Winners announced!

Congrats to my two winners!  Sherry from Createology has won this little gem above filled with goodies to use in her creations. Sherry works in many mediums, and I am sure she will put this win to good use! Stop by to see Sherry and tell her I sent you! She is full of projects and inspiration.

 

Congrats to Lynn Stevens of Trash to Treasure Art who will receive the "mystery" tin filled with goodies. Lynn is also an artist that works in many mediums and has a great blog and Etsy shop.  I hope you will visit and see some of her wonderful work.  Thanks to all who visited and played along.

This week we have been busy planning and executing a spa b-day party for Kara. It was a huge hit and so much fun.  I will share some ideas and pics with you in my next post just in case any of you are interested in planning a similar party.  Have a blessed Sunday.

Be my Valentine? A little giveaway...

Hello, friends.  I had some fun this weekend painting tin molds and altering them into little Valentine treat baskets.  This one was painted cadmium red on the outside and antique white inside. The edges were glued and dipped in German glass glitter. I punch two small holes with a nail and ran some wire through for a whimsical handle.  The ends were just wrapped around a small pencil and trimmed.  The best part though was filling it with goodies from my stash.  I'd love to share this little Valentine with one of you....who knows, maybe I'll even make another one filled with surprises and give away two!  After all...

 

I have one more left and the husband says this is WAY too small for the bag of peanut butter M&Ms he's hoping for. Maybe I should alter a pie plate or loaf pan for him to hold all that chocolate? lol  Leave me a comment below to enter this little giveaway. If you don't have a blog, please leave me your email so that I can contact you if you should win!  I will announce the winners next Sunday. Hope you had a great weekend! xoxo

Giveaway news! Go visit Lynn today!

Most of you know Lynn Stevens of Trash to Treasure Art.  I love Lynn's mixed media work.  She has a great giveaway going on right now so head over to join in the fun.  This beautiful journal above is just one of several gorgeous handmade items up for grabs!  Make sure that if you don't have a blog that you include your name and email in your comment.  Tell Lynn that I sent you! Happy Sunday!

Giveaway winner!

The winner of my giveaway is the ever so sweet and talented Connie of She Dreams Big.  I enjoy following Connie on her blog. She loves good junk, creates beautiful handmade treasures and introduced me to photo editing textures over at Kim's cafe.   This summer, we have all followed along as Connie prepared for her daughter's wedding. She has some photos up right now of the event and the lovely couple.  I hope you will visit!  Connie, send me your address please.  I'll get this mailed off right away.  Thank you to everyone for playing along.  xoxo

Still time to enter my Giveaway!

We've been out of town this past weekend visiting family in Maryland. Thank you to those of you who have entered my giveaway while I was gone.  I appreciate your sweet comments and follows. Visit here to see what is up for grabs and to enter!  You have until this Friday, October 21st to leave a comment. I will announce the winner on Saturday morning. I look forward to catching up with you this week!

Giveaway time!

I just celebrated my one year blogging anniversary. THANK YOU all so very much for sharing this blog with me.  I appreciate you so much. Thank you for spending time here.  Your comments, follows and your own blogs inspire me to keep creating and to keep sharing.  It is wonderful to have such like minded friends.  I truly look forward to our time together.  To celebrate and to share,  I am offer a giveaway!  Come join me!

The winner will receive this beeswax collage I recently created.  It is approximately 5 x7 and hangs from a rusty wire and broken tree limb. The collage features a bird print, vintage book pages, cheesecloth, lace and even a real feather.  But, that is not all the winner will receive...

I have also hand dyed some more cheesecloth for you in Fall colors.  I love these colors. You can enjoy using them in a project or as part of your Fall decorating.  And last but not least...

I found these great mixed media packs in gorgeous Fall colors. Double click to enlarge the picture.  Three great glitter colors, a package of suede, cord and wire for stringing up Fall projects and a nice mix of beads for decorating tags, cards and artwork.  These should inspire some project ideas!

The winner will receive all three items.  No need to be a follower, but I do hope that you would consider. It is okay if you are an international friend.  This giveaway is open to everyone.

Simply leave a comment down below to be entered.  If you would like a second try,  mention the giveaway on your blog, then come back and tell me you did with a second comment.  That simple!  If you do not have a blog, you must include your email address in your comment. Thanks for playing along.  Linking up to this blog party-

We have a Winner!

Congrats to Ann at Creative Ramblings.  You have won a free custom 8 x 10 canvas from Easy Canvas Prints!  I hope you will enjoy making your canvas and that you will share the finished piece with us.  Thanks to everyone that entered the giveaway.  Look for my one year blogging anniversary giveaway coming in September! You don't want to miss it.  Have a blessed Sunday my friends.

Giveaway for YOU from Easy Canvas Prints

Ready for a giveaway? Not too long ago I won an 8x10 canvas from Easy Canvas Prints.  I really enjoyed selecting a picture and creating my custom canvas.  Their site was very easy to use. I chose to wrap the border of the canvas frame with the picture. It came out great and looks terrific hanging on the gallery wall in our play room.

