The kindness of friends

Hello!
Had a rough time of it lately but the kindness of my friends have put a smile back on my face and has made me realise How Blessed I am.

I made these for my friend Nadine who has recently got married....

 She looked amazing in a vintage dress so these clips made from Vintage brooches and glass pearls from an old vintage necklace seemed appropriate!
So in the post this morning I was delighted to discover a box on my doorstep with some Beautifully wrapped packages in it!

It was a shame to open them but of course... I did!!!!

 GORGEOUSNESS!!!!!

Some yummy Cherry Green & Black's ( I'll have you know!)  chocolate bar, a pack of floral napkins that I actually stopped myself from buying the other day!, a cute cherry ring binder and a pretty teacup candle from her wedding that Nadine had made herself!! 

Did you notice these pretties?

Nadine made these herself they smell all lavendery ( yes its a word!) and are in all my fave colours!

Keep a look out soon for her blog and website launching soon with her all of her sewing pretties! 

Thanks so much for the present hunny, it put a big smile on my face this week xxx

Friends are the family you choose x

Until next time

Annie x

Storage jar prettiness!

Hello!
As I have been organising my crafting room and making room for Nana to work here too I thought I'd show you some little makeovers....
I'll start with some Ikea Jars prettied up!
With help from this Great blog The graphics fairy I downloaded some labels to pretty up some plain jars that are currently holding my sparklies broken, odd, or just looking for a new lease of life AND a Jar of random tidbits that don't necessarily have somewhere to live!

So here's the before

Then after adding a cross stitch style font title to the label I printed it off and aged it up a bit with brown and black stamp pads and my trusty blender!!!! ( read here for more details)

Bit of glue and careful positioning and VOILA!!! (Shimples!)

I'm gonna link up to The Graphics Fairy's linky party 'BRAG MONDAY' for the first time today and hopefully make more of an effort to do so seeing as the BEST graphics I have ever used has come from there.
And actually probably a few in my sidebar also Metamorphosis Monday , Do it yourself Day, Trash to treasure Tuesday , Transformation Thursday, Show off your stuff Party , Show & Tell Friday
....Have a look at the sidebar for linky parties permanently displayed there, every day theres a whole host of fantastic inspiration at your fingertips!!
Will be back soon showing off an old plate rack bought for £1 that I've transformed into braid, button and ribbon holder!
Until next time
Annie x

Mixed Bag

Hello,
Firstly Thanks for all of your lovely comments on my past couple of posts I havn't had much of a chance to reply to each one but I do read all of them and they ALWAYS bring a smile to my face xxx
Well now that I'm back on form I can show you a few pics and update you about some of the things I have been up to!
At the moment Aidy is on half term and hes just got to a stage where we are really clicking and as he has got a bit older he has found his independance we seem to be having lovely days where we go and do our own thing for a while and then 'meet' up for a drink and a snack ( all under the same roof of course)  where we'll play a game or do some colouring in etc....He is also learning to read and write so I get these Fantastic little notes which he pops on my pillow and I find before i go to bed! Just random little messages like ' I Luv Mume' or 'I am Fiv' Make my day xx

The shop I supply in St Albans have ordered some more of these window clings....they are around 5inches high and are suitable for mirrors and all types of glass...I sell them in a pack of 4...was thinking of putting them in the blogshop...I also paint butterflies and angels also.....heres a few examples...

 

  

  

  

I finally finished making  all the gifts for the giveaway prizes...somewhat delayed by my sickness! But they are now travelling and on their way to their  recipients!!!! Here's a sneak peek

 

  

 

 Also made a few little wooden signs to cheer a few friends up whos been having a rough time of it lately...

 

I now have to make some stock for Mothers day as I am joining an avon home party on Friday week so need lots of little pressies...any gift suggestions? I have designed a set of Mothers day blocks so I'll be back soon to show you them...Then it will be all go for the Vintage and Homemade Easter fair!! LOADS of Stock clearance from me so make sure if you are near enough to come and grab a bargain!! 

Until next time my Lovelies 

Annie xxx

100 Followers Giveaway!! ( & a crown makeover!)

Hello!
Well Sorry I've been Gone so long but with the Snow days that fell upon us, between entertaining a 5 yr old and getting the house back in order after Christmas, there has been little time for finishing up my projects!
So now my lil man is back in school I can move forward with things..starting with the 100 Followers Giveaway!!
Thankyou to all of who have followed my ramblings over the last 6 months! It means so much that you take the time to comment and wish me well and to have got to know so many wonderful peeps in such a short space of time. I hope our friendship grows and thrives. x
So I have opened this giveaway to the members of my facebook group and you all here in Blog land!! There are currently just over 300 members there and on the halfway giveaway I had well over 250 entries so I have decided to give away the following prizes...

1st name Drawn

1 set of 4 seasons Vintage style blocks,

1 Seamstress Necklace in the crystal colour of their choice and

some surprise vintage and crafty goodies!

2nd name Drawn

A set of 4 seasons Vintage style blocks

OR

1 Seamstress Necklace in the crystal colour of their choice.

Next 5 Names drawn

A pair of Handmade Crystal earrings in the colour of their choice

Of course there will be more than one way to enter so you can have multiple entries!!

