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

50 comments:

Baba said...

I love it!

So whimsy and magical!

apinkdreamer said...

wow!!!!! super tea party!!!!! the madhatter is the same as johny dep!!!!thanks for inviting me! please come to mine and have a cup of tea on the beach!

Christina Silverio said...

AMAZING! I love your tea party, and your Mad Hatter was quite the fellow to have us! :)

Lynette Killam said...

How absolutely enchanting! All your clever details and flourishes..the
beautiful Alice and mysterious Mad Hatter..I loved every minute of my visit, and only wished I could have downed some of the yummy goodies! Thank you so much. This is probably the most spectacular party..virtual or otherwise..that I have ever attended! I'm already wondering how you will top this for next years party..but I have no doubt you will...

Lynette
http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com

Kathryn Costa said...

What beautiful photos. Your style reminds me of our hostess, Vanessa. Isn't she such an inspiration! Thank you for a lovely tale.

Follow your heart and join me as we go to the Forest of Wishes. I have party gifts waiting for everyone! http://collagediva.typepad.com/collagediva/2010/06/blogparty.html

{{soul hugs}}
Kathryn, Collage Diva

Lenora said...

Great photos! Thanks for tea!

Won't you join us for tea just click
Mad Tea Party - Fairy Tale

http://lenorita-lenoramoore.blogspot.com/2010/06/mad-tea-party-2010.html

Lauren said...

What a gorgeous party, I love all of your photos!! :) I had so much fun, thank you for inviting me! Your blog is lovely too :) ~Lauren

Monkey-Cats Studio said...

Wow, what a party!!! Thank you for being such a wonderful hostess!!
Laurie

Karen said...

Wonderful! I loved it :)
Thank you x

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Bravo! You did a marvelous job with your story! Loved it! I really felt I was right there at the Hatter's table.

Happy Tea Partying...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Scrap Vamp said...

Oh, what a beautiful party! Thank you for the invitation and the cookies! Although now I don't fit through the door I'm so tall. Maybe I should have just had one!

Cosmic Goddess said...

What a beautiful spread and great photos! Thank you :)

http://cosmicgoddessblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/were-all-mad-here.html

Whisperings 13 said...

what a lovely party! so splendid of you to have me! Thanks so much for the tea!

Unknown said...

What a lovely party, I know Vanessa will love all of your photographs and special effects. Such an adorable Alice, Mad Hatter and March Hare too.

Happy Mad Tea Party,

Karen

Pellie / Penny said...

Wow super Tea Party - thank you for sharing the merriment.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs,
Penny

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Beyond LOVELY! What an enchanting Mad Tea Party - I am so happy to have stopped by! If you have not made your way already, I do hope that you shall come and visit with me, as you join the White Queen and Mad Hatter for some cake ~ and tea
http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-mad-tea-party.html
...Theresa (aka The White Queen)

Deborah said...

Wondrous shots! Oh so beautiful. AND, along with you being a musician, an artist, a photographer, a thinker, a lover, and an all around creator, you are also very beautiful. Ah, 26 was one of my favorite years...the year I met my Mister. GEESH! That was 31 years ago! Enjoy!

**blows kisses** Deb

Jenn Erickson said...

Beautiful! Enchanting! And most Delicious! Wonderful images. Incredible how you got the March Hare to "attend"! So happy to have stopped by for a spell on this lovely Tea Party Day! Jenn

Coach Z said...

What a warm and creative party!!! Thanks for having me over. Please come by and visit my party at www.theplayoflightandshadow.blogspot.com and enter to win a $50 visa!!

Smiles

Kandes Naylor said...

Sorry, I didn't have time to read all the words, but much enjoyed your photos. I have been visiting parties all day and am only on the Bs. Well, come by and see me for a cup of tea. I am having a giveaway you won't want to miss!
-Kandes-
http://trickyfoxdesigns.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth said...

What a fun stop this was along my way over the mad tea path. You should make prints of the paper lanterns at night time! Come visit my corner of the woods when time allows.

wood-wings.blogspot.com

Petunia said...

Beautiful tea party! Loved it and all your pretty details. Would love to know how you and Vanessa get that magical sparkly effect on your pics :) Thank you for a lovely party.

Brook said...

Well...you surely did pain the roses red didn't you! My hatter enjoyed seeing your hatter and march hare. We also like the idea of tea at night!

Cameron said...

