Downton Abbey White Wedding Bunting

Downton Abbey has many of us at the edge of our seats in the US. Unfortunately we're already halfway through the last season. What will we do without the elegant clothes and drama? Well, sip a cup of tea and leaf through the official companion to all six seasons. I've been so good, only went through the first few pages when I saw a photo of Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes wedding. Oh, no, I don't want to know what happens before it airs on TV! See that diagonal band in the lower right corner? It says "Includes Season 6 Spoilers." I will not look.

So my book sits waiting on my Jones parlor cabinet treadle sewing machine until the season ends.

I nicknamed the machine Downton Abbey because it reminded me of the castle. The cabinet finish was in such bad shape I painted the exterior.

Downton Abbey's third season premier in 2013 featured the wedding of Matthew and Lady Mary. The 1920 era town was decorated with white flag bunting and that inspired me to stitch some on my Jones English treadle sewing machines of the same era. Within a day I listed white cotton bunting in my Treadle Lady shop and sold many during the wedding season.

When Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes were married the hall was decorated with white bunting. In celebration I made one for my castle shed. It adds a little to the shed since the tree behind is bare in January.

When the front cabinet doors are open you can see the English manufactured Jones sewing machine. When the top is lifted up and over to the left the machine comes up.

The decal emblem says "As Supplied to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra." The Jones Sewing Machine Company put that on the decal after Queen Alexandra used the model when she was in school as Princess of Wales. This lovely machine is a dream to use to make all my Downton Abbey inspired white bunting.

White bunting are listed on my Etsy shop here.

Tea Time for an Aching Heart

Two dear friends of mine have lost sons, it was 14 years ago for Janet and a few months ago for Virginia. We all love tea time and in December Janet suggested that we visit Virginia in early January after the whirlwind holidays. It was a wonderful suggestion. We told Virginia all she had to do was boil a pot of water.

 

Janet and I planned and brought everything from linens to tea settings and food. First course was savory tea sandwiches.

 Second course was scones, lemon curd and a mock Devonshire cream.

Third course was sweets and strawberries.

The sweetest thing was having two dear friends with aching hearts and time together.

Carmel by the Sea Shops The Tea Rose and White Rabbit

After our Christmas photo session on the 17-Mile drive at Pebble Beach hubby and I went to Carmel to go to a few shops on Ocean Avenue.

The Tea Rose Collection has a great selection of tea wares and stationary.

Then we walked past the candy shop, seen below and went to .....

... the White Rabbit, here he is at the top of the stairs.

It's an Alice in Wonderland shop just full of anything related, even backwards running clocks.

Look at this wonderfully cozy spot in front of the fireplace.

We spotted a lot of white rabbits and Mad Hatter tea items.