BBC2’s The Great British Bake Off started its 4th series last week and the nation is once again gripped by baking fever. Now I am not a domestic goddess at all but I do love a home-made cake and I also love baking with friends and family…there’s nothing like the smell of cakes to make a house feel like a home. There are some wonderful vintage accessories out there from times where home baking was all there was. So roll up your sleeves, flour the worktop and find our 10 of the best baking accessories available on line now…
1. Mason earthenware mixing bowls have been a staple item in kitchens for many years and can be picked up quite easily at fairs and vintage shops. They have recently reissued them in new colours and patterns and I think this pink heart version is adorable, especially if mixed with vintage versions in different shapes and sizes.
Mason Hearts mixing bowl from Dunelm Mill
2. I love vintage recipe books and magazines and there are some fabulous American ones from the 50’s when cooking and its etiquette was viewed very differently. This US Good Housekeeping booklet from 1958 is great – late night entertaining – if you’re a completest there’s a whole folder of the 20 issue set available too from retrocookbook.com.
Good Housekeeping 10PM cook book from retrocookbooks.com
3. For the girls (or very game boys), enter into the spirit of vintage baking fun with a Diner waitress style apron from Etsy. Get the rock ‘n’ roll on and have great fun in a rockabilly style…
Etsy Hostess apron via loverdoversclothing
4. If you’re going to have a flour shaker, its got to be a Homepride man flour shaker! This iconic little man can’t help but make you smile.
Homepride Fred flour shaker from 20th Century Parade
5. Storage tins are key to keeping organised while you bake and Hemingway Design have produced some retro inspired tins that look great. The Flour and Sugar versions would look great as part of any vintage baking set up.
Vintage by Hemingway storage tins
6. Every vintage lover loves a cake stand – they are just so pretty. Any cake looks good on a pretty glass stand and it is a vintage investment you will use again and again. REfound Objects always have a great choice and if you can resist buying a few of them then you are a stronger person than I!
RE glass cake stands
7. If you’re not sure where to start how about taking a vintage cupcake making course? The Gourmet Cupcake Company in Chelmsford do great classes to get you to Mary Berry level in no time at all! A 1 day course learning to make beautiful cupcakes costs £95 plus you get your dozen beautifully baked and decorated cupcakes all boxed up to take home. Yummy!
Cupcake making course from The Gourmet Cupcake Co.
8. I featured some great vintage scales in last weeks top 10 blog so instead how about something new but still with a great vintage vibe? These space age looking Guzzini Sfera scales with their removable ball top that doubles as the weighing bowl gets my vote.
Guzzini Sfera scales
9. For a fabulous rolling pin forget wood, go for glass! Glass cleans so well and the pin can be filled with water as required…it also look strangely modern but in a vintage way.
Glass rolling pin from Your Vintage Life
10 And after all that baking, its the best bit – eating it all of course! To properly enjoy this a lovely tea set is required and this retro JG Meakin one via Peony and Thistle’s shop within Not on the High St.com is just gorgeous – not too pretty and just the right level of retro.
Vintage JG Meakin tea set from Peony and Thistle
And finally, if you’re really stuck here’s an expert (and retro idol!) to help you on your along way courtesy of YouTube – because if you’re anything like me you’ll need a bit of notice (and practice) to get be ready for December! Enjoy x
So have fun baking up a storm…all of a sudden I have a craving for Victoria Sponge! Tweet us anything great you buy, make or find and we’ll share the best with our followers.
***************************************************COMPETITION TIME*****************************************************************
Dupenny E-type Tea Towel
Would you like to fabulous Dupenny E-Type print tea towel, perfect for any retro kitchen? Each one is made using the highest quality white Linen Union fabric, is hand screen-printed in the UK using water-based inks and measures 50cm x 70cm approx. What you have to do:
1. Just follow our blog! This can be done by subscribing via the actual blog or by following via BlogLovin (see links on side of the Your Vintage Life blog web page) – and voila, you are entered in the competition!
Feel free to comment on the blogs and/or share the completion with your friends and family through social media…
The competition will run to Sunday 1st Septemeber and the winner will be notified the following week. Good luck!
A little bit about gorgeous Brighton based company Dupenny – “Welcome to our world of delightful walls and charming creations. At Dupenny we design and produce exquisite wallpaper, beautiful homewares and fine ceramics with a refreshing twist. The inspiration for Dupenny’s designs comes from all things cheeky as we aim to bring a smile to every room!” Visit them at www.dupenny.com
