Saturday, June 26, 2010

Mad Tea Party 2010


Welcome to our Tea Party!!


We hope you decide to stay!! We decorated the table in our cleanest linens and sweetest confections, just for you!








Try our homemade sugar cookies, but be careful... Just one small bite make you grow very large!



The only way to reverse this quirky side effect is to take a sip of our very secret potion....



Try our decadent cupcakes decorated with rich frosting and paper garments....







Now that you've had a bit to eat, and your tummies are satisfied, I would like to introduce to my friend....


Yes! That is him! Oh, don't worry , he's just shy!!!



Show us your face Hatter!!


There! That's better... Now say hello to all of our guests!


You see, the Hatter and I were not always friends. At first, I actually thought he was very rude! The March Hare and himself never want to make room for anyone new at the table...

*FLASHBACK*

' "No room! No room!' they cried out when they saw Alice coming.

There's PLENTY of room!' said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table.

`Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.

Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. `I don't see any wine,' she remarked.

`There isn't any,' said the March Hare.

`Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it,' said Alice angrily.

`It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited,' said the March Hare.

`I didn't know it was YOUR table,' said Alice; `it's laid for a great many more than three.'

`Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech.

`You should learn not to make personal remarks,' Alice said with some severity; `it's very rude.'




The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he SAID was,

`Why is a raven like a writing-desk?'

`Come, we shall have some fun now!' thought Alice. `I'm glad they've begun asking riddles.

--I believe I can guess that,' she added aloud.

`Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?' said the March Hare.

`Exactly so,' said Alice.

Then you should say what you mean,' the March Hare went on.

`I do,' Alice hastily replied; `at least--at least I mean what I say--that's the same thing, you know.'

Not the same thing a bit!' said the Hatter. `You might just as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat what I see"!'

`You might just as well say,' added the March Hare, `that "I like what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!'

`You might just as well say,' added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, `that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!'

`It IS the same thing with you,' said the Hatter, and here the conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a minute, while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens and writing-desks, which wasn't much.

The Hatter was the first to break the silence. `What day of the month is it?' he said, turning to Alice: he had taken his watch out of his pocket, and was looking at it uneasily, shaking it every now and then, and holding it to his ear.

Alice considered a little, and then said `The fourth.'

`Two days wrong!' sighed the Hatter. `I told you butter wouldn't suit the works!' he added looking angrily at the March Hare.

`It was the BEST butter,' the March Hare meekly replied.

`Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well,' the Hatter grumbled: `you shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife.'


The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but he could think of nothing better to say than his first remark, `It was the BEST butter, you know.'

Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity. `What a funny watch!' she remarked. `It tells the day of the month, and doesn't tell what o'clock it is!'

`Why should it?' muttered the Hatter. `Does YOUR watch tell you what year it is?'

`Of course not,' Alice replied very readily: `but that's because it stays the same year for such a long time together.'


Which is just the case with MINE,' said the Hatter.

Alice felt dreadfully puzzled. The Hatter's remark seemed to have no sort of meaning in it, and yet it was certainly English. `I don't quite understand you,' she said, as politely as she could.

`The Dormouse is asleep again,' said the Hatter, and he poured a little hot tea upon its nose.

The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said, without opening its eyes, `Of course, of course; just what I was going to remark myself.'

`Have you guessed the riddle yet?' the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.

`No, I give it up,' Alice replied: `what's the answer?'

`I haven't the slightest idea,' said the Hatter.

`Nor I,' said the March Hare.

Alice sighed wearily. `I think you might do something better with the time,' she said, `than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers.'

`If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, `you wouldn't talk about wasting IT. It's HIM.'

`I don't know what you mean,' said Alice.

`Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head contemptuously. `I dare say you never even spoke to Time!'

`Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: `but I know I have to beat time when I learn music.'

`Ah! that accounts for it,' said the Hatter. `He won't stand beating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he'd do almost anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose it were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!'

(`I only wish it was,' the March Hare said to itself in a whisper.)

`That would be grand, certainly,' said Alice thoughtfully: `but then--I shouldn't be hungry for it, you know.'

`Not at first, perhaps,' said the Hatter: `but you could keep it to half-past one as long as you liked.'

`Is that the way YOU manage?' Alice asked.

The Hatter shook his head mournfully. `Not I!' he replied. `We quarrelled last March--just before HE went mad, you know--' (pointing with his tea spoon at the March Hare,) `--it was at the great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing

"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!"

You know the song, perhaps?'

`I've heard something like it,' said Alice.

`It goes on, you know,' the Hatter continued, `in this way:--

"Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea-tray in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle--"'

Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep `Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--' and went on so long that they had to pinch it to make it stop.

`Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse,' said the Hatter, `when the Queen jumped up and bawled out, "He's murdering the time! Off with his head!"'

`How dreadfully savage!' exclaimed Alice.

