‘Morning Girls, here’s your MUSICA for today. ♥ This is a very good song for memorizing ~ it’s delightful for singing at the top of your lungs in a Smallville shower, nice while cleaning out cupboards, fun while driving in the car, even good if you have to be in bed to wait for your new knee to heal (or something like that).♥ Sing it into the ear of a child, or your better half, and life gets really good.
Speaking of Smallville; here is a little thing that will make your frozen mornings 
a little less so. I have two pairs of these darling sexy shoes you see above,the most comfortable shoes in the world . . . this pair is in the kitchen in front of the heat vent getting warm, while the other is on my feet, slowly (but surely) chilling up. Soon I will exchange places with them and my cold feet, as they slip into the deep warmth of freshly heated shoes, will purr the immortal words: Ooo La Wee.
a little less so. I have two pairs of these darling sexy shoes you see above,the most comfortable shoes in the world . . . this pair is in the kitchen in front of the heat vent getting warm, while the other is on my feet, slowly (but surely) chilling up. Soon I will exchange places with them and my cold feet, as they slip into the deep warmth of freshly heated shoes, will purr the immortal words: Ooo La Wee.
Some variation of these two old cashmere sweaters and that brown shawl are my daily outfit for working at my art table. Not pretty, but cozy ~ works perfectly in Smallville. I took the picture pointed at my lap (sucking in my tummy to protect the innocent).
As you know, I’ve been doing lots of painting for my 2016 calendars, but I took a little time out and did something just for fun I thought you might like to see.
This is Paul Lucas, he is the darling husband of my good friend Rachel. It’s his birthday at the end of the month. And it’s a big one.
That’s Paul on the left, Ray in the middle,(we’re in Maine) and who’s that other guy in the picture with the beret? Oh, yeah, that’s Joe!
Some of you know Ray from Twitter, some know her from Sugar Moon Brownies, and others from her own Blog (she’s more famous every day, another hardworking girl in Smallville) . . . and,
Here’s where they live. You might recognize it because I wrote about Ray and Paul in A FINE ROMANCE; they are English and live in England and part of the reason we went over was to see them. You might remember that wonderful recipe for Ray’s amazing Lemon Butter Cookies on P. 139 of A FINE ROMANCE? (One of our Girlfriends made the cookie HERE in her Blog, in case you don’t have the book but need the recipe!)
This is Paul with Ray’s darling nephew Will. Paul is doing a one-of-a-kind birthday cello recital for Ray’s mum on her sun porch. See? he’s wonderful.
♥
Just ask the love of their lives . . . this is Ray’s and Paul’s “dog” Alice. I use the word “dog” only because I know Alice doesn’t look at blogs.
Her collar says it all.
You may have noticed that Paul is the picture of sartorial splendor, he always looks darling. As you know if you read A Fine Romance, he sometimes wears an ascot. He’s one of a kind. I love his new beard and mustache.
It’s men like this that give me hope for the world. (He’s in my pantry ironing his pants a couple of Christmases ago.) So I decided I wanted, even though I’m much too far away to do him total birthday justice, to help him and Rachel
So I decided to paint him in all his dapper charmingness, or at least as much as I could muster onto a flat piece of paper. Including the dog pin on his lapel and the brilliant scarlet handkerchief in his pocket.
The colors in that photo of him made it easy to make the decision ~ I had fun painting every single stripe, plaid and eye sparkle.
I’m almost done!
I added a few descriptive words, put on a little border, watercolored his name and then signed it. Paul is funny with words: instead of Vineyard Haven, he calls where we live “the Haven” (no one calls it that); and instead of Martha’s Vineyard which many people shorten to “The Vineyard,” not Paul, he calls it “Martha’s.” He calls Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, “Kimmie.” And now, so do we and all our friends do too. It’s catching . . . if you like Kimmie, you’ll probably call it that from now on too. It will go viral!
Witty, Talented and Cute. Oh yes, and he raises bees in their garden.
So, while Joe reglued an old frame we had lying around Smallville, taking out all the teeny nails and framing it for me . . . I wrote a card, and went looking through my sticker collection for something Birthday-like to put on the 
envelope. My eye landed on a three-dimensional pink polka-dot birthday hat, with a real, red-yarn pompom on top (no longer being made if you can imagine that sad state of affairs) I tried it on Paul. It fit perfectly. So him.
envelope. My eye landed on a three-dimensional pink polka-dot birthday hat, with a real, red-yarn pompom on top (no longer being made if you can imagine that sad state of affairs) I tried it on Paul. It fit perfectly. So him.
So I left it there, stuck to the outside of the glass, thinking it was kind of the cat’s meow. Joe wrapped it up in 3 lbs of bubble wrap and it’s on the way to England even as we speak.
So that’s what makes Smallville special, we’re in charge around here. We make our own fun.
