How are you all holding up? I am going 100 miles/hour over here. But this image made me stop in my tracks, sigh and stare. So pretty and timeless. Just change the table cloth if you want to adopt a new design trend. Ha! The rest will look perfect 100 years down the road. Just the perfect amount of Winter Holiday decor. (Pay attention to the bulbs in the lanterns).

Hubby knows that my dream house for us is actually a farm style home here in Seattle. Nothing big, small will do just fine, but a very warm and inviting place.

You already know how busy I am with my store – but I have blog friends who are equally busy!

My close friend Jill with Live Like You recently launched her Recessionista look. Here you will get lots of lovely inspiration and find many nice objects for the budget conscious looking for style! Hop over here for more. (Ask her for a special Splendid Willow Discount if you see something you want to buy).

My very good friend Mona, together with her sister over at Providence Ltd. Design just took their on-line store to the next level and here you will find TONS of lovely antiques as well as gifts and art for the home. They have a huge warehouse packed with hand picked, unique and beautiful furnishings but things go rather quickly over there! If you see something you like, you’ll need to be fast on your feet! Access the store here.

I have a serious crush on these old French Farm Documents.

Providence Ltd. is also hosting a lovely giveaway you do not want to miss! You can win this stunning art piece.

Hop over to see what it is and how to enter the giveaway – here!

Speaking of giveaways, my good Willow sis Gina, with Willow Decor, is hosting a fabulous giveaway together with the spectacular 3 Fine Grains Linen. You can win a GORGEOUS burlap tree skirt, valued at $725!! (German, antique grain sacks).

 That is some skirt, people! Hurry over here and enter!

And our stylish blog friend Jessie with Mix And Chic recently started to offer her on-line design services (yeah!) and she is right now hosting a giveaway where TWO lucky winners will receive Jessie’s online design services valued up to $290!

Hop over here to find out more!

This will be the last news alert this year for my own store – many items are now completely sold out! The Scandinavian hand woven blankets came and flew of the shelves. I now only have 2 left! Next shipment will come end of January.

 And I only have 4 adorable Danish reindeer left!

If you want any of those items before Dec. 25th, you need to place your order by the 16th and I will speed up the delivery. On the house of course. (Pick up a 15% discount code from me, if you are interested. US based customers only). The rest of the items, will continue to be stocked. And more NEW things will be added in the new year. Link to my store: Splendid Willow Avenue. 

Now everyone (or is it just me?) close your eyes and take a deep breath…. Big breath in and a slow big breath out… “And don’t forget to use your sense of humor when the wheels are starting to come off the bus”, as my wonderful Mother-in-Law always reminds me. And she should know. She and her husband raised nine fantastic and well educated kids!

Hop Hop & Hugs!

Design inspiration and image no. 1 via Belle Vivir.

Thank you to all of you for the wonderful response to the 3-way giveaway!

And the winners are…

1. Ilse Jacobsen’s high-end rubber boots go to:

#15 – Barbara @ Hodgepodge

2. And Asa Daxberg’s beautiful chunky bead & silver necklace goes to:

#16 — Luciane at Homebunch.com  (She wants the blue one, she says!)

CONGRATULATIONS ladies! You will be contacted directly via e-mail.

Thank you, thank you to all of my readers for the response. An extra thank you to Ally with From the Right Bank and Sarah with Haute Design who are such remarkable friends and blog mavens.

Happy rest of the weekend to all of  my readers. You are the best.

If you are interested in seeing more products from my “new” store, visit Splendid Willow Avenue – here.

I am delighted to tell you that today I am announcing the first giveaway from my store, Splendid Willow Avenue. I have teamed up with none other but Donna, with A Perfect Gray. I love that gal and consider her a close friend. (And her blog is so inspirational (and her home too)! A must follow blog, folks!). This will be Donna’s very first blog giveaway and I’m so happy to celebrate with her!

The giveaway is for one (1) pair of high-end Ilse Jacobsen boots (any color, size or model you want) from my store. The tall boots retail for $179 + tax. The giveaway is open for US and Canadian residents only.

Visit my store here.  

I now also carry Gray boots. They are not up on my site yet. Just ask if you are interested.

If you like the giveaway, it would be fun to hear from you. To ENTER the giveaway you must hop on over to the lovely A Perfect Gray. Or enter the Perfect & Splendid Giveaway - here!

The giveaway ends on Monday (midnight), March 14th. The winner will be announced via A Perfect Gray’s Blog and via personal e-mail. I will ship the boots from Seattle.

