*The 'Blue' James*

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Well here I am, I've finally got around to blogging about our trip to London for James' exhibition open night!

Blimey, it was a busy day! First we got on the wrong train!!! Now that isn't as bad as it sounds but we got on the wrong train as it was the previous train that was indeed so late that it arrived at exactly the time our train was meant to leave, so if a train turns up on time to London's King Cross & that's where you are going, you get on it, right!?!

Well we did but then again so did everyone else at our station too!

We then arrived at the hotel only to find they had decided to move us to a hotel across London! Ooohhh we were mad! They 'claimed' they had tried to contact us before to let us know about 'work' being done to the rooms, but seeing as James & I both work from home, they had his mobile number & his e-mail address I think they could have contacted him if they had tried!!!!

We then had to rush rush to drop everything off at the hotel, then make our way over to Notting Hill to visit the Gallery as James was dropping off some smaller paintings!!! Of course it was a red hot day, so the sweaty faced look was me for the day I'm afraid!!! Not particularly glamorous at all!

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At 4pm we then had to stop for something to eat as we hadn't had anything all day, oh apart from a Mars bar on the train! We stopped off at a fab pub nearby across Portobella road & we both had fish & chips ~ see above! Mmmmm it was delicious! We even had a pint of German beer too ~ well Dutch courage for the evening we thought!

*giggle*

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We then had to dash back to the tube station & back to the hotel. I managed to get my make-up done, iron my dress, do my hair & get dressed just in the nick of time before the taxi came to take us to the gallery! There was no way I was tube-ing it to the gallery after the rush we had had all day!

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We arrived at the gallery suitably early & got a drink!

The gallery had put on their own cocktail & named it The Blue James in honor of James, isn't that fab!

See it above, it was electric blue!!!!!! That was actually my drink as I had popped it there to take a photo of James' name in the window!!! Proud wife-y & all that! *giggle*

Now I think they may have called it 'The Blue James' because, well of course it's blue, but did it make a reference to some of his more 'risque' paintings perhaps??? See evidence in the first photo!!!!

*tee hee*

Althought to be fair they are all real vintage magazines that he has actually found!!!

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I managed to get a few photos taken early in the evening but all of a sudden the place was crowded, so photo taking tended to be difficult!

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They even had live music on later on in the night, which was fab!

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I think this was one of the last photos I took later in the night when everyone was stood outside by this point (under the gazebo that the gallery had put up because of the rain) it was so so hot in the gallery!

We had a fantastic time thanks to the GGGallery. They certainly know how to throw a good party! I can't even imagine how much wine, bubbly, cocktails & beer they went through!

We met some fabulous people & everyone spoke very highly of James' work & loved the exhibiton which of course was fantastic!

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The exhibition runs until July 22nd so if you are in the London area do pop along to take a peek.

The GGGallery is on Blenheim Crescent between Portobella Road & Kensington Park Road.

Hope you love it!

 Oh & don't forget to visit James' website *here* & blog *here*

x

 

*Secret Dealers*

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Did anyone watch the antique show Secret Dealers yesterday on ITV?

Well if you did you will have seen my Aunty Pamela!

*yay*

She was on selling some of her really lovely antiques that she has collected over the years, she even used to have an antique shop too when she lived in Scotland!

Anyhoo, if you didn't see it you can watch it on ITV Player *here*

*Yay for Aunty Pam*

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P.S I haven't forgotten about blogging about James' exhibition opening night in London, I will post some piccies very soon!

*Important Message*

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I just wanted to let you all know that we are having major internet problems.

We have contacted our service provider & they are sending a technician out to fix it on Wednesday morning!

*Wishing it was sooner!!!*

So I'm so sorry if you are waiting for an e-mail or an order but hopefully we will be up & running again on Wednesday!

Keep your fingers crossed lovelies!!!!

*UPDATE*

We are getting intermittent connection so I have been able to get a lot done this morning!

