Fascinator Workshops, Demo’s and wedding fayres for Vintage Tea Sets – Jan to Feb 2010

Amongst the workshops and wedding fayres,  2010 is getting very busy and booked up  very quickly for weddings and events.  Here’s the next 6 weeks diary for you, where you’ll see me out and about (or just the china) and some fun creative workshops I’m hosting. I’ll update my facebook with more events so pop over there and add yourself, much easier than referring to my blog where information gets buried quickly as I’m quite a busy poster.

In date order…..

Sunday 17th January 2010 – Bath Guildhall Wedding Fayre 10pm till 3pm

If you decide to book the venue on the day you’ll receive 10% off room hire and will be automatically entered into a fantastic prize draw

A selection of my vintage china (Vintage Tea Sets) will be on display at the Bath Guildhall Wedding Fayre at the Fosters Stand.   Pop over and say Hi to the Fosters Events Team and check out they’re gorgeous menu’s.

Sunday 14th February 2010 – The Lord Mayors Mansion House Wedding Fayre – 10am to 3pm

Fosters events are hosting a public wedding fayre at the Lord Mayors Mansion house in Bristol including a number of their preferred suppliers.  I’ll be on hand to give you advice on giving your wedding some vintage style touches and will also have a display for you to take a look at to give you some ideas on how to make your tables look stunning.

Sunday February 20th 2010 – Bridal Workshop – Floral, Jewellery and Fascinator…upstairs in the Hamptons Deli – 11am – 3pm

This is a low key, relaxed affair at the Hamptons Deli, pop in for a coffee to meet Julie from Floriture, Alexandra-Céline and myself to find out what we have to offer in our workshops, we’ll be showing you some neat demo’s.  This is perfect for people wanting to learn a new skill and save money on their wedding day….maybe you’d like to make your bridal headpiece? a unique personal item of jewellery or want to tackle those centrepieces….come and see us, grab a coffee and we can tell you whether we can create a course that fits your requirements.

And lets face it, The Hamptons is an excellent delicatessen and coffee shop, I can often be found in there sampling their delights (their scotch eggs are something else – naughty)…….The Hamptons address is 21a High Street, Chipping Sodbury (Outside Bristol).

Monday 22nd February 2010 – Fascinating Mad Hatters Workshop – Caffe Clifton 6pm-late……

I cannot wait for this one as well!  Limited spaces available and bookings are coming in after I only released info yesterday so book early to avoid disappointment.  More details are on facebook

I’ll be hosting a fascinator workshop at Caffe Clifton with a themed afternoon tea complete with mad hatter vintage crockery and lots of Alice in Wonderland twists.  You can make up to 2 pieces depending on how you do for time (how elaborate you want to be).  I’ll be giving you ideas and suggestions but as the name suggests, its a Mad Hatters Party, so you will have lots of choice of adornments…..flowers, feathers, simamay, beads, crystals, pearls…..just get creative, and I’ll be there to give you guidance and assistance.

Keep it as simple or flamboyant as you like….its up to you…..contact me (Vicky) on 0117 9532973 or email info@vintageteasets.co.uk to reserve your space.

Click on invite for more details or visit facebook

March to come……..

Fascinator and Floristry Workshops brought to you by Vintage Tea Sets & Floriture

Further to my recent posts on the fascinator workshops I’m organising…….

I’d like to introduce you to Julie, a lady with oodles of floristy talent and the gorgeous owner of Floriture.  Together we’re collaborating on a number of fascinator and floristry workshops this year (one in Feb I’ll post details on shortly).  Perfect for a crafty gathering, we can put on a afternoon tea for you complete with my gorgeous china from Vintage Tea Sets for a very attractive package price.  Perfect for hen parties, birthday parties or just a meeting of craft loving minds.

