Pink Camelias, blue skies and tea..

Isn't it fabulous? The skies are blue and the light is gloriously clear. And it must be spring because I've just had to rescue the first bumble bee that has found it's way inside.

Soon I'll be heading off to enjoy afternoon tea at Beas Of Bloomsbury and despite the chap being missing on stag weekend action, how can you resist the joys of spring to lift your heart?

Finally the world has some colour again and have just been watching a robin build it's nest in our teeny tiny garden.

I picked these camelias from my Granny's garden, and found the duck egg blue vase when from a flea market in Totnes, I love the Art Deco shape. It's by the Candy Pottery studios apparently.

The frills are so perfect! 

Right must fly!

Have a glorious weekend,my dears, full of colour and light!

an enchanted table

Isn't this simply heaven? 

candlelight like stars, a vintage fabric backdrop, exuberant flowers,

and the table laden with cakes and sweets fit for a banquet. 

And everything rising out of a cloud of delicate gypsophilia.

It must have been made by fairies.

or maybe the photos were taken by Daniela Picoral.

See more from this wedding here.

via ruffled and this powderpuff post on gypsophilia

February promises and prizes.

So the dark days of January drift away and here we are, the first of February a shimmering day and  already so much to look forward to. Soon the snowdrops and daffodils will come bringing colour and signs of spring. I couldn't resist some gorgeous lilac, and forsythia at the flower market to summon spring, flowers in faded antique colours, a tinge of pink with feathery acacia and a sunburst of yellow. 

 Sunday was the day of our tea party give- away draw;

it was highly exciting. 

Pooch number one wanted to help so we numbered all the 46 lovely people who entered.

 

And popped them into a very fetching pink and velvet vintage hat and with the pooch

overseeing procedures we pulled out...

number 33!

So many congratulations to

Kirsty Sullivan,

a Golden Afternoon Tea Party will be our gift to you.

We hope you enjoy it!

(the pooch can come too)

Delicious cupcakes for a lovely twosome

A few weeks ago we were delighted to be providing the wedding cupcakes and flowers for two very lovely lovebirds. A long awaited wedding of International variety as reflected in their preference for cupcakes. .. she requested Lavender, and he being a very very tall man of Dutch persuasion didn't mind as long as it was orange! So scrumptiously moist Choccy Orange cupcakes were the match.

We couldn't resist popping in some Vanilla ones with pale pink icing to complement the colours of the flowers.

The flowers were delicate pink spray roses, white tulips, pink avalanche roses and for a splash of that Dutch orange, Cherry Brandy roses. This is a glorious sunset of a rose, the outer petals fading to a gentler shade so it's almost two tone.. we loved it,no kia-ora orange here!

The reception was held in a community hall that was transformed into a winter magic land of wedding with acres of parachute silk and fairy lights and the most giantest big balloon you've ever seen.. apparently one of the relatives blew it up the night before- imagine! must have had lungs of steel.

If you need a space transforming in the London area, drop us a line and we can put you in touch with the clever chap.

It was all go, but made even more fun by the chance to don my feathery chapeau and my red dancing shoes.

Snowflakes that fall on my nose and eyelashes

Isn't it the most glorious thing to wake up and find the world transformed by a blanket of snow? So magical, through the War Drobe in Spare Oom and we find ourselves in Narnia!

The light becomes brilliantly bright and the humdrum sounds of the city are replaced with a heavenly stillness.
From our house in the trees, the view across the park is like peering over clouds and being surrounded by vistas of sparkly white fills me with inspiration for winter tea party ideas, full of snow white flowers and snowflakes.
Not so much a Golden Afternoon but a dreamy Silvery one instead!

An all white palette; refreshing,simple and elegant.
Glass candlesticks, mercury silvered glass, flickering light and vintage lace tablecloths, linen napkins and lots of flowers!
Delicious.

country living of course!

You can use flowers and foliage to create a magical setting so effectively,

  like paper thin Honesty seed heads, very seasonal too!

 

We had tables of pure white roses and silvery eucalyptus for a Christmas tea party .. I couldn't resist some fluffy pussy willow at the flower market and pounced on it like the cat that got the cream!

 Am such a fan of Gypsophilia used in large bunches. Otherwise known as baby's breath,

try to find the one that has the larger flower heads for a better effect..

It really does look like falling snow in this picture.

 

 here

here

 

A simple way to decorate your place setting, a single snowflake shaped chrysanthemum, would look sweet in a teacup.

Or hang vintage chandelier pendants from sprayed branches to catch the light

And for a really opulent party these glittery crystal trees would put a twinkle in your eye..

 here and here

For a more vintage snowflake look, I adore these ideas with lace doilies and placemats.

 They are plentiful in charity shops and good ol' ebay and look fab with mismatched teacups and china.

They can be used to create snowflake patterns as a table runner.

good housekeeping

And you must remember happily snipping away to create paper snowflakes when you were little? Hours of fun and what a good way of occupying the troops on a 'snow day' when they tire of tobogganing.. with a mug of steaming hot choccy, what a lovely way to while away the afternoon!

You can find a fantastic tutorial to create a snowflake curtain by Lupin on her blog Bugs and Fishes

Or use your fabric ones to create a curtain, they often need a good soak in bleach to restore their brightness and then starched. See here for the how to.

Or use this idea and stitch to red velvet ribbon to create snowflake bunting and suspend across doorways or above your party table.

And wouldn't these be the most perfect invitations to send out for your snowy day? From the masters of delicate paper designs, Chartula. Oh they take my frosty breath away!

Right off for that hot chocolate to warm me up!

Tootle pip!

Lula x

Teacup Tuesday

Three teacups filled with Violas.

Sweet scented miniature pansies brightening up the day.