Winner winner chicken dinner!

It is Melbourne Cup day today! What better way to celebrate to announce the winner of this beautiful print from Driftwood Interiors.

*** Winner ***

Ellise From Charles Whyte

Congratulations. Please send me an email ASAP so I can pop this beautiful print in the post for you.

Also everybody who entered thank you so much for all of the beautiful comments.

One of Ellise's favorite moments over the past year was my post on our wedding photos (way back on the 3rd November 2010). I love them too Ellise! I have this one on my desk.

Monday {Flowers + Giveaway ends today}

Sweetpeas are a glorious looking beautifully perfumed flower, sweetpeas grow like regular peas on trellis or in this case on a fence at mums house.

 I love thedischevled bright pop of colour, sitting in a milk glass vase (a thrifted find of course). The "S" on the wall is from Typo sitting in a photo box frame, I backed the frame with a wallpaper Sample Ziddi from "Porters Paints".

An Idea for a gorgeous wedding bouquet with a difference perhaps:

Via: kavelle

On another note, one of my favourite chairs Mr Rams head has changed into white for summer and made his way into the sunlight of the dining room.

I will be drawing the winner of the Giveaway today, so don't forget to enter! Here

Giveaway

Do you people like gifts? I love giving so please enter the Black Velvet Chair Giveaway Here to win this print from Driftwood Interiors. Entries close Monday 31st October 2011.

Where have I been? {Travel: Airlie Beach Whitsundays Australia}

Maybe you were wondering where I have been the last few days, or maybe not... I am going to tell you anyways! We have been in Airlie beach {Whitsundays Australia} for our gorgeous friends wedding!

We Stayed at the Pinnacles Resort, beautifully equipped accommodation, the resort is situated on a hill about 5 minutes walk from town.

The wedding was beautiful despite the weather (a little rainy) My dress was Alannah Hill, love it!

The very dapper looking Mr

The ceremony was held on the Waterfront

On our last day we went for a walk at "Coral Beach" it is part of the Conway National Park, the track starts at Shute Harbour and travels through open forest to Coral Beach, The beach was amazing and a highlight of our trip along with attending our beautiful friends wedding.

We attempted a panoramic photo and then the camera battery died, isn't that always the way! 

Ikea {Manland Creche}

Over the fathers day weekend Ikea Trialed a “crèche” for retail-weary men, complete with Xbox consoles, pinball machines, continuous televised sport and free hot dogs.

The space is a male-only spot to hang out in while wives and girlfriends peruse the aisles.Publicity manager Jude Leon said the idea was modelled on the Swedish furniture giant’s existing child play area, SMALAND. Ms Leon said women were given a buzzer to remind them to collect their other half after 30 minutes of shopping. "Despite most men dreading a trip to the shops, we still attract a high proportion of male customers,” she said. “So we’re expecting the scheme to be a real success with both sexes.”

Full Story Here

I love the Idea however I am not sure who the buzzer idea patronises more, the husband or the wife...

PS: Sydney IKEA fans, the new store at Tempe is opening Thursday November 3. 

DIY Ikea Lack Side table meets Clayton Grey...{Say What?}

You better believe it, I kid you not! This is an Ikea Lack Table! Clementine and Olive has me absolutely dying to do a Little DIY side table for myself!

The side table DIY was inspired by this table at Clayton Grey.

Full DIY instructions can be found Here.

I could dive onto that blue couch to read my issue of Real living November!

Musings Today 14.10.11

Excuse me whilst I digress:

{Hair}

I have been trying for a while now to perfect the art of curling my hair. It wasn’t until I happened upon Veronica's You Tube Video on Curling hair that she featured on her blog Veronica's Blushing, by golly gosh now I think I have got it right, curl away from the face! All this time I have been curling towards my face! Something so simple as the direction you curl makes all the difference!.

Check it, today's attempt only took 5 minutes!

{The house}

Things are taking shape in the Lounge room, here is a sneak peak (can you spy the roadside find?).

{Feeding the family}
I found it was cheaper and more stylish to feed Bella out of cut crystal bowls than purchase a kitch bowl with "Woof" on it. Can you see how impressed she is?

Enjoy your weekend! PS: Don't forget about entering the giveaway.

Swimmers {My 50’s inspired polka dot bikini}

In preparation for our mini break to QLD next week I have been shopping up a storm, I like to purchase a new set of swimmers at the beginning of every summer (you get the pick of all to good stuff if you buy early) although I do agree trying on swimmers requires a lot of guts and determination.

{The Inspiration}

The hotness of Ashley Simpson in a itsy bitsy black polka dot bikini Holidaying in Mexico. (Picture from Famous Magazine) PS: Joe Simpson looks like a bit of a creep here.

{The Purchase}

Here is what I bought, it is from the seafolly La Bella Vita separates range, Very 50s inspired I think!.

{The closet}

I have a Black striped hat purchased from Glassons about 1 month ago (Similar to below). Now all we need to do is hope that the weather is kind enough to let me wear it.

I did also try on a Camilla and Marc 1 peice, I loved it on the hanger and the stripes do go in all the right directions.... but I think these swimmers are probably made for people with small torsos as the bra cups sat around my waist.

Geee I have really been self presenting it up lately! Have you purchased any summer goodies yet?

Have you entered the Black Velvet Chair Giveaway? (Winners will be drawn by Random.org).

Happy Blog Birthday {Giveaway}

A year ago today I decided to start this little blog Black Velvet Chair, designed as a self development tool, a little something to scrapbook my design and DIY life whilst entertaining my mind and possibly others. Black Velvet chair has become part of my daily life, reading blogs inspires me continuously and the beautiful friends that have been made far and wide continues to astound me. My very first blog post.

I wanted to buy myself a self present to mark the occasion so I headed over to Kerri’s shop Driftwood Interiors and purchased a print from the “Collected series” for myself, after such positive reaction last Christmas gifting prints to my Mother and Mother In law. True to style with self presents I usually end up purchasing a present equally as brilliant for a friend (I am strange like that). I am super excited to offer one of my bloggy friends this beautiful present:

Giveaway

To be gifted this lovely Pink Floral Watercolor - Bouquet in Flow Blue from Driftwood Interiors you need to be a Black Velvet Chair follower, simply leave a comment letting me know your favourite or most memorable Black Velvet Chair moment or post over the last year. For three additional entries post about Black Velvet chair on your blog then leave three separate comments letting me know.

The lucky winner will be drawn On Monday 31^st October 2011.

Goodluck and Thankyou all for your support over the past year!

***

PS: This is the Feather print "Collected" I purchased as a Self Present.

Feel free to Self Present over at Driftwood Interiors also.

Sarah Richardson’s Summer House {Home Tour}

I am often envious of the homes crafted by interior designers, the envy leads to curiosity of how interior designers live & what their spaces look like. I wondered if Interior designers homes would be the old tale of "The cobbler's children go unshod" or similarly visiting our cousin last week whom owns a vinyl flooring company only to find he has been too busy to work on his own kitchen vinyl.

One of my (& mums) favorite Interior designers is Sarah Richardson, do you get stuck watching her show “Sarahs house and Sarah 101” for hours and hours like I do? budget friendly DIY anyone?.  I was Thrilled to find that HGTV has featured Sarah’s summer house on their website, just what I need to get me in the mood for summer & our mini break to QLD next week.  

All Pics via: HGTV

 Sarah handmade the birch lamp beside the bed above

Great mix of colour, I want it all! 

Venetian mirror in a bathroom with Carrera marble anyone? Yes please! 

Cocktails ad lazing on the deck? 

Ruby perfection with white washed walls! 

The light blue chairs are called "Bankers chairs"