Cornish Camellia

This time last week I was sulking my way home from Cornwall on the train, hot pasty clutched in my hand, trying desperately to savour the last days of my long weekend away in the Cornish sunshine. Ok so thats a bit of a lie, the pasty didn't make it past Plymouth, but I did sulk most of the way home and refused to answer any emails before I reached the city (I apologise if you were waiting for a reply, I was on 'cornish time').

The flowers are all from my mum's garden, arriving in an enamel bucket that had been driven all the way from Buckinghamshire - what a legend. The triple layer rose cake was made by my sister-in-law and travelled down with my parents. I love my family. 

I have spent my summers down there since I were a newborn, and have seen a good few autumn half terms there too, but I realised on this trip that I had never been in the spring - and what a haven it was! As a slightly nature-starved florist living in the city most of the time it was like I had died and gone to floral heaven; wild primrose in the orchard, soft pastel lilac bluebells lining the hedges, delicate flowering quince climbing up walls and the biggest camellia and rhododendron bushes I have ever seen in powder pink and clashing cerise. 

I lived in my dungarees, and LOVED it.

I ate picnics in the sunshine lounging under the rhododendron as drowsy bees drifted by, spent too much time with my head in camellia bushes, had clotted cream ice cream as I admired the tropical Lost Gardens of Heligan and I ate more fish and chips and pasties than one human being should. It is my heaven, and if you have never been then I suggest you pack a suitcase of breton stripes and get down there. (I got a bit giddy on the old Instagram so if you have seen these snaps before then I do apologise). 

The main reason for my stay was for the wedding of lovely friends Charlotte and Patrick, which celebrated everything to do with love, marriage and spring. Think milk churns full of sunny daffodils, pure white tulips and pretty little grape hyacinths - it was so seasonal, elegant and charming and I loved it. 

I captured the confetti moment on my polaroid camera - it is definitely one of my all time favourite polaroids.

I was straight back into work as I stepped off the train, with the Easter bank holiday including more painting (Oh Me Oh My have a lovely custard yellow sideboard coming their way this week! It looks better than it sounds I promise...), meetings with lovely brides about their big day flowers and pretty props and catching up with lots of admin. I did make sure I celebrated Easter by making an Easter bundt cake (and then stupidly leaving it at home whilst we visited family so I've pretty much eaten the entire thing myself) buying a new sweetpea plant in pastel pink for the herb garden and drinking a LOT of rose lemonade. I also struck lucky on Monday morning when I spotted a very healthy lilac tree and bought a few stems home with me to make a jar of lilac sugar. It was so easy and smells gorgeous, and I can't wait to use it for cakes, in tea or just to fling around the kitchen.

As I type I am peppering my keyboard with flakes of that custard yellow paint that hasn't quite rubbed off yet so I am thinking a long soak in the bath with my favourite rose tea bubble bath is next on the agenda - and then to bed to start all over again tomorrow!

Charlotte xx

Nana

Hello April! The month of hot cross buns for breakfast (smothered in far too much butter), Mother's Day and celebrating Easter. I decided to name this post 'Nana' as everything I wanted to write seemed to link back to her this week, and she is also a bit of a hero in my eyes.

Impeccably dressed, she gardens in her high heels, makes the finest bakewell tart in the land and conjures up delicious afternoon teas by the fire in the blink of an eye. We grew up toasting bread on the log fire, picking and eating cherries from the tree in her garden and cooking fry ups on Cornish holidays on the doorstep on a camp fire. Ask me my perfect Sunday afternoon and it will involve her garden, a blanket on the grass and her infamous Pimms (she swears on her life Pimms isn't alcoholic and serves it eyewateringly strong - there is no correcting her, believe me we have tried...)

This week I picked up a bundle of vintage mini jelly moulds from a charity shop, and was instantly reminded of the towering blancmange she made for my 21st birthday tea party in her garden. Most of my friends didn't have a clue what the blush pink wobbling mass was, but it disappeared as quickly as it was dished up and was a firm favourite with all who had a bowl full. This summer I plan to make mini versions of her delicious blancmange in these moulds, alongside elderflower and rose flavoured jellies with edible flowers dotted through them - I promise to share!

My sewing machine has seen some serious action this week with a last minute order of lavender hearts for a bride and groom's favours, and starting on the soft furnishings for the lovely Oh Me Oh My. An abundance of plump cushions in pretty prints will hopefully entice guests to sit and just 'be' for a while on the comfy chairs and sofas and admire the beautiful setting, including the ceiling which is just one of the amazing features of this lovely space. Their special secret sessions include afternoon tea and Sunday roasts, and I could not think of a nicer place to collapse with a tummy full and watch the world go by. (I urge you to book yourself in for one of these sessions now, you won't be disappointed!)

I often find it hard to complete my own projects when I have lots else going on, but on Sunday I made myself sit down and finish painting, sanding and waxing my vintage sewing box, - the perfect Christmas present from my Nana. I decided on my favourite colour and painted the inside and out chalky pink, and sanded down the edges to give that timeworn look. Having lined the compartments with floral wallpaper offcuts, my box is now full to the brim of threads, trims and buttons, and ready for the mountain of sewing I still have to do!

This week has been scented by hyacinths around the home, the smell of spring (finally) in the air and sticky toffee pudding hot from the oven. I am aware sticky toffee isn't exactly a spring time dessert, but it earned me brownie points with the other half - finally! I am returning to my favourite part of the UK this weekend for a wedding of one of my oldest friends Charlotte, in Cornwall. Charlotte is a dear friend as we were next door neighbours growing up, and used to spend our summer holidays making 'cakes' from the mud, moss and flowers in our parents gardens - much to the frustration of our mums and their precious rose beds! The lucky girl lives down in Cornwall, and I cannot wait to see her be married and be part of her springtime wedding celebrations. I adore Cornwall. I am in love with its coastal paths, rugged beaches and lush countryside, and cannot wait to spend the next few days with my family and friends down there. A trip to the Lost Gardens of Heligan may be on the cards, in between eating enough fish and chips and cream teas to last me a lifetime.

I better get my breton stripes on...