Hello Beach Cottagers!
It’s not Sarah here today, it’s lg here – I am Guest Posting at all things white and beachy…yes the ‘famous’ lg, mentioned numerous times on this blog and the one who invariably leads Sarah astray to drink coffee when she should be throwing bleach down the loo, or to drink copious amounts of smuggled alcohol in the cinema whilst ogling handsome young men with a surname like Kutcher. Yes, I am here today with you girls writing today’s post!
I have to say I am a leetle bit nervous – who wouldn’t be? Sarah makes it seem all so easy.
How can I possibly write something that lives up to the BC standards? (and she’s already told me not to expect too many comments from your end ‘cos you guys are pretty shy, are known as the BC Lurkers and prefer bribes for comments and I haven’t got any of those ;-) )
Yikes!
Well whatever, here I am with a DIY vintage cake stand for you.
So, what about me? Well I do have a proper name, but you can call me lg. I don’t have a blog, but in my fantasy life I would like to – take a few photos, ramble on about stuff and then have heaps of adoring fans (ha ha). I have more children than the national average and some of them correspond in time and space to the BC little darlings, which is how Mrs BC and I met. We bonded over coffee and connected over kids and husbands. I don’t live in a lovely Beach Cottage and I would say my “decorating style” (think throwing stuff here and there) is rather more colourful than the BC palette.
That’s not to say I don’t appreciate the esoteric delights of the white on white style, it is so calming don’t you think?
When I first met Mrs BC, I thought she was fab, but when I found out she loves a good browse in a charity op-shop, I knew we would be friends!
OMG how I love a good op shop! There is nothing better than the expectation of what you might find, don’t you think? It is a veritable treasure trove everytime you open the door. Who knows what you might find in there? I think that is what I love the most – the possibilities. Sometimes you come out empty handed, but often you find the exact thing you never knew you wanted. Invariably if you are looking for something specific – forget it – world-wide shortage! (where are you grey vintage woollen blankets???)
Anyway, my latest guilty little pleasure is hunting out vintage plates.
There is something about the yellowy lusciousness of the porcelain that I love. Like vanilla icecream or manila folders. And where did they come from? Whose dinner did they hold, were they at a wedding, a christening, a funeral?? I am usually drawn to things that catch my eye – a flower (but not too flowery) or a pattern or something.
But if I am op-shopping with Mrs BC, she will say ‘Oh that’s a Grindley – (huh?) or that little mark means it’s hand painted, with gold leaf (wha?). That lady knows a lot about vintage china.
BTW Did you know that the Famile BC even take vintage china when they are camping??? I mean camping in the rain and the mud, in tents eating burnt snags on your lap around a campfire camping. Vintage China Plates!!!!! When we first went camping together I thought they were completely mad but I was secretly a little jealous as I sipped tea out of a plastic mug (ugh!). Now I am thinking of joining them – just a small problem of convincing husband………..
(edit by Mrs BC: c’mon lg, you know the answer…favours ;-) )
So I was looking at these vintage plates and cups and things and a little idea began to form in my mind about how to reuse them – give them a different life. maybe they could be cake stands? Firstly I had to find the right combination. That involved a lot of too-ing and fro-ing between the op-shop aisles. Then when I was happy and had my treasures safely home, I got to work.
First, I measured and marked out the centre of the bottom of the plates
and then glued the tea-cup on with some liquid nails
- super high-strength clear
touched it up underneath with a bbq skewer
et voila!
I just love the way that something so hum-drum as a plate from a charity shop can be transformed into something so girly and lovely! You put a little cake on top, or a batch of freshly made cup cakes, a Lamington and every afternoon tea becomes an event.
Oh and I haven’t even told you the best part about the whole thing! Each of the cake stands cost about $5!!
I have experimented with a few different combos, but I have to say the Grindley teacup/plate cake stand is my fave. I have a feeling it has become a favourite around the BC cottage too. (Sarah you know what you have to give me to keep it hint: it’s white and has arm rests and you sit on it sipping mojitos) (edit from Mrs BC: Mate, you ain’t got no chance)
I am planning to give all my female loved ones home-made cake plates for Christmas. I know that some of them will love them at once. Some of them will smile and say thankyou and wonder where they can hide them until I come over next. But that’s ok, maybe one day when I do visit, they will drag them out, bung some muffins on them and then take a second look and wonder, ‘where has that plate been before?’
