I would like to apologise sincerely to our existing outlets for the delay in fulfilling your requirements …  I will endeavour to explain as best I can whilst at the same time doing my utmost to get back to full production as soon as possible … I would also like to thank you so much for your continued support and your frequent words of encouragement  … 

Before any individual starts to become frantic (you all know who you are) and causing more collateral damage, I would like to reassure you that no individuals will be named in the telling of this story …

In May 2010 I was the happiest I had been in my adult life.  Myself and Bri were homeless, living in a 2 berth caravan behind a pub.  For the first time in 2 years I actually felt that even in the depths of the continued recession, my business Tilly Ba Lou, had a sustainable future … 

… yes we had lost our home, shop and workshops (and even our website) but it had finally occurred to me that …  it is only when you have nothing, that you have the very real something, that really is nothing to lose … for the first time in my life I felt free …

One month later I was sectioned in a secure mental health unit where I had been incorrectly diagnosed as psychotic and delusional.

I have created a new blog with which to tell the story but if you are offended by swearing then please don’t click this link.  If you do click and are offended then at least please read the pages that are tabbed at the top.

If you are still offended then I’m sorry you feel that way … x

In the meantime I am going to leave the Tilly Ba Lou blog on hold for now as I am still unsure about which direction I want to take it in.  Here’s how I felt about it last August though.  I thought I was recovering at this point but then bad things started to happen again and once again I became terrified of what had happened previously, not only on the internet but all around me in the real world.

Always with Love … Denise x

Of course everybody knows that Cath Kidston very much brought the whole Vintage look to the fore and in so doing has become a huge icon within the Interiors industry and beyond. Although we adore Cath Kidston, for us Greengate successfully combine vintage floral chic with a modern twist on traditional homespun charm, which perfectly compliments our own unique style right down to the very last detail.

The season was Christmas and Remember When, was our first mainstream collection that moved us away from our signature palette of very soft colours, towards the brighter fun shades of Meadow Saffron, being a bright girly pink and Angels Gather Here, being a clear sky blue.  Remember When also saw the introduction of Toffee Apple red and our rather gorgeous Toy Box green.

One could be forgiven for believing that the image top right was taken from a bedroom interior set … in fact it was a kitchen.  Remember When, returns us to a time when life was much simpler and moved at a much slower pace than today’s rush and hustle and bustle.  Back then, the kitchen was so much more than just a kitchen ….  

Our large Shaker inspired angel for this collection was the Bringer of Love and Light.  She was beautifully simple in Tilly Ba Lou White and in her hand she carried two Toffee Apple red hearts, representing the bringing of the love and the light into the season.

The Remember When collection was such fun … conjuring up memories of Granny’s back kitchen … the warmest room in the house in more ways than one.  There was always an open fire burning and something yummy baking in the oven …. the kitchen really was the heart of the home.  Steaming mugs of tea, bread and jam and not forgetting those brightly coloured fondant fancies. Stacks of neatly pressed floral tea towels brought summer into those cold winter days, and laughter and chitter chatter combined with rosy red cheeks were always the order of the day ….

Ahhhhhh … those really were the days my friends … but let us never forget that everything we do today will become the memories of tomorrow … make every second special and filled with love … 

Always With Love … Denise x

English Rose Wedding Inspiration Board

… another delicate hint at vintage and then at the request of Liz, I promise to bring you something completely different.  This one is for Poppy though, as I know she is with me on the adoration of unashamed romanticism … and what, dear Poppy, could be more romantic than the English Rose? 

I love this subtle take on vintage … everything about it is just so beautifully understated.  The roses are from the Real Flower Company.  They are real scented English garden roses grown on their own farms and they come in some gorgeous but very natural colours.

Placing one perfect bloom on each plate is such a simple idea but works so perfectly with this relaxed pared down wedding inspiration and means there is no need for favours.  If you did want to include a favour however, how about a rose quartz heart tied to the blooms with a flick of velvet or organza ribbon.  Rose quartz to those who don’t know is the stone of love … in fact if you added a quote about love and the value of rose quartz to the place setting, before attaching that also, then this would make a lovely favour.

The Real Flower company  also do some stunning hat box designs which would look fab in the centre  of a round table and would double up as gifts too.