Those pictures took my breath away! The close-up of the chandelier crystal...those sugar cookies...the colorful cupcakes....the gorgeous moon over a lantern lit table.....absolutely stunning!

Thank you so much for having me over :oP

Frogwarts said...

What an absolutely delightful, magical party and the treats are yummy! Come by our party if you've time!
- Carol & friends from www.frogwartsworld.com

Kim Switzer said...

I love it! Beautiful, whimsical party!

Victoria Sayer said...

What a beautiful Tea Party. Thanks so very much for having me. Everything looked so pretty, and I loved the fruit cake. I you get the chance, please come and visit me for some more Mad Tea, in the Secret Enchanted Forest at:
http://greenandwhitegarden.blogspot.com/2010/06/mad-tea-party.html
~Vicki.

Della said...

Beautiful, magical photos – I had great fun! Thanks for the party! Still more to see now...(Google doesn't connect with my Wordpress universe, I'm Fürst Told Blog)

Kristal said...

Loved all the lovely details and your story of how you and the Hatter became friends! Thank you so much for inviting me...I do believe that I will return rather soon as I find your blog quite enchanting!!

Ta Ta for now,

~♥~
Kristal

Chris said...

Happy Tea Party to you and you and you!!!

I love your photos. Thank you for the delicious cookies and petite gateaus!

Loretta said...

What a scrumptious tea; thank you! The pictures were so pretty. Are you related to Vanessa? It seems like you must be sisters.

Alisa Noble said...

Fabulous and magical! Thank you very much!
~Alisa

http://lifeisabeautifulplacetobe.blogspot.com/2010/06/would-you-like-little-more-tea.html

Lynda said...

This post is one of my favorites! :) You did an excellent job. I felt like I was watching a new Alice in Wonderland movie! :)

Waterrose said...

The cupcakes were delicious...and the story devine! Loved the tea party....thanks for inviting me!

Abi said...

I'm late, but it was worth the wait! stunning photos and great read... thank you!!!

Carousel Dreams said...

Oh so pretty! I love your little lanterns, and pretty teatime dishes...your mad hatter is simply divine! Thankyou so much for having me...I did enjoy myself x

Papillon Bleu said...

How fun! The dolls loved it! ( if you pop by my blog you will undrstand that I am just a mere servant of my own creations...lol!) .
May I ask what you use for the little sparkle effects? I love it . I use many tools for photo editing but still haven't discovered which one this was...

Carolee said...

Absolutely enchanting!! :)

~ Carolee

Kathy said...

Loved this! Such, such fun and the Mad Hatter - well, he was splendiferous!

Kathy

Danni said...

Such an amazing tea party! I'm glad the hatter quit being so shy and that he, Alice and the March hare had such a splendid tea! Thank you so much for inviting me to your enchanting party.

I hope you'll stop by and grab a cuppa with me.

Such a Wondrous Place this Faery Space said...

Wonderful magic and great photography! I felt transported! Beautiful tea party and story! Blessings.

Michelle Frae Cummings said...

I'm sorry I'm late! My MIL's memorial was on the date of the party, so I'm now just getting my wits together to visit all the festivities!

Thank you for a hosting a beautiful party! Everything is so magical!


~ Michelle
http://faeriedustdreams-michelle.blogspot.com/
if I may ask...what photo shop program do you use to get those magical embellishments on your photo's?

TesoriTrovati said...

You two are a hilarious duo! Thank you so much for inviting us into your magical world.
I am hosting a Mad Mad giveaway on my blog http://treasures-found.blogspot.com. I do hope you will have a chance to stop by!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Michelle said...

What a wonderfully mad tea party! Such great photos and story! You're blog is lovely as well! Thanks for having me!

brandi said...

~among the most enchanting by far...magical and beautiful in every way...what fun! warm wishes and brightest blessings~

Evelyn's Wonderland said...

Wow! This was such a beautiful tea party!!! I loved all of your photos and your yummy treats.

I hope you can visit me for some magical tea!

Have a lovely day!

Anonymous said...

Oh what delicious treats, thank you so much (I had more than one, I hope you don't mind ;) Love the hatter's outfit and your pictures are so whimsical and fun! Sooo creative!

Jamie :)

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

An absolutely, wonderful , beautiful, enchanting Mad Tea adventure !i loved it !
Blessings,
~Myrna

Celia said...

What a wonderful tea party! I am still making my way to tea parties....I hope you will come by and have tea with me too!

Plumrose Lane said...

What a beautiful tea party you held ~ loved visiting!
♥Sharon