As a little girl I didn’t understand the humor in Alice in Wonderland. It took many years for me to appreciate things like unbirthdays and queens who believed “6 impossible things before breakfast.” Last night I found an old copy of Through the Looking Glass And What Alice Found There (written by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by John Tenniel) while thrifting. I prefer the original illustrations in this book to all the newer versions. I was inspired to begin reading it out loud to the girls next week, and create a Through the Looking Glass Tiered Tray with a Valentine’s Day theme.
In this sequel to Alice in Wonderland, Alice climbs through a looking glass (a mirror), and into the fantastical world that she can see through it. When she crosses over to the other world, it reads, “So I shall be as warm here as I was in the old room, thought Alice: “warmer, in fact, because there’ll be no one here to scold me away from the fire.” The looking glass was the inspiration for the ornate mirror behind the teapot.
Do you ever wonder why there are so many black and white checks in Alice in Wonderland designs (think Mackenzie-Childs)? The ground in Through the Looking Glass was divided up into squares by a number of little green hedges. “I do declare it’s marked out just like a large chess-board!” Alice said at last. I printed a picture of the chess-board illustration, and placed it on the bottom tier, in honor of Alice and her relationship with black and white checks.
“Hatta,” The Mad Hatter, does make an appearance in Lewis Carroll’s sequel. He is wearing his signature hat, drinking tea, and eating bread and butter after being recently released from prison. I made the tag for his little hat using a script font on Microsoft Word.
I bought the little teapot (you can see the matching teacup, turned upside down on the bottom tier) on a visit to Disney World in 2008. It is charming, and at the moment, without chips or cracks.
My husband and children chose the white rabbit shaker from TJ Maxx a few years ago. I lost/misplaced the salt shaker somehow, but can’t bear to get rid of the pepper shaker.
The Mary Engelbreit table runner beneath was something I made for a beautiful, but small, maple table that was in our dining room before we had 5 kids. Now that only 3 kids live at home, I’ve been considering retrieving it from the shed. I’ve always admired Mary’s artwork. The color scheme and Valentine theme on this fabric was a great match for my tiered tray.
I could not make my tiered tray without the famous “Drink Me” and “Eat Me” from Alice in Wonderland. I put sprinkles and colored water in two small, corked bottles. The little brown tags came in handy for labeling the bottles.
I used playing cards, and a Valentine note pad from Dollar Tree to finish the embellishment of my tiered tray.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Kristie
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Kippi says
This is a delightful vignette for both children and adults. I just love the story and the tea is the best part of the story.
Have a great week,
Kippi
Kristie Schubert says
Thanks, Kippi, we’re having a good time reading Through the Looking Glass.
Sandi Magle says
I really enjoyed this post, and I always love anything ‘Alice’. I remember that fabric, as I was working in a craft store at the time that sold fabric. The whole series was adorable and you are lucky to have a piece of it. ME was such a force at that time, giving adults permission to reminisce and visit their childhoods! Thanks for the sweet nostalgia!
Kristie Schubert says
Thanks, Sandy. That was the first table runner I’d ever made.
Michelle says
What a great idea! I love everything on your tiered tray, especially the little bottles. I didn’t understand Alice in Wonderland when I was little. I didn’t even like it until I got older! 🙂
Kristie Schubert says
The plot was a little bit strange!
Janine says
Darling! I never cared for the story until we had it read to us on tape in the car. I’ve heard the book was such a big hit because it was one of the first true storybooks for children. Love the illustrations and your decor!
Kristie Schubert says
Lewis Carroll is funny to me now, but I didn’t think so when I was young.
Ann says
Everything is just perfect! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.
Kristie Schubert says
Thanks for hosting, Ann!
Teresa says
So cute! I love the white bunny.
Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party!
Kristie Schubert says
Thanks for hosting, Teresa!