100th Follower Give-Away is Here

Hurray and Yippee! For this next week I will be having a give-away for all you wonderful "followers". Iv'e been blogging for this last 3 and a 1/2 months and I have to say it's been so great meeting all of you and making new friends. I had been reading blogs for over a year, but did not have one myself. One day I just jumped in! So to celebrate all you great people out there that follow my blog, I've found some really fun things to share. Since fall is my favorite time of the year, I wanted them to reflect the season. So here they are, hope you'd like to be the person who receives all this!

This is the 2010 Journal that you've been hearing about. I have the 2009 edition, and I just love it. Not a journaler? I bet you will be...it's so beautiful!

This is the fall edition of Artful Blogging, in which you'll find some great articles on some well known creative bloggers.

I just love tea towels and I found these Mary Lake Thompson ones with a big fat fall pumpkin, and I'm also sending a cabinet card of two darling sisters, that has a wire hanger with vintage button and satin ribbon.

Two packages of Autumn Harvest spice mixes for some fall get-togethers.

...and this cutie that I found today at the Fall Craft Festival in Ozark, MO.

I want to encourage you to leave a comment even if you don't have a blog, better yet, take a minute to open a blogger account, and sign up as a follower. I didn't know you could do this until I got my own blog, but you can. That way you can see all the updates on your favorite blogs... such a shortcut!

Here's how it's working.

If you are a follower you
automatically get 2 chances.

If you leave a comment on any post

this coming week, you get an extra chance.

AND if you link up to my blog with a give-away

 notice on your blog,

I'll throw 3 extra chances in for you.

Whew!!! I've got some work to do! This give-away is just to say Thank-you for making this last 3 months so much fun!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Debra

"Vintage Black Friday ", My Love Affair with Black Furniture

What a fabulous idea for a party! I'm so glad that Jill at  Gypsy Brocante is hosting the Vintage Black Friday party this Fall so we can share all our great black vintage finds. I have been finding and painting furniture black for several years. There's a touch of elegance that you can only find in black. Here are a few pieces that are in my Entry and Living Room that are old pieces that I have either found or painted black.

This French Goat Cart is one of my favorite decor pieces. I used it on my front porch for fall for several years, but brought it inside this spring. Here it has a few pumpkins hiding in the large basket with ivy.

This Eastlake dresser was purchased about seven years ago from my longtime friend Colleene who owned a fabulous antique store. It was my first piece of black furniture, and oh, what this got started!

My pretty little garden girl, who is very old and painted black so many years ago. Every time I look at her I wonder about her history.

This is another piece of Eastlake in my Living Room that holds a family clock. The black scales I found this summer at a flea market. I just love kitchen scales and have several spread around the house. It appears I must live on a boat the way it all looks to be slanting. The scale was tipped a little, but my floors really are level... guess it's just me thats a little off!

This Italianate desk is a project my husband and I worked on several years ago. When I found it the back "cubby" was gone which left scars and holes in the top. So we had a piece of MDF board cut to fit which made it usable. I had to pay a high price for it even though it needed work... but I think it turned out well, and I'm so glad I went ahead and didn't let the work keep me from buying it.

I'm so glad that this is a multi-week party because I have a lot of "black" to share. Hope you're having a great week. I'll be off Friday to a great outdoor Fall Craft Fair in Ozark, Missouri. I'll be sharing highlights soon. It's always so much fun, and my sister and I have been going for the last 20 years. It's the only day of the year that I let myself eat a giant corn dog,(or any corn dog) and generally pig out.

 Be sure to check back Saturday because I'll be doing

the post for the...

                    ta ta ta da........                  

100th Follower Giveaway!

Have a great weekend!

Debra

"It's Fall Y'all" Party and 100th Follower Give-Away Info!

I have to admit that this kind of party causes my OCD to just run wild! The criteria for this party was "Anything Fall", and since Fall is my favorite time of year I started decorating and posting about it at the end of August. In my book, Fall just can't get here quick enough!

So I am posting some random photos of my many Fall vignettes and projects that I have been working on around my house.
If you're new to my blog I hope these will whet your appetite to go back through my posts and check out the other Fall Fun. I got a new camera last week, a "big girl" Kodak Easy Share, so I'm enjoying seeing the difference that it has made in similar shots. My new photos are much clearer. Went from a 7 mega pixel to a 10 mp. I wanted to keep it as uncomplicated as possible, and still improve my photos.

This is a little of my Fall Front Porch

 and the Radio Flyer wagon that I painted black for Fall.

This white "window box" has been part of my Fall decor

 in my kitchen for the last two years.

I have to use "faux" pumpkins and berries inside

because my two kitty girls have a little chewing problem.

The Sunroom is my favorite decorating spot in the house,

because I change out the quilt on the wicker settee almost every month.
I just love decorating with quilts, and I have a lot of "family" ones.

The white baker's rack in the sunroom holds some of my

 collection of English Cottages...
and you know, I just have to add in some ORANGE!

I found this little white house recently,

and I think it can be used for each and every season.
It does look just a tiny bit spooky!

I have this overly large metal Country French basket

on my Dining Room table that is there "permenantly".

 It has a moss covered base and is covered in faux ivy.

So I just change out the seasonal flowers.

The runner on the table with a French provencial theme,

is an old Belgium tapestry from the 1930's.

Fabric taffeta pumpkin on a cupcake stand.

