1940s Inspired Crafternoon Tea

Hello,

Over  the Easter weekend I was hosting a  1940s Crafternoon Tea for the build up to the Vintage Weekender at Crich Tramway Museum in Derbyshire.

Over the three days at Crich, we made over forty five pretty corsages inspired by the Make Do & Mend 1940s rag rugging techniques.

Crich Tramway Museum is like stepping back in time, from when you walk into the museum you are on a 1940s street with an old post box, signs, buildings and tramlines. Really quaint and the perfect backdrop to a Crafternoon Tea.

Onto the Crafternoon....

 I love vintage crafts, the kind of crafts you don't see anymore and rag rugging is one of them. The craft was developed as a need to make warm flooring for post War living. It uses scraps of fabrics which are bunched up and sewn or hooked using a tool similar to a crochet hook into a mesh. This technique was mainly used for matting or rugs. For this Crafternoon we were being inspired by it to make corsages.

 

These are the pictures that inspired the Crafternoon. Using scraps of fabric to make designs to add to the rugs.

 

We made using the vintage fabrics I had bought along and with the vintage china and cake, crafted away through the stashes of pretty fabrics. 

Here are a few pictures taken through the sessions...

 

 

  

 

 I love the fact that this lady wanted to model hers.

 

I really enjoyed my time at Crich Tramway Museum and want to thank the staff for their support for the Crafternoons.

Bye for now,

Samantha x

Perfect Light Sponge Cakes Everytime

This method never fails for the perfect fairy cakes

Hello,

I wanted to share a quick and easy tip to get the best ever sponge cakes. It's was passed on to me by a farmer's wife and it really works.

Before measuring out your sponge ingredients, just weigh your eggs. Then weigh out equal butter, sugar and flour and make as per usual. And that's it!

Little trade secrets passed down through the families are priceless

I swear by this quick tip and the cakes are really light. Eggs vary in weight depending on so many factors, so to get the egg weight right balances out the rest of your cake mixture. 

A teaspoon of cream also adds a creamy texture if you want some extra richness.

Try it this weekend and if it works, leave me a comment below.

Happy Baking,

Samantha

Introducing Vintage Loveliness from Hen Box!

Hello,

Planning a party? 

Have you seen the lovely vintage range from Hen Box . Hen Box is a one stop party shop for all things hen, bridal and pre-Wedding celebrations. Plus the lovely Hen Box has given us a cheeky 10% discount off the whole site! 

Just enter 'CRAFTY10' when you get to the checkout.

Here are my top vintage style picks from Hen Box for your perfect Crafternoon...

pretty, pretty, pretty!

I love these pretty colourful paper decorations (below) to add that vintageness touch to a party. Place on the table or use around a door way as a fantastic entrance for your hen. The green and pink ones are my favourite.

Why not decorate your table with these floral napkins and for all your sweet treats add these pretty cake stands in vintage Summery colours. 

The range is beautiful without being over fussy and would compliment your crafty party. Little touches like matching napkins or sash look great on photos and add those extra little details. 

I look back at my hen party and it's a great keepsake to remember how all your friends and family made your last days as a Miss so special!

For more inspiration hop over to Hen Box's blog and why you are there read about our real life Glamp-site Crafternoon from last Summer at Secret Cloud House Holiday yurts in the Derbyshire peaks. 

yurts, craft and sun..we are ready to go and Crafternoon!

Thanks for featuring me Hen Box!

See you soon for more Crafternoon inspiration,

Samantha x

Vintage Style Faux Fur Wrap..Stitch Me In One Hour for #JungleJanuary

Hello

Here's a post for a one hour sewing faux fur wrap.  I saw the hashtag on instagram  #JungleJanuary and throught what about a lioness fur mane...roar!

Run one up whilst it's snowy and chilly this weekend to give your coat that vintage look. If you are going to a special occasion it'll save you about £20.

Chic vintage wrap for chilly days

 It's ideal for any level of stitcher, so if you had a sewing machine for Christmas, this is a perfect first project.

wear it to accessorise a your coat as a faux fur collar

The Sew

Faux fur is a great fabric to use, I actually upcycled my wrap from a charity shop gilet that I cut up. It cost me £6 and I have enough to make two. The wrap is a rectangle of faux fur with a lining and two 50cm lengths of double satin ribbon sewn on the top. 

I measured around my shoulders and the depth I wanted my wrap to be and added on seamage allowance of 2.5cm onto each edge.

Or wear it as high necked collar

Faux fur is best cut with the furry side up, it will shed and look like you have shaved your cat but this is fine. I always cut faux fur in old clothes and vacuum up afterwards. I use a 100 needle as when you turn the wrap right side out it needs to take a lot of thickness. 

I stitched the ribbons on inside out and turned the stitched bag leaving about 15cm gap to turn. Once pressed I hand sewed the raw edges closed.

snow day

 I've been wearing this wrap, whilst it's been snowing (it was snowing yesterday whilst I was taking pictures with my lovely new tripod) and it's so warm and cosy. You can wear it nice and cuddly or off one shoulder or just how you feel on the day!

Let me know if you like the vintage wrap by leaving me a comment.

