*Best Wishes for the New Year!*

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I just wanted to wish each & everyone of you a wonderful New Year!

I hope it will be filled with lots of love, much happiness & good health.

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Thank you to everyone who has visited the Vintage Amethyst Boutique & Blog over the last year, you have all made 2010 a perfectly wonderful year for Vintage Amethyst & myself.

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Have a wonderful night tonight whatever you are doing & I hope you are lucky enough to be spending it with loved ones.

Blessings & Best Wishes to you all.

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*Happy New Year Everyone ~ see you in 2011!*

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*Christmas Sale Now On!*

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I hope you all had a magical Christmas & thank you so much for all the kind Christmas wishes & cards!

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Just to let you know there is a Christmas Sale going on!

The Christmas decorations are reduced so pop on by for an absolute bargain ~ the two cuties above are now only £2 for example!

Pop along to the Christmas collection

*here*

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*Merry Christmas*

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Merry Christmas Everyone!

Have a truly magical time.

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and ...

Happy 6th Anniversary to my wonderful lovely James.

All my love ...

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*A Simple Christmas Wreath*

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I saw this pretty idea on the all about you website & thought what a lovely wreath & so simple to do too!

I think I will have to make one of these this week.

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The idea is from Jane Cumberbatch from Pure Style & here is the how to ...

What you need:

 A good handful of rosemary

120cm of garden wire

string

scissors

ribbon
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Step 1

Cut the wire with pliers to 120cm long. Bend the wire in half, and twist the ends together to make a circle. Continue to wind the ends of the wire upon itself to secure the circle.

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Step 2

Weave sprigs of rosemary between the wire until covered.
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Step 3

Tie three or four pieces of string to hold the stems in place. I like hairy gardener's string the best because it looks natural.

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Step 4

Add the finishing touch: a bow of gingham ribbon. Alternatively nice piece of velvet ribbon or white linen tape will also look good.
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Put the wreath wherever you want a festive touch: like a mantelpiece or shelf, or even on the Christmas table as a pretty decoration.

You can visit Jane Cumberbatch online just click *here*

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*Pretty Festive Bauble Ideas*

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Simple Holiday Touches

A bowl of pink vintage ornaments sits on a hand-caned chair and catches the color of garlands of glass beads strung on the bed and chandelier. Gingham ribbon was used to suspend paperwhite wreaths made by a florist. The aromatic flowers, inserted into oasis, also add a lovely fragrance to the room.

From Country Living US

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Make a centrepiece

Use a teacup to stack a side plate on a dinner plate and top with another cup to make a cakestand. Decorate with cakes, chocolates and baubles for a cost-saving centrepiece.

From Ideal Home

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Bauble display

Hanging baubles at varying lengths from a light will create a shimmering Christmas display. Glass and glitter baubles will give the best effect.

From Homes & Gardens

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Curtain decoration

String glass baubles from a curtain pole on varying lengths of pretty ribbon for a simple but effective Christmas decoration. Green ivy adds a final touch.

From Ideal Home

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Bauble display

Play with scale and display different-sized baubles in a clear bowl.

From Living Etc.

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Light up a lantern

Baubles and lights aren't just for trees, fill a lantern with them to sparkle of a side table.
From Ideal Home
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Pretty bauble display

Simply fill a shallow bowl with a mixture of plain and decorated baubles in different shapes and sizes, sticking to one or two colours for maximum impact.

From Ideal Home

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Festive favour bowl

If you're entertaining, treat your guests to chocolates placed in silver bags. Decorate each bag with a ribbon and bauble, and put in a mirrored bowl near the door for guests to pick up on the way home.
From Ideal Home
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Wrap it up

Thread a few baubles onto the centre of a long length of ribbon, tie into a cluster and use the remaining length of ribbon either side to tie around the present.
From Ideal Home
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Smart table setting

Dress up place settings for your Christmas meal by tying baubles around a napkin with ribbon and placing a pretty flower on top for added sophistication.
From Ideal Home
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Festive votive

Thread mini baubles onto a length of florist's wire, wrap around the base of your votive and when it fits all the way round, twist to secure and trim off any excess wire.
From Ideal Home
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*Scrumptious Festive Delights*

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Look at what I won!

These wonderfully pretty festive cupcakes from Vintage & Cake.

They arrived yesterday & they looked almost too good to eat.

They are covered in pretty glitter that sparkles like newly fallen snow.

Aren't they just so adorable?

I say almost too good to eat as they do look incredibly scrumptious as so James & I just had to have one right away & they were yummy!

