Welcome

Polite Society School of Étiquette offers a thoughtfully curated collection of courses designed to cultivate grace, confidence, and impeccable poise. The following courses are offered. Beginning Étiquette Course — An introduction to the essential principles of etiquette, gracious manners, and confident social interaction. Afternoon Tea Étiquette Course — An elegant exploration of afternoon tea traditions, tea-table etiquette, and the art of hosting and participating in this cherished ritual. Protocol, Decorum, & Savoir-Faire Course — A study of refined conduct, formal protocol, and the discernment required to navigate social and professional settings with confidence. The Story of Tea Course — A captivating journey through the history, culture, and traditions of tea, celebrating its enduring influence on societies around the world. Étiquette tutelage is also offered through speaking engagements, instructional webinars, school seminars, private dinners, and specialty tea events. The School's mission is to educate both adults and children in the traditional principles of etiquette and the essential social skills needed for everyday life. The curriculum encompasses the history of etiquette, social graces, dining etiquette, proper table settings, appropriate attire, protocol, decorum, and other valuable etiquette practices. Students also learn the art and essentials of preparing and serving a proper Afternoon Tea. Polite Society School of Étiquette provides students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the expectations of society with grace, poise, and confidence, empowering them to feel comfortable and self-assured in any social situation. All courses include foods and beverages as teaching aids. Interactive online training courses are available.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Tis the season

Tis the Season....

I will be sharing some fabulous tidbits about the Christmas as I did last year.

I hope you all enjoy. I will begin tomorrow with November 11......more later......

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Featured in TEA in TEXAS - November/December Issue

I am thrilled to be featured in TEA in TEXAS, a travel and lifestyle magazine about people, products, and unique events for tea lovers and travel enthusiasts.

TEA in TEXAS

FOR THE HOLIDAYS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF READING

It’s that wonderful time of year for celebrating! Thanksgiving offers us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our many blessings. Hanukkah and Christmas usher in those long awaited, and much planned for, special times spent with family and friends. If part of your celebrating includes gift giving, you are in luck. The following new ‘tea reads’ will not only captivate you, but they will also likely find themselves on your gift lists.

The Art Of The Social Graces
by Bernadette Michelle Petrotta

In the hustle and bustle of today’s society, it often seems that etiquette has become a ‘thing of the past.’ However, tea parties offer the perfect opportunity to teach proper tea protocol not only to ladies ‘young in age,’ but also ladies ‘young at heart.’ The charming book entitled The Art of the Social Graces, by Bernadette Michelle Petrotta, is an excellent resource for your personal library. This compact, easy to read book includes detailed illustrations for table settings as well as helpful hints for entertaining at parties, whether small or large, informal or formal. Of special interest to tea lovers is the included section on Victorian Afternoon Tea where Petrotta shares “instructions on making the perfect pot of tea, illustrated tea settings, and dining etiquette for scones, savories, and petits fours.”

The Art of the Social Graces shares a brief history of etiquette which will provide readers with an understanding of why it is an important part of our everyday lives. The information presented on introductions, invitations, table settings, graceful dining manners as well as how to choose appropriate attire enables readers to be gracious hosts and/or guests no matter the occasion. “Whether you are a homemaker, business professional, or student… it will empower readers with confidence and learning essentials that will be life changing.”

Ms. Bernadette Michelle Petrotta is an author and small business owner, married, and has a son. In 1996 she founded the Polite Society School of Etiquette which offers “a variety of courses, speaking engagements, seminars, individual training, and instruction at private dinners and tea events.”
If your ‘cup of tea’ includes traditional teatimes and love of things international, the following two books will have a special appeal.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

NORTHWEST TEA FESTIVAL - OCTOBER 6th & 7th, 2012

The Puget Sound Tea Education Association

I am so excited to be speaking again at this fabulous event. I will be speaking on tea etiquette. I have provided information below regarding the festival. Their website is http://www.nwteafestival.com/

Come visit us
- October 6th & 7th 2012 -
Be a part of our celebration of the exciting world of tea.

The Festival is a fun and educational event about the multifaceted world of tea. Our goal is to provide experiences covering all aspects of tea, from the cultural to the historical and the sensory to the scientific.

Bringing together authors, industry experts, buyers, retailers, artists, and educators, we hope you learn something new and expand your enjoyment of this most fascinating of beverages!