Anyway, I hope you liked it and thanks for having me over in BC Land
I guess I better just too, say G’day!
lg
p.s. a Lamington is a sponge cake that graces many an Australian Afternoon Tea table & is seen here on the vintage cake stand in BC Land
p.p.s. oh and I’ve been told that there’s a $200 Target Giftcard Giveaway going on in this place and you can comment on this post for an extra chance to enter ;-)
I am loving this idea. :-)
P.S. I would really LOVE to win that Target giftcard. ;-)
Thanks for sharing lg! I have a plate that is old and creamy that belonged to the lady that used to own our house. I have kept it because I am a sentimental sap, but it would be perfect for this. Of course, now I must go treasure hunting for the perfect cup, mix up some famous BC muffins, and holdiays – here I come!
LG, this is fabulous! I adore vintage china and am always picking it up at garage sales, flea markets, etc. But I have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of it. So I love your idea of a cake plate and tea cup. I’m thinking of two people I want to do this for and can’t wait to try it. Come back anytime and share your fun ideas! Great post.
What a clever idea for a cake stand! Oh, and I sure hope I win that gift card. I’m in dire need of storage solutions and a sweater or two.
Loved your post lg! Vintage china on a camping trip? I might just do that with the china pieces I’ve picked up at the thrift shops. If I am lucky enough to win the Target Card….I would use it towards the family I am sponsoring “Secret Santa”. My sons and I have sponsored a family every year since they were little, this year it is a single mom, like myself, with small children. We have always had it difficult financially, but as I have always explained to my sons….there is someone who is having it harder than us.
The cake plate is perfection! I am off to the pantry now to see what I’ve got the glue is all ready out…. It will be perfect along side my overturned wine glasses and brandy snifters that I use as candle stands! Creamy white soy candles of course!
I have only seen bar Lamingtons before – never a whole cake – di you invent it?
I have only seen bar Lamingtons before – never a whole cake – did you invent it?
Was that a bribe for comments, lg?
I was going to comment anyway just to say that you are as delightful as Sarah, I can see how you two bonded!
Thanks for the tutorial on the cake stand, really good idea! Now I have to google a recipe for Lamington.
Bye, and come back for another visit sometime, it was fun!
Cake Stand and Cake great job on the display presentation:)
You two sound like me and my best friend Kate, a transplanted yankee to this part of the deep south. Iced tea for us and hot afternoons of plundering through junk stores ! We have been known to pack up the car and head hours out to fine a new place to plunder. Just doenst get much better than that does it ! So glad Sarah has a buddie that shares of love of things vintage.
Now on to the important stuff….THAT CAKE ! I googled it when Sarah was talking about her Lifesaving carnival and have to say I gotta have that recipe ! Chocloate sponge cake and coconut????? YUMMY Give it up girls !
hard to believe there are lurkers with all the comments that appear after each posting. HOWEVER it occurs to me that i may be called a lurker because i don’t comment each time. but in my defense, do you want to read “great, beautiful, wonderful etc” every time? i run out of superlatives. the guest blogs are wonderful changeups. welcome lg. what a lovely friendship you enjoy with the bcers. happy times to you all, jkj
I’m one of those dreaded lurkers, but I’m popping out of hibernation to say WELCOME and I love your cake plate. :-) What a perfectly delightful thing to do with the heaps of teacups and mismatched plates I’ve collected over the years. :-)
So playful. Another good DIY project I’ve been wanting to try is teacup candles. :)
Hello lg! That is a lovely little idea for a cake stand and that cake looks delicious!
LOVE this idea! What a great way to re-use such fabulous vintage finds! :)
So glad to finally meet you lg. You two sound like so much fun. Love the cake stand …such a good idea.
It’s lovely to meet you, Ig!! And what a wonderful idea this is ~ thanks for sharing it with us!
had to laugh when i read the part on that some won’t know what to do with it…. I know people like that. And then there are the ones that will be totally in love with it! Totally know what you are saying!
And i am thinking i may just try it… sounds very fun! Thanks for sharing
great idea lg! You distract her and I’ll grab the chair for ya! K- BREAK! …
just kidding Sarah :p <3 SJ
haha Sami Jo, I’d kill you both ;-)
What an enchanting idea. I’d love to see a sequel post on how to make lamingtons, now!!!
Love the cake stand idea!!! Might just have to try it out!
Love the idea! Very sweet…and the 200 gift card would be so welcome right now!
