Things to draw a smile

Today I am not having a good day! You know one of those days where everything seems to go wrong? arrgh!

So to try and turn it round I though I would share with you some things that make me happy with the aim of cheering myself up along with any others who feel that midweek blah feeling!!

All pictures were taken on my iphone...

happiness = Very windy October day at Portland Bill Lighthouse

happiness = blue skies...and a cloud shaped like a dolphin, can you see it?!

happiness = Sunshine through the trees in a french forest

happiness = A beach all to yourself...Oh hum, wish I was here, french beach :-(

happiness = sand in between your toes on a Barbados beach...

happiness = The glorious smell of blue bells in the welsh hills 

happiness = Talking homemade gingerbread men

happiness = A pet to cuddle

happiness = the look on George's face

happiness = Someone bringing homemade cupcakes into the office! YES!

happiness = One of your favourite movies

And FINALLY....

Happiness is cutting into a watermelon and it smiling at you on a miserable rainy Wednesday!!

Painting something Pretty

Upcycling unloved furniture has been a passion of mine since we started painting, sanding and polishing vintage furniture for our first home. Only our sofa is new!

Being creative with a paint brush is in my blood as my dad has been a decorator for over 40 years!

Together as part of Vintique Tree, we are going to be holding upcycling workshops in our quaint countryside village hall where you will be able to learn loads of different paint effects from distressing to colour wash painting and how to prep your furniture so you don't have to spend a fortune on posh paints. Plus you will get lots of homemade cake and lunch to help get the creative juices flowing! 

We are in the process of sorting out the finer details (like Victoria or chocolate sponge?) but will keep you posted on workshop dates in case anyone is interested!

I spotted this unloved chair in a charity shop and after a bit of paint it has turned into something pretty...I didn't think to take a before photo as the thought to share it will you only just came to me doh!

Oh well here is the finished product!!

Patchwork Pretties!

Lovely 1960's Patchwork Throw! I really want to learn how to quilt but never seem to get round to it :-( 

Gorgeous fabric patches, I just adore the pink and orange one! I wonder if these patches came from fabric on the roll or clothes? Image the groovy clothes if they did!

Excited to be going to a vintage fair tomorrow, hope I find some goodies for the website to share with you!

Hope you have that Friday Feeling!

x

Lovely things

I have been busy sorting through my haul of pretty things, as I have got to the exciting point where I need to start taking pictures of the stock.

Here is a peek...

Vintage Suitcases

Soho Square tin / old wicker basket / chunky oak bowl

'1965' wooden folding chairs

'1970s' ceramic top hat

Collection of old boxes

Building the website is hard! But sourcing the stock and photographing it is much more fun!

Its all so quiet...

I have been wanting to post a letter since last Thursday but what with forgetting to buy stamps and then all this snow I decided to done my new hunter wellies (xmas pressie to myself!) and trample through the snow to the post box. I found walking in the snow is a great work out!

Local church, it reminds me of a gingerbread house dusted in icing sugar!

Some hungry ducks...

It's funny how quiet the countryside sounds when it has snowed it is like the volume on life has been turned down, which it quite therapeutic for me, as my voice has been gone four and half months now (voice disorder), it is nice to be somewhere I can actually whisper 'good morning' and be heard.

Fabric Treasures

I have had an exciting day today, I have collect some item destined for my shop and for vintage hire from a 95 year old lady who is moving home.

From lovely old suitcases to chunky chests of drawers I have sourced some lovely finds to share in my shop soon.

The best surprise of the day though was when I opened up two of the old suitcases to find a treasure trove of vintage fabrics! From 1960's far out spots and flowers to elegant silks in purples and blues to meters of tweed I practically did a happy dance! The best pieces had to be the liberty fabrics still with their labels on and a beautiful piece of gold fabric covered in brightly coloured embroidery...

I felt a funny feeling whilst collecting the items and riffling through the fabric.  I started thinking about how much life a 95 year old had seen and experienced...I guess that is why I love vintage stuff so much, you couldn't buy a piece of furniture from a superstore that had a story behind it!

x

Cycling and crafting

In a bit to get fit and slim for the wedding I have being upping my cycling around our village as part of my keep fit routine. My parents brought me my Pashley Princess bike for a combined christmas and birthday present I love her and couldn't resist taking a photo (on my phone as my camera died) of the Pashley in the frost. It looks so quaint! 

After my enjoyable but bloomin' freezing ride home I have stoked up the fire and got on with a bit of wedding crafting...

These luggage style tags are going to be tied onto teacups and used as name places for our wedding breakfast tables. Hopefully they will look pretty and the handache will be worth it from all the fancy writing!

I have sourced tea sets from all over the country over the last year ready for the wedding and to hire out through Vintique Tree, this one shown it the pictures is a delightful carltonware buttercup set I picked up at a antiques fair it the summer, I just love the bright colours!

Anyhoo the weatherman is telling us it is going to be snow doom tomorrow so George is getting prepared...whilst I need to go and get dinner ready!

Vintique Tree the sapling

Hello! welcome to Vintique Tree's first official blog post.

Vintique Tree is a new project of mine and I want to share my experiences, adventures and vintage finds with you.

So a bit about me? Well I am Laura, the face behind Vintique Tree. After years of seeking out vintage goodies I decided that I am going to take the step from passionate interest into a lifestyle.

I live in leicestershire with my fiancee Paul and our british blue cat, George. Currently we are in the process of preparing for our wedding (vintage themed, naturally) in June of this year.

Come along with me as I learn what the successes and pitfalls are of setting up your own business, training in upholstery, planning a wedding and trying to control a overexcited grey cat every time you produce a packet of salt and vingar crisps.