In the off chance that you are still following my old blog...

Hello there :O)

What on earth are you still doing following this little old blog here? Just so you know, I've been gone from here for ages and ages now...

Hurry on over to my current blog, Whatsoever Things Are Beautiful, and win yourself something fabulous from the lovely kitchen linen collection of Anna-Maria Horner.

Blessings,
Susan

Oh my gosh... I'm hosting a Bake It Pretty giveaway!

If you still haven't followed me over to my new blog site yet, be sure to do so as soon as possible. It's for your own good, trust me.
I mean, you wouldn't want to miss out on my new blog's final grand opening giveaway, would you???

Love, Susan

Win a dreamy cakies crown!

All you have to do is follow me to my new blog site

www.whatsoeverthingsarebeautiful.blogspot.com

and everything's easy from there on out :O)

Love, Susan

Please follow me to my new location...

I've been thinking about this for a good long while, and it's high time to "suck it up" and make the change already!

I know I'm still in the "grand opening" stages of this here "shoppe", but as I'm still figuring things out and rethinking my blog's purpose, et cetera, I'm greatly compelled to make this move.

And I do mean move.

There are two phenomenal giveaways still to be had (not to mention the one already in the works from Crab Apple Designs) from cakies and Bake It Pretty.

Please, if you will, indulge me by following me to www.whatsoeverthingsarebeautiful.blogspot.com.

I hope to see you in my new space :O)

Blessings, Susan

So many fun things to share right now...

I'll be brief, because I have a lot to do today, but so many neat things are happening in the parts of cyberspace that I like to frequent.

Prettiest of all the new schtuff are the photos posted by one of my all time favorite photographers, Denise Bovee, of my sister-in-law's (and new brother-in-law's, of course!) wedding last weekend on her blog. They are flat out gorgeous. You will LOVE Mallory's wedding dress! I double dog dare you to even try not loving it. Best of all, it was completely perfect on her. Congratulations, Mallory & Jonathan!
If you're getting married or want some awesome portraits taken of yourself or somebody you love, be sure to get in touch with Denise. Not only is she super talented, but she's very sweet and personable, too!

Most delicious of all new news going on is this: Ree announced yesterday that her new and first ever cookbook - yay!!! - is now at the printers AND she is going to do a mini book tour - I am trying to bribe her to come to San Diego for her west coast stop...
Isn't this a perfect cover for her first book? It feels so much like her website. I like that connection a lot. And I love that her four kids are in the background of this shot, but I love even more that her husband took this photo of her only after being bribed with a chocolate dessert. You can preorder the book for half of the retail price here for only about $15!

Anne-Julie is all settled into her new apartment (with not one but TWO of Emily's hand painted Black Apple dollies even, lucky duck!) and is doing a sweet little giveaway to boot. Check it out here.
I love these little digital paintings she did - of herself and her fiance - and I'm happy to see them as a magnet set. What a sweet little gift they would make! I want a set for my husband and myself, one for my sister and her fiance, and one for my sister-in-law and her brand new hubby, too. Also, Anne-Julie's Portrait of Sophie Bizarre is miraculously still available... You know, just in case anyone is wondering what to get me for my 30th birthday this Christmas Eve...

Something really fun that I promise you've never seen before (since it was custom made just for me and all) from her arrived from Rubyellen of cakies fame for the next giveaway on this here little blog that is slowly making a name for itself (despite it's cheesy name - ha!). I will post that giveaway tomorrow after I take some pictures.
This picture is full of girliness, which Rubyellen aces. However, the item that will be up for grabs will suit either a boy OR a girl very well.

Also, the last and final "grand opening of the shoppe" giveaway comes from Amanda at Bake It Pretty and it is absolutely delightful. Amanda was so generous! That announcement will come soon. Meanwhile, visit her blog and watch her "super cute" little video where she shows off all of the goodness that is to come soon to her shoppe. Yay! I am particularly fond of the paper banners and peacock fan picks (I may send some to you Mal!) and new doilies. Yay, yay, yay!
This is my favorite tip from Bake It Pretty's ultimate kit which is still sold out. Boo rats boo. If you are dying to have a kit, just wait a little longer, or order this tip for only $2.50 and stick it into a ziploc bag. Trust me. It rocks!
And speaking of giveaways... please do not forget about the adorable crab apple designs giveaway that is currently still up for grabs but ends on Tuesday. You can find it here.

See? Loads of fun stuff going on.

Have a great Thursday!

Blessings, Susan

She wants blue velvet...

So... For a few years now I have secretly had a strong desire to have a blue velvet couch. It may have all started with a spread in Domino Magazine (please don't get me started on how much I miss that magazine!) that featured the studio of Nick Olsen, but I think it goes back a bit further than that. Perhaps on a trip to Graceland, or maybe way before that when I wore a blue velvet dress to my first ever formal...
Is this couch gorgeous, or what??? And look at how cushy it looks! And those pillows... Sigh...

Anyway, whenever it was that I first thought about owning one, ever since I laid my peepers on Nick's I've wanted one of my own. It's been a bit of a secret only because I wasn't sure if I was just crazy for wanting one. I have pegged myself as a person who wants a mostly neutral colored room with one large pop of color (in this case, an amazing peacock blue velvet couch...), and possibly another small pop of a contrasting color here and there (like those golden pillows). I'd love to have an exact replica of Nick's couch, but I'm sure that's near impossible. The funny thing was, when I first saw it I actually DID have a blue velvet couch... Only it was probably the most hideous couch EVER. It was navy and gold and ivory striped, and very boxy... Shudder... However, the couch was freely given by generous folks, was very comfortable, provided a place for my family and I to lounge for three years, and for that I am truly thankful. Truly.

From time to time I google "blue velvet couch", and sometimes I happen upon loveliness that has me wanting my own blue velvet couch all over again. Here are some of my finds. Just try to convince me that you aren't enamored, too.
If a whole couch is too much, maybe one (...or two) of these salon lounge chairs by Baker Furniture will do the trick... :O) Traditional Home did a post on it... back in 2007... which is how I found this chair. I also really like the fabric behind it, but it was only available to designers at the time...
This here is the large Hutton sofa by Room & Board. I'd get the smaller three cushion version if I could. Abigail of www.gogoabigail.com has one and she has only good things to say about it. You can see hers here looking gorgeous - and with a yellow pillow no less!!!

What do you think? Crazy? Or crazy good???

Anyway. Can you believe it's September already??? I mean... September. SEP. TEM. BER.

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. ~Albert Pike

We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and a mystery. ~H. G. Wells

Blessings,
Susan

And the winner is...

The winner of this darling little pink dress...

Made with love by Faith of faithworks4u...
With this gorgeous lace and ribbon detailing all along the front of it...
...is knelson! Congratulations!!! Please email me with your mailing address :O) 

I am having a lovely weekend thus far. My sister-in-law's wedding was just beautiful. And that makes me so happy.  

Love, Susan