for all the tea in China

Driving through London town today, I caught a tantalising glimpse of the celebrations for the Chinese New Year, the year of the tiger.  Today was the culmination of the fifteen days of celebration to mark the new year, and the streets of Soho and Chinatown were filled with colour. It reminded me of the vintage stylised illustrations used in  Chinese packaging from the early 20th Century.
  Here are some vividly bright examples... 

 

 

 

 Tea has had just as much if not more importance in the culture and history of China than in ours.

This quote seems to capture what we all mean when, in troubled times, we say 'I'll put the kettle on'!

“Tea induces lightness of spirit, clarity of mind and freedom from all sense of constriction, 

whether mental of physical; and it promotes such serenity that mundane cares fall away 

 so that whatever is strident of exacerbating in daily life can be put out of mind for a while.” 

The Emperor Song Hui Zong

So if you're partial to jasmine or oolong, 

here's wishing you a delicately flavoured and purifying new year!

pictures from here,here and here

And if you're going to propose..

on St Valentine's day-

do it with a dish towel in the words of Mr Darcy, how could you go wrong?

That's the way to help with the washing up!

From Etsy seller Brookish 

Or sip your coffee from these fab mugs

For literary lovers, decorate with Pride and Prejudice bunting

from Nellie and Elsie

All the items they have for sale are so charming.

I would be most delighted if the postman bought me one of these cards. With words from Midsummer's Night Dream and the vintage wedding picture

it couldn't be any sweeter.

Have a peek at her blog for more whimsical and wordy things.

That last picture has set off a song in my head-  ever have that? 

Occasionally the chap and I quite like to listen to the music of today, it's not all Noel Coward and Musicals, you know...

We have been known to dance around the kitchen to this one, by The Drums singing our lungs out.
Most tricky not to hyperventilate with the

Hahahaha- Heart bit.

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

Va-va voom- Vintage dress delight!

It is one of my biggest disappointments not to have lived in the era of swishy starched petticoats and nipped in waists,  all those fabulous dresses and elegant styles influenced by Christian Dior's New Look.  Oh I can see it now- a divine floral frock, an elegant gloved hand and a long black cigarette holder as I took my seat in a Lyon's Tea Room.  Wouldn't that be heaven?
Unfortunately I was born too late for the age of glamour and whilst I know there are distinct advantages to this day and age (having all my fave songs on one teeny tiny rectangle is a marvel!) if a time machine were to suddenly appear in the back garden; I know where I would be headed, waving my raspberry velvet hat as I went.
One of my absolute favourite things is discovering a new vintage clothing website, sighing over all the jewels that lie within, I dream about which ones I would snap up and where one could wear them . I was overwhelmed with all the stunners found on Vava Vintage , she certainly has found some beauties!

Isn't this one a dream? Adore the wonderful blousy roses print and the sage green cummerband sash. Even more splendid by seeing the original adverts.. Oh to be a Lady of the Rosebuds.

Would make a perfect wedding dress for an 50/ 60's style garden wedding. In this original picture you can see that distinctive shape of the skirt.. along with the model's doe-eyed expression- it's so 60's isn't it!
Top of the wish list, please!
Would love to waft around sipping tea in this frilly number also.. so many beautiful dresses- so little time.

The print is just so charming and summery

Golly, a girl would need a team of husbands to wear all these super cute numbers.

 

And not to mention all the fabby party dresses, where did I put my chequebook..

Would it be greedy to want them all?

All found on Va Va Vintage- go feast your eyes and tell me your favourite.
And if you happen to purchase one- do let me know so I can drool over the lovely dress with you.