a very Alice tea party
2012
Now I know this was all a while ago – in a couple of weeks it will be two months – my goodness! But there are so many more beautiful photos of Abby’s Alice in Wonderland Birthday Party that this weekend, I just have to share …
Above, is the tea party table. Oh, it was such bliss preparing for this party. I spent all week working on the more decorative elements, then began making the food on the Friday – jugs and jugs of fruity iced tea, chocolate crackles, homemade popcorn and chocolate masks.
Come Saturday morning, Hannah, Julian and I hit the kitchen early and by mid afternoon, the table was laid with Alice shaped biscuits – exquisitely iced by Hannah, wee thinly sliced sandwiches (egg and smoked salmon – Abby refused cucumber – silly thing! everybody knows you need cucumber sandwiches for a tea party), darling playing card biscuits meticulously decorated by Julian, and a platter of roasted chicken drumsticks.
As for the cake! Oh the cake! I baked it on Friday – a lemon poppy seed sponge in my stainless steel mixing bowl. It was the only oven proof receptacle that was even slightly teapot shaped. And I baked a small version in a baby bundt tin for the teapot lid. Saturday morning, whilst Hannah and I baked the cookies, Julian decorated the cake with that icing you buy in a log and have to colour and roll out, and wee sugar flowers.
He wangled a spout and handle out of an old coat hanger and smothered them in icing. Abby was thrilled and the girls suitably impressed. I fell in love with him just a little bit more – how am I supposed to resist a man who can wield sugar flowers with such prettiness.
It was all so good, I was jigging with glee. The guests spent most of the party at the table a la the Mad Hatter and co. and by nightfall, with the majority of guests gone, those that were staying for a sleepover had set up the spare ‘oom mattresses in the living room, piled themselves with quilts and munched their way through every remaining biscuit whilst watching Alice in Wonderland (that fabulous made for tv version from the late 1990s).
At the risk of sounding especially smug – there wasn’t a single soft drink or item of junk food to be found at the party – everything was homemade and wholesome – well, aside from the icing I suppose ;-) First time I’ve ever done this, yet not a child complained. Very affirming.
By golly, I could seriously go one of those cookies now. Alas there is not a biscuit in the house at the moment. Perhaps I’ll have a shower instead …
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how lovely…the costumes, the food. quite lovely.
m.
Oh, what fun!! Loved the cake…..you’ve got one special man there!!
What a delightful party. I love the story of “Alice in Wonderland”. I like the cookies that look like a playing card. And the flamingo cookies. You put a lot of thought into the planning and preparation. Maybe you should become a party planner.
WOW – everything looked great. What a great mom you are. I’m sure everyone had a splendid time. Thanks for sharing.
Oh Wow! I so want an Alice in Wonderland party now – surely I’m not too old at 43?? It all looks so totally amazing!
All absolutely gorgeous Lily. Certainly a party to remember forever!! Love the idea of the playing card biscuits, and you just happened upon a flamingo shaped cookie cutter?!!! My daughter would like a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party birthday this July, so I may just have to steal a couple of your brilliant ideas?