Visit to a quirky … Garden Centre?!

Q.   IS IT A GARDEN CENTRE; KITSCH SCULPTURE PARK; RECLAMATION YARD; OR A TEA SHOP FROM ALICE IN WONDERLAND?

A.   All of the above, or at least what I imagine a tea shop from Alice In Wonderland might be like…

Giant Teacup and Genie -of course! Photo by Original Minnie

It’s the most bizarre yet brilliant Garden Centre I’ve been to.  Located ‘up North’ in Cheshire, it’s partly a garden centre selling plants – as you would expect – alongside street lights, statues, chimney pots, and when I went, an old Morris Minor.

Some beautiful reclaimed pieces. Photo by Original Minnie

‘Hidden’ amongst the undergrowth are huge kitsch larger-than-life My Little Pony sculptures that were originally used in the Blackpool Illumination displays back in the 1980s!

My (not-so) Little Pony. Photo by Original Minnie

There were also small units dotted around, one of which was a funky little clothing boutique with great retro style dresses.

Clothing Boutique. Photo by Original Minnie

The tea shop is almost indescribable… it was a scorching day when I went, so we sat outside – it was a maze of little booths and ‘rooms’, with tables nestled underneath a gazebo, or maybe inside an old converted fairground stall.

Tea Shop Real Cup and Saucer. Photo by Original Minnie

A big ‘thumbs up’ goes to the tea shop for using real china cups and saucers for serving the tea in!

Generous Portion of Pud. Photos by Original Minnie

And the deserts we had were not skimpy on portion size – yes that is for one person!

Eat up…

Getting ready for Lincoln Artists Market

BEEN BUSY MAKING…?

I haven’t been at the computer much recently, because I’ve been busy making new jewellery and card designs (including these new earrings from the “Beady Buttons” range)!

Beady Buttons Earrings © Original Minnie

I took the first ‘batch’ of new jewelllery to the Purely Jewellery event earlier in the month – everyone seemed really friendly, and my designs were well received.  I even sold a few of the new designs which was exciting!

Since then I have made even more new designs – some don’t have a single button in them – a (scary) new venture for Original Minnie!  I will take the new jewellery and cards (I’ve got some wedding cards now too) to the Lincoln Artists Market this Sunday (28th June 2009).  There will be some other jewellers, glass artists, paintings, photography, handbags … I’m hoping I’ll get 5 minutes to have a look at the other stalls!  It will be my first outdoors event, so keep your fingers crossed for good weather…

I’d better go now, and finish off the last pieces…  Hope to see you on Sunday.

P.S.  SORRY THERE HAVE NOT BEEN MANY NEW PHOTOS RECENTLY – I WILL BE POSTING SOME PICCIES OF THE NEW CREATIONS, AND MUCH MORE, HERE ON THE BLOG AS SOON AS I CAN GET THE TECHNO EQUIPMENT SORTED!..

For more info about the events Original Minnie is attending, please have a look at our Events page.

Interview – Original Minnie

I’VE BEEN BLOGGED 1

Just a quick one to let you know that I’ve been blogged … my local-jewellery-maker-friend Gillyflower Jewellery has interviewed me on her blog, talking about Original Minnie.

Buttons and Bows Large Brooch with Pink Heart Button

Buttons and Bows Small Brooch Silver Button

Buttons and Bows Large Brooch with Cream Button

Buttons and Bows Large Brooch with Blue Heart Button

One of the questions asked was ‘what is my favourite piece so far’ … I had to say the “Buttons and Bows” brooches collection, although I haven’t got a photo of my own little gold one that I wear day-to-day!