TWO GIVEAWAYS AT ONE TIME!! PAPER COWGIRL RETREAT BLOG GIVEAWAY! woooo hooooo!!

Color me crazy............no, color me a cowgirl!
A Paper Cowgirl!
Two blog giveaways AT ONE TIME??? Have I lost my mind???

No, I haven't lost my mind, and I hate to say it "just happened this way",

so I'll say that I'm doing two giveaways at the same time because I love you!!

And, that's true - I DO love you and I'm so excited to be doing two giveaways at once!(The second giveaway is directly under this post until it ends on APRIL 6th)

The reason for this second giveaway is to spread the word about the best little art retreat in Texas this summer!

The 2nd annual Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat is being held in Waxahachie, Texas,

June 26th and 27th. And, I can honestly say it's a HOOT, it's like family, it's full of art and wonderful instructors, classes and students, and food and shopping AND it doesn't cost an arm and a leg!!

I went last year and had the absolute best time so I want YOU to think about going this year! It'll be even more fun if you're there!!

There is the most fabulous scrapbook store in Waxahachie - oh, my gosh - and shopping, food, and VENDOR'S NIGHT.......and, I haven't even mentioned the classes!

And the most amazing teachers. Did I mention that I'm teaching a class? LOL

. . .All of the teachers at Paper Cowgirl are taking part in this giveaway so at the bottom of this post I'm going to give you their names, their blog address and a sample pic of the class they're teaching, so you can go there from here and enter all of their giveaways!

Are we a bunch of fun teachers, or what?

Yi-i-i-i-p-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e!!!!!

My giveaway is full of wonderful things!!! The first being one of my vintage clocks. I'll decide later which one - I have a lot more than what's pictured:)
The second thing included in this giveaway is one of my beaded clutches filled with ephemera. Oh, baby, this is a good one!

And, you never know what else I'll throw in!

Now, before you forget, write these websites down for my shops and go see my Easter offerings. Let me take care of all of your Easter needs:)

http://www.jthom03.etsy.com/ and www.lollishops.com/polkadotbarn.

Enter my Paper Cowgirl giveaway by leaving a comment on this post and then go check these Paper Cowgirl's blogs out for their giveaways!

ANN-DENISE

www.whimandfancydesigns.blogspot.com/

CINDY MAYFIELD

www.yappingcatstudio.typepad.com

CHARLOTTE
www.charlattescreations.com/

DALE

http://www.seadreamstudio.com/

JAN
http://www.polkadotbarn.blogspot.com/
(you're here!)

JOANNA
http://papercowgirl.blogspot.com/

MENDY
http://www.mendytexas.blogspot.com/

TINA
http://www.tina-wright.blogspot.com/

HAVE FUN and come join us for the retreat if you can!
We'd love to have you come!!!

XOXO, readers, you're the best!

. . .Jan

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!!

THIS GIVEAWAY ENDS ON MONDAY, APRIL 6th, 9:00 am CST

I may be really, really behind on my blog posting, but I'm sticking this post in the middle of catching up because I promised you that I would! AND AREN'T YOU EXCITED???
My second blog giveaway because my first one was so much fun!
And, look! Look at what I'm giving away!!!

Y-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-KES!!!

Check out this first photo - it shows the front of the apron which is made of a shear fabric that is patterned in a black floral pattern with SPARKLIES! And, the scalloped botton edge - oh, my gosh!
I have never seen such a stylin', precious, look at me, meet your husband at the front door with nothing else on, serve cocktails stylin', hang on your kitchen wall, stinkin' cute, PINK VINTAGE REVERSIBLE APRON in my entire life!!

Okay, so I *originally* bought it to sell in one of my shops, but as I was walking out of the antique store I thought to myself, "Jan! USE THE APRON FOR YOUR GIVEAWAY!!" and I was so excited about doing that!!

Now, if you'll look at the next photo you'll see the REVERSIBLE side of the apron!
Isn't this just the bomb???
It's pink satin with a pocket made out of the patterned fabric and is just as cute as it can be!!
The picture of this sweet young thing is my youngest son, Clay's, girlfriend, Stacey.
I had her model the apron because her wrinkles don't show.
Oh, wait.
She doesn't have any wrinkles. (Isn't she simply the cutest thing?? And, she's just as cute on the inside! I absolutely love her!)
The wooden spoon's mine.

