Happy Valentine's Day & a Winner

I couldn't resist posting this photo for Valentine's Day of this super cute foal with a heart shaped marking on his bum!


Thanks for all the entries for my little giveaway. I put the total into a random number generator & the winner is number 17 - The Vintage Gardener.....please let me know your postal details & I will pop your package in the post. Hope you enjoy it!

Little Valentine's Giveaway

Thank you all so much for the birthday & anniversary wishes....we had a lovely (if very cold!) time in Venice & I will post photos soon, but today I am having a little giveaway for Valentine's Day. I was sorting some goodies out to take along to the Vintage & Handmade Textile & Fashion Fair on the 25th February & came across this little lot & I thought it would make a nice giveaway.
All you have to do is leave a comment here & I will draw the winner on the 14th.

Vintage Finds: One Eared Pony

When I saw this poor pony at the auction I had to leave a bid....he has one ear, half a mane & tail & is somewhat 'pre-loved' but adorable nonetheless.
As luck would have it I was the high bidder (probably nobody else wanted a One Eared Pony) so I collected him & brought him home today.
Despite his advanced years he still has a lovely 'outline' & stands nice & square - Dylan could take a few tips from him!
Click on the photo for a larger view.


Speaking of Dylan...he has pulled a ligament (we think it is from cavorting in the field with the other horses) so is currently on anti inflammatory medication & on box rest - also known as Happily Standing In Your Stable All Day Eating Hay.
Hopefully he should be OK in a couple of weeks time.

As promised...drum roll please...the winner of our caption competition is Sue at Dollytub Cottage - Sue please let me know your address & your (little) prize will be on it's way!

The Winner Is....

Thank you all for the birthday wishes & for entering my giveaway.
The Rob Ryan designed vase above was given to me by my daughter, Tamzin - isn't it pretty?
I have had a lovely day & been thoroughly spoilt except Mr C is away in the USA so we will celebrate again when he comes home.

I entered the numbers 1-54 in a random number generator & it chose the winner.....

True Random Number Generator Result: 4 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

So, that is Julie's Knitting & Sewing Corner! Congrats Julie! Please do let me know your address & I will put together your personalised vintage goody box!

A Vintage Giveaway

I have been to Gloucester Antiques Centre again to add some new stock & a small set of shelves for more display space. They were just boring old pine so I painted them my favourite duck egg blue which I think sets off vintage items beautifully.



I rearranged the display on my little table - I use this as my "shop window" & change the display every time I go. This seems to work well as it brings different items to the attention of the customers & I always sell items from there. This week it is a bit of a tea party theme with china & glass.


Now for the giveaway.....as I have 299 followers & it's my birthday on Wednesday so I thought I'd have a giveaway to thank you all for your support & friendship.

Until I started blogging I didn't realise how many like minded folk there were out there. Without the blogging world so much of what I have done in the last few years wouldn't have happened.....particularly the Vintage & Handmade Fairs which has exceeded all my expectations. I would never have met my partner in crime, Michele, or all of the lovely ladies that read my blog or exhibit at & attend the fairs & who I now call friends....so thank you once again!

The giveaway will be a surprise box of vintage goodies - all you have to do is to leave a comment here & I will do the draw on my birthday - the 2nd February.

And speaking of fairs - don't forget about the Vintage Jumble on the 5th March - it's going to be great fun!!

Weekend Finds

I am currently on a mission to find as many lovely vintage items as possible for the Vintage & Handmade Fair which is in just over 3 weeks time!
So, off we went on Monday to Malvern Fleamarket to see what we could find. There were loads of people going in - the busiest I've seen it for many months, but for me there wasn't a lot to choose from. Some prices are really sky high & prices for the same thing can vary hugely.
The best looking stall was Tracey of The Vintage Bothy, who always has a colourful & inviting display.
I did find a few bits & bobs, most of which will make an appearance at the fair - my favourites are the two vintage dogs & the tin above - I'm very tempted to keep them...but my mantlepiece is starting to look like a china dog sanctuary....


