Dolly & Me Tea

Little girls . . . dollies . . . teddy bears . . . and tea . . . A perfect combination!

Tasha Tudor Illustration

Miss Kathy was delighted to enjoy a room full of such ingredients - and more - at the first annual Dolly & Me Tea sponsored by the Woman's Club of Vineland as a fundraiser for Family Promise - an organization that provides shelter and essentials for homeless families.

My friend - and president of the Woman's Club this past year, June Lang - coordinated the affair with a very enthusiastic staff of volunteers, transforming their clubhouse into a Victorian inspired tea parlor!

The tables were set with some of the loveliest china teacups and saucers - and vintage place-cards that had been stowed away in a cabinet awaiting this day since the 1950's!

 

Old Country Roses Pattern - a personal favorite!

A plethora of teapots lined up like good little soldiers in the kitchen . . .

While the three tiered, floral decked servers were prepared with all manner of delicious tea sandwiches, cookies, and cakes!

A sunshiny day provided the perfect weather for a steady stream of dressy little girls and their moms - and grandmoms - to be welcomed and escorted to their table.  Each brought a "guest of honor" - their favorite doll or stuffed animal friend.

From the tiniest little palm-sized kitty-cat . . .

To the biggest, floppiest bunny . . .

To the most proper of American Girl Dolls sitting very mannerly in her chair . . .

And, look who came with her grand-daughter - Linda, a local blogging friend at Grandmalay's Day Dreams (far left)!  It was Linda who - in this very clubhouse - first encouraged me to blog over two years ago!  Her few tips on how to get started - got me started - and I've never looked back!

Tea and treats were served and duly devoured by all!

But, not before Miss Kathy shared some important tips about teatime etiquette through story . . .

There were plenty of opportunities for picture taking . . .

And, even our little ladies got into the game as amateur photographers!

After drinking tea and eating treats to our fill - and some Miss Kathy stories - Miss June instructed each little lady in a craft to make a teatime bead necklace as a keepsake of the special day.

The event was a great success and the Woman's Club was able to award a generous check to the Family Promise charity in the end - with hopes to make this an annual event!

Oh!  I hope they invite Miss Kathy to come tell teatime stories again!!

Sharing Dolly & Me Tea this week with:

Sandy's Tuesday Teatime at Rose Chintz Cottage

Kathy's A Return to Loveliness at Delightsome Life

Terri's Teacup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Martha at Martha's Favorites

Kathryn's Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Ruth at Antiques & Teacups Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Ninety Years Young!

What a great party Ed and I enjoyed last night!  A birthday party for a very special lady . . . Vintage 1923!

Remember the sweet lady my students and I interviewed for a writing project a few weeks ago - Mrs. Arjorie Moniodis Ingraham?  You can read about that HERE . . .

Well, we were honored to be invited to celebrate her ninety years of life, love, and laughter and the blessing she has been to so many people as the matriarch of a very large Greek/Italian family.  AND - It was a dressy affair - so I couldn't wait to wear some of my pretties!  So often everything is soooo casual these days.  Not this shin-dig!

The room was appointed in elegance - with plenty of PINKS to find . . .

I especially loved the PINK champagne - which was delicious and the perfect beverage to toast our guest of honor who has brought so much "pinkness" into people's lives through the years.

And vintage Arjorie looked terrific in this early 1960's era pink frock, pictured here with her husband, Horace . . .

Her daughter, Diane, created a series of matching scrapbooks detailing her mother's life so lovingly.  She had been in the midst of working on them when I'd visited with her for the interview in May.

So much thought went into all the sweet details of the party.  The room decor and themed colors and table favors and program were a feast for the eyes upon arrival.

A party program included a synopsis of Arjorie's life - a woman of deep faith who worked hard, endured tragedy, responded in love, and never wavered in her unbridled zest for life with bubbling gratitude what 'ere came her way.

The gift table overflowed with tokens of blessings for the part this sweet lady has played in peoples lives.

Her large family kicked off the dancing with some fun Greek folk dances - and Arjorie was right in the middle of it!  Then, sumptuous foods and chatter with friends - old and new - made for a good time had by all.  I was thrilled to share our table with an old classmate I hadn't seen since high school graduation - but - oddly enough, have been friends with on Facebook for some time.  Pam was a year ahead of me - but we went all through grade school and high school together.

So interesting how we all came to know Arjorie for many different reasons.  For my part, Arjorie and I have become friends over a shared interest in our hometown history.  Arjorie is an avid collector of Vineland history - recently working with the Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society on a soon to be published book featuring a host of the Vineland postcards she has in her collection - over a thousand of them!

