The anticipation of a fair....

So looking forward to The Vintage Bazaar tomorrow...

Getting my stock ready...a few more price labels to write out ~ there is never enough time to get everything done!  I've got some gorgeous vintage bags, lots of sparkly bits and trims, buttons galore, fairy dolls and pretty things!  Mum will also be with me this time with a selection of fabulous vintage jewellery ~ bringing some old fashioned glamour to our stall!

This is such a great fair with a wonderful selection of stallholders ~ if you can come along, it is being held at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, Somerset 9.00am ~ 3.00pm.  A lovely friendly and fun atmosphere!   Do come and say hello...

Ali x

Best of The Country Living Fair

I went to the Country Living Fair in London yesterday for the first time in a couple of years ~ can I be brutally honest without offending anyone? I think I can probably count on the fingers of 2 hands; stands that were unique, British made or hand~made. I thought that those were the values of Country Living magazine or am I missing something?

There were more fashion/clothing stalls than I remember from last time; I started to lose the will to live after one too many rails of scarves ~ many of which were made overseas, and quite a bit of bought in product that actually was repeated on a few of the stalls. Hmm, so that was the bad....

Now here is the good...

There were some exceptional sellers there, with beautiful displays of lovingly handmade wares and from them, I took home lots of inspiration and a few purchases!

Wonderful handmade cushions, bunnies and lavender sachets from Chloe Vintage, handmade ceramics from Amanda Mercer, vintage ribbons from Rosie's Armoire. The Sea Garden had created once again a fantastic stand, with so much detail in it you didn't know where to start! Kitty's had a glorious, colourful display of Easter decorations and vintage treasures and Caroline Zoob's stand was so perfect I could have just moved in!

I didn't manage to take photos of very much due to the crowds of people and the lack of space, but I did quickly snap Chloe's stall and some photos of the goodies I found.

I also bought a copy of Country Living's new book, called 'Create Your Own Country Home' which is a sort of compilation of all the best bits from the magazine ~ and I love it!

In case you hadn't heard ~ The Vintage Jumble takes place tomorrow (Saturday 24th) at Rangeworthy Village Hall, Glos. Organised by Jayne & Michelle from the legendary Vintage & Handmade Fairs, it promises to be a perfect opportunity to have a good old fashioned rummage. I shall be having a stall ~ look out, I am having a workroom clearing out session!

Hopefully see some familiar faces there...

Until next time
Ali x

Jeanne D'Arc Living ~ New Lower Price!

As a very proud purveyor of the delectable Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine I am so pleased to announce that I am now able to offer my lovely customers a new lower cover price of £9.95!

From April, the magazine will also be published monthly!

As always, print runs are small and quantities are limited but I will continue to offer the magazine for pre-ordering via my website to avoid disappointment.

I have for a limited period only a special offer of a year's subscription (12 issues) at £12 per copy delivered to your door.

The next issue as pictured will be released on the 2nd April but can be reserved here.

The fabulous coffee table book 'Amazing Retreats' is now also in stock again...

Happy reading...

Ali x

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Me aged about 4

'What do I want to be when I grow up?' A question I used to ask myself a lot when I was younger, probably right up into my twenties when I changed my answer depending on my mood and how much money the job might pay! When I left school I had a clear path mapped out in my mind. My ambition was to become a make~up artist working in film and in order to keep my place open at a special college I first needed a qualification in Human Biology. So, I duly started the course ~ and hated it! Since then, I have changed direction quite a few times and stopped asking myself the question of 'what I want to be?' a long time ago.

Very recently I was watching something (I'm a closet Oprah fan) and a similar question was raised, but instead of asking 'what do you want to be?' a subtle, yet important difference was requested ~ 'who do you want to be?' I had one of those light bulb moments she often talks about.

At the recent Vintage & Handmade Fair a customer made a lovely, sincere comment. She told me that the things I make are obviously made with a great deal of love and care as it shows in the quality and detail. The way in which she spoke to me really touched me as it was so genuine and spontaneous.

I know who I want to be ~ someone who does things at work and in life with love and care. Much more important than a job title on a business card....

Until next time...
Ali x

Scandinavian Temptation...

