Winter Cottage Giveaway...

I realized it has been a year (almost to the day) since I hosted a giveaway, so when I received a 20% off coupon for The Christmas Tree Shop last week, Amanda and I headed over to see what we could find...

Being from New England, I thought it would be fun to offer a Winter Cottage giveaway.

So I found a sparkly little cottage ornament, complete with smoke coming out of the chimney.

And a glittery red bottlebrush tree to match the cottage roof.

And every winter cottage should be surrounded by birch trees, cardinals...


... and snow that glistens like a million little diamonds when the light hits it just right.

I thought this little Winter Cottage vignette looked nice displayed on this red, green, and tan woven placemat (white tray not included). This is a very simple (and not at all costly) giveaway. Anybody who lives near a Christmas Tree Shop can attest to that! But if you would like a chance to win it, just leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner after midnight of Friday, November 26th! I'm sharing these goodies I found on Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, so be sure to stop over and see what everyone else is sharing this week!! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

COMMENT UPDATE: I've had a few queries - yes, this contest is open to everyone, even those outside of the States. Thanks for asking!

Donna

It's not your mother's pumpkin patch!

Since a few of you have commented on the fabric pumpkin in my fall banner...


... I thought I'd repeat a post I did last year about these yummy shabby/cottage pumpkins made by the incredibly talented Ronda of Tempting Textiles (formerly Cherry Blossom Cottage).

I've gotten a variety of pumpkins from her over the years (as well as slipcovers for my office chairs!)...

... and I absolutely love decorating with them in the fall!

They look great alone, as the main attraction...

...or piled high, making a colorful cottage pumpkin patch!

I think Ronda picked the perfect name for her new shop - Tempting Textiles... These guys are definitely tempting!!!!

Here's a sampling of some of the fabric pumpkins Ronda has in her shop right now:


Oooh la la!!! Just look at these white pumpkins with marabou fur trim and button accents!

Or how about these soft cottage-green floral pumpkins...

All my favorite colors... blue, pink, green, and white!

This fabric is wild and colorful and I absolutely LOVE it!!! Be sure to check out all Ronda's other fabric pumpkins at Tempting Textiles... Click on SHOP, then HOLIDAY BLING, and then PUMPKINS. And while you're there, check out all of her other creations, too... slipcovers, Christmas decor, and vintage items!

Now I know I just finished a giveaway, but to celebrate Ronda's new shop I'm going to pick a name on October 7th and one of you will be able to choose a set of Ronda's pumpkins for your very own! Anyone who entered my previous Autumn Giveaway contest will automatically be entered, as well as those who commented on the pumpkin in my banner... And, of course, if you comment on this post your name will go into the hat... So good luck to everyone!

Check back Wednesday and I'll announce the winner!!

Happy October!

Donna

3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway...

It's that time of year again!!!

(click any photos to enlarge)

The lovely Kim of The Twice Remembered Cottage (One Woman's Cottage Life) is hosting the 3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway!!! (Thank you, Kim!)

This year I'm opening up my giveaway to both U.S. and International entries....

...and I thought it would be fun to offer a kitchen themed giveaway....

... so I headed to one of my favorite places (all giveaway items are from The Christmas Tree Shop) and put together the following items.... a pair of green toile oven mitts, a set of heart-shaped measuring spoons, and an appliqued 'hydrangea' dishtowel...

... all tucked into this little quilted tote.

You'll also get one of the aprons you saw hanging in the first photos....


Here you can see the style of all 3 aprons (my Amanda is modeling the light blue floral one).


But you get to choose whether you want:


The green toile apron....


The light blue floral apron...



Or the dark blue floral apron.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post and I'll draw the winner on May 30th... Good luck to everyone who enters!!!!


Now, be sure to click the logo below to go to Kim's lovely blog where you'll find a list of everyone participating in this year's Cottage Charm Giveaway (and if it's anything like last year's giveaway, you'll be blown away by all the incredible goodies being offered!!!) And while you're there, be sure to check out all the incredibily realistic sweets and treats that Kim creates!


Good luck, everyone!!! And thank you again, Kim!




Donna

Hello, old friend!

Fresh strawberries are once again making a regular appearance in the supermarket produce section. It's like seeing an old friend again after a long absence...


I enjoy the ritual of preparing them to go into the fridge... First, rinsing them in the colander...


...and then carefully hulling them so I only remove the stems (I don't want to waste a single morsel by removing too much!!)...

A bowl of cereal tastes sooooooooo good when topped with fresh strawberries (or blueberries!)... Cereal is both a breakfast and snack food in our house... and the fresh fruit adds so much to it!! Yummy!

Also, just a quick reminder that today is the last day....

... to enter my "1 year blog anniversary giveaway" (click photo to go to entry the entry post).... Good luck to everyone who entered! I'll be announcing the winner in the next day or two!

Donna

Shabby Cottage Giveaway - Bunny, Birds, and Blooms!

Happy Pink Saturday! I cannot believe it's been almost a year since I started blogging, and I've really enjoyed getting to know so many of you!


My very first post, on March 16, 2008, featured this crackled vase of faux pink roses that sits on my dining room table...

