Fancy tea sets surge in popularity, credit Netflix and quarantine

Fancy tea sets are trending due to Bridgerton and quarantine

 

Have both Bridgerton and the pandemic contributed to the spike in upscale tea time? 

That's the claim of a Vogue article from last week (Thanks to Bridgerton, Fancy Tea Sets Have Become the New Must-Have) by Elise Taylor. Citing recent boosts in Google, Etsy and Pinterest searches for "tea", "tea sets" and "elegant tea sets" respectively, Taylor makes the case that nine months of quarantine-induced slovenly living combined with binge-watching the Regency-period series that focuses on the lifestyles of British aristocrats who indulge in every social repast, including tea time, has produced a pent-up need for fine living -  even if we don't leave the house.

Quarantine attire, sweat pants, no shoes

Sweat pants zone to end!

After months in sweatpants with few occasions that require footwear beyond slippers, along comes Bridgerton which, according to Stephanie Synclair, founder of the La Rue 1680 tea company, serves as a "pleasant reminder that we can be fabulous in our own homes, dressed in beautiful garments, sipping tea with our pinky up."  (All good except for "pinky up", but that's just the Tea Etiquette Consultant in me).

Time to make "every day moments more special & sophisticated"

Etsy trend expert, Danya  Isom Johnson is also quoted in the Vogue article as to why stylish tea times are on the upswing.  Per Johnson, "we're looking for ways to make everyday moments - like our morning or evening routines - feel a little more special and sophisticated. What better way to do that than with a beautiful tea set?"

Inspired to polish the silver tea set

We at BTS agree wholeheartedly and have embraced the trend. Spurred by the recent excitement of bringing luxury events to home confinement,  we recently brought out the silver (coffee and) tea set for a polish and put it to use - if only for two. We replaced the half bag of chips with an elegant three-tired tray filled with mini quiches, cookies and biscuits and, last but not least, swapped the sweat pants for more formal attire. (Is there ever a good reason not to wear a tiara on weekend afternoon?)

This is how one spends a Saturday afternoon at home:  fancy tea and shoes!

We fully support Bridgerton's influence to bring  new fans to fancy tea time. It gave us a reason to bring the silver out of the cabinet, treat ourselves to a bit of elegance and even put on shoes.

Luxury  tea and dress, ready for more Netflix

Elegant tea accoutrements were also part of a recent Frick Museum lecture, featuring the fine porcelain tea pots from their start in Europe. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog that continues on the topic of  fancy tea ware. 

In the meantime, pour another serving of Earl Grey into your prettiest bone china tea cup, take a break from the sweat pants zone and fire up the Netflix. Treat yourself to some gracious living in the company of Daphne Bridgerton.

Family room garage and fun-two: The holiday season of 2020

Christmas 2020 outdoors included open-air garage family room and front court yard

The holidays were spent a little differently in 2020.  Celebrations were carried out with social distancing parameters which meant gathering with only those in one's "bubble" or some type of outdoor meet-up. The later poses particular challenges for those of us in northern states where typical temperatures for December range in the high 20's to the low 40's.  But, we all got a little creative and for BTS and extended family, we decided to bring the indoors out.  

Inspiration for our Winter Wonderland Garage came from White Christmas and the Vermont inn.

Inspired by the movie White Christmas, where during the grand finale performance of Wallace and Davis and the Hayne sisters, the back door of the charming Vermont inn opens up to show a Currier and Ives  idyllic  wintery scene behind the red-velvet draped performers. 

Close to our inspiration?

Like an entry on Pinterest, we took that movie image and used that as our goal for our Winter Wonderland garage. I ordered six pairs of cranberry-colored sheer drapes, and pulled out a dozen white and red tablecloths from the linen closet to be hung up on the walls and thrown over tool benches, golf clubs, recycling bins and assorted garage clutter.

Husband, Chris, took out his staple gun and attached the drapes to walls and ceilings and we strung one set of very tangled fairy lights along one wall. We had a few heaters going, but the garage door was opened as well as the entry to our front courtyard, so hats, coats and gloves were kept on throughout.

After we set up the "Winter Wonderland" in the garage, one thought came immediately to mind:  #epicfail.  But all who attended were wearing courteous rose colored glasses - they said it looked pretty good. We were all grateful to be together, so those good feelings, along with down jackets, well-insulated hats and hot chocolate kept us warm.