And speaking of fun . . . it’s your turn! You know I can never just come out and announce the winner of a Giveaway. Oh no, must drag out the suspense like my dad used to do at Christmas, thereby almost doing his children in with the hysteria of the thought of what Santa might bring them!!! Unbearable! Hope I can do the same for you. (No, I know ~ it’s not quite the same thing!)
OK, anyway, Vanna, unlike her usual self (usually she sleeps in late, resting up because of the many Euro Trash parties she loves to attend), is actually already UP, and dressed and ready for her big moment. She wafts by me in the palest whisp of Chanel #5, wearing a gown that looks suspiciously JUST LIKE the one that Kate Hudson wore at the Golden Globes, (Vanna has no idea how she freaks out the people who live in Smallville. But her joie de vivre is so compelling I can’t bring myself to put a damper on her. I just let her do what she needs to do and get her out of here before Joe gets up!)
Our Vanna is named for Vanna White, the most well-known Game Girl of our times. Our virtual Vanna is a professional when it comes to 
drawing the winning name from a huge vat of names. Nobody does it better. She’s the double-oh-seven of the Game Girl world and we are proud to call her our own. This is one of her bedroom slippers.
drawing the winning name from a huge vat of names. Nobody does it better. She’s the double-oh-seven of the Game Girl world and we are proud to call her our own. This is one of her bedroom slippers.
And so. While I was writing about her, she was busy digging deep into the well with all your names ~ she actually dives in, a graceful high dive (especially in that dress), and swims through them to mix them up, she’s like the Little Mermaid that way, a little silver fish. And she just popped up with teeny piece of paper. Let me get my glasses . . .
Ohhhh, how wonderful! Here goes: The winner is . . . drum roll please . . .
J A N H A M M O N D !!!
Congratulations Jan!
You are our LUCKY Winner! Please look for an email in your box, write me back and send me your home address so I can pop your books in the mail to you. I hope the new books help organize you and Gale (in her comment, Jan mentioned that if she won, she’d give the other book to her girlfriend Gale).
But that’s not all, there’s more . . . first of all, here comes Valentine’s Day, and Janie made us some adorable new banners! I wanted to let you know before they’re all gone . . . Kellee snuck them into the store last week and they’re already flying out.
Janie always makes the cutest envelopes to go with the banners ~ these little banners make the perfect Valentine’s gifts.
Janie made these Swedish hearts for us too, they come in both white and red and in darling envelopes of their own.
Sooooo, I hope everyone is feeling festive and organized and no one is too disappointed ~ the hardest thing I do is announce a winner! But I really wanted to thank you for the lovely, wonderful comments you left on the last post. You are an amazing bunch of Girlfriends!
I feel like we’re on some sort of roll, I hate to see it come to an end, so, because it’s almost Valentine’s Day, I thought . . . maybe . . . we should . . .
have another. . .
another what? ~ another what? . . . another cup of tea?
La-dee-da . . . la-dee-da
GIVEAWAY!! After all, winter is long, and the secret of a happy life is continuous small treats, right? . . . and a tea pot really isn’t very big . . .just the perfect size for Smallville.
Remember, you saw that teapot in A Fine Romance?
I’ve had mine for a long time ~ remember how well it mixes with my mismatched dishes?
And how cute it looked at our Valentine’s Breakfast party with the Johnson Brothers Rose Chintz dishes? I think you would love having one as much as I do.
And there’s even more, it’s a really BIG Giveaway! Because I thought it would be nice to include this ~ a tin of our own private label Earl Grey tea with Lavender and Rose Petals. Yum!
Oh yes! And one more thing, since it’s Valentine’s Day we’re talking about . . .
I thought, even though most of you already have it, A FINE ROMANCE would make a good Valentine’s present because 
you could give it away to someone you love. And if you don’t already have the book, if your name is drawn, you would now have access to the recipe for Rachel’s Lemon Butter Cookies. It’s a win-win! And I hope you do! Win, I mean. My way of saying Thank You!
you could give it away to someone you love. And if you don’t already have the book, if your name is drawn, you would now have access to the recipe for Rachel’s Lemon Butter Cookies. It’s a win-win! And I hope you do! Win, I mean. My way of saying Thank You!
Kitties love it too.♥ And vice versa.
So, we’re going to have another drawing ~ after all we don’t want that silver manicure of Vanna’s to go to waste, 
and she adores Valentines Day more than any other . . . so, to sum up: if you left a comment on the post below for the Internet Address Books, you are already entered for the teapot, book and tea! But if not, leave a comment at the bottom of this post and tell your mom, your sister, your grammie, your BFF, your great-aunt Mary, your Twitter friends, Pinterest Peeps, and Facebook pals to come on over and enter too. 
