Alice in Wonderland Party

This week we provided a large table centre arrangement and 5 smaller arrangements for a big Brownie Guide party in Chelmsford.  The theme was Alice in Wonderland so we created a large Queen of Hearts Centre Arrangement using giant playing cards, heart shaped lollipops, lots of toffees wired onto florist wire and wrapped in cellophane and even flying saucers that I decorated with icing so that hopefully they looked like pocket watches.  I then added lots of curly ribbon and red heart cards.

For the smaller table arrangements we gave them glass jars filled with lemon sherbet, "Drink me" labels and lots of lollies and jelly hearts.

Apparently all the Brownies dressed up to join in with the Alice theme and were so over excited by the sweets and decorations.  I can't wait to see the pictures of them all.

In a couple of weeks, we're creating a "Super Mario" party for a 6 year old boy's birthday. There'll be Mario images, lots of pompoms and even a race circuit where the children get to have races in the karts that we are making from cardboard boxes - just think Romper Room and you'll know what I mean :-)

Our Window Displays

Amy and I love creating our window displays. And during the week of the Saffron Walden Maze Festival, my lovely Saturday helpers Leanne and Lucy helped to make a Maze out of sweets for the Shop Window decorating competition.  We used fizzy apple strips as grass, rainbow strips weaved to make a picnic blanket and quite a few Bertie Bassetts (and their dog, fudge) and as you can see they are all having a picnic from their very own Sweet Shop hamper!  We then created a maze to look like the famous and oldest turf maze in the Country, which is on the Saffron Walden Common. We used long cola whips and chocolate crumbs and of course more of the Bertie Bassetts trying it out.  And as you can see from the certificate, we WON!  We were all thrilled and so happy to have the recognition. And what's more, we were on the front page of the Walden Local http://Walden Local Maze Competition

Once the Maze Festival week was over we couldn't wait to create the next display ready for when all the children went back to school.  In proper Sweet Shop style we created a vintage "back to school" display using all sorts of old school sports equipment and school photos.  Luckily, a good friend of mine has lots of her old school equipment including her first satchel, lacrosse stick, old books and photos.  It's certainly caused a stir and lots of people have been putting their heads round the door to say how much they love it.

The next display is going to be for our Sweet Shop sponsored football team - The Saffron Rangers!Watch this (window) space ..................... 

Our Biggest Sweetie Tree so far...............

It's been an exciting week - first we make our BIGGEST sweetie tree so far and then our shop window display wins for 1st prize in a competition - but more of that later!

This is our biggest sweetie tree yet!  Standing about 4ft high, made with pink and white marshmallows and Haribo jelly hearts, it was for a very glamorous wedding reception at The White Hart, Wimbish.  The White Hart is our favourite bar and restaurant, always a great atmosphere, amazing service and GORGEOUS food - pop over to the website and have a look, or even better just pop in for a drink and something to eat.  You'll love it and tell them Claire sent you!

Silver Wedding Anniversary

It's hard to believe but last month my husband and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary!  I really don't feel old enough to have reached such a milestone, surely I'm too young!  However, and despite my delusion, we celebrated in style with a casino party at our house, provided by the fabulous chaps at www.moonlightfuncasinos.co.uk.  They provided us with 2 full size tables - a blackjack table and my favourite the roulette wheel.

You know what it's like - you have a party and end up worrying about people enjoying themselves, everyone having a drink and preparing food.  But this time, I was so lucky.  The most gorgeous food was provided by "Gourmet Gandy" aka Andrew White at White's Private Dining.  I didn't have to worry about a thing, he provided us with both hot and cold plates as well as the most amazing plates of profiterole towers.  Everyone loved the food so much there were no leftovers for us the next day......... how disappointing :-)

Anyway, back to the casino........ Steve at Moonlight Casinos gave us a big pile of "funny money" that had been personalised with our photo and the party date and as the guests arrived I acted as Casino Front of House and handed everyone a note which they then exchanged at the tables for chips.  Let me tell you, gambling with chips that aren't real money is sooo liberating and just the best fun.  At the end of the evening we gave a prize (which happened to be a big swirly lolly from The Sweet Shop) to the winner who was the person with the most chips.

We're itching to do the whole thing again, maybe a fund raising night with our Casino boys....... watch this space for an invitation!

Sweetie Bouquets

We've been sending out a few Sweetie Bouquets this week - some as thank you presents at Weddings.  Have a look......................... I know I'm biased but I think they look great!

