Happy Birthday to Twee!

They say time flies when you're having fun... and as March 09th 2012 saw the 2nd birthday of the fabulous Vintage Twee, never has a statement been so true!


Born out of a creative desire that had been bubbling up for years, Joanne braved the cold, harsh world of business and set about injecting lace, pearls and a spot of tea in to every event she could. It's not easy to start a business in this difficult climate, in fact most "experts" would strongly recommend against it. But as with every growing day, the Vintage Twee brand becomes stronger and stronger with requests coming in from all over the world, it just shows just how a cup of patience, a splash of determination and a big lump of hard work can make a small business leap from a pipe dream in to an emporium of loveliness.

So, what better way to celebrate than with 2 vintage glam filled days with all the fantastic people who've support Joanne and Twee since the humble beginnings? Joanne and Yvonne got the party started with a visit to the Richmond Tea Rooms in Manchester where they enjoyed the signature "Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea". A quirky tea room with a definite theme, it was truly as delicious as it sounds. Presented with slabs of cherry pie and lashings of Earl Grey Tea atop a tipsy table, Ms Alice of Wonderland would have certainly thought it curiouser and curiouser!
















Of course a celebration wouldn't be complete without a fancy 'do and fluttery lashes, so Joanne popped in to see Bethany Jane Davies at the Vintage Beauty Parlour. A favourite supplier of Vintage Twee, the girls often create stunning vintage looks for lots of women. But poor Bethany was unfortunately ill and rather than send Joanne away with untamed tresses, Bethany's colleague Anna stepped in, heated up the rollers and produced some fabulous auburn victory rolls!

Aiming to give her new look a well deserved parade about town, Joanne was joined by the Twee family, who still love to lend a helping hand in the development of the business, and Nia Fiori, where they all tucked in to delicious food at La Belle Epoque in Knutsford. For anyone who hasn't been there, it's an eclectic mix of old world decor and atmospheric French brasserie style- with the most addictive Baked Alaska in history! Plenty of thirst quenching rum and cokes were to follow as Twee and Fiori continued the night long after the elders had retired!

As if that wasn't enough of a celebratory day, Joanne wanted to include everyone she's worked closely with over the last 2 years and the following day held a a cute "Afternoon Twee Party" at Vintage Twee HQ. Attended by Claire, of English Wedding Blog, Katie from Perfect Days Vintage, Nia, of Nia Fiori Designs, Vintage Twee helper Yvonne and the latest recruit on the VT train, Yvonne's little son Joe, there were fluffy cakes, cool lemonade, piping hot tea and lots and lots of conversation. The day was made all the more special with a lovely gift from Claire, who, in her stunning calligraphy art, had made a special plaque to commemorate the occasion.  A totally Twee afternoon made perfect by being able to share it with like-minded gals (and Joe!), thanks to everyone who came and celebrated the beginning of Year 3.

So, now in to the third year of trading Vintage Twee is evolving and growing- world domination is close! A heartfelt thank you to all customers, suppliers, friends and family for their continued support, here's to many more celebrations!

The lovely Claire and Katie aka English Wedding and Perfect Days Vintage!

The amazing plaque from Claire, the wedding calligrapher!

- Personal note from the blogger (aka SisterTwee without the habit)- WELL DONE MY LITTLE SIS!! xx

There's snow business like the wedding business...

Photo by Foley Photography

Despite the flurry of snowfall last weekend, the aptly named "White Memoirs Vintage Wedding Fair" went ahead at Stockport Town Hall on Sunday, proving that not even forces of nature can stop browsing brides and their love of all things vintage!

Organised by Rachael from The Social Butterfly Events, the fair was the first of its kind to be held at the historic town hall. Joanne and the Vintage Twee stall managed to make it to this local affair in spite of the mountain of snow on her doorstep- and didn't have to resort to tobaganning down the hill she lives on either!

Photo by Foley Photography

 It was great to see and chat to so many individual brides all with some fantastic ideas for their upcoming summer weddings. And Joanne got lots of positive feedback on the new Vintage Garden Range which had it's first public outing at the fair. Comprising of a new display and the recent additions to the Vintage Twee collection, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd just stumbled upon a welcoming afternoon tea party. And with Joanne dressed in a stunning (but hardly thermal) 1950's style dress from Vivien of Holloway and beautiful red peep toe shoes, the Vintage Twee stand really stood out. Also with its debut appearance on the stall was the hand crafted Vintage Twee bunting, cleverly made by the newest member of the team, Yvonne. Assisting Joanne, Yvonne looked beautiful in a floral print dress and cute red cardigan, making sure the Vintage Twee brand resonated throughout the day.

