Happy Anniversary to ME - and a giveaway for YOU!

I cannot believe I have been blogging for a whole year, but it's true and today marks my first anniversary!


Some months back, when I was thinking ahead to this day, I thought how lovely - and original - it would be to host a giveaway! Well, as I'm sure many of you know, it has now become traditional to host a giveaway on a 'blogiversary' - a bit like buying the drinks or cakes on your birthday (hope there's enough to go round!)


So, to keep the tradition going I am pleased to announce, in honour of my 1st Blogiversary, I have put together this little treasure box filled with a gorgeous array of vintage goodies! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I will send this collection of treasures to the first name pulled out of my husband's old straw hat (trust me, you do not want to see a photo of that rather shabby piece of vintage!) The draw will take place on Thursday next week. You don't have to be a blogger to leave a comment - as long as you remember to check back in a week's time to see if you have been the lucky winner! This giveaway is open to everyone who reads my blog, wherever you are in the world!


This original, art nouveau tin is included and holds a tiny Victorian booklet with prose and delightful illustrations; an unused Catherine Klein postcard, some Victorian scraps, a postcard of a young girl, a glass knob, some earrings, a lavender filled heart, a tiny pewter teapot pin cushion, fabric flowers, a china brooch and a bunch of fabric violets as well! I will continue to add more little treasures to this collection, so there should be a nice little bumper package for some lucky person!


I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging and getting to know all you lovely vintage gals out there! Oh, and I must wish a 'Happy Blogiversary' to Sue who started blogging the same day as me! It's not limited to women though - there are some great male bloggers out there - you know who you are!! When I started blogging I had no idea just how addictive it would become. In February, I launched Vintage Home, my online shop and have been overwhelmed with the response! It has spurred me on to provide a regular array of vintage treasures for everyone and I hope it continues to go from strength to strength. It has meant I've had a little less time for blogging, but I hope you will all understand - I enjoy visiting your lovely blogs even though I may not always leave a comment!


September is certainly proving to be a month of celebration - our cottage is featured in the current issue of Oxfordshire Life - here are a few glimpses...


I was hoping to bring you more of the exciting news I mentioned in my last few posts - well, best laid plans and all that..! But as the saying goes, if something is worth waiting for it's worth having, so if you could bear with me another week or so I promise all will be revealed!

Thanks to everyone who has visited my blog over the past year - here's to another year - and many more! - of blogging!

A Feast of Fabrics, Floral China and Finery!

Well, here we are in September - where did the Summer go to?! Hopefully we still have some sunshine and warm days ahead of us. I have been busy sorting through some lovely old fabrics - here they are blowing in the breeze after a freshen up!

As you may expect, they have a rosey theme to them!


A very kind friend was having a clear out recently and gave me these gorgeous fabrics, again covered in roses! There is a huge amount here so I will have a good think and see if I can come up with a special project for them.

There are big, soft pink roses...


...and small deep pink roses!


I've also given some shelves in my kitchen a fresh new look - I have mixed a pretty 1930s tea service with soft blue Dartmouth pottery - I love that blue! The tea service is decorated with lupins...

...isn't that just the prettiest design you've seen?!

As well as attending to things in the cottage, I have been out buying treasures for Vintage Home and have many lovely things ready to fill the shop. Here is a small taster of some of those pretty items...

...a pair of blue French garters - ooh-la-la!


A delightful Victorian chromo book of poems and texts...


...and a 1930s hat stand with handpainted roses.

I am planning to update the shop in the next few days - and then I think it will be time to give you another clue regarding the exciting news...