~CHRISTMAS SNOWMAN PILLOW GIVEAWAY~

TO GRAB BUTTON:

LEFT CLICK ONTO THE PICTURE ABOVE
and you will be directed to a page where you can then
RIGHT CLICK
and COPY the picture!  THANK YOU!

  A BRAND NEW GIVE-AWAY STARTS TODAY!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like....um...

 FREE STUFF around here!

HOW FUN IS THAT?

 Up for grabs is a soft white, sweet little vintage lace

 CHRISTMAS

SNOWMAN PILLOW
with
 matching
Blank Note Cards (4)
Hang Tags (4)
and Tea Bags (4) 

Sweet for gift-giving this Christmas! 

One of my favorite things to do in my spare time (har har har...like I have ANY!) is manipulate vintage graphics via PhotoShop!  I love how this old snowman looks transformed into soft sepia tones with just a hint of blush pink!  You'd surely faint if you saw the original...UGLEEE and even a bit scary.  Amazing what you can do with a computer these days, huh?

If you'd like to enter the GIVEAWAY here is what you need to do!  Four chances to get your name tossed into the hat!

1.  Follow my blog for entry ONE!  If you are currently tagging along with me you will be automatically entered!

2.  BLOG about my giveaway on YOUR BLOG by grabbing the button at the top (LEFT CLICK onto the picture and then RIGHT CLICK TO COPY) and then LINK BACK TO THIS POST.

3.  Leave me a comment on THIS POST.  Include your name AND your email if you are NOT A BLOGGER or if you are a Non-Reply-BLogger!

4.  Visit my FACEBOOK PAGE (on my right sidebar) and LIKE ME! :)

***YOU MUST LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE DONE NUMBER 2-4 SO I CAN ENTER YOUR NAME IN THE DRAWING MULTIPLE TIMES!***

The deadline to enter the drawing is November 15th at midnight.  Winner will be announced within 48 hours!  If I draw your name and you are a NO REPLY BLOGGER and I cannot contact you, I will draw a second name after 24 hours.  My last giveaway winner has yet to claim her prize! :(

HAPPY ENTERING!

Thanks for stopping by....

Love to you~ 

~VINTAGE PINK ROSE DRESS FORM GIVEAWAY~

 

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!  THANK YOU!

See the paper goods above?  Today I'm doing a mini-giveaway that
will include a set of 

VINTAGE DRESS FORM PAPER GOODS!
Here's what the winner will receive:

NOTE CARDS w/Envelopes  and Stickers (4)

HANG TAGS with Ribbon (4)

TEABAGS w/COVERS (4)

and a single

WRAPPED CHOCOLATE BAR

If you would like to join in for a chance to win this wee little FREEBIE ENSEMBLE just do this:

1.  Leave me a comment

2.  Go like me on FACEBOOK (the links is on my Side Bar)

3.  Blog about my GIVEAWAY and LINK BACK TO ME

4.  Become a Follower of my AGP Blog

You have four chances to enter your name for the drawing!  If you are a Follower then you are already entered! :)  Let me know if you do #2, #3 and #4 so I can enter your name again! OK?

Giveaway ends at midnight on the 23rd so you need to enter the drawing before closes.  Winner will be notified via email within 48 hours!  If you don't have an email address attached to your blog then you MUST include it for me in your comment!

 

One of the first images I altered when I began using Photoshop (and Paint Shop Pro 10) was this vintage style dress form.  It's my favorite graphic EVER and this past week I finally got around to updating my original card designs just a tiny little bit.  I hope to have them on my website and Etsy later this week!

I've heard from several of you who would like to order the Chocolate Wrappers for your own chocolates.  Please send me your email address (like YOU, Miss Vera!) because some of you don't have blogs and are also NO REPLY BLOGGERS and I can't contact you (I've tried) !!! :(  I'm seriously considering offering the Wrappers via the PDF route so you can print them yourself on your own computer.  Not sure yet...we'll see!

  HAVE FUN and HAPPY ENTERING!

Love to you...