Thank you so much to Julie from Vintage & Cake, they were certainly worth waiting for.

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I know you will all agree how wonderfully lucky I was to win such a lovely giveaway, but I have a little secret ...

Julie is having another giveaway right this moment to win some more scrummy cupcakes!!!

*Yay*

So pop on by the Vintage & Cake blog to enter!

Visit Vintage & Cake *here* & see all the wonderful things that Julie offers

& visit the Vintage & Cake blog *here* to enter the giveaway!

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 Linking to White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Show & Tell at My Romantic Home

*Last few hours*

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Vintage Amethyst will be closing at 12pm today for the holidays.

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It will be a welcome relief I can tell you & I even get a couple of days away to enjoy some Christmas Markets!

*yay*

It has been so so busy these last few weeks, which  I'm certainly not complaining about at all, but with the terrible weather we have had recently & all the delayed post, it has certainly been a nerve wracking time hoping that post is arriving safely, receiving & replying to peoples queries about where their goodies are!

Luckily I have the loveliest, most kindest customers in the world & so everyone completely understood & was ever so nice about the situation.

I'm just wishing on a star that all the recent parcels will be arriving with their new owners safe & sound very soon in time for the big day!

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Thank you, thank you to all my lovely customers old & new this year, you have certainly kept me very busy!

Thank you.

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Although the Vintage Amethyst boutique will be closing, the blog certainly is still open ~ you're not getting rid of me that easy!

*Giggle*

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*Star Chalkboard*

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This weeks

Product of the Week

are these adorable star chalkboard for Christmas.

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Such a cutie of a chalkboard & so perfect for Christmas.

This little chalkboard is star shaped for Christmas & hangs from a piece of red & white gingham ribbon.

The chalkboard comes along with a piece of chalk hanging from twine.

Count down the days until Santa arrives or write a Christmas wishlist & hang for all to see!

Only £3 each!

Find them *here*

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Last day for Christmas orders is Wednesday 15th December!

*Adorable Shelf Sitters*

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These cuties arrived a few weeks ago.

A really pretty shelf sitter with the word HOME.

Wooden letters painted off white & distressed for a lovely shabby chic country look.

A really adorable little gift idea either for yourself of a loved one.

Also available a 'LOVE' shelf sitter too.
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Both are only £4.50 each so ideal little stocking fillers.

Find the HOME *here* & the LOVE *here*

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Don't forget only a few days left to do your Christmas shopping at Vintage Amethyst.

Last day for shopping before Christmas is Wednesday the 15th December.

*Thank Goodness For ...*

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WELLIES!!!

These cuties have been my bestest friend for over 2 weeks now.

We are still deep in snow & ice here but yesterday it started to get a little warmer & so the icicles are starting to melt!

I am just so so glad I had these stripy lovelies to keep me warm & dry when out & about!

I bought them from Rydale Country Clothing a at the start of the year for a bargain-licious £19.99 ~ well compared to Joules wellies anyhoo, to which they are very similar!

They even have a pink nobble thingy on back to make it easy to pull them off with your other foot.

I decided today whilst out in them that I'm not too sure I want to give them up so easy after the snow has gone as wellies really are so comfy to get about it aren't they?

But seeing as the snow is still silly deep here I'm sure I've still got a lot of wear in them yet to come ...

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Oh & whilst talking about the white stuff I'm afraid it is causing terrible terrible problems with the post.
First Class post is seeming to take about a week to arrive (and that is if it does finally get there!) so if you are wanting to order anything from the Vintage Amethyst boutique for Christmas, my advice is get it as early as possible!

(Please note that the dates for worldwide delivery for Christmas have now passed.)

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Have a lovely weekend everyone ...

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*Vintage Style Festive Whites*

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Cozy Stockings

Hang an array of stockings in different colors and textures at the foot of the bed to incorporate the holiday spirit into this room.

From Country Living US

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Handkerchief Stockings

These stockings make delightful use of handkerchiefs with fitting monograms or attractive decorations.

From Martha Stewart

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Vintage Ornaments on a Tea Tray

Silver loves white, so try displaying your vintage ornaments on a tea tray, like confections. Or enlist a silver candy dish or mercury-glass vase.

From Country Living US

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White Christmas

Built recently in Victorian-farmhouse style, this house is not large — though the white-on-white interiors make it feel more so. In the sitting room, Cheryl created a shadowbox table, topped by a window frame with clear glass. The feather tree is delicately adorned with crystal and mirrored drops.

