Lastly, afternoon tea is a time for creativity, spontaneity and inspiration. The hostess begins this process by envisioning the setting, the guests and the food. Nature will be her guide, as nature is always engaged in a never-ending unfolding of birth and re-birth. The plants and flowers of the season will inspire the hostess’ selection of colors, linens, dishes and foods. She will create floral arrangements and other artistic focal points to help gather and direct her guests’ attention on their special time together. She will not allow popular culture to substitute for her own creativity. Afternoon tea is not a time for purple princess printed napkins and plastic tiaras. Disney characters do not belong at a tea party. First of all, they are not real. And secondly, they are the fabrications of a corporate culture focused solely on financial gain. Sadly this false, pre-packaged “creativity” robs people of their natural artistic gifts.
Anyone can walk into the yard on an autumn morning and gather a few red maple leaves, fallen acorns and pebbles to create a centerpiece that will reflect the mood of the season. In the Japanese tea ceremony, as with all creative endeavors, perfection is not the goal. The potter who forms the cups for drinking tea in the Japanese tea ceremony often makes the cups crooked or misshapen to avoid the egotism of making perfect tea cups. In the same spirit, a person who would like to host an afternoon tea party does not need to own an elegant set of matching china. She can simply arrange the dishes she does have in a pleasing way that harmonizes with the season.
In afternoon tea, there is no limit to the number of art forms that can be included in the celebration. The hostess is free to use poetry, music, pictures, photographs or any other pleasing artistic media. And she will rely on her aesthetic imagination to arrange the linens, dishes, utensils and food in a collage that will be enjoyable for her guests. Kathleen Pedulla, one of the co-authors of this book, designed and stitched a beautiful lace embroidered pillow for her aunt Rose, the other co-author, to place on her chair while enjoying spontaneous afternoon tea parties with her little friend Melahi. Kathleen made another pillow enhanced with satin rosebuds and a large, hand embroidered “M” for Melahi, a kindergartener who has fallen in love with afternoon tea. When you fall in love with afternoon tea, you will be astonished at the many ways your creative energies will come to life.
Harmony, humility, respect and creativity are the foundational values of every civilized life. These are also the values upon which beautiful lasting memories are formed. Marcel Proust in his famous memoir Remembrance of Things Past (A la Recherché du Temps Perdu, 1913-1927) reflects on the indelible and delightful memory of eating madeleines in his boyhood with afternoon tea. These lovely little shell-shaped sponge cakes became for Proust the iconic symbols of the innocence and security of childhood. Perhaps sixty years from now, when Melahi shares an afternoon tea party with her grandchildren, she will remember her own hand embroidered tea party pillow and linger for a moment with that memory and a contented smile.
Anyone can walk into the yard on an autumn morning and gather a few red maple leaves, fallen acorns and pebbles to create a centerpiece that will reflect the mood of the season. In the Japanese tea ceremony, as with all creative endeavors, perfection is not the goal. The potter who forms the cups for drinking tea in the Japanese tea ceremony often makes the cups crooked or misshapen to avoid the egotism of making perfect tea cups. In the same spirit, a person who would like to host an afternoon tea party does not need to own an elegant set of matching china. She can simply arrange the dishes she does have in a pleasing way that harmonizes with the season.
In afternoon tea, there is no limit to the number of art forms that can be included in the celebration. The hostess is free to use poetry, music, pictures, photographs or any other pleasing artistic media. And she will rely on her aesthetic imagination to arrange the linens, dishes, utensils and food in a collage that will be enjoyable for her guests. Kathleen Pedulla, one of the co-authors of this book, designed and stitched a beautiful lace embroidered pillow for her aunt Rose, the other co-author, to place on her chair while enjoying spontaneous afternoon tea parties with her little friend Melahi. Kathleen made another pillow enhanced with satin rosebuds and a large, hand embroidered “M” for Melahi, a kindergartener who has fallen in love with afternoon tea. When you fall in love with afternoon tea, you will be astonished at the many ways your creative energies will come to life.
Harmony, humility, respect and creativity are the foundational values of every civilized life. These are also the values upon which beautiful lasting memories are formed. Marcel Proust in his famous memoir Remembrance of Things Past (A la Recherché du Temps Perdu, 1913-1927) reflects on the indelible and delightful memory of eating madeleines in his boyhood with afternoon tea. These lovely little shell-shaped sponge cakes became for Proust the iconic symbols of the innocence and security of childhood. Perhaps sixty years from now, when Melahi shares an afternoon tea party with her grandchildren, she will remember her own hand embroidered tea party pillow and linger for a moment with that memory and a contented smile.
