Summer?.. its Raining Cats and dogs….

Oh this British  Summer, after a few days of being back in the UK, there was SUNSHINE, warm rays on my skin. After visiting friends in Surrey and a hot car journey, I return to Gloucestershire and wake up to grey clouds, and RAIN! Its not just raining, its Raining CATS AND DOGS! So I thought I’d share my latest brooches to hit my Etsy store, of Cats and Dogs!

Boxer Dog Brooch.

All the brooches are made of laser cut wood, with metal fastenings. These are so cute for birthday gifts and will be great as Christmas stocking fillers for those cat or dog crazy kids. My brooches look so cute on jumpers and cardigans, and a great talking point, as they are a bit different. Shipping worldwide. Click the photos to go through to Etsy for more info.
 Dalmatian dog brooch, I loved 101 Dalmatians as a kid and this brought back those memories!

Know someone who wants a Daschund? Send them a daschund brooch.

Here is another Dalmatian brooch, theres even more dog breeds in my etsy store.

If you love cats, you have to love this cat dancing as a ballerina brooch.

A cute kitty in a green wicker basket, as a brooch.  

A vain cat, staring at himself wearing a blue ribbon in the mirror.

The naughty kitty who got the jam not cream, this is one of my favourite brooches.

Lets hope the weather picks up but in the mean time check out the full range of brooches in my Etsy Store. 

7 Ways to use Vintage Teacups and Saucers

One of the many things I love about vintage teacups and saucers are the way they have many uses. There are hundreds of patterns and designs out there, which means your collection can keep growing! I discover more everyday, which you can find here in my etsy shop.

1. Great idea for weddings and tea parties. Fill the teacups with fresh flowers, for table decorations. Use vintage jewellery and strings of pearls to decorate the saucers.

2. Make unique personal gifts for Christmas or birthdays. Have a go at making your own candles in teacups, add different scents and colours for your recipients. Find a tutorial online, for soya candles, so once the candle has been used the teacup can be used for drinking out of once again, making it a gift that keeps on giving!

3. I have recreated this look myself, I used 3 pink and black tea cups with saucers, stacked in a glass dome, and BOOM, instant awesome display! You can mix and match teacups and saucers with contrasting colours. I sell many teacups individually, so you can create your own mismatched tea set.

4. Wedding Favors – If your having a vintage or Alice in Wonderland themed wedding, using teacups and saucers on the table for place settings, look fantastic, you can also make them the wedding favors for your guests to take home and remember your special day by. Tie on name tags and ‘drink me’ or ‘keep me’ messages to the teacup handles for the added personal touch.

5. Another great way to serve teas and cupcakes at a wedding or party. Place the cupcakes inside the cups – so literally cup.. cakes! Guests can collect from one table, before sitting down, a great space saving idea if you are in a cosy location or small tables.

6. There is something quaint, yet quirky about drinking cocktails from teacups. What better on a summers day, than to enjoy a refreshing tea cup of Pimms or Gin and Tonic, from a dainty cup and saucer. It looks great and for those wanting tea, they can do! Brilliant way to save on washing up by not needing glasses! If you are using mismatched teasets, then there is less chance of guests muddling up glasses which all look the same!

7. Grapefruit Pudding: Cream, sugar and fresh citrus juice magically combine to form this silky custard. Make it in pretty teacups. – I have not tried this, but let me know if you do. You could also fill them with jelly (jello) or make mini trifles in them and serve for dessert at a dinner party.
I hope you enjoyed those, for more gorgeous designs have a browse in my Etsy shop for all your tea set needs. Now for a cup of Lady Grey tea and a biscuit!

All the photos here were sourced on Pinterest, see here for more details.

Times a ticking… Clock… Giveaway

This month I am giving one lucky winner a clock of their choice, I have 150+ in my Etsy shop, so there is something for every home interior. To enter the prize draw click here: http://eepurl.com/bc3vWb

I started making clocks from plates in 2012, I’m not even sure why now, but after I made an initial 20 I was hooked, I spent the time between Christmas and New Year making more, getting obsess with making a whole variety of patterns and styles. It was lovely too see how the plate transforms into a piece of art, once on the wall. The patterns become more noticeable and you really appreciate how much detail there is in the designs.

Traditional Blue and White plate clock, which I’ve fitted with green hands. Can you see the two fishermen? Click on the photo for more info.