The prizes: one of our dear Girlfriends is going to get a 4-cup, Emma Bridgewater Heart Teapot, my “Come Sit Stay” tea tin with delicious Lavender and Rose Petal Earl Grey Tea, AND a signed copy of A FINE ROMANCE.♥(And you think YOU’RE having fun! HA! When people talk about “the power of the Internet” I think this is what they mean! At least here in Smallville.)
Rubbing hands together in attack of pathological enthusiasm.
And P.S. if just thinking about this inspires you to envision having a Valentine’s Tea Party, the first thing you will need are invitations . . . so here you go! 
Click there and you can print out as many as you need on card stock or heavy paper (one of our girlfriends said she used a cut-down manila envelope and it worked perfectly! Probably an interesting color too, quite creative!) ~ 
invite your best girlfriends, your sisters, your mom, your best guy, or someone who simply needs an airing (as Joe would say, usually about me when I’ve been in the house too long), and celebrate as we do so well here in Smallville. Make Rachel’s cookies and some cucumber sandwiches, light the fire and a candle or two, talk, talk, talk, solve all the world’s problems, hash over Downton Abbey, and watch the cold and snow fade away to nothing.
Click there and you can print out as many as you need on card stock or heavy paper (one of our girlfriends said she used a cut-down manila envelope and it worked perfectly! Probably an interesting color too, quite creative!) ~ 
invite your best girlfriends, your sisters, your mom, your best guy, or someone who simply needs an airing (as Joe would say, usually about me when I’ve been in the house too long), and celebrate as we do so well here in Smallville. Make Rachel’s cookies and some cucumber sandwiches, light the fire and a candle or two, talk, talk, talk, solve all the world’s problems, hash over Downton Abbey, and watch the cold and snow fade away to nothing.
Ah yes, here’s Nature’s Valentine, out on our feeders . . . making the world more adorable one little birdie at a time.
Love you Girlfriends, have a wonderful day!♥
Such a grand prize! My daughter and I love your artwork. It’s fun tohave cute things to boost one’s spirits!
I love fresh brewed tea! It always rinds me of when my English Grandmom would come to visit our home while growing up. You see she was from London and would only drink proper tea, and as a little girl would allow myself and my 2 sister have some too.
Here’s how she made it for us, milk first, always, then about 1/3 cup of tea, then a few teaspoons of white sugar, and maybe some more milk. So you see it’s mostly colored warm milk when she was done. But we were so young and didn’t know the difference. We were having biscuits or cookies with Grandmom, and real tea, or so we thought! It is a great memory, I will always cherish.
And we had coffee-milk made exactly the same way and it was heaven! Our mums and grandmum who loved to play house with their dolls.
Sadly, I have yet to read your lovely book, and I have wanted to so much. The other items would be delightful too, so sweet and fun! With all the guys in my life, that teapot with tea would be just the right touch when my friends come over.
Susan it’s a pleasure reading all the lovely things that you write, I enjoy it very much. I read it when everybody is sleeping so no one can come and interrupt me. I love to have the book, because here in Mexico I cannot find it. Thank you.
Please [please choose me.
A friend told me about your delightful book so I bought it. The teapot is adorable. I put it on my “Wish List” on Amazon 🙂 I have several of your books. They are wonderful! Thank you for doing what you love to do.
First, your dad is a riot! Vanna, indeed. LOL. Secondly, I am, in fact, having a valentine tea party for the girlfriends, and that heart tea pot would be just perfect in my parlor! (I’m just saying.) Your birthday gift for the dapper Paul is adorable and a treasure. I can’t think of a more wonderful gift.
For the man who has everything!
I so love the teapot and your amazing tea blend will taste so much better coming from it.
Tea, cookies, and great friends, what a delightful combination
I do hope to win,
Yay!! Susan, every time you post it’s like a give-way for all of us! We’re all the lucky winners! Thank you so much and enjoy the quiet season tucked in your cozy home!! It actually felt kind of like spring in South Dakota today–that doesn’t happen much around here in January!
How very “lovely”! Would to share a “spot of tea” using this teapot with my “sisters of the heart” aka my best friends. Love your artwork and your blog! Thank you for sharing your gifts Susan with all of us.
My goodness, over one thousand comments so far! It will be interesting to see what the final number is! Thank you for your wonderful post; each and every one always feels just like a good old fashioned “snail mail” letter from a dear friend. You always add so many different things to see and read about. I like to go over each one several times, to savor everything. I went right away to try to order the lovely Swedish hearts & found they’ve sold out already. I hope we get a chance to order them in the future. What a sweet drawing – I’m so happy to know that whoever wins will be over the moon excited about it! I’ve been a fan/follower of yours since the beginning – I have a “Susan Branch shelf” on a very large bookcase with all things SB on one shelf. It is going to be full soon! Thank you for sharing your artwork with us to use on our computers. Warm regards, Lisa in Oregon
Yes more Swedish Hearts are on their way! Thank you Lisa!
