Vintage & Handmade Christmas Market 15.12.12

Just relaxing after a busy day at Memory Lane's Vintage and Handmade Christmas Market in Stapleton (near Hinckley). Well done to Melissa on her superb organisation of the event, the stalls were all beautiful selling a wide variety of vintage delights. Thanks to all who came along and particularly those who bought things from me! I have to say the best sellers were my vintage knitting patterns - they were a great conversation starter. Favourite sales of the day were my unusual Christmas decorations - old nutcrackers, toffee hammer, corkscrew and bottle opener! - plus the vintage M&S knitted penguin hot water bottle cover and the 'rainy day' money box! Hope their new owners like them! Stapleton Village Hall may become a regular venue for vintage markets in 2013 so watch this space.....

Vintage goodies galore!

My festive selection

The knitting patterns were popular purchases

I bought these lovely sheet music decorations from Sarah
 (Bluebelle Vintage)who was on the stall next to me.
 They look fab on my little Christmas tree at home!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......!

Not long to go until the big ho-ho-ho! I've been busy making last minute cards, cake stands and more vintage goodies for my stall. I helped to organise the Festive Food & Fun on the Farm event at Whetstone Pastures on Sunday which was very well attended and we even had some wintry sunshine (although it was very cold..!)

I shared a stall with my crafty friend Cathy Ferraby who makes jewellery and beautiful glass tree ornaments. Here is our stall, looking very festive. Thanks to everyone who came along....

I am preparing for two more Christmas events. This Saturday (15th), I will be in Stapleton (near Hinckley) for the Memory Lane Vintage and Handmade Christmas Market which looks fabulous. I'll be taking along my upcycled vintage cake stands, knitted tea cosies, vintage glassware, cards and some miscellaneous festive treats - everything priced under £10 so come along and grab a bargain stocking filler.

My final stop before Christmas will be at Blaby Farmers' Market on Saturday 22nd December 9am - 1pm. I'll be inside the Social Centre - come along for those last minute extras!

A wonderful week!

Taking a day off today after a busy week. First up, last Monday, I had my much anticipated kitchen inspection from Blaby District Council which went extremely well and I got top marks. Hoorah! Now my cake making business is all official and registered so I can expand my baking empire.... maybe!

It's official!

On Wednesday, I took my travelling tea party to Oadby for a surprise party for the member's of Kay's book club. They enjoyed fairy cakes, chocolate tiffin, flapjacks and scones with a variety of delicious teas and a good time was had by all!

Cheers, ladies!

Mary Queen of Cupcakes!

Yum, yum.....

A sunny autumnal Saturday saw my second tea party of the week, this time for my friends from Morsbags who gathered at Tori's beautiful 300 year old farmhouse in the lovely village of Newton Harcourt for an afternoon of crochet - with Lisa Pidgeon from Little Bird School of Stitchcraft - followed by afternoon tea from yours truly. On the menu this time, Victoria Sponge, Chocolate Fudge Cake, mini butterfly cakes and more scones. Another lovely day! Thanks everybody..... x

The tea table

Crochet action shot!

The ladies enjoying tea and cake

Ukes UK Festival 20.10.12

This is where I was yesterday - providing the ukulele players of Leicestershire (and some from further afield) with tea and cakes, alongside Sandra from Whetstone Pastures Farm who did all the lunches and scones with help from Karen. We had a busy but enjoyable day although I didn't get to play my ukulele.... In the evening, the fantastic Anything Goes Orchestra were live on stage and were fabulous.

Lots of ukes!

Vintage tea, cakes and ukulele - perfect!

Bite sized fairy cakes - yummy!

Jess's Vintage Baby Shower 15.9.12

What a great day! The surprise tea party for Jess was a huge success, well done to Debbie and friends for organising it. The weather was glorious, tea was sipped (as well as a few tipples!), cakes were eaten and great fun was had by all. One nice comment I overheard: "This is just perfect!" What a compliment!

Thanks to you all - hope you enjoyed it and all the best for the new arrival! xx

Also a massive thanks to Claire from The Rainbow Tree for making the super-cute sandwiches, taking lots of photos and being a great help!

Mini sandwiches, mini cakes.... Cute or what?

My fabulous tea trolley!

The party in full swing!

Mini heart shaped scones with local jam and lashings of cream!

Getting organised....

I have spent most of today out in the sunshine in my garden, stocktaking my ever-growing collection of vintage china all ready for my new tea party business. I have a lot more than I thought! My addiction to buying cups, saucers, plates and cake stands means I now have over 80 plates, 70 cups and saucers, and many sugar bowls, milk jugs, sweet dishes, cake plates and much more.....

For more pictures, check out my Facebook page!

I also have my first proper booking.... Watch this space for more info!

Exciting news.....

Launching later this month!

COMING SOON.... Daisy & Tallulah's Travelling Tea Parties!

I've been thinking about this idea for ages but I've decided to take the plunge and go for it! I love baking and I have a huge collection of vintage china so I thought I'd combine the two and diversify my business......


Let me help you throw a Great British tea party with tea, cakes, scones and jam served on vintage china.

Available for birthdays, celebrations, hen parties or just a special treat! From 5 to 50 people, prices start from £5 per person.

Fairy cakes, scones, sponge cakes and sweet treats made with local, organic and Fairtrade ingredients. Special dietary requirements catered for.

Set the scene with vintage tablecloths, cake stands, jolly bunting and shabby chic accessories for that perfect finishing touch!

ALSO available for charity events, fetes, fairs and markets. Delivery, service and washing up all included!

Can be tailored to your own theme/era/colour scheme.

FOR MORE DETAILS: email info@daisyandtallulah.com

A few of my recent bargains.....

I've been quiet of late - too busy/too tired to blog! - so thought I'd share a few photos of the bargains of vintage loveliness I have picked up recently!