Here’s some examples of what the lovely Julie can offer you in her ‘makes’, and remember we can tailor our courses to meet your requirements, just ask.  Imagine a hen party where you can make your headpieces, button holes, corsages…..centrepieces….bouquets (obviously you can’t have it all in one day but you can have a selection)….even Bridal jewellery! why not have a two day course and make a weekend of it?  Its a great idea for a wedding on a budget and you all go away with having learnt something and gained some new skills.  There may be a budding florist in one of you but haven’t discovered yet.  Do you have a theme you want us to incorporate in your workshop?  Possibilities are boundless honestly.  Contact Vicky on 0117 9532973 or email info@vintageteasets.co.uk

Above Pic taken by Rosie Parsons

Fascinator and Jewellery Workshops perfect for hen parties from Vintage Tea Sets

Button Jewellery brought to you by Alex Costa

I announced in a previous post recently that I’m running a number of fascinator workshops in 2010, the response to these has been fantastic and bookings for Easter and the Summer are coming in thick and fast. I also wanted to let you know that I’m collaborating with a number of individuals on these courses, so if you fancied making a day of it I can offer a fascinator and jewellery package!  There’s even floristry package (learn how to hand tie bouquets or make some really personal button holes), hell there’s even a chocolatiers course as well!!! we’re able to hit the road and even offer cream teas on my gorgeous vintage china, whether you want to drink tea or champers out of the tea cups its entirely up to you! It’ll be a day to remember and best of all you get to keep what you make which is up to two fascinators from me and then for example a necklace and earring set. Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be introducing you to my workshop buddies.  We can come to you or arrange a workshop space near you alternatively email us for a list of our Bristol and South West venues.

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First up, I’d like you to meet Alex Costa, a gal with some very classy makes, her forte is jewellery but she is a talented vixen with many more makes I’ll be blogging about in due course.  That’s one of her gorgeous button jewellery makes shown at the top of this post.  She’s been selling in boutique shops for over a year now and is based in central London.

Email me for more details on info@vintageteasets.co.uk or phone 0117 9532973

My 1920’s wedding in Cosmopolitan Bride……

Well its a lovely way to start 2010!  My 1920’s style wedding has been given a whopping 4 pages in Cosmopolitan Bride, you can read the full article here on my blog and its just hit the shelves.  The fab photographers were Graham Morgan and Rosie Parsons.

How to make a cake stand using vintage plates and cups

Happy New Year!!!  And on that joyous note here’s some good news.  I’ve written a downloadable tutorial including step by step pictorial instructions showing you how to make your very own cake stands made from vintage plates and tea cups, just like the ones I sell and hire through vintage tea sets.  I’ve had so many people email asking how I made them and I decided to put this tutorial together, I’ll be adding more during 2010.   Its downloadable as a PDF for only £5.00 and I show you exactly how I make my cake stands.  This is perfect for a crafty bride to be on a budget wanting a swish afternoon tea or anyone just feeling creative wanting to make something really unique and a little quirky.

Vintage Tea Sets cake stand tutorial

Fascinator workshops brought to you by Vintage Tea Sets

Two posts in one day!  I couldn’t hold on any longer.  I’m very pleased to announce that I’ll be running a number “Fascinator Workshops” in the New Year, as you know I create hats and fascinators, mostly bespoke.  At long last I’ll be getting my hat website off the ground, its taken a while as the last 18 months I’ve been working hard on Vintage Tea Sets my hire and event planning website, all these things are now coming together.

Be you a hen party or suppressed creative genius wanting to unleash your inner beast, join me on an exciting half day course where you’ll make your very own unique fascinator or cocktail hat for that extra special occasion and if that’s not exciting enough, afterwards we’ll celebrate with a themed scrumptious afternoon tea served on gorgeous vintage china sampling a selection of fine teas. It’s a day of pure girlie indulgence.  The workshop caters for all abilities, so whether you’ve never so much as threaded a needle in your life or if you’re sewing mad, we can accommodate you.  Day workshops can be arranged and for those of you wanting to learn more that millinery has to offer I offer one to one hat making courses.

For group bookings choose from a variety of workshop themes and packages that encompass a treasure trove of decorative items such as vintage brooches, fresh water pearls, beads, lace, Swarovski crystals, feathers, satin and velvet……

Please note: workshops require a minimum of four people, larger groups can be accommodated by arrangement…….with bookings over 8 the hostess/party organiser goes free.  My workshops are run in a variety of locations throughout Bristol however I can travel by arrangement, please contact me for further details and to request a booking form info@vintageteasets.co.uk  Prices start from only £40 per person on our most basic packages including materials for your own unique creation and refreshments served in vintage china through out the day.

