Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Radiant Orchid for 2014

This post is dedicated to my mother-in-law whose favorite color was orchid/lavender. Perhaps her name, Viola [a genus of flowering plants in the violet family], shaped her fondness for the delicate shades in the purple palette. The picture below was her engagement picture taken in 1943.  She was a tea drinker who particularly enjoyed Bigelow's Constant Comment tea.  She succumbed to cancer in 1998.


On January 8, one of the creative members of Afternoon Tea Across America [an e-group I belong to] wrote a post informing us: "Pantone, which creates palettes for the home, fashion, and graphic-arts industries, named "Radiant Orchid" as its 2014 Color of the Year, calling it a 'captivating purple that draws you in with its beguiling charm'."  A spokesperson at Pantone said Radiant Orchid is an enchanting harmony of fuchsia and purple with pink undertones.  Wedding planners are predicting it will be a popular color in weddings this year.


The member presented a challenge to the group to see how many ways the color orchid could be incorporated into a tea party - be it tablescape linens and china, flowers, decorations, food, invitations, clothing and jewelry, or anything else applicable.

The mother and daughter duo at Miss Spenser's blog belong to the e-group, and Spenser wrote a lovely post about Radiant Orchid.  Go here to read it, if you haven't done so already.

The challenge sent my mind swirling.   I don't have any orchid linens, and I don't recall  ever seeing any in stores.  Have you?  Maybe that will change this year!

I do, however, have a few china pieces in the orchid color palette that I photographed for today's post.  The hand-painted Lefton china trio below was given to me by a friend of my mother's when I was still in high school.  That was long before I had an appreciation for beautiful dishes and tea, but it survived until I was ready to enjoy it.


The teacup below is a Royal Albert, and is part of their 100 year commemorative tea cup collection I was gifted with.  The pattern is Hartington Lane, manufactured in 1990 with clusters of lilacs adorning it.  I love the fragrance of lilacs in the springtime, don't you?


When my hubby and I visited Scotland in 2001, I got the Highland China trio below.  The thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland.


The Royal Albert tea set below, is called English Chintz [from the 1940's], and is also a part of the 100 year commemorative collection.


My birth month is February, and the month's designated color is purple.  February's flower is a violet or iris, and the birthstone is Amethyst.   The only jewelry I have in the orchid color palette are two birthstone rings, pictured below.


While searching the Internet for orchid linens I came across a blog called Swede that had a gorgeous orchid tablescape posted in 2011.  The author of the blog made her tablecloth.

[Photo courtesy of Swede blog ]

There are no orchid garments in my wardrobe, so I selected someone else wearing a garment in the orchid color palette.  Isn't Kate stunningly beautiful?

[Photo courtesy of www.express.co.uk]

Lastly, orchid colored food for a tea party - a frozen yogurt butterfly...

[Photo courtesy of bentoriffic.com]

accompanied by orchid colored French Macarons.  Yum!

[Internet Photo]

I hope you've enjoyed viewing this post as much as I've enjoyed putting it together.  Thanks for the inspiration, Martha!

Can you visualize hosting a tea party in 2014 with Radiant Orchid as the theme color?


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Today I'm joining:
Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday
Artful Affirmations for Teacup Tuesday
Antiques and Teacups for Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Bernideen's Tea Time Blog for Friends Sharing Tea


15 comments:

  1. Beautiful all around, especially your MIL!

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  2. With February being your birth month, purple from violets is a natural for you! I don't have much in that color in my wardrobe...but just bought a down coat on sale and it is purple....the first coat I have had in the color...I like it! I love your china pieces. So pretty, and lovely photos. Thanks for sharing and linking to Tuesday Cuppa Tea!
    Ruth

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  3. Your MIL was beautiful, as are those amazing tea cups. Love your post today. Blessings, Martha

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  4. I think a "Radiant Orchid" toned tea party would be delightful! I enjoyed seeing the pictures of your beautiful china as well as the pictures you found in your search, and the picture of your lovely mother-in-law. That trio you received while in high school is GORGEOUS - but it all is, it's hard to pick out a favorite. I think some macarons and a yogurt butterfly are a great start to orchid tea treats.

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  5. What a lovely picture of Mrs. Barkey. It's looks just like her. So young and so pretty.

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  6. What a beautiful, vibrant color! Love the first teacup you showed and your mother-in-law was a very pretty young lady.

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  7. What a sweet and dear post. Your Radiant Orchid theme post is visually stunning! Just so much beauty to see. Thank you for sharing : )
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  8. An orchid is not only a beautiful flower but a beautiful colour. I do happen to have a few things in my wardrobe in that colour although it is not my best colour. I have that same February teacup and I adore the English Chintz from the '40s. It certainly is a beautiful pattern. You blogged an interesting post, Phyllis, and thank you for sharing it with us. Thank you for coming to tea.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  9. I have many things in shades of lavender, which could include the new radiant orchid. I've had a tablecloth with matching napkins for some time and do wear a lot of the colour too.
    My birth month is February also and I have some lovely amethyst jewelry from hubby. My mother loved purple (her BD was 5 days before mine) and now I have a granddaughter loving the colour. Maybe it's in the genes?
    Your mother was a beautiful woman Phyllis and I'm sure she's smiling down at your orchid tea party. It is special for me loving the colour.

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  10. How fun to see your post about “Radiant Orchid”, Phyllis. The frozen yogurt butterflies are a great idea for a tea party in this theme.
    You have some beautiful examples in your china pieces and how special to know it was your mother-in- laws favorite color.
    I have always loved any shade in the purple family so enjoyed your post about this a lot.

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  11. What a sweet photo of your husband's Mother and a lovely tribute to her with her name. I love all your pretty teasets!

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  12. Congratulations on your anniversary! Your purple post is quite pretty. Loved the yogurt butterfly.

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  13. Happy 500th post! Quite an accomplishment!

    I also am a February gal and I love anything with violets on it. I have a collection of cups & saucers that are just violets, some were my Mother's. Plus two teapots with violets from special people. My sweet hubby even gave me a vintage set of dinnerware with violets on it.I fell in love with them and proclaimed them the "Easter Dishes". It's been a tradition in our family for many years now. I have a little granddaughter that was born on Valentines Day almost 7 yrs ago and my violet collection will be hers some day!

    Blessings, Edie Marie

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  14. Love that beautiful picture of your mother-in-law, as well as all the great photos illustrating your interpretation of the new color of the year!

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