Hayfever bride - paper bouquet...

I've finished off the bridal bouquet for the bride with hay fever.

This forever bouquet flowers have been made with designer papers, card, buttons and beads in shades of purple.

 

 

Finished with a tightly bound ribbon handle and vintage brooch which is removable to be worn at future anniversary dinners etc.

 

 

I will be publishing a video tutorial of how to make your own - but if you don't feel confident at this, then please visit my Folksy shop or web page at www.anniefloribunda where you can buy one very similar.

Rosenations - cross between roses and carnations...

I was asked to make a wedding posy for a bride who suffers dreadfully with hayfever. She is getting married in May and wants something quite simple.

She's not really into bling - so the heirloom vintage brooch posies I make are out of the question, so I have been busy making several differenct kinds of flowers from paper and fabric to see what I come up with...

 

Paper roses and carnations - I might put these together and call them "Rosenations"!

Here are some I've been making and am going to add buttons and beads to and assemble into a posy...

 

 

I'll post a picture of the posy and a tutorial on how to make your own when I'm done x

Videa Tutorial for Kasudamu Flowers

A few of you have asked me for a worksheet on how to make Kasudamu flowers - a Japanese paper folding technique -

but I have gone one better than that

and have, at last, got round to doing my first ever video tutorial!!

Lol - Be gentle with me...

So here goes - I hope you enjoy it ... I need to do a follow up one to show how to add the stem and buttons - so watch this space ...

 

 

Mad as a hatter!

I had a photo shoot today with a couple of freinds.

We designed a Mad Hatters Table for photographs that we could all use...

Here are the results...

 

 

Bunting was from Heartfelt & Homely and The Cake Hole, Sleaford made us the amazing cake!

Happy (real) roses that had been dyed carnival colours were by Bouquet Centre, Sleaford.

 

 

The "Drink Me" labels and all other stationery was made by Lyndsey Glover

 

 

 

 The Vintage China was loaned to us by Bites to Banquets, Sleaford

 

 

 

I decorated the candelabra (which are available to hire, as is the birdcage. Sorry about this photo' - dont know why but several of my photos are loading sideways for some reason!!!

Most annoying!!!

 

Anyway... I made some napkin holders from playing cards...

 

 

We also set up a gold and cadburys purple table and a lovely vintage table...

photo's of those to follow shortly, for now I will leave you with this one because "We're all mad 'round here"!!!!

 

 

We're all mad in Wonderland

Table layout photo shoot on Sunday, so I am busy trying out new ideas for our "mad hatters tea party table"...

Wanted to create something a little different as a centre piece...

This is as far as I've got so far...

 

 

Hung a children's china tea set and assorted keys, etc from the candelabra with thin ribbons...

 

 

Using this broken clock as my prop of "I'm late...I'm late... for a very important date!!" - Just need to add some labels to that effect and have found some great free printables on pinterest that I'm going to use...

 

The lovely big red swirly lollipops (like the Cheshire Cats eyes!!) will go into a vintage milk jug as will all the flowers... vintage... vintage...vintage!!!

 

This would be perfect for an Alice in Wonderland party/wedding.

 

Cant wait to see it all laid out with labels, invites, place names, vintage china etc etc - come back and have a look next week for our photo's.

Keep calm and "cosy up" your life this winter...

Feeling pretty chilly, I decided to "cosy up" my life as much as I could and thought I'd share a few of the ideas I've tried -

please feel free to add your own cosy up ideas here.

 

1. PJ's on the radiator...

A really easy way to feel toasty warm - pop your PJ's on the radiator when you get in from work and after tea snuggle into them while you lounge on the sofa with...
 

 

 

2. Blankets, eiderdowns and scarves...

 

All of last year I "thrifted" tartan bits in preparation for the winter, Tartan scarves/shawls, blankets and a ruby red eiderdown were all squirrelled away into my loft last summer - ready for wintry evenings -

Now if I get a little chilly - I just snuggle under one of the blankets on my sofa -

D R E A M Y!

 

 

3. Play in the snow until your hands/paws are numb...

 

I love to wrap up really warm and go foraging in the woods with my little jack russel (Mr Harry Grimwood).

On our walks, we collect kindling and rose hips (well, I collect kindling and rose hips - Harrys far too busy snuffling!), and I make silly things out of the snow until I am really cold.

Then, the minute you step through the front door it just feels sooooooooo good to be home!

 

4. Light an open fire...

(5. & 6.) and make homemade bread and soup...

