5 Days of Giveaways! Day 5: Ramsign Enamel Signs!

Since this is the last day of giveaways, and I want you to have plenty of time to get your entries in, I am posting this one a little early.

For the last day of our week of giveaways, I have a fabulous vintage-inspired enamel sign for one lucky reader!  Ramsign is offering one of my readers an enamel sign of their choice!  It can be a name or number sign for your home, or add a little vintage flair indoors by your entry, in the bathroom, kitchen!  There are so many places they can be used!  In case you haven't yet heard of or seen Ramsign, let me give you a little sample of what they have in store.

Can you tell I love the numbered signs?  How awesome does that look on the fence?  It's perfect!  You want your very own now, don't you???

Here is how to win, and make sure to leave a separate comment per entry:
1. Follow my blog.
2. Head over to  Ramsign ad tell me which style is your favorite.
3. Tell me what you would get on your very own Ramsign!

Giveaway closes Saturday, Jan 1 at midnight EST, and winner announced on Sunday, January 2, 2011.

5 Days of Giveaways! Day 4: The Speckled Dog

Many of you probably already know Kristi over at The Speckled Dog, but if you don't, you are missing out!  She is clever, creative, and colorful!  Here are some of her amazing works that are currently available in her etsy shop.


What did I say- colorful, right?  Aside from wonderful vintage finds, and eclectic painted goods, Kristi also offers hand knit items.  I know what you are thinking, "She knits, too?!?!?"  Well, yes, she does, and she is darn good at it.  (he he- pun intended. )
Kristi is giving away one of her wonderful hand-knit cowls.  This will be sure to keep your neck warm, and more importantly stylish, this winter!  The winner can choose from one of the following...
cranberry:


chartreuse:


nantucket blue:


and oatmeal:


So how can you win?  You have several ways to enter, and make sure you leave a SEPARATE COMMENT PER ENTRY.

1. Follow my blog.
2. Follow Kristi's blog.
3. Visit Kristi's etsy shop and let me know your favorite item.
4. Make The Speckled Dog one of your favorites on Etsy.

That's 4 chances to win!  This giveaway is open until midnight EST on Saturday January 1, 2011.  Winners announced Sunday, January 2.
Good luck!

My Favorites of 2010 and a Sneak Peek into 2011! AND a question/poll!

With all the best of 2010 parties going on right now, I thought I would share my favorite projects of each month of 2010.  They maybe weren't yours, but that's ok. :)  And maybe you haven't seen some of them since I didn't really start navigating the blog world until the Spring, even though I had this blog much longer.  So let's look back, shall we?

January

Cheap and Chic Artwork

February

Mirrored Nightstands

March

Before & After

April

Another French Sideboard Gets a Fresh Look (My most popular post ever!)

May

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

June

French Blue Beauty

July

The Evolution of My Bedroom

August

What Did I Do With It?

September

Emmy's New Dresser

October

I'll Take a Sideboard of Cranberry Sauce, Please!

November

Friday Night Wine & Design: Wreaths

December

Maria's Anthropologie Style Dresser

So there you have it!  Those are my favorite posts from 2010!  Hopefully you saw something you didn't see before.  Now a sneak peek into 2011....

These are paper lanterns from IKEA which I found today for $2 each (without the bulb and electric capabilities).  I am using them just as paper decor, no lights.  Sawyer got one that he is using as a desk light...

Clearly, it is helping him create masterpieces.

And lastly today, I have a question for you.  I would like honest answers.  What would you like to see from Primitive & Proper in 2011?  More furniture, different techniques?  More of my own home?  Less of anything?  What do you love and what do you (hate is a strong word) not love so much?

Thanks for a wonderful 2010!  I appreciate each and every one of you, and have made so many wonderful friends this year.  And I know people tend to differentiate between real friends and bloggy friends, but this is me.  So if you are my bloggy friend, you are a real friend.  Capiche?  Good.  Let's leap into 2011 together, and make this world a prettier, safer, and happier place together, one furniture redo or room makeover at a time!

I am linking to Rhoda's Party

5 Days of Giveaways! Day 3: Eco Natural Soaps (with Review)

About a month ago, Alicia, from Eco Natural Soap, contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in trying out her products and doing a review.  Would I?  Well let me think.... I do try to use products that are mostly natural  for my skin and hair.  I truly believe it is not only better for the environment, but better for my body in the way it works, and mush less toxic!  So, yes!!!  I would definitely love to try them out!  She told me to choose, but there were so many options, that I told her shw could surprise me, though I knew I wanted to try the shampoo bar.  About a week later, a lovely smelling package arrived for me:

As you can see, I got 2 lip balms, 2 body bars, a shampoo bar, and a body butter.