Now, Easy Canvas Prints has offered to giveaway a FREE canvas to one of my readers!  You can create your own 8x10 custom canvas of your family, your pet, your artwork or maybe even a really great shot you took for your blog.  I can't wait to see what you pick.  Here's a link to their gallery for more ideas.

You have two chances to win! Here's how to enter:  1) Leave a comment on this post 2) Leave a second comment that you "Like" Easy Canvas Prints on Facebook. You can get to their Facebook page by clicking here.  You have until 5:00 p.m. next Friday, August 26th to enter. I will announce a winner that night. If you don't have a blog make sure you leave your email in your comment.  Thanks!

The rules and fine print:  The folks at Easy Canvas Prints have informed me this giveaway has to be limited to U.S. residents only and excludes Hawaii and Alaska due to shipping costs. Sorry! Good luck to you!  Thanks for stopping by and for your wonderful comments and follows.

Giveaway winner! She's a new blogger!

Congrats to Tina of Ruffles and Relics!  She has won my pay it forward giveaway. I'll be sending you my copy of "Killer Stuff and Tons of Money" this week. I'm glad you guys enjoyed the review. Tina, hope you don't mind a few dog eared pages!  Wouldn't it be fun to keep this pay it forward giveaway going? Maybe Tina will post a giveaway after she has read the book on her new blog?  That's right...Tina has just joined us here in blog land this month.  So far she has been posting mostly about all of us and our giveaways. Thank you, Tina, for your support. I am looking forward to you sharing more about your flea market trips and decorating.  Stop by and say hello to Tina here.

We had a great time away at the beach.  We just got home. I need to get settled.  I enjoyed clearing my mind and playing with the family and our dear friends.  I have a few new projects in mind to share. Stay tuned. Until then...xoxo.

Flea Market Book Review and Giveaway!

A few weeks ago, TLC book tours contacted me about reading and reviewing this new book by Maureen Stanton -

The author shadows collector and dealer, Curt Avery, as he makes the rounds to some of America’s most famous flea markets, antique shows and auctions.  Since I love to frequent antique stores, have a few of my own quirky collections and long to visit some of the famous antique shows described in the book, I looked forward to this read.   

You can read my review below.  If the book interests you and you would like to win my copy, leave me a comment on this post. I will be "paying it forward" and mailing one of my lucky readers my copy to read and keep.

Curt began as a bottle collector when he was twelve. The thrill of the hunt had him hooked from this early age. You know that feeling. You’ve had it when you were scouring the local estate sale or flea market.  Curt quickly learns though  “half the challenge is finding that good thing, the other half is selling it.”   The author describes him as “a guerrilla historian.” He possesses a deep, self taught knowledge of America’s past and has the ability to think quickly on his feet often buying and selling his items the same day for a profit. 

Throughout the book we travel with Curt on the New England flea market circuit. Every possible space in his old pick up truck is filled with antiques. We sweat with Curt. We stress with him over whether he paid too much or could have gotten more out of a sale.  He whispers to us as other dealers make careless mistakes in the booth across the way. He introduces us to quirky characters and obsessive collectors. He complains about Martha Stewart and Country Living setting trends with their reproductions which in turn harm the value of the real deal. He tells us about his own mistakes and shares stories of the remarkable good fortunes of others who stumbled upon something worth millions stored in a basement.  

If you enjoy reading blog posts about junking trips and antique shows, if you garage sale, if you have your own booth, if you sell on Etsy…this one is right up your alley.  Don't forget to leave me a comment below if you'd like a chance to win my copy of this book. I plan to give mine away to one of my readers this week I'll announce the winner on Sunday, June 26th. xoxo  For more reviews click here.

Thank you Laura at 52 Flea!

I was so happy to have won Laura's giveaway at 52 Flea.   As the lucky winner, I was able to create an 8 x 10 custom canvas from Easy Canvas Prints.  It was very easy to use their website and the canvas arrived within a few days. I selected this older photo of Kara and Shelby that I just adore.  The canvas looks crisp and clean. I actually took it outside to photograph so you could see the texture. Hanging on the wall, it looks like it was printed on photo paper.  I really like the look.

I chose a wrap around design.  The picture actually wraps around the edges of the canvas. It looks great hanging on a gallery wall I have in the kids play room.  I'm hoping to snap a picture of my son, Jack, with our other Basset, Zoey, to add to the grouping.  I feel a photo shoot coming on! 