Gulley elves paint birdhouses in the lower level workshop

We used the Winter Wonderland for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day with our immediate family and extended bubble, respectively. We also entertained in our adjacent front courtyard where Chris put up a real Christmas tree with a toy train running at the base through a village of birdhouses we had hand painted the week before.  If  the mother of invention is necessity, my husband is the patriarch of creativity in quarantine. The Christmas tree train vignette was part of his outdoor décor vision and he enlisted the Gulley elves to help assemble in our basement "Santa's workshop"  before the parties.

But the holiday most turned upside down in 2020 was our annual fun-do. Any given year, for the past thirty years we have hosted nine to twelve guests for fondue at an ever-expanding table filled with pots of oil and an assortment of seafood, vegies steak. However, quarantine times trimmed attendees drastically to just Chris and me. Our only bubble was in the toasting glasses and thus, we renamed  our NYE event to  "fun-two".   And, it was (!). . . but different.

More Zoom and Re-Zoom to include NYC son

We also tapped into Zoom  and Facetime which was essential in connecting with New York, son, Matt. He was in virtual attendance for our Christmas Eve in the garage and a family game night between the holidays.  One bonus for Matt of the former event, he was inside his Brooklyn apartment, toasty warm!

Hats were required attire for 2020 Christmas

If any holiday season in recent times required out-of-the-gift-box thinking, it certainly was 2020. While we truly affirmed the spirit of the season - the gift of gathering with family for a few hours of cheer - I will look forward to a time where, on cold winter day, we can invite everyone inside and leave the hats in the closet. 

Just like in the movies, snow made everything more festive!

But, it must be noted, Christmas-in-the-garage couldn't have succeeded without the help of all who came to marvel at the winter wonderland and dressed in hats and gloves (although, clearly not the formal kind). Thanks to my bro and sister-in-law for providing the savories, my children for providing the sweets, other bro for providing the annual Christmas  trivia (some things must go on!) for entertainment and other, other  bro for "Santa's workshop duty".  Also, a nod to mother nature who on cue, just like in the movie, brought us a dusting of snow to make everything a little more festive.

We hope to return to fun-do for 2022!!

Looking forward to resuming holidays indoor this year, including many guests at our fun-do and hats in glove indoors, but for formal occasions only!

New New Years' resolutions and tablescapes (and how we did on those for 2020):

April's tablescape, a "card party theme"

 

Happy New Year!

I don't typically make  a new year's resolution other than the standards I promise myself while I'm stuffing in one last bite of Christmas fudge before January 1st, after a week of gravies, sauces, and candy coated everything:  lose 5 - 15 lbs (depending on the year) and go to the gym three times a week.  Those goals usually last until at least February. 

And, that's why I don't typically make a new year's resolution,

However, over a year ago, before all our lives were served with a Covid sucker-punch in March, I actually did commit to one tea-time activity each month - tablescapes! As noted in my December 31, 2019 blog I stated the following:

"Tablescapes captured by iPhones. BTS is committed to one fantastic tablescape a month and we'll upload photos.  Watch for upcoming blog posts!"

January tablescape, vintage pieces shared with vintage friends

Now, in the first full week of January 2021, the day of reckoning is upon us: how well did we do on our promise of  twelve tablescapes for 2020?  Well, actually, not too bad in comparison to weight loss and gym visit goals.  We accomplished nine different tablescapes, for a solid 75% score. If we're grading on a curve, and we're the only students in the class,  I'd say we're in the solid A- to B  + range. (That includes extra credit for daughter's wedding day tablescapes and Christmas-in-the garage buffet). 

Extra credit - garage buffet

Extra credit: September's wedding

We started in January with our table setting using heirloom items, some never used before and in boxes for decades. In a time where one could have friends in their house for dinner parties, we had our besties over for a gourmet venison meal (prepared by my husband, Chris) and a table attired in Irish linen, Waterford crystal and sterling silver flatware.  (January Tablescapes:  Vintage heirlooms debut after years of storage).

February, pretty in pink!

March, getting ready for spring

February brought us a sweet, romantic table display topped with plates, cups and teapots decorated in various versions of pastel pink roses, perfect for Valentine's Day month. In March, as the quarantine began, we rustled together a spring-inspired setting, hopeful for better times to come and in April, we put together a card-game inspired tablescape which pulled together glasses embellished  with hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs and serving dishes in similar shapes.

