Tearoom and Craft Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland – Cushion and Cake

Cross stitch

2012-02-26T22:31:00.002Z

I'm having a cross stitch renaissance! Following my Valentine crafternoon where we cross stitched a heart onto a beautiful card, I've been re-inspired.
I bought some lovely Moleskine notebooks that I planned to print onto last week but I wondered how they'd look with a simple cross stitch on the cover. It goes to show that the simplest designs work best.
I've been playing with different colour ways and I hope to sell them in the tearoom, if I don't keep them for myself!!!

They were easy enough to do. I printed out some graph paper, enlarged it and attached it to the cover of the Moleskine and punched through the holes for the pattern with a pin.
Then just choose your favourite colours and cross stitch your heart out!

A Valentine's Special

2012-02-13T13:51:00.000Z

Valentine's is fast approaching this week. This is why Sunday's crafternoon was a Valentine's themed one. I'd prepared a couple for lovely little projects that could be handmade (with love!) and given to someone special this Valentine's.

A cross stitch style card and a yummy bath creamer made with cocoa and shea butter.
So first off, the crafternooners had to select a heart cross stitch pattern which I had drawn out on graph paper with a felt tip pen.

Cutting a border around the hear allows you to locate it properly on the card. A wee bit of sticky tape holds it in place for you while you get started punching holes through the paper pattern and the card. We put a folded towel under the card and used a needle to punch through.

Starting from the centre cross, begin stitching. As with cross stitch on aida, you should try to keep it uniform and stitch bottom left to top right, bottom right to top left and so on.

Here are the results...

While the crafters were making their cards, I put together a mixture to make delicious bath creamers. I used a recipe from Kirsty Alsopp's Craft book.

100g cocoa butter
50g shea butter
50ml almond oil
2-4 drops of essential oil (we used lavender, lemon and bergamot)
Small paper cases
Decorations (we used dried lavender, lemon zest, rosemary and earl grey loose leaf tea)

In a plastic jug melt the cocoa butter in the microwave. Then add the shea butter and melt it too. Remove form microwave and allow to cool a little. Add the almond oil and your essential oils.
Pour the mixture into your paper cases. When the mixture goes cloudy (20 mins or longer if mixture is still hot from microwave) you can add your decorations such as lavender or lemon zest.

When the creamers were set, we added a little bit of packaging. Tissue and cellophane with ribbon worked well and looked lovely. The wee creamers are ready to use after 24 hours. You just pop them into a hot bath and enjoy a lovely smelling bath and super scented bathroom.

My mixture made about six creamers and I would stress that you use little paper cases, like fairy cake ones opposed to muffin ones. They'll be too big and may take longer to set.

Printing by hand at Cushion & Cake

2012-02-07T20:56:00.000Z

I was really excited about Sunday's crafternoon. I'd prepared a session on print where the crafternooners would create their own tote bags, hand printed having cut their own stencil.

I printed out lots of silhouettes from the internet, birds, foliage and flowers for the crafternooners to choose from. We were using freezer paper to get a really good result. Freezer paper is great! You can cut it just like paper and temporarily adhere it to fabric using a dry, hot iron. Being able to iron on the stencil reduces the chance of bleed onto the fabric giving a really neat finish.

Using a stickle brush to apply the paint makes sure you don't over coat in fabric paint, thin coats as always work best.

Then it's time to gently peel off the stencil to reveal your artwork! Fixing the fabric paint with a dry, hot iron makes it permanent and ready to withstand any Scottish rain shower!

Their bags look really great. Everyone had done something different and were really proud of what they'd created.

Happy Crafters

2012-01-24T17:13:00.000Z

What a great start to 2012! The little tearoom has been bustling, it has turned into a lovely little weekend hub and the New Year Crafternoons have been really popular.

I'd prepared four sessions on Sunday afternoons, each around a different area of craft starting with paper then fabric, print and finally a Valentine special. These images are from the fabric session where we made fabric yoyos, pom poms out of old silk scarves and rosettes to make an end product such as brooch, corsage or hair ornament, whatever took their fancy.

Next session on the 5th February is Print. We'll be printing by hand and making a wonderful tote bag. I'll get the images up as soon as it happens!

Glamping

2012-01-04T21:13:00.000Z

For Christmas my partner Stuart bought me a book on Glamping and promised to take me for a glamping break at any site I liked. Not wanting to travel too far for just a short break, there are a few cool sites in Scotland.

These ones are based in the Scottish Borders called Roulette Retreats and are old fashioned gypsy style caravans decorated in beautiful jewel colours. Just big enough for two.

And what about these?! Look at the bed! It is like the one Santa and Mrs Claus sleep in in the Santa Claus The Movie. This one is at a site called Lochhouses. Can't decide. Which one should we visit? Maybe both!?

New Year's Resolution

2012-01-03T20:37:00.001Z

Happy New Year to all! I hope you're looking forward to all the exciting things to come in 2012. Have you made any New Year's Resolutions? I don't normally but I think this year I shall make a few.
I've been so busy just learning how to run a tearoom since opening that I've not had much time to really enjoy it. This year as things in the tearoom tick over a bit more naturally, I'm going to make a big effort to try more crafts myself, take more photographs, blog more about exciting projects and appreciate all that I have.
So after a busy day in my tearoom today working on a new window display and repainting my floor I'm re-inspired and looking forward to opening again for business on Thursday. I'll take some pictures of the refreshed tearoom when I'm back in tomorrow and show you what I've been up to...
If you're back to work this week I hope you are as excited as I am at what this year will bring.

Happy New Craft!

2011-12-29T13:56:00.002Z

January needn’t be dark, dull and decidedly unexciting!

No, no no. Why not start the New Year learning new crafts and stuff at Cushion & Cake?

It’ll be sociable, fun and I’ll show you how to make some stonking things to take home and gloat to your friends and family that you made them yourself.

Each Sunday will look at a different area of craft so choose one, choose a few, come along and make. All materials will be provided all you need is yourself.

Sunday 15^th January- Paper

Sunday 22^nd January- Fabric

Sunday 5^th February- Print

Sunday 12^th February- Valentine Special

January sessions are priced just £10 and February £15 and will start at 4pm.

Call 0141 339 4114 to book your place or fill out the wee booking form.

A deposit of £5 would be smashing to book your place.

You can pay in cash or through paypal at tea@cushionandcake.com

Talkin Shop- Evening Times 24th December 2011

2011-12-29T13:24:00.000Z

Festive Opening Hours

2011-12-28T22:13:00.001Z

Thurs 29th Jan 12-3pm
Fri 30th Jan 12-3pm
Hogmanay 12-3pm

Buy Handmade This Christmas

2011-12-05T18:09:00.000Z

I, like many of you out there have made a conscious effort this year to spend my hard earned pennies a bit more wisely this year when we're out Christmas shopping.
I decided that I was going to buy from smaller retailers and any money that I do spend this Christmas, is spent wisely. The UK Handmade 'Buy Handmade' campaign outlines reasons why you could consider buying from smaller independent shops and designer makers. Not only can you be assured that your purchase is a bit more bespoke or unique, you support local economy and reduce the carbon footprint by buying local. These are issues that we should all be thinking about and doing our bit to contribute.

My wee tearoom is supporting the buy handmade campaign stocking work from local designer makers. So if you can, come on in and have a look xx

Molly Makes December 2011

2011-12-05T12:01:00.000Z

In the post last week I received a copy of the latest Molly Makes magazine and was particularly delighted with the delivery as Cushion & Cake is in it!

I was contacted a month or so ago from some of the team at Molly Makes looking to find out a bit more about crafty goings on at C&C. I thought it would be nice to tell them about my Christmas Crafternoons. They put together a lovely little article about the tearoom which hopefully will cpature the attention of new customers to C&C.
Thanks to all at Molly Makes xx

http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/

Happy Crafters

2011-11-23T13:55:00.000Z

With Christmas Crafternoon number 1 a success on Sunday I can't wait for next Sunday's fun...

Come and craft

2011-10-16T20:44:00.000+01:00

Well folks the little group of crafters meeting every second Tuesday evening at Cushion & Cake is growing! Every Tuesday you'll see regular Cushion & Cakers Nichola and Cat knitting up a storm while eating cake but a number of others are now coming to join us.
You don't have to be a sewer or a knitter, just bring something you'd like to work on and if you don't have a project to bring with you, you can come along anyway... I'm always working on something, you could help me!
If you want to come along, you'll find us on these dates: 18/10, 1/11, 15/11, 29/11,13/12.
Also don't forget the Christmas Crafternoons taking place at Cushion & Cake. The perfect way to get you excited about Christmas, the way you did when you were a child :-)

China addiction

2011-10-14T20:27:00.001+01:00

I've always been a collector and a hoarder but my china collecting is getting out of hand! Obviously I need lots of tea cups and saucers for the shop but I certainly don't need the 10+ tea sets I must have in my one bedroom flat.
Today I bought a whole bunch of my favourite Johnson Bros Grey Dawn china from a charity shop for the obscenely cheap price if £3. I almost shrieked when I saw it greedily gathering all of it up and dashing to the check out.
What's worse is that I've still got a box of Grey Dawn stuff that I haven't unpacked that I sent my folks across counties while on holiday to collect for me. Help....

Christmas Crafternoons 2011

2011-10-11T09:00:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone!

Well I'm excited to announce a series of Christmas Crafternoons which I will be running this Winter at Cushion & Cake. You can book a place to come along on a Sunday afternoon to get Christmassy and get crafty.

I'll take you through a number of crafty activities that will get you in the mood for CHRISTMAAAAS!

You'll get to drink your fill of hot chocolate and scoff a load of Christmassy treats while listening to the best Christmas tunes and take home some of your own hand crafted items and some ideas on decorating for Christmas.

To book a place for you and maybe a friend, fill out my wee booking form here

Places cost just £10 each and include refreshments and all materials.

Party Time at C&C

2011-10-08T09:06:00.001+01:00

My first 30th birthday celebration at C&C.

Tearoom Closed 8-9th October 2011

2011-10-07T19:00:00.000+01:00

Hi folks, just a note to say that the tearoom will be closed this weekend 8-9th October as I'll be away for the weekend. I hope this doesn't cause too much inconvenience and I'll be back as usual on Tuesday 11th October until 8pm xx

Catching Up

2011-08-16T23:34:00.000+01:00

Agh! It has been weeks since I was posted, but that's not because I have nothing to tell you. On the contrary actually!
First things first. I'm closing the shop next week to have a wee holiday. I'm heading off to France for a week. I'll spend some time at my aunts house in Lege near Nantes then the weekend at Rock en Seine. Its the third year in a row for me at Rock en Seine. Its a great festival. Not too big and the weather is usually good. Can't ask for much more.
Exciting things have been happening at C&C too. I've hosted my first ever hen party and the tearoom was even used in a photoshoot for a vintage style clothing website.
A couple of weeks ago I was visited at the shop by Garry MacLennan, a Glasgow based photographer who was looking for a location to shoot some photographs. I was chuffed to be asked but even more chuffed to find out I could actually get involved! I got to be an extra! Make up done, dress on. Lots of fun.

I'm in this photo. Looking quite spacey (or simple) You can see more images from the shoot on Garry's blog here.
It is tea parties galore this month too at C&C. I have two groups of ladies celebrating a hen do in August. I had my first group on Saturday. The had a beaufiful afternoon tea followed by cupcake decorating and fabric brooch making.

