The Copper Poppy

Since it tis the season for giving I have put together a month of giveaways for YOU (this is the final one;) as a thank you for following and reading the blog.  It's my small way to say "thank you" and to let you know how much I appreciate your continued interest and support, and how grateful I am to those who take the time to leave comments.  

It means so much to me to have you here.

I'd like to introduce you to Alyssa of The Copper Poppy!  Alyssa creates custom hand-stamped accessories for pets and their people.  Knowing how many of you are dog lovers I knew you would  love this giveaway!   I met Alyssa on Instagram- she and her husband left the big city (Chicago) to move to New Hampshire a couple of years ago- sound familiar?!  She lives on a charming antique farmstead with two precious dogs (Darby and Poppy) and two beautiful horses (Moxie and Finnegan).  It wasn't until I started corresponding with Alyssa about doing a giveaway that I found out that she used to read my blog back when she lived in the Chicago suburbs and she would dream about how "she" could possibly make such a move one day!  A job opportunity for her husband made the dream a reality three years ago.  Like us, Alyssa and her husband love it here!  

Here is a small sampling of her charming pieces for dogs, cats and horses...

Alyssa also makes jewelry and keepsakes for weddings, gifts, anniversaries, etc.
(This one looks like it could have been made just for me!)

Alyssa has kindly offered to giveaway 2- $30 gift certificates!

To enter the giveaway please visit The Copper Poppy , then come back to the blog and simply leave a comment naming a piece in the collection you would choose if you won!  

Once again, if you are commenting as anonymous please remember to include your email address, and if you are entering with a google account, please make sure there is an email associated with the account- many google accounts do not have an email, so this is important!  If you are uncertain leave your email in your comment to be safe!  (You can't win if I don't have an email address available.)  The giveaway will run for 3 days and will close on Tuesday, December 31st at 8 p.m. EST.  
The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only (sorry to all others.)

The winner will be contacted via email.

Alyssa is also offering a 15% discount to my readers for the duration of the giveaway!  Simply enter HOUSELOVE15 at checkout.

The giveaway is now closed.

The giveaway ended with 127 comments; however, 1 of those comments was a reply to the original comment with an email address, which counts as one, so that left a total number of true entries at 126.  

A random number generator chose the following entry.  Congratulations pammbw and Auntiepatch!

giving back...

First, I want to thank you for all your wonderful calling cards that you left in the Christmas tray!  It was such fun to read about you and where you live, and to read all your sweet comments and well wishes.!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

In this season of giving, I know that this is the time when many of us make our final charity donations of the year.  I realize you all probably have your own favorite charity (there are so many important causes to be helped), but I wanted to share one that hits closest to our hearts in case you are unaware of it.

I truly do not have the words to express how profoundly grateful Dan and I are to the men and women who serve and protect our country.  When a single one comes home injured it breaks our hearts;  that there are so many injured is unbearable.
When we first became aware of the Semper Fi Fund we were deeply touched by the work this amazing organization does.  We hope after reading about them, you will be touched too and will consider making a donation.

The Semper Fi Fund , a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, and its program America's Fund, provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.  They direct urgently needed resources to post 9/11 service members, who meet their criteria for assistance, from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserves.
They provide financial, emotional, and tiered support for our injured and ill service members and their families.  Please click HERE to read about their many programs.

The Semper Fi Fund has been awarded the highest ratings from the Watch Dog groups: 4 stars from
Charity Navigator for five consecutive years, and an A+ from the Charity Watch, one of only three veteran nonprofits to receive this highest rating.  The Semper Fi Fund maintains a low overhead (6%) which allows for rapid assistance with no red tape.
(On a personal note... not long after we moved to New Hampshire, both my mother and Dan's mother mentioned to us that they had been donating for decades to a veteran's charity that had a NH address.  After investigating the charity on Charity Navigator and Charity Watch we found that this particular charity had very low ratings.  I know we all want our donations to have the most impact they can, so be sure to check out these Watch Dog groups.  If you have elderly parents you might want to help them verify that their donations are going to a well-rated charity also.)

Twice a year you receive a newsletter that highlights some of the heroes that the Semper Fi Fund has assisted.  I cannot tell you how inspirational these stories are.

