By Rachel Pritchett
rpritchett@kitsapsun.com
MANETTE
F
or little girls, it’s an opportunity to enter the land of enchantment, where they become princesses who sip tea, where marionettes dance for them, and where green dragons stand watch.
Adele Daniels and Chloe Foster, both 4, and Aspyn Schuster, 5, burst through the door of Storybook Tea & Boutique. Elegant old dolls, tiny toy horses, puppets and a giant teddy bear wait at attention in the pink, living room-like shop.
But the trio parades past them and a table set for tea to a back chamber, where fairytale gowns, wings, crowns and pointy princess hats are ready to try on.
After ample consideration befitting true princesses, the gown choices are made. The princesses then sit expectantly in front of an ornate vanity, where a mommy servant brushes on makeup. Then, it is over to the jewelry case to select the royal jewels.
Now, finally, it’s back to the pink room. Let the play begin.
Adele’s mother, Wendy Daniels, 31, has poured generous doses of imagination into her new business that offers little girls and a few boys a couple hours of make-believe with their friends. That comes from her work in college and community theater, most recently with Changing Scene.
The idea was hatched at home while Adele and her grandmother were out for a walk. Wendy wanted to surprise them when they came back. She set up a tea time. When Adele say it, her eyes opened wide.
“Oh, mommy! It’s so lovely,” she said.
Grandma and Adele sat down and had a tea time neither will ever forget.
“And I just said, ‘I have to do this,’ ” said Daniels, with red curls and bright blue eyes.
Daniels had a business background with a nanny service and from running a day care.
She knew she had a unique idea and wasn’t afraid of the recession “because people will spend money on their children,” she said.
She transformed the modest storefront into a fanciful wonderland, shopping at thrift stores for old dolls, antiques and teapots and cups.
“And it’s breakable, and it’s OK,” she said.
Daniels hopes this shop one day will provide a good income. She hopes to move it to a bigger place eventually, and add themed rooms for would-be princesses, pirates and mermaids.
Most of all, she hopes Storybook Tea & Boutique offers kids a chance to learn to socialize and discover themselves — while pretending to be someone else.
“I hope it never gets old for me,” she said.
At A Glance
Storybook Tea & Boutique, with costumes, toys, crafts and tea time for youngsters; retail items for sale.
Address: 2015 Harkins Ave., Bremerton
Phone: (360) 479-3501
Web site: www.storybooktea.com
E-mail: storybooktea@gmail.com
Cost: $225 for a two-hour party for up to eight, discounts available