I love your art. I received the wall calendar, mini calendar, and pocket calendar for Christmas this year, and I was so happy about that. I love the heart teapot, and would love to be entered in the drawing. Thanks!
Love the heart teapot…..sooooooo loving and special. Soooooo many tea parties. What a fun tea time with loving friends. This would make my day…my month and my year.
Hugs…..blessings
Heart to heart
Thank you
Celeste Steinman
Susan you are such a doll. Love your books and blogs and your fabulous photos! You take us to places of beauty and fun ! Thank you !!
I feel negligent that I’ve just gotten to this post now. Had a wonderful evening out dancing at our local Art Center, and whenever I’m out in the evening, I can’t get to sleep for several hours. Just excited I guess. Of course I’d like to win, but I do already own A Fine Romance. Though I have to admit mine is worse for wear. You see, my feral kitty, Miss Katniss Everdeen took it upon herself to chew on the cover page the first night I owned it. Not sure why she did that. She always attacks the newspapers in the morning, knocking them off the table and tearing them apart if we don’t get her in time, but this was the only book she attacked. Do you think she’s jealous of Jack? Now that it’s cold outside, she’s been very loving to us, cuddling and purring, but still will not accept anyone outside of me and my beloved Bob. She either hides, or if they stay the night, she comes out and hisses and sometimes even attacks. Oh well, we’ve had her for about 3 years now, so I don’t think she’s going to change, but we love her, and we just accept her as our problem child.
“Problem child” is a lucky kitty!
Love to look at the pictures of your Rose Chintz china. It was the pattern I picked out when I got married. Love it as much today as I did then. Always enjoy your blog.
I love this teapot! Would love to win this to add to my Susan Branch collection. Good luck to everyone!
Another give-away? You are spoiling us! I look forward to each of your posts and when there is a new one it feels just like a present. I love seeing your beautiful snow storms and cozy home. I imagine you and Joe enjoying the fire place during these long winter evenings. Thank you so much for all the joy you share. It is a soul-saving service in this troubled world. We each have our own Small World where we feel safe, warm, fed, and loved. You bring a generous portion of yourself to mine. Thank you.
Thank you for the sharing your life and loves with us. Your art warms my heart!
I just love your blog. It’s so beautiful. 🙂
Oh, how LOVELY you are to give a gift of such a LOVELY teapot with tea, and your LOVELY book! It’s like giving away a mini-vacation, which all of us can surely use. Just reading your blog is a mini-vacation, Sue! You are wonderful. I hope you and Joe are staying cozy and warm out there!
Doing our best! Thank you Becky!
Oh Susan, this girlfriend just wants to thank you so much for your sweet, generous giveaways. And of course, for just being you!
Hello!
I am new.
I just came across your site, and I fell in “Love” with it.
Anxious to know more about you!
Thanks!
LaRae
Welcome LaRae!
What a wonderful gift for your friend Paul. I’m sure he will love it.
That teapot is adorable! Two contests, Vanna will need a vacation soon.
She mentioned she was leaving for Capri right after the drawing! Been shopping all week!
When a new post to your blog arrives in my email box, its like a little gift to brighten my day! Thank you for continuing to inspire and lighten our days, Susan! Please enter me in your drawing. I have “A Fine Romance,” and love it (present tense because I still re-read parts of it), and love the teapot! Keeping my fingers crossed! Happy New Year, Susan.
Happy New Year . . . thank you Brenda!
You always bring a little light into my life. Thanks for your words and paintings from me and my adorable black cat, Coco. We are two of a kind. Love.
I am a huge fan! I have all the cookbooks and didn’t realize this site was here. So happy to have found you.
I think this is the first time I have posted a comment since I started reading your blog. I was introduced to your blog by a friend who told me I had to go to our local bookstore to hear you speak about your new book “A Fine Romance” because she knew how much I love England and all things British. I am lucky enough to have a niece that lives there so I can go and get my fix on a regular basis. Anyway, I would like the signed copy of your book to give to a friend of mine who thinks I am wonderful for introducing your blog to her — not only your blog but Gladys Taber as well. We agree that, with Gladys Taber’s writings and your blog, life is a litte finer. As for the teapot and tea, if I am lucky enough to win, I will keep and share with those who love to sit and sip tea and talk.
Susan, Your blog and Willard are like reading a letter from home. A Fine Romance is a treat I shared with my sweet niece who would also enjoy a cuppa from this lovely teapot!
Susan, your blog is a treasure I save for each weekend. My first thoughts upon waking are, coffee, feed the dogs (they don’t let me forget!) and “what has Susan been up to”! You inspire me to enjoy doing the dishes-not an easy task! Thank you for your lovely words and art. We just moved from Arizona to Colorado and sometimes it has been a bit lonely. You help make it feel less so.