Donations may be made online HERE

Or check donations may be made to:
Semper Fi Fund
825 College Boulevard
Suite 102, PMB 609
Oceanside, CA  92057



  for all they have done and given for us, it is the very least we can do...
with much love, gratitude and respect,
Joan and Dan

please leave your calling card...

I didn't want to let this holiday season pass by without wishing you a very Happy Holiday!

I also want to tell you how grateful I am that you are here visiting, and that you are interested in the stories of our farmhouse, and my interior and exterior design projects.
Your presence here is a gift, and 
I thank you.

I am often asked to show Christmas decorations around the farmhouse.  In all honesty, I find the month of December to be a bit emotionally and visually overwhelming!    So, because of that I like to decorate very simply- using fresh greens and lots of white lights!  Simple touches here and there to honor the
spirit of the season.

Mavis with a boxwood garland

The barn room on a cold, snowy Sunday afternoon.  Ella is snuggled into the leather chair with her "bear" throw!

The iron gates leading to the barn mud room.

A boxwood garland draped over the antique iron pediment in the barn room.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas decor ;), but when I was taking photographs for this post I thought it was such a pretty shot with the sunlight on the Japanese fishing floats!

  

Wreath on the folly garden gate.
View from the kitchen sink window at dusk.

The front porch at sunset.

(Since I took this photograph, I've wrapped the upstairs porch railing in white lights too.)  

The winter moon on the farmhouse.

The living room mantel with tiny pearl lights and fresh greenery.
Antique brass "Christmas" tray on the coffee table.

As you might recall from Christmas' past, this tray is a favorite of mine that I like to bring out this time of year.  It was originally silver-plated, but now only hints of silver remain.  It is marked...  .

MA
from
Mary and Nannie
Christmas
1881

Over the years I have spent hours wondering who was MA?, who were Mary and Nannie?, what was their Christmas like the year this beautiful tray was given as a gift?, where did they live?, and on and on...

Just as I wonder about these three people whose names are engraved on an antique tray that has a presence in my home, I also wonder about you, who also have a presence here. 
Some of you I know, as you leave me dear comments or send emails....but others of you remain a mystery. On my site meter I get repeat visits from places that are near and dear to us, and places that are far away and magical. Dan and I often talk about and wonder who all of you are!

One year I mentioned that I would notice a regular visitor from a tiny town in Oregon and that we would love to know who that person was, as Dan's father is buried in a cemetery in this small town.

 Several days after Christmas that year I received an email from the woman.  I cried as I read it to Dan.  She wrote that she lived within walking distance of the cemetery where Dan's father is buried, that her son learned to ride his bike there, and that she and her husband often take walks in the cemetery.  To know that someone across the country just happened to find my blog, and now visits our home, and to know that that person lives so close to Dan's father's resting place, and that this all happened because we share a love of houses is a sweet and dear connection that makes the world seem that much smaller. 

You just never know the connections that we all have to one another... . 

It was the custom in the period of this Victorian tray, that guests would leave their printed "calling cards" in trays at the homes they visited. (to see images of antique calling cards click here)
Dan and I are hoping that in the spirit of the holidays that you, too, will drop your "calling card" in the tray and tell us who you are, where you live, and/or anything else about yourself that you wish to share.
 We would love to hear from each and every one of you- those who regularly visit and leave comments, and those of you who usually come and go quietly!!

Please leave your card in the tray!

From our home to yours.... 
Merry Christmas!!

joan, dan and ella

Cross Bottles by Artie Vanderpool

Since it tis the season for giving I have put together a month of giveaways for YOU as a 

thank you for following and reading the blog.  It's my small way to say "thank you" and to let you know how much I appreciate your continued interest and support, and how grateful I am to those who take the time to leave comments.  

It means so much to me to have you here.

I'm guessing most of you know my friend Artie Vanderpool, of the blog Color Outside the Lines?!  Artie has been blogging for about 6 years now- and was one of the first "design bloggers" on the scene. He is a talented designer who works in the Buffalo, New York area, and also has clients in Florida.  Artie is not only an interior designer, but is an artisan as well- he makes the most beautiful Cross Bottles!

In 2007 Artie started crafting unique works of art out of antique/vintage chandelier prisms, and sea life that had washed ashore.  Crafting with metal he masterfully places them atop antique and vintage bottles creating one-of-a-kind works of art.  From literally hand-digging the bottles from antique dump sites to sourcing chandelier prisms from around the world,  Artie maintains complete creative control, resulting in a finished bottle that is not only an artisan piece, but is also made with love!

