*I'm so excited*

*Squeal*
I was filled with a range of emotions when I found out that our very own Queen of deliciousness & all things lovely Rachel Ashwell has actually started a blog!
*Faint*
Our Shabby Chic mistress has taken that wonderful leap into the blogging world and about time too I say, don't you!
Now really what more can I say and I am sure you are eager to get there so go *here* and visit her gorgeousness for yourself.
*Swoon*
x

*Windmills & Trains*

Hallo lovelies
We are back from our short trip to Lincolnshire.



A lovely time was had by all even though it was such a brief trip!
But lucky us we even managed to see this Windmill which was next to this lovely old fashioned railway station.
I do love old railway stations that haven't been spoilt by modernisation, don't you?
And as for Windmills, isn't there something so facinating about them, and that Windy Miller song always pops into my head when I see them! *Giggle*



Anyhoo, it is straight back to work for us both. I have already been packing orders up that came whilst we were away and James at this very moment is at an appointment at the Gallery for a new portrait commission, eek it just never stops over here at Chez Vintage Amethyst ~ but you know we love it don't you! *smile*

Have a lovely weekend everyone.
x

*See you Soon*

We are off to Lincolnshire for a few days to visit James' mum on what I am calling 'Mission: Emergency Cheer-Up!' *Giggle*
Hope it works!

Shop-wise ~ It has been extremely busy here these last few days with orders & e-mail enquiries but I am completely up to date with orders as from 7pm Wednesday and the last few are being posted first thing in the morning.
*It has been crazy madness! I feel as crazy as a coconut!!!*

I won't be able to post anything out after first thing Thursday morning or Friday and depending on how long we are there it may be Monday at the earliest so I hope you will forgive me.
I will be taking the lap top with me to keep on top of things though so I will be able to be in contact, mostly.

Phew-ee I need a big glass of wine now ~ may have to sneak off and treat myself to one whilst we make dinner!
Ta ta for now see you all soon cupcakes.
x

*Tea Time Treats from the Hairy Bakers*

Did anyone see The Hairy Bakers on BBC 2 last night?
Continuing their journey around the isles to explore our love of baking, last nights show was all about tea time treats.
Yay! I do love tea time treats and love nothing more than baking scones & Victoria Sponge cake and setting a table with a cloth, a full tea pot and our vintage china.

I think my favourite part of the show last night had to be when they infiltrated the WI to bake Victoria Sandwiches in competiton with them and got told off for not abiding by the rules and popping a touch of cinnamon in it and also sneaking vanilla extract into it too! Good heavens boys what were you thinking?!? Tee Hee.
Although I was taken aback by the WI's version of just having raspberry jam in the middle and they skipped on the dusting of icing sugar on top too and plumped for normal caster sugar instead, oooohh ladies!!!

The Hairy Bakers 'version' of the Victoria Sponge looked absolutely delicious and I really must try it.

Here is the recipe for anyone else who wants to give it a whirl.

Ingredients
For the cake
250g/9oz unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
250g/9oz golden caster sugar
7 free-range eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
400g/14oz self-raising flour

For the butter cream
250g/9oz icing sugar125g/4oz unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp hot water
1 tsp ground cinnamon

To serve250g/9oz good raspberry jam
icing sugar, for dusting


Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/360F/Gas 4.
2. For the cake, grease two 23cm/9in spring-form cake tins and line with baking parchment.
3. Whisk the butter and the sugar in a bowl, using an electric whisk, until light and creamy for about five minutes(the mixture should be almost white in colour).
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating constantly until completely combined before adding the next egg. If the mixture starts to curdle you can rescue it by sprinkling in a tablespoon or so of the flour.
5. Add the vanilla extract and fold in the flour.
6. Divide the mixture between the two cake tins and place into the oven to bake for 25-30 minutes, or until completely cooked through. Test the cake is cooked by inserting a metal skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean the cake is cooked.
7. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for five minutes, then remove the cakes from the tins and leave to cool on a wire rack.
8. Meanwhile, for the butter cream, place the icing sugar, softened butter and hot water into a clean bowl. Mix well until completely combined and creamy.
9. Add the cinnamon and mix well.
10. To serve, trim the top off one of the cakes to make a level surface.
11. Spread the raspberry jam over the top of the levelled cake surface, then cover the jam with a layer of the butter cream.
12. Sandwich the second cake on the top and press down lightly.
13. Dust the top of the cake with icing sugar and serve in generous slices.

***

If you missed the show last night but want to see it, it is available online *here* but be quick only 6 days left!