I have a group of seventeen this weekend for afternoon tea. I'll let you know how that goes next week!
The shop was a little quiet today so I had some time to rearrange the crafts in the shop and find some space for some lovely new stock from Cornwall based crafters Crumpetty Tree. Not only is the name wonderful, but their work too. I was immediately attracted to their range of animal brooches and prints.

Look at this adorable wee bear print. I love his stance, two paws together at the front. I think he's a bashful bear. I've got prints, brooches, stationary, cards and even a set of these marvelous boys for your wall...

I'm still getting weekly deliveries of flowers from a beautiful local florist, Allie at Lavender Blue. Just when I think the flowers can't get any better, she brings me this 'amnesia' rose. I have to share it with you because I know it won't last forever, at least it won't wilt on this blog.

Oh, one last thing. It was my birthday last week. I saved you a piece of cake.

Look who's on the loose!!

2011-07-30T23:12:00.001+01:00

Sock monkeys! And they're hidden all around Cushion and Cake! How many will you find in the tearoom?

They've got Iona Bruce's owls all in a flap!

RIP Rosemary Cassidy

2011-07-27T23:38:00.000+01:00

So I had to close the shop this morning for a funeral. My best friend's mum Rosemary died last week of cancer. She'd spent her last weeks in a hospice. I did see her twice in the hospice but I much prefer to remember her when she came to my tearoom last month for her birthday. She loved the place and even though she wasn't feeling well, she remained bright and wished me well for all to go well at Cushion & Cake. She'll be missed by all.

Closing the shop today was odd too. When you work in an office or something you get leave to do these kind of things. Working for yourself there is no one to cover or let you away for a few hours. I guess this is one of the (very few!!) downsides of self employment. I came back in the afternoon and stayed open till 6 pm and made a hummingbird cake for tomorrow. Some pictures of cakes are long overdue on this blog but I'm happy to say I've been so busy in the tearoom to be able to take photos! I'll try to get some up tomorrow xx

Wednesday Morning Tearoom Closure

2011-07-27T00:10:00.000+01:00

Hey folks, just a little note to say that if you were planning to visit the tearoom tomorrow (Wednesday 27th July)I will be closed in the morning unfortunately. But I'll be back in the afternoon with Summer Fruit Loaf and Orange & Rosemary cake xx

Beautiful Foody Blog

2011-07-25T22:42:00.000+01:00

On my usual web surfing of gorgeous things on the internet today I came across this lovely site/blog. What first caught my eye were these chocolate brownies, but they're additionally special because they're made with Twix chocolate bars!

I'm salivating right now! I think I may give the recipe a whirl in the tearoom and see what people think.

Today was my day off which I spent treating myself to a little lunch, on my own, in the sunshine, running around getting things for the shop and more furniture painting. I got some outdoor tables and chairs from Ikea but they were BORING, so I bought a beautiful exterior wood paint called Little Pond and got to work. I've just been outside to check on their drying progress and they're still really tacky, so I built them a wee tent out of old shower curtains and bamboo canes to make them showerproof. The shelter however is not preventing lots of FLIES getting themselves stuck on my newly painted surfaces! I tried to rescue as many as I could but it was too late for some... Well... adds a bit of texture doesn't it?

A wee bit of notice for dates with early closing

2011-07-25T11:26:00.000+01:00

Hi folks, there are a couple of dates in August where I have to shut the shop early to accommodate some lovely hens celebrating their friends entering into wedded bliss with a Cushion & Cake tea party.

The shop will be closing early for these events on Saturday 13th and 20th August 2011 from about 2pm.

New Food!

2011-07-13T21:00:00.002+01:00

What a great week so far! My wee tearoom has been quite busy with lots of lovely new people and plenty of my new fidels!
Finally I arranged to go and see a fellow new business woman and florist, Allie, at Lavender Blue a week or so ago and arranged to get fresh flowers from her every week. How great, a surprise delivery of gorgeous flowers for my table displays. Last week I got a huge hydrangea, sunflower and peony, some lavender straight from Provence and delicious roses.

I've said a lot recently that if I hadn't done the tearoom thing, I'd love to retrain as a florist but I've changed my mind! The work involved is HUGE. I saw Allie today and she told me she'd just worked 24hrs! And she was still bright and smiley! I wouldn't be able to keep up with that...

I was super pleased when a new friend and C&C fan Cat Ingall popped in with her Stitch n Bitch gang to the shop on my late opening last night. They're working on a knitting project together while having a good gab and giggle and from what I could hear, advice on how to remove tics from dogs or yourself if you're ever walking in the country. I didn't get to join in last night but I'd like to. It's been ages since I was part of a wee group or community. When I was younger I was in groups of everything, Girl Guides, youth orchestras, art groups, you name it. I just realised I miss it. Perhaps working alone has prompted this need to socialise!?

I've decided to offer a bit more choice of food at C&C. There just wasn't enough cheese for a start on the menu for my liking so I'm introducing Tasty Plates. Three different types. A cheese plate, Mediterranean plate and Scots plate. They each will have lots of things to nibble on and share. We'll see how that goes. I'm bringing them in from Friday so I shall take a picture and blog it here to see what you think :-)

More lovely news is that two individual women have approached me to provide an afternoon tea for their hen parties. I'm delighted to have have them and let's face it, it is an excuse to get more decorations up!! One group wants to do some cupcake decorating which will be excellent fun. I can't wait to do that and the other woman wants an afternoon tea for her and sixteen other ladies. Big group. It'll be a hoot. I'll have to impress them with my banter ( and food).

This cake went down a treat yesterday, blueberry packed cake with a cream cheese frosting. A woman who bought it yesterday was back in today looking for a whole one to buy and take away! T'is a good one and I love people who love cakes as much as me!!

Late Opening Tuedays

2011-07-10T23:37:00.000+01:00

That's right people. I'm now open late every Tuesday until 8pm for tea and cake, and tasty food. I hope we get nice weather here in Glasgow because my shop gets full sun in the evening and I've got some lovely new outdoor furniture to help you enjoy it :-)

2011-07-05T22:02:00.001+01:00

All's going well at C&C headquarters. I'm pretty chuffed with the repeat customers and new people that I meet every day.
Today I tried staying open later to see if anyone came in. It was pretty quiet but I think on sunny evenings, people may come along to the tearoom. I get full sun in the evening, so with some cute tables and chairs outside, it is a great alternative to the pub. I might try late opening Friday too, even just for the Summer to see how that affects business.

I'd been meaning to go and visit a lovely florist that I met just before I opened my shop, so I popped into see her yesterday. He name is Allie and she has an adorable florist shop called Lavender Blue. From the moment I stepped into her shop I could see that we had a similar style. She had pastel blue painted furniture and a lovely selection of handmade goodies amongst all of her beautiful blooms. Yesterday we had a chat and organised a weekly delivery of flowers to Cushion & Cake. I can't wait to get seasonal flowers for my tearoom. Agapanthus, peonies, allium, hydrangea, sweet peas, all my favourites will soon be all around my tearoom. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures each week to show you what I've got.

I've been on a mad fabric buying frenzy. I hadn't been buying fabric for quite some time but recently, I've been quite fabric greedy. I'm aiming to make cushions every week and keep changing them round in the tearoom.

I love this pink and turquoise fabric.

I've had this trug in my flat for ages but I couldn't find a use for it. So here I'm using it for flowers and things for sale.

You can see little notebooks by Lovely Pigeon and felt toys by Iona Bruce.

I love the work these girls do. They're perfect for the shop.

2011-06-22T18:46:00.000+01:00

I'm having great fun here at Cushion & Cake. I'm baking a Dorset Apple Traybake and while I wait for that I thought I'd get an update on the wee blog.

Business has been fine over the last few days. Some days are inexplicably quiet, other days are inexplicably busy, I can't see any trends as yet and I suppose I might not ever. I just have to be prepared each day to be busy.

During quiet periods I've found some time to make some little things to sell in the shop. I've been enjoying a bit of stamping and making simple but cute cards.

As well as making some cards myself, I met a lovely woman last week, an illustrator who made cards. The lettering us cut out in her cards and features greetings in Gaelic, a wee bit of Scottish culture which may appeal to tourists of people who have relatives living abroad. The little rosettes for example are detachable so when the card is used, you still have a wee something to keep.


www.catingall.co.uk

I've made some new cushions too with lovely fabric I found when I was out and about.

I feel quite inspired being in the shop each day and go home with more ideas on what kind of things I'd like to make. I've got a custom cushion order to get ready tonight so I'd better get on.
xx

Upcycled Blackboards

2011-06-13T12:10:00.000+01:00

I was pleased to finally get some old frames to make into blackboards to write the soup of the day and other messages on in the shop.

I just removed the back and the glass from this picture frame, got my dad to cut some ply wood to fit, and painted with blackboard paint and voila. A vintage, upcycled, handmade blackboard for the tearoom.

Diggers and C & C Press

2011-06-08T17:22:00.001+01:00

It is a little bit of a quiet day today at the tearoom, except for the big digger digging a BIG hole outside the shop.

They're fixing a drain just outside.
I'm still adding little bits to the shop. Mostly hand done stuff such as my jazzed up Ikea clock.

I took it apart, spray painted the outer frame, then got some lovely retro style paper with bikes and mopeds on and cut to size then reassembled the clock. I'm really please with it. I love the paper.

I also needed some blackboards so that I could have my soup and cakes for the day displayed on the wall. I got a thrifted some old frames from a charity shop, got my dad to cut some new board for them to paint with blackboard paint, then reassemble. I'm pretty chuffed with these too but I'll have to add these images tomorrow. I left them at my parents house to fully dry off.

Experimenting with some cookies today I made rose and pistachio cookies. I had one of these in a cafe in Glasgow and always wanted to make one but couldn't find a good recipe. I did a search online but the ones I found looked a bit complicated and had some ingredients I wasn't sure about so I just messed about with a similar recipe.

They're pretty tasty. I'm looking forward to seeing what people think of them tomorrow.
And finally. I managed to figure out how to scan something on my printer. This is a little article in Glasgow's Evening Times a week or so ago about my little tearoom.

You may have to zoom in to read it!

Lovely Review from Scotland's most popular 'what's on' guide The List

2011-06-04T16:48:00.000+01:00

I had a lovely couple and their little baby during the week for a bit of lunch, tea and cake and as they were leaving, the gentleman mentioned that he was the food reviewer from The List. I noticed the little review on my place had appeared online yesterday and I'm delighted with it.
You can read it here.
I'm really happy with it. He's captured the mood of the place really well so a big thanks to The List!

Daft Day

2011-05-23T23:28:00.001+01:00

My day off today was pretty busy but I did get some cushions made from the great fabric I got a week or so ago. I'll take proper pictures of them in the shop tomorrow but you can see a little purse I made for myself with some of the remnants.

I'm quite pleased with the little purse so I think I'll make one to sell at Cushion & Cake.
Bit of an eventful day today too for me. A bit disaterous in a comedy way. I couple of examples are having two car park securtiy staff searching for my car in a city centre car park because I couldn't remember where I'd left it and accidentally cutting a cushion I'd just sewn a zip onto in half! There are more like these but I won't elaborate... I don't want to demonstrate how daft I can be sometimes!

The tearoom now has one lovely highchair for small children. I'll get another next month. I'll get my mum to set it up tomorrow. She's a recently retired childcare professional and if you've seen me assemble Ikea furniture you'd be glad to hear someone sensible is going to see to it!

