*New Shabby Chic & French Style Goodies*

Another shop update. A few new products added recently.

Above a simple white painted metal hanging heart with distressed detail hanging by white string.
These are £6.00 each and can be found *here*.


Above is a cream triple heart hook rack, which I think is lovely and french in style.
These are £10.00 each and can be found *here*.




These are wonderfully rustic country style memo boards to remind you what to buy the next time you are at the farmers market.
These are £8.00 each and can be found *here*.




And lastly a single french style heart hook. Simple, pretty & useful.
These are £6.00 each and can be found *here*.

***

For those who are wanting chalkboards I am hopefully getting another 'batch' made up this week. It has been crazy busy here with orders over the last few weeks and I'm working as hard as a little elf over here, all I need is a hat with a tinkly bell on and some curly toe boots and I would be perfect to work for Santa, I already have the rosy chubby cheeks! The huge pile of candy canes I'm popping in with orders is diminishing rapidly so I need to go on another candy cane shopping trip this week too.

Anyhoo, thank you to everyone who is shopping and I hope you are loving your goodies.
I sent the newsletter out this weekend too which states the Christmas shopping dates and hopefully I will get them on the website too this week too.

Eeek, can you believe it is December tomorrow? Oooh he will be here before we know it, only a few more weeks!
Anyhoot Happy December everyone.

*A Lovely Birthday*

Thank you so much everyone who sent birthday wishes my way!
I had a lovely day. I was lucky enough to receive a huge amount of wonderful gifts especially from my lovely husband who had them all wrapped up beautifully too, see the evidence above.

We had a rather lovely but incredibly cold day at York, but it was so lovely and wintry and I even had snow flakes falling on my birthday too and I love love love snow! We had a delicious lunch, visited lots of lovely shops including the delightful Cath Kidston, and a visit to the Ice Rink although we didn't take a twirl as it was very very busy!

Once back in the warmth of home, I then had a most delicious meal made for me by the wonderful husband and a delightful sticky, fudgy, indulgent chocolate birthday cake made with Green & Blacks chocolate, all washed down with pink bubbly!
Perfect!

*Vintage & Handmade Fair, a Birthday & ooohh Christmas*

Well as a lot of you already know, but for those of you that don't the Vintage & Handmade Fair organised by Jayne & Michele takes place tomorrow. Lots of bloggers & crafters are attending and will be selling lots of delicious wares so pop along if you are in the area for a cup of tea and a slice of cake and of course some yummy shopping!

22nd November 2008 from 10am - 4pm at the Rangeworthy Village Hall (near Chipping Sodbury), South Gloucestershire, BS37 7LZ.
Entrance is free to the fair.
For more info visit the website *here*.

Ok, so why won't I be going I hear you ask, because it's my birthday yay!!!!
I'm very excited as usual! My excitement for my birthday generally begins when September arrives! But only a day to go now!!! Yippeee!!!!!

Oh and on the subject of excitement, ok so there are a lot of Christmassy things going on lately and our towns lights are being switched on this weekend with fireworks and a whole 'do', the shops are filled with Christmassy goodies, the Christmas fairs are on and I've been thinking of Christmas for ages what with having the shop but you know what has got me all Christmassy and excited over the last few days .... the Christmas Coke advert on tv!!! Oohhh I have seen snipets of it twice now as they are very clever aren't they and not running the whole advert yet (I noticed they have done this for a few years now have you?) and with just those few jingles of the tune 'Holidays are Coming' I am flooded with excitement! I have no idea why a Coke advert would do this to me, but I do love that advert at Christmas ~ ooohhh I've been taken in by mass commercialism, and you know what in this case I don't care it makes me all Christmassy and excited!

Anyhoo hope everyone who attends the Vintage & Handmade Fair tomorrow has a really lovely day, have a slice of cake for me!

*A Lovely Christmas Fair*

On Sunday we went to a really lovely Christmas fair at Helmsley. I had been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks, so when the day arrived I was so excited!



It was held at Duncombe Park a stately home owned by Lord & Lady Feversham, and look isn't it just absolutely beautiful. I had to take a couple of photos just to get most of it in!



Helmsley itself is a really beautiful town, and here is a photo from the long (long long) driveway up to the stately house looking down on towards Helmsley.
The driveway up to the house is so long in fact that they had a mini bus service on to take people up! We walked though as you had such amazing views and it was such a wonderful walk on a beautiful Autumn day.



Here in these above photos is the ruined Helmsley Castle which you can visit too.



This is the Ionic Temple that you pass on your way up to the big house.
The grounds are absolutely enormous!!! We only saw a fraction of them and there's another temple over the other side of the grounds.



