yay! bienvenidos a la fiesta! i'm glad you could make it. please come in, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy looking around. there are some name tags on the corner table, feel free to write your name and/or blog name so we can recognize you faster. next, check out the huge buffet table covered in goodies from around the world, the tea bar brimming with freshly steeped tea in a every flavor imaginable and an array of cups, saucers, and tea pots both old and new. take your cup of tea and sip it while browsing through the tea-themed gallery or sit down and chat with some of the other guests.
i've already enjoyed my first cup of tea:
i decided to go for a simple, but colorful outfit for the day, including my favorite big red resin beaded necklace. for the evening portion of the party, i plan to go fancy...in my most comfortable floor length black gown and bright pink candy earrings:
i decided to drink out of my brand new bright orange tea cup and blue-striped saucer but i also brought along my collection of vintage cups and saucers:
it looks like some of them have already been used. i think between all of us we will be able to drink tea all day and never have to reuse a cup!
i also set up some place settings and flower arrangements for those of you who prefer to sit while you mingle:
my food contributions are sweet, sweet, and more sweet. some yummy fruit tarts, mini-chocolate layer cakes, and for those coming to the tea party in the morning, some just baked chocolate croissants:
and my sister decided to bake us all a cake and bring some pretty moroccan tea glasses:
my mom brought some wonderful tea sandwiches and her famous banana chocolate chip muffins. i better slow down, i'm already getting a stomach ache!
don't forget to to let me know once you've posted. i don't want to miss anyone. and also send my your address for favors. if you're brave i'd still love to see some photos of you!
i'm off to mingle with all of the other ladies who made it (from australia, bulgaria, canada, denmark, ecuador, england, france, germany, holland, israel, japan, norway, portugal, scotland, and from all over the united states):
julie with her girls and some freshly-picked lemons
louise and her collection of international tea ware
paula sharing little stories and facts and who was smart enought to bring her camera
divine seating and lovely gracia
vanessa brimming with sparkles and lace
an incredibly cute drawing and miss denitsa
whimsical vintage cups and saucer (but no chai!) arrived with tiel
veronica and some argentinean mate
a beautiful watercolor, yorkshire teacakes and sweet lila
britt-arnhild shares stories and golden tea cups
corey and her antique adventures
cute kitties and a rainbow hammock arrived with djbebe
some vintage goodness, coffee, and phyllis
sarah and the cute little waitress, eliza
a tea party picnic with jill
janet in her wellies brings spiced apple tea and wine (i love that we now have wine and coffee to go with the tea!)
ashley in a bathrobe
paula2 with her tea, or is it coffee?, cup and saucer
beautiful roses and a great teapot came with lovely lisa
dear shari brings tom, abigail, fancy tea cups, and more
and abigail brought freesias, in the way only abigail can
lemon ricotta biscuits and peppermint lattes and marsha
alex and her sweet mismatched teapot
sabine and friends and cupcakes
owls and smiles with jillypickle
more cupcakes (one can never have too many!) and donuts arrive with wendy
loonytick brings lady grey tea and cornbread
denise and mmmm...bubble tea
lisa-gabrielle and a whole gaggle of little friends
an animated photo! and tatjana
super busy ellia relaxes with chai
more owly goodness with sarah2
vintage fiestaware came with kristin
vanilla chai and jane
shash brought laughs
genevieve and a lovely white-haired couple
egg salad tea sandwiches came with stephanie s
and black spice chai with gina
taryn drinks tea the persian way
emily likes her tea cups EXTRA large
babelfish wears polka dots
a polaroid catches jerusha's fun
yay! yah brought an extra special cupcake
amisha with stories and darjeeling tea from darjeeling
jordan, my love, shares a poem
pretty drawings from marieke
la vie arty and her orange and almond cake
a beatrix potter cup and bowl are being used by cute nancy
mariyarn and swan-shaped biscuits
anastasia brought polka dot tea (i love polka dots!)
chamomile (manzanilla) tea and stories of childhood with monica
geek+nerd in her pajamas
renee made it just in time
and don't forget christy
tricia just made it
as did tracy
and rebecca
thanks for coming! be sure to check back as this list will continue to grow! (from now on new guests will be added to the bottom of the list to make it easier for those of you who are coming and going.)
hello gorgeous, you look wonderful - in both outfits - and what a spread!!!
Thank you so much for the invitation..and your vintage collection is absolutely AMAZING!!! I couldnt pick a better host for this lovely tea party! xxx
Posted by: julie | January 12, 2007 at 06:58 AM
How embarrassing, I'm always one of the first people at a party...and I don't like my outfit. But everything here looks yummy! I want to send you a thank you note but can't get your email address to pop up so I'll need it later.
Posted by: phyllis | January 12, 2007 at 07:02 AM
It is perfect. Perfect host and perfect setting.
you have created a lovely day and I am so glad that I have been able to be apart of it.