*hurrah*

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*Vintage Style Shabby Chic Chalkboard*

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These really lovely Vintage Style Chalkboards arrived back in stock on Friday.

They are so pretty & Shabby Chic in style with a lovely french feel to them.

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This is a really pretty vintage style chalkboard.
A useful addition to the kitchen but also incredibly attractive too with it's distressed white surround with a pretty decorative feature at the top, very french in style.
The chalkboard is a good large size & has a chalk rest at the bottom with 2 hooks on the back for easy hanging.

These are quite popular for vintage style weddings too!
This pretty chalkboard measures 60cms high & 38cms wide.

They are £16 each & they can be found *here*
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*Vintage Weddings*

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If you are planning a vintage style wedding this book may be perfect for you for inspiration & help with planning your special day.

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A visual journey through 100 years of wedding styles and dresses, "Vintage Weddings" takes a close look at the key periods, diverse styles, iconoclastic designers, significant ceremonies and cultural influences in wedding fashions. Organized chronologically, this book shows the reader how to recognize the silhouette that will best suit their body shape, identify luxurious fabrics, contrast various styles, and to source appropriate accessories, from gloves and shoes to flowers, veils, jewellery and table decorations. Throughout the book, individual pieces that epitomize the defining characteristic of each designer or decade are analyzed in detail. This book is for those interested in collecting and acquiring all aspects of authentic vintage pieces relating to the wedding ceremony, and also for prospective brides who are buying new, but are looking for sources of inspiration.

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The book received a wonderful review from a customer at Amazon ...

This is just what I was looking for when my best friend decided to make me her bridesmaid and wanted help with organising her vintage themed wedding. It has some brilliant ideas about how to theme your wedding according to the period - so if you want to know how to have a Great Gatsby style wedding you'll know exactly what sort of canapes, drinks and table decorations to have, not to mention the beautiful range of dresses to drool over! I'd recommend this book to anyone who is planning a wedding for the practical aspects, but I would also recommend it to people who just love looking at gorgeous wedding dresses! All of you who were fascinated by Catherine Middleton's dress should find this book equally fascinating. Oh, and it also talks about the meaning behind lots of wedding rituals and traditions - great for entertaining your dinner companion with at the wedding breakfast!!

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The book is available from Amazon & is currently priced at £16.25 ~ find it *here*

*Wonderful Wicker Hearts*

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More of these wonderful large wicker hearts have arrived today.

Perfect to stand on shelves, dressers, window ledges, fireplaces or indeed to hang on walls or doors too.

A really love addition to the home & perfect as a gift idea for a love one.

They are wonderful for wedding day decor too.

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They were also featured in the June edition of Period Living magazine.

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The heart was included in the product page

Be Inspired by ...

A vintage textile collector who has filled her Victorian home with pattern & colour.

Which was part of an article about Meg Andrews & Sam Mullins' Victorian London Home transformation.

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These large wicker hearts are £10 each & can be found *here*

 

P.S Thank you for all your lovely comments regarding the This Morning makeover with Laurence in the previous posts!

I really appreciate all your lovely words of support & congratulations, you are all wonderful.

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*Did you see it?*

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Well the TV world surely is a crazy business!
One minute I've been told the Laurence of Interiors segment on This Morning which featured some Vintage Amethyst goodies is on this week, then after I had done that blog post letting you all, I received another e-mail from them saying it had been moved to the following week & then ... & then ... whilst I was at the hairdressers I may add (!) I received another e-mail from the This Morning team yesterday morning to say it is on that morning!!!!

*eek*

It was a good job James had checked the e-mails as he rang me & I dashed home just in time to see it!!!!

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It was a fun pretty room (although I'm not sure about those walls ~ sorry Laurence!) & we only just spied the Vintage Amethyst glass dish on the table & the pretty vintage style postcards in the frames & on the floor in front of the frames when Laurence was talking about them!
I would have had some lovely french style frames for them for the walls, as that is one of the products they asked for but unfortunately the very morning they asked for the items they required for this makeover I had just sent the last of them off to 60 Minute Makeover as they had requested them & lots of other items for a makeover they were doing!!!!