Anyhoo on to the fair. All the stalls were actually placed in different rooms of the house, and there was so much to see with lots of lovely stalls. It cost £3 each to enter but this gave you admission to the house too, so really it was such a bargain!
I actually only bought a Christmas garland, but as James said the rooms were so stunning that they tended to take your focus away from the stalls a little!

If you want a better look at any of the photo's just click on them to make them larger.



I managed to get a few photos in the house before a very kind lady who worked there explained to me that they didn't allow photography in the house. But she was so lovely and kind about it. But ssshhh, don't tell anyone I've showed you these.

The photos really don't do a thing for the rooms as they were incredibly beautiful, just look at that bedroom above. Really I didn't want to leave any of the bedrooms. They was such an adorable one that I just wanted to live there but I didn't manage to get a photo of it.



I actually had a hard time taking photos as everything was so huge that they just wouldn't fit in the camera frame! The beds were absolutely enormous!
This room above was really beautiful, and smelt so wonderful of roses. Apparently the kind lady from before explained this is used for brides on wedding days, although only for the day as they don't offer overnight accommodation at all and the bedrooms are rarely used.

They were all so beautiful though not to be used, I didn't take anymore of the bedrooms as there were lots of people about and really I shouldn't have been anyway (although I didn't know at the time)!



This was the dining room but it really doesn't show any of the beauty or grandeur of it at all.
There were two little craft stalls in here, lucky things, such beauty to look at.



As we were walking back down the driveway back into Helmsley we were overtaken by about 20 horses but I only managed this shot, if only I had have been ready with my camera a few seconds before I would have got the most amazing shot of them all trotting by. But I popped this one in for you as you can just about see the most amazing view in the distance.

If you are ever up this way, really do visit Helmsley in the North Yorkshire Moors as it is such a beautiful place and definitely make the trip to visit Duncombe Park as I really can't explain how beautiful the place is and the grounds it is set in is just divine.
Please visit the website and have a good look around for more information on the estate as it is definitely worth a visit, I promise you. They even have a tea shop on the grounds, now I know that has a lot of you tempted doesn't it!
Visit the website *here*.

There are a lot of Christmas Fairs around at this time of year, but this really was a wonderful one and one I will definitely be visiting again.

*New 'Shabby Chic' Style Goodies*

Hallo everyone, just another shop update.
There are a few new items that have just been added this week.

Above is a very pretty white photo frame with a distressed finish, it is a good large size too.
These are priced at £10 each and you can find them *here*.




A pretty handmade 'Shabby Cottage' sign ~ perfect for any Shabby Chic style home, don't you think? It is painted in a soft cream with pretty pink lettering.
These are priced at £6.00 each and you can find these *here*.



A rather lovely vintage style teacup candle! I love these colours together and think it is a sweet gift item.
These are £7.50 each and you can find these pretties *here*.



A pretty handmade sign for your laundry room. Painted in an antique white with country blue lettering saying 'Fresh Linens' ~ nothing says fresh more to me than white & blue!
These are £6.00 each and you can find these *here*.



And finally another pretty Shabby Chic style sign, this one is painted in cream with country blue lettering ~ ideal for any cottage!
These are also £6.00 each and can be found *here*.

Hope you like the new items, and just a quick note to say orders are taking a day or two longer to be processed & sent out, but please forgive me as it is a very busy time of year as lots of you are doing your Christmas shopping, but if you are ordering for Christmas now your orders will obviously be with you well in time for Christmas.

*Country Living Christmas Fair*

Gingerbread Decorations from the Vintage Amethyst Boutique Noel Collection
Click *Here* for more information.

The Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair is on now until Sunday.

... the perfect place to pick up gorgeous gifts or a treat for yourself. You’ll find hundreds of stands selling beautiful hand-made decorations, stunning jewellery, traditional toys, unique home accessories and stylish clothing all under one roof.

12-16 November
Business Design Centre Islington London

Click *here* to visit the website for more information and directions on how to get there.

*Autumn*

No words just Autumn loveliness ...

*Heart Shaped Chalkboards*

Oooohh goodness has everyone gone chalking mad!?!

Over the weekend it seems like everyone has gone crazy for the heart chalkboards!

And not just for one type either all of the different types too.

I think lots of you are loving these 2 different types of country rustic style chalk hearts for your own kitchens this Autumn & Winter.

~ The big heart chalkboard costs £12.00 each and you can find those *here* ~
~ The smaller heart costs £6.00 and you can find those *here* ~

But these little cuties seem to be bought for gifts mostly.

Cute for little ones for Christmas goodies.

~ These both cost £6.00 each and can be found *blue here* & *pink here* ~

And of course these festive chalk hearts are being bought for the Christmas season!

