My Tea Caddy Collection

On April 16th of last month, Barbara, of Lady B's Time for Tea,  wrote a blog post about her tea caddies.  Her post motivated me to gather all my tea caddies together, and share them on my blog.  I've never thought of myself as a tea caddy collector... but I guess I must be.  I have more caddies than I realized!  ;-)  Do you collect tea caddies?

The dictionary defines a tea caddy as a small box, can, porcelain jar, or chest for holding tea leaves.

An abbreviated encyclopedia reference states:  The word tea caddy was first applied to porcelain jars filled with tea and imported into England from China.  In the 18th century many caddies were made from silver, copper, brass, pewter, and other decorative materials, such as veneers of tortoiseshell or ivory on wood.

Below is the very first tea caddy I acquired, and it was actually before I became smitten with tea.  My kitchen had many copper accessories then, but when I got into tea, the copper accessories all had to go with the exception of this tea caddy, a teapot, and a tea kettle, to make way for a new tea decor! 

The first tea caddy I purchased after my journey into the world of tea began.

T.J. Maxx stocks tea caddies from time to time, so it pays to visit their home goods department.  The next three caddies came from their store.

The tea caddy below was on a clearance table at an antique mall.  It was tarnished, and just needed some polish and a little bit of tender, loving care to restore its beauty.

An antique store find - a hand painted tea caddy from Italy.

This tea caddy has to be silverplated brass, because with each polishing there's less silver and more brass.  But I like it anyway, because the caddy looks well used.  

A rustic, galvanized-like tea caddy.

The caddy below is my newest acquisition, and if you've been following my blog, you know it's one of the Delft pieces my hubby bought me on our recent trip to Holland, MI.

My all-time favorite caddy, and the best one that I own, is a 19th century wooden caddy with two compartments [one for green tea, and the other for black tea] with a mixing/blending bowl in the center.  Because tea was so expensive during that time, tea was kept under lock and key, and the lady of the house kept the key with her at all times.  The caddy was a Christmas present to me from me in December 2011!  ;-)

Three silverplated, repro tea caddy spoons.

Like all tea lovers, I have a cabinet full of tin tea caddies, but here are a few of my favorites that are keepsakes from trips I've taken, or commemoratives.

This tin came from Windsor Castle in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.

The last tea caddy is unique, because it's a miniature replica of the wooden tea chests with riveted metal edges, used to ship loose leaf tea from the plantation factory to warehouses, and then to the retailer.  Very creative tea packaging!

[Butlers Warf, London, England]

May's Theme Tea at O'Mara's Restaurant

On Tuesday, May 14th, I returned to O'Mara's Restaurant in Berkley, MI for their May theme, "Tea Showers Bring May Flowers."  It was my third consecutive month to visit the restaurant for their lovely theme teas.  I blogged about the two previous teas here and here.

Each month the attendance has increased, proving ladies definitely enjoy going to Afternoon Tea, and the demand is growing.  In my area it's rare to find Afternoon Tea offered outside of a tea room or hotel.   Kudos to O'Mara's restaurant for side-stepping the norm, and going above and beyond to establish a top-notch tea program!

Flowery, cheerful place settings carried out their theme perfectly.  Beautiful mismatched teacups are used for their tablescapes.

Below is the group of attendees [not all tables are visible in the photo].  I didn't count them, but it was more than the previous month, and this time a gentleman attended with his significant other.  A brave and very secure man!  ;-)  Men are tea drinkers too, and they will come if it's not too frou-frou and girly.

L-R:  Me, my tea buddy, Lori, and friend, Linda.  There were three of us who wore a hat to the tea, but several ladies said they are planning on wearing one next month.  Management said they might even offer a prize for the best hat. 

There were two loose-leaf tea selections [Harney & Sons], and one tisane:  Earl Grey and Citron Green teas, and Cranberry-Orange tisane.  I chose Citron Green with a delicate citrus flavor. Isn't it served in a pretty teacup?

Two soups were offered for the first course: O'Mara's Irish Cream of Potato and Chicken Lemon Rice with Chiffonade of Spinach.  Since I chose O'Mara's delicious Irish Cream of Potato soup at the two previous teas, I opted to try their Chicken Lemon Rice soup this time.  It was delicious as well.

Chef Anita Kern, who has been with O'Mara's five months, did a presentation before the Savory Course, featuring a spread in one the tea sandwiches in this month's menu - Spinach Spread. She didn't give specific amounts for most of the ingredients, but this is what she shared:

1 cup cream cheese

O'Mara's all-purpose seasoning

Mustard [Dijon, Honey Mustard, or Dry Mustard]

Worcestershire Sauce

Lots of fresh spinach [she had a pitcher full as seen in the photo below]

Blend all together and chill overnight.