I loved this little picture.


A Vernon Ward print of Mousehole.


A lovely wooden jigsaw puzzle - all the birds are separate pieces.


Vintage gardening books which have such lovely cover illustrations.


Recently Claire of "Made in Pixieland" had asked her blog readers to suggest a title for one of her new pictures & she liked the one I suggested so she very kindly sent me the first of the prints! It was a lovely surprise & I intend framing it for my bathroom wall.


The very talented Claire will be having a stall at the V&H Fair so be sure to stop by & look at her lovely cards & prints.

Newsletter Giveaway

Just a reminder that everyone joining my shop newsletter list this month will be entered into a draw to win a Coronation mug or cup candle. I will do the draw on the 1st April.

Miss Cottage is coming home for the Easter holidays today so we have decided to have a jaunt to London on Saturday to see the quilt exhibition at the V&A & to partake in a little shopping & refreshment!

Fanciful Fairies

Recently I have been fabulously fortunate in winning several fantastic giveaways & two of them featured fairies!

The one above is a fanciful drawing of a fairy & a teddy by the talented Karen of A Mermaid's Purse. Isn't it just adorable?


My second fabulously fairy-ish win was this pretty set of embroidered brooches by Corinne Phillips - Mabel, Florence & Polly will now be gracing the lapels of my jackets & coats!


Thank you both for such lovely giveaways & fellow bloggers please do visit their blogs to see more of their work.

Lucky Win!

Recently Sam, of Silkie Sue blog held a fabulous giveaway - if you don't know Sam you should pop over for a visit as she paints lovely pictures & has also been creating some gorgeous new critters too.

Anyway, the giveaway was for one of Sam's paintings & even better she would paint whatever you wanted & I was the lucky winner! Woohoo!

Of course I had to choose to have a painting of my most beloved & lovely Lucy & didn't she do a great job? I sent Sam a selection of photos & this is the one she chose to do.

This lovely painting arrived mounted & framed & will take pride of place.
Thanks again Sam - I LOVE it!

A Black Cat & A Little Bird

It's always very difficult to photograph a black cat, but this morning Purdy decided to turn model & pose for us so you can see her in all her furry beauty. She is 10 years old now - we adopted her from the RSPCA when she was about 10 weeks old.
She is a little cat & very dainty, she is very fond of her family but not of strangers. She has impeccable manners, never uses her claws or scratches & loves a proper "paws around the neck" hug which always results in purring overdrive. She is also an expert mouser & unfortunately, hunter of baby bunnies & the occasional bird, which is why we keep her indoors at night so that she can't stalk all the early birds feeding in the garden.



You may think Purdy has an evil gleam in her eye & it may be because of a new little birdie complete with nest who has come to live with us. A little while ago I entered a giveaway over at Vintage Lifestyle & I was fortunate enough to win it! I received this beautifully presented bag in the post last week.

Inside I found this sweet little bird & nest.


Birdie is now living amongst the Christmas cards safely out of the way of a certain Witchy Kitty!



Thanks for such a lovely treat Kelly!

And the winner is....

I put the numbers into a random number generator & it chose number 5 - Isobel from The Cosy Corner.
I even found a trophy with an "I" on it! But you will be receiving the embroidered tea towels instead!

So, Isobel, let me have your address & I'll send them off to you asap.

:-)

Holiday Souvenir Giveaway

I have been meaning to do this ever since I returned from holiday but as you all know, time can run away with you!

While I was on holiday I was on the look out for the most retro-kitsch souvenir I could find to bring back for a giveaway & what could be better than a set of embroidered tea towels??
My family & newly made holiday friends were in hysterics, but I persevered for the sake of all you bloggers out there!

So, if you'd like your very own set of Portuguese tea towels do leave a comment & it would be fun to know what the most kitsch souvenir you have bought or have been given is!

I'll keep this open until Sunday evening.