Saturday 26 June 2010

Mad Hatters Tea Party and the start of a giveaway to boot!

Recently I have been seeing strange things. When walking through crowded streets, out off on jobs to do and errands to run, sometimes out the corner of my eye I think I can see The Mad Hatter waving to a child in the crowds,





and when I looked twice,he was gone. Walking out of the train station recently I thought I saw a white rabbit and Alice propping up the walls.


only to look again and they had vanished too. Curiouser and curiouser. These strange wee occurrences continued until one day I was out walking and it all suddenly became clear, without making any sense at all. (Which sounds a lot like me.)

I was dandering through a old forgotten pathway when a Chesire cat suddenly appeared in front of me and stared.



"Hellllooooo, I have been waiting for you. Come this way please." he purred. "Excuse me?" I said squeakily as I realised this cat could talk.

"Oh come on don't give me that! he cried. "When you were seven, after you read Alice in Wonderland for the first time, you said you wished that you could go to The Mad Hatters tea party. Well, regrettably for you, a lot of other people wished for this too down the years and I had a huge backlog to undertake,don't even start me on the paperwork involved now, but here I am. You are going to The Mad Hatters Tea Party!"
I think my dumb, mouth open wide expression was annoying him. "I knew you would be like this! That's why I left little hints around in your life to remind you of this time! Come on, some of us have work to do you know!"
Before I could say anything he lead me to this.


"Why don't you take a look down there? I wonder what's down there?" he smiled


Down here?

Whats down here?
look whats down hERRRRRRRRREEEEEEEE! WAAAAAAAAA!
Being a nosy git I looked down way too far, lost my bearings and fell right down!

It was not really like falling though. it was strange the tunnel was splattered with pretty stars that floated upwards in a dreamy kind of way.


But after a while I began to feel gravity pulling me down faster,

and faster, oh, I am falling so fast!



When suddenly "THUD!" I had landed like a sack of potatoes thrown to the ground. I lay there for a moment, thinking how was I gonna get out of here and how I will miss this weeks episode of Judge Judy if I don't do it quick, when I noticed a key hole of a door opposite me. I jumped up to investigate.


But it was a tiny wee door, like a fairy door. No way was I getting out through there, but there seemed no other way out so I lay down on the ground and peered through the key hole

and on the outside of the door was a beautiful courtyard, with the scent of roses and a labyrinth of hedge mazes. But how do I get to it? I stood by up only to find a little table with a tiny wee bottle glistening cut cystal and aqua glass.



I could not help but be drawn to its twinkling glass bottle stopper


and I opened the bottle, to see fairy bubbles coming out laughing "drink me, drink me!"


It made me giggle and I drank it all.

I wasn't giggling much longer when I realised I was shrinking, smaller and smaller. What a strange feeling, I felt like a accordion!
soon I was smaller than the door and I stopped shinking just in time to open it and step outside.

I walked out and looked behind me. where did i come out of? The wee door belonged to a tiny sized but long glass house, same size as now wee me and huge big wooden pieces all over the garden. What were they? "Would you like to play croquet?" I heard the Cheshire cat smile though I could not find him.



Oh my, I was so small. I walked further ahead only to see a huge tea cup on the side of the path. "Would you like a cup of tea?" the Cheshire cat somewhere asked me.
>

I cant play croquet and I can not have a cup of tea because I am too small! This was all very strange and I was scared that if i stayed that way, when I got home, big fella would just flatten me with his big boots! I wished he was here to help me!
The Cheshire cat must had read my thoughts for he told me through the breeze to walk along to the path and open the gates to the strawberry fields


and eat some strawberries along the way and all will be well. I was getting hungrier as the day grew so I did exactly that, nibbling on a huge strawberry that had fallen to the ground and I started to get bigger with each munch. As i munched away i was soon back to my wee human heights. With all the munching, I did not realise where I had walked to. There in front me, were beautiful white gates.

As I got closer faces, appeared on the gates.



"Hello again all back to normal, are you? whatever normal is!" the Cheshire cats face was grinning down at me from the top of the gates.



