Brits are the Best

Aren't these two just the cutest!  I love me some Carey & Keira and I can't stop looking at their adorable outfits.  Ahhh, to be in England...

Image: via The Neo-Traditionalist

British Week - Union Jack Bunting

For the last day of British Week, I wanted to share with you a fun project I did recently for a party I had with some of my girlfriends.  We try to get together once a month and have a dinner party where everyone brings a dish.  Sometimes we choose a theme and this month was British Nite.  We had fish and chips, a ploughman's platter and a great autumn fruit pudding for dessert.

Since I hosted the night at my place, I decided to make a bit of themed decor to hang around my apartment.  I made banners with the Union Jack flag with blue papers and red Japanese tapes.  As an added bonus for British Week, I decided to have a download for all of my readers of these banners.  Here are some shots of the banners and how I used them for British Nite, but you can use these in many different ways to add a bit of British flare to you party or home.  Thank you again for joining me for British Week and I hope you have a great weekend!

Download: Union Jack Banner

Images: vintage yankee

British Week - Etsy Favs

Today for British Week, I thought I'd share some finds on Etsy that have a British theme to them.  What I love about Etsy is that anything you think of is probably made by someone on Etsy and you can do a simple search to find it.  I even found a Union Jack Dress Form and Wedding Invitations with a British theme.  How awesome are these great items!

Items: 1. Queen Elizabeth II Cross Stitch  2. British Race Car Print 
3. Union Jack themed Wedding Invitations  4. Union Jack Dress Form

Items:1. Union Jack Gift Tags  2. God Save the Queen themed Magnets 
3. Union Jack Brass Ring  4. Union Jack Bunting Kit

British Week - Chatsworth House

Today for our British Week I wanted to show you some shots from one of my favorite houses in England, Chatsworth House.  If you recognize this house, it is probably from familiar because it was used as Pemberley in the recent production of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.  Chatsworth is the home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been in their family for years and years.  I love how picturesque the house looks on the grounds and how the grounds just roll around the house so perfectly.  This year is the 90th birthday of Deborah Devonshire and the family is celebrating with many activities and an interesting celebration of her life.  This is definitely a stop on my next trip to England!

Images: Chatsworth House

British Week - Designers

This week is British Week here on the vintage yankee and I will be sharing some of my favorite things British.  The week will culminate with a fun project tutorial and download (a sneak peek is in the British Week header above)!  Today we start with some of my favorite British designers.

First up is Cath Kidston.  I have loved Cath's style since the beginning.  Her use of bright colors and prints and her ability to mix old with new is amazing.  I love how she is able to produce items for her line that are new but evoke an old world, vintagey feel.  Even more exciting is that you can view the Cath Kidston website in American currency and have her items shipped to you here in the states!

Images: Cath Kidston

Next up is Lisa Stickley London.  Lisa's fun, funky use of florals just makes me smile.  She uses a lot of basic black and light blue but adds in a smattering funky colors like neon pink and yellow.  Lisa just recently came out with a book, Made at Home that has lots of fun and simple sewing projects for your home.  Definitely a book to check out.

Images: Lisa Stickley London

My last shop on this post isn't really a designer but is a very fun shop, Caravan.  A cute little shop in London, owner Emily has done an amazing job of putting together fun obscure objects from past and present to sell in her shop.  Even though I've never been to Caravan, just looking through their website gives you a feel of how fun the place must be.  Take a look at some of the style boards they have put together to give you an idea of what they shop is all about. (I really want to purchase the cute little caravan for my office!)

Images: Caravan Style