Sunday, July 29, 2012

An Impromptu Mad Tea Party...and an Art Giveaway...♥

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As many of you know (much better than I, probably) yesterday was the 5th Annual Mad Tea Party in the blogosphere...
I'd read about it in the Stampington publications, long before I started blogging myself.
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I'd always thought, "How cool!"; but had never thought about actually having one...
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Then, yesterday I was looking at Vanessa Valencia's wonderful blog, A Fanciful Twist, and reading about her party, and many, many others...
And I thought, "Why not?"...it wasn't too late...
Sooooo...I went to Walmart...(very impromptu...no time to bake... like I would, LOL) ~
I found pretty cupcakes (only now am I realizing I could have put these in some prettier papers), and various lovely cookies and treats...
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Then I bought edible glitter and pearls and pink sugar to further embellish them...
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I came home and got out my Grandma Launius's teacups and her little rose-sprigged creamer and sugar bowl; my Mom's pretty cakestands ... and polished up my little silver teapot (the one I used in my painting Tea With the Earl, also with my favorite teacup from Grandma...) ~
Next came zinnias from the garden to pretty-up the cupcakes even more...(I saw this at A Fanciful Twist, as well...).
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How do you even begin to explain to a couple of fellows (who barely get the whole concept of blogging, anyway) why you are buying and gathering all of this, and then taking it all outside to set up and photograph??
:^)
Makes me smile, just remembering the looks...
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Mom has finally "gone 'round the bend", yes she has.
Jonathan helped me carry things out, though.
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Okay, it's all set up (such as it is...next year I will do much better)...now I just need some guests...
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Jonathan politely declined (but asked me if we could eat all the stuff I'd bought after I was finished taking pictures...I said "yes").
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So, I brought my little angel statue over, as well as my vintage photos...
I can have my little Victorian children there in spirit!
I added my Mom's little photo, too.
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The kitties wanted to come, of course, but since they don't go outside (and would be totally freaked out, outdoors, even if I got Jonathan to hold them) they would have to wait until I came back inside to have some Mad Tea Kitty Treats...
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I apologize for the repetition...I was excited!
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Someone needed to actually have a spot of tea, so I did (Earl Grey)...
This is my favorite cup and saucer, on my very favorite transferware plate...(I love fruit motifs!) ~ ♥
The sprig of Plumbago and the delicate Cosmo look so pretty, don't you think?
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Fairy Dust makes absolutely everything better...
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Back inside, here are my kitty party-revellers... Leo (top), Cyrus, and Tallulah (with Leo checking out the zinnias)...
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Now, for my art giveaway...I will give one of my hand-pulled and watercolored linoprints (the winner's choice of Tallulah (above), or Beloved (the Calvary angel) approx. 9" x 12") to one of the commenters on this post...(All you have to do is leave a comment for me!) ~ I will have this go through Thursday, August 2nd...then I will put all the names in a hat  and have Jonathan draw one (to further confuse him about blogging!) ~ I will post the winner on Friday.
Sound good?
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This is especially for Beverly's special "Pink and Yellow Saturday"! (Happy Birthday, Beverly ~ a bit belated!)...
Thank you for reading all my Tea-Party rambling...♥
Have a wonderful Monday!
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55 comments:

  1. "Holy Smokes, this was amazing. I'm going back right after commenting to look at it all again. What a captivating, beautiful group of photos. And the kitty ones, Holy Moly. I had never heard of this Tea-Party and must do more reading on it. Thanks for sharing this fabulous post. Oh yes...please throw my name in the tea-cup. I would love to win any of your art-work. Hugs, Deb

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  2. Well, I have to say, THIS IS AMAZING! Especially being impromptu! You did wonderful, truly! It's beautiful, so beautiful. I think zinnia cupcakes are the bees knees now myself ;)

    We look like we have some of the same tea cups don't we???

    It's like, a parallel mad universe, how madly kindred!!!

    Loove it, you outdid yourself! Thank you for joining in!!

    Happy Mad Tea Partying!!

    ♥ Vanessa

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  3. What a posting full of sparkles! I do love those tea cups, I have one cup and saucer of my grandmother's...violet pattern. Delicate tea cups are really a lost art aren't they?

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  4. Wow!
    That just about sums-up your tea party I reckon. How very beautiful. Those cakies don't look like they've come from a shop at all with your little touches atop them Anne. And you've also inspired me to grow us some Zinnias. Gorgeous x

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  5. I absolutely LOVE all your fairy dust and your pictures and I am ENTHRALLED with your teacups! I have rarely seen ones so unique!!! Amazing!

