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

Long may she reign..a diamond of a celebration

In true British style the Diamond Jubilee celebrations were just fabulous and the Queen shone all the way through. I have just watched the service at St.Paul's on TV and along with millions of others celebrated 60 years of her total service to our country. We have put the Great back into Great Britain as the eyes of the world watched us.

My Hb and I had tickets to the Diamond Jubilee Festival in Battersea Park on Sunday and we had such a wonderful despite the weather.
We were able to see the specially commissioned Royal Barge before the Royal Party arrived.

The decoration was wonderful with carved gilded fish and insignia.

This boat carried the amazing orchestra and the poor choir who were seen on TV later soaked to the skin singing Land of Hope and Glory!

We decided not to stand at the rails for 3 hours waiting for the pageant but to enjoy the festival and watch the actual boat pageant on the big screens in the park. We had such a great day out and the atmosphere all day long was of sheer joy. Everyone was smiling and happy to be there and seemed genuinely wanting to celebrate this once in a life time occasion.

The crowds everywhere were waving Union flags.Their enthusiasm was never damped by the weather which sadly deteriorated as the day wore on.

We were lucky that the rain did not arrive until much later in the afternoon so we were able to wander around the festival in the dry. I was amazed to find none other than Cath Kidston on tour in their amazing tour bus.

How cool is that! It is an old mobile library van which has had a CK makeover and is touring the UK during the summer. They even have a CK limited edition touring badge for each location and of course I just had to buy the diamond jubilee badge.

I LOVE this badge, it is so ME and I wore it with pride with my 1952 badges which I showed you on my last post. I wonder if any of my ancestors may one day wear it to a Diamond Jubilee celebration?

We stayed until the pageant had passed Battersea Park and then as the rain came down in torrents we were able to be home again in time to see the last hour on TV. It was such an extraordinary day.
On Saturday evening there was the Diamond Jubilee Concert held outside Buckingham Palace which again was tremendous. I so enjoyed watching it at home. So many famous performers sang their hearts out and the sun even shone. Today I have enjoyed the final celebrations, watching the ceremony at St.Paul's, the carriage procession and the final balcony appearance and the fly by. What an amazing long weekend we Brits have enjoyed.
I have decided to create another card to celebrate this great year.

This image is another new one for me, it's a Mo Manning digi stamp. He was a generous freebie given out by her a month or so ago.

I used my trusty Promarkers to colour the image and then added some British touches including backing papers and red, white and blue bunting. I used my prize from Ladybug crafts ink for stamping the numbers on the bunting (thanks Kerry x)
I also used my new LOTV tags stamps, these are great fun. I finished off with some red and blue gems and some Baker's twine.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
Sundays with Crissy Tags and Tickets #30
Joanna Sheen Remember when
Crafter's Companion Time to embellish #25
Crafting for all season's many layers #28
Papertake Weekly anything goes
Party Time Tuesdays Royalty/Sparkle #71
Ladybugs crafts ink Big birthday my entry is really a bit tongue in cheek as I think 2012 could be the biggest birthday ever-LOL!!




It is now eyes down for the next 2 big events for me ...THE Wedding (53 days and counting) and in 52 days the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Olympic games. Remember that I will be draw the winner of my giveaway at 4pm this Friday (8th June) if you would like to enter you will find the details  here.

I am off to eat my piece of Diamond Jubilee cake that Matt's girlfriend brought round, yum.

Enjoy the very end of the Jubilee bank holiday everyone here in the UK and to everyone else, hey it's nearly Wednesday ;0)

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Happy Diamond Jubilee Ma'am (as in jam!)

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend has arrived and on Tuesday it will have been 60 years since our Queen ascended the throne. That is an incredible achievement and there are lots of Jubilations going on this weekend to celebrate this occasion. We have even been given an extra bank holiday on Tuesday. I was also amused to find that when my shopping was delivered in the week some of the packaging was also celebrating too.

Instead of our usual Marmite we got Ma'amite. I love this jar and when I open my food cupboard it makes me grin.

 







Our tonic water for our weekend Gin and Tonic came with a Diamond Jubilee makeover...

and even the dishwasher tablets had been jazzed up to celebrate.
















They all certainly cheered up my shopping!

We have a lovely long bank holiday weekend ahead of us and on Sunday my Hb and I are attending the Diamond Jubilee Festival in Battersea Park. This event sold out so we were really pleased to have bought tickets when we did. We will watch the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames. 1,000 boats including a special Royal Barge will make it's way down the river from Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge. In Battersea Park the Festival has tea dances, bands, a vintage car boot sale, 1950s style fashion show and lots of other fun activities. People are being encouraged to dress up and wear something from the 1950s. Now I am not a keen fancy dresser but I decided I will wear something red, white and blue and I dug out one of my vintage badges that is dated none other than 1952!