BTS "borrowed: from cousin's October tablescape

Our depression glass collection (which makes us very happy!), made its way to our June table, which then had a hiatus until October, when we "borrowed" from my creative cousin, Dianne, and her festival Fall table, complete with colorful leaf placemats. We formally finished the year on Thanksgiving with our up north Thanksgiving tablescape, set for two, as opposed to our usual full-house in Oakland county.

May, wedding anniversary tablescape, the most popular 

But, our most popular tablescape by far was our May tablescape blog, that was 37 years in the making which celebrated our wedding anniversary, complete with original wedding cake topper and "bride" and "groom" toasting glasses.  (Those glasses, by the way, were also part of daughter and son-in-law's  wedding tablescape in September!)

It was an interesting journey around the table (and the sun) these last twelve months. BTS thanks all of you who followed our tablescapes of 2020! 

And, now we're thinking about what this year's resolution should be, but being mindful of something we can accomplish. . . . we'll stick with "TBD"  (could that mean tablescapes by the dozen? -stay tuned!)

And, as always, we enjoy your shares! If you have a favorite tablescape, send to us at barb@barbsteashop.com! 

BTS' In and Out list for 2021: To a better year for all!

Welcome to our 2020 holiday family room/garage. It was never "in".

We at BTS have been issuing our own "In/Out" list for over ten years, and we're feeling that more than any time in the past decade, everyone is really looking forward to saying "goodbye", "au revior" or "hejda" to the prior 365 days. 

Rachel and Sean's wedding held in Rob's front yard

Although it's been a frightening year, there have been a few rays of sunlight. We've been forced to be creative and retool events that in most recent history, would have been planned with only the "usual" stress. In our immediate family, we saw our daughter and son-in-law's wedding move from a picturesque orchard on the west side of Michigan to a pop-up ceremony on my oldest son's suburban front yard. We saw our annual Christmas-tree-tour with extended family - where we do a progressive holiday feast on Christmas Eve to the homes of my siblings - devolve into an open garage gala where coats and boots were required attire and not just en route.

A garage should go back to just housing cars.

In one small way, it did allow us to focus on what's important and set priorities, which may mean a wedding ceremony this year, party next or bearing a cold, Michigan winter day for a few hours in a garage festooned with tablecloths and drapes, to spend some real "face time" with family for the holidays.

And, with that backdrop, once again, BTS, with inspiration from The Detroit News', "What's in out in 2021 for our homes and more",  is excited share what's trending in the new year and what needs to be packed away in "concealed storage".

We're ready to close the door on this open concept room.

In:   Rooms with a dedicated purpose.  Per The Detroit News, rooms with a dedicated purpose are trumping open-concept floor plans. 

An accent rug, TV, and drapes attempt a cozy room

Out:  Garage as family room. We concur with the News. A garage is best suited to a specific role -  housing your vehicles. Even six sets of cranberry-colored drapes and twelve assorted tablecloths do not a living room make. Caution:  only to be used under quarantine conditions. We look forward to seeing you all inside next holiday season.

Home office with clutter. (sadly, photo not staged)

In:  Home offices.   With the increase in working from home necessities, this makes absolute sense. But we feel there's some conflict with another 2021 "out".

Out:  Clutter.  Even more so, with our homes serving as as classrooms, virtual staff meetings and Zoom chats, how do we keep up with the stacks of papers and books which would otherwise occupy schools and offices?  I quote directly from last year's BTS's commentary on "out" with regards to clutter: "Seriously, when was this ever in?  I keep waiting. In trend lists over the years it always shows up as "out". If it ever gets to be trendy, my home office space will be ready!"

Starting the new year decluttering, need more storage

In:  Concealed storage.  Per our observation above, yes, we need more storage at home. But, this is noted as "in" without much explanation. Its counterpoint "out" is dysfunctional storage. Is that just another name for "clutter"? We get it - put stuff away, but, please, a little patience.

Out:  Dysfunctional storage  Piles of paper are no longer considered a sign of anything remarkable. If you are prone to clutter and identify as "gifted" ask to be gifted some concealed storage to clean up the mess.

Congresswoman Stevens reelected!