"Please say hello to my friends twiddle Dee and twiddle dumb below me,situated from my left to right, and they will open the gates for you" I did as I was told and stood back to see the gates begin to glow

the gates began to open and I stared up in awe

by the faces on the gates.

As I walked through the gates I saw a courtyard in the distance and there inside was the Mad Haters tea party in full swing!


along with Alice, the White rabbit was there


with the sleepy Doe mouse of course



and the mad hatter himself





and what lovely hosts they were


We sang all manners of silly songs with lots of dancing, and cups of overflowing tea we had abound! The mad hatter made me laugh and the constant chatter of nonsense was making me quite dizzy. I looked at the dor mouse yawning sleepily opposite me and I began to fell so drowsy myself..........................


I awoke at home with pages of a well read book stuck to my face as I pondered the strange dream I was having. I peeled the book from of my face and squinted at the cover. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, I mouthed aloud, slowly returning from my sleepy haze and
licking the taste of strawberries from my mouth. Convinced it was lip gloss although last time i had that I was 16, i went into the kitchen for a nice cup of tea. But the tea cups were gone. Thinking big fella had used all the cups without washing, I spun around only to find this beautiful display on the table.

The wee hints that remind us that magic is everyday life and that was a party I will never forget!


Oh in the spirit of a unhappy birthday, Let's have a mad hatter giveaway! I have only done this once so far and I thought it was a time for another one! If you like any of the photographs I have posted above, I will giveaway 10 photo cards of your choice! I will prepare them so thoughtfully and carefully, you could almost pass them as professional! If you would like to take part, leave me a comment telling me of course, but if you really want them you could become a follower if not already! This giveaway will be on for a while, only because the laptop broke down and I have lack of funds to replace it right now! So I think about 3 weeks giveaway would be right! Let me know if you are interested! All the Best!

32 comments:

Sarah Sullivan said...

Oh oh a very happy unbirthday to you...lovely tea my dear...so thrilled to have followed you down the rabbit hole..delightful!! I have been waiting to join you hon!! Thank you so for the tea!!
As for the giveaway...whoot..add me please!! Hugs and love, Sarah

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I am already a follower and I would love to enter your giveaway!

And the best part of your Mad Hatter's tea party, I'm sure, is that (despite all your many adventures) you were still *magically* home in time for Judge Judy!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

Oh yes, Magic is Everyday! A giveaway would be lovely. Good luck with the laptop! Twyla

Italian Postcards said...

You found a real hole to fall down, how cool!
Please tell me where you found that tea party statue art work? It's amazing!
Have a great party

Maggi said...

~*~*~*Hip hip hurray it's Tea Party Day!*~*~*~

Such a fun time to be had here and what a handsome Cheshire! Your giveaway is wonderful, you tkae beautiful pictures!

Thanks for having me at your tea party! if you haven't been already, you're cordially invited to my mad tea party! Have yourself a mad sort of day! :)

Kathryn Costa said...

Thank you for a delightful time.You are a great story teller. Please enter my name in your drawing. Follow your heart and join me as we go to the Forest of Wishes. I have party gifts waiting for everyone! http://collagediva.typepad.com/collagediva/2010/06/blogparty.html

{{soul hugs}}
Kathryn, Collage Diva

PS -- Good luck with your laptop!

Whisperings 13 said...

What a brilliant tea party! and what a lucky girl with all those Wonderland wonders so close at hand!
Thanks so much for the invite!
Have a Hatterly Mad day!

MARLOU B. said...

Thank you for a delightful time!
Happy Tea Party Day to you!!!

Shell said...

I enjoyed your party, Claire. Especially, seeing my fave, Chesire Cat. He looked quite handsome.

The Charm of Home said...

Wonderful tea party! Love your photos. Love the statue! So neat.
Sherry

Designs by Blanche said...

Loved your 'twist' on the story!Where is the world is that cement Mad Tea Party?
Thanks so much for having us - please drop by for a visit when you can!
♥♥♥

Lauren said...

What a delightful party! Lovely photos, I would love to be entered in your giveaway :) Thank you for inviting me! ~Lauren

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Those photographs are just amazing! You did a super job with this. And it's so sweet that you are offering some photo cards in a giveaway.