Stuart sent me a link today for some pretty hooks. Something like this to hang the highchair on when it is not in use would be nice.

I think I'd prefer something handmade though. Handmade, quirky and up to the job. Any suggestions?

super second week

2011-05-22T15:59:00.004+01:00

What a way to end my week number two! I was run off my feet earlier, full to capacity with lots of lovely people. It is the first time the shop has been that busy and I was on my own today into the bargain, however, I think I coped ok. People just had to wait a wee bit for their sandwiches but I think they were OK with that. I've got a little bit on my menu which says the food takes a wee bit to prepare as it is fresh. One poor guy though really did have to wait a little longer... I forgot the sandwich for his soup and sarnie combo- SORRY :-)!

This week has run a lot smoother than last week and I'm getting more and more organised every day, and each day getting a little busier. I really hope it continues to get busier and better because this life style is suiting me! I'm happy, calm and contented. Can't ask for much more.

I have my day off tomorrow and I will DEFINITELY do some making. Cushion & Cake is lacking in the former at the moment so I'll get on with it tomorrow. I did get up to some of the crafty business last week though. On Monday I went with a friend to a card making class and on Thursday, a felting class.

Fusing the two colours together.

I knew I'd like the felting class but I really loved it. I've got ideas now of felted decorations in the shop, maybe a curtain type thing or a garland like this.

There are so many possibilities. I could get a bit carried away! The yarn itself, the untreated, unspun wool was so tactile and so lovely just to hold in your hands and stroke. Sooooo soft. My guinea pigs don't enjoy being handled that much so maybe I could get my furry fix from the yarn and leave the guineas to their business. I think I'll book onto the next class. I really enjoyed crafting as a group. It was very sociable. If you live in or near Glasgow, Damselfly and Queen Bee is where I went. Annie and Yvonne run the workshops and the shop itself. Great ladies.

So I'd better go and get cleared up for the day and get ready for some relaxing tomorrow xx

cushion and cake blog's new look!

2011-05-19T22:38:00.001+01:00

Oooh... look at my new blog. Isn't it pretty?

Also I went live today with a little temporary website just to get me started.
www.cushionandcake.com
Stuart and I are going to work on taking some beautiful images of the shop for the super duper website. Just trying to find some free time to take the pictures!

C&C menu

2011-05-18T11:35:00.001+01:00

If any of you ever wanted to pop in....

finishing touches and trouble shooting

2011-05-10T21:53:00.002+01:00

Thanks to everyone for your kind words. I really appreciate them. Some of you have even said you'll pop in. Ooooh. I'd love that. I really would.

Things were a little busier for me today compared to the weekend which was great. I had a couple of tables at the one time so I was able to see how I coped preparing everything for both tables. It was fine. I have learned so much in the last few days. The best way to do things. Where to keep things. How to do things speedily and lots more.

One thing I am struggling with and it is not something I had thought would give me hassle and it is my till. Now I'm not a technophobe by any means but my till terrifies me! The instruction manual is so complicated and when I look at the diagrams and the words on the page, they all start to swirl into a psychedelic pattern which makes me have to close the manual and come back to it later. I met a fellow tearoom owner at a friend's birthday at the weekend and she visited me yesterday and showed me the basics so it is a little less scary now.

I also didn't have a proper book keeping system in place so I sent an emergency email to my follow on business advisor from Glasgow North Regeneration Agency on Sunday to ask for help and she actually came to the shop this morning and sat for an hour with me and got me set up with something simple. I owe a lot to this organisation. They worked with me for months to put together a business plan and I even got a grant from them to buy equipment for the tearoom. I'd recommend to anyone setting up a business to get help form their local version of this Glasgow North Regeneration Agency

Also first thing this morning, my signage was erected. That do you think? Cute? Stuart designed it for me. It is just perfect for the wee place. One of my friends popped her head in the door as she was passing today and said the signage looks 'edible'. I agree!

You'll see my vintage bicycle too with a little flower basket there. I decided not to paint it after all. I couldn't do it. I'd loose the 'Triumph' painted on the frame and the rusty bits give it character. Some things are best left as they are. The bicycle is one of them. The wee blue outdoor table and chair was thrifted from the recycling centre last week. The guys must see me coming and say 'here she comes, what rubbish does she want today?' Hee hee. I should probably paint it in case someone in Glasgow recognises it!

first days

2011-05-09T17:43:00.002+01:00

Today is my day off. However, I have been in the tearoom all day baking, paying bills, organising my kitchen and waiting for the signage company to come and fit my shop front signage.
Today I made a raspberry bakewell cake, gooey choc and cherry cookies ad lemon drizzle cake. All that leaves is to make my scones fresh in the morning. I'll have to be really careful with how much cake I'm eating. When I was making my cookies, one of them fell apart when I took it out of the oven, so I just ate it as it wasn't good enough to sell. On top of that, I had a bit of leftover coconut & lime cake at lunch from yesterday. I can't help myself!!!
A photographer was in today too to take my pictures for Glasgow's daily newspaper, The Evening Times. They're running a little story on the shop which is great exposure. It was quite good fun having my picture taken posing with cakes and teapots but it did feel a little odd. I'm not used to having my picture taken and rarely enjoy seeing pictures of myself!

I've got some more images to show you of the shop, full length shots and some more little details.

I also have some party photos...

It was pretty packed! I was delighted with the turnout.

cushion and cake is open!!!

2011-05-08T19:51:00.001+01:00

Phew! What a week this has been. The final push to get the tearoom ready for my opening party on Friday night was tough but I got there in the end and had an amazing night at my opening.

The tearoom was jam packed with a wonderful turnout. Everyone I invited turned up to wish me well and enjoy some cava and cake. A photographer pal came in to take some photos of my wee event so I'll be sure to let you see some of them when I get my mitts on them. For now however. Some images of the shop.

Hmmm... I've just realised that there are no shots of the entire shop! Sorry about that. I'll get some of those tomorrow!!

my big day - no, not getting married

2011-05-06T00:16:00.001+01:00

Wowzers!! Whirlwind fortnight! I feel like I haven't stopped for a breath for days now. I'm not complaining though. Tomorrow is my little opening evening with some cava, cake, tea and chat. I'm really looking forward to it but I'm a bit nervous about accommodating everyone that I invited into the shop. Last count there were 40 plus people. I am shocked at how many people said they'd come along. I'm delighted!
At the moment, I'm not feeling too stressed. I'm trying not to. I don't want to feel stressed in little tearoom and I feel like I've worked hard enough and prepared enough to deserve not to be all over the place tomorrow. Today was a great day. A lovely woman, Ruth who I go to for reiki and used to see through work as we worked for similar organisations, came to the shop this morning to clear the energy in the shop. It was a lovely little ceremony with sage incense filling the room. Then I went onto making lots of big pom poms for my window, bunting and goodie bags for tomorrow night.
I also took delivery of all the lovely loose leaf tea I ordered from Jenier Teas. I had a visit on Monday from Anita from the company which happens to be local which is really nice. She had lots of anecdotes and stories about lots of the teas which I just love. I can be a bit geeky with things like that and often learn as much as I can about stuff so I really look forward to gaining a bit more knowledge on tea rather than just really enjoying drinking it!
So I'd best get to sleep. Big day tomorrow. Sorry I'm still holding out on images. I promise the next post will have some pictures of the tearoom and some of my favourite bits in it.

xx

drumroll... opening day announcement!

2011-04-26T21:15:00.001+01:00

I'm so excited now I can hardly bear it! I've set the date for Cushion&Cake's opening, Saturday 7th May 2011. That's the end of next week!

But it is OK. I'm really pleased with the progress I've made on getting the place ready. Today, with the help of my partner Stuart, his mum Marie and my friend Jill, we got the place scrubbed top to bottom and the first coat of paint on. I like to think I'm organised and efficient but Marie just came in the door with a massive packed lunch for all in one hand and a roller in the other and got everyone to work without any hesitations. She's coming back tomorrow for hopefully more of the same.

I've decided not to post any more of the 'before' pictures now rather just let you see when it is all lovely and how I see it in my mind. I hope that's OK! Instead I'll show you a picture of me with an owl at the weekend :-)

On the Friday eve of my opening to the public, I've organised a wee party for family, friends and folk who've shown kindness and generosity over the last few months as a way to say thank you. The booze was delivered today and I hope there's enough cava to go round. I'll be sure to get lots of pictures at the opening night too.

I'm really pleased with the number of folk who have stopped to have a wee look at the poster in my window and give a wave or approval or even pop their heads in to say they look forward to a cuppa in a proper teacup. Today an woman popped in with her cheeky wee Jack Russell/Basset Hound cross doggie and asked if she came for a cuppa, could I have a dog bowl of water for him. Of course!! I don't think doggies are allowed in tearooms but there will definitely be facilities for them outside.

I'll keep you posted on any more exiting developments over the course of the week...
xx

my first promo poster-yippee!!

2011-04-19T11:00:00.004+01:00

A bit cheeky... but I like it... It'll be going up in my shop window this week xx

feeling excited, feeling confident

2011-04-15T16:14:00.001+01:00

I've been a bit quiet this week in respect of the blog, but making lots of noise elsewhere.
My little tearoom and craft gallery really is starting to take shape. My worktops are now in place, drawers and fridge, with my lovely new big oven arriving on Monday.

I spent an hour with the electrician this afternoon discussing how I want me ceiling lighting. It is all going well and is such an exciting project. I'm really getting to design what is essentially a big cosy kitchen with comfy seating and getting to fill it with gorgeous kitchenware and all the bits I can't have in my tiny galley kitchen at home.

It is the same with the craft side of the business. This week I've been making contact with designer/makers who's work I really like and it is nice getting to know them and eventually stocking their handmade goodies in the shop. I feel great and so confident that I've made the right choice to make this career move.
I may not say this in a few weeks but I think I'd recommend to any woman who was thinking about doing a project like this to just get out and do it. Getting to this stage so far hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would and I feel my confidence growing every day. I know what a difference my business will make to my life but I really hope that the people who come to my tearoom leave with a bit more than just a full tummy. I want them to share my lovely, calm, positive space and leave feeling great. Not too big a thing to achieve is it???

tearoom bathroom wallpaper

2011-04-10T22:09:00.003+01:00

I'm searching all my favourite places this evening for a roll of wallpaper for the toilet in my wee tearoom. I was hoping to be super thrifty and use up some left over Laura Ashley paper from my ownbathroom, but it turns out I don't have enough left...

So, I'm going to buy something different. I love this one from wallpaperdirect.co.uk.

However... I really like the white version of this paper which I'm considering having in my living room when I decorate after my first pay from Cushion&Cake :-) Would it be foolish to have nearly the same paper at home and at work? Probably... but I think the tearoom will be like an extension of my home... hmm... not sure...
There's also this paper which I really like from Cath Kidston.

What do you think?

the junk rooms, stirling

2011-04-10T18:07:00.001+01:00

Like much of the country, we've had excellent weather this weekend. 19 degrees in Glasgow! That is like a Summer's day!!

I had a mix of fun and work this weekend kicking off with an impromptu run in the car to Stirling. We discovered this great place, The Junk Rooms.

It was a great cafe, bistro bar and as the name suggests, is full of interesting second hand furniture and quirky finds.

