For the Love of Scottie Dogs

I love Scottie dogs. The love I have for scottie dogs have led me to meet great friends. My scottie Terri was featured in Romantic Homes Magazine when they did a spread of Lavender Fields. Shortly after, I received an email from a woman named Pat telling me how much she enjoyed the article and loved seeing Terri my scottie. We quickly began exchanging emails and Pat sent photos of her 3 scottie dogs. A friendship began. We found out we had so much in common, scottie dogs, gardening and the love of beautiful fabrics.

Pat is the designer and owner of Mr. Tweed's Whimsy and designs gorgeous custom made pillows. She has been featured in Cottages and Bungalows and Romantic Homes Magazines. Her pillows are stunning and can be found on our website or at Lavender Fields online and the store. Customers that have purchased one pillow always come back for more. I have been lucky enough to receive several pillows as gifts from Pat over the years and have my own collection.

Pat took a very long drive from upstate New York to long island to visit me and meet Terri. Over the years we have been through many of life's ups and downs including the loss of our scottie dogs. Pat still has 2 but it was painful to loose one and not shortly after my Terri passed away.

I thank Romantic Homes magazine for sending Pat my way and I am grateful for our friendship. Visit her website and see her gorgeous pillows.

I was also lucky enough to have Ian the scottie at my house today. Ian's mom Maureen is a loyal cusomer and a close friend. Again Maureen and I became close because of our love of scottie dogs. Although Terri is no longer in my life I am grateful for the two wonderful scottie loving friends I have made and one day I will rescue another scottie dog to enjoy life with.

Pat sent Terri one of her hand made pillows for Christmas every year. Here is Terri enjoying her pillow during an afternoon nap.

Pin It to Win It

We’re excited to announce our first ever Lavender Fields 'Pin it to Win it' contest on Pinterest. It's easy to jump on board. Just create a virtual pin board featuring your favorite Lavender Fields products for a chance to win a $100 gift card to the shop.
Contest ends 5/24/12. Winners will be judged based on creativity and composition.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Create a 'Lavender Fields Wish List' Pin Board
http://pinterest.com/lavenderhome/
Step 2: Pin at least ten of your Favorite Lavender Fields wish list items from the shop
Step 3: Email Your board link to be entered into the contest

Winner will be chosen on May 24th and announced right here on the blog.

If you have any questions or would like an invite to Pinterest, please feel free to contact me at lavenderfieldsonline@msn.com.

Meet Courage...the winner of our Rescue Dog Contest

Courage is a German Shepherd starved by his previous owner down to 37 pounds and rescued by German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. "When Courage was found, he was near death and could not lift his head or stand. He had eaten dirt to survive. GSROC immediately started fund raising for his vet care, and their volunteers rallied to support him in his fight for life. Although he could not lift his head, he still had the strength to lick the faces of his rescuers as they cried over him. I was the person that took Courage from his previous owner and fostered him through months of intensive care and rehabilitation, carrying him out to go potty and back to his bed. Today he is the love of my life, sleeping by my bed and constantly under my feet when I do anything inside or ouside the house. He is a kind, gentle soul, that loves all animals, and adores all people and children. Whenever times get rough, I think of Courage and his fight for survival, and I'm inspired by his refusal to give up.". Congratulations Lisa and Courage.

Every rescue dog story was amazing and very inspiring. Thank you all that submitted your stories.

Rescue Dog Contest Giveaway

Attention Proud parents of a rescue dog ~ we want to hear from YOU!

In honor of these ever-loving pups, we're asking our readers to submit their rescue stories. Upon posting your story, you'll have a chance to win the Sugarboo Dog bed pictured below, valued at $150 AND we'll donate $100.00 to your favorite animal rescue.

Sugarboo Dog bed with Velveteen Rabbit quote

Deadline for submissions is THURSDAY April 5th, 2012 at 12:00 am, EST.

We'll announce the winning story right here on the blog. Be sure to stop back to see if it's you!

Please email us your dog's name and breed as well as the shelter they were adopted from.

Some suggestions you may want to include in your story are:

• the details of how you became the parent of a dog in need
• some of your favorite things about your dog
• what makes your dog so special and unique
• how your life has been changed since acquiring your furry friend
• the story of how you rescued your dog

...and anything else you might want to share.

To enter, complete the steps below and leave your story in the comments section. 

Make sure you leave your contact details so we'll know how to reach you.

To enter send us your story, the rescue group details...
and do two of the following:
Follow us on facebook
Follow us on twitter
Follow us on pinterest
Follow this blog

We can't wait to hear YOUR story!