A highlight of the evening was the appearance of our city's mayor, Ruben Bermudez, who presented Arjorie with a special proclamation in honor of the event.  Arjorie's niece, Angela Calakas, is currently serving on our City Council, and was given the honor to read the proclamation.

Every detail of the evening was a delight.  We were so blessed to be a part of this special evening in honor of a special lady.  And . . . I'm looking forward to having tea very soon with Arjorie - presenting her with a little something that I'm working on as the fruit of our interview project . . .

But, SHHHHH!   It's a secret . . . stay tuned . . .

Sharing Ninety Years Young with Beverly's Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound!

Dressing up for Teatime

"It's teatime - and I haven't a thing to wear!" 

. . . said NO woman passionate for period-attire-collecting EVER!

Yes - that would be me.  I daresay, I have any number of vintage and period style ensembles to be-deck me-self with - should the appropriate tea party invitation come my way.

And, this is not too far out of the realm of possibility when one finds oneself in the company of a group of ladies who thrive on tea - and vintage clothing of long past fashion eras!  I speak here of the delightful ladies who make up the Somewhere in Time Tea Society here in South Jersey!

I was first introduced to this delightful group of women as their guest speaker at a garden tea hosted by one of the ladies a couple years ago, where I had the pleasure of posing in Miss Kathleen's Victorian garden - photos of which I featured in my first summer of blogging HERE  . . .

Then, my oft partner in all things dress-up-fun at our local Woman's Club of Vineland - Milady June Lang - has given me opportunities to make the most of my medieval attire - see full post HERE . . .

And, most recently, some Victorian vintage fun at the Dolly & Me Tea - of which you shall know more in a future post . . .

Miss June is a member of the Somewhere in Time Tea Society and secured a group of the ladies to bring a Vintage Fashion Show to the stage at our recent Vineland Founder's Day in my hometown where we celebrate our local history.

June looks amazing in this spectacular 1860's ball gown!

This was my favorite - from 1912 - forest green velvet - stunning!

Founder and president of the group, Kimberly LaCroce, brought a few of her favorite - and thoroughly authentic - vintage fashion finds that had me drawn to this display booth regularly throughout the day! 

Kim has a passion for Edwardian clothes and she owns some prize collectibles!

Made from a blanket dated to the Spanish-American War!

Dressy shoes that might have been worn to an afternoon tea party!

Hats, shoes, and gloves - three of my favorite vintage things!

A scrapbook captures the tea society's many adventures in all things vintage and wearable.

Victorian button boots - who might have worn them, I wonder?

And, I just about flipped when I cast my eyes on this pair of Victorian button boots that looked fresh from the shoemaker!

That's because they were!  The property of Miss Krista Jasillo, pictured here with me, holding these delicious fine crafted beauties.  As soon as I saw them, I just had to blurt out - "AMERICAN DUCHESS!"

What a stir THAT created, as only those of us pouring over period attire blogs and vintage clothiers online would know that our gal at American Duchess makes the best of the best in authentic period shoes for popular fashion eras from the Renaissance to the Roaring '20's!

Kindred spirits, all!

So, in catching up with all my weekly tea ladies in Blogland, I just had to share these photos - over a cup of tea, of course.  Or, make that - a mug of tea . . .

In a little specialty tea mug I found thrifting one day.  I just loved our Art Deco fashion plate of a lady looking every bit late 1920's and 1930's style - by Villeroy & Boch (VB).

The company was founded in 1748 by Francois Boch in Lorraine, later moving to Luxembourg, and merging with competitor, Nicolas Villeroy in 1836.  The company still has original family members working for it and is headquartered today in Germany.

I thought a cozy cup of Chinese Flower Green Tea from Across the Pond Tea Shop might be in order.

It's a lovely blend of green teas and flowers with citrus spice to set it off nicely!

I've displayed my tea mug in a little corner in my sewing room where Lady Cordelia (my dress form) is sporting a fabulous Suzy Perette wool tweed dress from the late 1950's with an ultra feminine cardigan sweater from the same era sporting three quarter length sleeves, beads, and ribbon swirls.  It is a dream to wear!

The sweater - I mean.  I wear the sweater - and the fab pheasant feather cloche hat.  The dress - alas - must be a size 0, which I haven't worn since my freshman year in high school.

So - here's to vintage clothes, teatime, and kindred spirits within driving distance who have promised to invite me to their next monthly event where we get to dress up in all things Victorian, Edwardian, Flapper-esque - and vintage beyond!

I can't wait!

Sharing Dressing up for Teatime this week with:

Kathy's A Return to Loveliness at Delightsome Life

Terri's Teacup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Martha at Martha's Favorites

Kathryn's Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House