*Squeal*

(I will of course let you all know about that makeover when I know when it is to be aired)

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Anyhoo, they apparantly used one of the ivory rose garlands too but I can't spy that anywhere, but it is really hard to see all the lovely goodies in detail.

If you didn't see the makeover you can watch it online *here* & if you scroll down the page you can see that I am thanked for the items I supplied with a link to the relevant pages ~ which is completely fabulous!

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Thank you This Morning & thank you Laurence Llewelyn Bowen for choosing Vintage Amethyst for this pretty living room makeover!

*Vintage Amethyst on This Morning!*

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~*UPDATE*~

If you've read the previous update & then today's blog (which I've now deleted!!!) you would have read that the makeover had been pushed back until next week BUT I've just heard from This Morning again & it's back on again
TODAY!!!!!

I think it is on after 11am!!!!!

*eek*

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Exciting news lovelies!

Vintage Amethyst is going to be on TV!

How exciting is that?

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I was contacted just over a week ago by This Morning explaining that they were producing a new series of makeovers for the This Morning show called

'Laurence of Interiors' presented by non other that the ever wonderful Laurence Llewelyn Bowen & that Laurence was keen on some of the Vintage Amethyst range!

*Hurrah*

Anyhoo I sent the items that they needed off to them & have been told by This Morning that the makeover was a huge success & that it is going to be aired on Wednesday morning - this week!

So excited to see it!

I'm not sure if they have used all the items they requested so I'm not sure what will be seen on the show so we will have to keep our eyes peeled & try & spot the Vintage Amethyst goodies!

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So remember this Wednesday (the 22nd) ~ This Morning show!

I hope you will tune in, I know I will be!!!

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*Home Sweet Home Hanging Heart*

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This weeks *Product of the Week* are these really lovely
Home Sweet Home Hanging Hearts.

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A very beautiful embroidered home sweet home hanging heart.
This sweet heart is made from pure linen & is decorated with beautiful embroidery featuring a home & the words 'home sweet home'.
The colour of the heart is a natural colouring with the embroidery on ivory linen, the embroidery features soft natural, pink & green colouring and is finished with a mother of pearl button.
This heart is a good size & would love wonderful in any home & would make a very sweet gift for someone.
This is a large 'flat' heart & measures 17.5 cms tall excluding hanger & 19 cms wide.

The hearts are only £8 each & you can find them *here*

They also come in a pretty soft green colour too which can be found *here*

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*We're off to London!*

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James and I are off to London tomorrow as James has a solo exhibition in a London Gallery.

The preview night is tomorrow night so we are travelling to London to be there for it.

The exhibition is called 'Modern Memorabilia' & is at the GGGallery in Notting Hill.

It runs from the preview night on Thursday until July 22nd.

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It has been manic here over the last few days!!!! Yesterday was crazy! CRAZY!

Do you know what it is like to pack up 15 paintings worth thousands of pounds each, to be sent to London, some of them huge!?!?

We didn't think we were going to get it done in time, but thankfully after 6 rolls of parcel tape, wooden boards being cut to size, huge amounts of cardboard, bubble wrap everywhere, the scent of panic in the air ~ we got there & the courier came to pick them up & they were on their way!

Hurrah!

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I hope it is a fab night & if you want to see more of James' work do visit his website *here* & also pop along to his blog *here*

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*Thank You Everyone*

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*YAY*

I did it, I did the Race for Life yesterday for Cancer Research!

It was a wonderful day, sunshine & blue skies all the way.

I did it with my friend Helen from Urban Eden Boutique.

We didn't run, let that be said, we walked it or we planned to anyhoo but unfortunately we had a

false start!

