POP-UP TEA ROOM

Hello lovelies!

I hate beginning a post that starts.... "Sorry for my lack of blogging"..... But, it does, sorry.

However, on a better note, I have been up to so many interesting things, and sticking my finger in all the pies (and cakes) as always.

Since I have been away from the blog let me fill you in on whats been going on.....

Firstly, Chintz 'n' China has been hiring out all manner of beautiful bits and pieces for weddings and parties, and I've done some country styling at some pretty amazing venues too!

I've also been blogging a lot on my personal blog over at 'The Vintage Good Life'  Do pop over and have a look when you get a mo.

Now I would love to play with pretty china all day, but sadly it is not my day job.

I've recently had to re-think my career as an injury means I can no longer do my full time job, (I used to own a vintage salon... just in case you were wondering).

Sooo.. as I've always been a bit arty crafty, and love dabbling in vintage wares, I've designed my own fabric collection (which is available from Country Living mags store), or you can visit my online shop Emma Connolly Couture where you will also find my paintings and vintage treasure for sale.

But.... That isn't all. We threw some amazing pop-up tea parties last year, and this year we are expanding on that!

Please let me introduce you to Bedfordshires best kept secret....

The Secret Tea Room

We are in talks at the moment about expanding our pop-up tea parties to something hopefully more permanent, If you live in or near Bedfordshire please use the link above and go and sign up to see when and where we will be throwing some secret afternoon tea parties.

Phew.... Think that is all!

Emma x

CHINTZY CHINA

Hello peeps.

These snaps were taken for chintz n China's fresh new website relaunching spring/summer...

CHINTZY SNAPS

                    

               Hello peeps, it's a dull morning at the moment where I am and I don't know

               About you but I'm a summer bod and struggle with winter so I find it helps if

               I immerse myself in bright and pretty things... Like my new pictures for my web site.

    

        

         I use a Nikon Fuji fine pix DSLR for my photography, it's one of my most treasured 

         possessions.

         My darling dad was a photographer so it's in the blood. I love being able to snap my own work,

         And find  taking pics of beautiful things a very relaxing thing to do. I'd never want to 

         photograph a wedding I'd have an absolute melt down! 

         But if it's still and doesn't talk then I'm very snap happy :0)

         

         

  

     I hope my few little pics have brightened your day and inspired you to get your

     camera out.

     Have a lovely weekend.

     Ooh I nearly forgot... You can now follow me on Instagram and Facebook and browse my

      Pinterest boards by clicking on my new icons either side of my blog.

         Emma x

         

PRETTY PASTEL VINTAGE

   Hello peeps,

 

 My apologies for not posting in a while... Just wanted to share some pretty wkend snaps with you all!

                    

                    

                    

                                                               Emma x

LETS HAVE A CRAFTEA

      Hello lovelies....

   

                       

                      I love a cup of earl grey, served in beautiful cups, I love gardens filled with roses

                      And, I love to craft... Stay with me, I am going somewhere with this...

                     Recently I've joined in with a #twitter group the #craftblogclub it's a place online

                     Where like minded crafters/bloggers get together and basically chat craft.

                     It's a great way to share projects and get together (all be it online) with like minded

                     People, and it has a lovely family feel to the group! Even though it's online...

         

                          

                     Anyways... So I was thinking of hosting a local craft club! Just for our little group of

                     Villages where I live. It's just an idea in the making at the mo, I've hosted Crafternoon

                    Parties at my home for bridal showers and am going to be opening the garden this

                    Year for tea and cake so why not start a monthly craft club where we can actually meet,

                    Bring our crafts, and have a good natter over tea and cake... 

   

      

                                    

                 Does anyone else attend any craft classes, groups? I'd love to know what you think!

                 Would meeting up once a month for a chat and craft be your cup of tea?

                  I shall keep you up to date with my plans! This post will be posted on both blogs so

                  Please excuse the duplication if you follow both.

                 Have a lovely wkend everyone!

                                                                                Emma x

GARDEN TEAS

  

                                            

                                                      Crafternoon tea @ The Haven

                                           

                                                    #vintagechina #lloydloom

                  

                    Hello my lovelies, pheeew nearly straight after the Xmas Holls, yes it does take

                     Me ages lol.

                   We had a lovely 2013 doing lots of lovely things. One of our biggest achievements

                   Was having the kitchen awarded 4 stars at my home The Haven, this meant we

                   Could do Afternoon tea parties and we have had such fun! 

                  We have held craftea parties in my Garden and also provided afternoon teas 

                  for craft businesses so that they can have Something further to offer customers. 

                  Florist Wild Orchid held three lovely Christmas floral master class parties which were

                  Brilliant! Plus I got to make a gorgeous table arrangement to take home too!

