Thursday, September 06, 2007

Happy Anniversary to ME - and a giveaway for YOU!


I cannot believe I have been blogging for a whole year, but it's true and today marks my first anniversary!


Some months back, when I was thinking ahead to this day, I thought how lovely - and original - it would be to host a giveaway! Well, as I'm sure many of you know, it has now become traditional to host a giveaway on a 'blogiversary' - a bit like buying the drinks or cakes on your birthday (hope there's enough to go round!)


So, to keep the tradition going I am pleased to announce, in honour of my 1st Blogiversary, I have put together this little treasure box filled with a gorgeous array of vintage goodies! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I will send this collection of treasures to the first name pulled out of my husband's old straw hat (trust me, you do not want to see a photo of that rather shabby piece of vintage!) The draw will take place on Thursday next week. You don't have to be a blogger to leave a comment - as long as you remember to check back in a week's time to see if you have been the lucky winner! This giveaway is open to everyone who reads my blog, wherever you are in the world!


This original, art nouveau tin is included and holds a tiny Victorian booklet with prose and delightful illustrations; an unused Catherine Klein postcard, some Victorian scraps, a postcard of a young girl, a glass knob, some earrings, a lavender filled heart, a tiny pewter teapot pin cushion, fabric flowers, a china brooch and a bunch of fabric violets as well! I will continue to add more little treasures to this collection, so there should be a nice little bumper package for some lucky person!


I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging and getting to know all you lovely vintage gals out there! Oh, and I must wish a 'Happy Blogiversary' to Sue who started blogging the same day as me! It's not limited to women though - there are some great male bloggers out there - you know who you are!! When I started blogging I had no idea just how addictive it would become. In February, I launched Vintage Home, my online shop and have been overwhelmed with the response! It has spurred me on to provide a regular array of vintage treasures for everyone and I hope it continues to go from strength to strength. It has meant I've had a little less time for blogging, but I hope you will all understand - I enjoy visiting your lovely blogs even though I may not always leave a comment!


September is certainly proving to be a month of celebration - our cottage is featured in the current issue of Oxfordshire Life - here are a few glimpses...


I was hoping to bring you more of the exciting news I mentioned in my last few posts - well, best laid plans and all that..! But as the saying goes, if something is worth waiting for it's worth having, so if you could bear with me another week or so I promise all will be revealed!

Thanks to everyone who has visited my blog over the past year - here's to another year - and many more! - of blogging!

91 comments:

  1. Morning Clare, what a box of treasures - happy anniversary to you! Best wishes Julie.

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  2. Happy Anniversary to you. I love reading your blog. That is a lovely box of vintage goodies. Looking forward to your news. Angela

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  3. Congrats Clare, Thanks so much for deciding to blog - you never fail to produce beautiful, interesting posts, full of eye candy! I always enjoy a visit from you too as your comments are kind, generous and humorous! (Love your most recent ones about my boat trip). Looking forward to your next year and congrats too on the magazine
    Kim x

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  4. Hi Clare! Happy Anniversary! You see, time flies when you're having fun! I love reading your blog and hope you'll post lots more!
    Love your little cottage!

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  5. Happy Anniversary!!! I love visiting your blog and following the links to other 'vintage' blogs.

    Ann

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  6. Congrats!! You have such lovely photos, and a shop to die for,you are one of my inspirations, love it, love all of it!!
    Sue

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  7. CONGRATULATIONS ON A YEAR AT BLOG!

    I for one have enjoyed visiting your blog and website:)))

    You were one of the first to welcome me to blogland back in December - ooooh not long for me then.

    What should I give away ... oh I'll have to think about it.

    Anyway enjoy the cake.

    best wishes Ginny

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  8. Happy Anniversary to you :) Here's to many more!! Those pics of your cottage are beautiful!!I'd love to read the article!!