From Country Living US

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Fanciful

An Elegant White Feathered Tree gets dolled up with vintage cameos, ornaments, faux-pearl garlands, and a topper made from a ribbon corsage. The display, set atop a platter massed with vintage glass ornaments, looks perfect on a dining-room sideboard.

From Country Living US

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Linked to White Wednesday at Faded Charm

*Pretty Heart Gifts for £5 & Under*

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If you are looking for a couple of really cute little gifts that really won't leave you penniless this Christmas

here are a couple of lovelies from Vintage Amethyst for £5 & under!

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These white Welcome Hearts are adorable & perfect to welcome guests to your home.

They are a super bargain at only £3!

They are a really good size hearts too ~ 14cms tall & 14cms wide & so would make a perfect little gift for someone which look like they cost a lot more!

Find them *here*

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Here is another really lovely gift idea, these are such a favourite of mine as they are so so pretty.

A Glass Heart Candle Holder.

They are such a sweet little gift & when a candle is lit it throws beautiful rays of light all around it due to it's ridged outer edge.

These are a such a bargain for such a pretty item at only £3 too!

Find them *here*

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Another pretty white hanging heart, this time a Home Sweet Home one.

Again another bargain at £3!

Find them *here*

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These are a really popular heart, everyone loves them ~ even Ideal Home magazine who featured them in their magazine!

These puffed zinc hearts are a lovely gift idea & perfect to hang anywhere.

They are a fab bargain at only £4!

Find them *here*

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Another cute white hanging heart this time a LOVE heart.

Again another super bargain at only £3!Find them *here*

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Lastly are these really pretty Love Birds Hanging Heart.

These are such a pretty decor idea with it's vintage style & chalky white paint & would make a really lovely gift for someone.

These are only £5 each!

Find them *here*

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I hope this shows you that you don't have to spend a lot this Christmas to give a really pretty special gift from the heart ...

*A Touch of Vintage Style*

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This weeks

Product of the Week

are these truly beautiful

Vintage Style Cream Satin Evening Bags with Diamante Bow

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These have just arrived back in stock after a long while but unfortunately I have a very limited number of these available as they are so popular!

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This is a really beautiful vintage style clutch.

The bag is a lovely deep cream satin which features a pleating effect to the front with a frilly top & is finished with a particularly pretty diamante bow ~ wonderfully 50's in style.

This pretty clutch can also be used as an evening handbag as it comes complete with a silver chain handle & also another long silver chain handle so that it can also be used as a shoulder bag.

The inner is cream satin & features a roomy pocket.

They are £25 & can be found

*here*

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I have a wonderful selection of beautiful vintage style evening bags & pretty jewellery in the

Just For You Collection, ideal for all your festive parties & absolutely perfect as pretty gifts for loved ones this Christmas ...

Pop on over *here* to take a peek.

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P.S Don't forget it is the last day for Christmas shopping for

Europe, USA & Canada today so place your orders today if you are shopping for Christmas.

~Thank You~

*I'm Excited ~ Are You?*

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Oohhh I'm getting so excited thinking about putting the lovely Christmas decorations up this year, are you?

A new addition this year will be this really pretty Noel Garland that I bought from Annie ~ The Felt Fairy a few weeks ago ~ see that's how excited I've been!

I was browsing her Ebay shop & I noticed she was selling custom made garlands so I just knew I wanted a Christmassy one!

As you can see I chose this lovely pale blue colour, the letters NOEL & this pretty scalloped edging.

I was so delighted when it arrived as it is so lovely, thank you Annie.

I decided to go for this lovely pale colour as it is going to be hung on my dresser in the dining room & it will look adorable with the other pale blue & pink decorations in this room which compliment our Laura Ashley wall paper & dolly!

*see here for a quick peek*

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Are you excited for your tree & festive decor, have you been so excited that your decorations have already crept into your home?

*giggle*

I think James & I are going to do all our festive decorating one night next week & of course have our tradition of lots of bubbly & nibbles, listening to old Christmas songs by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra et al & generally get a bit giddy & giggly whilst doing it ...

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A Show & Tell post for My Romantic Home

*eek*

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Remember this photo from the summer time?

Well it certainly doesn't look like this now!

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We have had snow for a week & it still keeps falling!

You can barely see my pretty flask on the table!

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I'm afraid it is affecting postage as it is so deep here so it may take a little while longer for your parcels to arrive with you, so please do be patient they will arrive but may just take a day or two longer than normal.

Thank you.

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