea set your parents gave to you (photo 2). Thank you so much for sharing with us!

LaTeaDah

Anita said...

Thanks for stopping by my place! I love all the comments of my new friends. I enjoyed visiting your site, you have everything arranged so nicely. God bless!

Sandra said...

I loved seeing photos of your home and tea things...very pretty! I also loved the picture of the your kitchen window. Everything is just beautiful. I'm so glad to find your blog and will be back to visit often. :o)

Sandra

Unknown said...

Your home is lovely and the corners filled with everything to do about tea are so cozy and inviting. I love the quote too. Karen

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

How neat! I read your comment about your son and the tractor pulls! I started not to put it on my blog, but remembered quickly that this is MY space and about my life, and not just what I think other people will like or identify with, although it is so nice to receive comments of things we do all have in common...even tractor pulling! LOL! I saw that you are from Ohio, and he has found several tractors there. In fact, your son might be familar with Dennis Polk Auctions in Indiana. He had an auction the weekend Ohio had "the worst snowstorm in 98 years." LOL! My husband was there and had to travel way out of his way to get home to NC...couldn't go back through Ohio. ...Didn't mean to take up so much of your space, but I was so excited by your comment! Would love to see some of your son's tractor pulling...husband would love it! :) ...Love your tea spaces! Come visit me again! Rhonda :)

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Thank you for visiting my blog. I came and saw your entire blog! You have a beautiful home. I am so happy for you and your china find!! In reading your A,B,C,...
I find we have much in common. But I thought you would find it interesting that my uncle worked at Abeka for many years. Small world. Please come visit me again soon.

Karla Cook @ Roads to Everywhere said...

What sweet decor! Thanks for showing us around your house! (I'm still working on getting mine all pieced back together.)

Anonymous said...

Your home is so beautiful. I love all the pretty tea things you have. It's nice to have things with memories attached. Those are just the best aren't they? I love the little poem you included in your post too.

Anonymous said...

Denise, everything is so beautiful and precious. What a beautiful home you have :).

Karla Cook @ Roads to Everywhere said...

Tag! You're it! (See my latest post.)

Shady Gardener said...

Your home seems very restful and lovely. Thanks for sharing your collections. :-)

Vee said...

You really do use tea themes a lot in your beautiful home! Even the trash can! :>

It was fun to see all your sweet vignettes!

Reviekat said...

What lovely tea decorations you have about your home. It is all so beautiful, especially the lace!

Revee

A Romantic Porch said...

Denise, My goodness! What beautiful decor you have. Love,Rachel

Anonymous said...

What very lovely areas in your home that speak tea! You have some great displays and lovely tea sets in your cabinets. Fun...

Kathy said...

What a beautiful home you have, perfect for sharing during this tea blog-a-thon. Thank you for visiting me! ~Kathy

Carrie said...

I really enjoyed the tour of your tea decor. It is all so lovely and appealing!

Alice said...

How warm and welcoming your home must be. I can see the caring and love in every decoration. Absolutely charming!

Grace said...

wonderful post, I loved peering into the pictures to see it all!

Sandy said...

I love your combination of bunnies and tea! The chocolate pot is so fun! Your displays are just lovely!

Alisa Noble said...

What lovely tea things you have and thank you for visting me at my blog.

Ronda said...

Denise...Your house looks so beautiful...I so enjoyed seeing all of your pretty "tea" collections! My Mom, Diane, wanted me to let you know that she enjoys your blog very much and loves all of your pretty Victorian decor! You are a lady after her own heart!(smile)Have a wonderful day!

Pam said...

Love your tea things and your oak secretary cabinet!

Kim said...

Your home nad your blog are lovely! Thanks for stopping by mine. I wanted to let you know that your comment came through 3 times so I deleted 2 of them. I don't know if blogger let's you know if a comment is deleted and I didn't want you to think that I didn't like you! =) I will be back!