It’s hard to move! Wishing you all the best in your new home Devon.
My best friend and I found Emma on your blog and love her happy pieces of art. This teapot would be lovely to have when Margaret and I sit down to tea together 1000 miles apart. Thank you for sharing with us.
What a beautiful gift to send for a friend’s birthday! You are so talented and so darn cute!!
Please, Please, Please…let it be me, me, me!
Love your creativity and wit.
Susan,
I just love your books, ideas and website!
Good Morning Susan! I have always been attracted to ‘hearts’, so the darling teapot would look perfect in my kitchen. I have a glass cabinet the ‘cutie’ would reside in and everytime I saw it, it would remind me of the trip I took with my daughter in 10/12 (to see Wendy). We were on MV for two nights and it is my most favorite trip ever. The mass of tourists were gone, the windy days played with my hair (yikes), and on our walks, leaves actually jumped in front of us so we could crunch them. I have my little bumper sticker from Among the Flowers in Edgartown, that reminds me of the island. I must plan a trip to stay longer next time, but your blog takes me ‘there ‘ everytime I log in. So, little teapot of hearts, come live with me in sunny Arizona.
If you win, I’ll fill the pot with snow before I send it! 🙂
Ahem. My comment escaped. Your art takes me to a happy place. Blessings to you
I’m sure it’s here ~ there are lots of comments need to be “approved” (lots of spam comes here, so I need to “moderate”) — anyway, I’ve been painting away this morning and have just checked into the blog and will be “approving” everything right now! Sorry!
I ordered and received your book, A Fine Romance, from my local book store….I absolutely love it, it is a gorgeous book. Keep up the great work…..I love your stuff, girlie…..
Thank you Jody!
Love the portrait of your friend Paul what a lovely tribute and gift!
I want to thankyou for my birthday wish you gave me , by signing the calendar on my birthdate in December , which I purchased at the book signing in Kansas City. You have a way of making people feel very special and spreading joy , something this world never has too much of .
God Bless !
Makes me think of one of my favorite quotes by Ugo Betti: Everyone has, inside himself … what shall I call it? A piece of good news! Everyone is … a very great, very important character. ♥️ xoxo
I am so grateful to you. No matter how ‘blah’ I am feeling or sometimes, even a little silly for picking up teacups and creamers at the thrift store to serve myself a pot of tea and take a small break, I read your letters (posts) to us and I realize it is SILLY for me to feel silly.
LOL, feeling silly to be silly right now myself! 🙂
I was first introduced to your art work when I purchased scrapbooks to create baby books for my three kiddos maybe ten years ago. Have loved your work ever since and am happy to have found your blog today!!
Welcome Amy!
Oh how I LOVE a tea party! Please Vanna, choose me to win this most glorious group of goodies! Thanks Susan, you’re the best kind of girlfriend!
Hi from Michigan!
I love the hearts on the teapot! Perfect for celebrating love! Thanks for all of your offerings! xoxo
How lovely to have reached the age where Valentine’s Day spent with an adorable teapot brimming with quality tea makes my heart flutter! Thank you for bringing us “girlfriends” joy 🙂
i love your books and your Willards newsletter & now I’m getting your Facebook posts. I instantly feel inspired to add those homey touches to our house that say “love” abounds within these walls. I really would love your latest book & signed would be over the top!!!
I have followed you for years and love your artwork. Valentine’s day is not a happy day for me since my mother died on that day in 1982. I always remember her, she was a strong woman. Would love to win this and have some tea while remembering her on this day of love.
It is a day of love xoxo
I am new to your site, but have enjoyed your prints, paintings and “pretties” as I refer to them to my Grands. I would so enjoy your free giveaway. I am returning to sewing after many years and your site is such an inspiration to me.
HUGS !
Happy Saturday! Happy Give-a-ways! Happy – that’s how I feel when I read your blog 🙂
I love hearts, tea and books!
Susan, I would just love that “tea package” give-a-way. Hope someone wonderful wins it!
Thank you for the chance to win the darling teapot, tea and your book! I have been wanting to get that book! I was so glad to find your website and blog. It makes me happy! Thank you Susan for years of gifting us with your whimsical art and adding a bit of joy to the world through it!
Dear Susan,
What an incredible, generous give away. Blessed is the person that wins this.
I recently found your FB page through a British friend of mine. I love the tone of your page and the lovely drawings. It’s all so peaceful and serene. It makes me smile and brightens my day! Thank you!
hurrah for tea!
I love Emma Bridgewater! We have two cups from a black and white dairy style she did in the 1980s and a cheese plate but a tea pot would be the perfect addition to my small collection!
Your painting of Paul is great! I’m sure he will love it.
