More pretty things

It keeps happening to me, I just can’t help it. I love buying pretty things for our home, I love receiving parcels and I love finding the perfect place for them to live.

My poor husband tolerates my obsession very well even though, in his own words, he ‘doesn’t get it’. I tell him it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t get it and that he will learn to love the ‘stuff’ that regularly appears in the house.

My studio, which is normally where all the pretty things live, is now full, full to overflowing, so I have started spreading into other areas of the house rather than curb my addiction. Mr Daisy hangs things up, puts pins in the wall for displaying gorgeous things, tolerating my quirky instructions with only minimal huffing and puffing bless him.

So, I thought you may like to see my latest arrivals ……

This arrived from Just Bunting in Cornwall and I knew where I wanted it to live even as I was ordering it, which is unusual. However, Mr Daisy huffed and puffed a lot with this and really didn’t get it. …..

And my love affair continues with the very fabulous work of Marna Lunt of Little A Designs, she is so creative and talented. My parcel arrived so beautifully wrapped and ribbon tied and was a delight to open and then I spent a happy hour or two finding the perfect home for my new pretties ……. on the plus side, I could do this all by myself, without enlisting the mister’s help, so it seems he hasn’t noticed the new additions to our home yet ……

The hearts are gorgeous and Samson is proud to wear the love heart round his neck!

I adore this new idea from Little A Designs … Marna makes lots of different sized hoops with gorgeous Liberty fabrics and a baby sized pegs for displaying treasured photographs. This photo was taken in the 70′s of me and Mr Daisy having a dance ….

Have pinned my ‘Cuddle Here’ rosette on the arm of my very cosy snuggly armchair in the hope that is will attract some attention!

And finally, my totally gorgeous cushion. Marna is a genius with cushions. These are not cheap and are not everyday wear cushions, they are heirloom pieces to treasure, made with love and adorned with beautiful vintage buttons, ribbons and fabulous embroidery. And each one is an original work of art, have a look at her website if you fancy one, they make perfect gifts for special people …..

It’s Friday, so that means you must all bake for the weekend. Try one of my lovely recipes and let me know how you get on. I will be making cherry meringues …. a request from Mr Daisy, and as he has been good enough to humour me with my pretty things, I think it’s the least I can do for him

Happy weekend folks, love Daisy Cupcakes

The Blighty Boutique Jubilee Vintage and Handmade Fair, June 3rd 2012

The eagerly anticipated Blighty Boutique Jubilee Fair was every bit as good as we knew it would be.
Always amazingly well organised by Amy and her mum Carolyn, the Blighty Boutique Fairs are a must for all vintage and handmade lovers, with lots of fabulous stalls selling gorgeous things.

The lovely Amy.

As this fair had a Jubilee theme, the Daisy stand was dressed for the occasion …

Mr Daisy and I spent a lovely evening the week before the fair, making the cake flags. Designed and created by Jenny at In The Treehouse, Jenny offers a free download library and she sent me the designs by email. We printed them, cut them out and stuck them on to cocktail sticks ready to adorn the cakes. Effective aren’t they? Have a look at her website as she has downloads available for all occasions.

The Daisy Cupcakes table was conveniently placed next to my friend Ali from Felicitations Vintage so we could have a natter ….. and of course admire each others china (most of mine comes from her shop anyway) Ali uses some of my dried everlasting cakes to style her beautiful china and did a wonderful job of marketing and promoting them to other stall holders and visitors to the fair. So I have a whole new market now in everlasting cakes ……. beautiful cakes that have been dried and are then used to style a display, a photoshoot or to grace a dining or living room displayed under a glass dome as a ‘pretty’. I sold several of my dried display cakes courtesy of Ali and her lovely mum.

There was a vintage styled tea room selling delicious lemon drizzle, gingerbread and gorgeous millionaires shortbread (I bought four slices) so after a bit of shopping, visitors could have a sit down and indulge in home made cake.

Lovely tea tables laid in proper jubilee style.

I had a little wander round the fair just before it started and identified the ‘things’ I wanted to buy, but sadly, didn’t get time to revisit them as I was so busy chit chatting to people and selling my cakes. And so I now only have my photos as memories of the things I wanted to buy …….. sad eh?

Gorgeous, gorgeous yellow plates, LOVE.

Lovely, lovely bowl …. for sweeties I thought?

A suitcase full of scrummy fabric, to make cushions (but I don’t sew)

Lots and lots of old tins, oh how I adore them in my food cupboard.

An old suitcase crammed with old photos … so nostalgic and evocative.

Adore old peg dolls ……. how cute is she?

