I am often asked why I chose to run vintage business, why I chose what may be viewed as transient field as my livelihood.

It's coming up to that time of year again when our thoughts turn to ghosts, ghouls and bumps in the night.

Here at Dormouse we have been dreaming up some fantastic ideas for an atmospheric afternoon tea - after dark. Here are some of our evilest ideas...

Devilish Decorations

Carved pumpkins or gourds, black tea lights and a spooky soundtrack (think Evanescence or Mike Oldfield) all set the scene. Send out your invitations written in blood (red pen) and seal with wax.

Sand-witches and Sinful Savories

Why not try dirt and worm sandwiches aka prawns in marie rose sauce served in German black bread.

Or serve deviled egg eyes - cut 6 cold boiled eggs in half, mix yolks with 1tsp dijon mustard, 4tbsp mayo and mash with a fork, refill eggs. Make pupils out of black and green olives by cutting a ring of green olive and placing a dot of black olive in the middle and placing on the egg yolk. For a blood shot sprinkle with paprika for a blood shot look.

Poisionous puddings

Devils food cake would go down a treat alternatively spiced pumpkin cake is a great way to use up all your lantern inners.

Or make ghoulish cupcakes by making minicakes to your favorite recipe and smothering them in white roll out icing, decorate with black icing to make ghosts and spiders etc.

The Beast's Beverages

Hot or iced tea with a few drops of red food colouring served sans milk can be subsitituted for blood for the Vampires amongst you, serve in goblets for authenticity.

Alternatively make a witches brew by mixing cranberry and orange juice and popping in a few jelly lizards, frogs and snakes.

Don't have nightmares, eat well! Mwa ha ha haaa ...

Half term is looming and Little D will have a full week off from school. He is doing a lot more work at school these days, year one is very different than reception and although he is enjoying it, I think he is excited about the potential for a bit of a break.

Hello everyone, we've been missing in action for a little while but we are glad to say we are back. We are going to be easing back into things however and will be blogging just a couple of times a week, until we get our blogging groove back on.

There's been a few changes while we have been quiet. Little D is not as little but still just as cute and has hop, skipped and jumped his way into school life. We on the other hand have been busy with the business, in particular our hand stamped goods which have taken off a storm. So much so sales are nearly out stripping china.

Renovations are apace at our little cottage on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, we are beginning to see the wood for the trees as we begin work on the kitchen. In amongst the craziness we are tea slurping, hammer toting, vintage writing - nothing changes really does it?

Well that's us how about you? Have you missed us?

On Saturday after swimming we popped into our local Brewers Fayre at Clayton Green in Chadderton. It's just ten minutes away but we've never been and we were interested to see their new Beano themed play area and try their children's menu as part of their Brewers Scare event that is taking place all this week.

We love Easter at Dormouse and The Teapot.  The bunnies, the lambs, the spring flowers, the chocolate...


Which brings us on to the subject of Easter eggs.

You may have noticed that we have been quite quiet of late at Dormouse and The Teapot. Well good reason, we have been very busy these past couple of months with a special secret project.

It may surprise you to hear that the team at Dormouse and The Teapot love Indian food. The hotter the better.

Here at Dormouse HQ we have been busy getting ready for the festive season.
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I'd like to tell you about a new type of tea on the block, one that comes in a bottle (!), but believe it or not still manages to taste pretty darn good.

Dormouse and The Teapot were really excited to be invited down to the Manchester Arndale Centre the other week to view four stores summer homeware trends.

Dormouse and The Teapot were lucky enough to be invited along to the launch of the new Home Sense store which opened in the Arndale Centre, Manchester today.

I've got a shed and I am moving in....

Another guest post this time from the lovely Louise of  Creating and Baking, home of beautiful paper crafting and some pretty yummy foodie treats.  Today she is giving us a little peek into her world, what we wouldn't give for a shed like this!