*Giveaway Closes Tonight!*

Hi everyone, thank you for all your well wishes for our weekend away.
We had a wonderful but busy weekend trip. Oxford, Bath & a couple of Cotswolds villages in 3 days! *Phew*
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Anyhoo thank you so much to everyone who has entered in the '300 Followers Giveaway' ~ so many lovely people have entered here on the blog & via e-mail too.
Just as a little reminder if you haven't already entered the giveaway closes at Midnight tonight, so get entering now!
To enter visit the blog post *here*
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I will be drawing a winner at random tomorrow & will announce the winner here on the blog & on the website too.

*Have a lovely weekend*

We are off away for the weekend tomorrow!
*Yay*
The Vintage Amethyst Boutique is still open but any orders rececived from 3pm today & over the weekend will be posted next Tuesday with it being Bank Holiday Monday next week.
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We are off to visit Bath & Oxford so a trip to Cath Kidston will be in store for me & a trip to James' gallery in Bath too. I do hope the weather stays nice but perhaps not as hot as it was last weekend ~ it was 28 degrees here on Saturday & I spent most of the day outside painting garden furniture & blimey was I hot, hot, hot!
So seeing as the sweaty face look isn't an adorable look for me & do hope it is lovely but slightly cooler!
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I also wanted to wish my dear friend Catherine from Mollycupcakes & wonderful wedding day for tomorrow.
Have a truly wonderful love filled day with lots of laughter & giggles, sweet pea. I will be thinking of you.
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And before I go just a reminder that the *Giveaway* is still open but closes Midnight on Monday!
Thank you to the huge number of people who have entered, both here on the blog & via e-mail.
If you haven't entered & want to join in just pop along *here*
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Have a wonderful wonderful weekend everyone ...

*Hello Dolly*

I thought it was about time that I introduced you to our pretty vintage style mannequin.

I'm sure you have spotted her popping up in the background of various photos but she has never had her glory day in the spotlight here on the blog!

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I bought her about a year & a half ago from e-bay. I had been after a pretty mannequin for ages & found this one on e-bay & managed to get her for quite a bargain too ~ I think she cost about £94 with postage which for a pretty mannequin at the time when I was looking was a good price!

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She arrived & I took her out of her box here in the dining room & stood her up & she just looked so at home there against the Laura Ashley wallpaper, that there she stayed to live. I know it's a little odd to have a mannequin in the dining room but she looks so pretty & brings a little je ne sais quoi to the room. Plus everyone who comes always admires her!

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For some reason I instantly named her Dolly, so she is always refered to as Dolly.

She has purty linen fabric & a wonderfully tiny waist size that I am obsessed that I will have, one of these days ...

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Blogged for Show & Tell Friday over at the beautiful My Romantic Home hosted by the lovely Cindy.

*Stone Butterfly*

This lovely is another one of my buys from The Harrogate Flower Show last month!

Of course I fell in love with it instantly as you know I love love love anything butterfly.

Isn't it adorable & so perfect for out in the garden, plus it was a super bargain too at only £3.

I have hung it here on our vintage wooden step ladders which were a gift from some friends of ours as James is helping them re-vamp their landscape business website, we also got a fab old sleeper bench too from them! *yay*
Aren't these old ladders wonderful though, I love them!
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They are opening a new garden boutique where they will be selling vintage wooden ladders like these & some lovely old trugs too amongst other things so I will certainly be letting you know when they are fully open so that you can pop along!
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Blogged for White Wednesday over at the lovely Faded Charm & Outdoor Wednesday over at A Southern Daydreamer

P.S Don't forget about the Vintage Amethyst Blog Giveaway ~ pop on over to the blog post & leave a message if you haven't already *click here*

*Free Cath Kidston Bag*

If you haven't already seen it yet this months Easy Living magazine comes with a free Cath Kidston shopper!

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There is a choice of two bags. This is the one I went with the Spray Flowers one and the other one is a Pop Flowers style one.

Not only that but you get a code to get 15% off your next purchase at Cath Kidston!

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I know I know, I don't need any more bags but I just couldn't resist once I had the magazine in my hand! I'm weak I know!

I've also just bought a new Cath Kidston Messenger bag this week too but I thought this bag from Easy Living would look cute alongside that one, so I justified to myself that this one could be my shopping bag that stays folded up in my messenger for when I'm out & about shopping as the other Cath Kidston eco bags (the ones from Tesco) are quite bulky and this one folds up nicely so would be perfect to slip into the front pocket of the messenger.

Plus it was a free back afterall!

She just how easy it is to justify pretty things!

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Psst ~ Don't forget to enter the Vintage Amethyst Blog Giveaway if you haven't already! The button is over there on the right, it'll take you straight to the giveaway post!

x

*Pretty Birdies*

A couple of weeks ago we visited the Harrogate Flower Show. We didn't know what to expect as we had never visited before but when we arrived we were not disappointed.

It was huge, there were so many wonderful stalls & things to see, displays etc & so so much to buy! *eek*

It was a really lovely sunny day too so I managed to snap lots of photos indoors & out.

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We did actually do a lot of shopping & came home with arms full of wonderful goodies, but today I thought I would just show you these pretties.

Two delightful little china birdies, aren't they just wodnerful? What with their crackle glaze & little pink rosy pattern who could have left them behind! They were such a great bargain too, 2 for £5! Really how good is that?