I do love a good recipe book ~ I cannot claim to be much of a cook, and no matter how hard I try I can't even look like Nigella in my pinny, let alone emulate her baking. My specialities always seem to be in the sugar and sweet department, preferring to make a cake or a batch of shortbread in the hope it turns out looking vaguely familiar. The reward of a finished article much like the ones shown in the glossy photograph in the book I happen to be using, seems more worth the effort somehow. Sadly, often the outcome resembles nothing like the sample or actually anything I have ever seen before anywhere for that matter ~ it's the taste that counts right?

I am always looking for something new to try and am totally won over by gorgeous photographs of mouthwatering temptations, which is why when the clever girls at Jeanne D'Arc Living in Denmark announced that they were compiling a recipe book no less ~ I had to add it to the inventory at Betty & Violet.

‘The Best Recipes’

Gathered from the beautiful Jeanne D'Arc Living Magazine over the last three years are the most gorgeous recipes beautifully recreated in a new soft back book, with many Scandinavian dishes and bakes to try!

Here is what they say about the book; 'It contains more than 180 recipes with appealing images and inspiring dishes. There are no gourmet recipes with mysterious ingredients. Just simple dishes everybody can do, but with a great love for good ingredients.'

The book will be 160 pages, measuring 21.5cm x 30cm (the same as the Christmas book). This is the English text version translated from the original Danish.

Official date for release is 1^st May 2012 and copies ordered in advance will be despatched immediately after.

It can be pre~ordered here to reserve a copy. Limited quantity available.

Off now to see what burnt offerings I can conjure up out of half a used can of baked beans, a suspicious looking bit of lettuce/cabbage/spinach? and a whole still sealed pot of very low fat natural yoghurt with a use by date of 2nd January (I am certain the same fate happens to every pot bought) purchased when I thought I might start a diet and then reconsidered....

Until next time,

Ali x

The Winner is...

The name drawn out of the hat this morning as the winner of my little giveaway is.....

Sharon at Bluebells & Lavender!

Please let me have your address details so that I can send your copy of the Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine!

Ali x

My gift to you ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living Treat

Long time no speak....

So, by way of a little treat to my fellow bloggers, followers and customers to say thank you for your continued support and comments, I have a little giveaway...

The current, most lovely and inspirational issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine!

I have been selling this gorgeous publication via my website and at fairs for just over a year now and have built up a great following of subscribers and regular customers ~ thank you for loving it as much as I do!

This is a really inspiring issue. Sometimes I look at beautifully styled photographs of interiors and feel that they are unachievable in our real, often less than perfect lives and homes, but this week I decided to experiment and tried to re~create some of the ideas in the magazine. OK, I know my house is not on the same scale and I probably don't have the same budget either, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could take just a little inspiration from the pages and bring the concept to life. I used items that I already had in the cupboards or in stock ~ here are my interpretations of the photos...

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

Photo ~ Ali

I have this Edwardian silk bodice already hanging on hooks in my dining room and just moved it to an old grey painted cupboard for the photo...

I loved this collection below of vintage candlesticks ~ I have a selection dotted around the house and tucked away so gathered them altogether to recreate the look...

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

Photo ~ Ali (the fireplace in my dining room)

We have a conker brown leather sofa in the kitchen, normally piled up with old French floral pillows, but liked the idea shown in the magazine of using simpler linen cushions with old printed text and remembered what I had in stock waiting to be photographed for the website...

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

I just need to source an old leather trunk or suitcase for a coffee table to complete the look...

Finally, I loved this feature on how to transform a printer's tray. I have a couple of these that I use in my workroom to separate beads and buttons. Before Christmas I reworked this smaller modern wooden tray and used old wallpaper, book pages and white paint.

Photo ~ Jeanne D'Arc Living

My own effort!

If you would like to win the latest issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine, just leave a comment at the end of this post ~ the giveaway is open to all wherever you are in the world. To be entered twice and double your chances, just post a link back to this page and mention my blog and don't forget to let me know!

The giveaway closes next Tuesday 31st January at midnight and the winner will be announced on the 1st February.

Good luck!

Ali x

In print...

BBC Homes & Antiques magazine January 2012.

I got my copy yesterday...and I'm in print! I love this magazine so am really pleased to featured in it ~ especially the Christmas issue... I won't bore you with all the photos here!

I have added some lovely new hand~made & festive stock to my website to coincide with the feature...

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?.....

Ali x