                              

         

 

               This year as well as weddings and tea parties, I am thinking of opening the garden of

                 Our home on selected dates for tea and cake so I hope we have a good summer!

                            Take care everyone!       Emma x

VINTAGE ROSES

               

                               

                              Hello my lovelies... I'm all about the roses at this time of year! 

                              Yes I know they are Out of season but I feel the need to fill the 

                             house with them to give it that romantic Vintage feel again now

                             All the Xmas decks have come down :0(

                               Time has simply flown by in the 2 years that Chintz n China

                             Has been established. We've had some lovely weddings! 

                             Thrown lots of fab tea parties and made lots of new friends.

                             With our new website launching this spring and some lovely

                             Country wedding planning to do I'm looking forward to this

                             Pretty looking 2014!

     

                               Hope the wkend comes quick to you all!

      

                                                                   Emma x

                          P.s if you love vintage style, craft and vintage inspired interiors 

                           You may like to check out my other blog...

                                    www.thevintagegoodlife.blogspot.com 

POP OF COLOUR.

                    

                  Good morning everyone, here is a sunny little post taken from my personal blog

                   The Vintage Good Life, www.thevintagegoodlife.blogspot.com

                               I hope it will cheer you up on the Tuesday morning! 

                       

                                                                 #vintagechina

            

                     Well Christmas is gone again for another 11 months and here are just a couple

                     More things to brighten the home. 

                     Objects and soft furnishings can be an inexpensive (if salvaged from the right places)

                     Way to inject some freshness into your home!

                     Use these things to express your personality.... For example.. Personally I love chintz!

                     It makes me very happy! So I display all of my beautiful china around the home.

                    What makes you happy?... Now surround yourself with that thought.. How can you

                    Bottle that and put it in your home? Think art.. Cushions and throws..

               

                                                          #romanticstyle

                 This pic was taken after last Xmas. I picked up this fabulous oil painting from a thrift shop 

                It cost peanuts yet cheers up a dull corner. I don't always hang pictures on walls as it's 

                very Limiting, instead I like to move them around and prop them up in places..

                Now I'm going to tell you something that may shock you..  

                This picture, the coffee pot and beautiful glass dish came to under £10.00! 

             

                 

                                 

                                                                        #craft

                           This last image was taken from Pinterest but I just had to show you

                          These lovely embroidery hoops that are displaying vintage fabrics.

                          I love this! So much so I have dashed out and bought some hoops

                          Now it's just deciding what fabric to use.. Hmm..

                          Now go and get thrifty and crafty to make your home bright.

     

                                    Emma x

WINTER PICK ME UP

                     Hello ladies, it's that time of year when I'm looking for ideas for our

                    Summer weddings... Yes I know it's nearly Christmas but I have to plan

                    Ahead...

                     Looking through my snaps of last summer I stumbled across this pretty

                    Table rose that I'd planted in an old terracotta pot.

                          

                      

                         I'm going to be planting up many more this year as they are going to

                         Look great styled into a very English country wedding.

                                 Emma x

CHINTZY SNAPS

                    

               Hello peeps, it's a dull morning at the moment where I am and I don't know

               About you but I'm a summer bod and struggle with winter so I find it helps if

               I immerse myself in bright and pretty things... Like my new pictures for my web site.

    

        

         I use a Nikon Fuji fine pix DSLR for my photography, it's one of my most treasured 

         possessions.

         My darling dad was a photographer so it's in the blood. I love being able to snap my own work,

         And find  taking pics of beautiful things a very relaxing thing to do. I'd never want to 

         photograph a wedding I'd have an absolute melt down! 

         But if it's still and doesn't talk then I'm very snap happy :0)

         

         

  

     I hope my few little pics have brightened your day and inspired you to get your

     camera out.

     Have a lovely weekend.

     Ooh I nearly forgot... You can now follow me on Instagram and Facebook and browse my

      Pinterest boards by clicking on my new icons either side of my blog.

         Emma x

         

VINTAGE LOVE

VINTAGE LOVE

                  

                          Hello peeps, not a big post today! I just wanted to share this

                        Gorgeous pic of a shoot I styled for Charlotte Wilden Bride.

                         It's my favourite cup and saucer! So elegant! 

Cutching up with a hobby for autumn.

                                     

         Autumn is finally here and I can't wait to cutch up on the sofa, next to the log burner 

         On a Sunday afternoon. This year I've decided to pick up my child hood craft....

        Knitting.. My nan taught me how to knit when I was a little girl, I remember there being

        Lots of dropped stitches and mugs of hot chocolate with oodles of cuddles.