I want to steep tea in this teapot while completing the entries in my address book as I reminisce about each individual’s role in my life. Then sip more tea while reading this romantic tale. Please let me win!!
Susan, You inspire me !!
Loving that teapot! It’s so sweet. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
Love your blog by the way. It’s always so cheerful and inviting, and where you live it looks like a storybook.
Having some of that special tea in the Emma Bridgewater teapot sounds like the perfect ritual to brighten up a cold winter day!
Love reading about your idyllic life, makes me feel like I am there with you.
Love! Amazing giveaway.
This past fall my college roommate and I spent 2 weeks in England, Wales and Scotland. I fell in love with the English countryside and when I saw your book “A Fine Romance…” I had to buy it. I just started reading it and am having to pace myself or I will read it in one day. I really just want to savor it like a wonderful cuppa. This is my first time reading your blog and it definitely won’t be my last. There is something about your writing and art work that tugs at my heart and makes me feel warm and cozy. Thank you for brightening up my life. Sondra
Thank you for taking the time to tell me Sondra . . . as you can see if you’re reading this, we are in very fine company!
Hi Susan! Living in Smallville is the best . . . I feel sorry for those people who have yet to discover the charm and peace of a ‘simple’ life with ‘simple’ pleasures. I am so glad that I want to amount to no more than who-I-am-suppose-to-be! What an adventure that is!
I am quite sure your darling friend will be knocked over with enchantment with your gift to him! Did you include on the package that a sturdy chair was required with opening? Those kind of personal gifts make life SWEET!-or at least they do for the ‘right kind’ of people.
I would be knocked over with delight myself, if somehow my name was drawn by Vanna for this giveaway!
Thank you Jennie!
What a birthday gift! Hope Paul received it before he saw this post! 🙂 So happy with the proliferation of SB posts in these first weeks of 2015! Thank you!
He’s not a blog reading kind of guy so I knew I was safe!
Love this blog! Love your artwork AND your books!What’s not to love! You truly are the Queen Of Everything!
I would love to win this giveaway! Earl grey is my favorite tea, and your book was on my Christmas wish list, but my husband got me a hair brush and a bright lime green watering can instead. I have to say I was very pleased with both gifts. I got my hair cut at the hairdresser’s for the first time in over 10 years a month ago and have taken to ‘grooming’, which I never used to do. And even though we’ve been married for almost 9 years, and I love gardening and keeping house plants, cuttings and seedlings indoors, I have never owned an indoor watering can. So I was very pleased with these thoughtful gifts, AND ‘A Fine Romance’ is still something to covet SO I hope I win this!
Anticipation is a gift in and of itself, Saartje! Happy 2015!
I have been a fan since I found one of your first books, back in the mid eighties. This blog is a bright spot of sunshine, colour, and kitties that I look forward to reading as often as possible. Thank you for this gift of yourself, Susan. The lovely Emma teapot would have a good home here amongst my other china.
Laurie
=:3
Love your artwork and always look forward to your calendars every year. The teapot is delightful!
Your blog is always a bit o’ cheer and a reminder that my dear sweet Godmother Shirley would simply lovve a copy of your book A Fine Romance.All too wonderful. DREAMS!!!
I never thought there would be anyone who could touch my heart the way Gladys Tabor did, until I found you, Susan. Thank you . Thank you.
Thank you back Rebecca, that means so much to me!
I would love having tea time with you! 3 o’clock! I visited Martha’s Vineyard this past summer with my daughter – so lovely. Please enter me into the drawing for the teapot. Thanks!
With a maiden name of Hart I have always been smitten with hearts. I think today is the day to make a garland of hearts like the one you have. Your blog is heartwarming and always a treat to read. Keep warm up there in Martha’s Vineyard.
I absolutely adore this tea pot….a friend told me last night that she had NEVER had a tea party. That set me and a dear friend of mine to thinking about lavender cookies and tea cups and tea pots! Blessings to you for inspiration!
They are the best parties because they are about nothing but romance and charm! They’re pretty and everyone loves them!
Such a sweet giveaway! My mom got me hooked on this blog, and that deeeeelicious grain-y bread recipe from a few months ago. Yum! Tea just goes perfectly with it. Here’s hoping!
Nice to meet you Elizabeth!
Tea time! -18F today in Québec city. Very cold indeed. But with a cup of tea, white chocolate and raspberry biscuits by Crabtree & Evelyn (nice Christmas gift from my older sister) a book or a magazine (january issue of British Country Living)… and dreaming of Emma Bridgewater hearts teapot, la vie est belle! Just feel so good after reading your blog. Thank you Susan!
p.s. I would like to know, if possible, what kind of ink pen you use to write your beautiful card?
It’s a radiograph pen, it has an ink cartridge in it. Oh my goodness, -18, I can’t imagine. It’s a heat wave down here, we have 21* and pure sunshine, almost hard to believe so much sun with zero warmth.