    Thanks for sharing :)

    Dana
    d07@goldingers.com

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  9. Happy Anniversary to you dear Clare! I have loved getting to know you over the last year - your blog was one of my early blogging treasures that I found (my anniversary is coming up too) and I feel so blessed to have found you! May you have another wonderful year of blogging bliss and may WE be spoiled with more of your charming inspiration!
    xo,
    Kim

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  10. Good morning! Happy Blog-a-versary!
    What a lovely treasure box of goodies! I have enjoyed checking in on you and seeing what wonderful
    vintage treasures you have found. Keep up the great job! Hollyhock Cottage

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  11. Hi Clare,
    Congratulations to you and your blog! I always enjoy my visits here...it's so good to share a passion for vintage with a kindrid spirit!

    That cup cake mountain looks fabulous!!! - Don't mind if I do...

    Please can I be included in your lovely giveaway? The prize looks stunning! (I think you should make some treasure boxes up like this and add them to your website - I would be your best customer!!)

    Your magazine article looks wonderful - I am still trying to get a copy from my local PO....fingers crossed they will be able to get me one...

    Wishing you all the best for your next year of blogging and of course your website too.
    Love Niki x

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  12. Happy Anniversary! Love those cupcakes! ~Leslie

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  13. Happy Birthday to your blog :) Am so glad you started it, it is simply wonderful, always so much fun to visit. :)
    crystal

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  14. Congratulations on your blogiversary, Clare! I have so enjoyed reading your blog (and shopping at your lovely store)!!! I keep popping in over here each day to read what the exciting news is all about! Such anticipation!!! =)

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  15. Congrat's on blogging for a year! I know how addictive it is! I have been blogging now too for over a year! Time flies when you're having fun and I am so glad, along the path of many many blogs, yours was one I found and so enjoy! Lovely goodies you are giving away and I love your flower picture.

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  16. Cheers Clare, Congratulations on one year. Love your blog and all the beautiful things you show.

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  17. Congrats Clare!!! How lovely that you've been blogging for one fabulous year-here's to many more!! Loved the glimpse of the magazine article, any chance of another glimpse....

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  18. Happy Anniversary, Clare! I always check in to see what's new on your blog and in your shop...and I still have my eye on the bluebird religious motto print!
    Best wishes from New Mexico!
    Cindy

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  19. Hello to you and happy anniversary - gosh that must have been hard having people photographing your house! Its bad enought having mine up for sale!!You are the resong I started reading blogs and eventually having the courage to start myself. I am crossing my fingers to be lucky - as I love the look of your little collection. I am wondering what you news is goingto be??...................Catherine

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  20. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you Clare. Thanks for your inspirations and your assistance in help filling my head with romantic notions of what it would be like to live in England in a English cottage. :)

    I LOVE the cupcakes, green and purple is my favorite color combination. :)

    *muah*
    Michelle

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  21. Happy Anniversary Clare! Your blog is one of the sweetest and most colorful out there! May I please have one of those cupcakes?

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  22. Hi Clare,

    I just love the cupcake tower, how on earth did you manage that? Happy Anniversary! It's so amazing how quickly that first year passes isn't it?

    love
    Jane
    x

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  23. Congrats Clare! I know I have said this before but I really enjoy your blog. It is always full of inspiration and beautiful photos! How exciting your home is featured in the magazine. It looks divine!

    Heather

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  24. Congratulations, Clare, not only to your blogging anniversary, but also for the article in the Oxforshire magazine. I would love to see the whole article. Perhaps you could post here more pictures from your home? It looks lovely.
    I enjoy very much reading your blog and it has inspired me a lot.
    Kind regards, Monika

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  25. Hi Clare

    We've made it then - a year each. Exhausting, but great fun! Now I've seen your giveaway I'll have to work really hard on mine - I honestly haven't had a chance to get it together yet, I just knew I had to get the 'versary post in on time! After tomorrow's textile fair I'll get to it!

    Congrats friend!
    Sue xx

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  26. Congratulations on your anniversary! I so enjoy reading your blog and hope you keep writing for years to come. :)

    Melissa C.

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  27. Well after visiting Sue I thought I simply must pop over and say a huge Happy Blogiversary to you too Clare. I always enjoy visiting both your blog and website, it's a real joy :-)

    Your magazine article looks delicious and your home just scrummy!