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We did notice that all the stalls that were there had really great bargains to be had, lots of lowered prices & 2 for £5, £10, £20 etc. so the price of the ticket (which incidentally was £14 per person but we had freebies from my sister as she couldn't go) is worth it in my opinion. Plus lots more to see, lots of flowers, a few gardens, flower displays, gardening stalls ~ lots with pretty homewares too, food stalls, question & answer sessions oh & lots, lots more too!

A really lovely day out.
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Oh & before I go thank you to everyone who has entered the giveaway so far & thanks to those who are spreading the word too!

If you haven't already entered please do just click the button over there on the right to be taken to the giveaway post ~ the more the merrier!

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It's White Wednesday over at the lovely Faded Charm, hence these birdies so do pop along & see all the lovely White Wednesday posts.

*Blog Giveaway*

*Blog Giveaway*

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To celebrate 300 blog followers I thought I would have a giveaway!

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The giveaway prize consists of a lovely retro style red & white polka dot peg bag, a retro style metal washroom sign & two pretty large eco-bags in red polka dot & strawberry too!

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To join in all you have to do is leave a message on this post or send an e-mail to giveaway@vintageamethyst.co.uk

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The giveaway is open until midnight on Monday 31st May.

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Please do feel free to blog or tweet about the giveaway & use the giveaway button over there on the side to add to your blog if you wish but please link back to this post ~ thank you.

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*Good Luck*

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P.S Anyone can enter this giveaway it's not restricted to UK, so feel free to enter international lovelies.

*We Salute You*

Today is the
65th Anniversary of VE Day ~ Victory in Europe Day!
So to all those brave men & women who served for our country & for all the brave men & women at home too we salute you.
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Get out the bunting, the cakes, the sandwiches, the tables & chairs, get your neighbours together & have a street party!

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Watch a VE Day Video below

*Pink & Green*

It's Pink & Green Thursday over at the pretty Pink Preppy Lilly Lover blog so today I thought I would join in.

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I decided this photo would be perfect for Pink & Green day, it's my pretty handmade make-up bag.

I actually bought it from a lovely lady on e-bay a couple of years ago, of course it is made using Cath Kidston's pretty strawberry oilcloth. It is quite a large make-up bag, it really could be used as a washbag too but I bought it to use for holidays & weekends away for when you take a little bit more makeup with you than you would for a night out or to take to work but seeing as I work from home I'm all set for that on a daily basis! *Giggle* I could really not wear makeup 'at work' but seeing as I'm a Little Miss Perfect my makeup & hair are done every morning! Ooohh I couldn't be seen without my mascara, blusher, lip gloss & curls people!

*Tee hee*

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*Pop along to Pink Preppy Lilly Lover for Pink & Green Thursday*

*Number 6*

A painting of Marilyn Monroe, the number 6??? ~ what going on here then I hear you mumble ....

... well the lovely Nancy over at the very pretty Rosewood Cottage blog kindly tagged me to play along with the number 6 bloggy game.

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I know I know, I don't normally partake in tags or awards but this one did take my fancy as you have to post the 6th photo you posted when you started your blog!

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Anyhoo, it got me wondering & here is mine!

It is a photo of a painting that my husband did, obviously of the ever beautiful Marilyn Monroe.

The painting was actually part of an exhibition he did which consisted of paintings of 'famous people'.

The painting sold & is now privately owned.

The original blog post I did was about prints of this Marilyn Monroe one & a Audrey Hepburn one, being available. The Marilyns & Audrey prints were very very popular but unfortunately they are no longer available.

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If you do wish to see anymore of his work please visit his website *here*

It is quite apt to have this post as it is his birthday tomorrow too!

All the threes, 33!

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*Happy Birthday James*

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Also blogged for White Wednesday over at the pretty Faded Charm hosted by the lovely Kathleen

*Spring Tea-Time Table*

I simply adore this pretty photo that I found over at the Country Living website.
I love the painted chairs in sweet spring colours, don't you?
Perfectly pretty fun for these lovely May days, lets hope we get a lot of lovely sunshine this month!

Country Living says ~

'Fanciful, intimate, and simple to prepare, a tea party is a party like no other. Set the scene with fragrant branches of lilacs and vintage china adorned with English rose motifs. Floral-print napkins, silver teaspoons, tiered serving pieces, and a dash of pastel-colored sugar all add a touch of romantic grandeur. And a chandelier hanging from a tree branch lends the affair sophisticated charm.'

*A Match Made in Home Heaven?*

Have you seen the new Jo Malone candles?
Jo Malone & Farrow & Ball have joined forces & brought out a set of new candles for the home.
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A savvy marketing match made in heaven methinks!
Jo Malone's unique wonderful scents with home enthusiasts favourites Farrow & Ball ~ I'm sure these are going to be a hit especially as they are limited edition too even if they are a bit on the pricey side, well for me personally anyhoo! I'm afraid I have to *eek* at the price tag of £42 for a candle however wonderfully scented, but obviously would love one, don't get me wrong! *tee hee*
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The Jo Malone with Farrow & Ball Collector’s Edition Coloured Candles cost £42.00 and are available for a limited period through Farrow & Ball showrooms, Jo Malone Boutiques & jomalone.co.uk
For more info about the candles & to see the range visit Farrow & Ball *here*
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