SO this is how it works.....
1 entry = reply to Facebook group OR Comment on this post
1 entry = posting a link to this blog on your Facebook wall OR Posting a link to your blog
1 entry = becoming a follower of my blog or join my Facebook group- link in side bar

I can see who has replied or commented on Fb and here but if you have posted a link or followed me then please let me know by e-mail annmarie_vaughan@yahoo.co.uk and i will add your extra entries in the hat!
If you are already a follower then let me know when you leave a comment and I will automatically put an extra entry in for you xxxx
P.S This giveaway is open to readers overseas too!!

GOOD LUCK!!

SO heres the Makeover! I bought this erm rather yellow gold Crown tree topper in the January sales and it wasnt really to my taste or matched any of my tree decorations so it needed a new look!
( please excuse the poor quality of pics)

BEFORE

AFTER

I will be Linking this post in the makeover parties displayed in my side bar, the people who participate always amaze me with their creations...def worth a visit for fantastic Inspiration!! If you click on any of the buttons in the sidebar it will take you to the blog hosting the party!

If you are visiting from one of them then please feel free to comment and enter the giveaway..I would be chuffed!

Until next time

Annie x

UPDATE: NOW CLOSED..thanks SO MUCH to all who entered!!

My Makes of 2009!!

Hello!
Well before I move on to 2010 I thought I would show you some of my work from 2009....I have seen a lot of these posts and thought Hey why not jump on the Bandwagon??!!!
I only started this blog in July so I might sneak in a few from the pre blog days!!!

Wonder what Makes I will create this year??.......A Crown will be my next project...not for a bride though....Keep your eyes peeled!!

Thanks for viewing!

Annie x
P.S Feel free to carry on making suggestions for the Giveaway..getting a better idea now...looks like the blocks will be making a comeback...as well as Jewellery it seems!

Opening Weekend!!

Hello!!
Well I have Finally built up enough stock to open my blog shop! Please Go and have a nosey and let me know what you think..Your opinions would be MUCH appreciated! There are lots of reasonable pretties available some of which are ONE-OFFS! So will have to handle it on a  first come first served basis I suppose?? I think thats how these things work?
Theres quite a wide variety of styles and types of gifts being sold so thought I would show you a few examples here!

 CHRISTMAS DECORATION

KEYRINGS AND CHARMS

HAND PAINTED NAME ART

 VINTAGE GOODIES

JEWELLERY

AND LOTS MORE!!!!!!

DON'T FORGET......

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE SHOP

Thanks for all who have encouraged me to do this I hope you enjoy Visiting!!

Right I can Start decorating for Christmas FINALLY!!!! Will be back with Pics!

Enjoy your weekend

Annie xxxxx

Free Gift offer for Blogshop orders!

 Hello!! Well haven't been gone that long but its the time of year to be swamped with endless jobs, cleaning, volunteering, orders, designs ...blah blah blah!!!

So I've still got lots to add to the blogshop ( the photo editing is really killing me!!)  but thought I would give you a heads up that I am hoping to have all of the stock added by the Weekend and to celebrate my opening I thought I would have a little offer too!!

I still have Vintage Lace to add and also mini digital art designs in charm and Keyring form ( great little stocking filler or teachers gift!!) I also have some very reasonable charm style pendants teamed with Swarovski Crystals Starting from as Little as £8.00!!!!!

So if you spend more than £5 I will be adding one of these little decoupaged Pretties too!

 

 They hang on Clear elastic and have a lovely weight to them also!

You are welcome to visit the blog shop now but keep your eyes peeled for more stock to be added towards the end of the week!

Thanks for reading guys! and BIG LOVE TO ALL!!

Annie x

Watermill Antiques- LOTS of pretties

Hello Again!

LOTS of pics in this post! This is Watermill Antiques, Set in Barton Le Clay in Bedfordshire with a surrounding Duck pond and shopping village with fab restaraunt..its a lovely place to visit!
Something keeps drawing me back to this place as I have been connected to it in some form or other.

  I used to love to visit and the first place I ever rented to sell my Handmade gifts were in the gallery just by the top hand right window at the top front of the mill....I then worked in the Fantasy Crafts who were at the time in there...then they moved just down the road and Watermill Antiques moved in and I now stock some of my products in there! I was once told by a very spiritual person that it would feature in my future and that it has!!

So heres some pics of the lovely treasures in there....( some you may recognise!!!!)

Pretty sparklies!!

 hmmm seen those before...can't think where???!!!

 

Fine looking Top hat...

 A trunk full of vintage eiderdowns and Quilts...

  Stacks of suitcases...

 

Birdcage and Chairs...

Blocks Against a Gorgeous Chandelier that...

 

...Looks Amazing when Lit!!.

A Beautiful painted glass screen..swoon...

My little decoupaged box holding some pearly treasures...

And My FAVE, the french enamel Chandelier...SO PRETTY!!!

And thats just downstairs...Upstairs hold Emmas sparkly Vintage and retro Boutique, the most glittery and spangly collection with some amazing  Vintage hats and Accessories too!

LOVE LOV E LOVE these Sparkly shoes

( did I ever mention that I had pale pink glittered 7 inch platforms under my Wedding dress??) 

And then theres also Dawn with Vintage Delightz

 

some fab lil numbers and Accessories

How much would you love to rummage through that Rail?? 

So lots of yumminess under one roof...If you ever in the area please pop in for a visit and tell them Annie sent ya! Heres the link to the Olde Watermill Shopping Village and when you've finished then pop into Fantasy Crafts to have a play and a cuppa while you are in the area!!

Back to work on my  blog shop now!! Back with more details!!

Annie x