Signs of True Love ~ A Contest Winner

Sugarboo Print

I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.

Recently we hosted a giveaway called 'Signs of True Love', asking readers to submit their love stories to us, just in time for Valentine's Day.

We received stories of young love, house love, unconventional love and more... It was difficult to choose but, in the end decided on one special story that touched our hearts.

Kaitlyn was our winner. Here is her story, in her own words...

"I was 13 when I first met her. We went to the same high school, were in the same group of friends, and ended up going to the same college; her one year later than myself. The summer prior to her first quarter at college, her previous relationship crumbled and she was heartbroken, so I stepped up to the plate as best friend and did my best to comfort and keep her mind off of her devastation. Little did I know that by doing so it would change my whole life. Over that summer I fell completely head over heels for her, just completely denying it due to the fact that a) she was a girl, I was a girl and I hadn't stepped into that territory yet, and b) I was currently in a 3 year relationship. At college we were inseparable and as numerous problems kept tearing at me from my current relationship, being around her drove me insane though I was incomplete denial of it and jealous of every person she pursued and who pursued this insanely intelligent, beautiful, sexy, hilarious best friend of mine . Fast forward. New Year's Eve. We're ringing in the new year with some champagne and mixed drinks when my reservations go out the window and I hug her so tight so she knows how much I care about her and need her and love her. And then we're kissing and I'm on fire. I have never felt like this in my entire life. All of my senses are peaking and this is a high I can't and will never be able to get enough of. I tell my boyfriend and we break up, but this is not simple. This is not easy. This is messy and heart wrenching and horrible and after a couple weeks and various inappropriate actions I decide that he can't handle this and we need to not see each other for awhile. He stalks us for two months plus. He memorizes our schedules and shows up outside our classes before and after. He breaks into our dormitory buildings on multiple occasions and just loiters outside of them waiting. We don't eat. We don't sleep. But we have each other. And it's exciting and fresh and comforting and wonderful and the purest thing that I have ever known or will ever know. My ex and I never speak again. I come out to my family after a couple months (I was raised strict southern baptist and the rest of my family is still practicing). This does not go smoothly either, though I'm used to being the black sheep. But this is different. My mother is crying and screaming to my father "How could we have done this Gerry?". Done what? I'm in love and the happiest and most comfortable I've been with myself... ever. My mother doesn't speak to me for several weeks and this hurts more than I had imagined. But I know what's right. I can feel it in my heart and no outdated religious doctrine can even attempt to tell me otherwise. Things are much better now. While my relationship of almost 3 years is still not fully accepted by my family and definitely not at all by society (we've been shot at with a bb gun in Kentucky, groped and harassed by male college students, among various other altercations) her family is being phenomenal. We're planning on moving to New York soon to finish school and start our lives together. I think this will be the most exciting adventure yet."

CONGRATULATIONS, Kaitlyn!You get your choice of either of these delicious signs from Sugarboo:

All You Need is Love Sign

~or~

You Have My Whole Heart

Special thanks to all who entered.
Keep checking back for more contests or better yet, put yourself on our mailing list to get the latest news and information. Until then, stop by the shop and see what's new!

Bella Notte Linens February Update

Bella Notte Linens has announced the 2012 introductions and discontinued colors and items.

We are so happy to announce two new gorgeous colors.

Pacific, an elegant, subtle blue-green that flows harmoninously with the rest of the colors. Pacific is the perfect accent to any bed.

Rose Quartz, a beautiful antique rose, soft and sophisticated. It is sweet when paired with White and Petal in a pastel crib, while lending itself equally to the bohemian whimsy of a queen bed stacked high with Fawn, Ginger and a splash of Adagio.

And then there is a new texture, Vivianne, a lightweight large-scale, botanical jacquard. A truly beautiful pattern soft and subtle in lighter tones, while truly breathtaking in darker colors where the floral pattern can be seen in full bloom.

Now to get to the discontinued colors...We are sad to see these colors go but if you need to add anything to add anything to a bed you already created then you can still order up until April. So we are saying goodbye to Charcoal, Crimson, Cypress, Ink, Ocean, Pistachio and Spice.

Also discontinued are the textures Dawson and Peony. If you need these textures contact us quickly as once the fabric is gone it is gone.

As always Lavender Fields offers free design assistance and would be happy to put the Bella Notte Linens bed or crib of your dreams together with you.

Newly added to our online store is Allysa, Madera and Homespun. All gorgeous alone or mixed together.