Winter Tea Party Tablescape

Winter Tea Party- Circle of Friends

Party of 10

Once or twice a year, my high school and college friends get together to catch up during the Holiday Season. You know it's good company when even though we haven't seen each other for a while we seem to be able to pick things up from right where we left off.

For this Winter Tea Party's Tablescape, I'm recycling the décor of Christmas Tea Party Tablescape with a little  variation.  I want to feature my special Circle of Friends by emphasizing the Circles in the theme (ornaments, glasses, round tables, platters and food).  Also, I'm featuring the blue more to symbolize that it is a color that is considered "a constant in our lives" (just like these friends of mine). 

 Full circle. I want to bring out the design of the  silvery cone more in the centerpiece through various sizes of the opaque, silver and white ornament balls in and around the tabletop. 

 The table has been extended to accommodate a party of 10.  (See Christmas Tea Party Tablescape for a Party of 6)

 To add a little color around this silver theme, blue wine glasses were added as water glasses (for those who don't drink tea)

 My versatile cloth flower napkin holder is handmade (it could pass for a poinsettia flower).  To highlight the blue flowers, I created  sugar cookies shaped into flowers with blue icing - an edible version of a nametag!
 

I placed 3 clear, tiered servers at each end of the table for easy serving. Notice, the sandwiches are cut into varied shapes to differentiate them.

 To bring about the circular theme, I used two portable round tables and covered them in alternate colors of blue and white.  One is used for the  tea  and  the other for the food that won't fit on the main table: broccoli salad, sweet bread, jam and jellies, fruits and extra sandwiches.  

The silver tea set is from my husband's grandparents.  The two blue champagne glasses  hold alternative sugar selection for others who can't take regular sugar. 

 Lunch Menu: A Variety of Sandwiches

 My friends all have different food requirements.  Some are lactose intolerance, vegans, meat lovers and vegetarians. So, I tried to have a combination of food to make sure all have something to eat.

• Cucumber sandwiches in buttermilk bread
• Turkey and cranberry sandwiches  on sourdough bread
• Cream cheese w/dates nuts on raisin bread
• Ham & honey mustard sandwiches
• Smoked turkey w/ raspberry mayo
• Roast beef w/champagne dill mustard
• Artichoke dip for cut up vegetables
• Asparagus wrapped in bacon
• Broccoli Fruit Salad
• Ham and Tomato Pies  - for  the male guests who preferred a little heartier food

Ham and Tomato  Pie before baking

ready for baking  

 Sweet Rice Bread to accompany the Ham & Tomato Pie.

Homemade jams:  Strawberry jam, lemon curd, Orange peach jam

Dessert

Peanut Butter Cookies

 Russian Tea Cookies

Cookies and Cream Fudge

Spiced Pumpkin Fudge

 Caramel Turtle Fudge Bar

Madeline Cookies (dipped in Chocolate w/coconuts)

Assorted Teas

  

The oversized wine glasses are filled with Cookies and Cream Fudge and Spiced Pumpkin Fudge

Dessert is served in the dining room area (where the Santa theme is more pronounced) after the games .

Russian Tea Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies 

Caramel Turtle Fudge Bar

  

Game Gift

As part of the party, I like to have a little game to liven up the party. We used the living room where the spirit of Christmas is in full bloom because of the Santa theme.

As a present for the game - a basket is filled with breakfast items: coffee mug, jam, hot cocoa, caramel cookies, a bag of coffee, ornament, a bag of cookies, and aromatic candles (not seen)

GIVEAWAY PRESENT

As the party starts to wind down, I give a parting gift of my special banana bread.  I also add a wrapped box of tea as an accompaniment.

Banana Bread

HO, HO, Holidays!  Enjoy!

See also:
 Christmas Tea Party for a Party of 6
Graduation in December
Christmas Buffet Tablescape