Boudoir Shopping

More shop talk today but I swear it's worth it!'

Our selection of foundation garments and beauty products in on the increase! We've added new petticoats and petticoat options to the site, as well as some new cosmetics and corsets!

No matter your style, the right foundations and cosmetics are always key to a flawless look! Our petticoats have been a favorite pick for Quaintrelle for years now and hope we can win over even more of you with our new Boudoir Shop!

The move should make everything nice and reachable for both our Cute Salad and Candy Violet girls from either side of the store, and remember all of these sections go to the same cart, so you can mix and match till your hearts content and only pay for shipping once!

Photo Frame Tutorial

The last 2 months I wasn't able to keep up to the new article every month promise for the Quaintrelle Life site, but rest assure I'm back on track and have a long list of articles to write over the next few months! For April it's all about replacing the cell phone photo with something a little fancier. We've got a little tutorial on a DIY photo frame in the Victorian style that you can display, keep in your top drawer, or carry with you on the go! (Also with a saucier retro pin up style frame for those who like things a little lighter :p !)

Come visit the site to give it a whirl! www.quaintrellelife.com

Cute Salad Re-Launch!

When we first became Vivcore we had 2 labels, one for more casual and fun styles (Cute Salad) , the other for more fancy and decadent styles (Candy Violet). Over a year ago Candy Violet slipped into the form we now know and love, and today Cute Salad has followed it's big sister!

From now on Candy Violet will be home to our glitzy cocktail, formal, and vintage couture inspired items and collections.





Cute Salad will now be home to our fun and flirty pin up and day wear inspired items!  (with a boudoir store to follow shortly with expanded foundation, lingerie and beauty lines)

To celebrate the new look and feel over at Cute Salad we have several new items ready to pick up and play with! Our new Riviera shirtwaist set and separates! In the past we made dress sets as a great way to get a one piece look, with the versatility of separates. So you can wear it as a dress or a skirt and blouse.

For long time visitors, any older designs you might be missing check the clearance sale for any old stock, and I hope every one is enjoying and will continue to enjoy out trips back through time with both of our Vivcore brands!

 Introducing the new Riviera dress set and separates!

The newest addition to the revamped Cute Salad shop is our Riviera collection in a super cute printed cotton that could have been ripped out of a 1950s Horrockses line! Visit the new Cute Salad shop to find out more!

Lazy Scones

So do you ever site there thinking "Man I could go for a spot of afternoon tea right now, if only scones didn't take so long make." All the time right? Me too! Well as a lazy lady who loves cream tea I got to thinking the other day, what about Bisquick? The English scone more closely resembles what my American chums call biscuits than scones more often than not, so logic followed that if I were to mix up a batch of Bisquick, throw in some raisins I should have a passable scone!

Now I can see my hopes for a knighthood sliping away as I type, and Bettie's tearoom isn't going to go out of business anytime soon, but my Bisquick scones were pretty darn good for throwing something from a box into a bowl with some milk!

To make Follow the biscuit/dumpling recipe...

1. 2 1/4 cups Bisquick
2. 2/3 cups Milk
3. 1/2 cup raisins
4. 1/4 cup sugar (optional)

• Mix Bisquick, raisins and milk in a large bowl till combined (and 1/4 cup sugar if you like em sweeter)
• Kneed dough about 10 times on a Bisquick dusted surface
• Roll out to about 1/2" thick
• Cut into 2"-3" rounds (or something prettier)
• Brush a little milk over the top and sprinkle with sugar (optional)
• Bake for 8-10 mins at 450F or till golden brown

Let them cool down a bit, cut them in half, add a generous helping of clotted cream and jam, eat them with a pot of your favorite tea and voila cream tea in minutes! For those looking for a good English scone recipe, this old Be-Ro recipe has been the one we used to make growing up.

Adventures in Perfume Pt2

Continuing on my adventures in quaintrelle worthy perfumes I thought I should give a big nod to one of my favorite perfumers based out of good old San Fransisco! A while back I splashed out on a sample set off all the fragrances created by La Bouquetiere (about 23 in all) I'd been drawn in by the companies beautiful artwork and the vintagey sound of a lot of their fragrances. Their perfumes are nice and "uncluttered" smelling, and again no strange synthetic smells hiding in the ones I've tried.

My favorite 3 so fave have been...

1. "Muguet" a lovely clean lily if the valley perfume which honestly smells just like spring to me. 
2. "Embrasse Moi" which is ultra feminine and full of roses, this one really appeals to the vintage girl in me, I always feel like a 1930's socialite in it! 
3. "Violette de Paris" is my other stand out love from the bunch. it's based on an old 15th century recipe and is a nice violet scent that isn't at all cloying like others can be

So far I've tried the body creams (the form the sample set came in) and the roll on perfume which I adore. Sprays can be really unpredictable to me, one morning you get a quick spritz and smell subtle and alluring, the next day it comes out like a geyser and so strong you nearly knock yourself out with it! The roll on I've found easy to control, the other upside is it's relatively affordable and small enough that you can hope to get through it before it dies, and still have room for a few other fragrances to play with at the same time! Next time I'm feeling saucy I really want to try the rice powder with the 1900's powder puff, it looks absolute boudoir perfection!!!

I'm excited to see what I'm able to dig up next on the perfume adventure.

Spring Dressing Part1

Foxy Stole and Du Barry dress

As well as slowly busting out orders, new Spring updates are belatedly making their way onto the site. The first of the bunch is these 2 new dresses and one of my proudest achievements the Foxy Stole!

On the right the Du Barry dress is a 2 piece set inspired by the period vintage style featured in one of our earlier posts. Pinked crushed robings and lovers knot bows down the front. One of our most glamorous evening dresses yet!

Marilyn Chemise

The  second dressy treat is the Marylin Chemise, an extra vintage take on our popular chemise dresses. My favorite dresses from the 50's have always been the big party dresses with the sheer fabrics so I was particularly excited to be able to release this design today!

The perfect dresses perhaps with prom season coming up? Anyone should need ideas on a prom hair and makeup look to go with them should stop by  the Lisa Freemont Street Channel  to check out a great tutorial for just that!

All the new items are available from the Candy Violet store. We're in the middle of a bit of shuffle around  with the sites lately. We've moved the atelier items into the regular catalog (custom sizing still available through the custom salon), and will be re-launching Cute Salad soon with a whole new look and style so I hope you guys might look forward to that!

New colors

From Vivcore with Love

As a big welcome to everyone finding us for the 1st time in this months UK Vogue!! Because we're always happy when new people stop by we are offering free shipping on all international and domestic orders over $100!

So if you're new to the site thanks so much for checking us out, and if you're a long time follower thanks for your continued support!

I hope this will help a few people squeeze some extra vintage glamor into your wardrobes this Spring!

Get straight to the shop from here...

April Flowers

I've been busy trying to catch up on a million orders and billion other work things lately, which doesn't make for very exciting blogging (till it's all finished!). The good news is there is one thing that happens whether I'm actively involved or not, Spring!

I love this time of year because it's so bright and optimistic. I love seeing the bulbs I planted a few years ago start to pop out and break up all the gray that hung over winter.

Right now only a few things have opened up, yesterday the little narcissus showed their faces for the first time this year, and my hyacinth are opening up and smelling fantastic!

I've been sat at my sewing station right by the open window enjoying the fresh air and the bees buzzing about the bush just by it. Even when things are heavy, it's easier to feel light this time of year.