We couldn't hear really what was being said over the microphone as we were at the back of the large group of ladies & so we just started to follow the 'Jogging' sign as we couldn't see a 'Walkers' sign in sight (& never did actually!!!) so we just presumed that we were meant to follow the joggers but at the back for the walking, anyhoo as it turned out, no, we were in the joggers group & after passing the start line everyone started jogging, well not everyone as there were a few people around us that I think were meant to be in the walkers group too as they seemed to look as shocked as we did!

We looked slightly bemused, walking & burst into fits of laughter when the man on the microphone shouted 'come on ladies you're the joggers, getting jogging, the walkers are still here waiting to start'! In a fit of panic, half hearted jogging for a while & in fits of giggles Helen said 'Quick escape through that gap & we will go back to the start.' So we did! Goodness knows what the onlookers thought of us!!!

Anyhoo, we got around to the starting post again & joined in with the walkers just in time to start!

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The walk was lovely, it was sunny,warm & took place in our lovely big Victorian park which is so beautiful, so in fact it was a really lovely morning walk.

We completed the 5k (3.2 miles) in 58 minutes.

There were so many lovely ladies & little girls about of all ages & abilites so it was a really lovely atmosphere.

I had James, my Dad, one of my sisters & one of my nieces there to shout us on & take photos!

My other niece was doing it & she did really well & ran it!

It was lovely to see them there at the side shouting for us & waving.

It was also really lovely that everytime you passed a Marshall they all clapped & shouted encouragement, it really made a difference.

There were of couse lovely outfits to see, obviously a lot of pink wigs, tu-tu's, wings, some clowns & one lady was dressed as the Queen with a full rubber mask on! (She must have been red hot in there!) She did a royal wave all around the course too!

A group of Morris Dancers, all dressed in full black traditional costume with tall hats but with pink faces also completed the course dancing & playing music all the way!

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It was a lovely day & I am so pleased that I have raised £366 for Cancer Research & thank you again to everyone who helped me get there.

I am so grateful & my Mum would have been so proud.

~ THANK YOU~

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I also wanted to say that it is my Bloggy Birthday today!!!!

The Vintage Amethyst Blog is 4 years old today!!!

*Hurrah*

Thank you to all the regular readers, everyone who e-mails & leaves comments.

You are all wonderful, wonderful lovelies & I appreciate everyone of you!

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*I'm doing it for her*

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I will be doing the Race for Life on Sunday & I am doing it for this lady!

I'm taking part in Race for Life as unfortunately my Mum was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. Even though this disease is unsually associated with smoking my Mum has never smoked in her life. The cancer was a rare form which formed on the outside of her lung. She underwent treatment which was successful at the time but then unfortunately in March this year we found out that the cancer returned & has also spread to her esophagus.
Very sadly my Mum lost her battle with cancer on Monday April 11th this year.

I'm sure there are a lot of you out there that have been affected by this terribly cruel disease & so I think this is a charity that is close to a lot of people's hearts.

I would love for your sponsorship but obviously if you are doing the race yourself or are already sponsoring someone I don't expect you to sponsor me too, but if there are any lovely kind people out there that are not currently sponsoring someone & would like to help raise money for Cancer Research I would really love your sponsorship!

You don't have to sponsor me a lot, if lots of people sponsor just £1 or £2 it will all add up!

I have currently raised £295 & my Mum was so pleased with the amount I had raised before she passed away.
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I am looking forward to the Race for Life, but I am also dreading it. I know it is going to be a very emotional day for me & of course for many other people too.
I haven't done my back sign yet as I am even dreading doing that, I know I am going to be in tears ~ I then probably make a terrible mess of it!
*smile*
Anyhoo, wish me luck & thank you so much to all the lovely people who have sponsored me so far, you are all truly wonderful lovelies.