 Artie said, "When I first started making bottles it took some time to get it right, but once I did, the first bottle I ever sold had a beautiful little four-point crystal cross, with five individual octagonal prisms hugging the joints.  To this day it remains a very special design for me, and is also one of my best sellers."

Artie has graciously offered to giveaway three of his special, best-selling Cross Bottles to three of my readers. The bottles have a retail value of $70 each.
The first winner will have first choice, the second winner.....
Here is the beautiful giveaway collection!

Number 1 is the frosted bottle on the left in the group photograph.

The second bottle is taller clear bottle in the middle in the group photograph.



And the third bottle is the smaller clear bottle on the right in the group photograph.

To enter the giveaway, please visit Artie's shop: Cross Bottle Guy, then come back and simply leave a comment! 

Once again, if you are commenting as anonymous please remember to include your email addresss, and if you are entering with a google account, please make sure there is an email associated with the account.  The giveaway will run for 3 days and will close on Saturday, December 21st at 8 p.m. EST.  

  The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only (sorry to all others.)

The winner will be contacted via email.

Artie has also marked down all his current inventory on his website 20% for all my readers for the duration of the giveaway!  Now is a wonderful time to start building a collection for yourself, or for someone on your holiday list!!  Artie is always adding new inventory, so be sure to check the website often.

The giveaway is now closed.

Artie Vanderpool's Cross Bottle giveaway ended with 196 comments; however, three of those comments were replies with email addresses that were forgotten in the original entry, the fourth was a comment of support by someone (Michele) who did not wish to be entered.  That left a total number of true entries at 192.  A random sequence generator chose the following entries.

The winners are:

Wenda
Lynn
Jo

Congratulations!

Have you met Ted Kennedy Watson?!

Since it tis the season for giving I have put together a month of giveaways for YOU as a 

thank you for following and reading the blog.  It's my small way to say "thank you" and to let you know how much I appreciate your continued interest and support, and how grateful I am to those who take the time to leave comments.  

It means so much to me to have you here.

If you don't already know the stylish and affable Ted Kennedy Watson, you need to meet him!
Ted is the proprietor of  two wonderful shops in beautiful Seattle- Watson Kennedy Fine Home and Watson Kennedy Fine Living.  (To honor his late father, the business name is his father's name backwards.) Ted is a master curator- handpicking every item in both his shops, and he believes that it's the simple things that make life grand.  From a wonderfully scented candle or soap, to a vintage cocktail shaker, or the perfect note card Ted brings them all to life in his shops (which are shrines to find the perfect gift- either for someone else or yourself;)   His skills creating display vignettes are both inviting and inspiring.  In fact, years before I met Ted through blogging I would make it a point to go to his shop in Pikes Place Market whenever we flew to Seattle from Dallas to antique shop.  It was a must-stop for me, even if the shop was closed I would peek in all the windows to get inspiration for display vignettes for my antiques business.  I'm sure Ted cursed the person leaving all those nose prints on his windows!
I adore this quote from the website,  "The shops and this web site are really an extension of my homes and how I feel the good life can be lived.  Design, gift giving, manners, style- all have great importance to me.  We live in such a rushed world!  I want to inspire people to light a candle, set a stunning dinner table, or hand write a note:  time will slow down and we become more aware of our surroundings.  The shops are a reflection of that quality and my life, my travels, and the things I love."
Ted is also a fellow blogger pinning the blog Ted Kennedy Watson -which is a little bit Martha (think decorating tips) and a little bit Ina (think elegant, yet simple, recipes) all rolled into lots of inspiration and beautiful images.   You've probably seen Ted before;  his home or his shops have been featured in House Beautiful, In Style, Allure, Country Living, Lucky and Domino magazines.  His Seattle home was featured in Homes Across America (that was the best show ever, in my opinion) and his Vashon Island cottage on Small Space, Big Style, both on HGTV.
  

Ted is also a the author of 

Style & Simplicity

 An A to Z Guide to Living a More Beautiful Life

which will be published May 2014. 

The iconic Barbara Barry wrote the foreword to the book.

Ted has graciously offered to giveaway to one of my reader his upcoming book Style and Simplicity (you will be mailed a signed cover now and once the book is out in May it will be sent to you) along with a

 French Le Jacquard Francais dish towel, 

and a fig Diptyque candle- which Ted says is his favorite!