Love that resin necklace!
Thank you for having me.
Posted by: Tiel S-K | January 12, 2007 at 07:25 AM
Wow, I came to the party kind of late. If I had known about the party earlier I would have had my hair and nails done. I love the tea cups, and the food looks delicious. What a sweet idea.
Posted by: willzmom | January 12, 2007 at 07:54 AM
Thank you for hosting such a fun and creative tea time! Around the world in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea!
You are a doll, and the way your eyes sparkle, like I said a doll!!
Thank you for such fun!!
Posted by: tongue in cheek | January 12, 2007 at 07:55 AM
i wasn't quite sure how this was going to work, but it is soooo fabulous. thank you so much for organising it and making such a big effort; you look beautiful!
Posted by: sarah | January 12, 2007 at 08:09 AM
Thanks for the invitation via Corey. I immediately dressed for the occasion in my favorite hat, and new pink and brown gloves that I received for Christmas. Nice guests at your party. A splendid way to spend a Friday morning! Such fun.
Posted by: constance | January 12, 2007 at 08:29 AM
Look at how adorable you are Risa! What a fabulous idea. With my sick daughter, I'm not so sure I can pull my tea post together (I'll let you know if I do), but looks like you're in lovely company already. Enjoy!
Posted by: blair | January 12, 2007 at 08:41 AM
This is going to be the most fun I have all week! Everyone looks fantastic :) Great great great idea!!
Posted by: ashley g | January 12, 2007 at 09:15 AM
Tho I'm not a tea party participant, I just have to say I love that red necklace. The size of the beads is magnificent.
Posted by: ambika | January 12, 2007 at 09:17 AM
You look so cute, Risa! What a wonderful party! Thank you again for the invitation, so much fun! Kisses to the best hostess.
Posted by: Veronica TM | January 12, 2007 at 09:21 AM
What a great party. I hope you'll all visit my little tea room. I put out my best china just for you !
Posted by: paula | January 12, 2007 at 09:26 AM
Here I am! The bad day blues almost kept me away, but I made it after all and it turned out to be the perfect pick me up. Thanks so much for hosting it!
Posted by: loonytick | January 12, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Hi there! - Here's what a Ditz I am seriously, I forgot about the whole time difference thing so I checked your blog earlier and thought...hmmm no tea party? what's going on...?and then, as Im about to leave work for the day, there you are!! :-) Anyway, just wanted to say hi- I am new to blog land but I came across your page yesterday and loved it. And i think the tea party is a really cute idea. Does a glass of wine in the pub later count as joining in....or is it an alcohol free party? ;-)Have a great day
Ditz xx
Posted by: Sarah | January 12, 2007 at 10:12 AM
You are gorgeous my dear. My My, what hospitality...Oh delightful I do say. just delightful...
Posted by: Vanessa | January 12, 2007 at 10:15 AM
I so love the fancy outfit!!!
I brought some sweet treats
http://girlingreen.com/lists-life/risas-tea-party/
Posted by: wendy | January 12, 2007 at 10:17 AM
this is so lovely... what a beautiful spread! and you look very cute with the big orange mug :)
Posted by: amisha | January 12, 2007 at 10:33 AM
hey, i recognize that cupcake cake! becky's the bomb. and you look tooooooo flippin' cute in these pics! wish i were having tea with you in the non-virtual world...
xoxo
Posted by: jillypickle | January 12, 2007 at 10:36 AM
hi risa!
what a smashing tea party this is!! love both of your outfits. you are the cutest. thanks so much for hosting the party! i've been so excited about visiting everyone today. xoxo shari ps: where's jordan? i hope he will pop in to say hello!
Posted by: shari | January 12, 2007 at 10:37 AM
You are so lovely and gorgeous and fabulous... I can't stand it!
Drinking chamomile (sans camera) in Santa Fe and think of you (all).
mwah!
Posted by: Briana | January 12, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Hi Risa,
We just arrived, so good to be around good friends in blogland. Looks like you all having a good time, lots of good cakes and tea.
Peace Sabine
Posted by: sabine Brandt | January 12, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Excellent! A few of my customers e-mailed me about your virtual tea party. I raise my cup and pinky to all of you!
Posted by: Angelique | January 12, 2007 at 11:11 AM
Thank you so much for the invitation, Risa, what a lovely way to get together!
Posted by: Alex | January 12, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Hello Risa! Thank you for organising such a wondeful Party!...you look gorgeous in your photo's - love your cup!!
Shari invited me along to the party too - and we are having a lovely time ;)
http://abigailpercy.blogspot.com/2007/01/time-for-tea.html
..happy weekend! xox
Posted by: Abigail | January 12, 2007 at 11:19 AM
I love all the vintage tea cups. Oh and the table looks beautiful and so does all the wonderful tea treats...
Posted by: Denise | January 12, 2007 at 11:20 AM