One last thing...I am VERY excited to be attending a bloggers luncheon tomorrow here in Orlando.  Super home stylist,  Shelley, of none other than Sweet Pea Home has offered to host it at her lovely house. I've met Shelley a few times recently at sales and we chat via email from time to time. I am really looking forward though to chatting with her and the other blog friends over lunch.  Shelley has also given us the blessing to bring our cameras.  You see Shelley's home is AMAZING.  As in Fifi O'Neill amazing... Check out the Italian design magazine article that Shelley's home was featured in after Fifi discovered it - click here!  I'm sure I'll have a few pics to share too of my favorite rooms and vignettes. I'm also looking forward to introducing you to a few local bloggers you may not know yet. Until then...xoxo!

Gifts from friends

Hello everyone! I had a little birthday last month and my dear, sweet, vintage loving, mixed media art making friends Jodi, Kelley and Kim (girls I put you in ABC order...lol) each gave me something special to mark the day.  These girls really know me. Whether it is sharing a special find or making a handmade treasure, it makes me feel like a kid again when we exchange gifts.  This adorable tag above was made by Kim.  With it was this little cutie-

I had seen this on Etsy. Kim hijacked my favorites and found it. Thanks, Kim! I love it and looks great in the kitchen.

This beauty came from Kelley. Kelley and I have a mutual blog friend, Petite Michelle Louise.  We both love Michelle's blog and her fantastic Etsy shop!  One of my favorite finds in the shop would be Michelle's altered door knobs. Kelley got me one! Isn't this perfection?!

How about these two darling gifts? They are from Jodi and her daughter Sydney (Kara's BFF).  I can't stand how cute this little bucket is on my back porch. This hen pin cushion was a real surprise. Sydney also got me a gift. Makes my heart melt that she found this and thought of me. 

I had another sweet surprise in the mail. I fun filled package of little paper pieces, hat pins and organza bags from sweet June at Lina Beas.  June, I have already used half the envelope for teacher appreciation week! I dug in right away. THANK YOU!  Guess what? June has a giveaway here if you'd like to stop by and enter.  Take a look -

Life is better with friends at your side.  So glad to call these girls and each of you who visit, my friends. Hope you are having a great week and a safe weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Last Giveaway of April WINNER!

Congrats to Vicki from Paper Squirrel for winning my final giveaway of April!  Sounds like her mom has a rooster themed kitchen, so I could not be happier that her post was selected. She wants to give this as a Mother's Day gift. I think that is so sweet.  Vicki - email me your full name and address. I will mail this tomorrow so that you have it in time.  I hope you will stop by and visit Vicki at her blog. Here's one of her latest projects -

Isn't this beautiful? She has a tutorial posted right now so head over for a look. I would go ahead and give her a follow. I think we are going to see some really fun projects from this gal who has crafty in her blood!

Thanks to everyone that played along this month. I've really enjoyed it.  If I have not been by your blog for a visit yet, please be patient with me.  The entries were a bit overwhelming for this working mom!  I've got some fun posts coming up this week - pictures of b-day presents and lots of pictures of a new store that I visited in Orlando.  Until then...xoxo!

Last Giveaway this month!!

Hello my friends! Here she is...the last giveaway this month...an altered whisk broom.  If you follow my blog, you know I like to alter things. I can be a little quirky in my selection.  I love the texture of old whisk brooms. I think this would look great hanging on a wall in your kitchen or on a shelf with your favorite dishes.

 

I used layers of vintage lace, burlap, muslin and even a cheesecloth rosette to make this altered gift for you. I love the image of the rooster and the hen with her parasol.  From all your past comments, I know I have some rooster fans in the group. Many of you have shared that you collect roosters or love to use them in your home decor.  Well, here's a one of a kind item to add to the mix.

TO ENTER:
You'll have until 5 p.m. next Saturday to enter.
You have two chances to win.
1) Leave a comment here
2) Leave a second comment here letting me know you added my giveaway button, picture etc to your blog.

It is that simple! Now, I'd love for you to become a follower but I won't require it. The weekly winner will be announced next Saturday evening. If you don't have a blog be sure to leave your email, or I won't be able to find you and will have to pick another winner.  Good luck!  Thank you for your follows and comments! Linking up to -

We have a WINNER!!

Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my last post. I am still on cloud nine about my work being published in Somerset Studio this month. I'm also very excited about all my new followers and reaching 100 posts! There is definitely much to celebrate here.  I hope you have enjoyed my April month of giveaways so far. We have one more week to go!  It is time to announce another winner!  This adorable rooster apron above will be going to.....

Erin at Peony Wire Works!!

Hooray! Erin is one of my favorite people in blog land so I was so excited when my random number generator landed on her little comment.  Take a look at some of the great items you can find over at Erin's and in her Etsy shop Peony Wire Works.

Door pocket wall hanger

Tall cloche

Notion jars

Erin makes beautiful and creative items from chicken wire.  Check out her blog here.  There is a link to her Etsy.  She's a great gal that has been blogging for some time. She recently changed her vision a bit, started a  new blog and opened her new Etsy store.  I hope you'll drop by, say hello and give her a follow! Tell her that I sent you. 

New giveaway announced tomorrow evening!  Until then....Have a blessed Easter with your families and friends. xoxo