I had the Pure Delight Body Butter in a citrus fragrance.  It smelled wonderful, like freshly squeezed lemons and oranges.  But the best part was the way it worked and moisturized.  I have extrmely dry skin, especially on my legs.  This time of year is especially bad.  This body butter felt like it was melting right into my skin and worked to keep them moisturized all day.  It was frankly amazing.  My husband used it as well and liked it, and he loved that it didn't smell "girly" but it smelled nice and fresh.

The shampoo bar was one of my favorite products.   I have a an area of my scalp behind my right ear that always gets very dry and is one of those things I hope my hair covers so no one sees it.  I used the bar and really worked it into my scalp and problem solved.  I wish I had taken before and after pictures so you could see, but I didn't want a picture of my icky scalp online. :)  What I love about this is also how easy it is to take to the gym.

The The Seaweed and Chlorella complexion bar is one that I use every day.  It smells fresh and keeps my skin feeling nice, and not filmy at all.

The other bar I tried was the Tepezcohuite Acne and Troubled Skin Bar.  This is one that I use every other day as it helps to exfoliate.  It smells so fresh and clean, and I love that I can feel it working.  This may be TMI, but I love to rub it on my legs and my butt, because it feels somewhat like a lower body massage!

And the lip balms are both wonderful.  The peppermint is great when my lips are feeling chapped as it moisturizes and soothes.  The other one I had was a daily favorite until I accidentally left it on my pocket, took my jeans off and did laundry that day.... I now have a nice clean lip bam tube.  But it was in my pocket because I couldn't leave my house without it.  It felt so nice, not greasy at all.  It was very light and kept my lips soft and kissable- just ask Mr. P & P.

And now, here is the chance for you to try these awesome products!  Alicia and her husband are offering you guys YOUR CHOICE of two soaps, one balm/butter, ad one lip balm!  How awesome is that?!?!?

Here is how you can win, and please, LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH.  if you leave all answers in one comment, it counts as only one entry.  You have 4 chances to enter!
1. Follow my blog- leave a comment saying so.
2. Visit Eco Natural Soap and let me know the name of the product you want to try most.
3. Follow Alicia's blog, Eco Friendly Homemaking.  Leave a comment letting me know.
4. Answer this question:  What is your number one trouble area?  I had told Alicia mine, and she selected items that would help me.

Good luck!!  Giveaway closes Saturday at mindight EST, and winners announced on Sunday.  Check out the previous giveaways as well!

Piece of Work Wednesday Number 16!

Hello there!  With all the giveaways going on, I am still hosting POWW this week.  I can't wait to see what you have been working on!  I have been enjoying family time, and spend the afternoon here...

at We Froze The Grinch at the National Harbor.  It was amazing!  I got to go down a big slide made of ice!  My dad took some pictures so hopefully I can get some from him to show you.
Anyhow, with the holidays, I made time for a rather small project.  It started out as this little stool.

Pretty gross, huh?  I wasn't sure how I wanted to paint it so I perused my fabric on hand first.  I had ordered an Amy Butler midwestern mod fabric a while ago and it was perfect for this little stool.  I had a perfect paint on had that coordinated well, Benjamin Moore's Showtime.  Here it is now after being recovered and painted.  Much cooler, huh?  I wish it was a little narrower so I could use it by my front door!

Pictured with my favorite boots, 10 yrs old from J. Crew and still going strong!

So what have you been working on?
Oh, and before you link up, don't forget to enter my giveaways!  Click on the links to get to them.
Kantan Designs: "Go and Do" Poster
Where the Grass is Greener: Vintage Magnets
More giveaways coming each day this week!
Please Remember.... FURNITURE MAKEOVERS ONLY!


I really hate emailing people or commenting on people who have linked up other items.... etsy shops, no thank you, not at this party!

Rules Schmules:
1. You must be a follower of this here ol' blog.
2. Make sure you post a permalink and not just a link to your main blog page.
3. Your link MUST BE A FURNITURE MAKEOVER.
4. Please add my button to your post or sidebar.
5. Not required, but please be kind and go visit some of the other links.
6. Party on!
Alright, get this party started!
Sharing here:

5 Days of Giveaways! Day 2: Where the Grass is Greener

I have another wonderful giveaway for you today!  Renee from Where the Grass is Greener is offering two gorgeous vintage jewelry magnets!  How lovely would these look on your design board?  or even on your refrigerator to add a little bling to your kitchen?