Yellow and Gold This plate clock is like pure sunshine, such a simple yet gorgeous design. I’ve made this from a tea plate, which is great for small walls or spaces.

Green with yellow and pink flowers plate clock. I love the sage green border on this wall clock. I only had one plate of this design, I dream of having a whole dinner set, such a beautiful combination.

Pink and White Rosy plate clock. This is a limited edition plate by Royal Albert, The shades of pink roses remind me of the roses in my mothers garden in the summer, just need a glass of Pimms. This pretty design would bring everlasting flowers to a room.

Card plate clock My mother found these plates for me at a market in Hungary. They either scream VEGAS or ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Although I love Las Vegas, I think it’d add some nice styling to an Alice in Wonderland bedroom or party. Click on the picture for more info and to see more clock. Don’t forget to enter the prize draw to win a clock, once you’ve entered, I give away a prize every month: http://eepurl.com/bc3vWb

Alice in Wonderland brooches or pins – In a REAL Magazine! Etsy Seller Tips

I’ve just added more to my Alice in Wonderland range in my Etsy store.

I’m very excited to say that some of these have been featured in Make and Sell Jewellery Magazine, in the April issue, which goes on sale 27th March in the UK.

I’ve sent them a selection to be included in a giveaway for their readers, which you can take part in on their social media. Or here.
It’s so great to have some of my makes noticed, it spurs me on, on those slow days. I also gave them some Etsy tips, for those getting started.

My tips are for starting a shop on Etsy:
1. List 10 items on the first day, then add 1 new item every day for a month, this will keep you at the top of search results, and show potential customers you are serious about selling. Plus there will be a nice selection of your items for them to browse through.

2. Photos are the most important part of selling a product, so make sure you fill all five photo spaces, show different sides to the product even the back ugly part, customers want to know what that will look like. Just thing when you go into a shop and pick up an item you like, you look at all sides of it, so make sure you show those in your photos. Think like a customer!

Enough of that scroll down for more pretty Alice in Wonderland pins!

If you want to get your hands on one of my lovely Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum pins or any other Alice in Wonderland characters have a look at my Brooches and Pins section in my Etsy Store – Lavinia’s Tea Party

Queen of hearts wooden brooch, with a pin back, jazz up a cardigan with one of my brooches, they also make great gifts.

5 Valentines Day Gifts that Last Longer than a Week

So Valentines Day is fast approaching, and if your lucky enough to have been struck by cupids arrow….. ok I’ll cut the gush. If you’re unable to make or buy the BEST VALENTINES CAKE EVER (in my opinion) see below. Then here are 5 gifts, which will last longer than the flowers and chocolates!

See Hungry Happenings for recipe.

First up is this heart shaped Le Creuset ramekin with lid. Not only does it come with a 5 year guarantee, you can make a multitude of heart shaped desserts including a mouth watering chocolate soufflé. It can even be frozen, so if you make ice cream, you can now make heart shaped ice cream.

No. 1 For more info or to buy see here:Le Creuset Stoneware Heart Ramekin with Lid, 10 cm

No. 2 Envelope Heart Earrings made by Bite Me Not. These super cute earrings can be worn all year round, not just at Valentines.

No 3. Its every girls (and some guys) kitchen dream, I don’t mean to sound sexist, but every girl I know who bakes, has a Kitchen Aid at the top of their wish list. Here it is in a classic white, they bring out new colours all the time, mine is hot pink and I love it. They may seem pricey when compared to other kitchen appliances, but this will last a lifetime, probably outliving the loved one who gave it to you!!! See here for more info: KitchenAid K45SS Classic Stand Mixer, White

No. 4 I love the idea of this, grown your own scented roses. The box has everything you need to grow them yourself. I received a grown your own mushroom kit for Christmas, so I know from experience what fun this will be a fun gift, as you can watch it grow and blossom into beautiful roses. Much nicer to watch them grown, than to watch cut ones wilt! Have it gifted straight to your valentine, via the link here: Grow Me Say It with Flowers

No. 5 Last but not least, it has to be one of my own creations. Pink rose wall clock, makes a lovely gift for someone who appreciates vintage and quirky homeware. These roses will definitely last a lifetime, as many of my bone china plates will have seen many valentines days over the years, some are 90 years old! See my store for a selection of rose and flower clocks. Lavinia’s Tea Party.

Enjoy and Happy Valentines!