Almost Mid Summer!

Well, here I am, the second week in and I'm writing a post!

Hopefully the summer solstice tomorrow will bring a return of the lovely weather we had before the rain this past week.

I picked some lovely David Austin roses from my garden...the roses are flowering like crazy at the moment.

I visited the outlet at Clarks Village and bought two skirts...now, I don't usually have much luck with skirts as I think they can look frumpy on me, plus you have to find a top to go with them. I find they often don't fit well as they fit on the hips but are too big on the waist. This time I was in luck...this appliquéd horse design with Pom Pom trim was from White Stuff and fits a treat. Plus it was marked down from £55 to £20! One for the Autumn/Winter with a jumper, tights and boots I think.

The second one was from Seasalt and is a longer length, reduced from £60 to £25, so two good buys!

On Tuesday Michele and I enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea at Tortworth Court Hotel. It was a decadent treat which included Pimms...two happy V&H organisers. 

A view of the roses from my bedroom window.

We have a long and very fast growing hedge along the back of our garden. There are about 60 Leyllandii trees...they truly are the devil's trees. They never stop growing... I don't know why anyone plants them as they need constant cutting. Mr Cottage has started work on reducing them, removing some and cutting back others. He has to check each tree for birds nests first of course. If you consider that the platform in the photo is about 6 foot high you can see how big these trees are. Just cutting back a few reveals our view across the farm again.

On Saturday we held one of our Vintage Jumble Sales in Box, Wiltshire. They are always such fun and you never know what you may find. The next one is on the 16th July in Rangeworthy.

See our website or Facebook page for more info.

www.vintageandhandmade.co.uk

Finally, another puppy pic....we will be bringing him home on Friday. There is much excitement and preparation going on here at Cottage HQ! 

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!!

Girl's Day Out

Friday saw Tamzin & I on a little trip to Bath to have coffee & cake with Michele as it was her birthday the next day. We met at a lovely new cafe/restaurant in Bath called Hall & Woodhouse which has such a lovely vintage feel that we have decided that it should be our new HQ!










Afterwards we had a wander around town & spotted lots of the Bath Lions.

Here are a few of our favourites including one decorated by Cath Kidston.

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!

Caught red pawed!!

This cheeky little pup takes any opportunity to find a comfy place to sleep.....look where I found him this morning! He knows he's not allowed on the bed but does that stop him? Ohhhh no! He burrows under the duvet & rearranges the bed to suit himself. The bed was made when I left it!

On another note - if you want a good giggle do visit this blog recommended by a friend of mine:
Cake Wrecks.

Have a good weekend everybody!