A Very Swedish Birthday!

Well I have been back from Sweden about a week now and what fun it was but I guess it is time to document!  I wanted to get away for my birthday this year, no where crazy.  Just somewhere nice, fun and relaxed.  I thought I was leaving the sunniest weather behind when I left London but apparently it got all "English" on us again so I didn't miss our "summer"!  Sweden was beautiful as always and sunny which was perfect.  I even got some tan lines (unfortunate for me - Miss Sun-Shy) but I can't complain as I'd rather the sun.  It does lift the spirits after all!

My Birth-Day started with a musical rendition of a very famous song but in Swedish from my blondie Malin presenting me with a little sweet with a candle on top :)

Realising I liked to collect miniture animals Malin gifted me these.

They are from her childhood which she was going to sell.

How adorable... little glass pups!

I also received this via the waves from my little brother.... Hahaha... Lazer eyes Dottie!

After breakfast it was time to get ready to hit the town.  To one of my favourite shop that is!  It is hands down one of the best antique stores I have been to and will always visit when I go to Göteborg.  It's one of those ones that you are constantly spotting something glorious.  Not at all like some antique shops I have been to where you are afraid to touch things or are made to feel uneasy.  I love it in here and could easily part with a small fortune.

Vanity Antique

This set of cigarette holder and ashtray was so beautiful.

Naughty, but almost worth smoking for! 

Wandered round town some more and picked up a few bits here and there but I'll do a shopping post separately.  It's called for.  They even had their own version of our Boris Bikes... Although maybe they had them first?  Lovely old style cobbled lanes lined with coffee shops.  Anyone fancy some fika?

For the evening we went to the lovely Liseberg, home to the green rabbit.  My first visit to Liseberg was the first time I came to visit Malin about seven years ago now.  That was my very first trip to Sweden and look how many times I have been back since.  There must be something in the air... Not just the cute Swedish boys ;)

We did a lot on my first visit.  All the touristy things...  I remember it fondly.  I even made a scrapbook of that vacation.  It would be nice to print some more photos of my various visits I think.

Now follow me...

Doesn't it just look so beautiful!

Country trio 'Cookies n Beans' were performing that evening.

The Hives were billed a few days later which sadly I missed out on.

A lot of original 1950s features remain; the ticket box and the lamps above :) 

Double Denim!

Plopp... Always a joke in England

With our 'Winnings'

Ice-cream sundaes were on the agenda whilst at Liseberg but it was getting far too cold out.  I even grabbed a hot chocolate before we stopped for dinner.  It all worked out though as there was scrummy ice-cream back at home!  Washed down with a hot cuppa tea.

So that was my very Swedish Birth-Day!  Beats just going out for drinkies/dinner and the weather hasn't been great the pass few years to even consider a picnic.

I leave you here with my outfit for the special day.  I'll be back with more Sweden fun posts!

Simple 'n' Chic for day-night look.

From top of the head to the tootsies!

All dressed up and ready to go.

Tara until the next time,
Alison xxx

Introducing... Teacup Wilbur

Hi All!

I am back!  Hope everyone is really good and enjoying the on/off spring weather and brighter days!
It has been some time I know but I really do think it's about right to come back to my blog.  It's been about four months since I got carried away with work, other projects etc to have time to blog and I miss it terribly so.  I am still super hectic with everything but hope I will be able to post an entry here and there about my goings on.

The first project I would like to introduce my lovely readers to is Teacup Wilbur!
This here is my sisters loving project and new business.  I have been helping her bring it to fruition and intensely working with her the last few weeks ready for the launches!  Saturday was the first of two launch events held in Pirbright, Surrey which went without a hitch.  Everyone had a jolly good time mingling, eating, drinking, buying and cooing oohs and ahhs over the displays and designs.  The little 'uns played games, laughed and ate all the sweet treats on offer. (Photos very soon)

Here's a little something from Teacup Wilbur's website to introduce themselves...

"Teacup Wilbur loves to organise a good party for little ones and grown-ups; from styling an area of your party to complete party planning, set-up and breakdown. We offer a bespoke and customised solution to suit your needs.

Our aspiration is to make your party a unique moment to remember; bringing personal touches to life and creating experiences that tell a story. It is the small details that turn a good celebration into an incredible one. With our bespoke service focused on ensuring “every detail matters”, the results will speak for themselves."

As well as telling you all about TW, what I really want to tell you all about is the upcoming launch event taking place this Bank Holiday Saturday here in London.  I shall be in attendance of course and would love to see you all there!  It will be more of the same fun and laughter, cakes and tea, amazing displays and your chance to find out a bit more about Teacup Wilbur and what they can do for you.  And if you RSVP here before the event you will even receive a free gift :D 

My involvement in all this?  Apart from the obvious of helping my sister I am the illustrator behind all the drawings you will see for the brand.  From the logo posted above to all the props you will see at their parties.  Yes.  I have picked up my pens/pencils/paint brushes again and am ecstatic to be getting back into my artist past.  I may even have some interest in a commission from another client already.  Happyhappy!

I hope to see some familiar faces there and if you really can't make this Saturday afternoon do pop along to their website!  There might just be something there for you that Teacup Wilbur can help with.  On the other hand they are always looking to work with other lovely creative people.

This is not the first and last of my come-back so see you again very soon!

Take care,

Alison xxx

A Year of Partying!

Everything is in the detail and you get the lot from Angels new book.  I recently attended the launch of The Vintage Tea Party Year (available here) and as you can imagine it was one very beautiful party.  Angels book was brought to life with her Vintage Patisserie team.

