The Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea

I recently had the immense honor of being the keynote speaker at the 17th Annual Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea, also known as the Patty Blanton tea.

The event, held in Appling, Georgia, was the quintessential experience of Southern hospitality. It was an utterly enchanting afternoon.

Word of the Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea has grown and flourished over the years, gaining legendary status as the premier annual tea event in the region.

 

With only 80 coveted tickets available, it sells out within days of going on sale.

 

Sacred Heart keeps a wait list and, as usual, this year’s wait list was long with ladies hoping to get the good news that a ticket had become available for them.

 

I was well aware of this illustrious event having read about it in Tea Time Magazine, long before I had developed my own tea line or had even become a certified Afternoon Tea Etiquette trainer.

 

Being invited to speak at this tea event, which is such a cherished tradition, was a dream come true.

From the horsehead and horseshoe shaped tea sandwiches to the mini-Kentucky Derby pies, it was apparent at every turn just how much Patty had poured her dedication into every detail of this spectacular day.

Every year, Patty and her friends personally prepare all the food, offering a unique and delicious afternoon tea menu.

 

Thoughtful detailing extended to the table settings, where each table of four was set with its own special China pattern, adding yet another touch of southern elegance.

Every year guests are gifted with personalized hand painted gift bags. This year the bags contained Patty’s homemade jam, her signature goat’s milk soap, a hand-painted (by Patty) vase, and a hand-painted print of the menu. I was so honored to have Patty include a tin of my Cherry Rose Green Tea in the fabulous gift bags this year.

All the beautiful tables and heavenly tea-fare and all of the ladies in summer dresses and hats were set against the backdrop of Patty’s enchanting garden.

Patty’s garden is spectacular- adorned with fountains, a koi pond, and a breathtaking variety of maple trees and plant life. The ambiance created in this gorgeous natural setting elevated everything all the more. It was absolutely stunning!

I am pictured here with Millie Huff, Executive Director of the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.  My friends and I toured the facility.  What a beautiful building!

This historic building, once a Catholic church on the brink of ruin, was rescued by a family from Augusta and transformed into a thriving arts center for the community.

I was accompanied by my dear friends, Caroline and Ida, who are always ready for tea adventures. For all of us, this was such a fun opportunity to meet and connect with new people.

I designed Caroline’s pink and blue fascinator to go with her dress.

As I’ve long believed, tea has an extraordinary power to bring people together in the most wonderful ways, and this tea was no exception.

 

In chatting with everyone, I got a surprise when I discovered that one of the guests had attended the same high school as my husband—a great reminder of the small world we live in.

 

When I left, I took with me wonderful memories of the day and a hope to attend next year’s Sacred Heart Fundraiser Tea.

 

My deepest and most heartfelt thanks to Patty for inviting me to speak at her beyond fabulous event and for allowing me the joyful experience of this spectacular day.

 

Learn more about how you can support The Sacred Hearts Cultural Center here

Celebrating Elegance and Joy: The 3rd Annual Hat Tea at Fasig-Tipton, Lexington KY

Welcome to the recap of the highly anticipated and enchanting 3rd Annual Hat Tea, held in April at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY.

I hosted this fabulous day, as always, in collaboration with Holly Hill Events and Chef Ouita Michel.

Once again, this hat tea proved to be an extraordinary celebration of fashion, culinary delights, and connection!

When the doors opened at 11:00 a.m., over 100 guests began to arrive, each greeted with a refreshing cocktail or mocktail as the rich sounds of cello and violin drifted through the air, courtesy of a very talented stringed instrument duo.

The ambiance was immediately set as attendees perused the pop-up hat shop, featuring my 2023 Spring hat line, The Rainbow Queen Collection.

For this collection, I drew inspiration from the late Queen Elizabeth II and her vibrant sense of style.

The hats displayed a kaleidoscope of colors, and I was honored and grateful to receive such a positive response to my new designs.

For this distinguished afternoon tea, and in honor of the Queen, I had specially dyed rainbow flowers made for my hat and they turned out beautifully!

