Tag: china

Chintz and China, Creating a Colour theme.

Posted on by alitaylor

Creating a colour theme for your chintz and china table settings.

Mismatching your china and table linen can be really effective particularly when trying to achieve an eclectic vintage feel.

garden party

There are times when you want to ring the changes and match your table settings and decorations to work with a particular theme and colour palette.

Perhaps you have a special occasion in mind or you have just bought a new tea set and want to show it off. Maybe the seasonal flowers in the garden are starting to bloom and you want to match the floral decoration with your tablescape.

Whatever the reason start with a mood board which will help you plan the theme and there you can experiment with your colour palette.

Pinterest is a great place for inspiration on colour as you will be able to search for current and future fashion trends and get examples of mood boards. You can follow me on Pinterest www.pinterest.co.uk>styleanorak

I like to start creating a colour theme with fabrics but perhaps that is because of my fashion background. But picking a bouquet can also determine your theme.

red and duck egg fabrics

If you choose a particular range of colours don’t be afraid to mix pattern and scale. Flowers, stripes, checks, spots and paisleys if they fall within a broad colour spectrum work very well mixed together.

Like me you may already have a fabric stash so get them out and spread them on the floor to see what kind of colours co-ordinate.

Don’t be afraid if they slightly miss match as this always looks more effective if you are making bunting.

 If you need to buy fabric, when creating a colour theme, have a look in charity shops first for vintage embroidered tablecloths or curtains that can be turned into tablecloths, runners or napkins.

fabric and bunting

The left overs can go into bunting. If you have no luck then furnishing fabrics are ideal as they are much wider than dress fabrics. Most shops will cut off half a metre minimum or alternatively have a rummage in their remnant box for buried treasures.

Choose a fabric for the main tablecloth as you will need at least 4 metre depending on the size of the table. You may need to measure the length of table plus the drop on both ends and double this if your table is wide because you will have to cut the fabric length in half from selvedge to selvedge width ways and put a seam in the length. Take care to match the pattern allowing for the pattern repeat.

Make sure you press the seam open so that the cloth lies flat. You may wish to hem the edges of the cloth, mitering the corners or you can add a braid or border in contrasting fabric.

Choose a different print for a second smaller tablecloth that you can layer on top of the first on the diagonal. 

table linen detailNow you have sorted out the linens the fun begins. Add your floral centrepiece and lay the table with your best china.

Contrast table runners can be added as well as napkins and placemats. You can also make chair covers, ties and cushions in mixed fabrics.

Add embroidery motifs or monogrammed initials for a truly customised detailing. Trace off florals from one of your prints and embroider onto plain linen or contrast prints. Experiment with patchwork and cross stitch.

Alternatively you can take your designs to an embroidery bureau where they can be digitised and digitally stitched for you. 

Look out for future Blogs by ‘The Table Dresser’ for information on how to make bunting and table runners.

fabric remnants

Alternative colour palette blues pinks and reds mixing paisleys with florals stripes and spots.assorted fabrics

 

 

 

 

Vintage chintz mismatching scales.

For All The Tea in China

Posted on by alitaylor

Why does tea taste better in a bone china tea cup?

tea and tarts

There is an art to making a perfect cup of tea but the question still remains, does it taste better in a bone china cup and brewed in a teapot?

The Table Dresser has the answers.

It is partly due to the brand of tea and the quality of the tea leaves but also down to the exact chemistry of how to brew the tea, from the freshness and temperature of the water to when to add the milk. Of course the crucial factor is what do you drink the tea from? Your favourite mug or your best china tea set?

blue floral tea cups

Taylors of Harrogate famous for their high quality tea and suppliers to Betty’s Tea Shop give this advice.

”Treat your water kindly. Run the tap so the water is nicely aerated, and only boil it once to keep the oxygen level up. Oxygen in the water helps flavour!

Keep everything toasty. Tea likes hot water, but a chilly teapot cools things down – so swirl a little boiling water around the empty pot first. For bonus points, use that water to warm the cups too.

bone china tea cup and bon bons

Add tea and water. Add two tea bags to a regular teapot or one tea bag to a mini teapot. If you’re using loose tea, add one teaspoon per person and one for the pot. Pour the hot water in and stir a bit.

Wait patiently. Tea needs time to unlock all its flavour, so give it 4 – 5 minutes to do its thing.

Customise your brew. We like a splash of semi-skimmed or whole milk, sugar lemon or nothing at all. Most importantly, enjoy!”

rose bud china

There is also the great debate on when to add the milk? Is it before or after the tea is poured?

When brewing in a mug it is best to pour the water first and put the milk in afterwards as the temperature is important in order to get the best out of the tea bag.

china and fancy cakes

However if you brew in a teapot it doesn’t really matter when you pour your milk as the tea has already infused. The other advantage of using a china teapot is that you can reach for a second cup without having to boil the kettle again.

forget-me-not teapot

Arguably the most important factor in the flawless cup of tea is the utensil from which you drink.

Scientists claim that the calcium in the production of the bone china, together with the smooth surface of the glaze and the fine delicacy of the thinness of the lip, dramatically alters the taste of the tea and can enhance the body of the tea and enrich the tannin.

pink bon bons

Psychology could also play its part in the equation.

The ritual of drinking tea can be seen as an important way of life in many cultures and promotes well-being in the gathering together of people whether it is part of a ceremony or just a welcoming gesture for guests. Whatever the occasion, taking out the best china is an essential part of the ritual and the mindfulness of laying of the table with beautiful linen and tableware contributes to the formality of the event.

cup saucer and plates

Tea and sympathy are essential ingredients when the going gets tough and a friend needs a shoulder to cry on.

Why would you ever consider taking out the mugs when only your best tea service can demonstrate the value placed on your friendship? They are worth the effort and drinking from your best china is proof of how much you care.

pink roses china

Drinking tea can be a solitary activity that gives space to contemplate and meditate and to be alone with one’s thoughts.

The very act of drinking tea can stimulate the mind and encourage creativity and must have played a vital role in the conception of many great works of art and numerous inventions. All the more reason for choosing the appropriate china to mark the occasion of that momentous innovation and eureka moment!

christmas day celebrations

From Chinese ceremonies known as Gong Fu to the English tradition of afternoon tea.

The social aspect of tea drinking has been passed down through the centuries and is still very much a central feature of everyday life. The choice of china from which you drink is fundamental to making the experience unforgettable.

tea cup stack

”He brewed hi tea in a blue china pot, poured it into a chipped white cup with forget-me-knots on the handle, and dropped in a dollop of honey and cream. He sat by the window, cup in hand, watching the first snow fall. ‘I am’ he sighed deeply, ‘contented as a clam. I am a most happy man.’ ”

Ethel Pochocki – Wildflower Tea.