We share Michele's fond nostalgia for childhood tea parties and she has certainly honored this memory with this party for her son and his friends. She shares: The ritual of having tea has been important to me since I was a little girl. Many of my childhood afternoons were spent sitting around my grandmother’s dining room table, sipping milky tea and eating her delicious homemade treats.

When she passed away many years ago, I was lucky enough to inherit some of her bone china tea cups which I cherish. Though I am still a daily tea drinker, I rarely have the occasion to break out all of my fancy things. With warm Spring weather (though unpredictable - we had to reschedule once due to rain) and an abundance of flowers in our garden, it was the perfect excuse to have a tea party for my son Graham and some of his friends. Here are some of the details:

Tea sandwiches: curried chicken, egg salad, cucumber, caramelized onion & goat cheese, and peanut butter & jam

Sweets: Scones with homemade jam & lemon curd, almond raspberry petit fours, lemon bars, strawberry mini cupcakes, white chocolate cupcakes, raspberry tartlets, meringues, vanilla bean shortbread cookies and mini donuts.

Favors: For the ladies – “crackers” filled with a handcrafted rose ring and a mini hand lotion. For the children – DIY heart glitter wands, swallow ribbon necklaces, and candy bags.

Décor: I made coordinating tablecloths and napkins for all of the tables, crafted cupcake stands, and sewed various paper garlands.

Credits:

• Food, décor, favors and styling: my own, Cakewalk Baking.
• Invitations and menu design, styling: Becca of Birthday Girl.com
• Photography: Sherry Heck

Resources:
• Polka Dot paper straws, small pink cake stand, glassine bags: Shop Sweet Lulu
• Vintage teapots: Home 101
• Tablecloth & napkin fabric: Sew Mama Sew

Thanks Michele! Readers, find plenty more beautiful tea party inspiration on Michele's blog Cakewalk Baking.

(Images: Sherry Heck)