Congrats Judy & more for rosa & josie's

Congratulations Miss Judy for winning my 100th Friends Give-Away! I love the idea that even if I never get a chance to visit New Zealand, my handcrafted brooch, ring & necklace are going on an amazing adventure. They will travel in trucks & be loaded onto planes that will fly over vast oceans, that will land on an island & be delivered to the front porch of a friend. Life is amazing! {if only they could write, lol}

My wonderful friend, jewelry artist Diane Cook from rosa & josie's , & I worked together on another postcard design for one of her upcoming classes 'Rhinestones & Rosaries'. Her jewelry design is awesome & I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to feature some of her beautiful pieces here at my shop.

If you have a chance, stop by her lovely blog to say hi & take a look at some of her gorgeous jewelry, along with her scheduled upcoming classes & workshops. I sooooo wish I lived in Texas & could learn from the best, how to make my own vintage inspired art jewelry. {I don't know when, but I do know I WILL take one of her classes, it's part of my 'MUST DO' list!}

And to you Diane, a HUGE Thank You for all of your business, for your patience with me while I learn, for your insistence of excellence, for your referrals, for your lovely post & most importantly...for your friendship! I can't wait until September Friend!!!!

XOXO

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

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

Yeah...100 Followers Blog Give-Away, Yipeeee!

Wow friends, who would have known when I picked up my 1st Artful Blogger magazine at Barnes & Noble in Baltimore, MD last May, I'd have my own blog, I'd LOVE blogging, I'd have made soooo many amazing friends, I'd have 100 fabulous followers & that blogging would become a part of my everyday life, actually my very being...I wouldn't have guessed any of that! Thank you, thank you, thank you friends & as a special thank you, let's have a Grand Give-Away! To enter all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. Comments can be made up until April 25th, 2010 & since I roll Old School, I will draw a name from my favorite straw hat on April 26th & announce my lucky winner! Over the next few weeks, I'll be giving you sneak peeks of what will be in our BIG WINNERS GIFT BOX. I'll have a few of my handcrafted by vintagesusie items, a few Lambs & Ivy Boutique items & a few of my Fabulous Flea Friday items, it will be a Potpourri of Wonderfulness all for you Friends...I promise!!! Again & sincerely from my heart...I heart all of you!!! Thanks for being my friend...

{& thanks Elizabeth at Clear Blue Sky for helping me get there!}

1959 Pathfinder & a Gynormous Bird of Paradise

Friends, you are all soooo cute!!! Have I told you lately how much I adore all of you? Thanks for reliving my ticket debacle with me & for each one of you who answered any combo of my silly questions, I will be contacting you for your mailing address & sending you out some love along with one of my Vintage Fabric Flower Brooches...Yeah Friends!!!

Here's where we stay when we're in Hollywood, in our 1959 Pathfinder Travel Trailer. It's our home away from home, our pride & joy & look how nicely it tucks into our clients drive-way.

Now, when I stand in the doorway of our trailer & look out into this lush, vintage, CA yard, I have the delight of looking at this truly Gynormous Bird of Paradise...it's amazing!!! You can't tell the size of this beauty from my photo, but it towers over our trailer & is taller then the owner's house. How long would this plant have to be growing here in order to get this big? The house was built in 1924, could it have been an original planting? Just too cool...I had to share this with you!

And I have one more bit of exciting news before I go...drum roll please, I am about to have my 100th friend follow me here on vintagesusie & wings, how fun & awesome is that!! Looks like we are in the market for a really GREAT 100th Follower Give-Away, my mind is already mulling over the grand gift possibilities! Stay tuned friends...I can't wait to celebrate with all of you!

XOXO