Ooh la la...A WINNER!!!

Bet you thought I forgot.
No, I just planned to have a relaxing evening writing on my blog...
lots of news to share.
But I forgot how many people have fireworks and firecrackers on a night like this...
and how scared my pups are of all the bangs!
So I have spent a night cuddling my boys (not bad)
and not writing on my blog.
So sorry!
But...it's still July 4th...
and we have a winner of Chani's
"THE GLITTERED JAR"


...full of French goodies.

Out of 29 entries, the number pulled by random generator was #12.
Going back to my comments, that turns out to be..."Suzanne".
Haha...No, not me!!!
Suzanne from Skybluesea Skybluesea.
Suzanne lives in the UK and is a British Mummy of teens
(while I am an American Mommy of teens:)
She even has one that is a dancer, like me:)
And she is an amazing artist so I can't WAIT to see what she does with these goodies!
I hope you all loved visiting Chani's blog and store.
I even order one of these jars for myself and I know I will
be shopping with her OFTEN!!!
Thank you to EVERYONE who entered.
Usually, I like to write and acknowledge every one who enters and
let you know I got the correct number of submissions for each.
Please forgive me for not doing that this time.
When I said I had a lot going on, I meant it!
I planned to write about it tomorrow but I don't honestly think I will be ready.
Even though like has changed and thrown a bit of a curve ball
at me, I still have to take care of family and business as usual and I want to do this RIGHT!
I'm working on it...and I will be back soon...hopefully by mid-week
AT LEAST!!!
Thanks again everyone and hope you had a
Wonderful 4th of July.
(and to my neighbors...please stop with the firecrackers.
My boys are shaking!!!:(

XOXOXOXOXO
Suzanne

I'm a Sister with the Bloggerette Sorority!!!

Me...the newest Sorority Sister:)

Sisterhood is so may things to so many people...

I am one of the lucky ones...

I have 3 big sisters.

My girls have each other...

sisters for life.

But what about those other sisters...

the ones you choose...or who choose you...

like sorority sisters.

I always wanted to be a sorority sister!

Because...

Sisters are a warm smile on a cold and rainy day

a friendly hug, a cheerful hello.

"Just because" presents.

Sisterhood is all that a good and lasting friendship is,

only better!

It's treasured. It's sacred.

It's knowing that there will always

be someone there for you, no matter what.

It's sharing...ideas, tips, thoughts, dreams, goals.

It's counting on and being counted on!

It's..the Bloggerettes Sorority Sisters!"

Yep...in addition to being a sister to Kathy, Nancy and Debbie...

I am a Bloggerette Sorority Sister!!!!!

And I am so excited!

This is going to be fun...

a new adventure...with new friends!

I missed "rush week", where the fun project was to

take this photo

be creative with it and then show the sisters our work.

Well...missed that one! But they still let me in:)

I don't know a lot of the sisters yet...but the Sorority President, Karen

is one friendly, creative, beautiful and amazing person, I can tell you

that much already!

So if you want to be a Bloggerette too...

hurry on over to Karen's place at Some Days are Diamonds

Won't you join us?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And if by chance you are a CREATIVE Sister, be sure to check out

my 4th of July Giveaway HERE!!!

All kinds of glittered goodies straight from PARIS, FRANCE to

make something super extra special!

AMERICANA IN PARIS...AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

"Americana in Paris"...

Get it?
Like "An American in Paris" with Gene Kelly.
Pretty cute..and clever...if I do say so myself.
(Hey, I rarely think of cute and clever blog titles...
so yes, I am excited!:)

Okay...remember Americana?
That style of decorating that portray the best of the old American Spirit?


Using muted shades of classic colors,
such as slate blue, muted greens, faded reds...
including Americana folk art...


Some called it country...
(I think I did when my Mom decorated the guest room with it...
Sorry Mom. I didn't know a THING back then!)

