closed for festive fun

...enjoy, enjoy, enjoy...

...next posting will be New Years Day when we announce the winners of our little giveaway below, if you still haven't entered there's plenty of time to still leave a comment...

warm wishes on a very cold day

Vicky

xXx

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!!

...to end the year with a little excitement we have decided to hold another giveaway for all our readers. Whether you are a bride to be, a fabulous creative, a 'vendor' friend, or just simply a visitor who hasn't left us since their big day, I am sure there will be something below to entice... The vouchers can be used towards any stationery - We also produce stationery for birthdays and afternoon tea parties, so you don't even have to be saying 'I do' to use the vouchers...

WE HAVE ELEVEN INDIVIDUAL PRIZES,
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO ENTER IS LEAVE A COMMENT
BELOW TELLING US WHICH TOP 3 GIVEAWAYS YOU

WOULD WISH TO WIN IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE.
(WE HAVE TITLED THE GIVEAWAYS FOR YOU TO QUOTE).

£100 CREDIT VOUCHER

£50 CREDIT VOUCHER

PERSONAL NAME TIE

I have my name tie around my pencil filled jam jar - or how about a name tie to say 'I DO' that can be tied around your bouquet on the day....????

VINTAGE BOOKMARK

A boxed vintage bookmark from our Made with Love Collection from The Vintage Drawer. You can choose from our quote list or have a special message printed onto yours.....

50 PLACE CARDS
50 place cards from any of our collections in any of the available colours.

TABLE SIGNS (2 SETS UP FOR GRABS)

LOVE BUNTING

'love love love' bunting (indoor use only)

PIN BADGES (2 SETS UP FOR GRABS)

2 NAUGHTY BUT NICE TABLE SIGNS

perfect if you are having a sweet/dessert table

FINALLY.........

10% discount to all new FOLLOWERS

...you may have noticed from the right hand column that we have a few followers. Why not become a follower of this little blog too (10% discount to all new followers), all you have to do is click on the follow tab under the title 'followers' and complete the instructions. Then let us know, by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, along with your 3 giveaway preferences that you are a new follower and we will also need your email address so we can send you your voucher. You can either leave your email address in the comments section or email us directly at info@vickytrainor.co.uk By becoming a follower you will then be the first to view the features as they are posted, hear news first and also know when we have our little giveaways and monthly 'studio treats' and obviously receive your 10% discount. This discount voucher can be used on or before the 31st January 2011. Please note only one offer can be redeemed against one order.

Good luck - last date for leaving a comment will be December 31st 2010. Winners will be posted here January 1st 2011.....

creating and nurturing

...although we are just about to close one year, we are working hard to promote next year's ventures. Today's focus has been on the creation and the nurturing of the marketing packs to wedding magazines, blog queens and a few lifestyle magazines....

...we welcome any features, mentions, postings and would like to say a big thank you to those who have written about our collections and the studio this year!!! Why not become a follower and you will be the first to see the new collections as well as the extended development of the new Label 'Vintage Drawer' and it's 'Made With Love' collection.

Please feel free to use any of the images from the blogs or main site - (all we ask is that you link straight back to us!!!) - if you would like any information about the studio or something a little special to post on your own blog - 'a bit of news' for your readers - then email the studio so we can chit chat about any exciting little avenues we are exploring or gossip we are holding onto!!!. We are also looking at creating a little sponsor swap shop - where we sponsor other 'vintage inspired/creative's' blogs and in return you sponsor us here and we place your banner over in the column at the side. This even includes all those brides to be who have fabulous diary style blogs. We would love to hear from you too! You can either contact me at info@vickytrainor.co.uk or leave a comment below.......Aaannnddd last but not least don't forget that we are having another giveaway starting on Monday and will be drawn on 1st January 2011!!!!!!! Phew - think that's it....

I live my life by lists

..the thrill of starting a new note book still ignites the same feeling I had when a school book was completed and you were handed your new one to crease back the first page, pencil sharpened to a pin point and ready to go, writing tightly between the lines, numbers perfectly written within the printed grid......so now a new year is about to start I hunt for my new 'to do' books. Every evening before I finish I construct my to do list for the following day. I live my life by lists, and then, once a task is complete, have the satisfaction of running a line through as a mark of completion. Maybe I should start to make a 'teacher's comment' at the end of the day in red biro - 'well done', 'need to concentrate harder', 'over used punctuation', 'remember to use your finger spacing'....

image credit: top four from present and correct bottom from papermash

guinness cake

I have box files for everything - I am a hoarder, I file, I store, I squirrel away 'things', infact I sometimes think I just enjoy the pure pleasure of accumulating files never mind what actually gets stored in them. Plain brown kraft files from Paperchase stood in regimental rows. Some useful, some not so useful, but one of my favourite files is the one entitled 'domestic goddess'. Yummy recipes I endeavour to create, on my own, by myself, surrounded by peace and quiet. (but we all know that never happens with two children under the age of 6!)

I found this wonderful recipe 'guinness cake' over at What Katie Ate - and I am going to bank it for the holidays hoping that mine tastes as good as the one above looks...What recipes do you have planned for the festive period???
Recipe here via Design Sponge

giveaway time again...

...in one whole week we are having yet another giveaway!!!!...

So keep watching as we will be posting what is on offer and how to grab a chance of winning next Monday...SPREAD THE WORD...

an organised mind by the end of the day

...today is one of those contented, satisfying days where I can potter around, tidy, organise, file, make decisions(?), as I have a list of small tasks that need to be done before I can concentrate fully on the next set of orders...should result in an organised mind by the end of the day...

TO DO LIST

Complete sample packs for the new vintage drawer collection and send.

Finalise colour palettes for 2012.

Iron and store linens.

Organise snippet bowl of ribbons and catalogue.

Order stock card for next year.

Look at new paper and card samples that have been building up in the corner of the room for the new collections (coming soon)...!!!

Finish press releases.

File sample requests that have come through over the weekend.

Re-shuffle cups and plates so all can fit on the rail...decide which will feature with the new collection.

Order pins and linen tape from Selvedge.

a perfect winter morning

...all in the house woke early this morning to a

beautiful light streaming through the window...

a perfect Sunday...

christmas shopping

...all my presents this year are to be wrapped in simple brown or white cartridge paper then decorated with vintage trimmings and buttons and then personalised with one of the studio christmas tags from The Paper Store. We still have a few items left on the shelves from tags to christmas cards to place settings for your christmas table or even a dinner party over the festivities...take a look here - remember to click on the product images to enlarge over at the shop...

a sprinkle of concentration

...it is increasingly popular to make, by your 'own' fair hand, a little crafted gift for your guests to take away with them as a piece of memorabilia of your day.

A simple but special token, a little time, a sprinkle of concentration, a dash of love and pretty hand drawn labels containing a few thoughtful words. Fruit,sugar and a large pan are easy to find but I have sourced a couple of companies for you who supply little ditsy dot lidded jam jars, simple honey shaped glass jars and also a couple of recipes to get you started.....fabric - look no further than ebay for a couple of yards of pretty floral cotton lawn from Liberty...

Jam Jar Shop

Freeman & Harding

Jam Recipes
The Cottage Smallholder

BBC Good Food

Delia Smith

Image credit by stylist eva lindh

a sense of drama

...we have brought to you today a little bit of vintage theatrics and eccentric delight...
from The Cotton Club to Ships Ahoy...

...all available through Etsy...

Twigs & Honey (above)

Moonshine Baby (below)

Moth & Bay Leaf

Batcakes

Yellowfield

Chatham Girl by Zara Carpenter