Happy Tea Partying...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Sarah said...

A very happy unbirthday to you! What a delightful little story with charming photos all along the way.
Love seeing the Tea Party Sculputre. If you join me for tea, at the end of the tea party is a link for a visit to the Alice in Wonderland piece in Central Park, NYC.
Happy Mad Tea Party! ~ Sarah

Monkey-Cats Studio said...

Please enter me in your giveaway and thank you for being such a delightful hostess!! Off I go to another party!
Laurie

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Lovely Tea Party - thank you so much for being a gracious host! If you have not made your way already, I do hope that you shall come and visit with me, as you join the White Queen and Mad Hatter for some cake ~ and tea
http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-mad-tea-party.html
...Theresa (aka The White Queen)

Deborah said...

My oh my, that was quite a ride! Great fun!

**blows kisses** Deb

Jenn Erickson said...

A very Merry Unbirthday to you! I love your wit and style. Thank you for sharing your magical adventure and photographs. The gate is incredible! So pleased to make your acquaintance on this happiest of Tea Party days! Cheers! Jenn

Celia said...

What a lovely tea party! I love all of the pictures of the gates.....how enchanting! Thank you for inviting me....and I would love to be entered to win your give away....and will become a follower....I look forward to reading through your blog....please come by and have tea with me too...

Kandes Naylor said...

Nice tea party! Unhappy birthday to you, too! Come by and see me for a cup of tea. I am having a giveaway!
-Kandes-
http://trickyfoxdesigns.blogspot.com/

Scrap Vamp said...

Thank you for the amazing journey down the rabbit hole! The visit to the Mad Hatter table was fabulous!

Brook said...

What fun Sam and I had at your party! We loved all the images.

fawndear said...

One of the most delightful Tea Parties I've visited all day. What, with the Cheshire Cat's paperwork backlog and Judge Judy. Love the beat of the drummer that you march to.

Thank you for such a marvoulous party.

Although I couldn't help but notice that the White Queen of Narnia seemed to have visited your Tea Party ahead of time and turned everyone to a delightful Stone. I guess she got confused to which book she was in.

Anyway, I think I've drunk too much tea because I don't even make sense to myself.

Tootles,
FawnDear

WrightStuff said...

Wow, what a find.... I am so glad that the Cheshire Cat finally got to grant your wish :)

Kristal said...

Lovely time my dear, thank you so much for having me! You told a delightful story along with your beautiful pictures.

~♥~
Kristal

Chris said...

Happy Tea Party to you and you and you!!! Such beautiful pictures. Where in the world is that amazing tea party stature/sculpture??

Rhonda Roo said...

Wow, how clever and creative you are! I enjoyed your re-telling of the story with your own voice and i am glad big boots didn't smash you! :)


I think all your pictures are great and it's a toss up for me between the strawberry fields gate (I always knew strawberries were magic!) and that Alice in Wonderland sculpture -incredible!!

Thanks for a great story and lovely time (good luck with your laptop!!)

XOXO Rhonda roo
http://roostreehouse.typepad.com/roos_treehouse/

Marit said...

I was terribly late for your party. Sorry, sorry..... but I'm here now! Thanks for waiting, I wouldn't wanna miss YOUR tea party!!! The pics of the gates are terrific and the statue is marvelous... WOW! If you care for more tea, you're very welcome at my place!

Carousel Dreams said...

Ooh, so lovely here...I did enjoy your tea party. Thankyou so much for being such a wonderful host x

Alisa Noble said...

What a wonderful tale you have told! Thank you!
~Alisa

http://lifeisabeautifulplacetobe.blogspot.com/2010/06/would-you-like-little-more-tea.html

Evelyn's Wonderland said...

Wow! What a wonderful tea party and I loved the story. The photos were fabulous too!

Hope you can visit me for some tea!

TesoriTrovati said...

Such a sweet and charming party.
I would love to be entered into your giveaway.
I am having a Mad, Mad giveaway on my blog http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2010/06/mad-tea-partylike-alice.html. Do stop by for a visit!
Enjoy the day!
Erin