Aren't they lovely?   Don't you want them to help you get organized in style in 2011?
Here's how you can win!

LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH THAT YOU DO:
1. Follow my blog.
2. Follow Renee's Blog which is full of vintage inspired ideas!  Also, she is 6 people shy of 100 followers and once she reaches that number will be hosting a giveaway!
3. Visit Renee's Etsy shop Where the Grass is Greener and let me know your favorite item.
4. Make Where the Grass is Greener one of your favorites on Etsy.
5. Visit Renee's other Etsy shop, Country Tag Sale and let me know your favorite item there.
6. Make Country Tag Sale one of your Etsy faves!

You have 6 chances to win!!!  6!!!!  Comment away, and good luck!  This giveaway closes on Saturday and winners announced on Sunday, January 2, 2011.

A Simple Little Silhouette Project

My brother's girlfriend works retail and couldn't travel out here with him, and her birthday was Dec 22nd.  I had a gift for her that I am sending back with him.  I was excited to put the Silhouette to use for something really simple, like making a card that really completes the gift wrap.   I think I got the wrapping paper last year at IKEA; it's really cool- reversible and solid orange on the other side.  I used a ribbon that had the red and pink in it plus some green (a Christmas ribbon, really), and made a little cake shaped card with my Silhouette and some white cardstock.  The cake design is one of the ones that comes with it, so it was totally free, and the machine even creates the crease for folding when it cuts it out.  It took me all of two minutes and is a really cute touch!  Now I just can't wait to see if she liked the gift I made her! :)

I hear Silhouette is having a great special right now!  If you are on the fence, get one!  I was so excited to make a simple little card like this little cake!

5 Days of Giveaways! Day 1: Kantan Designs Poster!

Today I am so excited to kick of a week of giveaways!  I thought this would be a great way to end the year and thank you all for your support, and also a great way to reward you for surviving the holidays!  You have been crafting, shopping, baking, giving.... now how bout some treats for you?

We're starting with one mf my favorite Etsy shops, Kantan Designs.  Heather creates fabulous posters for your home, such as these...


And my personal favorite is the one I have framed and sitting on my nightstand...

Heather has agreed to give away my very favorite "Go and Do" poster!  Here is how you can get chances to win!

1. Be a follower of my blog- Leave a comment saying so!
2. Go to Kantan Designs and tell me your favorite item.
3. Make Kantan Designs one of your Etsy favorites, and leave a comment letting me know you did so.

This giveaway is open through Saturday, January 1, and winner will be announced on Sunday, January 2, 2011!  Good luck!

You Can Find Me at Hi, Sugarplum! Today!

I am honored to be guest postig at Hi, Sugarplum! today.  Come over and see me as part of Cassie's...


Be sure to come see me, and check out all the wonderful guest bloggers she had last week, and more to come this week! 

POWW Faves, and a Week of Giveaways!

Later that night.... (Our tradition is to give the kids matching Christmas pj's on Christmas Eve)

Hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas, and that Santa was good to you.  We have had a great weekend, hanging out with family and friends, playing with new toys, and more!  Emmy made the whole holiday worthwhile with her exuberant and joyful reactions to each and every gift, right down to tights and underwear!  Oh, and Christa, I went out and bought Just Dance 2 for the Wii today!  They were out of the original, but I am still looking forward to breaking it down! :)
Before I delve into my faves, here is a sample of Emmy's enthusiasm over gifts, in particular underwear in this picture.  This is from my camera o Christmas morning, but my dad got some great shots on Christmas Eve that I don't have yet.

I wanted to share with you my faves from POWW last week.... sorry I am a little late, but I was busy spending time with my family.
I loved this desk form Home Hinges,  The nice modern lines with the soft aqua color appeal to me so much!


How cute is this chair from

Lastly, this dresser from Holly at Roller Coaster Life is just gorgeous!  The wood top with the white base, and curviness are wonderful!  I even got to meet Holly in person last week as she just joined the gym I work at!  We took Zumba together and had a blast!!!  And we looked freaking awesome. ;)


And now my last bit of news... starting tomorrow, I am having 5 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!!!!  There will be a new giveaway each day, and I will announce all winners on Sunday, January 2nd.  You will have until Jan 1st to enter!  Good luck!