*Gooseberry elderflower fool with almond lavender hearts*

I came across this recipe on the UKTV Food website.
I just loved the sound of it, doesn't it sound just so summery & delicious and seeing as Summer is coming to an end we need a little summer goodness.
Unfortunately no photos I'm afraid but on with the recipe ...

***

For a real summer treat serve this light and exquisite fool, served with pretty heart-shaped shortbread biscuits.

Main:
450g Gooseberries sugar to taste
2 tbsp elderflower cordial
3 large egg yolks
1 tsp arrowroot
50g caster sugar
275ml Milk
600ml double cream, lightly whipped

For the Almond Lavender Hearts:
150g caster sugar
3 lavender heads
115g Butter
1 egg yolk
150g plain flour
grated zest of half an orange
75g ground almonds
a drop of almond essence


Method

1. First make the lavender sugar. Place 50g caster sugar and place in a mortar. Add the flowers of 3 lavender heads. Using a pestle work together until you can smell the perfume, about 2 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas 4.
2. Now make the almond lavender hearts. In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar for about 3 minutes until it is pale and fluffy. Now add the egg yolk and mix again.
3. Sieve the flour and stir into the mixture with the grated orange zest and ground almonds. The mixture will become a fairly firm dough. Knead gently to combine the mixture well.
4. Lightly flour your surface and roll out the dough to about 5mm thickness. Using a small heart shaped biscuit cutter, cut out the biscuits. Place the biscuits on 2 baking parchment-lined baking sheets.
5. Bake for 15 minutes until firm and a very light golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks.
6. Now make the fool. Firstly, place the gooseberries into a saucepan, with sugar to taste and elderflower cordial. Cook over a gentle heat until soft, then leave to cool.
7. Now make the custard by beating the egg yolks, arrowroot and the caster sugar together in a mixing bowl. Heat the milk to just below boiling point. Whisk the hot milk into the yolk mixture. 8. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and cook stirring constantly for 10-20 minutes until it thickens into custard. Do not let the mixture boil. Allow the custard to cool.
9. Gently fold together the cooked gooseberries, custard and whipped cream to make the fool. Cover and chill until serving. Serve with the almond lavender hearts.

***

*Market Spectacular*

We live in a market town and so markets have always been important to the town. We have a big indoor market, out door markets, a monthly craft market, a monthly Farmers market and twice a year we have a french market where lots of stall holders from France come for 3 days ~ this is a fab market! We also have a pottery fair which comes once a year and we have the Christingle market at Christmas.

But last weekend we had the 4 day Market Spectacular! Which consists of 300 stalls over taking the town centre.




The Market Spectacular is a host of stalls which combine all the markets and more, there were stalls from all over the world, and every stall you could think of! The Market Spectacular also consisted of Eco stalls which sell an array of 'green' products.

I loved looking at this Dutch Cheese-stall, as I shouted from a far when I saw it 'Ooohhh wheels of cheese!' and then made a bee-line for it!



I'm afraid I have to say I didn't get very good photos as the market was so incredibly busy on Saturday and absolutely jam packed with people and so I had to snap a photo quickly when no-one was standing in the way before that space quickly disappeared!





As you can see here is a German Sausage stall, these reminded us so much of the little markets that set up in Germany. There was even a German beer stall with wooden chairs and big umbrellas to enjoy your beer and this was next to the Hog Roast stall, which unfortunately I didn't get a photo of! There was a full roasted hog too! Eeek!




Unfortunately the market was marred by a fire that had broke out in the early hours of Friday (the morning the day the market was starting) as a hotel in the town centre went up in flames.
Fortunately no one was hurt and everyone was evacuated safely.


A lot of the town centre was closed that day as the hotel is very central and joins to many shops and a shopping centre, so most of it had to be closed for safety reasons. Sadly a portion of the stalls nearest to the hotel had to be closed too which would have been such a shame for the stall holders especially as many had travelled from Europe. But these stalls were allowed to open the next day which I am sure they were all very happy about.

Here is a quick shot of the hotel roof.





But with this aside the market was a huge success, with all the wonderful European food stalls, and children's rides, and street entertainment & a big wheel in the market place, music from live bands I think everyone in the town and from afar really enjoyed this wonderful 4 day event.

*New Autumn Range at Cath Kidston*

Hi Cuties
Have you see all the lovely new goodies over at Cath Kidston?
There new autumn range is now available online.

I think my favourite things at the moment from Cath Kidston are:




This Sprig Stone Clasp Purse for £10.00





This Afghan Flowers Bucket Bag for £40.00






These cute Set of 6 Dotty Candles £8.00



And this really adorable red candle holder to match the candles for £5.00!

