Everyone is invited.

Mad Hatters hold them, even solemn looking girls in Petersburg throw them, teddy bears are known to favour them over picnics, and on Friday the 12th of January, 2007, at Risa’s invitation, a Tea Party is being held for the entire length of a single day, for a cast of hundreds. From the southern hemisphere to the north, until presumably the clock strikes 12 and all are too giddy from sugary confections and gallons of tea to possibly continue.

So, what have I decided to bring to this gathering, the first of its kind… why, I’ve brought along the seating. And given that here, in Melbourne, Friday is already knocking at the door, I have brought along seats complete with a small army of willing, hairy (though sometimes feathered and scaled) seat warmers, until you all arrive.

Pull up a pew, bribe your seat warmer, be he monkey or be she a hare, and sit down as you await the sticky sweets on this merry day.

For those who favour the Renaissance Revival aesthetic... please, take a seat.

For those more keen on the Directoire period... please, make yourself at home.

And, for those who prefer a little Rococo Revival, there's plenty of room for everyone... don't be shy.

Here’s to a wonderful Tea Party, one and all! Be it four for tea, two for tea or more.

Comments

[risa]

wow grache! thank you. i can't wait to try out each and every one! and i'm glad you brought all of your animal friends too. i'm getting butterflies. :)

[stephanie s]

oh my god, i want to sit next to the monkey, i'll bet she has the best stories!!!

[shari]

i love all of your chairs and the seat warming friends. think i would like to sit for awhile next to the armadillo. do you think squirrel would mind? beautiful. hope you're having fun grache. xoxo shari

[Elizabeth]

You = AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

[alyssa]

Marvelous! I love them all.
"Hedgehog in the Fog" is a treasured gem. It was all made using cut-out animation on many, many layers of glass. Norstein's wife made the puppets and then he animated them. It takes him a very, very long time to finish a film, because of his labor intensive process. You should also check out "Tale of Tales."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuriy_Norshteyn

[louise]

Oh these look so tremendous! I think my favourite is still the feathered fella on the golden Rococo Revival chair, however Mr squirrel on the Directoire style chair keeps yelling out for my attention too.

[Fran]

Brilliant. So lovely.

[Shell]

Oh, this is fabulous! I wish I'd seen this tea party thing before - if I had I'd pull up a chair and partake in sticky delights, but I have errands to run and can't stop now...

Have fun tea partiers!

[cindy]

oh, i love it all. it's too hard to choose one. brilliant.

[Tiel S-K]

we can play musical chairs while the kettle is boiling. bags me not doing the dishes!

[Fran]

Yes. Book is yours! Yay. Can you email an address to spindle2@tpg.com.au and I'll send it asap. Have a good one. Fx

[Vanessa]

I am in love with the seating!!In love. I couldn't bear to choose just one seat for the whole day, so maybe there should be a musical chairs every hour??? Until we all turn into Pumpkins at midnight???I am all ready for the party. Jewels, tea-cups. Your blog is delightful to the core!!!

[lisa s]

leave it to you to bring the best chairs [and animals] EVER!! xo

[julie]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!! Love all of the chairs...but spotted a couple of faves that i may perch my bottam on for a little longer!! see you soon! xxx

[cruststation]

:) Wonderful, knowing that you guys are over there in Australia, I thought I'd check your blog first and what a delight! You are so sweet and thoughtful to bring the seating and have them warmed by such lovelies. I love the musical chair idea, I for one can't choose between the beauties. I am already enjoying the party! Thank you.

[Marie-Noëlle]

What beautiful thoughts of yours!
I do not run a blog but I am having a lot of pleasure visiting everybody's answer to Risa's invitation...I think I will be delighted to nestle in one of those chairs !!! Thank you

[donna]

these are beautiful.
it looks just like my type of teaparty, all those animals for company.

[elaine haby]

that owl and mouse have certainly had some fun with that beautiful red divan... reminds me of a cat or two and some comfy chairs.... lovely feel about all these images though... hope to get an invite to this tea party.....e

[amisha]

these are so lovely & delightful... i am enchanted by all of them! what a pleasure to visit for thea tea party :)

[tongue in cheek]

Are they playing musical chairs? Aren't you amazing! Aren't they chairs with their happy little creatures fantastic!
Clever You
Clever you!! This is the best tea party ever!! Risa's tea cups, your chairs, lemons, and sweets, Louise's COFFEE CUP!!! Oh I am in heaven!! Ta ta darling!!

[sarah]

how beautiful!

[Veronica TM]

Hi Gracia! I would take any of those seats with wonderful seat warmers! What a great party!

[the sapient pig]

it's like a dream come true!

[sabine Brandt]

Sooooooooo beautiful! I will mail you soon about the swap :-)

[Briana]

Um, I am *sooooo* at your tea party. So there. Right now.

[jungle dream pagoda]

I thik you even brought the party game. We could play musical chairs!

[Karen]

How is everyone picking? I love all the little creatures and the chairs! So whimsy and fun...