In true Holly Hill Events fashion, every detail was meticulously planned and executed. The tables were dressed in striking rainbow-hued tablecloths, creating a stunning visual tapestry.

The attention to detail extended on to the plates themselves, which were adorned with flowers, handpicked from the property, adding a touch of natural beauty to the culinary artistry that Chef Ouita and her team put together.

Promptly at noon, guests were invited to take their seats and embark on a delectable journey of afternoon tea service, expertly crafted by Chef Ouita Michel and her culinary team.

Chef Ouita’s skillful presentation and culinary prowess brought forth a 5-course afternoon tea that was utterly heavenly and a truly satisfying dining experience.

Tea Sandwiches

Chicken salad gougere

Smoked salmon, cucumber & Benedictine

Kentucky silver dollar hoe cakes with mascarpone and cranberry pepper jelly

Dressed egg salad with shaved radish and caviar

Soup

Asparagus Bisque with creme fraiche, asparagus tips, chive and buttered croutons

Salad

Local spring lettuces, macerated strawberries, Capriole goat cheese, sugared pecans and sorghum vinaigrette

Scones

Mini Betty Ann Scones

Mini Cinnamon Scones

Whipped Sorghum Butter, Blackberry Jam, Apple Butter

Sweets

Chocolate Eclair

Orange & Fennel Shortbread Cookies

Pavlova with Lemon Curd & Blueberries

Hummingbird tea cake with cream cheese icing

Each of these fabulous courses were paired with teas from my Polly Singer Loose Leaf, Artisan Tea collection.

As the Sweets course was beginning, I welcomed my special guest, Suzanne Smith (@crazyblondelifeblog), a North Carolina lifestyle blogger who traveled to Lexington to join us for this very special event.

Suzanne and I sat down together, engaging in a conversation that explored the joys and challenges of middle life, sharing our experiences in starting our businesses later in life, cultivating gratitude practices, and embracing a positive mindset- the idea being to inspire resonance with guests and create an atmosphere of camaraderie and personal empowerment.

As the tea service came to a close, it really felt like something special had just taken place.

My sincere gratitude to Suzanne Smith for coming to Kentucky and helping to bring something extra special to this year’s hat tea.

To Ouita, Teresa, Donna, and the entire Holly Hill Events team- thank you, thank you for your exceptional efforts in bringing this magnificent event to life.

And last, but certainly not least, my gratitude and appreciation to my guests who earmarked a spring Saturday to spend with me and then came dressed in vibrant attire and exquisite hats, contributing to the already festive atmosphere.

The culmination of passion, creativity, and collaboration made this day an extraordinary celebration of elegance, joy, and friendship.

If you missed this year’s Hat Tea, please know that I am already looking ahead to next year!

My mind is always turning as I think of new ways to make this annual Hat Tea a continued unforgettable and cherished tradition.

I hope to see you next year!

In April, I partnered with renowned Holly Hill Inn chef, Quita Michel to host my 2^nd annual Hat Tea event at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington.  We put on a Kentucky Derby hat fashion show and lovely afternoon tea.

This special event was the launching point for my Savannah Spring Hat collection as well my new artisan tea collection, featuring five hand-blended, loose leaf teas.

At the Hat Tea, guests were treated to a shopping experience where they were encouraged to have fun experimenting with all of the elegant and spirited hats in my new collection! 

With so many upcoming Spring events on the calendar, it was a great joy to help ladies find their own personal best look.

We had a tea-tasting station where guests could sample all the hand-blended teas in my new collection. As a native Kentuckian, I’m proud to have partnered with the world-famous Elmwood Inn, located right here in Kentucky, to create this delicious line of artisan teas.

We are all treated to a classic afternoon tea menu, designed, created and thoughtfully presented by Quita Michel and it did not disappoint!

 

 

Pimm’s Cups and Peach Bellini’s were available and the mixologists at Fasig-Tipton also created a wonderful mocktail with my Belle’s Butterfly Fascinator tea, lemonade and honey- delicious and so refreshing!