Amanda from Pandy Potter Bears

Jayne from Red Lilly

Lisa from Kandipandi Blog

Catherine from Bumpkin Bears

Nikki from Knots & Kisses
Laura from Laurel Weddings
Kerry from Daisychain Events
Kristina from Shabbily By The Sea
Caroline from Floating with the Stars
Karen from Lolodesigns
Annie from The Felt Fairy
Marie from Dreaming of Wild Roses
Alison from Art of Crafts
Victoria from Florence and Mary

Plus of course all my family, friends & customers here & abroad who have very kindly sponsored me too!

You are all so so kind!

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If you can sponsor me please visit  my sponsorship page *here*

Thank You.

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I just wanted to say thank you so much to all the lovely people who have sponsored me since I posted this post.

The total amount is now £361!!!!!

Thank you so so much I really appreciate all your help with raising money for Cancer Research to help save more lives.

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*The Bridal Magazine Wedding Supplier Awards*

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The Brial Magazine has just launched it's 2011 Wedding Supplier Awards.
So if you love the Vintage Amethyst

Wedding Day Collection

I would love your vote!

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The Wedding Day collection has been really popular for me & I'm so glad that I went ahead & added the collection to the Vintage Amethyst Boutique.
A couple of years ago I had found that lots of customers mentioned that they were buying for their wedding day so I decided to have a dedicated section to make it easy for brides to find pretty vintage style items for their special day.
Since then the Wedding Day Collection has grown & is really really popular!

I love that Vintage Amethyst has a small part to play in such a special day & I always get such lovely comments about how pretty the items are & that they are perfect for their wedding decor.

Of course it is a wonderful place to visit if you are looking for a sweet wedding day gift idea too.

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All you have to do is visit The Bridal Magazine's voting page & fill your details in.

Please vote for Vintage Amethyst in the Venue Styling category & state the Business Name which  of course is Vintage Amethyst.

You can also add the following although it isn't a necessity ...

Business website ~ www.vintageamethyst.co.uk
Contact name ~ Alison Britton-Paterson

Plus any comments you wish to leave ...

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You do have to state your wedding day on the form too, but I'm sure you can put that you are already married as obviously many people who have bought pretties for their special day from the

Vintage Amethyst Wedding Day Collection

will now already be married!

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Find the voting page *here*

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Thank you so much & I hope I can count on your vote.
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*Beautiful Gold Heart Bracelet*

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This week for *Product of the Week* I've gone all glitzy glam with this

stunning Gold Bracelet with Diamante Heart Clasp.

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This is a wonderful beautiful & unusual bracelet.
It features lots of rows of delicate ball chain & is then finished with a wonderfully big heart clasp full of pretty sparkly diamantes.
Pefect for a special occasion or night out & so lovely as a gift.

They are only £10 each & you can find them *here*

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*In the Garden*

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Well it's the weekend & it's a perfect time to get out in the garden!

Vintage Amethyst isn't all about the home I have a few cuties that are perfect for the garden too.

These are a few of the items in our garden ...

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These large wicker hearts look really lovely in an outdoor space.

They are £10 each & can be found *here*

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These pretty garden signs are simply adorable.

They are only £4.50 & can be found *here*

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I love these heart shaped bird feeders. They are perfect for apples, seed balls or fat balls to feed your birdies.

They are only £4 & can be found *here*

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The pretty heart hooks are lovely for outside too & bring a touch of prettiness to your garden.

They are £5 for a set of 2 & can be found *here*

They are also available in the birdy style too which can be found *here*

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And how cute are these little hanging birdies, perfect for hanging outside too!

They are only £4.50 for a set of 3 & can be found *here*

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Will you be getting out in your garden this weekend?

*Pretty Outside Space*

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I love this simple yet sophisticated outdoor area don't you?

I love the little shelves with tea light holders on on the white wall. Oh & how fabulous is that trellis?

 So pretty!

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The image is from House to Home & this is what they say ...

Only have a patio garden?
A decorative metal trellis against a painted wall is a stunning way to add interest to a small space.
Photograph by PSC

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