Happy weekend, grache!

xok

[tatjana]

What scrumptious pictures! Would you mind if I held the little nest on my lap to keep if warm? I could even cover it with my knitting to make it extra cozy :D

[Sarah]

This tea party is making me so happy. I've discovered so many different and talented women today. I'm glad I found you. You art makes my heart sing! Great to meet you and hope to see you again. I've added you to my bloglines, so I'm sure I will. :D

[emily]

amazing!!

this is a highlight of the little tea party :)

[jerusha]

*gasp!* so, so wonderful. a tea party with seat-warming friends is the very best kind, i think.

[La Vie Arty]

I just discovered this tea party with minutes (my time) to spare! Beautiful chairs...

[Anastasia]

What wonderful seating and such cute furry friends to share our tea!
Once I get comfy I dont think I'll be leaving very fast!

[Marieke]

Wow, Grache, they are amazing!!! It must have taken some time to prepare a tea party so thoroughly! And all the seat warmers there, even the not yet borns in eggs. I am glad they stayed, even after so many guest arrived... Happy weekend to you x (P.s. that's the good thing with tea, I feel so fresh now ;-)

[wendy]

those chairs are fantastic.
I think I might want to chill in one of the lounges...do you think the animals might bring around the treats?

[Julia]

Most excellent seating!! Wow, I didn't know chairs could be so lovely and appealing and make me feel so covetous! I just love that pink and green one. =) I hope those skink-like (?) animals will share!

[simple me]

Your seats and seat warmers were a success at the party. I tried a few and stayed for a long time listening to wise stories the owl had to share.
It was so wonderful the moments I spent talking to you while sipping tea. I'm so happy you were able to come :)

[sam]

I've tried them all too & they were all very comfortable!

[Ulla]

These are truly wonderful!!!! Oh I would sit for tea in any and all!!!

[gracia]

Oh, my! What a tea party it has been!

My seat warmers and I are thrilled at the warmest of warm responses from each and every one of you. Now that they have mastered the fine art of being a professional, and accommodating, seat warmer, they feel confident in their next gig - warming the seats of the bejewelled famous (and not so famous) at the Golden Globes. Some were initially a little anxious that they would not be up to such a job however since meeting you all at Risa's huge, international tea party extravaganza, they are feeling all the more confident in their chosen profession.

So, thank-you, Risa... for organising such a wonderful and successful, global event of tantalizing proportions. Here's to it, or something similar, becoming an annual affair! To think it all started here: http://mesimple.blogspot.com/2006/12/wish-you-were-here.html ...so long ago now.

Thank-you, everyone. I will endeavour to swing by all of your blogs, one by one, and help with the washing up. I promise. I'm happy to wash or dry or stack, really I am. And thank-you, Tatjana, that nest of eggs really did appreciate being kept warm by your knitting. And, Shari... the armadillo misses your dulcet tones... please, do swing by again. And, Marieke... yes, they are quite used to bringing around small plates laden with treats as I have them do it for me often. Why, here comes the monkey with a blue bowl of grapes! And, Sabine... here's to a fruitful swap from Copenhagen to Melbourne, and Melbourne to Copenhagen.

And, thanks, Alyssa and Donna... for shedding further light on the 'Hedgehog in the Fog'. I have become an overnight fan of Yuriy Norshteyn. A huge, huge fan!

Thank-you, Fran... I'm eagerly awaiting a copy of 'Second Honeymoon' from your good self. Your Free Book Friday is an ingenious plan and I am happy to be one of the recipients.

Thanks all, take care and brace yourselves for the sugary come down. I'm glad you were all so comfortable, and I'm glad to have conversed with old chums and meet some new ones too.
g xo

[Anja]

I was at work and an office party all Friday and couldn't make it. Will do my best for next year instead. Warmest thoughts to all the gentle seat warmers, they look very professional. You have wonderful staff at your house :)

[Karina]

Beautiful. I love these images. Thank you.

[helle Jorgensen]

Oh those chairs, Gracia!.......and the furry and feathered creatures, just exquisite.

[jenny]

sooo great! i love these, so many too! :)

ps i see my beautiful print in my kitchen everyday, such a lovely image...xoxo

[jac]

LOVE these. I think the monkey is my favourite... or the capybara things?... no, can't choose. Gorgeous, grache!

[camilla Engman]

Oh how I wish I'd went to the tea party. With such wonderful guests :)

[Tiffany]

What a fabulous array of seats for everyone (and all with little furry/feathered friends, too!)

Unfortunately, I missed the tea party but it looks as though everyone had a grand time and I'm really enjoying catching up on what everyone brought!

Have a great day, Gracia!

Tiff*

[Maryam in Marrakesh]

The seating is so very beaufiful. Pls tell me where you got those amazing, amazing images. Why I want all of them!

[Maditi]

very sweet seat warmers :)
amazing furniture, I guess I favor the Renaissance Revival aesthetic!!

[bugheart]

can't believe
i missed
such an
amazing tea...
but i am
always
late much
like
the white
rabbit.