Amber & Mike's Wedding

This weekend we took our sweet creations to the beautiful setting of The Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club for Amber and Mike's wedding.  Amber told me she "wasn't a flower person" so (and as her colour scheme was blue and white) we made table centres using giant martini vases filled with blue sherbet and then added blue and white swirl lollipops and white icing hearts.  Amber was thrilled with them and I was quite proud of them too!

Amber's cake was brilliant - I must ask her who made the cake - and it reflected the colour scheme and the lollipops beautifully.  And as Amber and Mike have two Chow Chow dogs these had pride of place on the cake too.

In the adjoining party room we created a sweetie table using their choice of favourite sweets, blue and white personalised labels, a large marshmallow tree and some specially created bunting.

Saffron Walden Carnival / 8DayWeekend / My Busiest Week So Far

I have seriously neglected my blogging and I have had SUCH a busy week but it's been fantastic!

I've lived in Saffron Walden for most of my life and I love this quirky little town.  Every three years the Saffron Walden Round Table puts on the Carnival, and for several years it's been called the 8 Day Weekend www.8DayWeekend.co.uk .  That's because it starts on the first Friday in July then runs through to the following Saturday, and this 8 Day Weekend is just full of the most amazing entertainment - Carnival procession, bed race, football competitions, Blues Brothers Night, Ladies Night with the hilarious Stavros Flatley, 80's night with all those old 80's groups performing again for our benefit, and the best of all is the Corporate Night.  I'm saying its the best night because this time we were thrilled to be asked to provide sweetie trees as table decorations (all 62 of them).  I never want to see another marshmallow again - well not for a while anyway!

Everyone was so complimentary about the trees though and thought they looked great.  Things did get a bit messy as the evening went on and the wine flowed - marshmallow eating competitions between the tables actually got quite competitive!

It was the most amazing week put on by the Saffron Walden Round Table.  These bunch of men and all their helpers from the Ladies Circle and willing volunteers from the local community really did Saffron Walden proud.  Bring on Carnival 2114!!

Sweetie Table at Maidens Barn

When I was working as a Registrar, I spent a lot of Saturdays and Sundays at the beautiful www.maidensbarn.com conducting weddings.  So this weekend it was great to set up a sweetie table there for Clare and Gaven Brace's wedding. It's funny seeing a venue from a different perspective and I actually found it even more beautiful.  Before, my colleague and I would come in the side door, spend about an hour in the ceremony room then leave. But on Saturday I pulled up in the courtyard, smelled the heady aroma of climbing roses and really appreciated how beautiful Maidens Barn really is.  I took my daughter with me to help set up the table and on the way pointed out all the village pubs that we'd stop at between weddings - aah it was a great job!  There are always stories attached to various weddings at the venues we'd travel to, the Maidens Barn memory was when we were conducting a wedding outdoors and there was a wandering pheasant behind me.  Trust me, it took all of my concentration to focus on the job whilst being terrified of the feathery terror behind me!  I know, I'm such a wimp but I just have an irrational fear of birds.

Anyway, back to the sweetie table - this wedding turned out to be a colaberation with my favourite wedding professionals.  Hayley at www.hayleyruthphotography.co.uk was the photographer, Jo at www.daiseyley.co.uk made some very cute bunting to match the table for me and Emma at www.abespokedesign.co.uk was the artistic genius behind the invitations and table seating plan. And of course Katherine who owns and organises weddings at the fabulous www.MaidensBarn.com .  So lovely to work with you all again! xx

Our sweetie trees are getting so much attention we thought we'd go one further and introduce "Sweetie Tree Making Parties".  For parties of up to 10 children we'll give them 2 hours private access to the Sweet Shop where we'll teach them how to make a mini sweetie tree of their own, and each child gets to take home their own sweetie tree creation!  It's already gone down a treat (get it) and we love the excitement and the fun the kids have when they are making their trees.  Book your own party (and you don't have to be a child, how about a girlie get together party and bring a few bottles of wine too) - give us a call on 0754 532 9047 to book your ultimate Sweet Shop experience. xxxx

Saffron Walden Rock

I don't know about you, but my childhood summer holidays beside the sea (Cornwall in my family's case) were only complete once I had been to "the rock shop" where I bought various sticks of rock for my friends at school back in sunny Saffron Walden.  So imagine my excitement when the specially commissioned "Saffron Walden" rock arrived in The Sweet Shop!   Yes, that's right, we may not be anywhere near the seaside but that doesn't mean that Saffron Walden can't have its very own stick of the sticky stuff.  We are the only shop in Saffron Walden that sells the rock but we've also just arranged with the award winning Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre that they will sell it too.  Wherever you buy it, I'm sure you'll love it - just close your eyes and imagine the cry of the seagulls and the lap of the waves...........