First up, some vintage magazines. Actually, I've had these for some time but unearthed them yesterday when clearing out a filing cabinet. I found the first two for £1.50 each in a little vintage home shop in Hinckley. The 'Woman's Illustrated' was given to me by a lovely lady in my knitting group. They are all fascinating to look at, with some amusing articles and adverts.

Beautiful 1950s French magazine

Gorgeous fashion designs

  

A 1966 copy of Woman's Weekly

I love this cute outfit!

  

1950 magazine with Dior's 'New Look'

French fashion trends of 1950!

I have a weakness for old books (even though I have no room in my house for any more.....!) and have picked up a few crackers recently. I got this new book at a charity fair for just 20p, featuring 'Mother Tells You How' cartoons from the 1950s 'Girl' magazine and have made some fab retro greetings cards from some of the images, including 'household hints' and 'recipe ideas'.

Then last week, at my village's church fete, I found a couple more lovely books about sewing - 50p well spent.....

Finally, I've been experimenting with some new style cake stands - this time using glasses! I bought these lovely green and gold retro glasses from a charity shop for just 12p each! It was rude not to buy them at that price....... I'm still perfecting the art of gluing them to the plates but once I have made a few, will add some pics to the blog!

A busy weekend!

Phew, tired today after packing a lot in to my weekend for the first time in ages. Have had to have a quiet day today to rest up! Friday was a hectic day working at Whetstone Pastures Farm but the sun was out and so was this fantastic VW camper - I'm in love!

In the evening, I went to a 'Swish' event at Narborough Parish Centre to raise funds for Dogs Trust. The idea was to take several  items of good quality clothing or accessories, pay £3 on the door and swap with other people's items. I've wanted to organise one of these events myself for ages so watch this space - I may do one soon. In exchange for my unwanted bags, tweed jacket and a couple of skirts, I came home with a brand new 60s style Next black and white dress, a pair of brand new pastel green ballet pumps, a Zara top and a Next linen suit - not bad! Plus around £100 was raised - good effort everyone.

I got home in time to watch the amazing opening ceremony for London 2012. Wasn't it incredible? From the beauty of Nimrod played against bucolic scenes of the English countryside making way for the mill towers and grime of the Industrial Revolution, the zip through the best music from the 60s to today with the technology sequence, the wonderful NHS/children's literature section and, my favourite bits of course, Mr Bean doing Chariots of Fire and the Queen as a Bond girl (which Lulu loved - mainly because of the corgis!).

An absolute work of genius - give Danny Boyle a knighthood. Only spoiled by the idiotic comments made by a Tory MP about it being 'multicultural crap '- what a horrible man.

After having only three hours sleep (due to staying up to watch the entire ceremony and Daisy waking me up at 4am.....), it was off to work at  for another busy day. The weather has finally been summery plus we have had a deal on Groupon which has brought in lots of extra business - we're rushed off our feet! I then headed off to The Bakers' Arms at Blaby (the oldest pub in Leicestershire and reputedly the second oldest in the country) on my vintage 1940s Humber cycle to meet up with the Bicycle Belles, a women's cycling group based in Leicester. I did cheat a little as they all cycled all the way from the city but it was hard work riding my bike. It was great to meet like minded vintage cyclists (men were allowed on this occasion too!) and I took some fab photos. I was particularly impressed with the guy who turned up on a Penny Farthing - very brave!

Allyson, who organises the bike rides, told me you have to give your bike a name (like with old cars!) so I have now decided to name my bike 'Agatha' after Ms Christie. I always call it my Miss Marple bike anyway!  I did feel a bit like Miranda Hart's character in Call the Midwife as I trundled along the cyclepath, wobbling away! But I did it without falling off or getting a puncture. I've had the bike for 2 years after spotting it on eBay for £15 with no bids. I had to collect it from King's Lynn on my way to North Norfolk and it only just fitted in my car! It was painted in blue emulsion paint which I stripped off and resprayed it in black, before adding a brand new wicker basket also bought on eBay. I've also added some patriotic bunting - go Team GB!

Meet Agatha!

Sunday dawned and I headed off to Prestwold Hall near Loughborough for the Barefoot Festival. I was voluteering with the Morsbags Leicester crew, making and giving away bags. The weather stayed fine for us virtually all day which was amazing. There was a vintage area in the old stables plus lots of stalls selling crafts, alternative therapies and great live music. I saw a fantastic all girl rock n roll band called The Daisy Chains - they played 'Let's Twist Again', 'Reet Petite', 'The Locomotion' and loads more and were FAB-U-LOUS!! They also all made bags in our mini workshop, as did many others - the old Singer sewing machines were whirring away all day. Thanks to all the organisers and festival-goers - a great day was had by all!

The Morsbag Gazebo!

The Daisy Chains rocking away!

Free bag anyone?

Tori and I indulge in a delicious pizza!

A double rainbow over Loughborough!

Vintage Tea Party in Blaby

I had a nice time yesterday at the 1940s theme Vintage Tea Party at Blaby Social Centre organised by Amanda with help from Pat and Margaret. With lashings of tea served in vintage china, delicious cakes, a nice selection of stalls and a demo of jive dancing led by Lin-Dee-Hop and her dapper moustachioed partner (whose name escapes me....) it was all great fun and for a good cause, Leicester Animal Aid at Huncote.

Thanks to those who came along and visited my stall, bought some goodies and took away free Morsbags. It was a shame it wasn't busier, it deserved more support as a lot of work had gone into it and we had promoted it all over the place - but the good folk of Blaby are obviously not part of the vintage scene......

PS: Lulu stayed at home with Daisy, it would have been a bit too much to take her and look after two stalls!

Lindy Hop experts!

Me and my stall