About PStea --
The Puget Sound Tea Education Association

In 2007 the PStea organization came into existence to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the introduction of tea to Europe. The first tea from China arrived in Amsterdam in 1607 changing forever the drinking habits of Europe and, ultimately, the Americas.
To commemorate this anniversary, five Seattle based tea companies -

Barnes & Watson Fine Teas
The Perennial Tea Room
Teahouse Kuan Yin
Village Yarn And Tea
Tea Geek

- all came together and created an organization whose goals are to expand the knowledge about and promote all aspects of tea, from the cultural to the historical and the sensory to the scientific.
With a vision of an organization providing information and education on tea in all of its cultural formats as well as its variety of styles. The Northwest Tea Festival was begun as the first step in this process. It is our goal to expand our educational focus to regular programs throughout the year - dinners, tea tastings, trips to countries of origin - all of these are potential endeavors of the PSTea. We invite you to join us and share and expand our vision.
The Northwest Tea Festival is brought to you by The Puget Sound Tea Education Association (PStea).
Bringing together authors, industry experts, buyers, retailers, artists, and educators, we hope you learn something new and expand your enjoyment of this most fascinating of beverages!
Our founding members are:
Deborah Barnes, Village Yarn & Tea
Michael Coffey, Tea Geek
Marcus Gramps, Teahouse Kuan Yin
James Norwood Pratt, author of New Tea Lover's Treasury
Julee Rosanoff, Perennial Tea Room
Ken Rudee, Barnes & Watson Fine Teas

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

AMAZON RATING ON THE ART OF THE SOCIAL GRACES BY BERNADETTE M. PETROTTA

THE ART OF THE SOCIAL GRACES

RANKED #1 IN TABLESETTING

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,961 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Cooking, Food & Wine > Special Occasions > Tablesetting
#9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Business & Investing > Reference> Etiquette
#25 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Reference > Etiquette

I am thrilled to see all of my efforts come to fruition. I worked so very hard on this endeavor and I am pleased so many of you are purchasing my book. Thank you so very much.

Monday, June 11, 2012

ETIQUETTE - IT'S A GOOD THING - Weddings - "From this day forward" are words of promise.

Weddings, Customs, &

Beautiful Summer Weddings

Enduring customs are part of the romance of weddings and the beloved custom of Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue is surely worth observing.

SOMETHING OLD - Weddings are an important rite of passage; an old piece of jewelry or family Bible symbolized the bride's connection to her past.

SOMETHING NEW - The bride journeys from her old life to her new one, with a token of her future - something new to ensure prosperity.

SOMETHING BORROWED - Long ago it was deemed lucky for a bride to borrow something from a happily married woman - to borrow a bit of her good luck. Costly veils were the favorite "Something Borrowed."

SOMETHING BLUE - Since the days of the biblical Hebrews, blue has been a color associated with spiritual loyalty and devotion.

AND A SILVER SIXPENCE IN HER SHOE - Bridese, please note: Two major symbols of wedded life combine here. The sixpence (or in America, a dime) represents future wealth, and the shoe is an ancient symbol of authority.

The Art of the Social Graces would make a fabulous wedding gift.

See introductions on yesterday's post. Very informative.

Friday, June 8, 2012

ETIQUETTE - IT'S A GOOD THING

Introductions

Introducing people is an integral part of good manners. People feel much more comfortable after being introduced. Sometimes it could get embarrassing if one cannot remember a person’s name; however, there is nothing wrong with asking someone to refresh your memory by asking his or her name.

Formal Introductions Present the person, who is younger, has less prestige, or who is not the guest of honor, to the person who is older, has more prestige, or is the guest of honor. Examples: Present your friend to Dr. Birch. “Dr. Birch, I would like you to meet my friend, Christopher.” Present your friend to your mother. “Mother, I would like you to meet my friend Robert.” Present a woman to a man. It is also customary for men to stand up for women. Women may stand if the person introduced to them is older.

Introducing Yourself It is your job to let others know who you are, whether in a formal, informal, or work place setting. Often someone else will introduce you, but sometimes it will be up to you. When it is, be sure to enunciate clearly, “My name is John Smith. I am pleased to meet you.” Or, if this is a work situation, “My name is Jane Smith, Human Relations Manager of Acme Corporation.”

Introducing A Number Of People When introducing a number of people, clearly state each person’s name, preferably in the order in which they are standing to avoid confusion. If you are a member of a group being introduced, nod your head when your name is mentioned and make eye contact with the person being introduced. If you are introducing a group and do not know everyone’s name, ask each member of the group to introduce himself or herself.

