Help!

I havent blogged properly in ages I think Ive forgotten how!!


Also swapping from pc to mac has me a bit lost as well, I can't seem to get the hang of the tiny differences :/

Mostly I have been working but here are highlights of the last few weeks:

My friend Vinnie's Alice in wonderland birthday teaparty
Visiting the Cotswolds

My newest beauty purchases (Benefit blusher Hervana smells delicious!!)


I will do a slightly more detailed post about the Wonderland party as I made my costume using my sewing machine and there are some pretty photos.

Any post ideas you want to see from me?


Emily x

Visit to Hay on Wye

Last month me and Ben went to Hay on Wye. It is right on the England Wales border and a tourist haven.

Known as the town of books it has lots of bookshops, even the castle of Hay on Wye almost in ruins bis home to a large collection of books and of old photographs.



The weather was over cast but we still had a nice wander round the little streets. I noticed a few vintage clothing shops but they were all closed so I will have to revisit another day.

One of the bookstores 'Rose's Books' was lovely, specialising in out of print childrens books. They had a big locked cabinet with some leather bound copies, a bit out of my price range! I searched for Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. Again the books they had of these titles were either out of my price range or not very special.

Except one!


An edition from the 1950s, I fell in love with the cover. Inside the book is all black and white images no colour with the illustrations by John Tenniel

So I have now got 2 lovely copies of Alice in Wonderland (not quite a collection yet!)

On the way back we stopped off at Arthur's stone, a prehistoric tomb (i think) owned by English Heritage.

Alice in Wonderland

I photographed a wedding over the holiday and as a thank you gift the bride and groom bought me an absolutley wonderful copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland AND Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll.

Apparently they bought it from a second hand bookshop, because they new how much I loved the story. And guess what!!?! The book they bought me is almost 100 years old!
The inscription inside says 'Christmas 1911' so some lucky girl or boy got the story as a christmas present all those years ago. The book is in pretty good condition considering its age, although it has obviously been read a lot as the spine of the book is a bit worn and discoloured.
It has both colour and black and white illustrations, you know the iconic ones by Sir John Tenniel.


My favourite picture in the book is the gold embelished White Rabbit on the front cover.


I love all the characters from the books but I must admit to liking the Queen of hearts the most. My 19th birthday (im almost 21 now) was fancy dress and i wanted to go as the Queen of Hearts so my mum helped me make my own version of the Queen of hearts costume, what do you think? (the photos dont do it much justice because i forgot to take a full length one, i was too excited by it being my birthday!)


My friend and I share a birthday so she went as Alice :)


As you can tell i'm slightly obsessed. I cant wait for Tim burton's version of the story to be released the trailor looks epic!



I think i might go watch the Disney film now!

byeee x

English Garden Party

So I was browsing the internet today and I've found some pretty wonderful items that would be great for an Alice in Wonderland style tea party.

I will get this confession out the way now.....I do not like tea. My housemates(in fact most people)think I am crazy because of this, but I can't help it I have never EVER like tea. However I do love the scones and crumpets and other delicious cakes that come with a tea party so I will happily just sit with an ice cold lemonade :)

Anyway: first up is this beautiful kitschy tray from Urban Outfitters

I really want this tray! I can imagine a cute madhatter teapot and cups on it :)

Cupcakes are very 'in' at the moment and ive seen so many kitchen bits all with the fairy cake theme you wouldnt believe!
These are the kind of objects I mean:
cookie jar - urban outfitters
- tea towels debenhams.

Ive seen cheaper versions (but just as cute) in Dunhelm Mill and Matalan. So dont worry about the prices of these items!

I was looking through Katy Perry's blog http://katyperryblog.tumblr.com/
and she mentions http://www.fredflare.com I instantly fell in love with all the cute nicnacs and novelty items especially these cups and saucers


You cant have a tea party without checking out the queen of the English country home Cath Kidson.

http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/

there is a rather nice teapot along with tea cosey etc and also table cloths in the lovely prints.
It is a bit pricey but I love all the prints and patterns she uses on products its very kitsch and that appeals to me :)




If you would like some older pieces of crockery then i suggest antiques fairs and shops, they are best.
I also typed 'cake stands' into ebay and got some lovely results so have fun hunting :)

As for cakes hot cross buns and scones are my favourite with butter or jam and clotted cream yum yum!
It may be nice to serve up small sandwiches as well.