CHRISTMAS VINTAGE & HANDMADE FAIR SAT 11TH DEC

Firstly I am so sorry I haven't wrote for such a long time. Straight after my last post we had some horrible news in the family - and again the following week. So it simply didn't seem right to be blogging. Then more recently I have been "snowed" under with preperation for the fair (I will talk about that more in a minute!) and the shop!!

It has been super chilly this last week or so - with lots of snow & frost. My shop luckily hasn't been affected to much (touch wood) and luckily it seems customers are still venturing out in the cold weather! Its nice in a way as really does feel "Christmassy" now! I finally got round to decorating our living room and tree today. Can't wait to snuggle up at Christmas and have a couple of days of just eating, drinking, films, snuggles, fires & dog walks!

Our Chrismas tree x x x

Christmas 2010 x x x

So now we are all ready for santa!!

Right, heres the info on our fantastic Christmas Vintage & Handmade Fair & Tea Party! I have decided to organise this as I feel there really isn't enough going on for Vintage & Shabby Chic lovers in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. So wallahh! Now we have it! Its being held on the 11th December at the Madcap Theatre, Creed Street, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Mk12 5LY. 10am-3pm. Please so pop by and show your support. Obviously if this goes really well we will be holding them more frequently. There are over 40 fantastic stalls with a huge variety of goodies, collectables, accessories, clothing, homeware, food etc. Also Facepainting for the children and a Tea Room with homemade Mince Pies.

Boutique 73 will have a stall there as well as many many other stalls.

Right - I had better get on with some more organising - but thought I would quickly mention all that! Will start writing again once the fair has been as will have more time.

Hope to see you at the fair, Laura x x x

Drizzly Monday x x

Today was wet and drizzly outside - but from inside you wouldn't have noticed. The shop was still busy - even though normally when its miserable we are quieter as everyone seems to stay indoors where its warm and cosy! But not today - they still popped out to visit us - which was lovely - thank you!

We managed to get lots of new stock out in the shop. Below is a sample of some of the new bits that are in our shop from today:

Beautiful Blue & White Jug £4.50

Floral Vintage Milk Jug £2.50

Vintage Floral Tea Cup, Saucer & 2 side Plates £3.99

Blondie H&M Vest Top Size 10 £6

Heavy Large Pair of Candlesticks £16 - available from tommorrow!

Floral Large Puff Footstool £24 - available from tommorrow!

Had a tidy & fill up around the shop as the busy weekend had its impact on it! And spent the rest of the day catching up on work and house work (never ending!). 

My boutique x x x

After shutting up the shop at 6pm I had to rush home to meet another lovely lady at my home to purchase more stock. It was like Christmas going through it all! As always I have kept some for my own house and couldnt wait to pop them round the house - please see below:

I love my new chair! Although I do not often like modern pieces - I couldnt resist this little gem - looks perfect in our dining room and am chuffed to bits with it!

More floral vintage china for my bedroom - can never have enough!

My new china in amongst my other bits and bobs!

3 Vintage Floral Egg Cups and Stripey Sugar Bowl - in my pantry Cupboard

I am sooooo pleased with these (as ever) and they already feel like they have always been part of our home. After sorting through all of this and the shop stock Adam arrived home from work - not happy because the shop stock was blocking our hallway and he couldn't get in the house! Whoops! Managed to dig my way through to him so he could squeeze through - got to stay in his good books as will need his help in the morning getting it all to the shop!

Made a quick and easy dinner tonight as feeling a bit tired - got a sore throat coming on - haven't got time to be ill. We had Chicken pasta with Creamy Tomato sauce and salad. Well - Adam didn't have salad - he's a meat and potato kinda guy! 

My dinner tonight - simple but scrumptious!

Went down a treat with a little parmesan. Then the perfect end to the evening was the perfect bath. I have decided to spend less time working at nights and try to chill out a little. So this evening I had a soak in the tub...

The perfect bath! Consisting of: Very hot water, Relaxing M&S Lavender Bubble Bath, Lavender Bath Salts, Candles, A good book, Handfull of Cadburys Roses, Glass of wine and filofax to hand - just incase I think of any "to do's" or ideas I need to scrawl down before I forget! NO mobile phone is a must!

Scrummy...candle lit x x x

And now I am snuggled in my dressing gown in front of the telly with Adam (munching on popcorn!) and Pooches (munching on their treats!) - reliving my day on here. I am very much enjoying this Blog as I will be able to look back and remember everything. After giving diaries many attempts but never keeping them up I am hoping to continue with this! Much more fun and catch attach photos to capture moments.