"Sweet face" on brown transferware dessert plates.

This is a faux pumpkin topiary in my Entry that I put together

 last year and posted about in early September.

My favorite "Motel Chair" with a rusty white finish

...and a grocery basket with gourds and pumpkins.

Many of you have seen some of these vignettes before,

hope you didn't mind seeing them again.

Be sure and say Hi to Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality

and check out all the other party people!

Now for more fun!!

I'm planning my 100th Follower Give-Away

and I have some great things to send out

to a Follower! Stay tuned for the post

and photos coming very soon. During the week

that I have the give-away, (next week)

Each Follower will get two chances automatically,

If you leave a comment, one chance for each day,

AND if you post about it with a link back to me

you will get  THREE extra chances to win!

YEAH!!!

Hope you've been having a great week,

 Hurray! It's October!

Debra

"White Wednesday" in "Multiples"

I missed White Wednesday last week, so this week I'll make up for it by combining two parties! White Wednesday hosted by Kathleen over at Faded Charm and a "one-day" party hosted by Vintage Junky about "Multiples". I knew there was a reason I hadn't shared my Ironstone Pitchers!

I have a sitting area in my basement family room where most of my ironstone is located. I've been collecting, especially pitchers, for the last four years. This isn't all of it, but I love the graduated sizes of the pitchers.

Behind the pitchers is an oil painting of a fall scene

 in a shabby white frame that I found at a sale for $10.

(love the colors)

And since it's now officially Fall,
 I can show off my pitchers with the additional seasonal twist.

I also have found several Ironstone soup tureens and covered vegetables. These are mixed in with my various pieces of brown transferware. I love the old turkey platters and have several that are out all year. Here they are on a baker's rack that was a Wal-Mart "original" that I spray painted "Rust" several years ago.

Love the shape of this.

...and this one.

Up until last week, this soup tureen had been on my kitchen table, but I brought in some fall decor, so this came to the Dining Room. I think it works on the vintage milk glass cake pedestal.

Here are my other "multiples", as I have several sets

 of brown transferware sugar and creamers.

This white creamware set was my Mother's.

 I remember these dishes used at every holiday dinner.

On the baker's rack downstairs.

In my sitting area.

Back to the dining room, on an old wire plant stand.

I really love brown transferware, and Fall is just the best time of year

to bring it all out and let it take center stage!

                   

  Be sure and go by  Vintage Junky to see all the participants at "Multiples",

And as always, Kathleen has a wonderful bunch of creative people with

 "White Wednesday" over at Faded Charm.

Have a day that is "multipled" fun!

And speaking of multiples, please be sure

 and join as a follower!

I have a great give-away coming up.

Debra

By Golly... I'm Honest!

A BIG "Thank you" goes out to my friend, the incredibly talented Miss Mustard Seed of Mustard Seed Creations for the generous award of  "Honest Scrap"! I may not be a lot of things but gosh darnit, I Am Honest! Maybe too much for a few people. 

Here are the Rules that need to be followed upon receiving this award:

1. 
   
   Say "thanks" and give a link back to the presenter of this award.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Share "10 Honest Things" about yourself.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   Present this award to 7 others whose blogs that you find brilliant in content, /or design, or those who have encouraged you.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   Tell those 7 people that they have been awarded the "Honest Scrap" award and inform them of these guidelines.
   
   
   

OK, now on with the show!

1. I am the oldest of three children... hence the "Type A- Personality".
2. I am an X-Ray tech, but haven't worked in this field in 20 years.
3. I started a business 20 years ago where I did stenciling and calligraphy, selling handmade framed pieces. It was relatively successful as I had a spot at the Atlanta Gift Market.
4. I am a frustrated artist and love the medium of watercolor.
5. My husband and I met at church and only knew each other 4 months when we were married. Yikes!
6. We have lived  in San Antonio,Texas (where Alyson was born) and Marietta, Georgia (northern suberb of Atlanta) where I left my heart.
7. I have a real aversion to clowns or anyone or anything that hides their true feelings or puts on a "show". (Sorry.)
8. I want to know the truth even if it hurts. (Do you see a theme here?)
9. I really do NOT want to be defined by any illness. That's why I thought long and hard about sharing my recent heart problems.
10. About 12 years ago I had a dramatic encounter with God, and it radically changed my life. I love to study and teach the Bible and have written and taught several Bible Studies.

These are the 7 people whose Blogs have inspired me with their great content and encouragement.

They have inspired so many people and some have had awards up to their eyeballs, but what the hey. Like I said, I tell it "Honest"!

I have 2 honorary "blog idols":

Theresa of Garden Antiques Vintage, whose blog I found first and has encouraged me in so many ways, and Debbie of Talking Trash who has been my biggest cheerleader and favorite Nana. (not to mention has caused me to laugh until I fell in the floor!)

1. Mindy of Primitiques in Poetry, my first follower
2. Jan of Summer Sundays, my friend and blog mentor
3. Katie of Ragamuffin Gal, my spiritual sister
4. Cindy of Yapping Cat Studio, my creative hero
5. Jodie of Everything Vintage, my adorable southern sweetie
6. Hayley of Nesting Notions, my English teacher that inspires me
7. Jermaine of French Kissed, my friend the world traveler, and designer extraordinare

Thank you everyone, there were so many more!

Have a great Monday, everyone!

Debra