Themed work shops include :-

Mad Hatters Tea Party – A creative free for all is the only way to describe this eclectic workshop, a stitch here and a scone loaded with clotted cream and jam there, fueled by tea and cake your creativity will know no bounds . Perfect for a hen weekend, let the Bride, Bridesmaids and girlie guests all make something truly fabulous and wear your creations for the rest of the day….and night.

Burlesque Sirens – Satin, pearls and sequins. Move over Dita von Teese, there’s some new girls in town! In this unique workshop learn how to create a Retro/kitsch cocktail hat followed by a very stylish afternoon tea.

Nice day for a white Wedding! – Vintage Brooches, pearls, diamantes, Swarovski crystals…..Perfect for a hen weekend, let the Bride, Bridesmaids and girlie guests all make something fabulous. Stop for a delicious afternoon tea.  And Bookings of over 7 paying guests and the Bride goes free!

Sex in the City meets Day at the Races – feathers, sinamay and beads. You’ll never buy a fascinator again after taking this course, and just soak up the compliments you’ll get after a jolly good slap on the back and a cheeky afternoon tea.

Christmas Party Glitz – Sequins, satin, velvet and Bling!

Vintage Chic – Vintage fabric, velvet roses, lace, pearls and feathers. You are a vintage goddess, oh yes and by golly is the world going to see you for that after this course…..afterwards enjoy a Tea at the Ritz style Tea Party.

Upcylcled and looking pretty damn fine!!! – discover how to use everyday items destined for landfill and turn them into something pretty fine! No one will know any better and you’ve just single handedly outdone rumplestiltskin! Afterwards we’ll celebrate with tea and cake.

2010 weekend workshops are currently being scheduled and I will post the dates on here very shortly.  If you’d like to secure a private group booking then please contact me on the email address below.   The summer is a busy time for me with the vintage china hire but I will endeavor to schedule some during that period.  We have received an extraordinary amount of interest for this so early booking is recommended.  Week days can also be arranged.

What’s included?

Tuition, materials, refreshments and an Afternoon Tea.

Details & Booking Information

Workshops start at 10am until 2.30 pm, prices start from £40 per person, which includes morning tea/coffee, lunch, and materials. (Please arrive promptly as we have a lot to get through on the day!)

When you book a non refundable deposit is payable with the remaining total due on the day.

If you would like to book please call Vicky on 0784 3511288 or email at  info@vintageteasets.co.uk

How to make a tea cup candle, step by step instructions…..from Vintage Tea Sets

I reveal how to make one of these.......

I promise you, as soon as you’ve made one of these beautiful soy tea cup candles you won’t ever buy one as they are just too easy to make (within 5 mins you’ll have it poured and cooling), your house will turn into a mini production unit guaranteed.  I’ve been making these for over a year and a half now and my house is full of them, I’ve sold them very successfully in craft fairs and online as they make such a fabulous presents (think Mothers Day, Birthdays and Christmas) and they also make wonderful additions to table centre pieces or dotted around a venue to add some ambience for a vintage tea party or mad hatter tea party .  I use soy wax because its eco-friendly, water soluble and burns at lower temperatures so as not to damage the vintage china.  You can purchase or hire these through my vintage china hire website vintage tea sets but they are so fun to make, give them a go!

You do need to buy a few things, not much.  I’ve put together a shopping list for you but for a sound investment of £20 you can have enough tea cup candles for plenty of presents and also fill your house/event with them.  They go a long way and burn for over 32 hours.  Websites are charging between £12-20 per tea cup candle, you can make many many more for that, you just need to go to some car boot sales and charity shops and buy some tea cups.

Here are my step by step instructions.

What you need:-  All the waxes, wicks and scent items are available from this website 4candles

Eco Soya Wax

Wedo Eco Wick

Metal tab for the wick

Scent (optional)

2 wooden skewers and some gaffa tape (I love gaffa!)