        So I've equipped my two little girls and my mother with knitting needles and we are all

        Going to sit down and learn to knit... Again.... I'll let you know how we get on.

        Do you have a child hood craft that you'd love to pick up again? Drop me a comment,

        I'd love to hear about it.

        Images from Pinterest. Please follow my boards for vintage home and lifestyle inspiration

         At www.pinterest.com/chintznchina 

        Emma x

TABLE CENTRE IDEAS

I had a lovely meeting with a new bride to be and her man.

We sat pondering over the flower arrangements for their

Tables and after a good 20 minutes decided to ditch the flowers

And go for something more creative. Here are just a few of

My ideas to give wedding tables a focal talking point.

      All images by Emma Connolly.

 Still a massive fan of the vintage props! These little

Treats never fail to impress and other than the gramaphone,

All can be picked up relatively cheap from charity shops.

I'm a huge fan of making this a way in which all the family

Can take part! Show them a pic of what your after, then

Let them do this bit of work with you. They will feel like

They have really played a part in your day!

         Images from Pinterest.

What could be more fun when your guests sit down

To their meal then a game of kerplunk or tiddly winks!

Not only will these games look amazing as centre pieces,

Your guests will have great fun playing them!

I love this idea for a real retro wedding!

       All images by Emma Connolly.

Of course... I have to have my vintage china in here!

You really don't need anything else!

I styled the cake stand for cake company 

www.lisasicedgems.co.uk and had great fun using old

Costume jewelry to style the shoot. I really heart pastel

Colours too and loved using these clocks when working

On this particular tea time theme.

Well I hope I've given you some ideas to ponder over!

I would love to hear about your wedding tables!

Emma x

CHINA SALE

Hello all, hope your enjoying the beautiful weather. Just a little post today to

Make you all aware that I am now selling vintage china and other

Lovely bits n pieces on my face book and I have entered a shop page

To my blog. www.facebook.com/chintznchinavintagehire 

Here are some of my latest goodies.

                 Beautiful Victorian tea set £65.00

                  Cute re-pro vintage inspired cup and saucer tea set £18.00

 

Pretty glass dish £12.50

        Cute vintage bottles, set of three £10.00

           Vintage coffee cup candle £6.00

         Please share with all your friends. Prices do exclude delivery and quotes are given

         For postage by request.

             Emma x

TEA CUP FAVOURS

                    Photo by Emma Connolly.

This morning I was amazed by how many self set violas

Were adorning my flower beds, so delicate & pretty

I decided to plant a few in some vintage tea cups I'd 

Picked up in a charity shop.

What gorgeous little wedding favours these would make

For the ladies or just placed here and there around

Your venue for a pretty vintage touch then they can

Double up as cute gifts for your maids! 

Emma x

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THE VINTAGE DRESSER

THE VINTAGE DRESSER

Hello everyone, the sun is still shining and my daughters are breaking up from school today so I'm soon to have a rather messy home for the next six weeks!

Before this happens I just wanted to share some pics with you of the gorgeous display of peonys on my vintage dresser. I'm mad on them and are really making the most of it as the buying season is just about over :( these have been the best by far and cost just £5.00 from Waitrose.

I just love the huge pompom heads!

If you like my humble little blog then please subscribe so you never miss a post.

Emma x

HITCHIN LAVENDER

HITCHIN LAVENDER FIELDS

A real treat for the family... A trip to Hitchin lavender fields is always a must for this time of year.

I've spent many a happy moment watching my girls running through the fields and collecting armfuls of gorgeous fragrant lavender.

    My eldest daughter running through the field.

Admission to the +Hitchenlavender is just £4.00 per person with free admission to children under 14.

You are then given a bag and a pair of scissors to snip away till your hearts content.

There is also a beautiful old barn that has been converted into a tea room and I can recommend the cream tea!

Also available for weddings and I really couldn't think of a lovelier venue... You could be mistaken for thinking your in the French countryside. www.hitchinlavender.co.uk

Returning home with bundles of beautiful lavender I decided to make a summer time wreath for my newly painted front door.

To make one you will need: a large bunch of lavender in bud.

                                           Gardeners wire.

                                            Wire cutters & scissors

                                            Ribbon for tying.

                                            Glass of wine optional....

It's so simple start with small handfuls of about 5 sprigs and wrap around the wire, keep adding in the same quantity a little further up each time and continue wrapping around the wire until it is long enough to start bending into your shape, you could have a hoop, I've gone for a heart.

Fill in the gaps with extra lavender trimming off any stems as you go.

Leave to dry out for a few days, this will make it firm and should then hang nicely.

Finally add some ribbon and hang on a door.

Emma x