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment! 

Once again, if you are commenting as anonymous please remember to include your email address, and if you are entering with a google account, please make sure there is an email associated with the account.  The giveaway will run for 3 days and will close on Wednesday, December 18th at 6 p.m. EST.  

Ted kindly said to open the giveaway to everyone worldwide!  

The winner will be contacted via email.

Can't get to Seattle?  

Then shop Watson Kennedy online HERE!  Be sure to click on the "to smell" tab to shop the amazing selection of soaps and candles.

To pre-order Style & Simplicity- An A to Z Guide to Living a More Beautiful Life  HERE

The giveaway is now closed.

The giveaway ended with 252 comments, 2 of those comments were replies to the original entry which count as one, so that left a true number of entries at 250.  A random number generator chose the following entry.

Congratulations Victoria!!

The Barn Room Rug

Since it tis the season for giving I have put together a month of giveaways for YOU as a 

thank you for following and reading the blog.  It's my small way to say "thank you" and to let you know how much I appreciate your continued interest and support, and how grateful I am to those who take the time to leave comments.  

It means so much to me to have you here.

 Ever since showing you the barn room  I've received a lot of interest in the rug.  I love this rug.  I purchased it from Home Decorators Collection.
Not only does the natural jute braided weave provide a wonderful texture to the large space, it is also a very thick rug which adds to the visual appeal.  I have described it to some who have asked as a "destination" rug- meaning because this particular rug is so thick (it is approximately 1/2" compared to the 1/4" of most seagrass/flatweave rugs) I wouldn't place it in a high traffic location where you are constantly stepping on to, and over it; but as a destination rug where you walk on it -it is wonderful. It is surprisingly soft underfoot.  At 13 x15' the size of the rug is perfect for the room.  It is difficult to find a rug that large at a good price point, so I was really happy when I found the rug at Home Decorators Collection (HERE.)  
They have a great selection of all types of rugs at great prices not to mention a whole website of other home decor items!

Home Decorators Collection has generously offered to giveaway a $150 gift card to one of my readers!!

To enter the giveaway simple visit Home Decorators Collection and find something you might chose if you won the gift card, then come back and leave a comment saying which item that is.  If you are commenting as anonymous please remember to leave your email address as you can't win if I don't have an email for you.  The giveaway is open to U.S. only (sorry to all others) and will run for three days, closing Sunday, December 15th at 6 p.m. EST.  The winner will be contacted via email.
There are so many wonderful decor items on the website  to look at (remember to check out all the rugs), don't forget to come back and enter the contest after looking! :)
Good luck!

The giveaway is now closed.


The contest ended with 325 comments.  3 of those comments were replies to the original comment, which count as one, so that left a total number of true entries at 322.  A random number generator chose the following entry.  Congratulations Cheryl!!

LightKeeper Pro

Since it tis the season for giving I have put together a month of giveaways for YOU as a 

thank you for following and reading the blog.  It's my way to say "thank you" and to let you know how much I appreciate your continued interest and support, and how grateful I am to those who take the time to leave comments.  

It means so much to me to have you here.

And, on the seventh day.......

the Light Keeper Pro was invented!!!

I kid you not when I tell you this product is a Christmas miracle worker (not to mention a marriage saver;)!
Several days ago we unpacked all our Christmas lights only to be annoyed and frustrated trying to find that one bulb (or sometimes ten;)  that was causing all our light strands, lighted wreaths and lighted garlands to have so many outages.  I mentioned to Dan that maybe he could find some info online on how to repair them.  What he found was a video on the Light Keeper Pro.  We couldn't believe our eyes and went out that very day to buy one!

I  won't go into all the details, but basically (per the website) Light Keeper Pro finds the defective bulb shunts that cause most light set failures.  You simply plug the Light Keeper Pro into the light set and pull the trigger.  A pulse is sent through the light set finding the bad bulb, fixes the shunt which allows the light set to work properly.  (You can read more about how it works HERE.)  

All you really need to know is that it is "magic"!  

Watch the demonstration video HERE. 

While it comes with written instructions,  the videos are especially helpful, per Dan.  I never read the directions or watched the videos, and only watched Dan use it several and I was still able to pick it up and and fix some strands myself!

You will love this product!