This was hard to photo as the enamel is beautifully shiny. This is an old Butlin's badge. I also found a vintage Roberson's jam badge...

This is also from the 1950s so I shall wear them both with pride. As a child a collected badges and I kept some of the "best" which are great treasures and all so well made. They will happily see another 60 years I should think.

To get to the Festival we will be travelling by train and we have even got special Diamond Jubilee Oyster cards to use. The forecast for Sunday is looking a little unsettled but whatever the weather we will have a party!

Of course my challenge card also needs to have a red, white and blue Jubilations theme.

She is my first Saturated Canary digital stamp which I bought from the incredibly talented Krista Smith. I have long admired her talent and decided I just had to buy some of her stamps.

Here she is in close up. I coloured her with my Promarker pens and highlighted her with Prismacolour  pencils. I added lots of details including lace, ribbon, star brads and die cuts. I think she really sums up this happy mood which is gripping the nation.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
Party Time Tuesdays anything goes #70
Craft Room Challenge birthdays and blog hop
Cupcake Craft Royalty #194
Joanna Sheen Remember When
Crafting for all season's Many layers #28
Simon Says Stamp anything goes
My Mum's Craft Room red, white and blue #59
Divas by Design anything goes #37
I love Promarkers use a digi #119
Scrapbook Sisters anything goes #86
Make it Monday Linky Party #92




I hope everyone in the UK has a wonderful long weekend and whether you are staying at home or attending any of the Jubilations that you raise your glass to dear Queenie, cheers to you Ma 'am and yes I love Marmite ;0)...do you?? And one last thing...how appropriate that today I hit the 60 mark with my lovely Followers.....a diamond jubilations for me too. What brilliant timing for this post. Thank you each and every one of you who follow my journal.

Bye for now,

Jane x

Remember that my Jubilations giveaway is still running. You can enter it here

Jubilations

I am always  proud to be British but this year I feel extra proud and very excited.......

...not just for The Wedding (73 days and counting) but we are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June and we are the hosts for the 2012 Summer Olympics. This summer is certainly going to be full of Jubilations. I rather like that word and I think it sums up all these upcoming celebrations perfectly.Sadly we were unsuccessful in the ticket ballot for the Olympics and so far unsuccessful in the 1st resale but we will keep our fingers and toes crossed that we may still get some.

*****************
OMGoodness update Thursday 17th May...WE HAVE GOT TICKETS!!! Yes I have finally been successful in the second wave application. More news soon. I am SOOOOooo excited! ************

I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to share a Jubilation we attended long before my Blogging days started.
We were very lucky to attend the Olympic handover ceremony in August 2008.

It was held in front of Buckingham Palace, my daughter was lucky enough to win 4 tickets. The atmosphere was fantastic and some great bands played.

We were treated to a fly over by the Red Arrows.

It really was a great day out and at least I have got those memories even if I have to watch the games on the TV in July.










I always like to buy a little memorabilia for special events and the Jubilee and the Olympics are no exception.

I found 2 great tins in Mark's and Spencer's. This one is for the Jubilee

and this for the Olympics. I can never have too many tins and the bonus of these are that they are full of yummy biscuits to eat first!

I also found this sweet little dish in John Lewis. It is the perfect size to rest my pepper mill on in the kitchen.

I really like the illustration on it, there are some great details , I love all the flag waving public.

I also found this great Jubilee Tea towel, below.

I have also bought tickets for a fab event in London's Battersea Park over the Jubilee weekend. There is a river pageant and festival on Sunday 4th June. If anyone is near London it really is worth a visit. Check it out here
I shall certainly be taking my trusty camera with me.

 So there is a lot of Jubilations going on around here, including The Wedding. I made the card shown at the top of the post just for fun and  I have it put it on my desk  in my studio. It features one of the free backing papers from Crafts Beautiful (thanks for the heads up Helen x). I have used a Ladybug Crafts Ink stamp which I have hand coloured with my Promarkers and highlighted with my Prismacolor pencils. I hand cut the bunting out of red, white and blue card and made a cord out of red, white and blue Baker's twine. I think this suits the Jubilee and the Olympics perfectly!

HAPPY JUBILATIONS!

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

Sir Stampalot  Medals and Monarchs
Penny Black and More Allsorts London Celebrates
Crafter's Companion #24 Here comes summer
Make it Mondays Linky Party #89
Whimsy Stamps #39 Anything Goes
I love Promarkers #117 Anything Goes

Let's hope that the sunshine puts in an appearance for all the Jublilations...it's been a very mixed bag here. It's been 4 Seasons in 1 day today but we did have a glorious weekend, so I should not really complain. There was also a hilarious meeting of Billy and Bear on Sunday , I will be back soon to share that with you all ;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x