~SCRUMPTIOUS PINK COTTAGE ROSES~

~FABULOUS TWENTY YEAR OLD VINES~

Years and years ago when I owned a brick and mortar store I found the most wonderful

vintagey-vineyish-trellisy-scrunchy-worn-looking-roses

 ever on one of my trips to Market.  I was so taken with them and the showroom that sold them they remained on my favorites list for years and years.  The branchy floral vines came in muted pinks and creamy whites and each one equally flew out the door faster than I could get them in.  I distinctly remember the three foot lengths retailed for $36 ($18 wholesale) and the six foot lengths retailed for $48 ($24 wholesale).  That was pricey even for the early 1990's....but they sold like hotcakes anyway!

This was during the Laura Ashley phase of decorating...incredibly no one even knew who Rachel A was...not yet anyway!

 ~ABOVE OUR MIRROR~

As my own personal stash of vines became tattered and worn, little by little they were discarded.  (Boo Hoo!)  The showroom stopped carrying the line, favoring instead silk-type florals which had become very, very popular at the time.  Over the years I managed to hang onto only two six foot garlands...both of them were in the white colorway.

~OUR TINY MASTER BATH~

 

Today I have them twisted up tightly together and wired in place because they are sooo old and fragile!  They proudly hang over the sink/mirror in my master bath and I still love them today just like I did nearly twenty years ago.

~BE STILL MY PINK LOVIN' HEART~

WELL.............

(don't you love it went people say that?...it's like you KNOW something fabulous is coming!...right?)

~WHAT AN INCREDIBLE FIND~

Today I visited one of our town's antique malls and after meandering through each and every space I made my way to the back.  And there, way up high, peeking out from behind a bunch of old industrial type stuff I spied this really, really long rose vine in pink.

Now I've been in this room before and I never once noticed it there.  Well...I climbed up high and after working to de-tangle it I realized it was in two pieces.  One nine foot piece (three 3ft pieces together) and one six foot piece.

SCORE!  SCORE!  SCORE!

Guess how much?

Fifteen sweet little bucks for all of it!

Now comes the fun part....trying to decide just WHERE I'm going to hang them.  If I wasn't afraid the birdies would nest in the vines (they always do!) I'd hang them over the outside of my door.  Hmmm...

Decisions!  Decisions!

Today I'm linking up with Miss Beverly over at

HOW SWEET THE SOUND

for PINK SATURDAY!

~~*~~

Now in case you missed my post about my GIVEAWAY you can read about how you can enter your name into the drawing for the PINK ROSE TATTERED APRON shown below.

Just click HERE for the details!

 Hope your day is fabulous!  I'm off to hang my vines!

Love to you...

~~~~~GATHERING CASE WINNER IS~~~~~~ Lighting Does Strike Twice

Thank you to all of you who entered and blogged about my

GIVEAWAY

for a

Vintage Train Case (GATHERING CASE)

that began on October 15, 2011.

The entry deadline was last Sunday, December 11th at midnight.  In my original post found HERE I promised to share the winning name today!  With all the comments and links on that specific blog post combined with my blog followers and Facebook comments and/or likes, etc., there were many names included in the drawing~

Incredibly I now believe lightening does strike twice.  The winning name picked at random and the winner of the Gathering Case is the same person who I believe won my very first Giveaway two and a half years ago...

I'm happy to share with you the WINNER IS:

LEE LAURIE

from

A SOUTHERN ROSE

 Congratulations Lee Laurie!

I've sent you a private email about the details!

Thank you again for entering!  This was a fun giveaway to host and I so appreciate all of you who joined in.  I just MIGHT do another one next year~

Blessings for a lovely hump-day...

Love to you~

~~~~~~A GATHERING PLACE GIVEAWAY~~~~~~ Enter Today for a VINTAGE TRAIN CASE

Just a quick reminder that you have about four weeks left to get your name entered into the drawing for the hand painted shabby cottage chic pink rose

VINTAGE TRAIN CASE

hosted by my

A Gathering Place Website!

In case you missed the original post you can read all about it

~HERE~

 

 ~ROMANTIC HOMES MAGAZINE ARTICLE~

 ~PREVIOUSLY SOLD CASE~

Please be sure to follow the fairly simple directions for entering!  This includes leaving me a viable working email address and/or link and your name.  If I can't find you then a second name will be drawn, etc.  Lots of you who have entered have a NO REPLY BLOGGER email address attached to your blog and have not left your name on your comment!

The closing date to enter the drawing is December 11th at midnight!  Email me if you have any questions...OK?

