The Big Event in Pictures.

This was a priceless day for us and the culmination of a fantastic summer learning all sorts of new skills helping the Funquest Charity in my local area.

In the pink

Love this idea, knitting protest 🙂

Being Frank...

It’s Sunday morning. I am sitting here knitting. Knitting with pink wool. This is a protest. Admittedly I am the only one who realises it is a protest…and there is also no one here to see it, but nevertheless it is still a protest against this house full of testosterone !

Later I have plans to cut out a skirt…also in pink…but to do so I will have to go back on part of the other part of my protest…you see I am knitting at the moment, I am not tidying the house. I have declared Sunday an official day of rest….

Why am I protesting ? Thank you for asking… I am protesting because the boys (apart from Spider) are at Silverstone doing something motorsport related. They set off early…so it was not until about an hour ago that I realised that they had failed to stack the dishwasher…

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Personal DNA

I love this – especially the funky picture you get at the end!

My personalDNA Report

Not to be missed – The War Room event for the Poppy Appeal at The Churchill in Alderholt tomorrow!

Local Vintage Fun – The War Room @ The Churchill!

Oh my, this is just too exciting!

We have a genuine vintage inspired event here in Alderholt on 23 February at 7.30 – get your dancing shoes on and hit the Churchill Arms for their fabulous Blitz Night – The War Room. 

Not only is this the fabulous opportunity to break out your red lips and nails and those gorgeous nylon stockings, but it will be a chance to put on your dancing shoes on.  We are incredibly lucky to have breakthrough act Public Service Broadcasting who were recently featured on Lauren Lavernes BBC 6 Music show and will be releasing their debut album on May 6th.  They have also been championed by other BBC Dj’s like Steve Lamacq and Stuart Maconie as well as being named as a 2013 up and coming act by Time Out.  Genuinely not to be missed.

  Click on the poster for a taster of their brilliant track Spitfire!

They will be supported by Dare to be Charlie who have a great track record, check out their website here.

There’s loads more information as well as fab 40s styling ideas that I’m glued to on the Churchill Arms Website – I’m currently beavering away on a lovely snood especially for the occasion – check out this fab blog to give you some inspiration

Great Blog with links to snood patterns and other 40s ideas.

The Churchill Arms Website will give you all of the up to date information and the event facebook page  is also a mine of information and even if you can’t make it please join and share the event.  Tickets are just £10 in advance,£12 on the door (or £8 if bought in advance in the pub!!) and here’s the link  .  It really is going to be a fantastic night!

It’s so brilliant that something new and different is happening in Alderholt please support it and come and have fun.  I’m so looking forward to catching up with everyone in all their glamorous glory!  Do come along!

Keep the vintage love xx

Dresses for the Pear Shaped Figure

now this is handy for a girl like me! xx

A New Year!

Happy New Year vintage and handmade fans!  How was your Christmas?  I think it’s fair to say that ours did not go quite as planned given that the dreaded flu bug was rife here.  Nevertheless apparently we had a fabulous Christmas Day – we hired my favourite little historic building for the afternoon as there were so many for dinner.  Alderholt Reading Rooms is more than 100 years old and was built on land donated by Lord Salisbury, paid for by Lady Salisbury and local Squire Churchill provided books and reading material.  There are very few of it’s like still around and should be treasured in my view.

 

Watch this space for some plans of events to raise funds to preserve this local heritage.

There’s lots of fab Alderholt history and some great photos on this old local plan produced by the local authority.

And here we are enjoying our Christmas Day!

Most exciting though was my present from my lovely family!  Please forgive the awful photo.

Christmas bear head

He was featured in our review of new Ringwood shop The Fox in the Forest which you can check out here.  This is a slightly better photo…needless to say I love him!

My bear at home in the Fox in the Forest

What did you get for Christmas that you love?  I’d love to hear about any new handmade items or local makers and see some photos.

Keep the Vintage Love xx

 

Fantabulous Shops in the Glorious New Forest – Lulu’s Boutique Lymington

This is epside two about the gorgeous shops  we’ve recently come across on we’ve our doorstep – Lulu’s Boutique in Lymington.

To be honest we did know about Lulu’s before having visited their pretty erstwhile shop in Salisbury and used their web-site but this little treasure house is a step up in gorgeousness from that and has the advantage of being in a place where you can combine a fantastic cuppa or a walk by the sea with a touch of retail therapy.  Any men stuck for last minute present ideas for the lovely lady in their life should really pop down this weekend!

Check out this beautiful front window – who doesn’t need a pink Christmas tree in their life?  I bought some of the traditional paper decorations – they take me straight back to my childhood!

The shop stocks all of the best in girly kitch including my favourite Tatty Devine jewellery

Tatty Devine!

and all things Cath Kidston and Pip Studio and also fabbo items from Danish homewhere brand Rice who I love especially for kids and for camping.   My flamingo obsession would be happily appeased by these party forks.

There’s loads of unusual ideas for kids as well like this cool colouring book

The homeware is fantastic too – If I had the cash knocking about I’d be replacing the boring spotlights in my hall with these pretty lights

Lymington is such a pretty little town combining the best of the New Forest and the Hampshire Coast and has a nice selection of  shops, bars and cafes so it’s really worth a visit.

 We especially like the style of the Stanwell House Hotel  in the centre of town which we really nearly hired for our wedding.

Stanwell House Hotel

 But you are not far here from the  Pig Hotel

The Pig Hotel

which is top of my current wish list for a visit or at least a home grown dinner!

Even if you don’t need any last minute Christmas pressies, this is a perfect bracing New Year treat.

One last thing, as my 4 year old is saying this year “Merry Christmas to All!”

Keep the Vintage Love xx

Fantabulous New Shops in the Glorious New Forest

In our quest to entertain the children and attempt to shop for Christmas (I’m in denial about Christmas by the way!)  we have recently come across some gorgeous shops on our doorstep.  In the first of a (very) mini-series we look at The Fox in the Forest which is absolutely brand new in Ringwood.

Ringwood  is a pretty market town on the edge of the New Forest within easy striking distance of Salisbury, Bournemouth and Southampton.  It has a range of premium fashion shops around the Furlong area with a rather less hurried atmosphere than you would find in a big shopping mall but if you head away from this and a take a couple of minutes walk down to the market square and along the high street to Fridays Cross you will find some great unusual and non-chain shops and cafe’s including an amazing Chocolate Shop and beautiful lingerie shop Lolie and Bella.  Not to mention my favourite book shop Paperview.

The Fox in the Forest has evolved from successful Web-business of the same name and showcases beautiful things made by the owner and other local craftspeople.  The aim of the shop “is eventually to become a gallery/workshop where artists/craftspeople that are local to the New Forest can showcase their work”  and the lady has exciting plans to create a workshop space as well. We bought some brilliant bits for my eldest boy’s lovely girlfriend but obviously they’re top secret until after the big day!  The shop is near to Smiths as you head towards the market square.  Do pop in if you get a chance, there are even handmade soaps from Frome.  Here are some photos that I took on Saturday, I’m desperate for a knitted animal head for my hall!

Lovely puppy Indiana

Keep the Vintage Love xx

Festive Genius

Look at this fab tutorial I found via Our Craft Shops and their free advent calendar!

Click on the picture for the link where you’ll find templates and everything.  I’m off to print them out now!

Keep the Vintage Love xxx