The simple but stunning cake by chocolateweddingcakes.co.uk  is scrummy yummy chocolate hiding behind the façade of the softest pink, which can be colour matched to your scheme. That the cake is so perfectly simple means the gorgeous English roses can once again delight us with their quintessential beauty.

In keeping with the delicate, English, vintage rose theme I found this gorgeous bracelet by Bespoken For.  As each is made to order you are even able to choose your own pearl colours thus reflecting your theme perfectly.

Of course the real English rose here is the stunning bride and I just love the Hollywood A Lister feel of this photograph by Black Tie Visuals  …

Love it … all of it … even thinking I might marry Bri after all :-O x

A Promise of Spring she was called and this large Tilly Ba Lou Shaker inspired Angel encapsulated that promise perfectly. 

Just as the last berries of winter disappear from the stark winter wonderland, so the first buds of spring delight us with their delicate, jewel like and promising presence. 

Two brand new colours were key to the 2008 Promise of Spring collection,  Cherry Pie and Sugar Snap.  The backdrop of fresh Tilly Ba Lou white was accented with these gorgeous bright stunning colours …  as can be witnessed in wild and wonderful flower meadows, nothing in nature really clashes and our ribbons and beads were like brightly coloured buds and berries against the winter white landscape. 

Of course we still needed to wrap up snug and warm in these early spring light flooded mornings … and brightly coloured quilts from Greengate, combined with vintage Welsh woolen blankets were a welcome sight for our guests. 

Against the backdrop of Tilly Ba Lou White walls and Shaker inspired Peg Rail Shelf, white distressed settle and streams of bright white winter sunshine flooding in through the windows of our guest room, came the Promise of Spring. 

The colour Cherry Pie as the focal point in the mirror was picked out in the vintage Welsh woolen blankets and Greengate quilt, along with the bright spring Sugar Snap green. 

Our guests seldom wanted to leave!! … but that this would become our own very last spring in our beautiful home saddened our hearts as we gazed out from the windows and into the great unknown.

From designing and making wedding dresses, to creating the flowers, arranging receptions and theming dreams to perfection …  and so to our very first Wedding Inspiration Board …

… a deliciously grown up colour palette of nudes, grays, mauves and heathers.  The casual yet sophisticated garden table dressing by Beth Helmstetter would just as easily lend itself to an indoor reception and this style is truly one where size really does not matter … even 1 table seating 12, on a candle lit patio, would be absolutely gorgeous.

The dress by Maria Lluisa Rabell , is just to die for and its colour is picked out to perfection in the main table flowers.   The brides bouquet of hydrangeas, roses and thistle picks out the deeper warmer colours of the table dressing.  A similar bouquet as featured to the right of the dress is available from The Blossom Tree in Derbyshire from only £29.95.

A simple rose and thistle buttonhole for the groom would be fab against a charcoal gray suit and perhaps a nude coloured linen shirt …… Mmmmmmm yummy …  I personally would love to see the gorgeous lucky fella go tieless too! x

I’d hate this to sound really rubbish but I’m just not finding the perfect wedding cake for the theme … I am willing as ever to be proved wrong though …

I am wanting to put vintage pressed glass cake stands on the tables, piled high with huge fluffy meringues that are sprinkled generously with vanilla sugar and cocoa powder ….  and delicate individual hydrangea florets too … perhaps even sprinkling the odd one or two florets on the linen napkins …  in fact … how about a table full and piled to the moon with meringues too … now that would be different … and yummy!! x

My final find for the day is shown top right and is from Vintage Twee   …….

…Yes the Tilly Ba Lou Vintage Gray hearts are a beautiful favour but these Alice in Wonderland Fortune Tellers are just so cute and so much fun … (and I hasten to add are substantially cheaper) …. Oh well perhaps in my imaginary first wedding, which I hope you’ve enjoyed as much as I have, we can have both!!! xxx … right what’s next …

Tilly Ba Lou have been designing and inspiring since 1997.  There have been many occasions over the years when we have not received credit for our major influences and contributions in several key trends within in the world of flowers, gifts and interior accessories and design.

Through this blog we aim to bring you an insight into our world … touching on many different aspects, from those we have inspired to those who have inspired and continue to inspire us … we hope you enjoy the journey.

Always With Love

Denise ~x~