Blue Monday and Comfort Cookies..

Well, apparently January 18th is meant to be the day of glums and boohoos and misery..

For why, I ask you lovely readers, is this day specifically singled out to be a day of sadness?

Let's not be dragged down.. The promise of spring is wafting it's way to us, yesterday we almost had a whole sunshiney walk with the pooches. And what is really cheery is to come home take off the muddy wellies and snuggle on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and a toasted crumpet with butter all oozing through it... Some serious mmmms.

I must give this recipe a go from Hugh Fearnly-Whatsit, as he says if you're tired of British teatime, you're tired of life and who are we to disagree!

If only we had an open fire.. that's the only way to toast a crumpet- sitting near to the fire as possible, toasting fork in hand. Keeping warm with your loved one as the night draws in.

Another favourite recipe that has been putting a smile our faces is this  delicious oat and raisin cookies recipe from the marvy Smitten Kitchen website. It's the best we've tried as they are just the right texture of chew, I can't resist tweaking and throw in whatever I have in my dried fruit and nut cupboard. Our favourite muesli even goes in the mix, it's called Rude Health! See, the cookies must be good for you if they have prunes,apricots,oats and nuts in.

The tip about refrigerating the cookie dough before baking is a winner as the results never last long. The chap blames the pooch but I know they prefer chocolate chip..

Oh look Blue Monday is practically over, let's raise our teacups to a terrific Tuesday!

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.

Time for Tea?

Not one to rabbit on........ but as our winter wonderland melts away before our eyes on a grey, dismal day surely the best remedy for bringing a Cheshire cat style smile onto your face (besides tea and cake!) is the prospect that Spring is about to grace us with her presence - I'm thinking of those first crocus blooms and the golden trumpets of the beloved daffodils..........

But also with the arrival of spring this year, comes Tim Burton's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, which in an earlier post I alluded to being, in anticipation of its release, as Mad as a Hatter with excitement - eeek!

And today, through my letterbox did fall the National Trust Magazine, with the Mad Hatter the cover star and a lovely article about the filming that took place in and around Antony, a National Trust property in Cornwall.

And for those not content with just seeing the film, head to Antony between March and October to see the house, garden and estate transformed into Wonderland! With lots of fantastic events taking place you can enjoy tea parties, walk through scenes from the dream-like stories of Alice, and even meet the Mad Hatter!

What better way to spend a Golden Afternoon.......

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

Sparkly wishes

With much love from Lula and Lina, we send you this glass of fizz and our best wishes for a delicious 2010!

May your champagne saucer always be brimming,your cakes always rise and your teacup never go unfilled.

Like the champers we are brimming and bubbling with excitement about the coming year and sharing all our prospective adventures into the land of tea parties and vintage passions with you,

and who knows what else the year ahead may hold!

 As long as it's filled with tea parties, laughter with good friends and loved ones, sunny days and golden afternoons,we will be sugar sweet happy.

Happy New Year!

Holy Moly! I can barely contain myself...........

Eeekkk!!

The marvel that is Tim Burton has taken the marvellous Alice in Wonderland and created a film that is sure to be a veritable feast for the eyes!

Quick quick take a look-see

Alice in Wonderland Trailer

I won't be late for this very important date!

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.