The teapot would be loveleeee Beteeee!
Oh Susan, you will never understand how happy it makes me when I turn on my computer and you have written on your blog. You talk about all your wonderful girl friends but you are the best girl friend ever. Your style and happiness are infectious and you light up our lives. What a ray of sunshine during these cold winter months but for that matter all through the year. One more thing, I love watching “Downton Abbey” and knowing you are watching at the same time. Marian
Dear Susan,
I love what you have done for Paul. You are the best kind of friend, the kind who would take the time to remember him in such a way. So sweet! He’s very blessed to have you in his life. Although you are unable to know each one of us, we girlfriends are also blessed to be able to call you girlfriend!
I love that Joe calls it an “airing”. I am perfectly ready for an airing, myself, and will be going out for a little hike in a minute, but when I come back I believe I will begin planning my very own Valentines Day Tea. If Vanna happens to not have my name on the end of her sticky little silver encrusted fingers when she draws the next winner, I will make do with one of my stand-by teapots in the cabinet. Yummm, Rachel’s lemon butter cookies. Yummm, cucumber sandwiches 🙂 I don’t think I’ll wait for those until V-Day.
I have to tell you this one telling little thing before I go outside. The other day as I was looking for something in particular from one of your much older posts I started noticing the number of comments and how the numbers grew as time went on. There were sometimes 0 (zero) comments or 1 comment, 4 comments, and as the years have gone by I see comments in the thousands! We girlfriends have not kept you to ourselves, that’s for sure!! The telling thing is that you are so loved by so many. What a legacy you have! And, I want to thank you once again for having the most fun, inclusive, down-home, sweet, back-to-basics, beautiful blog ever!! Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with all of us. It brings me back to center when I sometimes get too caught up in a world full of negative.
So, I know Vanna is probably terribly busy touching up her silvery nails but could you please give her a big hallooooo from me. (It never hurts to butter a girl up, you know)
Best to you, Susan!
♥ Deb ♥
I’ll do that, and thank you Deb, that was SO sweet! xoxo
Just looking at your photographs & drawings bring back memories of childhood…..tea parties, grandma’s fresh baked goods, and the joy of that time with her. Thank you!
A Fine Romance is a lovely book, and reading your blog is a special treat!
A dear friend gave me “A Fine Romance” and I loved it so much I bought one for each of my Fowl Friends…a small group of friends who meet each month for an adventure which always involves food. On Valentine’s Day, we have a tea party. The teapot and tea would be so special to use each year. Love your blog and your art. Bless you.
Fowl Friends! Say hello for me Sue!
LOVE the painting you made for your friend’s B-day! I, too, make all my cards for my family & friends, so each one is special for them! Would LOVE to win your wonderful giveaway!! Thank you for being such a generous friend to us all!
I loooove the portrait!!
I love, love, love the heart teapot, the book, A Fine Romance and Tea!!! <3<3<3
Love all your artwork and have for so many years!!!
Happy New Year & Many Blessings !!!
xoxoxo
xoxoxo
Hi Susan,
I have been reading the blog, but not commenting for a long time. It is a new year and time to rejoin the land of the living. Last year was surgery for melanoma. First I want to thank all those who sent me kind words and prayers. I copied them into a notebook which I carried with me to help get me through. Thank God for God and for girlfriends !!!!! During the recovery time I read A Fine Romance. I knew there was a reason that I had been saving it and wouldn’t allow myself to peek inside. It was SO wonderful to read in bed and escape into another world, I LOVED it ! During that time I also read Outlander which also helped me escape, I liked it also, loved the romance, but not the violence. Anyway, thank God I am now cancer free !! I am loving every day of life. This a a wonderful New Year for me !!
This giveaway is beyond special. I have always loved all things “hearts” The teapot is adorable. I am embarrassed to admit in this blog that at 61(yikes!) I have never made tea without a teabag, nor have I ever had tea made in a teapot ! Can I still be on this blog?
This is getting long- Happy Birthday to Paul- you did a wonderful job on his gift, he will treasure it forever !!!
The best news I have heard in the blog lately is that Jack is never going outside- I am SO happy about that ! Your adorable little boy will have a long and healthy life ! xo Judy
Never without a teabag, Judy? You are hanging by a thread here! 🙂 No, I just wanted to write and tell you how HAPPY I am to hear you are cancer free . . . you got through it and soon it will be spring and you begin again! So much to look forward to. Congratulations! I loved Outlander (I think my eyes just skipped right over the violent parts — I really can’t deal with that) — I must have forgotten because I was really looking forward to the TV series, but I’m over it now. It’s the most violent ~ I’d like to watch, but there’s no skipping over the violent parts ~ it’s very in your face, one whole show I had to leave and go hide in the kitchen. Downton Abbey it’s not. Too bad because I love the premise of going back in time, and love the history and landscape and of course those boys in kilts! SO good to hear from you! Stay well!
l Love this teapot! So cute and round! I have some old “red” Johnson Bros. that will go well for a Sweetheart Tea. I couldn’t do my Christmas Tea so this would be a great event to plan!
