New Item Friday

I am too full! I had an amazing Valentine meal last night with the hubby (I will have to tell you all about it on Monday!), but the combination of too much food and half a bottle of champagne means my body is suffering a little bit (my head is also a bit fuzzy). However, I think I know what would remedy my ailments and it has influenced my items for today.

Head over to the shop HERE

Surely, a slice of cake that is light and fluffy, giving me some much needed sugar, and a strong cup of coffee to warm me up, could fix any problem I had!

I have work this weekend with the National Trust, and have so much to do in the shop, that I anticipate I won't get much rest. I think I might have to indulge myself this Friday evening lounging in front of the tele with the cake and coffee described above. Can I claim its on Doctors orders??

Have a lovely weekend everyone.
xx

Pancake Day

I confess, we haven't had any pancakes!!!

I am ashamed and horrified at myself. The fact I have pancakes most weekends does not matter, it is pancake day and pancakes should be eaten. And if I was making them today these are the items I would want to accessorise my cooking.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5

The reason for our lack of pancakes? When I returned home from work today I found my hubby had brought home a stray cat. The poor little thing had almost been run over (rescued my the hubby in a heroic act) only 8 months old, dirty, smelly and starving. We cleaned it up gave it some water and food and took it to the vets. It was left with the vets to recover and they will now try and find the owners or re-house it. It was very strange to have a little life so dependent on us. It meant we spent most of the evening giving it lots of attention, knocking on neighbours doors and ringing animal rescue people. I think we will have to treat ourselves to pancakes tomorrow for our good deed.
xx

Valentine Card Ideas

I couldn't resist giving you some inspiration for your valentine cards this year. I always think it is nice to make a card but alot of the cards below you can buy.

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5

I seem to be on a 'funny sentiments' theme for this years valentine, rather than full on crafting projects. I think this adds a nice graphic and sophisticated touch to your cards but still has lots of meaning and love attached. Plus, some of them are just funny, and laughter is a key ingredient to a successful life together.

Which one will I choose.....well that would spoil the surprise, but I can tell you this, we are going out for a rather unusual Valentines dinner on the 14th. We are going to a Raw Food Restaurant!
xx

New Item Friday

I am very late with my new items today, but I have a nice mix of materials for you - metal, glass and ceramic.

Head over to the shop HERE

I have had one of those days were everything seems to get away from me. I had a surprise visit from the parents in the morning - which was lovely as they brought doughnuts! - and then got distracted preparing items for a car boot on Sunday. We seem to have accumulated a lot of stuff that neither myself or the hubby want or need, so off to the car boot we head (at a scarily early hour!). With all my prep today hopefully I will be able to have a nice relaxing day tomorrow with the hubby - a lie in, banana pancakes for breakfast and maybe a late lunch at a cafe somewhere!?

Enjoy your weekend.
xx

Tutorial: Breakfast/Brunch Bagels

This is the simplest tutorial I think I will ever give but, oh my, it is good! This is the perfect thing to treat the other half on a certain romantic day/weekends that are coming are way.

Its a Sunday morning, the alarm clock did not wake you, you woke naturally to a soft light flooding in through the closed curtains. There is a slight nip in the air where winter is still clinging on, refusing to let Spring pass. You start with coffee. Dark and thick and filling the room with its intoxicating sent. Your stomach grumbles over the extended period without food and you now its time - cinnamon bagels, bacon and maple syrup.

YOU WILL NEED (to serve 2):

• 2 Cinnamon bagels (you could use regular but the cinnamon adds a lovely element)
• About half a packet of streaky bacon rashers
• 1 egg
• Maple syrup
• Frying pan
• Bowl

METHOD:

1. Get the largest pan you can find and heat it on the hob. Place the bacon in once the pan is fully hot and allow the bacon to start sizzling. No oil is needed.
2. Whilst the bacon is cooking cut your bagels in half and crack one egg into a bowl (big enough to dip the bagels in).
3. Beat the egg with a fork until well combined.
4. Once the bacon is cooked but is not too crispy - there should still be some bacon fat in the pan - move the bacon to one side of the pan making room to add your bagels but still cooking the bacon.
5. Dip both sides of you bagels in the egg and place in the pan to cook. You want to try and soak up all the egg evenly between the bagel slices so you may want to soak them for a little while but not too long.
6. Once the bagels are browned on once side turn them over.
7. Once the bagels have browned and the bacon looks crispy pile everything on to a plate and drizzle over some maple syrup.

I can not think of anything more perfect on a Sunday morning than bitter coffee, salty bacon, filling bagels and sweet syrup - Perfect!
xx

Your chance to buy the Chinese Girl Portrait!

Vladimir Tretchikoff's paintings have become synonym with style of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Any decent retro home normally has a piece of Tretchikoff in it somewhere, normally a reproduction printed on a tea towel or mug (or is that just me?!).

Image sourced from the bbc.co.uk/news

Well if you fancy the genuine article then you may be in luck, on the 20th March Bonhams will be selling an original Chinese Girl Portrait as part of their South African Art sale. The contrast between the gold gown and the blue complexion have made this particular piece one of Tretchikoff's most popular paintings. But with the portrait estimated to reach up to £500,000 you might need to raid those savings for the ultimate luxury in retro home decor! Check out the full BBC article HERE.
xx

Website Spring Clean and Birthday Offer

Hello!
Today is a very exciting day as the website as had a lovely spring clean! You must head over their now to check it out - click HERE - but before you do you might want to keep reading....

It is a year ago today that Springy Beard become official, before this date I was just playing at putting a few thing on-line and painting a chair here or there. It was on this date a year ago that I came back from my travels in Japan full of passion and energy to make this business a success. This past year has been a bit of a whirl - we have moved house, gotten married, and really pushed the business (and every ones limits!). All this work has meant that this year the business has broken even. You may think that sounds like a negative, but it is not! Breaking even in your first full year of business is a great thing and should be celebrated.

So in honour of all my loyal readers and all my previous customers I have a small token of my affection

Head over to the SHOP to claim you discount until 28.02.13

Thank you to everyone for supporting me through this year. I have learnt a lot, and come to realise that my dream goal of owning my own vintage shop is probably further away than I originally hoped for. It does not mean that I will stop pushing for it (I am very stubborn after all and usually seem to get what I want if I work hard enough - or nag the hubby until he gets it for me!), but I have realised that my priorities at the moment are slightly different. My current dream is to buy a house and I feel this needs to take president over the next year. I hope that you will all help along to achieve this and lets hope that this time next year running a Vintage shop, all of my own, will be back at the top of the list.

In the mean-time lets continue to enjoy every retro find, craft project and inspiring site together!
Love to all
xx