    Thank you so much for my beautiful pillowcases that arrived here safely today. I love them

    D XXX

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  28. Congrats & Happy Anniversary! Your blog & photos are lovely : )

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  29. Hello Clare, so pleased I popped in to visit your blog. So very pretty & your home looks beautiful. I think I must go & visit your shop now. Pop over & say hello some time.
    Coll :-}

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  30. Yeahhh Happy Blogiversary Clare!!
    Now I really have enjoyed reading your blog and that is how I also found your great shop! Both are a visual feast and so interesting, it makes me miss England too much though ;-)
    Those iced cupcakes look too yummy, worth breaking my diet for, ha!
    Congrats also on that fab magazine featuring your beasutiful home, (if I saw that in a shop I'd be wanting to buy it to ogle the pics, ha!)
    You're very generous to do such an amazingly large giveaway like that. I really don't know how you could part with any of it!!
    Warm greetings from New Zealand x

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  31. I just discovered your wonderful blog today!

    Thank you so much!

    Debbie

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  32. Happy blogiversary!!! I have really enjoyed your blog since I found it.

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  33. I've been at it 2 years myself...I think it's good for the soul! Even if no one reads it, I get my thoughts and ideas on paper, so to speak.
    Count me in...would love to own your treasures!

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  34. Congratulations on your Blogiversery and having your lovely cottage in print- what fuN!

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  35. One solid year of blogging! Congratulations to you, Clare! Yours is a wonderful retreat from the cookie cutter blogs that are out there. I love to visit your unique corner of the world!! I still love my beautiful 'vintage' mirror that I purchased from you several months ago. Here's to many more years of the Vintage Home Blog!!

    Dorothy~

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  36. Happy "blogiversary" Clare! I love your blog. For a long time I thought I was the only one who loved vintage and cottagey things. I'm so glad to have found so many like minded women as myself! Marge

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  37. Happy Blogversary to you!
    I always enjoy your lovely blog!
    :)

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  38. I've enjoyed the peeks into your home. Onto the next year!

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  39. Congratulations!! I am about a month old at blogging. I can only imagine the friends (I hope) I will have made in a year!! In the meantime i will enjoy reading all of your beautiful observations and inspirations. Love yours bunches!!

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  40. Congratulations Clare on your anniversary...love the look of that cake:-)
    Have a nice big cuppa on me!
    Take care,
    Alison x

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  41. happy blogiversary!!

    that cake is stunning!!

    heres to the next 12 months
    Leanne x

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  42. Hello,
    I read your blog and visit your store often and always find them interesting and inspiring. Congragulations on your first blogging anniversary.Hope to read many more.
    Davina

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  43. Conratualions on your year of blogging and being featured in the magazine, looking forward to your next year.

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  44. Clare congrats on your 1 year blog anniversary.I look forward to many more years reading your fab blog
    the little treasure box is amazing I would love to go in the draw for something soooo special
    kindest regards Beth

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  45. Hi Clare, Happy Anniversary to you! I do enjoy reading your blog. The treasure box is fab and lucky person, whoever gets it. Your house looks great in the mag article, too. Will try and gethold of a copy. Here's to many more anniveraries.
    Best wishes,Pauline x

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  46. Happy blogiversary! Your gift to your readers is lovely. Here's to many more posts to come!

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  47. Happy Anniversary....love your blog
    shopkim

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  48. Happy Anniversary, Clare, Reading your blog is such a delight. I love your flair for decorating your cottage with all your vintage treasures. What a treat it is to visit England and meet the lucky people that live there. Your blog and others has helped to enhance greatly my sense of style and given me great ideas for decorating my own home.

    You are generous with your giveaway treasures, and I would love to be included in the draw.

    Many happy blogging years ahead, Janice from upstate New York

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  49. Hello I am really new to the blogging world but I am discovering it is full of wonderful creative people, making time in their own lives to bring fun and lots of laughter to everyone, now I have found you so thats super too, I think I will get a cup of tea and settle down for a good read.
    Love Lynn x

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  50. Oh I am beside myself with excitement and anticipation, I so love the look of all those goodies in that beautiful tin.

