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You can find blue and white china in antique stores, department stores, and discount home goods stores. The traditional and beautiful patterns fit into almost any interior, both classic and contemporary.
Depending on the pattern chosen, you can probably use almost any color of table linens. Pink and yellow would create a feminine look while another hue of blue, orange, or red would look wonderful in a more contemporary home.
If the pattern chosen is intricate and busy, keep the table linens simple and let the china itself be the center of attention.
Spode's Blue Colonel is an elegant blue and white pattern trimmed with gold. Their Blue Italian pattern, made continuously since 1816, is a classic.
For our blue and white tea table, we've put together a two-tiered serving piece using 2 different sized Spode plates. You can make your own with a dinner plate, a stemmed or tumbler drinking glass, and some white floral clay.
- Spread a bead of white floral clay along the top rim of the glass. Place the glass upside down in the center of the largest plate with the clay keeping the glass in place. Add another bead of clay to the base of the glass (now the top of the support) and place the smaller plate on to of the glass. If you need to camouflage the bead of clay, tuck in some individual leaves or wipe off any clay that seeps out.
Other serving pieces can be seen in our Guide to Traditional Tea Serving Pieces.
Our blue and white tea table is decorated with pink roses and white and purple iris.
You could also use peonies, ranunculas, stalks of blue delphinium, blue, white, or pink hydrangea, or almost any color of roses.
If you don't have the time or resources to put together a flower arrangement, pile fresh strawberries or raspberries into a beautiful crystal or silver bowl and garnish with mint leaves or small flowers. Be sure to have a bowl of whipped or clotted cream or sour cream and brown sugar for your guests. The centerpiece won't last through your party, but will be enjoyed by all!
You might want to check out more resources about tea and tea parties.
- About.com's Guide to Coffee and Tea tells the difference between afternoon tea and high tea.
- Read Adventures on the High Tea for a report of tea at Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel in Toronto.
- And learn How to Clean Tea Stains from a China Teapot.
Go on to see our Yellow Lemon Tea Table.
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