Hope your weekend is fab!  I'm off to paint!

Love to you...

~~~~A ROMANTIC COTTAGE GIVEAWAY~~~~ Vintage Train Case For Free

 ~VINTAGE TRAIN CASE in WHITE~

(Previously Sold)

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME EXCITEMENT?  TODAY STARTS A NEW GIVEAWAY!!!

Back in 2006 when Erika Kotite was the Editor of Romantic Homes Magazine I had the privilege of having some of my work showcased in their September issue.  

 ~ROMANTIC HOMES ARTICLE~

"Hello Gorgeous"

Seems like forever ago now, but I will always remember the excitement and joy that came with that initial contact!  If I'm being honest with you because of that article my business grew by leaps and bounds.  I'll always be grateful to RHM and to the women who contacted them in my behalf.  Nothing quite compares to the feeling you get when you see your work validated in print...

 ~ADRIENNE'S CASE~

(Daughter)

Since that time (and before the article, too!) I've refurbished and made-over more vintage train cases than I can tell you.  I've been blessed to ship them all over the world...France, Italy, Singapore, England and even Japan.

 ~SWEET PINK ROSE CASE~

(Previously Sold)

Mostly though they stay at home here in America.  The Cases have been fashioned with many different fabrics although most of the buyers choose something in pink...

 ~FASHIONED IN CREAM~

(Previously Sold)

Instead of offering up several giveaways during the last half of the year, after much thought I've decided to do only one!

 ~FRESH WHITE CASE~

(Previously Sold)

In December some 'lucky' (for lack of a better word) blogger is going to win a vintage

"Gathering Case"TM

from A Gathering Place!!!

~READY FOR HER TRANSFORMATION~

This will be my only GIVEAWAY until next year.  There are several ways to enter so I hope you'll toss your name into the hat!  Somebody is going to WIN!

Here's what you can do to enter the drawing!! 

1.  Entry Chance #1:  If you have a blog please blog about this giveaway in a separate post and include a LINK back to this post.  Please include the Picture of the Case at the top (click to open then right click to copy). 

2.  Entry Chance #2:  Please place the Train Case Picture somewhere near the top of your blog/sidebar and include a LINK back to this post as well!  Not just my blog but this specific post!

3.  Entry Chance #3:  If you are a member of Facebook please visit my A GATHERING PLACE Page (A Gathering Place) and LIKE ME (if you haven't already). :) :) :) 

4.  Entry Chance #4:  Please leave a comment ON THIS POST telling me why you'd like to win the Case and what you will do with the Case should you win it (gift it, keep it, etc.).  Please include your NAME (first and last) in your comment. 

5.  If you do not have a blog then you can do this:  Visit your favorite blogs (a minimum of 10) and leave a comment telling them about this giveaway and include my blog link TO THIS POST, please.

6.  You don't have to follow my bloggie to be entered but if you do you'll automatically be entered into the drawing! 

Additionally, YOU MUST LET ME KNOW in your comment (on THIS POST) if you've done any or all the above.

Many people ask why giveaways are done and for me the answer is simple.  Advertising is MEGA EXPENSIVE and there is nothing better than getting direct internet exposure by hosting giveaways for FREE STUFF.  The more something is talked about and linked to the more business I get!  It's as easy as that!

The Train Case/Gathering Case GIVEAWAY begins today, Saturday, October 15th, and will end Sunday, December 11, 2011, at midnight.  The Case will be fashioned to my own liking, but I will personalize the bottom if desired.  Winner will be announced by Wednesday, December 14th, 2011.

(For Legal Purposes:  No Cash Value, No Implied Warranty, No Purchase Necessary)

If you have any questions or comments you can email me using my contact button at the top!

~~*~~

Blessings to each of you as we move toward the Holidays.  I'm feeling the JOY coming on...

Love to you...

~ALWAYS KISS ME GOODNIGHT PILLOW GIVEAWAY REMINDER~

Just a quick little post today to remind you that my

ALWAYS KISS ME GOODNIGHT 

PILLOW GIVEAWAY

Ends on June 25th at MIDNIGHT!

Click HERE to enter the drawing for a pretty little keepsake pillow from my A Gathering Place Website!

Tomorrow I'll be back to show you a couple more vintage finds that have undergone a bit of cottage chic transformation!  Can't wait to show you what's new!

Have an awesome Hump-Day!

Love to you...