I’m so very thankful for your delightful blog! It brightens my day to read it. Yo are a blessing to all of us out here in our own tiny Smallville hamlets. Love and hugs to you!!!❤️
Oh! What a wonderful idea!
And the teapot is one I have been wanting ever since I saw it!
Regarding ‘an airing’ my late husband used to tell our sons to ‘go outdoors and blow the stink off’!!! It was usually during the long winter days we had in Iowa.
You may recall them?!
I so enjoy your talents and, again, I am so grateful to have found you.
Thank you…..
Love you…..Bonnie….now spending winters in Florida.
Makes me laugh! Dads! Too cute!
Hello dear Susan! I’ve come here on a mission…to double my wife’s chances of winning the tea pot of her dreams…although I will admit to thoroughly enjoying the BLOG as well. As a member of the bearded brotherhood, I’ll add my vote of affirmation to the appearance of Paul’s beard as well. I’m glad you chose to draw him in his current fuzzy state.
Thanks for using your talents to infuse a bit more joy and beauty into the world.
Ohhh, it’s a member of the mostly silent but very beloved bearded brotherhood! So happy to hear from you! I think Paul is darling in his beard ~ and I have to say, Joe and I are celebrating 28 years next month and I have never seen him without a beard! You are the helpful husband Dan, a sweetheart ~ thank you for saying hello!
Hi Susan,
I would looooove to win the Emma teapot. I have had my eye on it in your store because I purchased the matching tea cup from you last year! Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. It’s a nice little treat in the middle of our long winter.
🙂 Sharan
I,too, love teapots and collect as many English teapots as I can find. A good cup of tea is good for the soul as your blog is good for my soul…keep the good thoughts coming!!!!!
I would love to win this teapot to add to the love of teapot collecting I got from my grandma…she loved her tea, it was always so cute to see the sugar ring that was always left around her teacup…oh the memories.
And your book would be a lovely gift for my daughter as she keeps eyeing my copy ( that I had signed from you at Vroman’s book store). She know how much I cherish all my SB books I have been collecting for many,many years, and most of them I have been lucky enough to get signed by you ( I met you at a quilt guild in Irvine a few yrs ago and you were kind enough to sign most of the books in this oversized tote I carried them in).
Thank you so much for sharing all your special talents of writing and drawing with us all.
I remember you Carein! The people at your quilt guild just invited me back . . . I can’t come this year, but maybe next.
Just a little update for you, Susan…my red Swedish Hearts arrived today and they are delightful! Beautifully made and packaged, too! I guess I was lucky to get a set…Janie will be awfully busy making more for your store! I set out to memorize “A…You’re Adorable” and I can tell you that I succeeded. Now, how do I stop singing it!!! Well, not that I really want to, it sure is a fun little song. I tried it out on my 5 month old grandson who is just a Feather in my Arms, and he enjoyed it immensely! 🙂 Thanks, Susan!
Love the feather in your arms and you singing, how precious a moment was that!
What a special treasure Paul will have to cherish!!! Fantastic watercolour of him!!!!
My mother, my dear godmother and I all collect heart shaped or heart printed Everything!!
This would be the most wonderful addition to our collection.
If I win this prize I will give it to my little sister, Wendy. She has always loved your blog and your art because you two are like twins! Her whole house looks like YOU were there. Beside the fact that you two are so much a like, I must take a little credit because I have always told her stories and illustrated them with lovable little animals.
Our favorite story was a bath time story when we would insist she cleaned her belly button, but she did not like being tickled at one time in her life, so we told her that there was a mouse named Sally living in that little mouse hole and it is only fair that we clean her house every now and then. With that she gladly submitted to the regular house cleaning of Sally’s house.
We still make drawings of a cross section of her tummy in profile with the entrance to Sally’s house (belly button) and all the rooms inside detailed for more enticing story tell. But you are a much more wonderful artist and I am very much hoping you will continue the Sally Sagas one day in your own style. Thank you again for inspiring my little sister, Wendy.
Keep up the good work!
Much Gratitude,
From
~ Ruthie (and Sally, too)
What a good big sister you are Ruthie!
I can’t wait to hear what Paul and Rachel say about the adorable card. Please include their comments, along with their charming British accents, in one of your upcoming posts, okay?
OK, I will do my very best!
Well, I am in love with this teapot. I can just imagine myself sipping tea and knitting while it sits beside me.
I love how I feel when I read your blog!!❤️❤️ Peaceful, inspired, happy