Tag: TV
Downton Abbey Inspiration Board
If you’re planning something special this autumn or dreaming about your Christmas arrangements then why not make it a truly indulgent occasion by borrowing a little of the Downton Abbey style? We’ve put our favourite ideas together for this luxurious Inspiration Board – get ready to swoon!
All pictures are copyright © published here by kind permission. See below for license holder details
Dorset has such perfect venues to bring themed events to life and with so many fashions and accessories reflecting vintage loveliness at the moment as well as our own vintage china and props for finishing touches its easy to re-create this elegant style.
Contributors & Credits
Check out our Inspiring Contributors here and do get in touch with us at Vintage Dorset for china hire, authentic props & venue dressing. Going to be a sumptuous Christmas this year!
Clockwise from top right
- Jewellery and Watches from Marks & Spencer’s These lovelies were spotted by the super blogger Fabfrocks who kindly shared this picture from the recent M&S Teaparty for bloggers – read her post here
- Lion head door knocker at Tatton Park – picture copyright © Steve Atkins Photography
Lace and beadwork dresses – gorgeous turn of the century & 1920’s reproduction dresses from the lovely Leluxe Clothing now based in Ross-on-Wye in the UK. Their catalogue is stunning…- Pure Wool Cloche Hat Marks & Spencer’s
- Vintage Props Typewriter and Picture Frame Vintage Dorset
- Teacup and candlestick Vintage Dorset
- Norburton Hall – sumptuous Arts & Crafts Movement Country House, events and holiday venue Norburton Hall Burton Bradstock, Dorset – perfect for elegant functions, music recitals, functions and weddings in the grounds
- Silver plate teapot and Vintage China Hire Vintage Dorset picture copyright © Steve Atkins Photography
- Old Voluntary Car Pool Austin at Dorset Steam Fair – these cars were used during the first and second wars image Vintage Dorset
- Vintage style Comb by Julia Beazley of Vintage Tiaras
- A truly remarkable vintage Wedding Venue – Dorset’s own Milton Abbey and Estate – Milton Abbey
A Vintage Picnic with the TV Chef
A German TV company came to visit Vintage Dorset this weekend to film “the perfect English picnic” with TV Chef Sarah Wiener described as the “German Jamie Oliver”. Hmmm we thought! Perfect picnics in September?
“The Culinary Adventures of Sarah Wiener in Britain” by Zero One Films is made for Arte TV and responds to food challenges set by English Food expert Gary Rhodes. Sarah Wiener tours the British Isles in her red VW Beetle, finding good local food and making her own dishes for a panel of tough judges from each area. The TV company has visited Wales, the North York Moors and Scarborough, Alfriston in East Sussex, The Isle of Skye in Scotland and the Isle of Man.
We were asked to introduce Sarah to the customs of a traditional English picnic, make links with local food companies, provide all of the picnic baskets and bits and bobs and suggest locations for a perfect event. The TV show will be aired early next year in France and Germany.
We knew it would be a great chance to show off the beautiful Dorset landscape and heritage as well as our china and some of the local food producers we love – but explaining our mercurial weather just wasn’t getting through!
We began filming possible picnic locations on Friday visiting Little Bredy walled garden which we used as the perfect vintage spot for meeting Sarah, Chesil Beach and St Catherine’s Chapel, Abbotsbury. Then we heard news that Hurricane Katia was coming – the sea fog began rolling in and all of the gorgeous views started to disappear! By Sunday night, the TV crew was in a panic. We’d persuaded the Women’s Institute to judge the final spread on Monday but no-one was going to be happy outside in 40mph winds!
Luckily, one of our favourite vintage spots is Corfe Castle Railway Station and we’d already persuaded them to visit it as a potential picnic spot. Swanage Railway really came to the rescue when the weather worsened and the filming ended up in a traditional railway carriage on one of their steam trains.
The Weybay WI were judging and they gave Sarah a thorough critique noting that as a picnic it wasn’t quite traditional and was rather late in the afternoon – but a good effort under the circumstances!
Local food producers helping the show included Sgt Bun Bakery, Craigs Farm Dairy and Ourganics at Litton Cheney. A local resident from Portland Bill showed Sarah how a home-made picnic should be made (ie quickly to catch the weather) and Vintage Dorset helped Sarah with all the vintage china and finishing touches.
The verdict: Maybe not the “perfect” picnic but great fun to watch!
Vintage Dorset china and accessories are available to hire for TV and film as well as photo shoots and vintage events. Please contact us HERE for more details.