Spread on buttered pumpernickel bread.  Top with thin slices or poached or broasted chicken. Roll edges in chopped parsley.   Delicious and healthy!

Beautiful tiered server with five tea sandwiches per person.

They are as follows:  Center - Chocolate Raspberry Nutella wedges; Left 9:00 o'clock position: Tomato Basil wedges on white bread; moving clockwise - Blue Cheese & Mango Chicken wedges on brown bread; Salmon Salad squares on wheat bread; and a finger sandwich of Spinach Spread with Poached Chicken on Pumpernickel.

The savories were followed by Baked Brie topped with Florida Orange Marmalade and toasted Walnuts wrapped in Puff Pastry, served with fresh fruit and oat crackers.

Main Entree was a Spinach & Gruyere Cheese Crepe topped with Hollandaise Sauce.

Dessert was a Meringue cookie, fresh Berry Cobbler, and a Cream Scone served with house-made Strawberry Jam and Chia seed, and Devonshire Cream.   [Scones at O'Mara's are served with dessert.]

It was a delightful tea, and I look forward to returning in June when the theme will be "Here Comes the Sun!"

A Silver Windmill Tea Strainer

If you read my post on May 10th, you'll recall that I blogged about the silver windmill tea strainer proprietor, Bonnie, had on the table for our morning tea at The Parsonage Bed & Breakfast.  

I tried to find one in gift shops and antique stores while we were staying in Holland, to no avail.

As soon as I got home I went on E-bay and found two strainers that looked like Bonnie's, but the seller was from the Netherlands, and the shipping alone was GBP 13 or $19.84 in U.S. funds.  The strainers started out reasonable, but then climbed to $73.99 and $79.00 [U.S. funds].  With the postage added, it was more than I wanted to pay.

I waited a couple of days, and went on E-bay again.  This time I found a strainer with a seller from Ohio, and shipping was only $4.95.  To my surprise no one bid against me, and I won the strainer for $19.00 plus shipping.  The strainer is from the Netherlands.

It was mailed yesterday, so I should have it by the end of the week.  Below are photos the seller posted on E-bay.

The windmill at the top of the strainer actually turns.  It will match the demitasse spoon I bought at the antique store in Holland perfectly.

I can hardly wait for the mailman to deliver my new-to-me tea strainer!  

Paula Deen's Tea-themed Kitchen Towels

I recently had a wedding shower to attend, and my favorite gift to give to a bride-to-be is a cookbook [probably because I love cookbooks myself].  I selected a Taste of Home cookbook because their recipes are tried, true and delicious, but I needed to add something more to the gift.   Being short on time, I dashed into a nearby K-Mart, and was delighted to find a line of Paula Deen products in the home goods department.

I purchased a matching terrycloth dish towel, dishcloths, and pot scrubber ensemble, and best of all they were tea-themed!  

My hubby and I are friends of the groom-to-be and his family, but I had never previously met his fiancée to know her interests and likes.  I was so pleased when the gift was opened to hear her exclaim, "Teacups!  I Love Tea and Teacups!" [A girl after my own heart! ;-)]

If you have a K-Mart nearby check out Paula Deen's tea-themed kitchen towel ensembles.  I chose the brown color scheme for the shower gift... 

but got the avocado green and turquoise color scheme for myself!  ;-)

A Tea Themed Mother's Day Present

My hubby surprised me with a Department 56, Dickens Village, Chelsea Market Tea Monger figurine.  I didn't know he knew the piece existed.  She'll be displayed year-round in my curio cabinet.

Aside from my tea angel figurines [which I blogged about here], I don't have a lot of tea-themed figurines, but I'm sharing the collection that I do have in today's post.

Below is a 1995 Boyds Collection piece, called Tea for Four with Sarah and Heather, Elliot, Dolly & Amelia.

A 2000 Boyds Collection piece, called "Prissie, Sissie & Missie... Fixin' Tea for Three."

A 1999 Precious Moments "Mom" figurine, from my sweet daughter!

A "Cameo Girls" head vase - Sasha 1898 "Victorian Tea Party."  It's the only head vase I own.  

A Victorian Lady and Tea Table

A Victorian Couple that stands 17 inches high and 10 inches wide.  I admired them for a long time at the tea room where I used to work, but the owner wasn't ready to sell them.  One day after I was no longer working there, I spotted them in her gift boutique, and promptly purchased them.  It's hard to tell, but the lady is holding a cup and saucer in her hand.

Finishing today's post with two teapot paperweights.

What tea-themed figurines and nick-knacks are in your collection?

6th Annual Ladies' Spring Tea - "Hats Off to Spring!"