Good luck to all of you! You might just be the lucky winner!

And congratulations Dear Donna! Your first giveaway! I am so excited for you!

P.S Splendid Willow is now on Facebook. If you want to join the group or just “like” click here or on the Facebook button in the column to the very right.

Some of you might remember when I purchased some beautiful rubber boots in Sweden this past summer and how I was going all nuts for them. Well, little did I know back then that I, some 5 months later, would be representing this fabulous Scandinavian brand via my own store!

I am proud to tell you that as of today will be offering the best and most stylish rain gear that I have come across. In Scandinavia they have become design icons. I am talking about Ilse Jacobsen of course.

I will sell the coats and rubber boots to start with. Two products that represent everything I like — quality, functionality with a classic and edgy style, and a Scandinavian design twist. I used to import Swedish antiques a few years ago and I am always drawn to unique pieces and design.

So, welcome to my new store — Splendid Willow Avenue!

Visit the store here.

(You will also find my new clickable store button over on the right hand column).

To celebrate the launch I am offering a giveaway.

How about a really great design book? – Danish Modern by Andrew Hollingworth. (I want it myself!). The book highlights the birth and growth of Danish Modern furniture designs (and all the design icons such as Hans Wegner, Borge Mogensen, Frits Henningsen and others) and illustrates stunning and inspirational photos.

I am also encluding a Holdiday CD by Pink Martini, Joy To The World.  (Now this is a surprise. Who would have thought the Portland, Oregon, pop exotica troupe Pink Martini would come up with one of the most diversely designed holiday albums in years?).  The total value for both is $60.

This will be shipped off to one winner on Dec 17th. (I will make sure you get it before Dec. 25th if you live in the US).

To be eligible for the giveaway:

1) Leave a comment about which product in my store you like the most.

2)  “Like” Splendid Willow’s Facebook page (started it today). Click on the Splendid Willow Facebook button here. (Or find it in the right hand column).  

(If you don’t have a Facebook account – spread the word to a couple of your friends who might be interested).

For additional entries (enter them yourselves):

Tweet about the store (Splendid Willow Avenue) = 1 additional entry

Spread the word on Facebook = 1 additional entry

Mention it on your blog = 2 additional entries.

The giveaway is open to all readers. Wherever in the world you may reside.

The giveaway ends on December 16th, midnight, US west coast time.

There you have it. I now have little boutique, Splendid Willow Avenue. I could not be more excited!

To all my friends who have been supporting and helping me during my exercise of putting it all together. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I could not have done this without you. And to all bloggers who thought I had abandoned them. Thank you for your patience. I just needed some time to put all of this together. Love to you all.

Images: no. 1 (store button) via Splendid Willow, no. 2-4 via Ilse Jacobsen, 5-8 via Splendid Willow.

Splendid Willow’s  and Splendid Willow Avenue’s images may not be used without permission.

The host server has been down due to power outage. I know several of you have had problems accessing my blog. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Hello all. First of all I have to say that I have been very busy (hope to tell you on what soon!) and I feel absolutely terrible that I have not been more supportive of all my blog friends lately. But whatever you do, don’t take it personally, I love each and everyone of you and I will make an extra effort to respond to all of your lovely comments and e-mails and catch up on your beautiful posts. Just give me a tad more time.

Today, you will find me guest posting over at Gaia’s lovely blog Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This is Gaia with Mr. B. (Gaia, I could not resist!).

I met Gaia in my very early blog days and even if we don’t speak all the time, we have fun when we do. I love her Italian style and attitude and hope to meet with her one of these day (and Federica too, whom I met at the same time)!

Hop over and see what things I Go Nuts For right now - here.

Time to announce the winners of my two giveaways. Thank you for all your support!

Drum roll, please..

The Swedish key cabinet goes to Caroline (Absolutely Unique/Patagonia).

And the 6 Swedish crayfish towels go to Suzanne – Privet & Holly.

Congratulations ladies! Please, send me your addresses so that I can have these items shipped off to you. Enjoy!

Yesterday, I was browsing through Ballard Designs catalog (which I must say just keeps getting better and better). This quatrefoil mirror (an ancient symbol of good luck) made me stop in my tracks.

I think it is very pretty and I love the size. It  is now on sale for a mere $119.99! I am so getting it. And doesn’t it look  great hanging on that book shelf!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Fall hugs from Seattle to each and everyone of you!

Images: no. 1 via Alice’s adventures in wonderland. Image no. 2, acorn, via Splendid Willow/Getty images.