Yipeeeee...Today's The Day!!!!

{all images from Getty Images}

Hey, Sweet Friend...Do you know what day it is today???

Today is the day that vintagesusie announces the WINNER of her 100 Friends Give-Away, I can't believe it's finally here...we've waited almost a month for this.

"Oh Kim, do you think it could be one of us?" Lucy asked excitedly!

"I don't know who the winner might be" thought Linda, "but I'm not willing to take a chance being caught not looking my best."

Even the children could feel the excitement as the time grew near for this much anticipated announcement!

Diane sat back in her chair trying to remain calm, thinking of the sweet mountain of bootie that could be hers, if only her name was chosen.

Others, who will be nameless, could not contain their greed & tried in vain to find out the winner to no avail.

"It's time, it's time..." screamed Sylvia, unable to control her emotions one second longer. As the drum roll started the contestants fell into an eerie silence.

The time had finally come and vintagesusie took the stage. Initially, she was slightly confused & wasn't sure why all the eyes were on her. She started to sing a little ditty, but could feel the audience growing anxious.

She quickly rebounded & went into a little soft shoe, when suddenly someone in the angry mob yelled out, "give us the name"! The cloud lifted from vintagesusie's head as she recalled why she was there. Clearing her voice she began to speak, "The winner of my 100th Friend Give-Away is..."

"JUDY of New Zealand from MANGAROA MADE!!!" The crowd breaks out into a long cheer as Judy, stunned, can't believe she's the LUCKY winner! "Thank you, oh, thank you so much!" Judy says overwhelmed by the mere thought of her good fortune. The contestants rush over to Judy to wish her a hearty congratulations, some even try & touch her thinking her good luck might just rub off on them for the next Give-Away.

Arriving home that evening, some found themselves in a bit of a malaise thinking "I never win those darn Give-Aways, why couldn't it have been me?" Now these words come from vintagesusie herself, so take heed...
"Please Friends...don't feel disheartened! I only need 56 more friends to have my 200th Friends Give-Away & I promise, it will make this Give-Away pale in comparision!!!"

A soft murmer quickly became a loud roar...

"Long Live Queen Susie, Long Live Queen Susie!" ;) LOL

What a FUN Dream, Right... I think the Crown Jewels post has gone straight to my head!
Congratulations Dear Friend Judy & Thanks to all my Friends who entered & made this such a Fun Give-Away!!!!

XOXO

'It's Good To Be QUEEN'

I have always been fascinated by English royalty. Maybe it's because of the direct line of lineage that goes back beyond what I could ever imagine. Maybe it's because my maiden name Brewer, can be traced back to Old English roots. Maybe it's because the history of the royals is filled with intrigue, marrying cousins, hemophilia & beheadings or maybe it's just because of the

Crown Jewels!

Queen Victoria was born Alexandrina Victoria on May 24, 1819. At the tender age of 18 years old, she became the Queen of England & on that day she inherited the Crown Jewels. Victoria loved diamonds & in 1857 she commissioned this amazing Collet necklace & earrings. The necklace consists of twenty-nine collet diamonds adding up to a weight of over 160 carats of diamonds. The necklace contains a famous stone as the pendant named the Lahore Diamond which weights 22.48 carats. The earrings are of typical design, large brilliant followed by a smaller one, with a large pear shaped drop...OMG! She is wearing them in both of the photographs above...can you even imagine?

Queen Victoria bequeathed these jewels to the Crown in her will. Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary wore the necklace at their Coronations in 1901 and 1911 & Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) wore both necklace and earrings in 1937, as did her daughter Queen Elizabeth II at her Coronation in 1953.

Queen Alexandra is seen here with her 2 daughters, wearing the Collet necklace...but with all that bling I have to use a magnifying glass to find it. A top her regal head sits the George IV State Diadem Crown made in 1820 for his Coronation.

100 years later or so, here it is on Her Majesty the Queen. {can you see Queen Victoria's Collet necklace peeking out from under her stole & yes, those are the matching earrings}
The King George IV State Diadem Crown in all it's stunning Glory! The diadem includes 1333 diamonds weighing 325.75 carats with 169 pearls along its base.

And last, but most certainly not least, the Vladimir Tiara. Bought by Queen Mary from the Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia, the Aunt to the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II, after her exile. {Did you know that Queen Victoria was the Grandmother of Alexandra, wife to Nicholas II whose family was murdered by Bolsheviks in 1918?}

And now we've come full circle as the Vladimir Tiara rests gently a top the current sovereign's royal head. I didn't mean for this to turn into a history lesson, but I did tell you I find it all sooooo fascinating!!!

So, what's the moral of this story you may ask? Sometimes it's Good to be Queen, look at all the awesome jewels you get to wear! But, maybe we should ask the wives of Henry the VIII what they thought before we jump to that conclusion.