Photo by Foley Photography

There were some fabulous stall holders there, all delivering high quality products and services. Favourites of Vintage Twee included Perfect Days Vintage who offer a fantastic range of vintage china and prop hire, Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe, specialists in bespoke bridal accessories and The Vintage Beauty Parlour where glamorous owner Bethany Jane Davis was kept busy doing demonstrations of her perfectly styled vintage hair do's and classy make up.

Trying not to eat any of the scrumptious array of cakes and scones on their display, Joanne and Yvonne concentrated on showcasing the new bridal rosettes, delicately made from vintage music sheets and perfect for special members of the bridal party as well as talking to brides about how Vintage Twee can custom make items to co-ordinate with colour schemes and themes.

Photo by Foley Photograhy

It was a busy day had by all and by the time the last bride-to-be shuffled out in the cold early evening air, all the stall holders agreed it had been a great day and for Joanne, it was lovely to be part of a fair local to where she grew up. Special thanks go to Amedea and Scott from Foley Photography who were exhibiting too and were kind enough to take the photos of the Vintage Twee stall and items that you see on the blog.

Time to stock up on hot chocolate and homemade cakes ready to do it all again on Sunday 19th Feb at the  the St Georges Hotel in Harrogate for the Vintage Wedding Fair - see you there!

To quote Joanne "it's always summer in Twee Land!"

A tribute blog to 2 special ladies...

They say that you're lucky if you can recall your earliest memory.. and even if you think you have, how do you know for sure it's your first? Here at Vintage Twee, the one thing owner Joanne and I both remember as clear as day are the trips we used to make to our Great Aunt Ediths house in Yorkshire every month. The inspiration behind the creation of Vintage Twee which is now a firm favourite on the bridal circuit, our wonderful Great Aunt was born on this very day in 1919, making her an amazing 93 years old today. We used to be fascinated by her antique tea trolley, two little girls daintily arranging the vintage china cups and plates, sneakily stealing some of the delicious buttercream from her homemade butterfly cakes, getting ready to serve to anyone who'd let us! Those magical Sundays went by in a blur of good old fashioned hostessing and weren't complete without the delicate sugar bowl, quaint milk jug and lots and lots of floral patterns!
We're lucky to have some inspirational women in our family and Great Aunt Edith is definitely one of them. Persuing her passion to be a nurse, she sacrificed her maternal instincts and focused on helping those who needed it. In the 1940's she'd progressed to becoming a matron and successfully ran wards for 40 fantastic years. She was strict mind you and took no nonense off wayward young nurses hoping for an easy life! In fact, one of her favourite stories to tell is how when she was in charge of the Burns Unit, a little 5 year old boy told her in secret that whenever she was away from the ward, the nurses would help themselves to her best rose design teacups and enjoy lengthy tea breaks! Sure she didn't let them get away with that too lightly... 

Great Auntie Edith- doesn't look 93!

In between being an inspiring matron, the eldest girl of 4 sisters AND a wonderful tea party host, she loved to bake, garden and spend time with her family.  Today, she still lives in Yorkshire but unfortunately suffers from dementia and her previously accurate memory now is somewhat jaded. Randomly she recalls things from 50 years ago as clear as day, living in her own world and believing that all her deceased sisters are still alive. It will be a sad day when we lose this family treasure but until then, we wish her a very happy birthday and a huge thank you for some wonderful childhood memories that led to one little girl finding a passion and turning it in to a successful and enjoyable busines . 

A final note in honour of another charismatic and driven woman in our family, our dearly loved and much missed Grandma, Phyllis. Friday 3rd Feb would have been her 78th birthday and knowing her she wouldn't have stopped for a minute to sit down and rest! She sadly passed away 3 years ago but will always be remembered as a woman who showed us what you can acheive with a lot of hard work, a desire to succeed and a cheeky smile. A business owner until she was too ill to do so, she was a trooper who did what she loved and loved what she did. Rest in Peace, Grandma and happy birthday xxxx

Still popular after 93 years!

See(d) you at our wedding...

