Set Your Table With Flair--A Spring Tea For National Tartan Day

Hello, dear friends!  Thank you so much for stopping by to visit me!

Are you a fan of tartan?  I can clearly remember when my love affair with tartan began; as a girl, going to school smartly dressed in penny loafers, knee socks, a cabled sweater, and of course, a wonderful skirt or shorts of Black Watch Tartan (Think:  Alicia Silverstone or Stacey Dash in Clueless, but loooong before the film was released).

In just a few days is National Tartan Day.  National Tartan Day occurs every April 6th, and it is a celebration for people of Scottish heritage.  Did you know that plaids and tartans are not the same, and that all tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartans?  According to Encyclopedia Americana 1957 ed., a plaid is a pattern in textile fabrics consisting of bars, or stripes of color crossing each other at right angles, and a tartan is the typical Scottish plaid; a thin worsted cloth having alternate bands of different colors, forming a checkered pattern, which has been highly specialized by Scottish weavers for the dress of Scottish Highlanders, each clan having its own pattern. 

The word plaid originated from the Gaelic word for "blanket."  Therefore, plaid may have originally referred to a long cloth, double the size of its wearer (patterned or not), and was worn by people of the Scottish Highlands.  The word tartan originated from the French word tartarin meaning "tartar cloth".  It has also been suggested that "tartan" may be derived from modern Scottish Gaelic tarsainn, meaning "across."  Tartans are usually specific to a clan.  So many Scottish wore tartan plaids, that in Northern America, the terms became confused and intertwined. 

There are a multitude of websites on which people can research the tartan of their specific clan, but I find that The Scottish Register of Tartans is the most complete and concise.  You can even create a new tartan if so desired with an interactive online weaver via House of Tartan, Tartan Designer, or Tartanmaker.

Black Watch Tartan has been a favorite of mine as long as I can remember,

with McQueen (registered as MacQueen on The Scottish Register of Tartans) as a close second,

especially during Christmas.  I usually prefer rich tartans such as these during the holiday season, but for National Tartan Day, I thought it might be fun to take tea with a pretty Spring theme, and of course, tartan!  I hope you enjoy the post!



I began the table with a pretty topper of Springy pastel;

a simple centerpiece of coordinating colors

in a depression glass bowl lined with pink petals

lends to an atmosphere of playful springtime whimsy.

A flowered teapot along with a creamer and sugar, all in white...

dainty gold-rimmed teacups and saucers sit pleasantly on plates, also of fresh white.

 

At each setting, a delicate gold spoon, sachet of tea, and napkins held by pretty peony petals.

If you would like to view the tutorial for my pastel Victorian tea sachets, you may do so on my blog The Crafting Table here.

Completed Tablescape.

We enjoyed some delicious little bites.

Although not traditional teatime fare, they were a hit.

 

To view the recipe for my spicy grilled ham and cheese, you may visit the post on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum here.

 

To view the recipe for my spicy roast beef brioche, please visit the same post on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum here.

This week was spring break for us, and it was so enjoyable.  My eldest and I just started watching the full series of Soap.  Do you remember it?  I vaguely remember it, but I knew I liked the series, so when I saw it, I nabbed it.  It is pretty zany, and very un-PC!  You would never get away with some of those off-color jokes nowadays.  How times have changed!

I hope you all are enjoying the beautiful springtime!

From my collection:

Topper:  Tommy Hilfiger, HomeGoods
Pink teacups and saucers, Grace's Teaware, HomeGoods
Gold flatware, Wallace Silversmiths Grand Duchess Collection, Horchow/Neiman Marcus
White plates, Ralph Lauren Club Collection 

Teapot, Godinger
Sugar, creamer, and white napkins, generic
Pastel Victorian Tea Sachets, yours truly
Peony napkin rings, Bed, Bath, and Beyond
White cake plate, Ralph Lauren Pavilion Collection

UPDATE
 

04/08/2016~~ 

I have noticed a few comments and/or questions about the bench featured in this post.  The bench is my handmade highback bench, which also was the impetus for starting this blog.  You may visit the full tutorial for the bench in my archives or by clicking here.  Thank you so much!

 

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