If you think an afternoon tea is not a substantial source of sustenance…think again!

As a certified Afternoon Tea Etiquette trainer, it was my pleasure to present a talk on Tea Etiquette for my guests.

 

I talked about tea fashion, host gifts and included a presentation with model, Katherine Barr on how to best pair a hat with an outfit that has a print, which is sometimes a challenging endeavor!

 

During Tea Service models weaved their way through the elegantly appointed dining tables, showcasing different hats to inspire ideas and fashion possibilities for everyone… 

Michaela and the entire Holly Hill Inn / Fasig-Tipton staff exceeded expectations, bringing this already elevated experience to the next level with their service and attention to detail.

It was a successful and absolutely splendid afternoon.

I want to thank everyone who joined me for this beautiful day of elegant hats and gorgeous teas and, still much needed, in-person connection.

It was a joy and I plan to continue this annual Hat Tea tradition every April!

In the meantime… wear your hats with confidence and enjoy a meaningful break from stress with a daily cup of tea in the afternoon!

Lots of love,

Polly

 

Spring is afoot and there is so much that I’m excited to talk about!

This special time of year is literally and symbolically the season of birth and new beginnings and this spring is no exception as I announce the launch of the Polly Singer Couture Tea collection.

This is a small batch line of hand-blended, loose, artisan teas, made from the finest ingredients and crafted here in Kentucky, my home and the place I love.

I am honored to have partnered with the internationally known Elmwood Inn to design this gorgeous collection. The Elmwood Inn is steeped in tea history, owned by world renowned Master Blender and Tea Master to the Boston Tea party Ships and Museum, Bruce Richardson.  I worked closely with Elmwood Inn to conceptualize, design and bring this collection to life and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.

Teas and hats are, to me, natural partners. In fact, I’ve given five distinctive blends in this collection, whimsical, yet elegant, names inspired by the hats I love to make.

And without further ado, allow me to introduce my five special and distinctive artisan tea blends…

Audrey’s French Beret with notes of natural vanilla and citrus, featuring oil of bergamot, and blue
cornflower petals, this alluring tea will help you channel your inner Audrey…

Belle’s Butterfly Fascinator, an herbal, caffeine-free blend that features currants, rosehips, hibiscus, nettles, and jasmine with characteristics of anise, fennel and licorice giving it a lingering, sweet finish.

Earl Grey’s Top Hat , an exquisite blend of a classic tea, this is the one that I begin each day with. This loose tea features premium hand-picked Sri Lanka black tea leaves, blue cornflower petals, oil of bergamot and other organic natural flavors.

Jane’s Blueberry Bonnet Tea, an herbal, caffeine-free premium tea, with its fragrant, dried fruit blend of blueberries, apples, hibiscus, cornflower petals, raisins, currants, and elderberries, it is both delectable to the palate and healthful to the body!

Rose’s Cherry Cloche– this luxurious, romantic green Sencha tea from China has the aroma of an orchard in Springtime, highlighting Red Rose Petals and Natural Cherry Flavor Oils.

Throughout my life, I’ve always had a passion for tea and all of the accoutrements and associated elegance that goes along with serving it and sipping it. I have warm memories of my mother offering me a nice cup of tea at home and tea has often been a part of the many creative hours I’ve spent designing my hats. Tea is a part of my daily life. Over time I became more and more interested in luxury teas, the history of tea drinking and practices developed around tea drinking.

During the Pandemic, a mentally challenging time for everyone, a friend of mine introduced me to the concept of Mindfulness Tea, a stress relieving daily practice that involves turning off devices and pausing to enjoy a quiet, undistracted cup of tea. It was out of this Mindfulness Tea practice that I developed my, Tea with Polly online workshop series that some of you may remember.