    Congratulations for your 1st year of blogging.

    Well done on being featured in Oxfordshire life.

    Racheal x

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  51. Happy Anniversary! Wonderful blog -soooo inspiring. Just the place I love to visit after a hard week at the "coal face"! All the best for the website and here's to another year of Vintage Home. Thanks for sharing all the beauty with us!

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  52. Alot of thoughts and words have gone into the last year, haven't they?! I'm so happy for you to have such exciting things going on right now! Sometimes blogging is so personal that it takes time to put it all together each day. You've done a wonderful job. Blessings in the next year... Polly (p.s. oh and if you MUST, count me in for the drawing, I'll gladly accept)

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  53. wow, thats a lot of comment you've had !!!

    How wonderful that your house is in a magazine, you must be so excited.

    Please put my name into the straw hat Claire ... ~ love Julia x

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  54. Yay....huge happy blog anniversary hugs!!! Please put my name in the hat:)
    Kari

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  55. I really enjoy reading your blog! Please include me in your drawing. Thank you!
    Lou Ann
    louannmoo@yahoo.com

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  56. Happy Anniversary Clare - your blog is always lovely, and I'm sure a lot of effort must go into it, so congratulations for that. Please include me in the the draw, those items look really lovely. How exciting to be in a magazine, I saw your home in 25 Beautiful Homes a couple of months ago, my hubbie buys that mag, not enough homes like yours in it for my liking though!
    All the best to you, Lucy.
    (lucybloom@btinternet.com)

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  57. Congratulations on your 1st anniversary and how wonderful to have your home featured in a magazine - I'm sure it will be a delightful read.
    Wishing you luck for your next year.
    Regards,
    Sandi.

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  58. Happy blogiversary, how fast does a year go by!

    Looking forward to the next 12 months.

    I'm drooling over the fabrics in the last post, can't wait to see what you have in store for them!

    Julia x

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  59. 60 comments already...WOW!! LOVE your blog and would SOOOOOO love to win this giveaway! Do you take bribes? tee hee

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  60. Happy Anniversary! I've been enjoying your blog, seeing your beautiful cottage and gorgeous finds. Congrats on being in a magazine - that must be such a thrill! And, that looks like a generous give a way...hmmm I'm looking for a glass knob for a small cabinet I have. :) Good luck to all.

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  61. Good day Clare,
    Here i am, sitting in my pyjamas. Yes i know, it is late! But we have slept out today, and it was so lovely. After a very bussy week and weekend it is great to have the Sunday all to myself :)
    I am reading all my messages and i see that you have left me a few comments with words that gives me warmth, thank you!! And happy anniversary to you Clare!! :)
    Yes, isn`t it great? I appreciate your blog so much, even though i don`t always have the time to leave a message or pass by. But i think you know what i mean..You are bussy too and what a great achievement to create this lovely shop of yours! So many treasures with character and radiation, just lovely!! I am pleased to hear about your great appearance featured in the current issue of Oxfordshire Life.I want to Congratulate you for that too! Oh, i would have loved to have that issue. Yes, to see more of your lovely home..I recently become a subscriber of Country Living UK, i love that magazine. It is so me. Although i have a soft spot for a touch of Scandinavian decor with a little influence of French, my heart belongs to the real English country home. I can`t wait to receive my first issue.
    Your give away price looks just fantastic!! What a great gift :)
    I am really looking forward to another year filled with beautiful posts about coloursful fabrics, treasurs of any kind and pictures from your garden. Have a great Sunday Clare! Love, Aina

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  62. Hi Clare,
    Congratulations on your first anniversary. We've only been blogging since May and are beginning to understnd the level of commitment required. Your home looks so pretty and interesting...and the cake is fab.
    Margaret and Noreen at THY

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  63. Happy Anniversary and congrats on your feature in the magazine. Your cottage looks soooo lovely.
    Mary

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  64. Happy Anniversary! I do love those hydrangeas - mine usually go blue and purple :-)

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  65. Happy Anniversary from me too!! Enjoying your blog very much. What a beautiful tin of goodies you are giving away!! Looking forward to many more inspiring blog posts in the future.