~ These cost £6.00 each too and can be found *here* ~

I think lots of you started your Christmas shopping over the weekend and you are certainly keeping me very busy, but you know I love it. These chalkboard hearts seem to be the overall winner over the weekend though, although the small cream heart memo holders weren't too far behind and the large cream memo holders have all sold out but don't worry I will be getting more in very soon!

The large heart chalkboards & the red chalkboards are all sold at the moment too but I will be getting lots more made this week so if anyone is wanting one of these they are on there way!

Well I better be off and get back to packing all the weekend orders up, and just a quick thank you to everyone who bought lots of goodies over the last few days, you are all wonderful people.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

x

*Shabby Chic Hearts & Love Letters*

Just a quick shop update to say that these shabby chic style 'LOVE' letters are back in stock.

These big chunky letters are hand-painted antique white and then lightly distressed for a lovely soft shabby chic look. They look lovely sitting on bookshelves, fireplaces & dressers.

They are an ideal gift idea for loved ones and I know lots of you buy them as weddings gifts too for the happy couple.

They are priced at £24.00 and you can find the letters *here*.

The letters are also available in the word 'home' ~ find those *here*.

I have also just received more of these very lovely hanging heart candle holders  this week. These are very popular with everyone!

The heart is made from metal and features a lovely cut-out detail to let the flickering candle light through. The heart is painted white and is distressed for that lovely shabby country style.

The front of the heart opens up so that you can pop your t-light inside, and the heart hangs from a length of chain with a hook at the end.

They are £8.00 each and you can find these pretty hanging candle holders *here*.

I have some more lovely items that I will be adding to the website very soon, so keep an eye out for those!

*Vintage Style Dressmakers Mannequin*

OOooohh I found these wonderful vintage style dressmakers mannequin's on ebay this week, I just love them, aren't they so very pretty? They are from seller vintage*style*mannequins. You can choose from a variety of Laura Ashley or Cath Kidston fabric, how fab is that!

I think they would look gorgeous in your bedroom wouldn't they? If only I had a 'brick' Vintage Amethyst shop I would love to have these on display in there ~ well really I would pop these beauties anywhere as they are so wonderfully gorgeous! Eeek, I think I'm love!

Pop over *here* to see them on e-bay but be quick only 2 days left and they have a buy it now price too and they are so divine that someone will snap them up soon for sure!

*The Thrift Book*

As I was browsing in Borders last night (oooohh I love night-time shopping in Borders for magazines and books!) I came across this book which I will definitely be adding to my wishlist ~ The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less

I must admit it was the cover that first drew my eye to it as it has such a delicious look, but then I realised it was a book about thriftiness, oh joy!
I do love being a thrifty miss, something my husband finds funny but I'm sure adorable too. (wink) I don't know why I like being thrifty I just do, I love it! Obviously being thrify can go hand in hand with being eco-conscious too which can only be a great thing.

Anyhoot for all you thrify misses out there like me here is what it is all about ...

Feeling poor because of recession? Feeling guilty because of global warming? Feeling like you’d quite like to tighten your belt, but aren’t quite ready to embrace DIY macramé handbags? No need to panic. Put down the economy mince and buy this book instead – it’s a blueprint for living beautifully while saving money and easing your conscience. India Knight (no slouch when it comes to extravagance) shows you how even a dedicated consumer and child of the more-is-more 1980s can mend her ways, embrace the New Thrift, and find her life – and bank balance - dramatically improved in the process.

She will show you: How to make wonderful dinners with very little money; How to grow things; how to make jellies, chutneys and pickles and how to can vegetables and fruit; How to dress on a budget and still look fabulous – and what to do with your mum’s old sewing machine; How to make the most of living in a community, from borrowing preserving pans (that’s right, we’re making jam) to starting a toy-swapping group; How to holiday in new and imaginative ways - with only the merest whisper of a carbon footprint; How to make your own fun, from crafts to making presents, from parties to affordable pampering; and finally...How to manage your money – because, frankly, it's about time we all got a grip. Above all, India Knight will show you that saving money and tightening your belt doesn’t have to feel like a penance – it can be both fun and glamorous (and a great deal more satisfying than buying the latest It-bag). Try it – you have nothing to lose but your overdraft.

The book costs £14.99 but Amazon are selling it for £6.74! ~ Bargain, see we are being thrifty already!
Click *here* to buy it from Amazon.

*Spirit of Christmas Fair*

Noel Sign Available from the Vintage Amethyst Boutique
click here for details & to buy.

Spirit of Christmas Fair in association with House & Garden takes place at Olympia, London from today ~ 5 - 9 November 2008.

Wish I lived closer so that I could visit, it looks & sounds amazing!

