Teatime on the Bunny Trail

Spring is in the Air

It seems the celebrated Puxatawney Phil did not, indeed, see his shadow this February 2nd, coyly tempting us with the promise of an an early Spring. Though science may not legitimize rodent's prediction of weather patterns, I'm optimistically faithful in Phil and thought I'd get a head start with a simple springtime themed little tea party suitable for a certain springtime bunny on the go.
Spritely rabbits, singing birds, and eggs, have always been the stars of the season. For this post, I opted for more "Spring is Here" than overtly "Easter" (that post is coming later), more neutral naturals than a plethora of pastels, and subbed in plain eggs for painted. Of course, these Spring projects can still easily carry over perfectly into your Easter celebrations and decor.

O, wind, if Winter comes,
can spring be far behind?

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

Set the Scene with a 

Spring Topiary Wreath

I have a neighbor who, with a simple pair of garden shears can wield graceful magical shapes from his plants and shrubs a la Edward scissorhands. Unfortunately my horticultural skills are much more limited. Recently I've attempted to tame small pots of supermarket ivy, winding the branches around a rounded dry clean hanger to create what I thought would be a lovely wreath shape I'd seen in floral shops. Instead it resulted in a wilted sad brown loop of twigs. To the rescue "faux" ivy and flowers, a 99 cent hula hoop and a few nature inspired Spring accessories. No watering required!

You'll Need

a child sized Hula hoop* or large one if you're feeling adventurous

1-2 garlands of faux ivy or flowers

accessories: birds, nests

a small bunny or garden theme statue if desired (mine is from Homegoods)

Paint

This is simply an inexpensive way to make basic wreath on a bit larger scale

 I gave my hula hoop a quick spritz of green paint, which didn't adhere particularly well but helped camouflage the color a bit. I then wrapped ivy or garland around hula hoop securing with tape or glue if necessary. Hot glue or wire on flowers or accessories as you like

 Display it with potted spring bulbs or statuary or you can hang traditionally on a door or wall.

 I set up part of the tea on an antique bench to free the dining table for sipping and nibbling. Here it is during the set up process and before the treats were put out.

Nibbles and Sweets

Simple Bunny-friendly Fare
Carrot Cake Scones
Cucumber Baskets
Assorted Herbal and Black Teas 
Strawberries and Orange whipped Cream

Of course for a heartier or more formal tea, any added assortment of tea sandwiches, salads or a lovely carrot soup would be wonderful

Carrot Scones

Of course carrots are a must have on the menu, and this buttery but not too sweet scone highlights their mild flavor. There are several recipes online, I adapted this delightful one from Created by Diane, and finding myself pressed for time, subbed her adorable icing for a simpler quick dusting of powdered sugar

Well I tried my cookie cutters and the result was a bit more post-modern than charming bunny- I also cut some into traditional triangles - No worries, with a dusting of sugar everything looks yummy.

Cucumber Cream Cheese baskets

This is a fun way to serve cucumbers and are a refreshing counterpoint to the richness of the scones

You need just three ingredients

I used chive and onion cream cheese but other flavors would would work as well

 Peel strips from whole cucumber to make "striped" pattern and cut into small " cups"

Scoop a small well in center with a melon baller and let drain on paper towels

 Take a blade from a fresh chives and gently slip one cut end into either- far easier than it sounds
Hold upright to form basket handle while "gluing" on with flavored cream cheese

I used a icing extruder with a star tip - super easy and quick
add a garnish if desired

Berries and Orange Whipped Cream

Make the most of the first berries of the season by simply accenting with fresh orange whipped cream.
 I found this recipe from a lady named Grandma Berries; so I knew it had to be good. http://www.grandmaberries.com/recipes.asp?ID=15
I used blood oranges which I happened to have on hand and created a lovely pale pink shade

A sudden burst of sun brought the tea out on the deck

Mismatched cups and serving ware are in tune with the unfussy feel

Attach pretty gift tags to teapots to label different teas

pop bunny themed accents around room in unexpected places- the powder room, window sill etc

The 5 Minute Tiered Tray

I recently heard a tremendous crash in my dining room, running only to find the door of my armoire swinging on it's hinges, one of my glass cake stands in pieces on the floor and a somewhat guilty but not terribly distraught cat observing the scene. 

Since there are dozens of clever DIY ideas for cake stands and tiers online, I thought I'd look around to see what I could put together myself before I bit the bullet and bought a new one. Since this tea has a rustic picnicky feel, I reached for my old straw picnic plate holders (99 cents a pack) and some leftover plastic disposable glasses.

You'll Need

straw plates

clear plastic glasses

hot glue

faux flowers, moss or ribbon to accent

 Fill glasses with faux flowers or moss, making sure the arrangement looks nice from all angles. 

                               I quickly glued the flowers to moss before inserting in glass to secure

Run a rim of hot glue around glass top and press plate on top. Be careful to center plate to ensure stability. Repeat with next layer. 

If desired add some large pebbles to bottom glass for added weight.

Cut paper doily to fit around cup if you like

Top with a spring accent- I used the same bunny from my Secret Garden post but a small pot of flowers would be charming too

I think of these plates as "semi-disposable" and since the texture makes them a bit tricky to clean, if they get too many spills, you can just toss the tier and make a new one next year without breaking the bank.

PennyWise Tips
Fresh out of planters and Pots? Inexpensive Supermarket flowers get a quick makeover by replacing their paper wrappings with a square scrap of burlap- simply rewrap pot and secure with the original elastic.

Send guests home with a favor of a small pack of herbal tea or an individually wrapped scone topped with a printout of one of the recipes.

Wishing everyone all the Delights of Spring!

From the Graphics Fairy