The book itself is more than just recipes, it's an all round handy elegant guide to organising your very own party.  As with her first book the illustrations are beautiful, the images and props are fantastic.  It's perfect for quick reference inspirations as well as planning ahead with food, hair tips, styling and decorating around the home.  Coming just under 300 pages, there's a lot of delights to feast your eyes on.

Here are a few photos I snapped at the event...

All the yummy looking food can be found in the book.

Here I am with the glowing Angel!

The opera length leather gloves are out. It's getting cold.

Lucky there were no bunnies in sight. Note the cute basket plate :) 

This loveliness was in the goody bag and what a goody bag it was!

You may also spot a familiar face in there *winkwink*

I did a write up of the shoot earlier on in the year > here

Go grab a copy in time for Guy Fawkes partying!  Or Christmas.... Or New Years...

I would also like to mention that I bumped into lovely Fleur whom I have not seen for quite some time but that's not it.  She introduced me to Katie.  Yes, that Katie of "What Katie Did" whose lingerie I adore!  Best faux vintage lingerie around.

I have another exciting launch to attend next week but ahead of that I shall be looking forward to Sunday Roast with friends followed by fireworks for afters!

Take care,
Alison xxx

Birthday, Relocating, Posing, Dancing, Drinking...

Hello lovelies!  A couple of weeks has been and gone since my last post; pre-move back to London Town...  So what has been going on, what has everyone been up to?  Lots of things have been happening over these past weeks including outings, my birthday, the big move, drinks, dancing (lots of it), a photo shoot, meeting new people and hanging out with my new flatmates!

As I do each and every year, I took some time off work for my birthday.  I had been planning to go on a mini break to get away from it all but it happened to coincide with my moving home.  Instead, my time off became my week of packing and wrapping.  But not before I had a little dance!

Birthday Shenanigans!
Another year older but none-the-wiser, teehee!  No but really, I actually never really feel older.  I think I'm stuck at 25, but not in a bad way.  It helps when you don't look your age too, or so I'm always told :D  With all the moving home plans I actually didn't get up to much on my birthday.  I did have a night out with the girls the weekend before but on the day of my actual birthday I stayed in and carried on packing like a good girl.  We headed over to Hotel Street; the Sailor Jerry's bar I have previously mentioned which is now sadly closed  :(  We watched the singer from the Dum Dum Girls, Dee Dee do a solo show and had a few drinks.

I love this photo of Anne and I so much. You may just find I have used it everywhere!

This is a short video of Dee Dee and some interviews.

The funny thing is we were actually filmed for this video clip but didn't make the cut.  Although I have to add I was rather relieved when I did watch it as I was practically dragged up to be interviewed because I look like a SJ girl.  I'm pretty video camera shy and was quite embarrassed and maybe a little bit red too!  Am pretty happy I didn't sneak onto it but I would have liked to see Jaana on there :P

For afters we headed to Joe's in Camden to do a little hip swaying.  Friday night is Hip Joint ran by El Nino of The Lady Luck Clubs.  All the drinking and dancing aside; it was this night at Joe's that I met my next photographer to be(was)  Chiko Ohayon.  Everyone was on the dance floor and we got chatting a little bit here and there.  I completely lost track of time but maybe half an hour or so before we left, Chiko ask if I would model for his book.  He has been shooting and working on his own book for the last four years.  We swapped contacts and I went to have a chat with him at his studio during that week.  We shot a week or so later after he came back from Paris.  At some point I will no doubt post about it all but not right now.

So that was basically my birthday celebrations.  It may no be much this year but I did receive one of my best presents ever from my sister.  How does she think of these I do not know but she's a genius for sure!  From reading my blog you probably would have gathered how fond I am of hair and beauty.  This was/is the perfect present.  Not even I knew I wanted one until I had it.  I did not have a hard time filling it up at all.  The rate I buy make-up and new shades of lipsticks!

I love all the trays and compartments!

After all this birthday goodness I said my goodbyes to Surrey and living with my sister and packed up the van.  Next stop... East London!  More on this new exciting adventure next time.  For now, it is time to head to bed so I am ready for The Chap Olympiads in the morning.  Gosh time has flown by!

Alison xxx

Ps. I did of course attend one last agility class with Dottie before I left...

Wearable Vintage Fashion Book - The Launch

Hey!  So I have finally got round to posting about the actual party for the book launch I helped organise for Wearable Vintage Fashion.  I know this was back in April, nearly a month ago now.  I'm really sorry for being a slow coach but I promise I have just been busy and not lazy.  Here goes...

Star of the Night

Clare & Jo with the Usherettes

Cover star in attendance!

Here is Amanda of Lipstick & Curls beautifying the Usherettes earlier on.

Hanging out with my besty... hehe

THE yummiest moist cupcakes and really inventive flavours!

Colours to match the book cover of course.

It was nice and busy and everyone was having a jolly good time :D 

The Performers...

Tricity Vogue who sang little ditties from the 20s-40s and a number of her own too.

I rather enjoyed myself watching Tricity!

Here's a video I made...

Jake Vegas with his band... and the dancing began...

My cousin Nicki came to give us support and to have a drink or two.  She insisted that we took a photo together so that she could send it to her mum, my aunt!  There I am in the book.

The book has been really successful for Jo & Clare which you can find on sale in many shops and on-line; including my personal favourite, the amazing Victoria & Albert Museum and in The Tate Modern!  How exciting is that?  I will have to pop by to see for myself soon.  There was also a wee write up on The Vintage Festival website by one of their correspondents on the launch night with a review of the book which you can read right here.

I do have something even more exciting to tell you relating to the book but I will have to keep it to myself for the moment and wait until it has been confirmed.  It would be amazing for me if it came through!

For now I leave you with a photograph of me with the book that shows off my dress that little bit better.  It's a shame that I didn't capture the back of my dress because it is a lovely backless number.  xxx