Gainsborough Old Hall Wedding Fayre

Brand new designs in a very old building

I enjoyed my time yesterday at Gainsborough Old Hall‘s first Wedding Fayre event.  I had never been before, but it is quite an unusual building, as you will see in some of these photos from the day:

© Original Minnie - Gainsborough Old Hall Wedding Fayre March 2011

I’m sure I looked funny in the morning arriving with boxes of plants and sweetie jars to a Wedding Fayre, but it was all for a reason = new designs for quirky favour labels, name places, and table numbers.  I also designed some new table number plant signs, with the background patterns from my final degree project inspired by afternoon tea – can you see the tea cups in the pattern?

© Original Minnie - Gainsborough Old Hall Wedding Fayre handmade favour labels, name places, and table number tags

My old favourite ‘button table numbers’ were displayed with some new menu designs, and co-ordinating plates hand painted by me.

© Original Minnie handmade Wedding and Special Occasion Stationery - table setting with menu, button table number, and hand painted crockery

The day seemed to go so quickly, but I did have a quick wander and found these quirky internal features next to the tea shop (any excuse).

© Original Minnie - Gainsborough Old Hall Wedding Fayre old street lamp

© Original Minnie - Gainsborough Old Hall Wedding Fayre vintage telephone

The venue people were friendly as were the other people displaying, including the photographers either side of my display.   There was Paul from local studio Red Pepper Studios based in Gainsborough, and Reg Moore whose work is featured in magazines including Lincolnshire Pride.

For more designs take a look at my Wedding Stationery page; keep up to date with other Events I will be attending by joining my official Facebook page or check my Events page.

If you have a stationery design or idea in mind, please get in touch and I will be happy to discuss the possibilities.

(Original Minnie is not responsible for the content of other websites/links.)

6 days to Christmas

As you know, I love Afternoon Tea and all the trimmings and pretty vintage crockery that comes with it.  (See what I did for my Afternoon Tea inspired degree show here.)

What I found handmade at Belton Xmas Market - Scented Vintage Teacup Candles by Home Sweet Home

That’s why when I saw these handmade scented candles made by Home Sweet Home, at the Belton House Christmas Market last month, I couldn’t resist them!  They were even ready wrapped up as you can see in the photo, so I will be spreading the love and giving most of them away as gifts, but I may have to keep onto one myself as they are too pretty.
You can find similar handmade candles in teacups by various UK makers on Folksy.com, just use the keyword search.

(Original Minnie is not responsible for the content of other websites).

Leicester return visit

ARCHITECTURE FROM NEW TO OLD

I said in an earlier blog that I would go back to Leicester some time – and I did!  I only had a couple of hours, so had a very quick glance round some shops.  I would still like to go back some time and explore some of the side streets and independent shops.. but thats for another day.

John Lewis window at Leicester

From sparkly new…

I’m not normally a fan of new building aesthetics or architecture, but the pattern on the John Lewis building at Highcross really does make a boring flat wall of glass … pretty!

Leicester Clock Tower

to older…

If I got lost, I just needed to ask where the clock tower was, as it sits in the centre junction of the main shopping streets.

Market Harborough

to even older…

Ok, so it’s not in Leicester (its in nearby Market Harborough) but I had to post this – how quaint ‘n’ olde English is this?! (Dated 1614!)  A pretty market town, I found an amazing bakers with a Tea Shop attached, perfect for afternoon tea – homemade coffee meringue anyone?

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…

Introducing… Original Minnie

WHO OR WHAT IS ORIGINAL MINNIE? 

I should really start with properly introducing myself, and what I do.  My name is Helen, and I am Original Minnie.  I design and make (by hand) beautiful and quirky Jewellery and Greetings Cards.  I always prefer to use vintage / recycled / reclaimed materials as much as possible.  I love vintage, fashion, colour, and a (proper) Afternoon Tea – a cake stand, and china cups are a must! 😉 

In fact, my final degree show (Summer 2008) revolved around some of these favourite things… the Afternoon Tea inspired wallpapers and fabrics were all designed and hand printed by myself.  After hours and hours (actually months) in the printing room, and with the invaluable help of several peeps to decorate the room and bake the yummy cakes, the finished result was this!

© Helen Mear Afternoon Tea Degree Show 2008

© Helen Mear Afternoon Tea Degree Show 2008

I also printed the fireplace tiles, and hand-painted the ‘fabric’ pattern design onto one of the tea sets, but that is a story for another day and another blog… 

 

For more information about Original Minnie, or to see more of my creations, please visit www.originalminnie.com  or the shop at www.originalminnie.folksy.com

Welcome!

 

WELCOME  TO THE ORIGINAL MINNIE BLOG! 

This is a new experience for me (a bit of a technophobe), so bear with me as I go…

The aim of this blog is to bring you:

• the latest photos of Original Minnie products as they come hot off the production line (as I finish making them)
  
• up-to-date news on events Original Minnie will be attending
  
• and any other interesting quirky / vintage / crafty / afternoon tea wonders I discover on my travels around the virtual and real world…  
  

So, why not make yourself a cuppa, and enjoy…

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about Original Minnie, or to see more of my creations, please visit www.originalminnie.com  or the shop at www.originalminnie.folksy.com 

 

©  Original Minnie