    Hugs,

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  6. Oh Anne! What a beautiful, beautiful tea party you had...even if it was last minute. Had you not told me that I would not have known because it looks like you went all out. I love all the "sparkles" in your pictures..they make me feel like fairies were visiting you, too.

    I won't sign up for your giveaway, Anne, because I have six or seven this year already..and feel way too guilty. I'll let someone else win....you do such beautiful work that anyone is going to be blessed by one of your pieces.

    Hope you have a great week- xo Diana

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  7. OMG, first for your fanciful tea party and embellished cupcakes. Fabulous. And the photos, only an artist can accomplish that. And omg, again, please enter my name! (I want the angel :) xo

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  8. For a spur of the moment tea party this is pretty amazing! It looks so dreamy! And NO, the photo's weren't repetetive! I enjoyed each one. Thank you for sharing this with us! :)
    Erica

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  9. Oh, Anne, these are delightful! I love them all. I am so happy that you have joined us on SS too.

    Kathy M.

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  10. What a great party !!!...enjoy summer darling...love love love Ria...xxx...

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  11. What a beautiful post. The tea cups are amazing.......I love them!

    Have a lovely day,
    Ruby

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  12. I would love to be entered in your giveaway - I think your lino prints are wonderful. I always enjoy posts which include your cats, and when you have also got Earl Grey tea, cakes, beautiful china and flowers, what more could I ask for?
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  13. What a pretty tea party! Those cupcakes look so lovely!

    Happy Mad Tea party!

    Please come take tea with me at mine:

    www.idlebakes.blogspot.co.uk

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  14. Hi Anne..
    What a gorgeous tea party!
    I love the colors, and the dishes... everything is so pretty.

    How creative of you to use flowers on your cupcakes. It made them so special.

    Thanks so much for sharing your creativity and happy personality with all of us!!!

    Smiles :)
    Kerin

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  15. I had a delightful time visiting your mad little tea party! I now wish I had thrown my zinnia seeds into the dirt...they have to be the prettiest flowers. I love how you've decorated your cupcakes with them. So glad that you've joined in.

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  16. What a cute little tea party. Did you find those little cookies at Walmart, too and if so, what are they? They're darling.
    I love your favorite teacup, too. Most of mine are modern, nothing special - but I do have a few nice ones. That is beautiful!
    And go ahead and enter me in the giveaway. The painting doesn't match a thing in my home, but my son is an art buff, and he would love it.

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  17. Hi Anne,
    oh I would love to win your linoprint with the kitty. Both linoprints are so artful.
    You made me smile with the sentence: How do you even begin to explain to a couple of fellows...
    My neighbor is always looking amazed when I start to set a table outside and in the end I just took photos. They really don't understand it and I am sure they think, I am somehow strange. Your cupcakes turned out great. And the fairy dust looks so decorative. Love the kitty, catching the fairy dust.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  18. Looks like you've been spending a lot of time playing with Pic Monkey..Love your pictures..Kitties too..

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  19. Gosh! We think alike. I've secretly wanted to do the tea party thing but I don't have anyone to invite to it. You've proven that a party of one is appropriate. I know that my hubby will think I've lost my marbles but I'll just tell him to chalk it up to menopause. LOL

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  20. What a fun idea! I've never heard about that event before.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Your photo's are awesome...I especially like the kitty pictures with the fairy dust . You have a real talent for choosing colors and themes. I love to come a see what you are posting.

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  22. Love the vibrancy of your tea party! I'd love to have you link to Seasonal Sundays one of these days.

    - The Tablescaper

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  23. This has been my very favorite tea party (and I am on I believe #154), WOW! I loved everything about it, and your art is sublime!
    Lisa
    hope you can stop by my parties!

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  24. What a beautiful tea party, Anne! I would have loved to join you.:)

    This is an amazing give-away! Please throw my name in the cup.

    xo Nellie

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  25. I love your fairy dust photos. I don't think they have that on Picmonkey. How fun!

    Great giveaway--please enter me:)!

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  26. Don't worry about it; people who don't blog never get it, and even some of the people who do still don't get it. My hubby still doesn't get it, and I've been blogging for 6 years; he has his own blog, but even that hasn't helped him figure out why I thought it perfectly acceptable to arrange a tea party just for the photos, LOL!

    You can find my tea party at http://ziglernews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/my-mad-tea-party-2012-fd.html

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  27. Hello Ann
    Thanks for your comments on my latest post. I 've never heard of this tea party celebration before but I can see it is amazing! What detail you certainly have excelled there!

    Please do drop my name in the pot for your giveaway and I'm crossing my fingers that'll I'll be lucky and win one of those gorgeous prints.

    Keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  28. Oh yes, your party was simply devine!!! Loved every minute of it, yum! The fairy dust was the perfect finishing touch.
    BTW those guys never "get" such things, I too love the looks when I try to explain.
    Thank you for a lovely time.
    Kelley

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  29. Boy, do these photos ROCK! You tell "those guys" that it was VERY well worth the effort...and now that I am sufficiently hungry, and have to get on a plane on an empty stomach, I wish you a wonderful week! What a way to start off my morning - thank you for the bright!!!!! XOXOXO

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  30. Wow - everything about that post was absolutely beautiful!

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  31. Hello Anne
    What a WONDERFUL party! I just love the way you have decorated the cupcakes!
    Blessings,
    Penny

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  32. Hello Anne,I've just chosen your blog for an award. I hope that is o.k. with you. Please do pop over and have a look! Jane xx

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  33. Gosh golly molly, this is so pretty! Your photos really rock and are so pretty! Your party was beyond great, don't worry about the people who don't get it, you get it! Never heard of this tea party before so will look into it. I like the kitty one! So glad you shared your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best – your creativity helped make the party a success!

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  34. WOW! Never heard of that. The cupcakes look amazing though!

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  35. Your pictures are stunning today!

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  36. What pretty pictures! You'd never know by looking that your party was put together so quickly... great job!

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  37. Such a magical tea party! I loved all your photos, the tea cups, and the cats! Thank you for inviting me to tea!

    http://scrapvamp.blogspot.com/2012/07/mad-tea-party-2012.html

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  38. I looked through all of these slowly I might add. Love them all. You have captured such beauty. thanks for sharing.

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  39. Hi Anne,
    I should have not come back... Now I want a cupcake.. You have decorated them so pretty!

    Knockout roses... Your funny! They are roses, but I know what you mean. I too, am grateful for whatever they display. I love the beauty of a rose, but what I truly love is the aroma...
    Have a great week.
    Blessings,
    Penny

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  40. What beautiful photos! The snow/sparkle effect is so striking. I'd love any piece of art of yours!

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  41. Oh my gosh! I love all of your pictures! They are absolutely amazing! And I hope I'm not too late for the giveaway :)

    Great mad tea party!

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  42. I love all those sparkly photos. Makes everything look ....WOW. Smiles, Susie

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  43. YOU did fabulous, great pictures! And oh the kitties, Yes I love ragdolls, they are just such fun cats, not run of the mill at all, more like a dog, I laugh at Billie all the time!

    Carol

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  44. Annie dear - I am late getting to your lovely tea party. Once again you have outdone yourself. The pictures are gorgeous. Your kitties are so beautiful. Zinnias on top of the cupcakes is so creative. Hope you had fun and shame on the boys for not joining you. xo xo Pixie

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  45. I had to chuckle at your family's comments to you buying things. That is what my Dad says all the time when I bring something new home. It's almost sad when Mom or I cook and he asks if it's okay to eat or do I need to take a picture of it first. Ha-ha! Love your sweet kitties and your photos are very pretty.

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  46. Anne dear, beautiful party!! I loved everything!
    The cupcakes were amazing, too beautiful.
    Your photos appear in fairy tales, bright and colorful. Congratulations and thank you for sharing your talent.
    Have a blessed day.
    hugs
    Luciana

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  47. My goodness! For joining the party at the last moment, you sure put out a gorgeous spread! =) The photos themselves look good enough to eat! And I adore your kitty photos - what beauties!

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  48. Anne,you asked about Louis,he's an English Springer Spaniel.

    Best wishes,
    Ruby

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  49. For last minute, your madness tea party was amazing and fabulous and just wonderful. Alice, herself, would have devoured those zinnia cupcakes along with the caterpillar. I am so sorry I missed the party. I did it one year, and like you said, I think my husband thought I had totally lost it. I went just a little (lots) nuts fixing my tea party up in the back yard with my dog and other assorted guests. LOL...what fun

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  50. Absolutely beautiful impromptu tea party!!! YOu did great.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Always, Queenie

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  51. This is so pretty and fun. This is the third one I have seen and I think it is a grande idea! My hubby and son don't quite get it either! But my daughter is totally wanting to do one for next year! I just love how you did this impromptu! All your photos look great! Sorry your guys didn't join you at the party. But I bet maybe next year they might get on the bandwagon!
    Blessings,
    Susie

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  52. How did I miss your tea party? :) Actually, I'm still catching up with Vanessa's guests. Your photographs are gorgeous and so are your prints.
    I also noticed your sidebar add titled "The Shop Around the Virtual Corner." I LIKE IT!! ;) Looks like Shopgirl will have a new neighbor in blogland. I'm sure she'll be giddy over Leo. :)

    Much love,
    Marcia

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  53. Love your tea party, it is beautiful for being impromptu. How do you do the fairy dust?

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