`And ever since that,' the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, `he won't do a thing I ask! It's always six o'clock now.'

A bright idea came into Alice's head. `Is that the reason so many tea-things are put out here?' she asked.

`Yes, that's it,' said the Hatter with a sigh: `it's always tea-time, and we've no time to wash the things between whiles.'

`Then you keep moving round, I suppose?' said Alice. `Exactly so,' said the Hatter: `as the things get used up.'

`But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice ventured to ask.

`Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted, yawning. `I'm getting tired of this. I vote the young lady tells us a story.'

`I'm afraid I don't know one,' said Alice, rather alarmed at the proposal.

`Then the Dormouse shall!' they both cried. `Wake up, Dormouse!' And they pinched it on both sides at once.

The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. `I wasn't asleep,' he said in a hoarse, feeble voice: `I heard every word you fellows were saying.'

`Tell us a story!' said the March Hare.

`Yes, please do!' pleaded Alice.

`And be quick about it,' added the Hatter, `or you'll be asleep again before it's done.'

`Once upon a time there were three little sisters,' the Dormouse began in a great hurry; `and their names were Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a well--'

`What did they live on?' said Alice, who always took a great interest in questions of eating and drinking.

`They lived on treacle,' said the Dormouse, after thinking a minute or two.

`They couldn't have done that, you know,' Alice gently remarked; `they'd have been ill.'

`So they were,' said the Dormouse; `VERY ill.'



Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways of living would be like, but it puzzled her too much, so she went on: `But why did they live at the bottom of a well?'

`Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.

`I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, `so I can't take more.'

`You mean you can't take LESS,' said the Hatter: `it's very easy to take MORE than nothing.'

`Nobody asked YOUR opinion,' said Alice.

`Who's making personal remarks now?' the Hatter asked triumphantly.

Alice did not quite know what to say to this: so she helped herself to some tea and bread-and-butter, and then turned to the Dormouse, and repeated her question. `Why did they live at the bottom of a well?'

The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it, and then said, `It was a treacle-well.'

`There's no such thing!' Alice was beginning very angrily, but the Hatter and the March Hare went `Sh! sh!' and the Dormouse sulkily remarked, `If you can't be civil, you'd better finish the story for yourself.'

`No, please go on!' Alice said very humbly; `I won't interrupt again. I dare say there may be ONE.'

`One, indeed!' said the Dormouse indignantly. However, he consented to go on. `And so these three little sisters--they were learning to draw, you know--'

`What did they draw?' said Alice, quite forgetting her promise.

`Treacle,' said the Dormouse, without considering at all this time.

`I want a clean cup,' interrupted the Hatter: `let's all move one place on.'

He moved on as he spoke, and the Dormouse followed him: the March Hare moved into the Dormouse's place, and Alice rather unwillingly took the place of the March Hare. The Hatter was the only one who got any advantage from the change: and Alice was a good deal worse off than before, as the March Hare had just upset the milk-jug into his plate.

Alice did not wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she began very cautiously: `But I don't understand. Where did they draw the treacle from?'

`You can draw water out of a water-well,' said the Hatter; `so I should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle-well--eh, stupid?'

`But they were IN the well,' Alice said to the Dormouse, not choosing to notice this last remark.

`Of course they were', said the Dormouse; `--well in.'

This answer so confused poor Alice, that she let the Dormouse go on for some time without interrupting it.

`They were learning to draw,' the Dormouse went on, yawning and rubbing its eyes, for it was getting very sleepy; `and they drew all manner of things--everything that begins with an M--'

`Why with an M?' said Alice.

`Why not?' said the March Hare.

Alice was silent.

The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time, and was going off into a doze; but, on being pinched by the Hatter, it woke up again with a little shriek, and went on: `--that begins with an M, such as mouse-traps, and the moon, and memory, and muchness-- you know you say things are "much of a muchness"--did you ever see such a thing as a drawing of a muchness?'

`Really, now you ask me,' said Alice, very much confused, `I don't think--'

`Then you shouldn't talk,' said the Hatter.

This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got up in great disgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep instantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her going, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that they would call after her: the last time she saw them, they were trying to put the Dormouse into the teapot.

At any rate I'll never go THERE again!' said Alice as she picked her way through the wood. `It's the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life!'

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Well now that you know alittle of our history, won't you sit down!

It's time for tea!


It looks like it is getting rather dark out now !


I spent all that time telling you how the Hatter and I's friendship came to be, that now we are starting to lack some light... Let me light some candles for you!


There, that's better!! Won't you have more cookies?


More Cupcakes?


The Hatter really loves my cupcakes!!




Oh, it's getting really dark now it seems ! Time to put on our paper lanters...



Would anyone like seconds before it is time to call our party to an end?




The moon is starting to shine over us and grace us with some evening light :-)




Well I have eaten so many cupcakes that my tummy hurts! The mosquitos are starting to attack now , so I think it is best if we pack up tonight and have another tea party again next year? How do you feel about that?