Scissors

2 saucepans, one small and one large and flat (Make a bain-marie)

Vintage Tea Cup

Step 1 – First you measure the wax out.  The wax comes in flakes and I fill the volume of my vintage cup up with flakes one and a half times.

Measure the wax flakes

2 – Add to the small saucepan (don’t worry eco wax is water soluble and washes out with some washing up liquid).  Place the small pan in the larger pan filled halfway with water and over a medium to low heat gently melt the wax.

Melt the wax in a bain-marie

Add a scent if you like

3. Prepare your teacup.  Cut a length of wick and pull it through the metal tab (all for sale on the website I gave you earlier).  You can buy special metal pins to hold the wicks in place so it remains centered.  Being a resourceful so and so though I just used some wooden skewers and taped them closely together as seen below and that works just fine.  Now all you need do is pour the wax.

Now all you need do is pour the wax

4.  Now pour gently…….

And pour......

5.  Over half an hour the wax will harden, do not move your tea cup candle during this stage.

Slowly the wax will harden

6.  Finally, trim the wick and light!!!!

And light! How easy was that!!!!

I hope you enjoyed that little tutorial. More to come…….

Three of the best wedding Blogs – rocking, vintage and green!

I think its time I shared the love to be honest, there’s been lots of it going round recently and I’ve shied away.  And ‘no’ to all you potty minded people, I’ve not lost the plot briefly and planted pampas outside, this is blog love and don’t you forget it (waggles finger).  Over recent months myself and my business Vintage Tea Sets has been featured on a number of amazing wedding blogs and its time these fab bloggers were shouted from the rooftops, they are a huge source of inspiration away from the generic magazine copy wedding world.  So go grab yourself a cuppa and strap yourself in for a journey through every different type of wedding blog site you could wish for.  A big thanks to Kat of Rock ‘n Roll Bride, Annabel Beeforth of Love my Dress and Rosie Ames of Green Union.

First up, introducing the fabulous Rock ‘n Roll Bride!!!!!!

and its stylish creator and very talented prolific blogger Kat Williams, photographed here by Rosie Parsons.  She looks wild, I love it!

Kats blog was a breath of fresh air when I first discovered it and just keeps getting fresher! that’s no mean feat in the blogging world ladies and gents this lady is a wedding guru of the highest order and works incredibly hard to be a source of inspiration across the globe (oh yes). The weddings and photography she features on her blog are  awe inspiring to say the least and often leave me thinking…jeeesh, wish I’d done that! but with happily wedded couples and their photographers clambering over themselves to get a mention on her site she gets the cream of the crop and only months later National Mags pick up on some of her pieces, she’s top of her game.

What I also love about her blog is that the focus is not so much about the suppliers which is refreshing, I recall as a bride getting hacked off with the usual fluff being rammed down my neck that I should and shouldn’t have for my wedding.  In Kats own words “Rock ‘n Roll Bride promotes individuality and general awesomeness in a cookie cutter, pastel pink, poufy dressed wedding world. Don’t let the wedding industry define your day – let *you* define your day” that’s a wedding mantra I wish I’d written just there let alone the blog!

She’s a leading light for individual wedding inspiration with a huge following in the US, you must stop by her blog and check it out and be wowed.

Big love to Kat x

Next up is a new arrival on the wedding blog arena but has literally bust onto the scene in the last month and is making a massive impression on vintage lovers everywhere, its the wonderful ‘Love my Dress‘ created by Annabel Beeforth and features a number of guest bloggers giving it a very unique and exciting feel.

Copyright (c) 2009, Karen McGowran Photography www.karenmcgowranphotography.co.uk/

When I was planning my 1920’s styled wedding I hunted high and low for ideas and struggled, it wasn’t easy as there weren’t many 1920’s style dresses about and genuine vintage was out as I’m 6ft, not good, I was setting up Vintage Tea Sets and working a full time job………If only this blog had existed then it would have saved me days of my life scouring the net getting very confused and perplexed.   Annabels blog brings the very best of everything a bride could want under one roof for the vintage inspired wedding, beautiful photography, interesting interviews with her favourite suppliers that range from stationary to dresses all brought to you in a wonderful writing style that keeps sending you back for more, she knows what she likes and damn! she’s got very good taste.  Just take a look at that stunning picture of her above taken at her wedding last year, she’s giving advice!!!! Whilst she says she’s no wedding expert, I think its fair to say that in this arena she is fast cherry picking the best of the best saving valuable time for Bride to be’s.