XOXO

Costume Design & Imagination

{The Young Victoria}

Here's a little eye candy for you, my bestest friends, from some of my favoritest movies.

Look at this stunning yellow dress with cream lace, how gorgeous it looks accented against the deep, green hedges.

{Pride & Prejudice}

Mr. Darcy..oh Mr. Darcy, I take in every detail of his costume from the buttons on his waistcoat to the ruffles on his simple, opened necked, white cotton shirt...ahhhhhh! {look how the sun rises like a halo in his hair}

{The Duchess}
Whether it's the simple grandeur of the English countryside or the lush dreaminess of a palace in France, I am transported to another place & time, making me long for petticoats & lace, hats & ribbons & a long skirt with a slightly muddy hem, dragging on the path behind me.

{Marie Antoinette}
Who wouldn't want to eat french pastries & wear diamonds & wonderful, lavish gowns if you were living in Paris at the palace & money was no object? {well, I mean it was an object...she just didn't quite understand how much}

{Sense & Sensibility}

Can you see that 'ever so sheer' neck scarf Marianne has on? It's just enough to be proper & yet still sheer enough to be naughty...I love it!

{Age of Innocence}
And what about lace parasols...battenburg lace parasols. The idea of a women's skin being so sensitive & fair that it needs to be shielded from the sun at all times is just too romantic! I want a lace parasol with a bamboo handle. I close my eyes & see myself walking down a path in the English countryside along a sparkling lake with the sunlight filtering through the leaves. I lift my face up to the sun just as I open my parasol & in that moment...all is right with the world.

Smiles friends & thanks for coming with me!

XOXO

Pillows, Pillows & More Pillows

I'm in love with PILLOWS right now! Maybe it's because it's spring & I'm nesting {literally} or maybe it's because after doing the bathroom, I'm obsessed with finishing my bedroom make-over or maybe it's simply because I've been going to some of the most posh, chic interior design shops in LA...but right now, all I can think about is PILLOWS!

Now, I have a couple of these from Pottery Barn & adore them in my living room.

And this one from Pottery Barn is a 'Must Have' on my to-get list! {but they've been sold out of these the last few times I've gone, I hope beyond hope I might still get a hold of one}

This is Rachell Ashwell's favorite design at Shabby Chic Couture, the Union Jack pillow & I must admit to you, they are fabulous!

And BURLAP...what about BURLAP! The texture & neutral color with the wonderful graphics & text on them...I LOVE these pillows from Mothology. {& that messenger bag is toooo cute}

And here's a few of my favorites from etsy. I adore these pillows on the settee made by Jolie Marche, I could decorate my entire bed with these.

Petit Coterie has some gorgeous french inspired pillows too, I just love the touch of blue down the center of this one & since it's 'Good To Be Queen', the crown does seem fitting! So friends, if you have a FAVORITE pillow or a Great line that I should check out, please share with me cuz as you can see, I am still on the hunt for the PERFECT PILLOW!!!

XOXO

Disclaimer: Yes, I know there are a lot more important issues to be concerned about in the world then pillows, but, I DO Love them so...

Sneek Peek at Give-Away Goodies

Look, there's a gift bag in that planter & it looks like it came from Rachel Ashwell's shop 'Shabby Chic Couture'! I wonder what's in it, do you think anybodies looking? I feel a little naughty, but I just can't help myself...I have to know what's inside!

Oh, it smells sooooo good & I think I see some bling...what could it be? I know what it is, it's your 1st Sneek Peek at vintagesusie's 100 Friends Give-Away from one of the coolest shops in Santa Monica. Only the best for my friends!!! Inside we find a delicious vanilla RA candle & a pair of her antique gold, glass votive holders trimmed with vintage rhinestones, they're gorgeous!

My visit to this chic little shop was absolutely soooo fun. To my surprise & joy, Pom Pom's Santa Monica shop was only 2 doors down so I got a 2 for the price of one experience. This is the spring, summer color board at Shabby Chic, the florals were luscious, mixed with layers of linen & burlap texture.

Rachel's cotton's are the yummiest, you can't help but want to climb into her bed's with their huge fluffy down comforter's covered in pure white linens, to die for!
I adored her idea of taking petticoats & making hanging lamp shades out of them, they looked wonderful hanging from their high ceilings.
And I had to get myself something, right!!! I choose this simple cotton tote with her initial & a crown on the front & a sweet soft pink bow tied on to one of the handles, it's a good thing!

Can you tell I'm totally bag obsessed right now, I can't get enough of them. This is my bag I got a couple weeks ago at Pom Pom. Don't you love the little french number on it? It's made out of a softer burlap & it's really big...perfect for the swap meet or farmers market or just for everyday when you carry as much junk around as I do. Well friends, I hope you had fun on our Santa Monica shopping spree! We all got some good stuff & hey, don't forget to tell your friends to come by & enter my Give-Away to have a chance at these great little gifts.

XOXO