~~~~TIME FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY~~~~ ALWAYS KISS ME GOODNIGHT PILLOW

 ~ALWAYS KISS ME GOODNIGHT PILLOW~

 

I've been promising you for days and days now for another GIVEAWAY and here it is...

I  really had do some thinking about this one!  I've actually been toying with the idea of offering one of my GATHERING CASES (Vintage Train Case Makeovers) as an EXCITING GIVEAWAY, but before I do I have LOTS of little details to work out on just how to enter that kind of contest!!!

~SWEET PINKS and SOFT ROSES~

So...for now I've settled with offering one of my favorite Pillows of late!  This little sweetie simply says

"ALWAYS KISS ME GOODNIGHT"

and was fashioned using a soft icy pink cotton.  Not overly complicated and perfect for those of you who like less fluff and fancy!

(Left Click then Right Click to Copy Button)

HERE'S HOW YOU ENTER...

1. FOLLOW MY BLOG TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY.

2.  LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST.

3.  DO A BLOGPOST ABOUT MY GIVEAWAY AND LINK BACK TO THIS GIVEAWAY POST!

4.  ADD MY GIVEAWAY BUTTON (directly above) TO YOUR SIDEBAR AND LINK BACK TO THIS POST.

FOUR CHANCES TO ENTER!!!

(Please let me know if you've done #3 and #4!!!)

~~*~~

The drawing to enter the Pillow ends June 25th.  You must have your comments and/or links done by that time at midnight.  The winner will be announced within a couple days of the contest ending.  No purchase necessary!

Have fun with this one and have a GREAT DAY!

Love to you...

~NEW GIVEAWAY IS COMING...I'M JUST RUNNING BEHIND~

 ~PLEASE FORGIVE MY TARDINESS~

OK Peeps...Here's the scoop!

I'd love to tell you that I do GIVE-A-WAYS because I'm just a super-fan-tab-ulous girl :), but the truth is I do them to SELF PROMOTE my A GATHERING PLACE WEBSITE in hopes that you'll pop on over there once in a while and pay me a visit!

(Thank you to ALL of you who do and send your hard-earned cashola my way! It is very, very much appreciated! :)) 

Now...

JUST IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING

I sell Shabby Cottage Chic Decor like Pillows, Sachets, Hand Painted Pink Rose Stuff :) and things like that!!!

Anyway...I ended up having a super-busy weekend CREATING and didn't get finished with my latest little GIVEAWAY OFFERING for all of you here in bloggieland!  I hope you'll allow me to beg-off for a couple more days until I can gitt-er-done.

>>~<3

Truthfully, I've been working on finishing up a custom Gathering Case (Train Case) Order (oooh....it's for a BRIDE!) and I've been busy putting the final touches on it!  It's kept me hoppin' but it's been sooo much fun!

I PROMISE I'll have something wonderful ready for you by Wednesday, OK?

Hope your Monday is awesome!