If you liked my Jungle January, follow your favourite bloggers and their makes on #junglejanuary

Take care,

Samantha 
x

Spring Treat Size Crafternoon Teas

Happy Monday! 

  


I've just been having a Spring clean on the blog. All bloggers need to clean out old widgets, bits and bobs. It's a little blog detox. Let me know what you think?

I have updated my treat size classes and about me sections if you want to find out how I set up Crafternoon tea click here.

                                                                       


I'm excited to be back at Pickford's House in February and March hosting Treat Size Crafternoons for only ten pounds!

Both classes are from 2-3pm

Saturday February 14th 2015 
  
Create Textile Jewellery
 

Want to make an accessory that's one of a kind? Then this class is perfect for you! Using old fashioned fabrics plus high quality jewellery findings to create your own jewellery. A perfect Valentines gift.
Book Your Place Here

Saturday March 7th 2015     

Stitch A Pretty Postcard 

With Easter just round the corner, stitch and sew a postcard style quilted embroidery. If you are new to stitching or looking for new ideas, this class caters for all experiences. We will be looking at embroidery used in the Georgian period that you can add to your creation. Looking forward to it!

Book Your Place Here

Places are filling up, it's a great chance to try a class with lovely vintage style tea and cake!

Bye for now,

Samantha

Five Creative Challenges To Banish Blue Monday

So today is Blue Monday, statistically the most depressing day of the year. Boo for that and let's shake it off and look ahead to new creative challenges for 2015.

Why join in on a creative challenge?  

Most of us create on our own, in our homes after work or when the children are in bed. It is our time to be ...well us? I love when I host a Crafternoon tea that crafters share tips. Classes are great to join but we aren't available to catch up with like minded people. So social media challenges are fab to keep you motivated, keep you focused on your goal and a great way to meet new creative friends. 

Challenges really keep you motivated, improve your skills and build a on-line community and they are FREE or under a fiver!!

So what are you waiting for!!

Let me share some of my favourites -

For the stitcher...

 A Stitching Odyssey's vintage sewing challenge #vintagepledge 
 
 Last year, Marie pledged to make up a number of vintage dress patterns. Join in and follow her developments as well as the lovely sewing #vintagepledge community. Full of ideas of wonderful makes from other sewists of all levels, it will give you the confidence to make the jump into vintage sewing. And when you are hooked, it gets addictive.

For the creative...

Daire from Open Way Designs inspiring art journal dairies are prompted from the Documented Life Challenge, a weekly mixed media challenge for to stree-e-e-tch your creativity. 

Go and check it out, have a look through the what has been created in the first 18 days of the year. The ideas are fabulous. I followed Daire's journal for 2014. This year's won't disappoint I promise.

For the home stylist...

 

Styling the Season's from Katy's blog Apartmental Apothcary is a monthly styled shoot under a theme. 

Follow Katy and Charlotte at #stylingtheseasons on social media as others shared their (very) pretty styled shoots for the home and time of year. 

If you are looking for a photography challenge and to rethink how you decorate your home, this is a feed to follow and take part in. 

Your home will look like a magazine shoot within a few months. Perfect for decluttering and redefining your living space.

For a lifestyle challenge...

 

I love reading  The Every Girl as it pretty much covers fashion, home, beauty and much more for the modern girl. 

Each month the ed team put together a 30 day challenge. Follow them on social media at #teg30daychallenge . This month is about hydration, previous challenges have been about waking up 30 minutes earlier and delaying your social media posts to make more out of your social time with friends. 

I find it gives you time to look at your lifestyle and if you really want to do something (like for me make a dress but have no time available), these monthly challenges really make your find the time. 

Worth a trip to the site and a follow on social media too.

For the homemaker...

                                  
                                     

If 2015 is your year to declutter, this is a bible. 


A monthly planner to get the house how you want it, get rid of the negative items in your home and fill it with happiness! We all need that? It costs around five dollars but well worth it if this is your 2015 mission.

Here is a sneaky peak..tempting hmmm?

January – Kitchen
February - Dining room
March – Living room
April – Bathroom(s)
May – Master Bedroom
June – Kids/spare room
July – Office
August – Basement
September – Garage
October – Laundry room
November – Closets
December – Attic/Storage

I hope this post inspired you to start a challenge tonight! I find Instagram and Twitter the best place to find inspiration.

Are you following any challenges in 2015?

Samantha x

14 Pictures of 2014

Blog meet goodies from #ccbloggers meet up. Brad got in my yarn stash!

Vintage -spired brooch making with 1940's rug making techniques

Daffodils corsages from a Spring Crafternoon tea

Embroidery project for a Crafternoon

Pretty Snowdrops from my vintage garden

Handmade rings made by old buttons and jewellery findings

China ready for a glamping Crafternoon tea

Dabbling with papercraft and silk flowers for a friend's birthday

Yummy classic sponge cake in icing and sprinkles

My love of vintage patterns for the #vintagepledge challenge

Summer roses and gift wrapping for Father's Day

Salt dough crafting at home

My very first Summer Wedding fair

A lovely photo shoot Christmas present to our family and friends captured by Marie-Louise Hall Photography

What are you top pictures of 2014? Drop me a link in the comments box and I'll pop over for a look.

Happy New Year!

Samantha