Saturday 13 July 2013

The Queen's Coronation Festival

Yesterday we had tickets to attend one of the last celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the coronation of the Queen: the Coronation Festival. I saw this advertised some months ago and applied for tickets. The event was a sell out and it was held in the ground of Buckingham Palace. I visited BP last year to tour the house and the garden is usually out of bounds, so I jumped at the chance to see them.

We took the train to Victoria Station and from there it is only a 5 minute walk to Buckingham Palace.
It was a glorious day and London looked gorgeous bathed in sunshine








 We spent a short time in the queue and after passing though security we emerged into the gardens of the palace. It was such fun to see the back of the palace from inside the gardens.

All the Royal Warrant Holders had set up their stands for the festival and were set out in different themes, technology, food  etc. It was like an enormous craft show of the highest calibre.










During the day we managed to visit every stand and saw everything from saddle makers, candle makers, enamellers, dress designers, cheese makers, whisky makers, car makers...there were over 200 of the 1,000 warrant holders exhibiting. We were amazed by the skills some of these people have and the superb quality of their work.




Amongst our favourites were Bentley Motors, Martini, The Ritz, Moet and Chandon, Bendicks, Blisset Bookbinders, Fattorini, Fiona Rae, Kent Brushes and none other than Tom Smith the cracker makers.
I even got to sit in a Bentley




Price tag ; £164,000...... should have bought 2? It was also fun to see some classic beauties including an E Type Jag and also we saw the Queen's State Bentley.



The setting for the festival was exquisite, the Queen's Gardens are everything you think they should be and she also has the most beautiful tranquil lake to stroll round. We were free to wander at will and my Hb and I sat in the sunshine and watched the wildlife there including baby ducks, coots and even a heron standing guard. Such an oasis in the centre of London.








It was thirsty work walking around so of course we had to stop for Pimm's, didn't we and what better than to sit in the sunshine, on the Queen's lawn and sip my favourite summer tipple.



As I took so many photos I thought I would share the atmosphere of the gardens today and come back next week to share some of the gorgeous things we bought. I was very spoilt by my dear Hb and yes I came home with a piece of jewellery ;0)

My card today has to be something which epitomises everything British and I think that just has to be afternoon tea. I won a great pack of goodies recently from the lovely people at Craftwork Cards and amongst them were some very cute tea pot card blanks as well as some pretty backing paper. This is what I made;



You will recognise the verse is  from my Lili of the Valley Pretty Vintage winnings. This one is from the Quotables -life's journey set. It think it sums up how special our friends are and how important they are to us in our lives. I made this for my dearest friend Karen and as the little extra sentiment on the lid says...just because ;0)
I made it possible to pull the lid up to reveal another sentiment .....



here it is taken right out. The papers are Craftwork Cards, Time Flies range. I have inked the edges with Tim Holtz distress inks. The Card Candi are some new colours I bought and I have also made some Candi into a flower for the lid. I also cut some Martha Stewart butterflies.There is also a Cheery Lynn die cut leaf under there.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;


Lili of the Valley Pretty in Pink
The Hobby House Vintage
Ali Craft Butterflies
Rhedd and Rosie here comes summer
Cupcake Crafts anything but square
Penny Black and More Dies or punches
Emma's Cards lace and pearls
Craft Room Challenge Vintage
Jelly Park give thanks
Totally Gorjuss sweet
Sweet Stampin Shabby Chic

I will be back on Tuesday to show my penultimate GD card for Loves Rubberstamps Challenge and I will also share photos of the haul of booty we brought home with us.
It's going to be 30oc here today so my Hb and I are having a quiet day pottering in the garden and tomorrow Milly is coming up to visit. We have a day off together on Monday. She is now 23 weeks pregnant, keeping very well and has a sweet visible bump for me to hug ;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x























34 comments:

  1. Hi Jane, What a special day at the palace!! A treat to see so many artisans in one place. Your card is so summery. I love the pastel colors and tea pot.

    Thanks for taking us along. Enjoy your day with Millie.

    Happy weekend.....
    Anne
    PlumCreek Studio

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  2. Great Tpot, lots of lovely summery colours.

    Thanks for joining our challenge at Rhedd & Rosie.

    Moira DT.

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  3. Just beautiful Jane! Such pretty colors! Loving your photos too, looks like it was lots of fun!
    Thank you so much for sharing with us at penny black and more! Good luck!

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  4. Hi Jane, it's so nice to see another of your beautifully made projects.
    Thank you for sharing it with us at Penny Black and More for our "dies and punches" challenge.
    Good luck in our prize draw and we hope you will join us again soon.