Therefore, it only seemed fitting that my first anniversary giveaway include lots of PINK roses! (That, plus the fact that I'm soooo anxious for spring, and I thought many of you might feel the same way!!!) So I went shopping as though I were picking things out for myself; I hope you like my choices! All of these items were purchased from one of my favorite places, The Christmas Tree Shop... As anyone here in the northeast knows, CTS is not an expensive store, but you can always find some pretty cool stuff there! So let me show you what I picked out, just for YOU!!!
(click any photo to enlarge)

There you have it - everything you see on top of the pie safe (except for the lamp - that's mine!!)


You all know how much I love birds and, from your comments, I know a lot of you love them, too! So when I spotted this love bird topiary, I KNEW it had to be part of my giveaway!


Ever since I got them home they've been so excited, chirping back and forth to each other, wondering who the winner will be and where they will be going to live!


And you also know that one of my very favorite colors is robin's egg blue, so when I spotted this fringed pillow with lush pink roses I grabbed it for the giveaway! (It reminds me of a vintage barkcloth material)...



This shabby little garden bunny hopped over to me and asked if he could be part of the giveaway, too... I hope you all like heavily distressed pieces because he's missing quite a bit of his chippy paint...

... especially on his left side... But I told him that I thought you would all love him, just as he is! He asked if he could pose with the two little planter boxes that the winner will get... Again, robin's egg blue and pink roses... It was a done deal as soon as I saw them!

And lastly, this little floral quilted tote with braided handles. These were being sold as lunch bags (they have a soft insulated/plastic interior and a velcro close tab)... I actually bought one of these last year to tote around Delilah, my little Garmin GPS unit... Very handy!!

So there you have it! I hope you like all the goodies I chose for you... It's such a small way to say Thank You to each and every one of you who visit my blog, both old friends and new. Just leave a comment on this blog post and you will be entered into the giveaway. I'm going to keep it open until midnight EST on March 31st... I'll post the winner on April 1st or 2nd.

And if you mention this giveaway on your blog, please mention that in your comment so I can enter your name twice... And if you don't have a blog, please be sure to leave an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

Now please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see her Pink Saturday post! While there, you'll also find a list of all the other pink-loving bloggers who are participating in today's PINK SATURDAY!


Donna

Autumn/Halloween Giveaway!

Look who's smiling, because giveaways always make people (and jack-o-lanterns) smile!!!


Since I totally missed my 100th post giveaway (by a long shot), I'm going to do an autumn/Halloween giveaway instead!


"Can I enter the giveaway?" asks the little black kitty...

No, little black kitty... You can't enter because you are part of the giveaway!


"Then who can enter?" asks the jeweled Indian corn...

Why anybody who leaves a comment on this particular post, little Indian corn... (And be sure to leave an e-mail if your comment doesn't link back to a blog so that I'll be able to notify you if you win!!)


And the little autumn leaf and acorn want to remind you that, "October will be here before you know it!!" ... therefore, a winner will be chosen at midnight on Wednesday, October 1st (yes, I am a night owl!) But that's only a few days from now, so be sure to leave a comment soon! And if you mention my Autumn/Halloween giveaway on your blog, please let me know and your name will be entered twice!!


"So what exactly does the giveaway winner get?"


Well, the winner will receive all of you!! 1) The outdoor Halloween mat [just like the one on my blog banner]; 2) the assortment of Indian corn; and 3) the autumn leaf/acorn dishtowel...

Happy fall - Happy autumn - and Happy Halloween to everyone!!

Donna

Cottage Charm Giveaway#1 - Cottage by the Sea

CONGRATULATIONS to Anonymous (racefankellen@verizon.net) for being the winner of the Cottage by the Sea giveaway!!!

How fun! I've decided to take part in Kim's (The Twice Remembered Cottage - One Woman's Cottage Life) 2nd annual cottage giveaway (be sure to visit her site for links to all of the participating blogs!)... and I've decided to do not one, but two giveaways!

Since I live in New England, I had to do one ocean-themed giveaway! So this is Giveaway #1, the "Cottage by the Sea" collection, and the winner will receive everything pictured above...

... a sweet little 8" wreath that is covered with seashells of creamy white, cottage blue and robin's egg blue (all the colors of the ocean!)...

... a distressed mermaid on a pedestal, measuring just under 9" wide x 15" tall...

... a box of 8 flameless, flickering (battery operated) tealite candles in the most heavenly blue ever! And lastly, a set of 5 cottage-colored, lace trimmed doilies - cottage blue, minty green, sunny yellow, soft cream, and pure white, all about 5"x7"...

To be entered into the drawing for this collection, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post or any future post up until the drawing date of May 31st. You do not have to have a blog to enter, but if your comment doesn't link back to a blog, be sure to leave an e-mail address so that I can notify you if you win!

I'm also going to post a second giveaway within the next day or two. You can enter that giveaway the same way - just by leaving a comment on that post or any other post through May 31st.

If you comment on any other posts I make between now and May 31st, and would like that comment to count toward the giveaway, then put #1 for this drawing or #2 for the next drawing after your comment so I know which giveaway you want your name entered into. If you don't care which drawing you're entered into, just put #1/#2 after your comment. The more comments you leave between now and May 31st, the more chances you have to win, but just one comment per post please :)

Aren't giveaways so much fun?? Thank you, Kim, for such a great idea, and good luck everyone!!

Donna