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

VINTAGE BRIDAL SHOWER TEA PARTY

A vintage tea party by Chintz 'n' China 

                 Photo by Emma Connolly

The sun had its hat on and the garden at The Haven looked beautiful

If I do say so myself.

One lucky bride was in for a real surprise... Organised by her sister

And kept quiet by all our bride Lucie couldn't of been happier with her

Lovely vintage tea party.

                 Photo by Emma Connolly

At the top of the garden beautiful antique china set the scene

All laid out on a lovely chintzy table cloth.

Miss-matched Lloyd loom chairs and gorgeous vintage linens

To settle down to enjoy an afternoon tea.

                                                    Photo by Emma Connolly

A tranquil setting amongst the cottage flowers, shaded by an ivory linen gazebo trimmed with

Old bunting. On the menu were non alcoholic pimms, a selection of dainty sandwiches, scones

With clotted cream and jam, petit fours and a choice of tea.

                                                  Photo by Emma Connolly

Happy bride to be with her mum, sister and best friend. A lovely idea for a girly get together.

                                                      Photo by Emma Connolly

An afternoon of crafting in the garden. Fun to be had on the sewing machines with a lesson

In bunting by Sarah. Other classes include flower arranging by Christine our local florist and 

Cup cake decorating by our very talented Lisa of Lisa's iced gems www.lisasicedgems.co.uk

And an intro into vintage home and garden styling by myself.

                                                    Photo by Emma Connolly

             Look what we made.... A fun afternoon had by all! 

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for such a lovely afternoon, I think I can speak for everyone

When I say how perfect it was. And from a business point of view all your little touches made the day 

E.g tiny paper straws, non-alcoholic pimms and rose petals in the wash basin! We all had a very relaxed but fun afternoon, and I'm sure the bunting will remind us of the hen do whenever we put it up

All the best.    

         Genevieve"

POP-UP GARDEN TEA IN FLITWICK.

 

Pop-up garden teas now available from my home in Flitwick, Bedfordshire.

Please email Emma at info@chintznchinavintagehire.co.uk for more info

Full Afternoon tea with an intro to flower arranging by our local florist just £30.00pp

Maximum 5ppl.

Cup-cake decorating by Lisa from Lisas Iced Gems, with full afternoon tea just £30.00pp

Maximum 5ppl

All served on our beautifull miss-matched china.

 

 

Please subscribe to our blog so you do not miss other classes (including afternoon tea) being added.

 

 

 

 

Latest post.. lots to do....

My apologies for not blogging from chintz 'n' china blogspot for a while. We have had a manic few months and there is lots to blog about... posts comming soon I promise! You can keep up to date with us on a regular basis by checking out the founder of chintz 'n' chinas personal blog @ www.thevintagegoodlife.blogspot.co.uk Where I blog on all things vintage from my lovely china to restoring my lovely home "The Haven". To my salon hair and beauty antics. Hope you enjoy.

 

 

Emma x

CHRISTMAS WEDDING IDEAS.

 

Oh I do love a good Christmas wedding dont you?

So imagine my excitment when my best friend said she was getting married and wanted me to be her M.O.H... And the date... you guessed it, Christmas!

There is something ever so romantic about getting married at this festive time of year. Let your imagination run wild with some great Christmas time ideas. 

 

Your not worrying over the weather! It's going to be cold right? so use this excuse to wrap up in furs. (we heart www.trulyvintagebridalhire.co.uk for vintage furs and dresses).

The week inbetween Christmas and new year is a great way to keep the festivities up. Plus in this mid time slump you may be able to bag yourself a good deal on your venue.

Save on venue flowers as most venues are already decorated beautifuly, instead blow your budget on gorgeous bouquets and button holes. we love www.wildorchiddesigns.co.uk  

Have a small wedding reception at your country inn. Think cosy fires and satisfying sausage and mash!

Instead of a guest book use a real Christmas tree as a wishing tree, get your guests to hang pretty tags with their messages.

Sing Christmas carols... need we say more?..

Serve mulled wine and hot chestnuts as guests arive to keep off the winter chill.

Use candy canes tied with name tags to double up as favors and name places.

If you have a large hall decorate with antique props for a quirky vintage touch. (we can help you there www.chintznchinavintagehire.co.uk )Think cut glass candle sticks and vintage books parcels tied with lace.

 Your photos will be fab! We love www.emmalucyphotography.com for beautiful and unique ideas.

Jet off somewhere hot after for your honeymoon and get great winter deals!

 

Hope this is enough to convince you ;o)

 

Emma    x         

AUTUMN DIY BUTTON HOLES.

I do Love an Autumn wedding! Go foraging in the hedgerows or your garden for pretty seed heads and beautiful leaves for this lovely idea.
Beautiful for button holes for men or ladies, or simply in old enamel tins dotted around your venue.
(for vintage tins for hire please contact us at info@chintznchinavintagehire.co.uk)

You will need: Assorted seed heads, leaves and anything else you can lay your hands on that will withstand being cut and some gardeners string, if you have it you can use florist twine.
 Why not also add in feathers or some vintage lace.

The next bit is so easy, Start with your leaves/foliage that you want at the back of your button hole, then add stem by stem, overlaying at a slight angle each one until your happy with your look.
Then wrap around your string and knot.

Once secure, snip off the ends of your stems to make them nice and neat. Finish by wrapping lace or ribbon around the length of the stems and secure with a pin.
Simple and quick idea that's free!

Top Tip: depending on what you use these should keep well so get your girls round and make these together over some warm spiced punch.

                                                                          Enjoy!
                                                                         Emma x

Vintage fever. Weddings.

 Vintage fever... Spreading like wild fire through the wedding scene and doesn't look to be dying out anytime soon. Our beautiful vintage stall www.alittletasteofvintage.co.uk went down a storm at the Milton Keynes wedding show this month, and we had lots of excited brides and M.O.Hs telling us all about their plans for a fabulous vintage inspired day.
This involved alot of craft, collecting jam jars & lots of lace, some were even collecting tea cups (I turn a blind eye).
 There is no telling or guiding an excited bride to be. But girls, if I give you only one word of wisdom, from a complete control freak collector maniac bride myself this June, Listen! When your friends and family give that look that you choose to ignore it is because they care and they want you happy! They don't want you taking on too much and they want to HELP you!
I know I've harped on about this before but delegate some jobs.... Feeling your stress levels rising and your eyes bulging at the very thought? then you definitely need to!
 Try getting your girls (and guys) together and if you can't explain how you want things done then show them, give them mini craft lessons. Crack open some bubbly and make it a little party, believe me you will be a far happier bride for it.
Give the job of collecting things you want to a group of people. I had both mums collecting jars and my sister collecting lace. Tell and show people what things you are after and you'll be surprised how right they do get it.
  Check out our crafty D.I.Y projects and then make a night of it with the girls!
And if you have to collect your own tea cups (I hasten to add this is very expensive in the long run and you may as well hire them from us it will save you £££s www.chintznchinavintagehire.co.uk) then find our DIY blog post on wedding favors, making candles. After the wedding this is a great way of using your cups to give as presents for birthdays and Christmas.

Happy Planning.
Emma x