Love Works Wonders

It really does, doesn't it?

Happy Valentines....

Hearts and flowers to you all...

Ali x

And the winner...

...of the January issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine goes to...

PG!

Well done! Please let me have your address details via the contact button on my blog or website and I will whizz it in the mail for you. Happy reading...I hope it inspires....

Ali x

Inspirational Giveaway ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine

I have been catching up with all of those lovely blogs that I follow ~ and it still continues to amaze me how much inspiration and creativity you are all willing to share. It seems that many of us find this time of year a time for renewal, with lots of energy ~ the imaginary lightbulb inside our head is busy flickering, dreaming up new ideas and putting them into action.

For others (me included) the New Year often is slow to start for bodies and brains, our creative flow takes a while to get, well... flowing....

Inspiration sometimes needs a helping hand ~ and the quickest, simplest and most gratifying source of this elusive inspiration is visual...

Don't you just love the feel and smell of a virgin magazine, silky smooth pages...

Just read back the words I have written and think I ought to stop as it is getting a bit risque...

Or is it just me?

I do hope that I am not alone in my love affair, as I am now delighted to announce that I am an official UK stockist of the... (drum roll please) most luxurious, delightful, original, dreamy and utterly inspirational magazine from Jeanne D'Arc Living.

If you haven't come across this company and their extraordinary publication before ~ it is the brainchild of two very talented Danish women with a very unique style. The magazine will be published 8 times this year and is available via my own website alongside selected items from their decorative accessories ranges. I also have a very limited number of back issues.

I would love to give away a copy of the January 2011 issue to share the inspiration...

To enter, simply leave a message on this post and the winner will be drawn out of a hat on Monday 31st January at 6.00pm (UK time). The giveaway is open to all, wherever in the world you may be.

In the meantime, here is a little inspiration from the magazine...

Today's the day...

For my Vintage Christmas Boutique! The roads here are clear with just the merest hint of icing sugar like snow on the rooftops, so it's business as usual!

A sneak preview ~ for more information click on the email me button or visit the blog.



Hope to see you some of you over the next 3 days and keep warm...

Ali x

Putting it all together...

This morning I had a bit of a practise run, arranging some of the new and old items I have been collecting for my Vintage Christmas Boutique.

I love putting it all together ~ that eclectic mix of Christmas decorations, shabby roses, a vintage pair of shoes (who says they can't be used to add a bit of style to the festivities?) sparkling trees, mercury glass, a bit of old linen and lace, charming hand~made delights and not forgetting the odd candle...

No matter how hard I try, I just can't do minimal when it comes to Christmas!

Smoke is rising out of my sewing machine as I make more goodies to sell and the house is being spring cleaned in winter ~ save a few cobwebs that the duster can't reach and am hoping that visitors won't notice!

The biggest job still awaits ~ untangling the lights for the tree...

Ali x

Love Something Vintage ~ Winner...

is.....

Denise at A Bun Can Dance. This little lovely will be winging its way to you...

Ali x

Love Something Vintage ~ Giveaway...

It's.........high time I had a giveaway for my patient and loyal followers who somehow stay with me despite my long absences! Amazingly, I have reached a milestone of over 200 wonderful fellow bloggers and I would very much like to say 'thank you'!

I have had some gorgeous hand~painted wooden signs made for me by a very talented lady and the giveaway is for one which reads 'Love Something Vintage' pictured below. Appropriate I think for all of us...

To enter, simply leave a message on this post and a name will be drawn out of a hat on Monday 1st November, 6.00pm UK time. The giveaway is open to all, wherever you may be...

I will be taking a small selection of the painted signs with me to the Vintage Bazaar in Frome this Saturday 30th October where I have a stall ~ hope to see some of you there!

I have been brave (mad) enough to set a date for my very first open house sale in December. I have started a new little blog dedicated to the Betty & Violet 'Vintage Christmas Boutique'. All are welcome, please email for an invitation...


Ali x

A Perfect Corner...

In my home...

Sometimes when the whole house is in a state of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) I try to make myself feel a little better by taking control of the tiniest of spaces and making it look pretty and tidy. Often I have just one or two little pockets in the house that look like this and the rest ~ well, I just have to close my eyes and pretend that they are not there! Keeping a home neat and clean with a 4 year old whirlwind playing with toys and dress up is an ongoing battle just not worth the fight!

So here is my 'perfect little corner' in my home that I can write about ~ while I wouldn't dare go near the rest of the house with a camera at the moment!

I like to play around with the placement of all the accessories adding more as I go ~ and eventually I arrive at a complete arrangement that I like (I just can't do minimal!)

A recent purchase ~ a lovely old textile printer's woodblock, I have brushed the lightest coat of white paint across it to highlight the pattern.

This little pair of frames have had the shabby paint treatment ~ if it stands still I will paint it!

This lovely china bowl and the 'H' were bought at the Summer Cozy Fayre I talked about it my last post.

I can quite happily spend a few hours achieving this vignette which gives me such pleasure to sit next to; while upstairs on the guest bed the ironing pile grows all by itself into a veritable mountain, last night's supper dishes still balance in a tower on the kitchen worktop and just in front of these very shelves a stack of books and dvd's need to find their way home ~ amazing what a bit of photo cropping can do....!

Until next time...
Ali x