Buns and Bunting and Books

The sun shone, the authors and illustrators came, children laughed in the sunshine and their parents and grandparents ate cake! The Walled Garden Kid's Book Fest at Luton Hoo has a unique Secret Garden setting and attracted the top names in children's books.

We were too busy to see any talks, but were just thrilled to be there, enjoying the magical atmosphere of this unique book festival. I did manage a glimpse of the Bubble and Squeak event with Clara Vulliamy and James Mayhew which looked like lots of fun! And Guy Parker-Rees (of Giraffes Can't Dance fame!) came to enjoy our wares - see his blog post here!http://guyparkerrees.blogspot.co.uk/

One of Ruth's cakes won the prize for being first to be all sold - which was perfect as it was her birthday!

Thanks to all at Luton Hoo Walled Garden for their kind support, and the festival people for inviting us. And all of those who came and ate cake and drank tea: thank you!

WALLED GARDEN FESTIVAL

Dear all,

We are very thrilled to be part of his wonderful Children's Book festival. There are some fantastic events taking place all designed to surprise and delight so book your tickets now before it's too late! It's on April 21st at the Walled Garden, Luton Hoo, 10am - 5pm. Starry names from the world of children's books will be telling tales and drawing pictures and celebrating books for children. Including Clara Vulliamy, Sally Gardner, Jackie Morris, Cressida Cowell and festival ambassador James Mayhew!

We will be serving our fabulous vintage teas from the Gardner's Mess - make sure you come and find us!!!

For full details, and to book tickets, visit: http://www.lhwg.org.uk/ChildrensFestival.html

January

Winter skies...

Buns and Baubles

Merry Christmas to one and all and thank you for all your support this last year. See you in 2013 with more cakes, more teacups and more fun!

Twinwood Triumph!

Thanks to everyone at Twinwood and to those who came for an exciting couple of days. We met lots of lovely people and sold every single scrap of cake! And everyone loved the vintage china! Well done everyone... time for a rest I think!

Buns and Bunting gallery

 We've all been so busy with lovely private parties that to keep viewers happy I thought I'd post a few pictures of the glamorous girls from a variety of public events... Oh and our lovely crocs and props too of course! Enjoy!

Letchworth Jubilee!

It's been a funny old Jubilee, with the weather and all. Buns and Bunting started celebrating by creating a window display in Letchworth Garden City...


















But things were less celebratory in Battersea Park, when traditional English Summer rain stopped play. Still, there were lots of vintage delights and fun to be had... take a look! OH! And do come to our next event, at Letchworth Museum & Gallery (next to Library this time) for a JUBILEE TEA PARTY on Friday 8th June, from 3pm...

A delicious day...

What weather! suddenly it is almost too hot... But oh, how English to moan about the weather! Really it was glorious. And the Buns and Bunting girls kept stiff upper lips in the sweltering heat and soldiered on in the heatwave, providing lavish refreshments for all those who came to the First Garden City Museum yesterday. Inga's Coffee and Walnut was once again the favourite, although it turns put Letchworthians like Elderflower cake too, not to mention Marian's Victoria Sponge. Here are some pictures on the day. If you came - thank you. If you didn't... maybe next time?

Garden City Celebrates...

BUNS AND BUNTING - EVENT TODAY !!!! Saturday, May 26th, we will be at the gorgeous First Garden City Museum in Letchworth for a very special celebration - the re-opening of Howard Park and recreation of the Statue of Sappho. In the early days of Letchworth a statue of Sappho stood in Meadow Way, but eventually came to Howard Gardens (named after Ebenezer Howard, the Garden City poineer). This was then stolen, and only now has the statue been replaced. Teas will be in the rear garden of the museum, and are accessible from the museum and from the ajoining Howard Gardens. Served from 11 - 4pm, come along and enjoy vintage teas in the sunshine!

Buns & Bassingbourn

By some remarkable fluke, the weather was fine and the Bassingbourn bash was a great success. Inga's Coffee and Walnut took the prize for most popular. She had the straightest seams too!

Sadly my Elderflower sponge could not compete.


Despite a major road closure debacle on Sunday morning, the weekend was a huge success. It was so interesting walking around and chatting to the wonderful, devoted and informed re-enactors, so full of facts and warm comradeship. We filled their tin mugs with tea (once the generator warmed up the water!) in exchange for their welcome. And it was exciting to feel part of another era, and to soak up the atmosphere of the airfield which was so significant in the war.

Some of us even got a ride in a vintage ambulance (featured in the movie Atonement). There were so many temts or "camps" full of fascinating things. And clothes stalls! There just wasn't time to enjoy it all - the cakes were so popular we were were run off our feet!


With George Formby impersonations floating on the breeze from the stage (and there was *quite* a breeze; we were a little worried for our china!), and extraordinary model aircraft flying overhead (so big they looked like the real thing!), time shifted and there we were, for a few hours, on the Home Front with our home-make cakes and chintzy frocks.

Here are some pictures. More will follow soon. And thanks to everyone who came!

Buns, Bunting and (Memphis) Belle...

Although exhausted from baking cakes (such a hard life), I did want to find the time to post about next weekend and the Bassingbourn Bash as I like to call it. Bassingbourn airfield was the home of the famous Memphis Belle - the nickname of a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress

During World War 2 the aircraft completed 25 missions safely, and inspired two movies (the first a documentary, the second a Hollywood Blockbuster). Looking at the lady mascot Memphis Belle herself I am wondering if that look might solve my vintage frock problem? But with the weather as it is, I suspect not.

Here are some super old pictures of the "Belle" in her heyday. She is now in Ohio, being fully restored, but Bassingbourn, quite rightly, still celebrate their part in her story at the Tower Museum, which needs a major refurbishment to preserve this important history, hence the "Somewhere in England" 40s festival!

We made a little FILM of Buns and Bunting and did the vocals ourselves (I am expecting that call from Covent Garden any day now!). My wordsmith husband rewrote the words to In The Mood. Click here to view it!  I can't promise a live performance next weekend, but with a big enough cake-induced sugar high, who knows?