My Tea with Polly workshops had heart-centered themes, such as Gratitude and Self-love. Taking place during the height of the Pandemic, these online gatherings were a welcome respite for ladies (and me!) to put on hats and gloves and connect over tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, April 16, I’ll be partnering once again with Kentucky’s historic Holly Hill Inn and award winning chef, Ouita Michel to host my second Hat Tea Party!
Guests will enjoy an elegant high tea featuring my artisan tea line as they are also treated to the unveiling of my Spring Hat Collection. This tea will be held at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky.

These new spring hat designs will be available for purchase with perfect timing ahead of all of our big May events such as Kentucky Oaks Day, The Kentucky Derby and Mother’s Day.

Thank you for stopping in here to read about my new artisan tea collection. It has been a joy to create these special blends and I hope you will love them as much as I do.

Lots of love,

Polly

How It All Started

In February 2021, I did an Instagram post where I created a hat contest for my Valentine’s Day Tea. The public could vote and tag someone, then be eligible to win a prize. I had recently started following Martine from Martine’s Pastries, who had done my wedding cake back in 2002. It was wonderful reconnecting with her through Instagram.  Martine’s pastries are utterly delicious and visually stunning.  She had entered to win my hat contest and tagged her friend Ouita Michel, a renowned James Beard Foundation Featured Chef. Ouita is the incredibly talented founder of the Ouita Michel family of restaurants.  Holly Hill Inn, Wallace Station, Midway Bakery and Honeywood are just a few of her restaurants.  Ouita also voted, and reached out to me through direct message, mentioning that she would love to host a tea party with me. I was so excited as I am a big fan of hers, having spent many wonderful times eating at her establishments. After the intensity of the prior year, I could feel the sun starting to shine again after hearing from Ouita!

Planning The Event

Over the following months, Ouita Michel and I planned the tea together. We discussed incorporating tea etiquette into the event as we thought the audience might enjoy this topic.  Last February, I did an online certification process to receive “The Art of Afternoon Tea Etiquette Certification” through Nancy at Daily Etiquette, founder of the Southern California School of Protocol.  It took 10 hours to complete this training, as it was very detailed regarding everything that goes into hosting a tea party and tea etiquette.  For our Tea Party at Holly Hill Inn, we included 10 etiquette tips to share with everyone. People are often surprised about tea etiquette as they think the rules are strict and difficult to follow.  It’s not about making sure you sit up straight and not getting food on yourself; but learning tips  which help make the overall experience more pleasant for everyone. 

 

Ouita had suggested that we do a hat fashion show with models showing the hats.  In addition, I was given the opportunity to set up a boutique at Holly Hill Inn.  It was incredibly generous of her.  We planned that I would bring 30-40 hats for the millinery fashion show. Having the opportunity to participate in this event was such a blessing due to the confines of the quarantine during the pandemic. It had been very depressing due to being a social person, and not being able to attend or host events.  We were thrilled knowing that this would be the first event for many since the quarantine started and wanted it to be fabulous!

The Event

As the event evolved, we decided to have the models interact with the audience directly. The models went from table to table to introduce the hats.  Since we had the models more involved than just walking into a room and then exiting, it turned out to be one of the highlights for the audience as they enjoyed getting to talk to the models. The models walked around with a chalkboard sign stating the name of the hat that they were wearing and engaged with each table.  The audience loved this!

 

When Ouita and I planned this back in March, she mentioned there would be space for 50 to 70 people at the event.  I was hoping to get 50.  To our surprise, we sold out a week before the event!  The event was a total success on all levels.  The guests loved being together and making connections while being surrounded by beauty and delicious tea cuisine. People were raving about what a great time they had and how they couldn’t wait for the next one!

Final Results…It was a major success!

The ladies were excited to learn about tea etiquette as well as receive ideas for hosting their own teas in the future.  Many positive memories were created that day at Holly Hill Inn.  New friendships were made and older friendships renewed.  Women loved getting dressed up, being with their friends, trying on hats, and getting a chance to relax.  They all had a blast!  I am looking forward to more events like this.  Women deserve to be pampered and made to feel beautiful.  They left feeling a bit like royalty!