The Hatter and I would like to thank you for joining us :-D


All comments are welcome :-D

Love Alice and The Hatter

Photobucket

Monday, June 14, 2010

Mad Tea Party, Painting Tea Cups, and Roses! Oh MY!

So the past week I have been throwing some ideas around for this Virtual Mad Hatter Tea Party I found on one of my most FAVORITE BLOGS ! This blog is so inspirational to me, and I really wanted to become involved and Miss Valencia's Creations!!



So I was thinking, and since Avi and I were The Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts this past Halloween, we still have costumes !


Photobucket


So I was thinking since we already had our costumes all sorted out, all we have to do is set up a tablescape and take some pictures....

But what is a Mad Tea Party , with NO tea cups!?!?

I searched and searched online, but real china tea sets are so expensive ! So I figured I would go on an excursion. I checked out a Marshall's by my house, and I found these really cute white porcelain cup/saucers ! They were only $2.99 a set , so I got 4 sets, and even a tea pot for only $18 !!





I loved that they were white porcelain, my wheels were turning as I was looking at the cups in the store. The fact that they were practically a blank canvas, was enough for me to scoop them up and take them home! I painted them bright colors ( Blue, pink, yellow, green) , and I accented the design around the plates with some gold craft paint I had....



I was so excited how they were coming out after the first plate I had done !! Once I was finished, painting the cups and saucers I sprayed them with a clear gloss sealant spray I purchased at home depot.

The only thing that sux about it is that , it is not Glass Paint, so the cups and saucers are not actually useable :-( ... which is a shame, cuz they are so beautiful... but I guess I can settle for them just being decorative pieces, and able to use them just for the photo shoot...

Here is a little sneak peek of just one of the plates :-)



This project is to be continued... I have 2 more sets to spray paint, and sometime this week , I want to set up a mock table scape to kinda practice and figure out how I want to lay everything out for the shoot....

Until then, guess what I found bloomed in my backyard this past week??



Beautiful Roses!!!!





Finally !! It's about time, I have ben waiting for these beauties to come out :-D



Here is also another exotic flower growing in my backyard.... I'm not exactly sure what they re , but they are just as beautiful :-D



On a sadder note, the clematis leaves only last about a week or 2 :-( .... it's beautiful pinkish purple vibrant leaves have withered away and wilted off the little wisps .....




I miss them already ! Well it is getting late here, I just wanted to share a bit of this weekend with you all ....

Have a good night !!

Photobucket

Friday, June 11, 2010

Your Song

This will forever and always be on my top ten list of all time favorite movies :-)
Gotta love Ewan and Nicole in this Magical Bohemian Tragic Love Story , Moulin Rouge <3 p="">




Wednesday, June 9, 2010

My Magical Bookcase

So as I promised all of you , I took some pictures of my new Magical Bookcase!!! I am still building up my collection of my reading material, so until then , I will just have to fill the rest of the shelves with Knick Knacks and Paddywacks!

I purchased this bookcase at Target for less than $150.00! It is not REAL wood, but it is still pretty sturdy and very pleasing to the eye (I originally wanted real wood , to match the side pieces of furniture and my clothing trunk, but I am on a budget right now, and couldn't afford to spend too much ) ... As straight lined as it is, I still think it has lots of character!


On the first shelf, I have stored my magical clock
 (The same clock which told Cinderella that she was in fact running a little past her curfew!)


I also have stored some precious fairy memorabilia :-D 
 I am still collecting !



On my second shelf, I have my books of magic, fairy tales, rockstar biographies, and spells, potions, and formulas. Among these books, about half of them are written by my FAVORITE author, Francesca Lia Block! I am such a collector and avid reader of her books, poetry , and prose. She writes of princesses, fairies, mermaids, love, hate, and coming of age. I suggest you all read her books if you haven't already :-D

Also on this shelf, I have my troll collection from Norway of Epcot center in Disney World. It is my favorite country in Epcot... I love my magical buddies :-D They have been hiding away in my closet for the longest time, and now they can hang out for all to enjoy on my new bookshelf ...


On my third shelf I have my collection of TV show boxsets. Among them are True Blood, Six Feet Under, and Sex and the City. I also have my Coraline 3D Collector's Edition, and a picture of me and my love. I also have some little trinket boxes, and my favorite:

My Alice and Wonderland Tea Mug ! (It is in fact a coffee mug, but I do not drink coffee, so I use it for herbal teas ) When you pour hot water in the mug, the Cheshire Cat's grin, magically appears !! What a sight to see !



Around my bookcase , I have adorned with copper light up flowers, I purchased at Target for I believe $15.00.




I love my room, my little sanctuary... I have collected little treasure from all over the place. I will soon get around to sharing them all with you :-) but for now I must go !
Have a nice day
:-D

Photobucket