Please visit my website (www.PoliteSocietySchool.com) for my latest book, The Art of the Social Graces.

I hope you have enjoyed my tip of the day. Have a fabulous weekend and remember to be gracious and kind.

NEW REVISED EDITION - The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea

The Polite School of Étiquette presents Volume V, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition, featuring Social Graces, Étiquette History, Introduction Methods, Entertaining Guidelines, Correspondence Protocol, History of Tableware, Dining out Manners, American and Continental Style Dining, Appropriate Dress Attire, Personal Care and Home Management, History of Tea, Types of Tea, Tea Pairings and Tastings, Afternoon Tea in England, Tea Food Dining Instructions, and Formalities for Preparing a “Proper” Afternoon Tea. This revised edition is an updated compilation of Volume I, Volume II, and Volume IV with additional étiquette information and home management guidelines. The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition offers practical knowledge in basic social skills for all occasions and settings and includes useful information and advice to enhance one’s lifestyle in the social and business world. It takes the reader through a brief history of étiquette, offers introduction methods and conversation techniques, provides guidelines for entertaining, presents illustrations for formal, informal, and family style table settings, and explains the difference between Continental and American Style dining. It also provides instructions on the proper way to consume soups, beverages, tea, coffee, and various difficult foods. With beautiful photographs, exquisite china, gleaming silver, and stunning floral bouquets, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition delights the senses with elegant and picturesque table settings, antique teacups, and beautiful linens. Together these elements form the foundation for an elegant table setting. In the chapters dedicated to Afternoon Tea, detailed information is provided on the history of tea, styles of tea, types of tea, tea pairings with fruits and savouries, and tea tasting characteristics. Instructions are provided on making the perfect pot of tea for this charming custom that was once the hallmark of high society. Detailed guidelines are presented on how to set a proper tea table and how to set up a tea style buffet along with instructions on dining with savouries, scones, and petits fours. This newest volume illustrates various methods for conducting oneself gracefully in his or her professional life keeping in mind the importance of first impressions. The chapter on virtues contains important information on self-discipline, friendship, courage, and other aspects for living a good life. As a bonus, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition journeys through chapters on the history, usage, and care of all tableware which includes flatware, dinnerware, stemware, and crystal. Credit is given to Richard Osterberg’s book, Sterling Silver Flatware (Published in 1994 by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.) for much of this information. Mr. Osterberg’s passionate interest in antiques and silver began during his Vermont childhood. He was introduced to a goldsmith and silversmith from Scotland and over time developed an interest in English, Scottish, and American silver that resulted in several publications. Credit is also given to William Hanson, executive director and owner of The English Manner based in London. Mr. Hanson is widely regarded as the most trusted authority on étiquette and civility. His life’s work continues to be the training of royalty, government officials, diplomats, and VIPs who wish to integrate good manners into the global forum. Mr. Hanson’s expert advice is priceless. Whether one is a homemaker, business professional, or student, The Art of Timeless Étiquette, Graceful Dining Manners, & Afternoon Tea Revised Edition will empower every reader with confidence as he or she learns life-changing essential manners and practical skills while exploring the world of étiquette. It will serve as one’s treasury of gracious living and offer inspiration for curating welcoming interiors and entertaining for every occasion.

EMMA The Étiquette Cat: Meet Emma Book

Volume III, EMMA The Étiquette Cat: Meet Emma, is beautifully written and illustrated. This children’s book is about Emma Elizabeth, an adorable Ragdoll feline. She is about two years old and is the sweetest kitty cat. Mischievous and loving with an abundance of curiosity, Emma fancies herself as a well-behaved kitty and her daily quest is to please her mum. She loves to play and sometimes gets into a bit of trouble, but her mum is very forgiving and gently corrects her. Children will instantly fall in love with Emma as they try to emulate her good manners. They will also enjoy her appetite for treats and her delightful personality. Gaylen Whiteman, an extremely talented artist who lives on picturesque Whidbey Island, beautifully illustrates Emma’s bright blue eyes and her gorgeous furry coat. Gaylen, who signs by her first name, captures Emma’s curious personality as she is featured near mum’s tea table, antique tub, and other interesting areas of her home. The book also includes a fabulous healthy English Scone Recipe, a Mock Devonshire Cream Recipe, and a Blackberry Fruit Spread Recipe for parents to make with their children along with a short explanation of the word “etiquette,” a child’s place setting illustration, and a family-style place setting illustration.