I WANT this teapot, stamps feet …..

Shoe lasts, love them, and I managed to persuade Mr Daisy to buy me one. You will see it in my cakey photos I expect.

I love this picture …. I imagined myself walking up the garden path, the fragrance of the flowers fills my head, and inside the cottage, bread is baking. I would have loved this picture for my studio wall

Never mind, there’s always the next fair … and I will buy the pretties I want, oh yes I will.

It was a good day, a very good day. Big thanks and big love to Amy and Caddy.

Happy Bank Holiday, Daisy Cupcakes x

Blighty Boutique Vintage and Handmade Fair

It was an early start for me considering it was a Sunday. Despite the terrible weather urging me to stay snuggly in bed, I had an important date.

Today was the day of the Blighty Boutique Vintage and Handmade Fair at Hatton Park Village Hall. Mother and daughter team, Carolyn and Amy, have organised several of these fairs now, always with a large donation to their chosen charity, and they attract stall holders and visitors from miles around. The last fair had over 800 visitors.

In addition to lots of fabulous stalls selling gorgeous vintage and handmade collectables, there is always a vintage styled tea room which is very popular, as all the delicious cakes are handmade.

My friend Ali from Felicitations Vintage had a table laden with her gorgeous china and homewares ..

and the next stand was a huge temptation with these lovelies ….

It was tough, but I resisted the urge to buy, hearing Mr Daisy’s voice in my ear ‘another old tin dear?’.

The lovely Lyndsey, owner and very talented creator of ElsieSparrow had an utterly gorgeous stand formed from an old bicycle, a fabulous old painted kitchen table and some wooden crates … such creative style showcasing her beautiful handmade items.

I already have a lovely Elsie Sparrow large purse that I use to store my Sat Nav, modelled on Betty, Vintage Scoops ice cream van and I love it …

So today I had to get a little companion for her … just had to buy one of these cute purses, so perfect for my phone, or for make up in my handbag or just for looking at and admiring and stroking!

The cake stall and tea room was bulging with the most gorgeous cakes including my favourite millionaire shortbread …

(recipe coming soon on ‘Something For The Weekend’)

and this moist gooey chocolate cake (must get the recipe from Carolyn!)

Very very nearly came home with this teapot and mirror (love), next time eh?!

But I did come home with this sweet little cup posing as a pin cushion! The pin cushion is no more, but the little cup will be used in my photographs – can you imagine a beautiful pink and gold cake sitting in it?!

The next Blighty Boutique Fair is on Sunday 3rd June 2012 so put it in your diary as Daisy Cupcakes will be having a stand exhibiting and selling our gorgeous cakes.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend, I certainly have, Daisy Cupcakes

Treasure

As it’s Mr Daisy’s birthday tomorrow, I have planned a few treats for him, so thought I should write my mid week journal post a little early – he will need my undivided attention!

I wanted to share with you a few of my recent treasure finds, and in particular, the treasure from my lovely girls day out last week to The Barn Antiques Centre.
You will know that I love rehoming lovely things (although my family don’t really understand the need for yet more ‘stuff’) so trips to vintage shops, car boot sales, charity shops, antique fairs and junk shops are my idea of heaven and always result in me finding something to give a new home to (The Daisy Studio is full to bursting with delightful treasures)

So last Friday, I came home with the following …

Totally fell in love with this, a flour jar for my flowers!

Gorgeous isn’t it? (flowers from my beloved of course)
And then there was this ….

A really old proper glass sweet jar …. just need to fill it with chocolate brazils haha!
I also bought a beautiful old tablecloth, which is being laundered at the moment, no doubt you will see it in my cakey photos quite soon.
I love eBay too … this arrived today

This fabulous little cupboard will be used on my stand at The Vintage Wedding Fair in Leamington Spa next month and will be adorned with pearls, lace, cameos and CAKES!
Have a look at my gallery photos here to see all my treasures used to style my cakey pics.

Must go and wrap gifts now (nothing like leaving it till the last moment) and make sure he has a happy birthday. My laptop and iPad will be switched off tomorrow, eeeekkkkk.
See you all on Friday for a beautifully easy and deliciously gorgeous ginger biscuit recipe in Something For The Weekend.
Daisy Cupcakes x

Coming soon …

UPDATE January 2012

The very good news is that Daisy Cupcakes will  be exhibiting again THIS year at The Assembly in Leamington Spa. The Vintage Wedding Fair is on Sunday 25th March 2012.

All about our recent very successful Daisy Cupcakes stand at The Vintage Wedding Fair at The Assembly Leamington Spa