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  66. Happy Anniversary!!
    It is just amazing the people we "meet" via blogville~~your shop and blog are just beautiful and I wish you another great year!!
    From another Vintage Lover in the US~Michelle

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  67. Happy Anniversary Clare - how nice that you and Sue share the date!!
    Have enjoyed keeping up with you and your interesting life and wish you another fabulous year ahead.

    Wow, that's a lovely giveaway - somebody will be very lucky to share in all those goodies. Please put my name in the hat!

    Congrats. on being in print also - your cottage looks lovely - wish I could get a copy of that publication over here.
    Have a super week. Mary.

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  68. Wow,
    And I only just started the blog world last month.

    Best wishes~Cathy Nash

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  69. Happy Anniversary

    It has been a wonderful year filled with inspiration.

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  70. Happiness to you!

    Always a DeLiGhT to see you blogging!
    Shannon

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  71. So very nice for you to be in the magazine. Seems you have a great home. And the flowers on the first picture are just lovely.
    Love Elzie - happy anniversary!!

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  72. Happy blogiversary Clare.
    I love reading your blog. You're giving away so many beauties, how can you part with them.
    Best wishes
    jessica

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  73. Happy Anniversary! Beautiful box.

    Theresa N.

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  74. Just found your blog through a link and i love it, so have added you to my favourites, keep up the good work :)

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  75. Happy, happy anniversary to you and thank you for a lovely blog!

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  76. Wow, such alot of comments. please include me in this exciting "draw". I have been trying to get this copy of oxfordshire life but i have not had any luck yrt. im going to try Smiths, they have alot of mags. It looks so lovely clare, congrats to you and your hubby!

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  77. Hi Clare, happy anniversary! those cupcakes look delicious, I'm off to read the rest of your blog now, bye X

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  78. Happy anniversary! Love your blog! Becky

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  79. Congrats on your blogiversary!

    What a sweet tin packed full of vintage treasures!

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  80. Hello Clare,
    Happy Blogiversary, I was just looking at the photos of your house in the magazine! Congratulations, its so nice many people can enjoy your lovely home......

    Lisa Priscilla x

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  81. Happy Anniversary, Clare!
    Your blog is one of the first I ever found and I've loved it all this time! You're a great "vintage home" inspiration and I've gleaned so much from your writings and photos.
    Congratulations & Thank You!!!!

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  82. Happy Anniversary! I just discovered your blog and want to spend alot more time going thru past posts!

    Congrats on the magazine! And on your website.

    I would love to be included in your give-away!

    I also would like to invite you to visit my blog. I am a mosaic artist and create my art with vintage china, vintage furniture, chandeliers, silver teapots and more.
    Penny

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  83. Wow what a lot of comments you have had. Congretualations on your blog aniversary, I love seeing all your pretty things. Your house looks really lovely in the magzine. Full of all the things that give me lots of inspiration

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  84. Hi Clare! Happy Anniversary!! Here's to many more!
    Cheers-Hayley

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  85. Happy Blogiversary!
    What pretty things you find.
    Denise B. in Kansas

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  86. Happy Anniversary. Your blog is simply charming!
    Bev

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  87. Hi Clare - Yes, picnic planned for the follow-up session on 11 October! Are my emails getting through? I've been having problems again.
    Suexx

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  88. Oh my goodness !!! What a beautiful giveaway ! Congratulations on your year blogging anniversary !

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  89. Happy Anniversary! I have just discovered your blog- Beautiful! Thanks for allowing anyone the chance at winning such a lovely gift!
    Daphne

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  90. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUE BLOG!I LOVE IT!!

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  91. ~Applause~

    Congrats! Am enjoying your lovely blog and looking forward to frequent visits and reading your many posts :)

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