When I came home from Holland, I hit the ground running because I only had two days to accomplish a list of last minute tasks for the church's annual Ladies' Spring Tea held on Saturday, May 11th.  I'm happy to report everything got done!  ;-) 

This is the banquet facility where the tea was held - Sycamore Hills Golf Club.

I arrived at the banquet facility at 10:00 a.m. to do my portion of the set-up.  The tea began at 11:30 a.m.  The colors I chose for the tea were yellow and lime green.   Since the theme was hats, stiffly crocheted picture hats were the favors.  I bought them at a craft store, and embellished them with yellow netting, and a yellow daisy.  They looked lovely sitting on the green place mats.

Our program had the same hat artwork that was used for all the publicity.

There were seven tables for the 54 ladies who attended the tea.   Centerpieces were  hats on hat stands.  A friend loaned me a couple of her designer hats made by Metro-Detroit milliner, Luke Song, which was really a highlight for the ladies.  Most of the hats, however, were vintage.

The hat below was one of Luke Song's.  The ladies loved it, and some had their picture made wearing it.

A pair of dress gloves and pearls were at the base of each hat stand.

 

The hat below came from J.L. Hudson's and has the department store label inside.

A wool felt beret is on the stand, and at the base is a fascinator from London's Harvey Nichols store where Princess Diana liked to shop.

A sporty Fedora that Ingrid Bergman made popular in the 40's.

Hats were displayed on a table by the podium too.  My friend let me borrow a hat from China that ladies wear in the tea fields while plucking tea.  That was especially fitting at a hat-themed tea party!

There's a Victorian mourning hat on the table, a "Doll" hat [the style name - it's not for a doll], and a "whimsey."  Remember those from the 60's when we didn't want to mess up our bouffant hairdo's, yet still wanted to wear a hat?

It was such a fun theme to research, and even though not many ladies' wear hats anymore, they all thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia of seeing them again.

I asked one lady [who happens to be in her 80's] to bring her grandmother's Kansas slat sun bonnet.  She brought it in the hat case below [doesn't it look like it just came off of a stage coach?].  She also brought a pilgrim bonnet, a colonial bonnet, and a pioneer bonnet that she made.  She did an awesome job telling about each hat, and I regret that I didn't get a picture of her at the podium.

The tables are set and ready for the ladies to arrive.

The beautiful [and delicious] hat cake was our dessert.  This was one time we could speak the phrase, "I'll eat my hat" and mean it!  ;-)

The ladies at their assigned tables, happily chatting while waiting for the tea to begin.

This sweet four month old baby girl was attending her first tea party with her mommy, two grandmas, and auntie!  And her mommy is starting her off right with a fascinator on her head! 

My girlfriend, Lori, with her granddaughter, Courtney.

Three generations.  Sarah [in the white hat] is a retired minister's wife, and a treasured member of our church.  She was so pleased to have all her granddaughters at the tea [along with her daughter-in-law].

My girlfriend, Sandy, with her daughter, Kim, and daughter-in-law Sarah, and Sarah's mom, Michele.

Another three generation picture.  My mom, my daughter, Lori, and me.  I wore a pillbox hat that Jacqueline Kennedy made popular.  I so wish hats would come back in style in our country as they are in England.

This was a high tea with a menu of tossed salad, rolls, chicken piccata, green beans almondine, potatoes Anna, Chocolate Raspberry Truffle tea [a black tea], cake and ice cream.

Humble apologies my salad was eaten before I realized I had forgotten to take a picture.  But a salad is a salad, right?  ;-)  At least I remembered to photograph the main entree.  It was yummy.  I wish I had a plate of it to eat right now!

I began the program by sharing "hat phrases."  There are more than you might think such as: "Hold onto your hat," "Talking through your hat," "Keep this under your hat," "Pass the hat," and "At the drop of a hat."  There are at least twelve more.  Can you come up with them?

We talked about professions that require hats.   Seven professions that still wear hats were shared, and six that did at one time, but don't anymore.  Remember when nurses wore hats? And how about mailmen, and the milkman.  The younger gals didn't even know what a milkman was!  ;-)

We also talked about places where hats are worn such as wedding, funerals, tea parties, but especially at the Kentucky Derby.  Hats are a tradition at Royal Ascot, and the tradition was adopted at the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.  Today the Kentucky Derby is the largest hat fashion event in America.  

What about famous women who wear [or wore] hats?  Of course, Queen Elizabeth II, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge head the list.

The title of the program was "Have You Seen My Hat?" which spanned hats from the 1500's up to the present time.

Did you know that January 15th is National Hat Day in the United States?

Would you wear a hat if they came back into style again?

The ladies all seemed to have a good time.  Now to come up with a theme for next spring's tea!