For dinner I had a lasagna made with butternut squash and I have to say, may well be the best lasagna I have ever eaten. Veggie lasagna can be very much hit or miss... this one was a HIT!

I was impressed with their decor and these stairs were just some of the great details to enjoy.

We also did a lot of work in the shop over the weekend. We lifted several generations of vinyl floor tiles from the shop floor-yuk! We also had a bit of plastering to do. I knew that plastering really is a great skill but I thought I'd be able to manage not too badly. I was wrong! Just because I can ice cakes does not mean I can plaster a wall I discovered. The second coat went on today and the result I think is so so... I'll wait to see what my uncle the builder thinks when he sees it. He'll probably laugh out loud! Thank goodness for sandpaper, that's all I can say.

Out in the garden on Saturday we managed to get some other chairs spray painted. Only a few more left to paint I'm glad to say. My fore finger is fatigued from continuous spray paint action!

This week my new accessible toilet is going in and finally, my little kitchen will be installed and I can really get about doing what I like best. I just have so many ideas for the decor and little details for the tearoom that my brain could burst!
I'll keep you posted with pictures and any exciting news to come.

good news for tea lovers...and tea businesses!

2011-04-07T13:15:00.001+01:00

Afternoon tea more popular than ever as hotels get huge boost in business thanks to the brew

Read the article here...

smashing weekend

2011-04-04T10:31:00.003+01:00

A very productive weekend this weekend where I got involved in a bit of demolition. I thought I'd help the builder out by pulling down a big plaster wall to make way for my new toilet. I've never done anything like it before but I really enjoyed thrusting the crowbar into the plaster and making a massive hole then tearing a bigger one. I even tried to kick it Van Damme style to put the wall in but the result wasn't as satisfying as going at it with some heavy metal.

We also had the task of doing lots of runs in the car to the recycling center to get rid of all the rubbish.

We did a good job leaving the site all tidy.

At the recycling centre I also managed to talk the site manager into letting me take a lovely little rocking chair that I spied in the recycled furniture area. You can just see it in the picture on the right.

The weather on Saturday was great so we made a start on painting the tearoom furniture. I have to say, the results using spray paint were excellent. A number of posts ago I was weighing up the pros and cons on using spray paint. Now there is no contest. The chairs I was painting with paint just take so long and the finish isn't as good. I'm going to source more spray paint colours today so we can finish all of the furniture. The only problem is, you only get ONE chair sprayed per can, and the cans are expensive...but... you save on time and they look great so I suppose it is worth it.

We tried just painting the back of the chair at the front. It was Stuart's idea, and with a new cover on that cushion pad, it'll look brill.

You maybe can't see the colours in the sunlight but the chair on the left, I think is my favourite. It is a lovely pastel green colour.

So later today I'll be pulling cut vinyl off the windows in the shop.Very boring job....

xx

Admin and Kylie

2011-03-29T16:00:00.000+01:00

Today is an admin day. There are so many things to think about to get the tearoom up and running. So far I have organised my energy supply, my water supply, ordered a phone line and broadband. All done online which is great. Takes up much less time.

I went to see Kylie last night at Glasgow's SECC. It was amazing. My friend got two tickets for his Christmas and he asked me if I'd like to go. We saw her in Glasgow on her last tour but last night's show was just spectacular. The outfits, the dancing, acrobatics, set design, water features, aerial acrobatics... Apparently the show cost around £2 million to produce, I'm not surprised! I was particularly taken with a golden Pegasus horse that she entered the stage on.

I wonder if she get's to keep it? She could keep it in her back garden surely, beats the neighbours gnomes for sure!

Pretty Things

2011-03-26T17:09:00.000Z

These arrived this morning. They're pretty aren't they? I think they'll look good on cup hooks on shelves when not in use.

I also wanted to show you what inspired me to buy my vintage bicycle. I'm going to prop it up outside the shop with a little blackboard or something with Cushion&Cake and some flowers like this one.

It was outside a beautiful shop in Baildon, Shipley called Emma's. The two women who run the shop are beautiful and have made an absolutely lovely shop. It is half florist, half home and gift ware. I'd like to be a florist if I wasn't opening a tearoom. I had a taste of it working part time while I was at school.

I visit the shop every time I visit my Aunt and feel all warm and fuzzy when I leave the shop. They have a lovely display of plants outside.

They have a Facebook page which you can look at here
Finally I thought I'd share with you the cake I baked for my aunt's birthday. Three tier, covered in pink icing with Marks&Spencers Percy Pigs!

Just say 'yes'

2011-03-24T21:54:00.000Z

What a great couple of days I've had. Not only was the sun splitting the trees today but I have been really chuffed at people's enthusiasm and kindness regarding my tearoom.

Yesterday I went to my partner's aunt and uncle's house as they had some cutlery they wanted to give me for the tearoom. My jaw dropped when they pulled out three huge, beautiful canteens of cutlery which had been in the family for a good number of years, but never used. Beautiful knives and forks, soup spoons, butter knives, the lot. Everything I could need for the tearoom. I'm now totally sorted for cutlery and extremely grateful to them for that.. I left them at Stuart's house in storage as I have no room for them in my flat so I'll show images when I get them to the shop.

The second brilliant thing happened today. I'd found a woman in Prestwick selling a vintage bicycle so I went to collect it today. The woman was called Lynn and she told me that she'd bought the bicycle in a Police sale in 1974 and it was already very old by then. She also told me about the time the she cycled from Edinburgh to Prestwick (no less than 70 miles!) after having to get off a train while unintentionally using her student train ticket when it wasn't valid, heehee. It has been very much loved. Anyway, we got talking and found we had loads in common and got on really well. She offered me a cup of tea, I said yes and we chatted and looked at her photo album. She later offered me a whole load of gorgeous tea sets when I was telling her about my crockery collecting habits. I was so chuffed that she gave them to me and so grateful.

It is rare to feel such a connection with someone and it was totally by chance so when I was leaving, I invited her and her husband over to mine for dinner! I spent the rest of the day in a really great mood having met someone so lovely and kind. It just goes to show that new friends can be just around the corner.

Sorry for the lack of images today, there'll be more soon!

Some of the "before" images

2011-03-22T19:52:00.000Z

This is my little place. Hopefully there's room for the seven tables that I've bought... we'll just have to wait and see!
As you can see the walls and floor are in fair condition so will be easy enough to paint. At the back, there will be a bit or reshuffling to make an accessible loo and my little kitchen.

Tearoom Transformation Week One

2011-03-22T15:43:00.001Z

I popped into have a wee look at my shop before work starts officially on Thursday this week. I opened all the shutters letting in a lot more light than I expected and swept the doorway. I was looking round trying to envisage how it'll look, what colour schemes I'm going to use and where I'll do all my baking.

I was quite sure I wanted a duck egg blue/green colour for the interior. This colour has been on my mind for months so I'm sure it's the right one.

I'm going with the sea splash colour. What do you think? It is a lovely pastel shade and will go with all of the pastel coloured things in the shop.

My signage will still be pink and a big part of the look. I'll be painting the stone floor a dark grey colour and the exterior will be either white or light grey. I haven't decided just yet, but I'd better be quick because I'll be painting this week.

On a visit to my aunt in Yorkshire at the weekend, I went to a vintage fair and got some pieces for the shop. I fell in love with these vintage, plastic handled knives.

I'll struggle to get these to the tearoom because I LOVE THEM and want to keep them for myself...

The Go Ahead!

2011-03-14T10:26:00.000Z

Cripes! The moment has arrived where I've been told I can take the keys to my shop and start getting it ready for opening.
Why then am I not rushing to make calls and get everyone organised? Well, because I'm bloomin' terrified now. Until now I've been waiting on other people to do their bit now it is over to me and I am scared. It is now a reality. I'm setting up a business. Eek!
Best not to think about it too much though and just get in about it.
Stuart and I went here yesterday for tea and cake.

Loopy Lorna's Tearoom in Edinburgh. We just took a run through in the car in the afternoon and stopped to have tea and a slice of cake, just for research you understand. It was a busy place, empty tables only empty for a few moments before someone else came through the door in search of cake. I was happy to see it so busy and comforts me that people do really want tea and cake. Lorna's did feel quite different to what I wanted to do however, but it's all good research.
Right I'm off now to do some yoga then get onto the scary task as hand. Organising getting the doors of Cushion&Cake OPEN!!!

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-03-03T13:50:00.001Z

I got a lovely wee surprise a few days ago where Becca from Fancy Vintage awarded Cushion&Cake amongst seven others a STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD! How cool eh?

Thank you Becca, I'm very touched. It is not difficult to love Becca's blog being choc full with images of vintage goodies and stonking cakes. Go and visit her now at Fancy Vintage

So, with the award come some conditions. I must tell you 8 things about me and start my search to award 8 Stylish Blogger Awards to other bloggers. I look forward to this.

Here it goes:

I love animals and have two pet guinea pigs, Bosshog and Buttercup who live in my flat with me. They are my wee pals, confidants and stress busters. I love them.
I'm quite creative and in my life have tried a host of different things. I can play the violin, dance salsa, sew, speak French, cook and present food beautifully, put clothes and rooms together interestingly, can use Photoshop crudely, screen print, crosstitch... jack of all trades...
Flowers are some of my favourite things. I'd spend my last few pounds on flowers (as long as I bought the guinea pigs some of their favourite lettuce first though)
I practice yoga at home and weekly at a studio and love it. I'm sure it holds the key to happiness.
Food is a passion. If I'm not eating food, I'm cooking it, looking at pictures of it or researching it. I look a recipes every day and have quite a collection of recipe books and random scribbled notes with ingredient lists on.
A woman I aspire to be like is Elspeth Thompson, writer, gardener, blogger and creative extraordinaire. Sadly she passed away almost a year ago but you can read more about her here or check her books out on Amazon.
I have an MA Literary Studies from Glasgow University but have worked in the voluntary sector for the last few years working with vulnerable people. Only now finding my way to a creative (and caring) role by opening a tearoom.
I'm very lucky to have a super supportive and super creative partner, Stuart, without whom I wouldn't have found the confidence to rediscover my creativity, write a blog or own my own business. My family are also awesome and give me buckets of encouragement and nurtured creativity since childhood.

I'm off now to award fellow blogger a Stylish Blogger Award. I'll post their details here shortly.

Elspeth Thompson died on Thursday 25th March 2010 aged 48

Paper Napkins and Glasses... dull but necessary...

2011-03-03T13:17:00.001Z

I've been on a mega shopping spree over the last few days and have bought LOADS of stuff for the tearoom. I was fortunate enough to get a grant from a local regeneration agency in Glasgow and must present receipts for all the things I said I'd buy within a few weeks so I've been busy doing that.
I bought a Russell Hobbs mini hob to use to melt chocolate or toast pecans for my cakes, some new teapots, 2 and 4 cup varieties and lots of baking necessities such as scales, pastry cutters and lovely storage tins. I'm still to buy a till and a printer. I'm taking a bit more time to find the best models.
I've got quite a selection of china, vintage tea cups and saucers, cake plates etc, but I think it would be foolish to try to source vintage glass for soft drinks (very breakable) so I'm looking at Ikea for glasses and other consumables.

These glasses are fine. Not terribly exciting, but you get what you pay for with glassware I suppose. I'm putting so much effort into making the place a wee bit different I don't want people to think I've been lazy by buying in bulk from Ikea. I haven't I promise! However, I also notice that they have Cushion&Cake coloured napkins!