We all know that favours are often one of the most debated items when it comes to putting together the wedding plans... what on earth do you give people that reflects you two, is something to keep, is suitable for men, women and the little ones.. AND doesn't mean you have to scrimp on your dress budget to pay for it?

Well, the answer may in fact just lie in the earth in question. How about delivering something that symbolises new beginnings, is eternally beautiful with timeless elegance, and will ensure a yearly reminder of your big day for years to come? Sounds virtually impossible and expensive you might be thinking... but have you thought of the concept of giving seeds.... of course!  

Vintage Twee has designed the wonderful new range, "Seeds of Love". Stunning neutral coloured favour bags made from environmentally friendly recycled cardstock with a handful of your favourite flower or herb seeds nestled inside are the ideal gift for wedding guests. Eco-friendly and supporting the growth of natures finest, the idea of giving seeds stems from era's gone by when in fact the guests would give the happy couple seeds from their very own crops. Now we're not suggesting you present your nearest and dearest with a fist full of sprout seeds but something maybe more... how can we say it, wedding appropriate like roses, lavender or even sunflowers. Meaning they can go away and take a little piece of your day that they can grow as a permanent reminder is both romantic and unique. With their twine and sage green detailing they look earthy and homely, like something you'd find on a vintage kitchen windowsill!

To complement the bags are the fantastic Seeds of Love Place Settings with their brown inked edges for that rustic feel. The brilliant double tag allows the guests name to be written on one, with a beautiful quote on love and marriage on the second. Embellished with an vintage ink print of a little bird, these tags can be tied on to your table cutlery or glasses and will be guaranteed to be an instant talking point. For those money-savvy brides amongst you, you'll spot that the second tag could also be used for printing the menu choices, thus saving you the cost (and space!) of menu's on the table! Meaning more room for lots of lovely vintage decor, of course..  

The bags start at just £2.50 per bag whilst the place settings are a fantastically priced £1.25 each. All items are showing on the Vintage Twee website, www.vintagetwee.com and can be customised to suit your needs.. Just drop Joanne a line with your ideas and she'd be happy to help you, giving expertise and guidance on how best to make your wedding day decor exactly as you want it.

Vintage Power at your Baby Shower

Happy New Year to our faithful blog readers! We took a little break for a few weeks as 2011 drew to a close but rest assured regular blogs on the fabulous Vintage Twee products are back with a boom for 2012. 

And speaking of boom…. Are you one of those ladies expecting the patter of tiny feet this year? Maybe you’ve just had your wedding and are starting to think about moving on to making your party of two a trio… ? Or perhaps the wedding is still to come and as your little miracle grows in your tummy you’ve decided you just can’t wait to start checking out cute baby-inspired things?! Well, no-one can blame you either way and Vintage Twee not only looks after our lovely brides but mums-to-be as well! With a great new range of fantastic baby shower décor, gift tags and much more, they’ll ensure you claim the prize as being the most stylish new mum about town.

Baby showers are the latest craze from the US to sweep the UK. The idea of throwing a party to celebrate the imminent arrival of your mini-me is surely a fab excuse to splash out on some luxurious food whilst your friends hand deliver you beautiful baby gifts. So why not decorate your tables and canapés with some gorgeous Baby Shower Quote Flags, cute New Baby Cupcake Sticks and dainty Drink Me Doily Tags? 

 Each item  is available in a range of baby-themed colours from simple buttercream to the classic light pink or vintage blue. Decorated with delicate coloured ribbon they can be customised to your chosen colour scheme and add a touch of vintage chic whatever you choose to do with them.

Heart warming Quote Flags

And of course when the little one arrives, why not tell everyone about it by sending them a Baby Announcement Postcard? With a stunning vintage picture on the front, the reverse has space for all the details everyone will want to know!

Not to leave out those who want to surprise the new parents with a little something, the Hello Baby Gift Tags are a perfect way to decorate your present- check out the gorgeous hand or footprint designed tags which are guaranteed to increase the “aaaah” factor of any gift!

All items are now available on the Vintage Twee website and of course, Joanne welcomes any customised orders. Have a browse through the range and get ready to celebrate your baby in true vintage style.

Gorgeous vintage font used for your important info!

Something Old, Something New...

Most brides, especially those planning a vintage themed wedding, are on the lookout for that significant and precious item that will hold the prestigious title of being their 'something old' on the big day. Many brides choose a family heirloom to represent this age old tradition, such as a veil or accessory that once belonged to their great grandmother, or special piece of jewellery to tuck away in their purse. The 'something old' tradition is one that continues to be the most thought out of the 'somethings' as it represents the sentimental connection the bride has, and will continue to maintain, to her family.

