Paul & Sam's Argyll Wedding

A damp & overcast Argyll day, occasionally drizzly - but the bride looked like amazing, the church was chocolate box pretty & the friends and family were full of joy & fun, so the drizzle didn't matter. In addition, the reception was held at Inver Cottage quite the most scenic restaurant in the whole of the uk! A pleasure to shoot, a delight to have attended:

It's all about cake!

Well, cake, what's not to like! On a recent flying visit to celebrate her 25th Wedding anniversary my best friend Vera and I were astonished by this amazing cake in the Ettrick Bay Tearoom:

The biggest Victoria Sponge in the World - well, Isle of Bute anyway!

Believe me, the pic doesn't do it justice - it was enormous and it tasted as good as it looked. Baked by the proprietor of the Tearoom, Alex, it was a revelation! Sponge light as a feather, fresh, thick and delicious double cream and delicious strawberry jam. Cannot recommend Alex and his cakes highly enough.

Just one slice - almost not enough!

And in celebration of Vera and Paul (her lovely hubby) I 'commissioned' 24 hand crafted cupcakes iced with buttercream the colours of Vera's wedding dress and her bridesmaids dresses (yes, I was one of her bridesmaids - the one and only time, it was a total honour). The result, baked, iced and decorated by Alison Hutchins of the Cairndow Cake Company was exquisite. 

Exquisite cupcakes

I had them delivered to Inver Cottage where we were having dinner (sublime!) and served before the dessert order. If I was delighted it was nothing compared with Vee's reaction!!

Almost too pretty to eat - almost....

See, cake - what's no to like!!!

We also managed to arrange a pretty Argyll sunset for the happy couple

P.S. Anyone wanting to order cakes form Alison please leave a comment and I'll pass your details on!

The Vintage Tearoom Vibe hits Argyll

Blimey-been a while! Thought I'd better get my act together pit together an update on what I've been up to. It looks like 'the rainbow effect' might be taking a different direction and diversifying a wee bit.

So, sewing has been put on hold for the time being as I've been Project Managing 'Cowal Open Studios'. It's been a challenging one this year and not without some emotional bumps and bruises along the way-but, hey, that's what life's all about, isn't it? Anyway, we're approaching the home stretch with the event just around the corner. Should be a really great weekend this year and lots of fun!

Additionally, though, I've been pulling together my facilitation/management skills to put together a delicious little event as part of a programme of extra events at the Cowal Gathering. Collectively known as 'Gathering Around' these are 'add-on' events running on all three days and include a parade and a concert by the Peatbog Faeries.

But on the Sunday as part of the 'Cowal Family Gathering' to be held in Strachur, there will be 'Crafty, Cakes and Crooning' in the Memorial Hall. We will be transforming the New Hall into a 'Vintage Tearoom' paradise with gorgeous tablecloths, bunting, vintage table decorations and delicious, traditional home-baking. To top it all off and add to the enjoyment we're providing loads of Crafty bits'n'bobs for kids (and adults) to do and local musicians will be on hand to add some soothing tunes-bliss! It should be a truly delightful, vintage feast for the eyes, spirit and stomach-you should come, if you can!!

In pulling together the strands that make up the 'Vintage Tearoom' experience an idea has taken fruition. Between four of us local lasses we have a passion for all things vintage, exemplary culinary skills, a huge personal treasure trove of props/dressings/china/napery etc (see pic below-this is merely scratching a very large surface) and the knowledge of where to get more, crafty skills, an idyllic location and excellent management and facilitation skills (this really means some of us are very, very bossy!!).

So, I'm thinking of rallying the lasses and putting together a 'Vintage Party' package for all sorts of events from the personal-birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, hen parties-to smaller corporate do's! This, I know has been tremendously successful 'darn sarf' and there are some fantastic organisations in Glasgow who are at the forefront of the Vintage thang, most notably the fabulous 'Made in The Shade'. But we want to 'spread the Vintage Gospel' further afield and we are lucky enough to live in an area that has stunning, traditional Village Halls and great places to stay-so a little bit of that Vintage nostalgia and glamour could add that exceptional and unusual extra cachet, that 'wow' factor to an event. It also is a fabulous way to recycle the past-I think I personally have kept the local charity shops going by my constant rootling around!!-and justifies the enormous amount of hoarding myself and girlfriend Penny have been doing (forever, it seems). A case of all the gear, big idea and the transport to cart it around in!! Whoo-hoo!!!! A meeting of minds is planned around a bottle of red wine, so we shall see.

Will post some pics of the 'innaugral' Tearoom Event-and if you're free, come along and enjoy a bit of traditional Argyll hospitality and some tremendous home-baking!!