Cushion&Cake pink

New fav Cushion&Cake colour

If anyone has any suggestions on where to buy exciting glasses and the like, do let me know :-)

Business Cards

2011-03-01T21:24:00.000Z

Stuart is treating me to some business cards. My first official ones and he sent the design over to me today.

These are the designs. It goes without saying, being a big pink fan, that I love the pink business cards but I'm hugely attracted to the green coloured ones. I think I'm going to get the green ones printed first. What do you think?

Sophie Dahl Recipes

2011-03-01T21:18:00.003Z

I'm loving the bbc food website at the moment, particularly the Sophie Dahl recipes. I really enjoyed watching her food television programme.

Her kitchen was a dream and the food she made fit for a princess.

She enjoys sweet treats like any girl (even though she used to be a model) and she knows how to make her sweet treats look super feminine.

I love the clothes she wears during her show, floral, vintage inspired and feminine.

I aspire to dress like that in my tearoom, in a kitchen like Sophie's creating wonderful cakes and treats like Sophie.

Still going slow!!!!!

2011-03-01T15:01:00.000Z

I've been chasing my architect to get an update on where we are with the paperwork for my shop...he's in Manchester until the end this week. No movement again this week then... can you sense my frustration?
Nevertheless, I am in a good mood. I've just been shopping for the tearoom. I got some lovely pastel coloured kitchen items form Marks and Spencers and four cracking vintage style glass storage jars (like the ones below)which could hold 3 or 4 bags of flour for sure. They weren't very expensive so I am extra chuffed. They were too big to take on the bus though, so I'll go back and collect them tomorrow.

I need to get the keys to this tearoom soon. My dad's garage has about 16 chairs, 4 tables and Welsh dresser and other bits and bobs taking over, and my house has extra tables and chairs, boxes of crockery all over the place. I'm feeling pretty cramped...

I just wanna bake cakes!

2011-02-15T20:40:00.001Z

Well February is marching on and I'm still waiting for paperwork form the council before I can get the keys to my tearoom. I needed a building warrant to put in an accessible toilet and some planning permission to change the tearoom from shop to tearoom. It all takes sooooo long! Months!!
I won't bore you with any more of the boring bureaucracy and instead just show you things that continue to inspire the feel of the tearoom and the things I'd like to make.

I'm going to make the lemon cake tomorrow. The cupcakes look awesome but perhaps beyond my capabilities at the moment!

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T17:22:00.001Z

I made my partner's Valentine card today by hand using some brown card and embroidery thread. I found the pattern at Stitchpoint.

It was so easy and fun to do. I completed mine in about 40 minutes. Using the pattern printout (or your own design), attach the pattern to the cardboard of paper you're going to use for the card with blu-tac or tape, but make sure it can be easily removed without marks.

Punch through the pattern and the card with a needle or a pin. I put a cushion underneath my layers to make it easier to punch. When you have all of your punched dots, you can start sewing.

Use a cross stitch, running or back stitch or any stitch you wish to join the dots.

Voila!

And finally...

Show your love to your furry ones!

Nice Details and Paint Jobs

2011-02-12T13:40:00.002Z

Most of these image have come from a great new site Pinterest. Lots of lovely goodies for inspiration.

Anyone for Valentines?

2011-02-11T12:04:00.000Z

It is that time again. Valentines, a day of celebration for everyone in love. A day to show that special someone that you care. I don't think presents are the key here rather than FOOD!!! I love cooking and baking and love even more when I cook for my partner who also loves my cooking and baking. I'm not sure what our plans are yet for Valentines but it might include things like these.

For those of you not celebrating Valentines, these recipes are for you too. Stuff your face full of cake and get sloshed on pink cocktails! Why not?!

Spray paint... no thanks...

2011-02-10T17:39:00.000Z

I bought some spray paint in lovely pastel colours last night so that I could start preparing my furniture before moving into my tearoom hopefully later this month.

So I practiced on an Ikea unit I'd bought for my bathroom which was very much the wrong colour.

Before

After

The finish was OK and I'm happy enough with it but this one unit used and entire tin of spray paint! Not very economic at £7 per tin and it was a bit messy. There was a dust in just about every room in my flat after I'd finished spraying. However it was quite easy to do and was fairly quick but I think I might resort back to tin of paint and a trusty brush. Has anyone any tips on using spray paint or ever used it with a finish that they liked?

Display Stand Potential?

2011-02-09T22:06:00.000Z

Almost Bunnies on Flickr

I really like the alternative use of this wooden plant stand as a bedside table. Could it be a nice way to display handmade items in my tearoom and craft gallery? Maybe they could be used on the floor or in the shop window for an interesting window display?
Looking on the web for something similar, I've found these. As with most of the furniture going into my tearoom, they may need a coat of pastel coloured paint.

Reeces Pieces Cookie Recipe

2011-02-09T14:10:00.002Z

My brother Richard loves Reeces Pieces and he loves cookies. So for his birthday, I baked him some cookies combining the two.
They were super tasty, chewy with a bit of crunch. I normally don't really care much for cookies but this recipe has changed my mind.

Ingredients
85g light brown sugar
115g margarine
170g self raising flour
2tbsp milk
2tbsp golden syrup
2 packets Reeses Pieces
a few drops vanilla extract

Preparation method

Pre-heat oven to 180C
Cream together the margarine and sugar in a mixing bowl
Add the milk, golden syrup, vanilla extract, self raising flour and Reeces Pieces to the mixture and mix well to make a thick batter a bit like a cake mix.
Place spoonfuls onto a greased and floured baking tray/cookie pan making sure there is enough space in between so the mix can spread.
Bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack.
Store in a airtight container (if they last that long) to keep them chewy and crunchy

Pastel China

2011-02-07T23:29:00.001Z

I've been looking at colour schemes for the tearoom and its certain that it'll be mostly pastel colours. I adore this china. I have some china at home from the potters you see here but I am envious of this collection!!!

Original image on Flickr

Beautiful Blog

2011-02-07T22:27:00.000Z

I came across this blog and it has the mose beautiful images of food I have ever seen! Her pictures of her cakes, desserts, even plain old tomatoes look amazing. I'm finding inspiration here for the feel for my tearoom.

Some things I'm looking at

2011-02-04T21:57:00.000Z

Loving anything with ruffles

Always love flowers. The simple vases are lovely

More ruffles!

And more!

This is a bit modern for me, still like it though

Balls of ruffle!

Colour Schemes

2011-02-04T16:29:00.001Z

I'm feeling a bit impatient now. Today was the deadline for the Council to have looked at my building warrant and either pass it, or make recommendations. Hopefully next week I'll know if I can take the keys for the shop and start getting it ready.

As I've mentioned, I probably have all the china that I need and pretty much all of the furniture, but I need to do a bit of work on the furniture before its fit for the tearoom.

I think I'll try spray paint for the chair and table painting and see how that goes. I think it might be quicker that using a tinned paint and brush. These are the kinds of colours I'm thinking about.

I've got my mum on board to help sand and spray paint the furniture I have, maybe starting next week if the blustery weather clears to let us work outdoors.

I've baked a bit too this week. I've sent Stuart my partner off with some samples for his family to try. If the samples do get to them I will be surprised. He really liked my pecan and chocolate cookies. I did too I suppose and scoffed about three of them yesterday...

Far and Wide for Cushion&Cake

2011-01-30T21:16:00.002Z

I set off this weekend on a journey to buy stuff for the Cushion&Cake tearoom. I'd bought six chairs on ebay which I was collecting from Castle Douglas. I also managed to get two bargain round tables for me to work my magic on too from the man who had them stored.

We drove a big loop around the South West of Scotland in search of Cushion&Cake tearoom goodies.

I also came across an absolutely fantastic bric-a-brac shop in Castle Douglas FULL of goodies called Hazels on St. Andrew Street. China, pictures, glassware, furniture. I was overwhelmed by the quantity of goodies. I got some things for the shop. I think I have nearly everything a need in terms of china for the shop.

I brought them home and gave them a wash before boxing in bubble wrap before their unveiling in the tearoom.

While on our road trip we stayed in Kircudbright in Dumfries and Galloway. Our B&B was called Baytree House and I think it was the best B&B I've ever stayed in. We received such a warm welcome from the owners who went to lengths to ensure our comfort. On arrival we were served tea and biscuits on their drawing room (very grand). The town itself was lovely and is called the 'Artist's Town' with lots of small galleries and studios on the high street.

The weather was icy cold as we went out for a walk before dinner.

 The houses in the streets were all painted in adorable colours, each one different from its neighbour. 

I loved taking pictures of the houses, their pastel colours filling me with inspiration for the tearoom decor.

Duvet Making Project: Day One

2011-01-24T18:06:00.001Z

The fabric is cut to fit my duvet and I've started to make ruffles and pin them in place. I need about ten of them. This should keep me busy for a few days...

Still waiting...

2011-01-23T19:27:00.001Z

So... I'm still waiting for my paperwork so that I can get my keys to my shop. I can't wait to be able to get in and get decoration underway.
I have a table and chairs to collect this week for the tearoom. Second hand, which I'll repaint.
I've been looking at blogs a lot this weekend and have found lots of lovely things, little decorations for the tearoom, like these...

I'm not sure what I'd do with them if I made them but they are gorgeous.

Being a bit on limbo at the moment I'm going to take a break from paperwork and reseach for the tearoom to make myself a duvet cover.

I was inspired but this one from the US Urban Outfitters site.

This is a corner ruffle duvet but I think I'm going to go for three or four ruffles just down the centre with some matching pillow covers. It should keep me occupied while I wait for news of my building warrant and planning permission.

Cake Domes

2011-01-17T22:02:00.000Z

I've started buying for the tearoom already. I bought a number of these cake domes from Ikea last week. They are very cute and will coordinate well with the vintage china that I have. These should keep my cakes nice and fresh.

Happy New Year

2011-01-17T21:57:00.000Z

A late happy new year to you all. It has been a while since I have blogged about Cushion and Cake. Apologies for neglecting the blog, but I certainly haven't been neglecting Cushion and Cake. In fact, we're moving ever closer to the opening. I can move into my property whenever I want. The only hold up is waiting on certain paperwork from the council before I start any building work, but nevertheless, we can only be weeks away from a grand opening.

Planning the decor for the tearoo is now mega important. I'll blog some picture of styles that I like or details which would fit well in the tearoom. I love this plate wall. Gorgeous.

I like these really plain and simple shelves. There's nothing particularly special about them at all but they look great. I like that the height of the shelf can be adjusted when you need to. The paper lanterns in the background are lovely and well executed.
So more like this to come. Feel free to give me any of your comments on the images and my ideas. Input is greatly appreciated!

Christmas Mug

2010-12-22T10:44:00.001Z

It is almost Christmas! I can't wait. Spending time with my family and friends after a busy few months finding property for my tearoom, filling in applications and securing funding. I received my official offer for the property yesterday so I will soon find out when I can move in. I'm very excited.

I treated myself yesterday to some Christmas drinking receptacles. I love my new Christmas mug with a ribbon design on. I'm drinking a festive tea, Cinnamon Spice by Yogi Teas. 

And these pretty snowflake tumblers were a bargain at 75p each.

It's amazing the difference it makes to a drink when you drink it from something pretty :-)

Great Festive Cake Idea

2010-12-18T20:42:00.000Z

I was looking at cake recipes and came across this fantastic cake, but particularly, the icing sugar dusted over the top.