... A luxurious Christmas could be all wrapped up with a trip to Spirit of Christmas Fair, the most exclusive annual shopping experience. Those wanting to be well prepared and stylishly equipped for the festive season will revel in the Fair’s selection of fabulous gifts, exquisite decorations and gourmet food and wine.

The Fair is the ideal place to meet up with friends for lunch and the perfect retail experience for anyone looking for beautiful gifts but short on time. Boasting hundreds of unique carefully selected ideas for both friends and family from exclusive traditional to contemporary, you will find gifts you simply won’t find on the high street.

Get an early taste of seasonal trends with many unique new product ranges including; Christmas decorations, stylish home accessories, children’s and baby products, toys, jewellery, clothing, toiletries, tableware, pet accessories, art, gourmet food, fine wine and spirits ...

For more information about visiting for all you lucky people who live close, visit the website *here*.

*Pretty Dining Rooms*

We are thinking of re-decorating our dining room, we re-did the living room a few months ago and the hallway and you know how it is the rooms that don't get done all of a sudden look shabby (and not in the good way!)

So I've been having a peek at the House to Home website and having a look at all the wonderful & pretty room designs for inspiration!

Here are a few of my favourites although not all of them would fit in with the general design of our house, I still love them all! Sometimes I wish I could have lots of different houses so that they could all be in different styles and I would live in them depending on my mood and the time of year ... well a girl can dream can't she?

Obviously all of these different designs fall around the general vintage/french/country look I do so love, anyhoo on with the prettiness ...




French-style country dining area
French-style chairs with blue gingham covers make a cosy seating area in this bright, white dining space. A Belle Maison dresser displays favourite china, with extra seating provided by a decorative blue bench. The fabric blind complements the seat covers, bench and cushions, while a French chandelier adds a touch of glamour. The earthy floor tiles add warmth to an otherwise neutral colour scheme.



New England kitchen
This simple New England-style kitchen has warm ox-blood red walls and contrasting white woodwork. The cream sink cabinet and its wooden top link the walls and the patterned vinyl floor. A white woven armoire from The Pier, Marston & Langinger chair, pine table and chairs, and a mix of tickings and floral fabrics complete the country look.



Colourful dining room
Create a room design that reminds you of a countryside summer. Mix yellow walls with chunky white furniture; the chest of drawers and wall cabinet are from ChicShack. Choose a bright floral oilcloth for the table and simple chairs from Ikea. Finish off the new look with a cake plate, retro crockery and storage tins.



Traditional tea time table
Soften rough-weave fabrics and fine tweeds with delicate, spriggy florals.



Swedish-style floral dining room
Natural tongue-and-groove walls are the backdrop for a scheme of mink with cerise and pink accents. Floral prints are used on seat cushions, Linwood fabric table cloth, rug and curtain border. Gustavian lute back chairs add elegance, glowing magenta goblets and flowers colour. A wire fronted built-in cupboard is used to store books. Painted boards maximise space.



White on white dining room
Create a chic white-on-white look by painting the furniture and walls the same colour. Introduce subtle pattern, such as a stripy blind and add bright coloured flowers for a spot of interest.



Colourful vintage dining room
Painted pink furniture and a pink-striped tablecloth pull together the mismatched furniture in this room. Old-fashioned cakestands and bunting made from pretty vintage fabrics are perfect accessories for a grown-up tea party, and pink cake icing makes a fabulous finishing touch.
We have similar pink cake stands at Vintage Amethyst click *here* to see.




Vintage style dining room
An antique dresser proudly displays glass and chinaware in this light-filled dining room, while a mixture of classic dining chairs give the room an eclectic feel. Above the dining table, a painted shelf provides extra storage for pretty glass jars, and an old birdcage with fairy lights strung around it, adds a quirky touch.

***

This last room would fit best with how our house & dining room looks as we have a huge vintage 6 seating Ercol dining table which is wonderful dark wood and has the most amazing carved chairs & we also have a pine dresser painted in Farrow & Ball white. The room is currently painted in Laura Ashley Silver Birch which is a pale green colour but I am a little fed up of this colour now so am on the look out for another colour for the walls. Although what I do love about this colour is that with different light and at different times of the day it always seems throw a different shade into the room & I must admit this paint shade has had the most compliments of all the rooms in the home.
I'm also on the lookout for some lovely fabric to recover the Lloyd Loom ottoman that we have below the window and use as a window seat, oh and that needs a new coat of paint too and some more for cushions for the dining chairs ... ooooohhh a visit to Laura Ashley is certainly in order as I do love their fabrics ... oh and I think I would like to paint the dresser again too in a different shade but the paint for the walls will have to come first .... and we definitely need a new rug but I hate shopping for rugs as I never find anything nice ... oooohh I could go on and on all day day dreaming about re-designing rooms so I best be off now and get on with some work!

x