Helen Ruff is a girl after my own heart. The Brighton Collective’s very own vintage and kitsch expert not only writes fabulous blog posts about great products but also has her own company ‘Doily Days’, which specialises in vintage themes for events such as weddings, birthday parties and christenings. Hiring out mismatching vintage crockery, retro vehicles (think VW beetles and campervans!) and supplying homemade chutneys and jams as wedding favours, Doily Days has everything to offer for the lover of all things vintage.
One of Helen’s most recent creations are her gorgeous cake stands made from vintage plates. The possibilities are endless and you can bag yourself a 60s number with bold monochrome patterns, or a cutesy floral number to really max up the shabby chic afternoon tea feel. All Doily Days products are 100% authentic, and there is none of this new made to old rubbish which both Helen and I disapprove of. You cannot recreate the whimsical, classic and special look of vintage items. Old china, cars, clothes etc all have a certain quality that just cannot be reproduced. The stands are made from genuine vintage china plates, providing them with a traditional look. As Helen herself notes- ‘I like imperfections and I think the ‘so uncool, it’s cool’ element is charming!’
As a big tea lover myself, I think these cake stands are great, as there really is nothing better than a cup of tea and a slice of cake! As well as being a beautiful centrepiece, the stand can also serve to display your own baked creations. Helen notes that she loves ‘the nostalgic quaintness of vintage and the laid back, rustic, comfortable yet glamorous way of living.’ The cake stands epitomize this. They are chic, charming and reminiscent of times of afternoon teas with scones and jam and of ‘ladies who lunch’.
Helen sources her plates from
charity shops and car boot sales, and can create two to three tier stands with matching plates or mismatching- whatever you fancy. These stands come at a great price too. Ranging from £20-25 for a two tier stand and £25-30 for a three tier, they are affordable and I shall definitely be purchasing one for myself. They are fun, nostalgic and beautiful, a great addition to any home.
Doily Days will also be offering special ‘afternoon tea’ style weddings and hen parties, complete with sarnies, scones, strawberries and cream, all set upon gorgeous vintage china, including some of these fab cakestands. Prices range from £15 per head, and the event is not limited to weddings etc. You can hold an afternoon tea at your own home, for a birthday party, christening, or just a treat for you and your friends!
Helen mentions that in these hard times of recession, people are ‘turning to nostalgia as a source of comfort and the Keep Calm and Carry On slogan has made a comeback’. What better way to take a trip down memory lane than with one of these classic and elegant cake stands. Have a cuppa and a slice of cake and treat yourself! Check out the Doily Days website (www.doilydays.co.uk) for more information on purchasing a stand or creating your very own ‘doily day’.
By Hannah Bradbury