The example here used doilies placed on top of the cake to use as a template, but how about using paper snowflakes that you hand cut yourself as a template?

 This was my version and I think it is super festive.
I served it up to my friends at my Christmas crafternoon last week.  
We ate food, drank mulled wine and made some simple Christmas crafts. It was a hit with everyone and got me feeling all Christmassy :-)

Cold Obsession & Christmas Crafternoon

2010-12-07T11:09:00.003Z

OK, so I have to admit it now... I do have a bit of an obsession with snow and the like and find it totally fascinating. I love it and it makes the world feel magical. I was particularly fascinated, and dismayed at the temperature display on my mac.
If you can see, it says -14??? Well I wouldn't be surprised because look at the ice on the inside of my living room window this morning!

 Brrrr... anyway. On to less chilly things but super festive. I mentioned yesterday my Christmas Crafternoon. I've been working on putting together a programme of activities for my crafter guests. Things like these pretty snowflake felt coasters.

Mulled wine...oh cosy, warm and boozy... can a drink be any better??

Paper decorations made from last year's Christmas cards.

And a recipe for the mulled cider I told you about yesterday...ooft!

These were the kind of things I would like to do with my friends. They're dead easy but fun to make and they can take them home to but up in their homes.

I ordered my felt, tissue paper and the like yesterday so I am awaiting a delivery. I just hope the weather doesn't delay the postie or my Christmas Crafternoon!

Christmas Horses

2010-12-06T17:59:00.000Z

With the UK still looking much like this....

 I'm turning my attention to Christmassy things like this.

They're little festive folk horses for your tree. I absolutely love them and you can find them on folksy here

I've organised a Christmas Crafternoon with some friends this Sunday. It's going to be a fun party afternoon with food drink and making some simple crafts. I'm really looking forward to it. I've been trawling craft books and websites for some fun things to make. One of the girls coming suggested making mulled cider which sounds fairly lethal!
I have no further tearoom news from last week. I'm really just waiting on people doing their bit and getting back to me, so for now, you'll have to endure some random blog entries until I have more news...

Comfy Food

2010-12-02T12:46:00.004Z

When the weather is like this, all I want to do is stock up, cook and eat. I walked to the shops yesterday and came back with a random selection of stuff. Milk, necessary, cheese, obviously, but the scented candle and rubber gloves were perhaps a bit superfluous... I really just wanted to get out and enjoy the momentary interaction with the man who served me in the shop. I'm feeling a bit lonely here in my flat with no visitors!
Come share my homemade soup with me

Anyway, enough self pity (I actually LOVE the snow) and onto important things like this stollen spirals recipe from my favourite recipe website. My squirrel/bear like make up makes me want to bake this, scoff, then go to sleep. It is carb central, these doughy balls with nuts and other tasty bits. I may have to pop to the shop again for some ingredients. My pistachio stash is currently low...

I've not had much more tearoom action this week but I am happy with where I am at the moment. I have a lovely architect who is currently doing up my drawings and applying for planning permission and my building warrant. My Cushion&Cake bank account is now open and I have my own debit card which says Cushion&Cake and everything! I guess this means I can start buying stuff doesn't it? Yes!!!

Local Winter Wonderland

2010-11-30T15:26:00.000Z

I popped out to take some pictures in the snow earlier, but other than that, I'm staying in. I've been having a play with Photoshop to put these two images together while I'm stuck indoors. I have just finished a 10 week course in Photoshop but my new skills are not coming easily...

Hmmm, these images could be a bit bigger... More practice required...

Vintage Teapots Anyone???

2010-11-28T19:43:00.001Z

After lots of searching online, in charity shop and antiques fairs I just can't seem to find nice vintage teapots for the tearoom.

I know what I'm looking for but I just can't find them. Talking to an antiques shop owner, apparently folk didn't always buy teapots with their crockery as they were easily broken or expensive so I guess that explains why they're more difficult to pick up.

But I'm going to need teapots... but maybe I'll have to buy new ones?? Would this be acceptable in a vintage inspired tea room?! 

The one above is mine. More like it would be cool. These are nice teapots though.  

Spots....

Stripes.....

 Stars....

Flowers...

Maybe a mix of vintage and new will be cool. I'll keep looking though. The more vintage the better I think...

Waiting and Biscuits

2010-11-24T16:39:00.003Z

I'm a bit stuck at the moment. Lots of waiting. I have to wait for my lease on Cushion and Cake to be drawn up. I have to make an application for planning permission and I need a building warrant. I can't really do anything in respect to any of these tasks until I meet Phil the architect next week to do some drawings.

I have to apply for a change of class for the shop as I'll have table and chairs and stuff so this is going to push my wee opening back perhaps a month so it now looks like it'll be February time for a grand opening. Which is fine. 

Having a bit of extra time on my hands this week then I baked some biscuits today.

They are quite Christmassy with ginger and cinnamon. I've already eaten a few. They're very tasty.

I think I'll take some over to my friend who is feeding me at her flat tonight. She's a very good cook and I always look forward to seeing what she's cooking...

Kissen und kuchen... that's what I'd be called...

2010-11-19T10:05:00.001Z

... if I opened my tearoom and craft gallery in Berlin. I'm just back from a couple of days in Berlin where I went to visit some trendy tearooms and cafes for some interior decoration inspiration. I found loads of nice places.

Where I ate my favourite thing in Berlin, a cheese breakfast!

We visited places like the Memory Cafe, above which had a real vintage industrial feel.

And places like this. A really feminine sugary coloured bakery and tearoom.

Even although pink was profuse...

the shabby furniture and distressed paint job made it all work together. AND they sold lovely little individual cakes, like this pear cake.

I really enjoyed my tearoom research in Berlin but I have come back a little less sure about what I want my tearoom to look like. I love pastel colours and traditional vintage with table cloths and prettiness, but there's a definite vintage industrial thing creeping into my headspace and I find myself attracted to old industrial pieces like sewing stools like this one. This stool is from a place in Edinburgh.

I hope I might be able to marry it all together and it will look magnificent. I'm sure it will...

This week I'm loving...paper lanterns

2010-11-09T15:46:00.001Z

With the offer in on the shop premises I can only wait for the lease to be issued which could be a number of weeks. I can't believe it is ACTUALLY happening. No longer just a thought in my head. It feels really nice.

I had the keys this morning so that I could go in and do some measuring, so I went with my tape measure and noted wall measurements for wall paper, ceiling height, floor space for tables and chairs and the size of the window. I really can't wait to get in an start doing stuff! 

I have some time though to look for inspiring decor for the tearoom. I'm off to Berlin at the weekend for an inspiration trip. I love Berlin's sense of style and they do enjoy a slice of cake in their tearooms and coffee houses. I'll be taking my camera and my notebook for plenty of ideas.

I'm really enjoying paper lanterns this week and other things which hang from the ceiling. Bunches of white lanterns could look very effective, as in the third last and last image.

I'd need some help folding all of these origami birds for a mobile like this!

Soups and Ceiling Decorations

2010-11-04T11:34:00.003Z

It is getting colder and up here in Scotland, dark at 4.30pm which normally I'd be desperately unhappy about but instead I'm feeling inspired.

I put an offer in yesterday on the property I've been looking at over the last few weeks. All going well, I could be signing a lease shortly which means I'll be opening my tearoom in the Winter.

I've been thinking about soups. Warm and hearty soups with seasonal loveliness. I picked these squash up this week but can't bring myself to cut them up and use them because they look so nice.

How cute are these?

Stuart always sends me links to pretty things and inspiring stuff for the shop. He thought I'd like this image with big ceiling pom-poms, and I do, I love it, and by clicking on the image, you can see how to make them! That's a job for me next week!

I like this bunting from a Flickr friend Teawagon. Some of this for my grand opening may be essential.

I was excited to see and advert on the TV today for the Country Living Magazine Glasgow Fair 18-21st November 2010. Even though I couldn't be more urban living in a flat about a mile from Glasgow city centre, this is my favourite magazine. Looking at the website it is going to be full of goodies and inspiration. I hope Stuart will come with me but if he doesn't want to be surrounded by pastel Christmas tree decorations and glittery deer, ribbons and gift wrapping tutorials, I'll ask my sister or my mum to come.
I've been doing the rounds of the auction houses and big antiques dealers in Glasgow for some inspiration and to source some of my furniture. I really liked this standard lamp and lampshade.

I came across this little guy too. He's a commemorative bear from the 1980's Olympics. I like his posture and the wee rings on his tummy. He looks like a care bear. 

Also this week I have the task of looking for crafters to exhibit and sell their wares in the tearoom. I already had a list of people in my head of who I'd like to ask, but I've been doing a bit more investigation into local crafters in particular. My goodness, Glasgow are a crafty bunch!

So I'd better get back to it. I'm trying a couple of carrot and coriander soup recipes today too and I may just have some for my lunch.

Thrifty Tearoom Funriture Finds

2010-10-29T17:02:00.001+01:00

Moving ever closer to securing a property for Cushion and Cake I've been busy with viewings and meetings to sort out the financials. I hope to put an offer in on a place next week!

This may be premature but Stuart has been working on some ideas for signage for the tearoom.

In the meantime, I've been out searching for inspiration and for furniture for the tearoom. So far I've thrifted a number of chairs, cups and saucers, an old Singer sewing machine and a Welsh dresser. My very kind Dad is letting me store the stuff in his garage at the moment... thanks Dad!!

Today I did a tour of the Glasgow auction houses to see if there was anything suitable for Cushion and Cake like tables and teapots. These are the things I'm struggling to get a hold of. I also went to my local antiques shops arcade, Ruthven Mews and found lot of inspiration there.

I wasn't thinking about this Samsonite embroidered luggage for the tearoom but I do love them.

Gorgeous mix of crockery here. I was greedily searching through this lot for any of my favourite names.

More loveliness to rummage through

I really liked this retro unit and re painted, reupholstered chair. I'd like a couple of chairs like this for the tearoom. I'd like to paint them and choose the fabric myself.

This wicker furniture is painted in pastel colours which means I love it. I'd like this in my flat rather than the tearoom though.

Another shot of the painted chair with lemon painted table next to it. One of the lovely gentlemen who owns one of the antique shops in this arcade suggested a theme for each table. This would be a nice lemon theme.

A rather nice collection of vintage linen. I could have a couple of tables adorned with beautiful vintage linen.

So, here at the end of a busy week I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend and some pumpkin carving, and maybe some pumpkin soup or even a cake!

Happy Halloween

Interior designing and tea sampling

2010-10-18T14:06:00.000+01:00

Things are moving on with the tearoom. I'm hoping to get in for my second viewing this week with my uncle who's a builder to show him what kind of changes I might want to make to the property.
I'm also going back to the Business Gateway this week to meet with my advisor to firm up my finance figures. 
I've been spending some time getting excited about the look of the tearoom and have started working on a mood board.

Lots of pastel colours, quite feminine, but not too girly. My home is really quite girly, shabby chic but I'm not sure that is to everyone's taste. I've been researching sinks, shelves, chairs, lights. This is my favourite part of the project, the interior design. But I feel nervous about it too. What is no one likes it except me??!!

Out in the West End yesterday, Stuart and I stopped for a bowl of soup and some cake in a new Vintage clothes shop.

The soup was lovely, and I wanted to steal the lovely big soup plate.

