August 05th, 2017

Downton Abbey ..Ladies who came to Tea !!

Downton Abbey High Tea Party was an enormous success ...everyone seemed to enjoy themselves very much.
Here they are arriving in all of their glory.
So much effort just to come to my humble home for afternoon tea.
I am so honored that they would all take so much trouble.

I had such fun greeting them ...some so elegant in their lovely vintage gloves.
Some of the gloves which their own Grandmother's used to own and wear.
How perfect.
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The tables are all ready set and filled with mouthwatering teatime treats.
I was expecting two other guests but unfortunately one got the date wrong and thought it was the next day ..she didn't feel like getting all ready to come over for tea once she found out ..she was missed.
And one of my dear friends had a last minute family thing going on and was deeply sorry to not be able to attend ...she had a beautiful dress that she had bought as well and was deeply disappointed.
So were we ....she is the loveliest of friends and was sorely missed by us all  XX
​I have saved some treats for her.

Here is an example of the place settings.
I gifted each of my guests with a sachet of Jasmine Blossom to place in a drawer,suitcase,wardrobe etc.
And my dear Friend in Guernsey on hearing that I was having a Downton Abbey tea party started to make, unbeknown to myself, the most precious Downton Abbey themed gift tags ...for me to use as decoration on the table place settings and also for a keepsake for my Friends to take home with them.
Each one was beautifully crafted with such care and love.
With handmade flowers, butterflies and well known sayings from Downton Abbey.
They must have taken hours and hours of work ..and delighted everyone of us that attended the party.
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EVERYONE OF US WANT TO SAY A BIG 'THANK YOU' TO MARY in Guernsey ....WE ARE OVERWHELMED BY YOUR KINDNESS XX

Lots of home made goodies could be found.

I hardly had room to fit them all on each table.
Another dear Friend who attended the afternoon tea made the delicious strawberry jam to go with the Devon Clotted Cream and Scones for the typical English Cream tea.
Thanks Cindy  ...she also gifted each guest including myself a jar of the Strawberry jam to take home ..Along with an inspirational book.
I have the best friends...so lucky.

I found these perfect roses for the tea and slipped a few in to my lovely white teapot .

The most glorious roses I have ever seen ...I just love the color ...and they have a beautiful scent too.

Margie, Mary & Debbie ....all three look simply stunning ...

One of my guests has to have gluten free food ...I had a blast trying out recipe's with the very strange flour you have to use for Gluten free ...these chocolate cakes I made from a recipe in one of my cook books from the 70's ....it was lovely to make and the finished cake was quite yummy ....Danny and I tried them and loved them and I am so glad that my friend loved them too.
She even took some home with her.
I loved them so much I will share the recipe with you on my blog in the next few days for those who are to eat gluten free or those who aren't ...I gave them a lovely chocolate and butter icing...Yum !!
I also made scones for her and she loved them too.

Busted !!   Texting at the table would never meet with the approval of the Dowager Countess ...ha! ha! 

Ladies dressed impeccably for afternoon tea ...gloves included ...beautiful.

My Cabbage Rose Blue chair was always made for elegance ...love this photo ..love this Friend.

I made a little game from the English Party Game of 'Pass the Parcel' and had as the prize one of my handmade pillows ...My Printer has broken and I could not make one of Downton Abbey but this one had fashion from the Jane Austen era.
I wrapped it in about 10 pieces of decorative tissue paper and on each sheet was a piece of card with a famous saying from 'Downton Abbey' with music playing the parcel is passed around in a circle and when the music stops the person unwraps one piece of paper and then has to say out aloud the 'saying' in their best English voice ..then continues to pass it around the room till the music stops again ..the last one for it to be passed to, that has just a final wrapping wins the prize 
It was lots of fun with lots of budding actors amongst my guests.

This lovely Lady was voted by her fellow guests ...Best Dressed 
And won a little gift from myself of a modern day Teacup and Saucer.
I didn't give a vintage teacup as I thought the recipient would more likely use it if it was a modern day teacup.
Therefor think of the happy memories she has of the day every time she drinks from it.
I am sure she won't mind me saying but all of her outfit was made from her very clever Thrift Store findings ..perfect.

Yours truly with some of my dear friends.

I had fun laying the tables.

Hello over there !!

Another of the roses I bought for the party ..these were cream with a tinge of green on the edges of the petals...they are still looking good.

Thanks for popping by.
And letting me share my Downton Abbey Party with you all.
I hope that if you have one of your own that it will be full of happiness
and laughter like ours was 
Happy memories made by all 

Happy days

Janet