Behind the Print: Tea Party

There are so many amazingly weird and whimsical books and movies that feature woodland creatures taking part in human activities unbeknownst to us. My parents read Frog and Toad and then Through the Looking Glass to me as a child, and my third-grade class put on a performance of The Wind in the Willows (I played the badger, and my costume consisted of strips of black faux fur hot glued along a white swimming cap, to attach to my glasses… believe me, I wish I had photographic evidence). I’ve more recently rediscovered Beatrix Potter classics, and my partner and I have been reading them as bedtime stories. 

While not a direct depiction of any of those references, this print is definitely inspired by all of them! It transports us to a funny little scene by a forest pond, where hedgehogs, rabbits, frogs, and salamanders share a funny little tea party.

This was a really fun print to design, and I enjoyed selecting all the small creatures to include. When I first designed Hen House, I initially included peach trees and hedgehogs instead of chickens. We eventually switched them out for hens to make it sit better with the overall collection, but I’ve wanted to feature hedgehogs ever since. I also love frogs and newts and thought it would be funny to have a snail taking part in one of the vignettes. Amy had the fun idea to add some clothing to the critters, so the bonnets and aprons were actually added after the print was otherwise designed! We wanted the print to feel very cottage-core inspired, so it works out perfectly that the animals are dressed in their finest for high tea vibes. I love the bows and ruffles, and the hats, of course. I always try to incorporate ferns and fungi into prints, so it felt especially magical and lush to add them here. Toadstools look like they’d be super comfortable chairs and nice little tables! If you’re a mushroom fan, stay tuned for some really fun stuff come fall…

I’ve actually hosted multiple tea parties (my friends and I love a good food-themed holiday or event), and have a lot of strong opinions on what must-have items are:

1. A Great Selection of Teas: Tea should really be the centerpiece of a tea party, and it’s good to have lots of different flavors for guests to try. You definitely want to have your classics like Earl Grey, Green Jasmine, and Mint. You can do either loose-leaf or bagged teas, and having some herbal options is important for those more sensitive to caffeine. We’re lucky enough to have an amazing tea shop nearby called the Random Tea Room where you can find all kinds of unique blends. I’m obsessed with their Chai mix.
2. Scones & Petit Fours: A good spread of pastries and cakes is essential for a successful tea party. I have a favorite scone recipe, where you make pecan pralines first and then fold them into the buttery, buttermilk dough. I’d also include classic shortbread cookie-like Russian Tea Cakes (or “butterballs” as we called them growing up), and aesthetically lovely additions like Linzers or lace cookies. And then you MUST have petit fours, those tiny, bite-sized frosted layer cakes you’ve probably seen in photographs of high tea. I’ve found that using bakery-made cake (our neighborhood has Stock’s Bakery which is known for its legendary pound cake) makes the process much quicker, and pound cake slices beautifully into thin little layers. I could go on and on!
3. Tea Sandwiches: I love a tiny, triangle-shaped, crustless white bread sandwich essential to tea parties. Egg salad and watercress are a classic option, and I’d also include sliced cucumbers and cream cheese, and then probably ham and butter (you can never have enough butter at a tea party).
4. Cute Teapots, Cups, Trays, and Cake Stands: Tie everything together with tableware that reflects your personality. Seeing all of the adorable little pastries and teas in a spread is even more amazing when they’re beautifully arranged on a lovely selection of china. I love to mix and match new and vintage pieces I’ve collected over the years, to get a fun and eclectic look. I have a particularly amazing tea set where everything looks like little alligators… the teapot even pours the tea through the alligator’s mouth! Floral and/or lace tablecloths also add to the vibe! 

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