    Shirley

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  5. Just having a cup of tea whilst i am reading about your great day out

    love the way you had the tag coming out of the tea pot

    thanks for sharing it with us for the Ali-Craft challenge
    ali x

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  6. Such a beautiful shaped card Jane and such lovely colours. your photos look fabulous and so glad you had such a great time
    x catherine

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  7. I'm just watching the concert from the gardens at this minute with a mug of tea too!!
    When I see wonderful events like this I wish I lived closer to London!! The gardens look beautiful. I can't wait to see your haul!
    Gorgeous card, lucky Karen! :)
    Happy weekend my friend , thanks for the little Royal London trip!
    V xxx

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  8. Lovely, thank you for joining in Rhedd and Rosie's challenge, good luck Hun xx Zoe DT xx

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  9. You are so lucky and posh to attend that event! What a dream come true for an American like me! Thanks for sharing it with us. My dream car is a Rolls or Bentley. Fun! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. Your card is gorgeous! Love the shape and colours.
    Fabulous photos! What a lovely day you had! Thanks for sharing with us at Sweet Stampin'
    Chris
    x

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  11. Great card thanks for joining us at Emma's Crafty challenge blog and good luck x

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  12. Hi Jane two gorgeous cards and super tag just perfect for the photographs, which I have to say are great, thank you for joining us at the Hobby House for our 2nd challenge
    Hugs Kate xx

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  13. Dear Jane, I'm so happy to see how wonderful day you had in the Queen's garden! Thanks for the lovely photos! Must have been fantastic too see all the things they make from those amazing cars till jewelries - can't wait to see what you brought home!
    Wishes to Millie - have fun tomorrow!
    We have also already from the morning +30oc, can't sleep well at night, tired to do much, just hoping for north wind.
    x Teje

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  14. A gorgeous project and lovely photos...thanks for joining us at Cupcake!
    Helen x

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  15. What a wonderful day out! and haven't we just been spoilt rotten with the glorious sunshine. I would have loved to wander around all those stands, it sounds like lots of fun.

    Good luck with the card.

    Bethx

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  16. What a fabulous day out, and a fabulous vintage make. Thanks for joining us at Craft Room Challenge and good luck with the draw. Julia xxxx

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  17. Hello dear Jane,

    It all looks fantastic, and the weather seems to be perfect too! So much to see and admire, and then your beloved Pimm's :) I can't wait to see your beautiful purchases... Please share soon!

    Have a wonderful new week soon!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  18. Oh Jane, I've had a lovely time catching up on your recent posts and I feel like I was right there with you...
    Thank You! Your card is beautiful and please continue posting about your wonderful adventures.

    Greetings from Chicago~

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  19. Lovely pictures!
    Beautiful and sweet creations, lovely soft colours.

    Thank you for sharing at
    Craft-Room Challenge and
    Penny Black and More Challenge, good luck;-))m

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  20. What a great day out! Thanks for entering the Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge and good luck! Melissa (DT) xxx

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  21. Soft & beautiful colours - such a lovely card :)

    Thanks for joining us over at Emma's Crafty Challenge ~ Good luck!

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  22. Looks like you had a fabulous day out, Jane. Love the vintage style teapot - a great use of those LotV stamps. Thank you for playing at Sweet Stampin' this week! Tracey x

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  23. It looks like you had a wonderful day at a wonderful event. Lucky you! Thanks for bringing the rest of along. Sweet teapot :)

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  24. Such a pretty sweet card with delicate colours Jane. Thank you for joining in Emma's Crafty Challenge and good luck.

    Also thanks for sharing your exciting day at the palace. It must have been an amazing experience. I look forward to seeing the photos of your goodies x

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  25. What a wonderful day out you had! The photos are lovely and so is your sweet tea pot card! I wonder what you bought among all those stands?? So nice to be able to enjoy an event like this in gorgeous sunshine too :)
    Wishing you a happy week.
    Helen x

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  26. Certainly two cars, why not? Such wonderful photos and what fun! Gorgeous teapot - love how the tag is inserted!

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  27. Thank you for sharing the fab photos can see you had a wonderful day. Loving your teapot and tag, a great way to celebrate, hugs Annette x

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  28. Oh I love your teapot Jane, how unusual!
    It's great to see things that are a bit different ...and I'll be back later to look at those pics.
    Thanks for entering our 'Pretty in Pink' challenge, good luck!
    Anne, Lili of the Valley x

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  29. Now I'm not a tea drinker but love your teapot, gorgeously vintage and the lid lifting out is a clever touch..Thanks so much for sharing with us at Craft-Room..Esther xx

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  30. What a lovely surprise for anyone who gets this card, gorgeous!
    Angela x

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  31. Great Creation Jane, looks like you had a perfect day :-) thanks for sharing with us at Craft Room Challenge, Debi x

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  32. I don't know which I like more, the Bently, those pretty flowers or your card. Hmmmm, sorry I want the car.

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful teapot with us at Jellypark Friends.

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  33. Looks like a wonderful day out, beautiful weather too. Love your teapot with all of the attention to detail. Thank you for sharing with us over at Jellypark Friends for our "Give Thanks" Challenge. Mel :o)

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  34. Beautiful photos as always Jane and looks like you had a fantastic day.
    Beautiful card, love the shape and the sentiment too.
    Thank you for joining the Penny Black & More Dies and Punches challenge and good luck x Susan x

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Jane x