The Prize

WOW, the responses have been phenomenal!!  YOUR ideas are amazing for the door quote!  Debbie, I did think about chalkboard paint, and Hudson Paints has a wide range of different colors so it wouldn't necessarily have to be black, which I didn't want, but I don't like how chalk feels in my hands.  LOL  Weird, I know because I am a die hard crafter, but it is the ONLY thing I can't really stand to touch often.  Which you will really find funny by the end of this post. 

I would love each of you to come and visit, for a cup of java or a glass of wine or even a sleepover. teeheee My Aunt Joanne and Uncle Chuck came over from Columbus today and we ended up just sitting back there visiting for the afternoon.  It was SO nice!  She asked me how I came up with the idea and it was simple, I told her.  I had done a basement remodel last winter and SO wanted a wall of doors (Have I mentioned I have an obsession with old doors), but instead I did two walls of fabric. (Which was a lot of fabric)  So, anyway, I had seen a greenhouse of windows and I started thinking, hmmmmm you can do that with doors I bet and in no time I had my team (Builder Jim and Vandy) convinced it would be cool and cheaper than a real shed.  Cheaper is not relevant in this conversation.  And that is how the cottage came to life.  It really isn't a potting shed, although it could be if I really wanted it to be, because my cousin Larry made me this super cool potting bench, which will lead me to tomorrow's blog!!!

So I know you are dieing to know what the giveaway is, aren't you?????  I am seriously dieing to show you!!

Don't you love it???  You can write whatever you want on it in chalk or dry erase markers.  (back to that touch thing)  I can not say how well the dry erase markers work long term.  I have only had it on for a day and washed it off. 

BUT I LOVE THESE BANNERS!!!!!!   They are perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, any celebrations or just a fun decor for the backyard or a kids room.  I have made a few for Addie's college friends for their dorm rooms!  I have to say, this is not my original idea.   I had seen them a couple years ago at a craft show and searched high and low again to buy them, but couldn't find them, so I did what crafter's do.  Trial and error, and now I make them for family and friends. I had not seen them using dry erase markers and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE using all the cool colors that are out there now!!

So, keep submitting your quotes and please feel free to become a follower on my blog, and you could be the lucky owner of this banner!  It will be on it's way to you Monday if you are selected for my door!!!  I am super duper excited for the winner already!  

P.S.  As soon as I get my email to work in blogland I will be sending you emails, I am just not figuring it out when I go to your blogs, it won't let me!  BIG FROWN!  

P.S.S.  I truly have enjoyed reading your blogs and your comments.  They make me smile. 

The Finale of the Gardener's Cottage

Hi!!!  Hello!!!  Bonjour!!  I am so excited that I get to give something super cool away!!!  Did I say SUPER cool!!!  It is super cool!!   Everyone will want one, so make sure you help me out with the quote for my cottage.  Remember, from yesterday's post?  If you don't, I will explain again at the end of this post!!

And finally the last outside wall.  Old doors are just AWESOME!!!

Vandy installed a fan for me just in case I get too hot in the cottage.  I have to say, this is the only ceiling fan we own.  He can NOT stand them.  They dry his eyes out.  I took this picture from the perch (ie the loft). 

How cool is this ladder???  My girlfriend, the owner of live.love.scrap. in Fairborn Ohio, Katie suggested this ladder that she had when I told her I was going ladder shopping for the cottage.  Don't you love how I put every one in my posts?  LOL  After a few tweaks, and figuring out how to not have this HUGE ladder taking up permanent floor space, viola'!!!  I love how it looks, up or down!!!

And finally the pale pink spot I want to put a quote on!  Inspirational for sure.  So, all you need to do is between now and Sunday, post  your favorite quote, saying, or words on my blog and the one that moves me the most and gets posted to my door wins the COOLEST gift of all.  I'll blog about that tomorrow.  I really want to say thank you all for visiting my blog and I hope you continue to be a part of this blogging experience with me! 