♥♥♥

Pop on over to Caths Place to see all the new goodies for yourself!

I seem to have got for a lot of red in this little selection don't I? I think Christmas is getting into my veins already!!! Oooohh but I do love the jolly season so. And with Autumn fast approaching it will be here before we know it won't it. And how adorable with those dotty candles and red candle holder look at Christmas time, ooohh I just can't wait now!!!
x

*Bikers go Baking*

I am very excited for tonight as those hilarious & rebellious Hairy Bikers are back with a new series entitled The Hairy Bakers.

The ever funny Si & Dave are off on their bikes to travel the British Isles to explore our love of bread, cakes, pastries and pies! Mmmmmmm!
How fab does this sound, I am so looking forward to it as I love The Hairy Bikers, they make me giggle so much with their down to earth cooking and food advice.

The show is on BBC 2 tonight at 8.30pm and if you need any more persuasion you can read more about the show *here*.

*Blimey, doesn't time fly*

Hallo girly-girls.

Goodness a week has passed since I last posted!
Well it has been busy busy here, lots of orders and thus packing up to do, thank you to everyone who has been keeping me busy this week with big orders!
These Lavender Hearts are selling like hot cakes too, you just can't get enough of them ~ well they are totally lovely aren't they.

Well over this last week lots has been going on at chez Vintage Amethyst.
We have been decorating (again!), been to BBQ's, one of my niece's turned 21 (Happy Birthday Amy) and one of my bestest friends moved to Portugal (Wishing you lots of happiness in your new home chick-a-dee)!

It is non stop over the weekend too ~ out with friends, family visiting, out for meal with said family, long lost friends visiting (yes that's you Dr. Paul) well ok he isn't really long lost but we haven't seen him for a good few months and he has been gallivanting off to Philadelphia without us!!! Naughty man!

So it is all go over here & I'm looking forward to a busy but definitely fun-filled weekend, hope you are too!
Until next time girlies.
Kisses.

*Tiny Shop Update*

Just a teeny tiny shop update.
A few new items have just been added to the website.

These chunky letters with the words 'Home' & 'Love' are now available.
They are painted Antique White and lightly distressed for that lovely Shabby Chic feel.

You can find them in the Shabby section of the website.




And also new are these wonderfully fragrant 'Lavender Hearts'.
They not only look pretty but smell amazing ~ I love lavender.
You can find these in the French section of the website.

*I'm so Hollywood*

Oh my goodness if I didn't have a husband I think this would be my bed!

Just how glamorous would I be to wake up and get out of this each morning, of course I would be wearing something long, silky and pale pink and I would sit on the side of the bed and find some pink fluffy kitten heeled slippers for my perfectly painted pretty toes to slip into, I would brush my silky, shiny perfectly waved hair from my face and with dewy eyes, deliciously blushed cheeks and glossy lips would welcome my new day with a sweet smile.

This utterly deliciously glamorous bed is from a company called *Art For Kids* which has the most amazing collection of furniture for little ones, you really must take a peek, and before you say I can't have it as it is made for children I am only 5 ft 2" on a good day and so it is more than likely that I will fit perfectly in it and so I can have it, I can!
Oh wait I do have a husband ...

*More tea Vicar?*

I'm very excited for this evening as the wonderful Miss Marple is back!

I love Miss Marple and I have loved these new Marples with Geraldine McEwan, I must admit I did find it hard at first as I loved the 80's & 90's Miss Marple with the ever wonderful Joan Hickson (I have never really took to the other versions with Margaret Rutherford), but I really did come to love Geraldine McEwan in the role as she seemed to take a softer and more mischievous Miss Marple which made me giggle on numerous occasions ~ 'Shall we fight over the last cream horn?'

Of course with these new Marples the acting is fantastic with lots of famous faces but what wins it for me are the wonderful costumes, they are just beautiful and one of my favourite episodes has to be '4.50 from Paddington' in which Amanda Holden starred and she had the most amazingly beautiful 50's outfits.

Tonights epidose is 'Towards Zero' and then the next one to be shown is 'Nemesis' and then sadly (very sadly) that is it for Geraldine McEwan as she has hung up her knitting needles and took her last sip of tea as she has retired from the role! So there is a new Miss Marple on the horizon for me to get used to.
Julia McKenzie is the new Miss Marple, so I wonder what side of Miss Marple we will see with her.

'Towards Zero' is on ITV Sunday 8pm.