 Stuart had tea in a pretty cup and both had slices of cake, but I'm afraid I ate mine before I could take a picture of it... 

I've also managed to get my hands on four old chairs this week for the tea room. My plan was to paint all furniture in pastel colours and distress them a bit. I'm still undecided. 

While I'm waiting for all the official bits and bobs to come together, along with a the interior design of the tea room, I've turned my attention to the tea. I think I'll offer around 6 different teas and I want them to be special. I've been in touch with suppliers of tea that I like as a start. I spoke to someone this morning who is sending me some samples this week. Yum.

Back in the saddle!

2010-10-15T11:00:00.002+01:00

So as you know from my last post, I had some bad news regarding that property I missed out on, but all it not lost, oh no! I've found another couple which are even BETTER! Better location, nicer street, near my home, in great condition. It is looking good. I can already see myself in there. I've already decorated the place. So excited about the decorating bit.

I don't have any interesting photos to show you at the moment of the property, but how about a couple of pictures of cake that I baked this week. Coconut and Lime Cake. One for me and one for a friend's birthday.

That's a pretty big slice for one person I admit!

At the weekend, I went to stay in Stuart's family caravan on Girvan. There are lovely beaches nearby. I'm always on the look out for heart shaped stones.

I started to collect heart shaped stones but to avoid cluttering my flat with hundreds of them, I thought a nice picture of them would do.

I was given some flowers this week to cheer me up after my disappointment last week. 

The colour of the carnations is magnificent. Very sumptuous. 

I think that's all my news for now until I have some real news on the tearoom. Have a great weekend x

Back on the property search... boo hoo

2010-10-12T11:50:00.000+01:00

Well, after a very productive week last week doing financial projections for the tearoom, having the first meeting with my new accountant and catching up with an old friend in their new café business Café Wander, I had some bad news on Friday morning... One of the worst things to go wrong, again, someone else had jumped in and put an offer in on my place!! Argh!!!

So not quite back to square one, I've still done all of my research, but I'm back on the search for a property, and feeling a little bit sad. The property search part is so difficult. There just isn't an abundance of suitable, affordable places here in Glasgow. Saying that, I'm off to see another property this afternoon and hopefully if it is suitable, I can haggle a bit on the price of the rent.

Anyway, enough of the moaning. To cheer myself up, I bought myself a book on how to make macarons. I'm going to make some this week. I have a little idea that if I get really good at making them I can sell them in the tearoom. 

Ooh they're sooo pretty!

Numbers or cake? Cake please

2010-10-04T12:05:00.000+01:00

The last post I wrote I was feeling positive about a property that I'd seen for Cushion and Cake. I'm really excited because it feels like things really have started moving.

I've set up a few meetings this week with advisors and accountants and the like. I'm hoping to go back and see the wee property this week too.

Trying hard today to sit for more than five minutes and put the figures I've worked out for my start up costs into my business plan. I'm struggling.

I've looked at some expamples of business plans but they don't seem to be very helpful to me. I could really do with seeing a business plan for a little tearoom. 

 There are a million other things I'd rather be doing right now than working out numbers like researching cake recipes and sourcing cool stuff for the tearoom.

 I guess to be a business person I have to do both...

Bad Timing to Find THE Property....

2010-09-16T11:13:00.000+01:00

I'm so excited but I'm trying to keep myself under control. First of all, I'm going on holiday with my family and best friend to France tomorrow. My aunt has bought a house near the Vandee and this is our first visit to it together.

I'm also sooooo excited about a property I saw yesterday. I think it may be the one for the tearoom, but I'm frightened to say that in case the worst happens when I'm away on holiday. If any of you have bough your own homes, you will know that feeling where it just feels right and you visualise yourself swanning around doing your thing, well I felt like that in this place. My timing is bad though isn't it? I can't really make a move until I come back. Please, please don't let anyone else go and see it while I'm away!

Car Booting Cushion and Cake

2010-09-13T17:06:00.002+01:00

I thought I'd try Cushion and Cake at a car boot sale yesterday. I didn't take my hand made items but I did take cakes. The cakes completely sold out and made me quite popular with fellow stall holders.

I took some other bits along with me like shoes I've never worn and some clothes and purses. Sold NONE of them. So glad I didn't take my cushions.
I spoke to lots of nice people however. One woman in particular used to have a tearoom in Sussex and she still has most of the china from her place. I bought one of her trios. It is exactly what I'm looking for.

I got this too. I'm not really sure what it is, but it is a very pretty box. It will be nice to display smaller items in at craft fairs or eventually, in the tearoom.

And finally, this lovely little plate and dome. for £3!

So I suppose any money I made on cakes I spent immediately on tea and cakey stuff. Success!!

Screen Priniting and Wild Swimming?

2010-09-10T11:27:00.000+01:00

I'm excited. I started two new courses this week to expand my crafty skills (makes me sound like a witch doesn't it?). I'm doing Creative Photoshop on Tuesday evenings and Screen Printing on Thursday evenings. My first Photoshop class was fine, but spent mostly familiarising the class with the Mighty Mac, but as I use a Mac, this bit was a bit boring... I can't wait to get started on actually making art work.
I thought I'd do Photoshop so that I could prepare artwork and images for screen printing. The first screen printing class last night was good, but again, I have done screen printing before so it was a bit of a refresher last night on the process.

I can't wait until next week when I can get stuck in. I had lots ofideas on what my first print will be. I think I'm going to do a bumble bee and we've to do something really simple, using only two colours. I thought a bumble bee would be pretty cute.

I'm going to draw my bee myself rather than use an image like this one.
I mentioned in my last entry that I was hoping to view a property for Cushion and Cake. Well I'm going to see it early next week. I don't want to say I have a good feeling about it because I think I've had a good feeling about ALL the properties I've seen so far! It is the one on Saltmarket in Glasgow. The location is fine (can be a bit wild at night, but I won't be open a night) and there are plenty of galleries and quirky places around so I think I'd fit in pretty well. More on that next week hopefully.
I wanted to talk about a new book thati recently got. I'd wanted it for a while and it is called Waterlog by John Deakin.

I learned about this book from Elspeth Thopmson's The Weekend Book. Waterlog is a log of the writer's adventure, wild swimming his way across Britain, in the sea , in lidos, in rivers, pools and moats. I love swimming and being in water so this is the book for me. I was hoping to keep it for a holiday I'm going on with my family next week but I had to make a start on it on Wednesday evening. I only read a couple of chapters but was already inspired to get swimming, so, I went to my local swimming pool yesterday and tried to recreate some of the experience Deakin describes in his book even though my swim was far from his 'wild swimming'. There is an outdoor pool not too far from Glasgow in Gourock.

Gourock Swimming Pool

I've been trying to tempt someone to come with me for a while now to no avail. Looks like I'll have to visit this one myself, but I'd better be quick before the end of the season. I wonder if I have time to go today....

Interesting Things I've Found This Week So Far

2010-09-08T15:09:00.000+01:00

I had an early rise this morning. Up bright and early to go to a car boot sale in Polmadie, Glasgow. It was pretty good. I saw plenty of china, pictures and the like and as usual, I had to pick up a few things. All bargains though. I got these for £2, they're "Sunrise" by Meakin cake plates.

I also got this marvellous piece of work.

It is fully embroidered and was apparently done by a woman who used to teach at the Glasgow Art School. It is lovely. Looking forward to getting help to put it up in my bedroom.

The trip to the car boot sale wasn't just about rummaging for treasures, oh no, I'm thinking about taking a stall on Sunday. I was thinking, my little flat is bursting with stuff (no wonder you say, you keep buying) so I could probably move some stuff on. I've got a couple of dresses and other bits and bobs I'm sure someone else could make use of, and have room for. I just need a buddy to share my stall. Is anyone that desperate to get up at 6am on a Sunday? I'll do some baking too. There were a couple of stalls today with baking but it wasn't home baking. It was all pre-packaged stuff so maybe I can sell some cupcakes.

I've seen some pretty interesting stuff this week. The first was a Folksy shop, Cupcake and Cards, who do lovely tote bags, tea towels and other tea paraphernalia with screen printed cupcakes and other motifs on. I have my eye on a tote bag with an owl printed on. I love owls.

The second was a shop I visited this morning in the Glasgow Barras (I'll say more about that in a mo) called Fabric Bazaar. I've been in for some things before but my visit today really made me want to go back and buy everyting. They have quite a lot of fabric but for me, it is the haberdashery stuff they have that makes me giddy. AND it is all super reasonably priced. I spent a fiver and came away with 5 zips, 2 spool cases, 4 bobbins of thread and several meters each of different ribbon and trimmings. Well worth a visit if you are in Glasgow.
The final thing was the super helpful guy in the fabric shop was telling me about a woman who comes to his shop that is setting up a sewing cafe. That's right, a sewing cafe where you can do the usual cafe thing, but also hire sewing machines you can run up an a-line skirt while you sip a coffee.

It's called Make It Glasgow and I can't wait until it opens.

So other things I've been doing today so far, well, I was having a look around for more properties that may be suitable for Cushion and Cake. I shifted my search a little from West End to Merchant City/East End. Earlier I mentioned the Barras in Glasgow.

This place is a real hub at the weekend of stall holders selling their wares. It is kinda bric-a-brac, clothes etc that is sold there now, but apparently there are plans to give the Barras a bit of a make over. I already know that a big craft fair Made In The Shade Supermercado is planning weekly craft fairs in a newly refurbished part of the Barras which was making me wonder if my little vintage style tearoom and craft gallery may fit in, in this area.

I've been on the phone to the council about this one.

It used to be a little tearoom called Tinkerbell's, and has been lying empty for some time.

It could work. There's also another on on Saltmarket, next to some galleries which again may be suitable.

All posibilities I guess, so I'd better get on with phone calls and the like.
I realise this has been a rather text heavy entry, so I'll go, and tell you about the two evening courses in Creative Photoshop and Screen Printing that I started/starting this week next time.

It's Going to be a Good Week

2010-09-06T16:26:00.000+01:00

I thought it might be Autumn this morning. The sound of the wind was whistling through my flat and it was not as bright this morning as it has been of late. I thought a Summer frock my be foolish today, especially if it is actually as windy outside as it sounds, so I put on my first pair of tights of the season.

I was looking forward to wearing these tights. They have hearts on them, and the only cost me £1 in the sales. Great stuff.

This past weekend has been great. Hard work because I was doing two craft fairs, both Saturday and Sunday. The preparation for these fairs took all the time I had after my return from Paris.

The fair on Saturday was in the Southside of Glasgow. I really enjoyed it and met an old friend Clare who also had a stall at the fair. She had lovely illustrations and when I told her I was looking for a special gift for a friend's 30th birthday, she said she'd do something bespoke for me. Can't wait to see it.

These are my stalls each day.

Some people actually looked giddy when they saw the strawberry topped one.

I should be working on my business plan as I had a bit of a disappointment last week. I found a property for the tearoom that I was keen on and was ready to make a move, but there was someone more organised than me, and they made an offer the landlord obviously couldn't refuse. So I can't make that mistake again. I have to be ready to roll as soon as I find the next suitable property.
Alongside the important businessy stuff, I took some photos of stuff in my flat for my slightly neglected Flickr page.

These are making my heart go a bit fluttery. The colours are beautiful.

These are making me hungry.

I think I can technically call all of this work, or research for the tearoom. It keeps me inspired.