This immensely talented lady is one to watch on the wedding blogging scene for 2010, with an ever growing following I see her becoming the Queen of vintage wedding blogs. Check her blog out and remember you saw her here first…..

And finally its Green Union founded by Rosie Ames (below), which is more of a movement with a blog however the blog is growing and bursting with ideas for the eco-couple and is just getting bigger year on year.

My partner and I are big advocates of green living and I wanted to ensure that our wedding recognised that fact, at the time I was just 1920’s crazy and for some bizarre reason thought the two wouldn’t mix, well they went hand in hand.  When I stumbled on the Green Union blog last year I was amazed!!! it was such a great resource, so much so I ended up getting in touch with Rosie Ames the founder and after a year of keeping in touch visited the HQ, this lady lives Green Union and her Polenta cake kicked butt, no messing.

Having a Green Wedding doesn’t mean you have to get your guests to cycle to the venue and then dish them up a nice bowl of lentils (oi! I love daal!!! and sorry Rosie!!!!).   No, being green can be super stylish, you can still be Rock n Roll or a Vintage Goddess, your style can go hand in hand,  just tweak a few things and revel in the fact that you have cut down on CO2 emissions, lets face it we can bury our heads in the sand or take some responsibility, being green on your wedding day can make it all the more memorable and with this brilliant resource and blog you’ll see how easy it is to make a difference.

A real inspiration and master of cake.

Big hugs x

There is some huuuuge blogging talent out there, the above are my favs and I find myself reading every day, why not bookmark them and see for yourself?

Green Weddings – Rosie Parsons meets Green Union

Good friend of mine Rosie Parsons (amazing photographer, check her out immediately) moved to Devon a couple of weeks ago, and whilst its a real shame she’s no longer knocking around Bristol, it does give me a damn good excuse to visit one of my favourite parts of the world on a regular basis and sample tea and cake in quaint tea rooms, clouds….silver linings!  When I said I was popping over for a visit she suggested we go and visit the very lovely Rosie Ames founder of Green Union who I’ve been chatting to for over a year know and recently joined her movement of promoting stylish and sustainable celebrations.   Well hell yes!  that sounded a great idea!

When we arrived at Rosie Ames beautiful house thats situated in the heart of rural Devon, a freshly baked warm delicious polenta cake was waiting for us on the table,  all around was the stunning craftsmanship of her husband David Ames who makes the most gorgeous wooden furniture.  We chatted, drank tea, ate that gorgeous cake and said Hi to her cute chickens until it started to get dark….quite frankly I was ready to move in.  It was heaven!!! What had Rosie A let herself in for.  She also runs a B&B there and I mentioned on the return journey that I am sure she must do a heavenly breakfast if the cake is anything to go by, well worth a visit .  Rosie Parsons has already blogged this here, but here again are her lovely shots of the day including one of me in my Clara Bows Hats I make.

Polenta Cake that was yum!

Vintage Tea Sets is an approved supplier of Green Union!

I am extremely pleased to announce that my vintage china hire business ‘Vintage Tea Sets’ has been accepted to become a partner to the wonderful Green Union and is now listed on website as an approved green wedding supplier.

Vintage Tea Sets are committed to being as green as possible.

Green Union is the ultimate green weddings guide & wedding directory, covering advice on throwing eco friendly weddings. Fabulous ideas for your unconventional wedding reception & top tips on how to find romantic green, earth friendly wedding venues, luxury organic wedding dresses & bridal gowns, fair trade flowers, eco chic wedding decorations, seasonal food & ethical wedding services & suppliers, conflict free eco wedding rings & jewellery, sustainable invitations, wedding photographers, tipis, tents, gift lists and wedding favours.

I first discovered Green Union a year ago and immediately got in contact as I was very impressed with concept and was very interested in taking part.  Recently my own wedding was recently featured on Green Union here and I can’t tell you how happy I am now to have become one of the members of this excellent green wedding movement.