I use the kindling foraged from the wood to light an open fire

(and sprinkle on some pine needles I saved in a tin from the Christmas tree - fills the house with a lovely fresh pine smell).

Then maybe I'll get down to making some proper, wholesome. REAL, soup and home baked bread.

One of my favourite winter soup recipes is Carrot and Chestnut soup -
try it - you'll love it

 

 

Ingredients:

1 large onion chopped
2tblspn Olive oil
3 sage leaves (plus more to garnish)
200g (7oz) of chestnuts (vac packed) - chopped
500gms (1lb) carrots peeled and chopped

800ml (1pt 8oz) vegetable or chicken stock

3 Tblspns creme fraiche

 

Put all the ingredients (apart from the garnishing sage leaves and creme fraiche) into a pan and bring to the boil.  patially cover and simmer for 40 minutes. Pass the whole lot through a food processor until thick and smooth. Add cream to taste and serve with chopped sage leaves on top and freshly baked bread.

 After not having any success with baking from scratch in the oven (I think due to the fact that we always seem to live in drafty old houses!), I invested £10 in a bread maker at a car boot sale a few years ago - it's kind of cheating, but we've had some lovely loaves from it and once you get the hang of it you can make all your own flavoured breads.  

Just remembered that many years ago I made a tomato flowerpot bread which was heavenly - baked in a terracotta flower pot - must look out that recipe -

D E L I C I O U S!!!

 

7. Invest in a pure wool rug...

I was amazed at the difference a wool rug made to our lounge - not only does it look warmer, its soft and toasty underfoot rather than cold laminate flooring or wooden floorboards

 

8. Save electric and cosy up with candles...

 

The room always feels warmer with candles - sometimes I gather as many as I can find together and squeeze them all onto the mantle shelf!

 

9. Craft some winter warmers...

Visit sites like http://www.craftster.org/blog/crafty-diy-ways-to-keep-warm/

were you will find loads of tutorials on how to get crafty and keep warm at the same time - sewing, knitting and lots of other craft ideas to keep you occupied and warm for when it's just too cold to venture outside!

 

10. Check on older relatives and neighbours...

If you have elderly relatives and neighbours - pop in to see if they are warm enough. There are lots of government schemes to help older people or families on low incomes with heating bills etc.

Perhaps you can make a trip to the shops for them or help them to cook a meal?

 

Oh and don't forget the birds this time of year - put your scraps out for them (apple/pear cores, oats, cereal, etc) or any nuts left over from Christmas as a real treat.

 

Helping others always makes you feel cosy and warm inside.

 

KEEP TOASTY :-)

 

 

 

Alternative Bridal Bouquet....

Hi everyone! just popping by the blog to show you what i've been making whilst relegated to the sofa through illness!

I am going to be making a collection of heart shaped bridal bouquets and this is the first one...

 

 I used a florist heart garland and covered it with netting - i then painstalkingly sewed on each individual mother of pearl button and diamante brooch!

Some lovely sparkles on here from Victorian to modern day.

A one of a kind bouquet that you can keep forever as a momento of your special day. If you cant live without it it is £98 and can be bought from my website www.anniefloribunda.com

Did you miss me?

Hello to all my followers - this is just a short blog to let you know why I haven't blogged recently.

I've not long been out of hospital and was diagnosed with diabetes - so am just getting my head around it all 

- my next blog will probably be about diabetic recipes as I am trying desperately to make some nice tasty meals that aren't high in sugar or fat.

Very difficult for me as I love chocolate and nice rich (fatty) sauces on my food and I'm not too keen on vegetables!

So watch this space!

If any of you are diabetic and have some recipes then please feel free to add a link to this blog :-)

Today I'm making spicy sweet potato soup (apparently sweet potatoes have less sugar/carbs than normal potatoes) and stuffed mushrooms :-) -

Depending on how they turn out I will post the recipes.

 

Black & Ivory Wedding

I absolutely loved being involved in this wedding and also met a lady called Lindsey who did all the beautiful stationery - we've decided to work together on future weddings as our styles sit nicely together...

We have pooled our resources and can now offer you...

 

Wishing Tree hire - a lovely idea, instead of a guest book. Originated in Holland, and very big in the States now. All of your guests get to write their wishes for the bride and groom and tie their wish tags to the tree.

 

Or how about hiring an aluminium post box, colour co-ordinated with ribbons to match your colours? Your guest can have fun "posting" their cards to you.

