Tea with me at Audrey’s

Delta Pi Delta Alumnae Chapter had their November luncheon at Audrey’s Attic, one of the busiest high-end consignment shops in Naples, Florida. In this shop (named after fashion icon Audrey Hepburn) you can find brand names on secondhand clothing, estate jewelry and antiques. The British woman who owns the shop had always wanted a tea room as well, so the tea room, “Tea with me at Audrey’s,”  which adjoins the shop, came into being last year. 

The Tea Room at Audrey’s is decorated in a Victorian style and has tea-related décor wherever you look: chandeliers fashioned from tea pots, tea cups and saucers; all manner of tea pots and cups arranged in collectibles display cases; tea-time sculptures; and fine china cups and saucers on a serving buffet, on small tables around the room and on the walls. 

First-off, we were offered our choice of tea, served in individual mini-tea pots filled with tea leaves and hot water, which we strained into our cups. Our tea choices consisted of English blend, papaya mango, green tea and white peony with lavender. Our lunch was served on a three-tiered serving dish with finger sandwiches of smoked salmon, egg salad, ham and Swiss and cucumbers. On the upper tiers were homemade raisin and cranberry scones and mini pastries.

After lunch we had a short meeting during which there was a discussion about attending the Alpha Chi National Convention in Orlando, Florida, in June, 2016. Several members already have plans to go. Sasha Williams reported that there were 170 initiates at the newly formed Alpha Chi chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.  Donna Porter announced that Pam Lawson, Esther Lawson’s daughter, and Debbie Phillips, daughter of Bobbi Hanson and niece of Betsy Townsend, would each become an Alumna Initiate and be initiated at the national convention. Sue Halvorson reminded members to wear something red to the Christmas meeting at Imperial Country Club, where the Lydia Singers will regale us with Christmas hymns and carols.  

On our way out, it was impossible not to start browsing through vintage and designer clothing, accessories and costume jewelry, but the shop comprises 4,000 feet, so it’s not a place that you can do justice to in a brief time.

Audrey’s Attic

Nancy, Rosemary and Carolyn at the entrance to Audrey’s Attic

A view of the tea room

A Tea pot chandelier

Amy, Judy, Jennifer and Susan, pledge sisters at the University of Miami a few short years ago

Shirley, color-coordinated as usual

Sandi, Scottie, Rosemary, Carolyn and Sandy

A collectibles display case in the tea room

Kathy, Pat and Scottie

Scottie and Kathy

Pat with a mannequin in vintage clothes

A tea pot chandelier

Sasha, Carol, Paula (a server) and Mary

A tea-time sculpture/lamp and accessories

Brenda, Zarie, Sasha, Kerry and Jean

A cups-and-saucers chandelier

Kerry and Jean

Kerry, Carol, Mary Lou and Sue

A serving buffet with tea-time accessories

Phyllis, Carol and Sasha

Ann and Shirley

Phyllis and Nancy with our three-tiered tray

Becky, blog writer/photographer

Susan, Nancy, Carolyn and L.E.

Julie, L.E.’s daughter and Valary

Serving trays laden with food

Carolyn, L.E.’s other daughter, received a surprise sparkler flower birthday candle.