(I realize this sounds like an infomercial, but I am not receiving any compensation from this company.  I just like to share my "favorite things"!  (HERE)

There is also a LED repair kit!

Continuing on the blog with the season of giving...

Light Keeper Pro has generously offered to giveaway THREE tools to
for the love of a house readers!  

The 3 winners get to select their choice of the Light Keeper Pro for incandescent light sets or 

the LED Keeper for LED lights. 

To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment here on the blog- feel free to vent any and all frustrations with Christmas lights:)   If you're commenting as anonymous, please be sure to leave your email address- you can't win if I don't have an email for you.

The contest is open to U.S. and Canada only (sorry to all others.)  

The giveaway will run for 3 days and will end on Wednesday, December 11th at 6 p.m.

You can find the Light Keeper Pro at these stores,

or at Amazon HERE or HERE .

This product is "green" in my book!  It makes me a little sick to my stomach when I think about all the light strands I have thrown away over the years thinking they were dead.  They probably all could have been saved if I had had the Light Keeper Pro.

Good luck!

The giveaway is now closed.

The LightKeeper Pro giveaway ended with 118 comments; however, three of those comments were responses to questions by LightKeeper Pro and two were email addresses that were forgotten in the original entry.  That left a total number of true entries at 113.  

A random sequence generator chose the following entries.

The winners are:  

Michelle

Debbie

LindaSonia

Congratulations!

Regarding the questions asked about pre-lit trees, LighKeeper Pro said that yes, the tool does work on pre-lit trees.  

Also, if you have any questions after watching the videos, LightKeeper Pro has technicians available 7 days a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas to assist at their toll free number!

888-858-2548

6 Wilson Pillows

Please meet the lovely, kind and talented Carol Beck !  

Carol is a fellow blogger, interior decorator and the Etsy shop owner of  6 Wilson  where she sells classic decorative pillow covers and home accessories.

I'm so excited, in this season of "giving", that Carol has generously offered to do a giveaway of one of her beautiful pillow covers!

Carol's beautiful living room

And some examples of Carol's beautiful handiwork...

To enter the giveaway simply visit Carol's shop  6 Wilson  and choose your favorite pillow cover in her inventory (and don't worry, with so many beautiful covers to chose from if you "win" and change your mind Carol says that's okay too!)  Then, come back and leave a comment here on the blog telling us which one is your favorite pillow cover.  That's it!   The winning pillow cover even comes to you with free shipping!

If you're commenting as anonymous, please be sure to leave your email address- you can't win if we don't have an email for you.

The contest is open to U.S. and Canada only (sorry to all others.)

The contest will run for 4 days and will close at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 8th!

I'll pick a random winner that night!

Visit 6 Wilson and good luck!!

And, as if that wasn't generous enough, Carol is also offering all my readers 15% off of her entire shop during the duration of the giveaway! 

 Just use coupon code:  HOUSELOVE15 at checkout.

I think pillow covers would make a wonderful Christmas gift... for you or someone on your list!

Be sure to keep an eye on Carol's shop!  In 2014 she'll be expanding to include more home decor like this table runner which is already in the shop...  

The giveaway is now closed.  

The 6 Wilson pillow cover giveaway ended with 280 comments; however, two of those were replies under anonymous entries because they had forgotten to include their email address in their original comment.  I counted the entry and the reply as 1 comment in that case, and therefore we had 278 entries.  A random drawing gave me number 65, so........

Congratulations to Jane at Cottage at the Crossroads!!

Thank you all who entered for making my first giveaway such a success!  I really wished every single one of you could have won.

Carol wanted to share a few words with you...

""I am so thrilled to have done this giveaway with Joan.  You, her readers, have been amazingly generous with your kind comments, and I am overwhelmed.  Thank you for making my holiday season so merry!  You may want to join me on the 6 Wilson blog on Tuesday for another giveaway.  I would love to have you try again.  I think we all owe Joan a big thanks for hosting :-)

Thank you Carol, but it was truly my pleasure!

Carol also wanted to let you know that you can still use the 15% off coupon on her entire shop that she offered to all my readers through Monday night, December 9th.

 Use coupon code:  HOUSELOVE15 at checkout.

Since it tis the season of giving, I'm planning a month of giveaways for you!
I'm really excited about all the upcoming giveaways, so stay tuned!  See you tomorrow for another really fun giveaway!

xxoj.