 

We also offer a full range of table decorations, again decorated to your wedding colours - candelabra, vases, fresh or artificial flowers, feathers, or frou frou!

... you decide.

 

Classically styled stationery, invitations, table planning, place names, menus, etc - all handcrafted using good quality materials and fabulous attention to detail.

 

 

Also available and made from feathers, buttons, vintage jewellery, Victorian lace/trim etc are bouquets, matching buttonholes, corsages, handbag decoration and hair accessories...

 

This bridal bouquet contained vintage jewellery and Victorian beaded lace trim alongside foam roses - a posy that will last long after the special day.

 

 

We also make bunting, button balls and chair decorations -

 In fact, we can help with most wedding requests - and we'd love to hear from you with your special themed ideas or traditional ways - we offer a friendly and reliable service - just ask!

 

Visit us at facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anniefloribunda/107524221727?ref=hl#!/pages/Anniefloribunda/107524221727

 

https://www.facebook.com/anniefloribunda#!/DesignsbyLindsey?fref=ts

 

 

 

 

Happy Vintage Christmas

I've been busily decorating the house today for Christmas :-)

Christmas songs blaring out and a little glass of my home made cassis

all added to the occassion and now I'm getting ready for the first

Christmas party of the season tonight.

 

Thought I would put all my "vintage" christmas dec' finds together ths year and mix in some new one's too on the kitchen plate rack - enjoy!

 

 

 

The china choir boy and the plastic Father Christmas are my favourites.

Can't wait for Christmas - it's the only time I use my special 1950's crockery :-)

Another easy Christmas Craft...

Cinnamon Christmas Tree

You will need:

Scraps of felt, buttons/embellishments, ribbon, cinnamon stick, scissors, glue.

Cut two triangle Tree shapes from the felt and put one to one side.

Play around with some embellishments for your tree. I used vintage buttons and ribbons – they also look great with broken jewellery and a sparkly ribbon.

If you are using ribbons – make them slightly wider than the tree so that they can tuck around the back of the tree and be stitched or glued down.

When you are happy with your design stitch or glue the items in place.

Add a thin ribbon folded in half to act as a hanger for your decoration.

Place the cinnamon stick on the plain tree shape and add some hot glue to it and to the edges of the tree. Place the decorated tree shape on top and press firmly down.

I normally give these a squirt of Christmas room spray to bring out the cinnamon smell – they make great festive air fresheners!

 

Hankerchief to bed quilt!

I'm having a sort through of all my vintage scraves and hankerchiefs today.

I have been collecting the hankies all year and wanted to make something out of them.

 

All so pretty and all so different,  from the Victorian era right through to the 1960's.

I've decided that I am going to stitch them together, crazy patchwork style and make either a duvet cover for the spring or a tablecloth for all those al fresco meals next summer.

I've seen this done with the blue and white stripy mens hankerchiefs and it looks fab!

It will depend how impatient I get - if patience runs out, it will be the tablecloth.

Until then, I shall carry on thrifting for them,
lovingly wash them, press them and squirell them away...
until I have enough of them to create something wonderful.

The art of thrifting...

Thought I might start to write a book...

 on the art and joys of thrifting!

 

After a serious morning's thrifting...this is what I've found today...

 

 

• A boxful of vintage glass Christmas decorations. I went into one shop and saw a similar box but they wanted £19.99 for them! This box cost me just £1.49
• Mother of pearl and assorted buttons :-) (You know how I LOVE my buttons!!)
• and a pure silk spotty and striped silk scarf 

 

So many people say to me "I never see anything like that when I go in there". So perhaps there is the need for a book devoted to the secrets of good and fruitful foraging/thrifting and squirrelling!

Watch this space!

 

Shabby Chic pressie to myself...

I wanted a nice shabby chic looking, floral chair for my sewing room and rather than spend a fortune on one, I decided to make one as a gift for myself, for all my hard work over the last year!!

 

 

 

I took one of our old Bentwood chairs that had some water damage on it and was in desperate need of a revamp... I covered it in napkin decoupage.

 Then I coated it in several layers of matt varnish...

 

I got the napkins from Tescos, although I think they look quite Kidstonesque!

Anyway, this is my homemade Christmas pressie from me, to me.

A chair for my sewing room :-)

What do you think of it?

Blogs are like buses...

I don't know about you - but for me blogs are like buses,

You don't get one for ages and then

three come along all at once...

 

Thought I'd share with you my latest paper and vintage button flower bouquets that I made today... -