In:  Biden/Harris, and, perhaps even more importantly, Haley Stevens. - congresswoman from Michigan's 11th District and, so thrilled, daughter-in-law in 2021!

Out:  You know who you are. . .

BTS going rogue. . . 

Allbirds, natural materials, look sharp

Crocs, your time has come and gone

 In:  Allbirds  I've been a fan of their television promotions and my daughter and son-in-laws' super cool shoes. Apparently, my admiration did not go unnoticed as I received a pair of awesome slippers from this company from said parties. They are "made from nature" and as comfy as they are attractive. This gets our vote for fashionable footware, 2021.

Out:  Crocs.  Aside from the unspecified unity (why not "all crocs"?), it's time to retire these plastic clogs. Try as we might to make a case for "present-ability",  these not-made-from-nature shoes just don't do well beyond the front porch. Saying good-bye to the faux footwear that was always a pretender.

The Crown and QE II very in! Tiger King, out-ch!

In:  The Crown.  Scandal, lunacy, and caution to not bite the hand that feeds you.

Out:  Tiger King. Scandal, lunacy, and animals that literally bite (off) the hand that feeds them. 

Zoom presentations have benefits, but watch the mute!

In:  Zoom Presentations - BTS now does Zoom presentations! Due to many tea events having venues shut down during quarantine, we were asked to do a Zoom Tea Talk last month. Although, it's always wonderful to present on-site, we found there are a few bonuses to having an on-line event. Your group members do not need to meet in a single locale, so guests can "dial in" from all over the country. (Our December "Afternoon Tea Etiquette" talk was presented to a non-profit group who had local members already snowbird-ing down south,. With the Zoom event, we could all be in the same meeting spot no matter where we were geographically!) 

Out:  Mute point. We're all guilty of talking while on mute, but now that we've had almost a year to catch-on, time to up our game and be prepared. That is, unless you want to talk about the Tiger King some more - then, mute all the way!

Up north "office" demands fitting accessories

In:  Faux fur tote for work-from-anywhere.  Since working remotely means your home office can be almost anywhere with a good internet connection, we are fond of setting up our  "9:00 to 5:00" hours at Pemberly Pines, our northern Michigan getaway.  This time of year, a faux-fur trimmed work carryall  compliments the job as well as the environs.

Out:  Crocs. With our without faux fur.  Crocs, you had a good run, but, alas, we (again) can no longer defend your existence. 

ONLY IN!

In:  BTS Books, Michigan Tea Rooms and Twelve Etiquette Essentials are still available on Amazon. And, this just in - expect another BTS book, in keeping with the "steeper by the dozen" series. in 2021!

Pemberly Pines, early trendsetter in name only

In:  Naming your abode.  As noted in our blog story from July (Do  you refer to your house by name? The naming of property is trending. .  .), giving your home a name is growing in popularity. Largely given a boost by the vacation home rental market, those listing their property on AirBnB or VRBO often caption them with titles to stand out. Having named our northern "estate" in its construction phase, we were preparing for this business opportunity over ten years in advance.

ONLY INNs!!

                                                                    By Pymouss - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/

Inn:  Escape to the Chateau.  The British TV series import - featuring England's equivalent of more theatrical, but less Hollywood, Chip and Joanna Gaines -  follows Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree's restoration of a 45-room French chateau, complete with moat and walled garden, on twelve acres. The quirky couple renovate the estate to create a family abode and wedding/event venue. (Now airs weekly on HGTV).

Pemberly Pines VRBO,  a place for wedding proposals in the tea garden

Inn:  Pemberly Pines VRBO.  Although there's no television show (yet!),  The Gulley's of Greenwood Township (Michigan's "local cable ready" version of Chip and Joanna) have converted their 5-plus room, northern Michigan chateau, complete with pond and tea garden, on twenty acres, into a year-round vacation rental. In its first six months, it has hosted a family reunion, a honeymoon getaway and a wedding proposal. This year, it will transform into a wedding venue and a tea-time retreat. Again, we say, "stay tuned" (and look for us on VRBO!)

We're all hoping for a much-improved new year, whether we opt for  open concept over designated rooms, prefer Tiger King over QE II or struggle to conceal clutter, we raise our tea cup to a better year for all! And, now it's time for us to sign "out". . . for now!

Happy New Year to all!!!