Seven young ladies recently learned the fine art of entertaining — from designing their atmosphere to planning the menu and setting the dining table — at a one-week camp offered at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster.
Girls Tea Party found the girls getting creative as they prepared for their finale of a formal sit-down tea party.
“We’ll be covering etiquette, table manners, placement of utensils and much more,” instructor Natalie Heath said. “Everything we do at this camp has an educational element to it. There’s always a strong art element and opportunity for crafts. I let the girls be the artists they are.”
They also will learn to enjoy each other’s company and create lovely things, she said.
During the first days of the camp, which is in its third year, the girls diligently formed decorations — a colorful tablecloth, tea cup chair name tags, place mats, vases, flowers, puppets and other items.
“I like this camp. It’s fun learning all about art,” class member Raanya Rai, 6, of Munster, said as she worked on her place mat. “We’re doing a lot for the party.”
Heath developed the idea of simulating a tea party, with all the trimmings, three years ago. Nostalgia of her own experience was the impetus.
“My mom and grandma had a child’s antique tea set that they let me play with. I liked setting up and serving my friends,” she said. “I want to bring the same type of memories to the girls.”
On the big day, at the end of the one-week camp, the tea party went on without a hitch.
Parents, although not attending, supplied the food for the final tea: doughnuts, cheese and crackers, vegetables and dip, a fruit plate and other snacks.
“We’ve kept it quite simple,” Heath said as she helped set up the table.
The seven hostesses made unique headpieces and decorative magic wands. In addition to the one-of-kind decorations adorning both the dining table and the young ladies themselves, there was another unique aspect to this year’s tea party: No tea was served.
“The first year we hosted our tea party I found that not everyone liked tea,” Heath said with a laugh. “So now we serve lemonade and juice.”
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Everything went on hitch-free, Heath said, with all camp members keeping focused and completing all tasks on time as they looked forward to their big day. When it finally came, with all provisions at the ready, the girls took a little time to relax before gathering for their finale.
Heath offered an unrelated craft project for the girls before they put on their party hats and sat down to their colorful, very full, table of homemade decorations and snacks. After it was completed, everyone excitedly took their place as the party began.
“This is very pretty,” Ava Wilson 6, of Munster, said as she chose her seat at the table. “I think we did a good job.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Learn more
For more information about classes for young ladies, call 219-836-1839.