I have the pleasure of working with a lot of amazing sponsors who sell really neat things or provide great services.  I’m so pleased to be able to offer a giveaway from one of them, Cat of Baby Jewels.  She has made some personalized things for me to use for my business, including a fondant stamp… …and a self-inking business stamp… …and she most recently made a fabric decal for the wall in my space at Lucketts.  I received it just before I went on vacation, so I don’t have a picture of it to share.  It looks amazing, though!  The fabric decals feel and look like silk and are repositionable over 100 times!  In addition to the decal designs shown, a decal can be made out of any of the stamp designs in Baby Jewel’s shop in your choice of two colors.  Cat is generously giving one of my readers

Summer came early for me this year as I started decorating for it in April.  I’m learning that when one works as a freelance tutorial writer for magazines and home decor sites, the seasons get pretty muddled.  It’s been a learning process and definitely a fun one.  My summer decorating ideas and tutorials are now available on HGTV.com.  Sea Shell Mirror I sold this at the Lucketts Antique Market in May. Nautical Twine Lamp and Shade Patriotic Bunting This one was fun to figure out and would be great if you need a custom size.  Simple Outdoor Pillow This pillow is easy to make and will open up an entire world of fabrics to use on your porch, deck, patio or Lanai.  Made-from-scratch Window Boxes You can also read my tutorial on how to make a plastic planter look like concrete in the current issue (July 2011) of Cottages and

I have a confession to make.  I have been holding out on you, my readers.  I started using a paint a few months ago and have not shared it with you.  Yes.  I confess.  I’m a terrible, horrible, selfish, wretched blogger.  Whew!  I feel so much better now that I have that off my chest.  To assuage my guilt, I am hosting an amazing giveaway.  John Millen Hardware is graciously offering one winner their choice of two Old Fashioned Milk Paint colors, plus one tin of Fiddes and Sons’ Clear Wax and one tin of Rugger Brown Wax.  Milk Paint is the secret behind my super-chippy pieces that always get a big reaction.  I sold this one even before I could get it to the Lucketts Antique Market in May and I had two other people ask to buy it (even with a SOLD tag on it.) (Color – Slate) I’m going to make

If you’ve visited my blog at all in the last few months, you probably know what my favorite furniture paint is.  You know it…you love it…you want it… Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint! One of their newest stockists (in the DFW Metroplex), Karla or Lady Butterbug, is offering up a generous giveaway of two cans of Chalk Paint (in the colors the winner selects), plus a can of clear soft wax and an amazing wax brush.  In the words of Jeff Probst, “Worth playing for?” To whet your appetite for it, here are some pieces I painted with Chalk Paint.  (Old White and Louis Blue) (Louis Blue and Old White with dark wax) (Old White) Here’s how to enter… Visit Lady Butterbug and leave a comment here letting me know which two colors you would select if you win.  For a second chance to win, visit Karla’s blog, become a follower and