While these are not pictures of my Mom's guest room,
you get the idea. I remember thinking it was like sleeping in
the "Betsy Ross" flag room.
Well, not me, thank you very much!

UNTIL...
I discovered Chani from
Blanc et Caramel


French for "White & Caramel"...
her colors du jour:)
She loves white, shabby and coffee stained items...
and shares them with the world via her etsy shop
and her main shop.



Here is what she says about her beautiful shop... "We are located in Paris and have vintage inspired products, but we also make sure they are French. Gorgeous finds from Parisian flea markets and romantic places in the southern French countryside, notably the Provence, were used for crafting our products. We love both the vintage and old-fashioned Paris style and the countryside shabby chic."

Now, Chani is a beautiful young lady,
born in Switzerland and now married with a family and living in
Paris, France.
I'm telling you, I have met the most wonderful ladies via my blog...
lovely people who are always there to lend an ear
and give you a virtual hug when you need it most...
(and I have needed it most lately.)
And I have met so many generous, kind and creative people...
just like Chani!

Guess what Chani loves?
In her own words...
"Isn't it funny how you always want what you don't have:
I want American stuff and Americans want French stuff!"

Yep, that's me she's talking about!
I love anything French...
If it has French words, designs (Eiffel Tower, Fleur De Lis...)...
I LOVE IT!!!
I'm going to Paris this Fall and ALL I want to do is visit the Paris Flea Markets:)

Anyway, Chani even has a name for it...
Shabby Americana.
How cute is that????
She decorates with it from time to time and creates with it.
Just look at a pillow she has in her home...



And some of the "Shabby American" items in her shop...



In her designs, she tends to make them in muted colors a la the shabby look and part of her color palette...



I think I might have a new love for Americana.
How funny it started with a sweet lady from Paris France:)

Chani also has a number of beautiful items in her shops...
such as these banners,

"For your perfect summer seaside decor: A seashell, a starfish with buttons and a conch made of white fabric and linen and some decorative stitching, attached on thick natural twine with bast. Some coffee-stained flags with compasses and “Coquillages à la plage” (French for “seashells on the beach”) stamped on them."

Lovely jewelry with pieces found at the Paris Flea Markets...


Pretty note cards...


Even some cinnamon sugar...


Sweet!

Oh right...did I say GIVEAWAY?
You bet I did!!!
And it is coming to you straight from Paris, France.
Well, actually I ordered it this morning and it is coming to you from
France via a stop in Florida to drop of my OWN goodies:)

So for all you creative types,
THIS IS IT...
"The Glittered Jar..."

Here is how Chani describes this item in her shop...

This sweet little jar is filled with treasures for your vintage crafting:

1) White ribbon, hand-stamped in sepia with “Paris” and crowns. It measures 100 x 3 cm and comes with a little clock tag.
2) Three kinds of old lace, found on a Parisian flea market. They are between 60 and 100 cm long.
3) Natural twine (100 cm)
4) Four mini tags with twine, stamped with “Paris”, fleur de lis and a crown.
5) A metal heart (maybe silver?) found on a Parisian flea market. It measures 3,5 x 3 cm.
6) Ten old buttons, most of them mother-of pearl.
7) A glitter star (3,5 x 3 cm).
Everything come is a jar (height: 7 cm) with a silver glittered sparkling cover and a coffee-stained Paris address tag attached to it.
Are you inspired?

Here's how to WIN!!!!!
Now, this is not about me...
this is about Chani...
and Blanc et Caramel...
So, please enter by visiting her shop...
and leaving me a comment telling me what you love most in her shop.

You also get an entry for visiting Chani's blog and leaving her a comment to
encourage her to keep creating beautiful things:-) Make sure you let me know in a comment
if you visit Chani!

One more way...blog about this giveaway and let us know that you did!

Drawing for The Glittered Jar will be on...
when else?
The 4th of July!!!!!!!
So hurry, hurry:-)

Au revoir!