Love to you...

~~~ROMANTIC COTTAGE SACHET GIVEAWAY~~~ JUST FOR YOU

 

 ~CHARMING IMAGE SACHET PILLOW~

I'm so excited to share with you another A GATHERING PLACE GIVEAWAY begins today!  This one is sure to be fun because it includes a darling little Sachet image pillow showcasing one of the sweetest (and truly one of the rarest) of Frances Brundage images ever to be marketed here in America!  It's full of vintage laces, ribbons, old shell buttons, millinery blooms and a silver heart charm...  The Sachet comes fashioned in a soft frothy pink and includes a flirty all around ruffle!  SWEET!  Tucked inside there is just enough 100% pure lavender to make it smell truly heavenly!

~VINTAGE LACES and TRIMS, too~

Also included in the Giveaway is a matching blank Greeting Card and a Bar of Embellished Soap. All together it's a pretty little ensemble!  I hope you'll love it!

 

 ~SWEET BAR of SOAP~

 ~MATCHING GREETING CARD~

Now~just like all the GIVEAWAYS I've had over the past two years (and four months!) it's easy to enter!

Here's the scoop!

1.  Follow My AGP Blog for Entry #1!

2.  Leave a COMMENT ON THIS POST for Entry #2!

3.  Grab the PHOTO BELOW, chatter away about my GIVEAWAY

on YOUR BLOG and LINK BACK to THIS POST

for Entry #3! (LET ME KNOW U DID THIS!)

4.   Visit my Face Book Page (link on upper left) and include your name

by "LIKING MY AGP FB PAGE" for Entry #5!

5.  AND....LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

If you do ALL FOUR (4) of the Above I'll enter your name

for Entry #5!

(LET ME KNOW IF YOU'VE ALL 5 PLEASE!)

GIVEAWAY BUTTON

(Left Click ONTO THIS PHOTO & Right Click to Copy!!)

Drawing for the Sachet Pillow, Card and Soap will be May 15th at Midnight.  You must enter by 11:00pm on that same day (central time) to have your name tossed into the hat!  Winner will be announced as soon as the winner is determined!

Have fun playing along!

Thanks for visiting!  Hope your day is WONDERFUL!

Love to you...

~GIVEAWAY WINNER~

BEFORE I SHARE THE NAME OF THE WINNER OF MY EASTER GIVEAWAY TAKE HEART ALL OF YOU WHO THINK YOU NEVER WIN!!!

I'LL BEGIN ANOTHER GIVEAWAY ON FRIDAY!

IT'S JUST BECAUSE I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! 

 

THE WINNER OF MY EASTER DRAWING IS THE EVER SWEET AND LOVELY

ELIZABETH

FROM

AT HOME WITH ELIZABETH AND GARY

CONGRATULATION MISS E!  I'M HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR PLAYING ALONG AND STAY TUNED...  MORE COMING UP!!!

LOVE TO YOU...

 

~GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCED LATER TODAY~

 ~DRAWING TODAY~

Just popping in this morning to let you know the WINNER of my A Gathering Place Giveaway for March 2011 will be announced later today!  I'm soooo excited to see the winning name!

Thanks to all of you who left a comment, blogged or linked back to my Easter Giveaway!  

MORE SOON!

~JUST TO LET YOU KNOW~

Dear Friends...

I have a great deal pressing in on me this week and need to spend some quality time focusing on several important areas in my life!  So...I will be away from my blog for several days, but hope to return by the weekend...

Don't forget about my sweet little giveaway that is currently running!!!  Just click on the link on my upper left sidebar for the details!  Time is running out to have your name tossed into the hat and SOMEBUNNY is going to win some fabulous Easter Pretties!

Blessings to you today!

Love to you...

~SWEET EASTER PILLOWS and Other Cottage Finds~

 ~CROSS STITCHED BUNNY PILLOW~

Did you know that Easter Sunday can fall on 35 possible dates between March 22nd and April 25th?  It last fell on March 22nd in the year 1818, and will not do so again until 2285. It landed on March 23 in 2008 (way too early for me!), but will not do so again until 2160. Easter last fell on the latest possible date on April 25th in 1943.  But, this year it will fall just one day before that, April 24th, 2011.

 ~SWEET IMAGE PILLOWS, too!~

When Easter Sunday comes too early in the year the ground in Oklahoma is still mostly brown from our frosty winter weather.  Green grass is a must for this Cali native and so I'm extra excited that it falls late in April this year.  Who can have an Easter Egg Hunt when the earth feels like dry, cracked hay under your feet?

~PRETTY WEBSITE OFFERINGS~

I started early with my Easter Website Offerings this year and I've loved having more time to design and plan new things!  The Pillows you see above will be available later today with more planned for early next week!  The Altered Art Easter Cards, Hang Tags and sweet Tea Bags are already available with new styles coming up in time for Easter gift giving!

 ~MY FAVORITE CARD EVER!~

~MATCHING HAG TAGS, Too!~

 ~GOTTA LOVE THOSE BUNNIES!~

I hope you'll find time to enter my Giveaway that is currently running for some of my Easter Pretties.  You can find more information HERE or you can find a link at the top of this page on the left!

~EASTER GIVEAWAY~
Enter Today!

I hope you are having a great day!  I'm over the moon excited about our French Door being installed in our breakfast room this weekend.  We are praying it doesn't rain so everything will run smooth!  Thanks for all your sweet comments yesterday!  Choosing to remove the window seat was tough...but we are loving the extra space!

Love to you...