Dealing with all things vintage, it is not unusual for Vintage Twee to be asked by brides to contribute to their 'something old' in the form of some kind of keepsake or décor for their big day. However, when asked to make a bridal bouquet, consisting entirely of the infamous vintage music sheet paper roses, the challenge was embraced with open arms and I set to work!

The bouquet contains over 30 vintage roses, a selection of which have been adorned with pearl centres and draped with a string of ivory pearls, which have been carefully intertwined between the delicate leaves. The stem of the bouquet is covered with a champagne coloured satin ribbon and has been adorned with a hand tied ribbon and lace bow which is embellished with a vintage jewel.

So a bride's 'something old' was actually 'something new' for Vintage Twee and will be available to purchase in the Boutique very soon! It is a perfect alternative to traditional flowers for those brides having a vintage or music themed wedding and, unlike real flowers, it wont perish and can be kept for many years to come as a momentous keepsake of your wedding day.

If you would like to enquire about our new Vintage Paper Rose Bouquet in the meantime, please do just email joanne@vintagetwee.com!

Nobody puts Twee in the Corner...

Ok, so after recent discussions about my forthcoming blog post with a certain someone (no names mentioned Nia Fiori..), I've been set the challenge of trying to relate today's random entry to Vintage Twee in some way, shape or form. And, true to form as most of my brides can vouch for, I rise to any challenge set me and embrace it with open arms! And in the absence of my Chief Blogger Emma who is currently sunning herself in Rome, I am alone in this task at hand...

So how (and why?!) do we get from celebrating the life of Patrick Swayze, which sadly ended two years ago on 14th September, to teapots, doilies and party picks? Read on and I shall reveal all...

I wanted to write a post dedicated to Mr Swayze, who has and always will be, my hero. I was mortified the day I woke up and found out he had gone, it was like a flashbulb memory moment when you know exactly when and where you were when you hear about something significant that happens in the world. Ok, so people die all the time – it's a fact of life and I didnt even know the man - but for some reason he remains in my heart, connected to happy memories of the first time I watched Dirty Dancing at the age of 9 years old (I know, bad parents!) as a pneumonic child who was missing the annual family Boxing Day party. I got a new desk for 'making things on' at Christmas that year (Vintage Twee Reference Number 1) and I specifically remember watching the infamous 'lift' scene at the end through the gaps in the shelving that my dad had only half assembled.

From that moment on, along with a trillion other young girls, my childhood games revolved around recreating a holiday camp, where I would be the girl that Johnny Castle picked out of the crowd to dance with in front of my disapproving parents and jealous older sister (sorry Em). And admittedly, it wasn't that long ago I dreamt of the same dance at the age of 27, wearing that gorgeous pink dress and silver heels, kicking gold fairy dust into the air as he spinned me around...

To be fair, I've only really ever seen two of his films, and the second is of course Ghost. Cue the tears from 20 minutes in and the weird recollection and recital of Sam Wheat's account number by heart. I even took my sister to see Ghost the Musical in the West End last month to celebrate her forthcoming 30^th birthday (again, sorry Em).

Despite our reservations about Richard Fleechman's ability to portray the mighty Patrick, along with his 'blonde' version of Molly, we were pleasantly surprised and had an amazing night watching the show. Of course tears were flowing from the first line of Unchained Melody and I awoke the next day full of new romantic ideas for my range! (Vintage Twee Reference Number 2).

Patrick seemed like a loyal, honourable and loving husband who I think would be a role model to any modern man today. If I was asked the ultimate ideal dinner date question then he would, without doubt, be in the top three. I am lucky enough to have a signed print of him which is going to be framed and put up very soon on the walls of my new studio (Vintage Twee Reference Number 3) to remind me of the smiles he brought to me that Christmas I cried because I had to stay home and miss the family party and the chance to gorge myself on seconds of chocolate gateux and trifle.

So as strange as it may be for me dedicate my blog to a man I never knew, I thought it would be inspiring and insightful on this day to share with you the connection Patrick had with me - and my very first 'making desk' - that ultimately started off the romanticist world of Vintage Twee. Kind of. :)

(that's at least THREE references to Vintage Twee Fiori so mwah ha ha! I did it!)