Have you met Ted Kennedy Watson?!

Since it tis the season for giving I have put together a month of giveaways for YOU as a 

thank you for following and reading the blog.  It's my small way to say "thank you" and to let you know how much I appreciate your continued interest and support, and how grateful I am to those who take the time to leave comments.  

It means so much to me to have you here.

If you don't already know the stylish and affable Ted Kennedy Watson, you need to meet him!
Ted is the proprietor of  two wonderful shops in beautiful Seattle- Watson Kennedy Fine Home and Watson Kennedy Fine Living.  (To honor his late father, the business name is his father's name backwards.) Ted is a master curator- handpicking every item in both his shops, and he believes that it's the simple things that make life grand.  From a wonderfully scented candle or soap, to a vintage cocktail shaker, or the perfect note card Ted brings them all to life in his shops (which are shrines to find the perfect gift- either for someone else or yourself;)   His skills creating display vignettes are both inviting and inspiring.  In fact, years before I met Ted through blogging I would make it a point to go to his shop in Pikes Place Market whenever we flew to Seattle from Dallas to antique shop.  It was a must-stop for me, even if the shop was closed I would peek in all the windows to get inspiration for display vignettes for my antiques business.  I'm sure Ted cursed the person leaving all those nose prints on his windows!
I adore this quote from the website,  "The shops and this web site are really an extension of my homes and how I feel the good life can be lived.  Design, gift giving, manners, style- all have great importance to me.  We live in such a rushed world!  I want to inspire people to light a candle, set a stunning dinner table, or hand write a note:  time will slow down and we become more aware of our surroundings.  The shops are a reflection of that quality and my life, my travels, and the things I love."
Ted is also a fellow blogger pinning the blog Ted Kennedy Watson -which is a little bit Martha (think decorating tips) and a little bit Ina (think elegant, yet simple, recipes) all rolled into lots of inspiration and beautiful images.   You've probably seen Ted before;  his home or his shops have been featured in House Beautiful, In Style, Allure, Country Living, Lucky and Domino magazines.  His Seattle home was featured in Homes Across America (that was the best show ever, in my opinion) and his Vashon Island cottage on Small Space, Big Style, both on HGTV.
  

Ted is also a the author of 

Style & Simplicity

 An A to Z Guide to Living a More Beautiful Life

which will be published May 2014. 

The iconic Barbara Barry wrote the foreword to the book.

Ted has graciously offered to giveaway to one of my reader his upcoming book Style and Simplicity (you will be mailed a signed cover now and once the book is out in May it will be sent to you) along with a

 French Le Jacquard Francais dish towel, 

and a fig Diptyque candle- which Ted says is his favorite!

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment! 

Once again, if you are commenting as anonymous please remember to include your email address, and if you are entering with a google account, please make sure there is an email associated with the account.  The giveaway will run for 3 days and will close on Wednesday, December 18th at 6 p.m. EST.  

Ted kindly said to open the giveaway to everyone worldwide!  

The winner will be contacted via email.

Can't get to Seattle?  

Then shop Watson Kennedy online HERE!  Be sure to click on the "to smell" tab to shop the amazing selection of soaps and candles.

To pre-order Style & Simplicity- An A to Z Guide to Living a More Beautiful Life  HERE

The giveaway is now closed.

The giveaway ended with 252 comments, 2 of those comments were replies to the original entry which count as one, so that left a true number of entries at 250.  A random number generator chose the following entry.

Congratulations Victoria!!