To go to the first post about the Little Cottage - just click here

To go to the second post about the Little Cottage - just click here

To go to the third post about the Little Cottage - just click here

To be eligible for the giveaway, leave a comment to this post with your favorite quote, saying or word.  I will pick my favorite to paint on the door.   Winner will be announced on Monday, September 13th on this blog.

Part 3 of a Gardeners Cottage

Ah, thank you all  for stopping by from Jenny's to visit my gardeners cottage.  It just made me so warm and fuzzy inside, better than hot cocoa on a new winter's day!  I have a few more pictures to share with you today and then perhaps tomorrow I will run a little contest as a thank you for all your comments.  Although I rarely enter, because I never win, I absolutely LOVE giving my projects away.  Right Jenny??  teeeheeee

I gathered these sconces at McMaster and Storm in Greenville Ohio.  If you haven't seen their cute little notions you must stop by and check out their store, http://www.mcmasterandstorm.com/ .  I just knew when I saw them I had to have them and they have been in my artist studio for a few years (not the girls from McMaster and Storm, the sconces), safely tucked away for the perfect project!

A picture of the south side of the cottage. 

I love the full wall of doors on the back of my cottage, a little privacy please.  I grabbed these doors in Brookville from an old brick farmhouse, well all except the skinny door.  My girlfriend Lisa gave it to me.  She called it clutter!  Hmmph!  And the window I HAD to have, HAD to have when I saw it in a shop on Route 68 between Springfield and Yellow Springs.  It has been just laying around for two lonely years and now it finally has a home!  I can not wait for the hot weather to break so I can finally paint all the "nekkid" wood as my husband Vandy likes to call it!

I will definitely blog more tomorrow about the loft and show you some really cool problem solving ideas for getting up in the cute lil thing!  Anyway, see the stairs?  See the window, look beside the window and under the stairs to the brown door (this is like a scavenger hunt, lol)  Okay there is the palest of pink area on the brown door that I want to put a quote on (getting the picture?).  So this is where the contest comes into play.  Submit your quotes and the one I pick will get one of the coolest gifts of all time.  Oh, okay, maybe not as cool as a HGTV house or a Vern makeover, but this is really cool.  So, come back tomorrow and I will have some more pictures for you, DO NOT forget your quotes! 

Have a great day!

 

Did you see Part 2 of a Gardeners Cottage?   You missed it!   Accckkkk!   Just click here to go there right now!

Part 2 - Cottage Details

I am is excited to show you the inside of the cottage!!!  Honestly, I wish I could have each and every one of you over for lunch in my Gardener's Cottage.  I have no idea when the gardening shed turned into the cottage, but I am overjoyed about it and want to share it ALL with you! 

Can you contain your excitement?

WAIT, JUST ONE QUESTION .... Do you think you will share this blog with your friends?  I'd like that, because it is super cool!!!  And everyone should rush out and get a husband and a Jim the builder to make you one just like it!!!   Ready?  I know, I am rambling ..... okay, enough waiting .....

Welcome!!  I LOVE this kitchen table.  I grew up eating on this table.  My parents met in Turkey while they were both in the Air Force and this was one of their first purchases.  The chairs are from Vandy's parents house.  They grew up sitting at these chairs, talking world news, local happenings and sharing family meals, just like us.  So I just think this is a perfect spot to work on my computer, read emails, do a few small craft projects or have a couple friends over for lunch or a nice bottle of wine!!

The floor color is awesome too and only took SIX coats of paint to make it perty!!!

This is a twin iron bed that Vandy bought on one of his tours.  It is really CUTE and I just ADORE the peace sign pillow I found at Kohl's for 1/2 price!!!

On one of my door explorations I found this guy on Craigslist that had 4 old doors for 40 bucks.  I was like I am on my way!!!!  Normally the doors around here run for 35 to 75 bucks a piece, so four for forty, whats a two hour drive to Mansfield???  LOL  So, I get there and he says this door just fell over and the old fashioned glass broke right out of it, I'll understand if you don't want it.  I am thinking, DUDE, I just drove 2 hours ONE way, and am saving about 100 bucks, I am taking the broken lead paint peeling door!!!  