Sweet Dreams x x x

Weekend Antics x x x

Where has the weekend gone?! As per usual it has flown by & it was jam packed. I had a lovely weekend this weekend and purchased some fantastic goodies for our house. I love finding new homes for our new arrivals and cant wait to get in and unpack them! On Saturaday I was invited to Northampton Bicyle Vintage Fair with Carol. I met Carol through her daughter Chelsey - who did the odd Carboots at Milton Keynes the Bowl last year. I hadn't even heard about the Bicycle Vintage Fair and was so excited when she mentioned it - its held at the old Fish Market. As I still havent got round to learning to drive I caught the train - taking my book for company! - and met Carol there. It was sooooooooo lovely - only £5 a stall - and there was lots of unusual items being sold. I picked up a few items as in the photos below - plus a couple of gorgeous pressies for a friend who is expecting - but can't put the photos on here as don't want to ruin the suprise! These are the items I bought for our house:

Beautiful Padded layered Shabby Chic Heart £4

I bought a few of these items on Saturday: - they look fantastic together!

Close up of new purchases! Padded red hearts x 2 and the strainer and corkscrew (bought in a job lot from Chelsey!)

2 of my 3 new Oxo tins (also bought in a job lot from Chelsey!)

Shabby Chic Floral Mini Badges x x

Rustic Twine Hearts x 2

Beautiful Floral Vintage tin x x x

Rustic Vintage Cow & Gate Tin 

I was so pleased with my purchases and had a lovely time. Carol then took me to this lovely little cafe near by for lunch which was delicious. Then we had cold noses so we went back to Carols and sat in front of her open fire until my lift home arrived!! Also bought some fantastic items for the shop!

After arriving home and putting my new items into their new places round the house I spent the evening at home with Adam snuggling up in front of our fire with our pooches after tucking into French Stick and Camembert - delicious!



Today was another busy but lovely day. 
Up early at 5am to search for new stock for the shop & for my house. Was so cold this morning and not as busy as normal but still found some fantastic items. Stock for the shop will be put out today and tomorrow.

For my house I bought:

Adam LOVES old cases and Boxes - today I found this small "worn" case and this small Wooden box!

He was so pleased with his new items and they fit into his room perfectly!

These 2 decanters are in our bathroom and are going to look fantastic with bubble bath inside! I also bought the small scent bottle in the photo - but doesn't show too well.

 I also found this delightful Lady Di and Prince Charles Commemorative Mug to celebrate their wedding in 1981. Its by Wedgewood and will either go onto our eBay store or we may take to the York House vintage fair in November.

1981 Wedgewood Commemorative Mug - Lady Di & Charles

I went home after opening the shop and sorting the stock out for our lovely Sunday girl to start putting out. Had a delicious relaxing bath and caught up with some household chores. Popped out to pick up some ingredients for dinner, had a few refreshing beverages from The New Queen Victoria on the way back & shut the shop at 4pm.
Adam prepared his famous Chicken, Brie & Mushroom Pie whilst I got the fires started!

Dining Room Roaring Fire!

Adams not so fantastic looking but great tasting Pie

And for the rest of the evening we have chilled out enjoying these. Early night tonight and then in the shop in the morning putting stock out.

Speak Soon, Laura x x x

My 1st ever post!

Firstly, welcome to my blogspot. I have been meaning to set this up for quite some time now  & due to having 4 lovely girlies working in the shop for me now I seem to have the odd half hour to spare. After spending this evening looking at some GORGEOUS blogspots on here I felt inspired and thought it was time to create my own. So please bear with me as I get to grips with all of this and hope to share with you some of my favourite things in life.

I would like to explain a little bit about me & my life for any of you who doesn't know me. My name is Laura and I own Boutique 73 shop in Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. I am 26 at the time of writing this and opened Boutique 73 a year ago. I sell mainly new & used Ladies Clothing - also: Mens & Childrens, and vintage household items. I have had a fantastic response to the shop and LOVE my job. 

My beautiful shop x x x

I have got a perfect little family - Some may call it the mad house! Adam (My handsome partner), Bentley (Our Scruffy Yorkshire Terrier), Daisy (Our Adorable Chorkie - Chihuaua/Yorkie), Mylo (Our bear Pekapom Pomerainian/Peke), Jessica (the rabbit), Princess, Poppy & Percy the 3 very naughty fish!

Jessica Rabbit x x x

My pooches: Mylo (Left), Bentley (Middle), Daisy (Right) x x x

They are all my life and I am so content. They each make my life so perfect & I love them dearly.

I am off to bed now as Adam refuses to go without me & is snuggled in front of the fire with one of our Laura Ashley throws over him  - desperatley trying to keep his eyes open.

Speak soon, Nite Nite, Laura x x x x