DARN, I was gonna comment, assuming there was no bribe. But I am all IN for a Target gift card. That is my FAVORITE place to shop and I can rarely get out of that place for under $75. One would think that would stop me from going there too often, but it does not :( lol!
The plates are charming. In the past, i would have been one of those people to smile and then hide it! ;) Now, maybe as I get older, I dunno, I think these ideas are amazing! I think my Mom has some old China down in her basement and I might just give this a try. Probably the only way I would ever USE her china! ;)
Thanks for sharing!
And PUHLEASE enter me into the Target GC giveaway! :) melissa.bufford@gmail.com
Love the cake stand idea! My sister does this with candlesticks and plates, but the teacup is adorable! Thanks for sharing!
Jill
Love the cake stand idea! My sister does this with candlesticks and plates, but the teacup is adorable! Thanks for sharing!
Jill Oh! And I could really use the target gift card! : )
Thanks lg, these would be great too for my cups that have lost their handles but I just can’t part with!
This is an awesome idea! I will be looking at the dishes aisle of Goodwill with new eyes the next time I’m shopping!
Just HAD to TELL you ‘how inspiring’ your little ‘vintage recycle’ idea is for me …!…(normally I just lurk in the cyber shadows!!!)
I adore (& store!… much to my Mr BC’s minimalist distaste!) vintage china & I ‘lust’ after cake stands, that are normally out of my BC budget!!!… but you have perfectly melded my two loves together & given me the inspiration I needed for a holiday project!…
Thank YOU Thank YOU THANK YOU xxx
ps: you two sound like a ‘formidable’ team!… hee hee
pps: off to get some ‘liquid nails’… do you think they sell it @Tar-Jay???
What a great idea! So simple but effective. It would make a great Christmas present too!
That is just a brilliant idea, Mrs. LG, thank you for sharing so very much! You will find me later in the vintage shop!
I love that idea!! And I’ve been looking for an inexpensive cake stand :)
Now how come I haven’t thought of this dainty little idea! What a great post, thanks for sharing, LG! I want to make some of these for my gal friends and I still have time left before Christmas! So cute and inexpensive. I love to make the ordinary, extraordinary! Thanks again…..
I like your style lg…go on…start a blog! You’ll be a smash hit :)
Love this! And the “favors” bit had me cracking up.
Love it!! I have some old vintage plates and cups lurking in the back of the cupboard that I feel will now find a new lease of life!! And the lamington cake on top looks perfect with its little sparkly cachous (is that what they are called?) sprinkled over!! And a target gift card would be welcome in this house to spend on pressies for the cherubs :)
This is my favorite version of this DIY!!! I love the cup idea! So darling!
If I win the giftcard I’ll buy you a cake stand :p
I love the cakestand! What a fabulous idea for vintage pieces!
P.S. My initials are also L.G.
Lois
That is just about cute enough AND easy enough to be my last minute hostess gift this Christmas! Very cute.
LOVE this, and want that card! :)
Loving the cake stand. Yes, I too have seen something similar with glasses (think parfait style), and glass plates. The more decorative the better. Since I first saw the idea, I visited the local op shops in search of the ever present dime-a-dozen glasses and plates. Of course, I haven’t found one anywhere. Hmmmm!! I too had the idea they would make unique and pretty gifts. Anyway….I can wait baby. They will return one day, and I’ll be there ready. Good work LG.
What a wonderful idea! Talk about a perfect gift that can be personalized for anyone. Thanks for sharing.
Oops seems I’ve posted twice. I read back over comments today to see if anyone else had tried this using silicone, and didn’t see my comment so reposted. Wow it’s not even Friday yet. ;-)
Great post L.G. This is a gorgeous idea – love it:) Only problem I have is finding an op shop that has these gems as I just can’t seem to find one that has the goodies.
You just gotta keep going back – if you are looking for something guarranteed it won’t be there! btw I finally found the vintage woollen blankets after months of searching. They were cream instead of grey, but will be perfect to recover my couch – but that might be another post!!!
I really enjoyed reading your post today lg. The cake stands are very sweet, what a great idea!
Thank you all so much for your kind words. So glad you like the cake stands. I have also made a few with sparkly crystal glasses as the bottoms and they look fab too!
Now I know what to do with some of my mom’s vintage cup and saucers. Thanks for a great idea. Nice guest blog.
great blog post, lg….I like your style, and particularly loved the cake stand you so cleverly created….a beautiful and timeless gift!!!!
what a fab idea~!