When Jim the builder, also my next door neighbor, came over to help me unload them I thought he turned into cousin Larry and was thinking, SHE HAS LOST HER MIND, this isn't even worth burning!!!  Anyway, I thought a mirror would be perfect in a cottage, even if I get startled sometimes when I see myself looking back at me!

And this last shot (oh calm down, I will post more interior shots tomorrow), is from me sitting on the bed looking towards the back of our house.  I love the paper lanterns and pale beads in the evening, just enough light to be romantic and cozy.  We have already had a sleepover (camp out in Vandy's words) in it.   A twin bed at 47 and 56 ..... young at heart is all I can say!!!

So tomorrow you get to see the details, the cool ladder, the bird cage and the loft!!  Yes, my cottage has a loft!!! 

You want to come over, don't you??? 

See you tomorrow!!!!!

Did you see Part One of the Cottage Details?   You didn't?   Just click here to go there now!  

Sharing my little piece of fun (Part 1)

It has been a long time in the planning stages, and then the execution took a bit longer than I had planned.  It is quite a funny story actually. 

I had seen a greenhouse made out of windows.  And I wanted a place to put all my tools and potting things, but not necessarily a greenhouse.  Yes, we have a shed, a 10 x 16 shed, but Vandy (my husband) had it filled up.  I am serious when I say full.  One day I will sneak out there and take a picture of it for you, you'll freak!   It gives a whole new meaning to the words full and filled up!!! 

So anyway, I have this obsession with old doors.  I LOVE them.   So I get this vision going in my head.   Hmmm, I talked to my neighbor.  My neighbor is Jim the builder.  Jim the builder is 70 years old and has had open heart surgery twice.  Jim the builder said no problem.  And I talk to my cousin Larry and he thinks I have flipped my lid AGAIN!!  So, I set out looking for the perfect doors for my idea.  Vandy works so hard I didn't want him to have another project on his plate.  And Jim, yes that Jim, said it would be fairly easy, we don't need to bother Vandy with the details.  AND, Jim the builder is always looking for something to do to keep him active.  Well, four and half months later and Vandy working a bit on it every weekend, my vision is complete.  Jim the builder quit after the vision was framed and doors were in place.  It got hot outside this summer and Vandy wanted to take over. And we were both a little frightened the heart attack number three might occur in our backyard.  Jim the builder assured me he was and is fine!!!   So, after all of the passing of the hammers and power tools between the men, and the two little spats about the roof pitch and skylights, I got to make it pretty.  

Here is a taste of "A Gardener's Cottage" 

View from our back porch.

The cottage.

Just in case you don't know where you are in our backyard.

The front porch.  This was Vandy's idea .. to use up my barn siding. 

My cottage of old doors and windows and barn siding and molding.  You want to peek in the windows don't you???  It is okay to admit it.  Heck, I WANT to peek in the windows.  Well, you guessed it.  Part two is the inside tour of the cottage and more storytelling tomorrow!

You can wait, I assure you!!!!!

If you want to go to Part Two, you can just click here now.

Made it back from summer fun

What a wonderful summer I have had babysitting and playing with three 8 year olds and a 9 year old.  We just had a blast!  Swimming, traveling, sight seeing, exploring, cooking ... it was incredible!  And not ONE photo!  I know.  I know, what an idiot!!!  Okay, I have one photo from the last day.  Here it is. 

Cason and my sister, but honestly that is it.  I don't know why, it just was so busy I didn't even think about grabbing my camera! 

Sooooo, the cottage is finished.  I know you are dieing to see it, because I am dieing to show you.  But, you have to wait until tomorrow.  It's Labor Day and my husband is home and I get to enjoy him all day!!!!

So, I will see you all tomorrow.