Last week I went out for a walk to see if I could find any empty units for my tearoom. On my travels I found a cafe/tearoom called Vanilla Black with the most outrageously beautiful meringues. Big huge things with swirls and peaks and glitter sprinkled over. I took ages to decide on what cake to have. I was having palpitations really at having to make the choice.

I chose this. A victoria sponge, layered with jam and perhaps lemon curd? I wasn't sure but it really did taste good. I think I'll go back for some take away meringues and incorporate them into a dessert.

These are some sweet peas from my garden. I've brought an abundance of them indoors this year.

In relation to my sweet peas, I'm doing something rather fun this evening. I am going to a prize giving for a gardening competition. Yes, I have won a prize! 3rd prize in the best back court competition as judged by the local housing association here. Not bad for my first year of gardening ever. Maybe second prize next year? Or first perhaps? Anyway I'll be receiving a plaque which goes in the close for all to see. I am so proud :-)

So regardless of the tights which were put on today, this is the start of a very good week I feel. This new song has been giving me good vibes and I just love it. It is by Underworld and is called Always Loved a Film. It is reminiscent of another of their songs which happens to be my favourite Underworld track, Two Months Off. Lifts me right up and I feel all fuzzy and giddy(music has a profound effect on me).

Cushion and Caking in Paris

2010-08-29T11:46:00.006+01:00

Je suis a Paris! It was quite unplanned so have found myself enjoying a week in the beautiful city of Paris.
I'm here with Stuart for a music festival, Rock en Seine. It is the second time we've been to this festival. We booked it again at the last minute because the line up was too good to miss.

So having taken a break from Glasgow based cushion and cake-ing, I'm enjoying some French sunshine and culture. Aside from the festival, we've had plenty of time to take in lots of lovely things. I'm really familiar with Paris so we're not doing anything touristy really.
Yesterday we had a great afternoon wandering round the French flea markets, Marche aux Puces in the north or the city.

The delights on offer here were superb. I can't say I saw many bargains however, in fact the antiques here were rather expensive, so I had to make do with a little wooden letter 'P' from a typographer's set.

The patch where i got my 'P' was pretty cool and had little boxes of the most random things from coloured glass beads to metal name badges for bicycles.

The furniture on sale at the Marche aux Puces was great and I found myself particularly attracted to metal garden furniture. Some of these you could see had been painted numerous times and had layers of paint flaking off.

I quite like this look but I don't think I'd be able to resist stripping off the paint and giving it a nice new paint job. The furniture was a bit more 'shabby' than I'm personally comfortable with.

Resisting the tourist attractions of Paris leaves more time to discover real Paris, the Paris where people actually go about their daily lives.

However, away from the crowds, there's still lots of loveliness to see, beautiful colours everywhere.

OK so I said earlier we're not doing the touristy thing, but I wanted to go on a trip to Versailles and visit the Chateau. I have been to Versailles before but I was a teenager so it doesn't count ;-) I'm going back for a proper look at real decadence and to enjoy a bit of decadence of my own, I'm going to eat nice things and drink tea in the Laduree Tea Room and take pictures of how pretty it is. But for now, I'm off to the festival.

Long time no read... Catching up...

2010-08-24T15:42:00.001+01:00

Well I have been bad. I haven't posted anything for perhaps longer than two weeks. I can only apologise however, I was on holiday for a big part of that time. I spent a week and a half staying in a proper counrty cottege in North Lopham, Norfolk. I had a great time. It was very relaxing and I managed to get some lovely finds while I was out and about and do some tea room research.

This is were we were staying. It had the lovliest big garden with apple, pear and plum trees, laden with fruit.

I kept up my search for china for the tearoom while I was away. I picked up this cute Greendawn Johnson Bros china and Meakin's Rosa coffee pot. I'm keeping the greendawn for myself however.

On a visit to the seaside town, Sheringham, we came across this second hand bookshop. Floor to ceiling stacked shelves with vintage books. I was impressed however to discover that the books were alphabetised into sections. Now I used to work n a book shop a few years ago and it was at times tricky keeping ontop of sections and keeping them in order. Real Kudos to the man who manages this lot.


Secondhand Bookshop Sheringham

A London trip was planned while we were staying in Norfolk. Stuart and I went through to spend the day, then stayed overnight with two of my friends. We did a bit of an anti-tourist London trip really and stayed away from the main sights, however a quick trip to the Camden Markets meant we could discover a great tearoom, Yummcha. Above you can see all the different varieties of tea they sell in little milk jugs for you to have a sniff and choose your tea.

Yumchaa Camden

The decor was pretty cool. A bit more 'shabby' than I'd have in my own place put it gave me some ideas. I love exposed brickwork. Here they've pretty much left it as it is. I think I'd have mine painted white. The furniture was an eclectic mix which I liked and I guess it was pretty minimalist. Again, I think I'd like a bit more stuff on display, nice china, pictures and the like.

I've got some viewings this week too of potential cushion and cake tearooms so I'll tell you more about that tomorrow. I'm also heading off to Paris with Stuart for a last minute music fetival trip for Stuart's birthday. Very much looking forward to it ;-)

New Stuff

2010-07-25T19:40:00.001+01:00

This has been a good weekend. Still in Dunlop I had some company over the weekend, my partner Stuart came down to spend the weekend with me, but also my two dear friends Gerry and Andrew.

We had fun, eating and drinking on Saturday. We had a barbeque in the rain but it didn't matter. The food tasted great and we had fun.

I thought this was a good picture until I noticed that Stuart had photobombed it! He's put his fingers up behind my head. Oh naughty Stuart!

Having some company over the weekend, I got to use some of my nice new china that I thrifted on Friday. I got quite a few cups and saucers in really pretty patterns.

I also came across this super cute litle teapot.

And this lovely piece of linen, a square tablecloth from an Antique shop for £2!

Buying all of these things is essentially for the future tearoom. It might be hard for me to part with lovely stuff like this though...

Live From the Country!

2010-07-20T15:34:00.001+01:00

I'm writing to you today direct from Dunlop in Ayrshire. It is sunny, although I did have to rush out to the garden to rescue the guinea pigs from a heavy, but short downpour. All's well now. Sun's out and they have resumed their grassy spot for munching.

I'm house sitting this week. My aunt and uncle are on holiday and have left their 5 chickens in my capable hands. My daily chores involve, feeding them, cleaning their coop a little bit and letting them out to explore the garden. My favourite chore however is collecting the eggs every day. One egg laid each, so five a day!

There are so many eggs I could bake a number of cakes and still have load left over for a frittata!

They work so hard laying eggs that they have to spend the rest of the day relaxing. This picture reminds me a bit of the ducks on the wall ornaments that you get. Ha ha, I like this image.

Even though I am away from home, with a garden to enjoy and lots of lovely fresh veg and eggs from the garden, I'm still working. My sister saw me before I left this morning and was surprised to see how full my boot was as I was only going away for a week. Well, I brought my sewing machine and a pretty big pile of fabric and assortment of cushions. Ive jut had a thought though... I've forgotten to bring zips! Oh well, I'll just have to make stuff that doesn't have a zip.

I also made enquries yeaterday into another property for the tea room. It is in the Briggait in Glasgow. It is an old fishmarket which has been completley re-done and now houses arts organisations, graphic designers, interior designers and the like. They have some retail units for lease which I'm interested in having a look at. I dropped them an email last night with my enquiry.

You can see more images on their Flickr

Or visit their website here.

I had a call from them this morning and I hope to have some information from them today. I hope a little tearoom and craft gallery would fit in nicely...

I'll no doubt let you know if there is any more news on the property and of course post more pictures of nice things from the garden, stuff I make, cakes I bake and of course hens and guinea pigs!

I'll leave you with this shot of one of the pea plants in the garden. Very pretty.

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Painting Project- A Week On...

2010-07-15T12:52:00.001+01:00

A week later I am please to say that I have finished the furniture painting project! And I'm please with the result. The light pink and antique grey colours are just perfect. I can't wait to get them moved into my flat. They're still drying off a bit in my dad's garage.

I'll be sure to show more images when they're in situ in my wee flat.

So after my painting last week I came back to baking this week, which I think I do prefer. I was having a little play with som regal icing and trying to make it into little shapes to put onto cakes. I managed to colour the icing well with pink food colouring but making it into little objects is quite fiddly...

OK, so these ones look a bit funny, they allude to a rose ;-)

I'll persevere though. I need to do a bit of reading to find out how to achieve nice results with the icing, as I have to say, I'm never awfully good at discovering things by mistake, or rather, I hate making mistakes when learning new things. Hmmm... need to chill out perhaps? Yes I think so. I so envious of people who are quite happy to potter away on things and if they make a mess of it, so what, they re do it and learn from the experience. I'd like to be like that...

Shabby Chic Paint Job?

2010-07-09T12:29:00.000+01:00

OK, so you may remember me telling you a number of weeks ago about a project I was starting work on, a furniture painting project. I'd won a table, six chairs and a side table on ebay for 99p. Can't argue with that, and my task was to repaint them for my flat. I have to say, in theory, this sounds like a lovely project but it took me WEEKS to get myself together to do it. I can feel a bit overwhelmed by things at times and this was definitely one where I thought I'd bitten off more than I can chew.

However, I'm pleased to say that I made a cracking start earlier this week.

It was the sanding bit which was stressing me out a bit. I had an electric sander, but it is so noisy which makes me a bit jittery so I ended up sanding by hand. Very tedious and my hands are a bit rough now but better than the sander getting out of control and me running for shelter as it chases after me, whirring away ( as I fantasise may happen)

So they've been sanded, primed and some have had their 1st coat of paint. I'm painting the whole lot antique grey and a pastel pink. They're already looking good and I'll hopefully have some more images to show you later today...

Iwas thiking about painted furniture for the eventual tea room, but I think I'd have to get some help with the task... I so prefer the baking and making to sanding and painting I'm afraid...

Thrifty Finds

2010-07-06T12:49:00.000+01:00

Regardless of the wind and rain which ravaged Scotland on the fist weekend of July, I had a pretty good weekend.

I had a successful day at the Granny Would Be Proud craft and vintage fair, had an overnight in a caravan on the West Coast of Scotland and got my mits on some bargain china at a thrift shop.

The wee craft fair was great. I did this one on my own this time which was okay... getting set up was a bit stressful as I had to unload and set up stall then put the car somewhere that it was free to park. That aside, I had fun. I took a nice selection of cupcakes which people always like and a mix of cushions.

Yummy chocolate cupcakes with marshmallow were really popular

There was plenty of interest in the cushions. The vintage fabric one at the front sold and the person who bought it wants a matching one.

After the craft fair, I quickly packed up and went to my place to collect my overnight bag and food goodies I'd prepared in advance and, of course, the guinea pigs. I take them everywhere if I can.

The weather wasn't great but I was delighted to find that the trift shop in Ballantrae was open so I got some nice bargains. I started to get a bit shakey in this shop with all the lovley things they had and they were super bargains. I even got a lovely side table for £2! I'm going to paint this along with the new table and chairs that I won on ebay a few weeks back. 

I hope that I can start to collect china and the like for the tearoom now when I see it. I think this little set is the first set I've bought for the tearoom.

I had to have this coffee pot too. I don't drink coffee but I don't care. It is gorgeous. Maybe I'll start making coffee for Stuart when he stays over and serve it in my lovely pot. I perhaps won't fill it right up though... he's be rattling with all that caffeine!