I made these cakes for a vintage baby naming celebration. Nothing fancy, but oh so sweet. The semi naked cake is lime and pistachio, with vanilla bean cupcakes. The simple cake and cupcake toppers were handmade using lace, gingham ribbon and hessian scraps tied to toothpicks and skewers. An easy way to add a touch of colour to a neutral palette.
This was such a special afternoon. I gathered together a group of ladies, many of them mothers with young children, with the aim of creating a relaxing and indulgent tea party where they would sit and enjoy being served. As women, we are so often the ones who tirelessly meet the needs of others, so I wanted to give these special ladies an afternoon off, where they could finish their conversations, have fresh tea poured for them, leave their diets at the door and indulge in decadent sweets and treats.
As most of you are aware, designing and styling baby showers is one of my all time favourite creative pursuits. New life just grabs me every time. There is such diverse styling potential for each shower, and opportunity to reflect the personality of each precious mama to be.
After our little Fairies played in the garden for a couple of hours, it was finally time for the bridal procession to begin. There were some very excited flower girls, and although Kitty got a bit confused about which way to walk, everything else was perfect. The girl’s beautiful cousin Amanda was beaming the whole time. It was truly a privilege to be a part of it all.
In January our family ventured all the way over to Perth in Western Australia to attend our niece’s wedding. Five of our girls had the honour of accompanying Amanda as her flower girls. I know all mothers would brag about how beautiful their girls are dressed up for a wedding, but my little Lambs looked more like sweet woodland sprites exploring the garden in the hours before the big event. They were truly spectacular. I hope you enjoy looking through these photos.
I am a classic DIY – er. If you need an invitation made, then I am your gal. None of these non tangible, electronic email invitations please. I insist on using real paper, real scissors and glue. It relaxes me. The more detail the better. The longer they take, the more I enjoy them. It’s just what I love to do. When I finally get a chance to sit down in the evening, I must have something to work on, some craft or project to keep my hands busy. I love the feel of a needle and thread in my hand, or paper, buttons and fabric. I love creating something organic and textural. I love putting things together and personalising them into unique little works of art. I have a few tips on how to make your own vintage invitations HERE.
Valentine’s day usually slips by me unnoticed each year. My time is so valuable and with 8 children at home, I have to choose my party styling endeavours very carefully.Valentine’s Day comes hot on the heels of our wedding anniversary and just before our first birthday of the year, so I have conceded that I simply must let this love fest go. This year however, I was in for a pleasant surprise when some ladies in our church wanted to have a Valentine’s day party. I couldn’t possibly let an opportunity like this pass me by, so it was with reluctance and hesitation (not!) that I asked if they would like me to put together a small dessert table. I had less than a week to throw a few things together and bake like crazy for our sweet little vintage Valentine’s Day celebration. I enjoyed it so much that I think I might just have to squeeze it into my yearly party planning schedule.
Last week I was delighted to be a part of organising a romantic afternoon tea for a special young couple who were getting engaged. The groom- to- be enlisted my help in setting up a pretty tea table out in a wooded grove where he surprised his sweet girl and asked for her hand in marriage. As you may notice from the photos, the location was actually an old historical cemetery – not the first place you would imagine proposing to your girlfriend! But this grove was beautiful. It was a private, shady hideaway that oozed charm and character. The requested colour was yellow, with a distinctly vintage feel. The bride-to-be loves chocolate and peanut butter, and so the afternoon tea was a simple affair, with my own Chunky Monkey cupcakes, chips and dip (her favourite snack food), and peanut butter chocolate. Perhaps the most exciting element of the table was the placement of the engagement ring. I have an old silver dish with a lid that slides over the top. I tied the gorgeous ring with yellow string and laid it on a bed of crocheted doilies to be discovered by the lovely lady. It was all very romantic. For the props, I strung a few of my handmade doily hoops from the trees, along with some old timber frames and a yellow fabric garland. Other vintage props were scattered around the setting.
The stage is set. Stay tuned to see what happens next!!
Rum cupcakes. Chocolate rum cupcakes with rum caramel sauce. The mere mention of the name makes your mouth water. You will love these. Anyone with a penchant for alcohol in their cakes, and even those who don’t, will not be able to resist these grown up blokey cupcakes. Perfect for the man in your life. Enjoy xx