And, here's a close-up of the reversed side of the apron.
OH, MY GOSH, are you as excited about this giveaway as I am??? Aughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

As you know, every good giveaway should have some sort of marketing scheme to grab those that enter who don't regularly read your blog. (I just made that up)
And, since I don't market myself harldly at all, I'm going to use these fabulous giveaways as a marketing tool once in a while starting TODAY because this apron was NOT on sale! LOL

You can enter the giveaway ONE TIME by simply leaving a comment on this post.

You can enter the giveaway TWO TIMES by joining my newsletter mailing list and mentioning that fact in your comment.
(sign in on the right side of my blog near the top - you really can't miss it:) And, don't worry
about getting 4,706 newsletters a week from me. . . .I've had the newsletter sign up box for
about a year and am just now thinking about putting out my first newsletter. hahaha, not
kidding!

You can enter the giveway THREE TIMES by going to one of my shops
(www.lollishops.com/polkadotbarn or http://www.jthom03.etsy.com/) and letting me know which of my pieces you like best (be honest - remember "marketing":)

You can also enter the fabulous giveaway FOUR TIMES by posting about it on YOUR blog and letting me know in your comment that you have done so.

Leave your comments here letting me know "how" you've entered, blah, blah, and be sure and leave me YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so I can contact you when you win! (I've only had one other blog giveaway - I'm new at this - but, the winner of my first giveaway didn't leave me any way to contact her and it was, well, okay, I'll just say it, it was not a pleasure trying to find her. However, SHE is a pleasure!!)
*And leave your BLOG URL if you entered by posting about this amazing vintage pink apron giveaway on your blog* so I can check it out.*

I think we've just about covered it!
Oh, I'm so excited about this! This is much more fun than selling the apron!!
I love my readers!
And, I'm anxious to see all of you enter the giveaway so that you *might* win!!!
woooooooooooo hooooooooooooooo

xoxo,

. . .Jan

JUST ONE MORE POST AND THEN I PROMISE!!!....

Oh, my goodness, now don't get upset with me.
Feel sorry for me.
My computer made me cry today.
Well, it wasn't exactly the computer that made me cry; it was the stupid new software I bought, Photo Explosion Deluxe.
The word "deluxe" should have been a clue.

You see, I had to get a new computer. Frank Two Pies' computer crashed and since his computer skills are *shhhhhh* laughable, I told him that I would get the new computer and he would get mine.
Makes sense, doesn't it?
I have/had Vista on my computer and hated it and was so excited to get a new computer with XP.
Ahhhhhhhh, XP. No more Vista.
Well, no more "I know it like the back of my hand" software program either - it couldn't be transferred because going from Vista to XP is going backwards in the world of Bill Gates.
When you really think about Vista, however, you realize how stupid that sounds.

But, alas, I couldn't take my Microsoft Picture It 9 with me so I had to buy a new program.
An easy program simply for fixing the photos of my art for my shops, that's all I wanted.
I have Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 (don't ask) but I don't have six weeks to learn it.

I needed a software program that I could use NOW.

So, I wasted all day yesterday trying to find a store online and in San Antonio that had my baby.
Nowhere to be found.
So I buy the new software program thinking to myself, "How hard can it be to learn??? It's only 40.00". And by bedtime last night I was in tears.
And, then this morning found me crying, trying to make it work.
It's a stupid program. Don't buy it.

Then, tonight, my over-used, very decayed, not-all-there, brain kicked in and I remembered,

DER - Picture It 9 is still on Two Pies computer!!
YOU IDIOT.
YOU OLD, OLD WOMAN.

So, I've taken some pictures of what I think would make lovely Easter presents and simply must get them before you as Easter is but a few days away! I need to get them listed in my shops, and I will, but first, my blog.
And then..........................THE NEXT GIVEAWAY! Why, I've already got the post ready to go - just want to give y'all a few days to buy up all of these banners I've made (Just leave your email on your comment telling me which one you want and I'll catch ya later. Don't dally - they're going to go like hot cakes. LOL).

Here ya go - my labors of love...............

A close-up of "R and I" to give you a better idea of what it looks like. Those are glittered eggs hanging between each banner flag - so darling!

And, "N and G".

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OH, MY GOSH!!! Am I seeing this right??? Have I not looked at this picture a hundred times?

Did I not make this banner?

Do I not know how to spell "NEST"??? ROTF!!

It will be fixed tomorrow, I promise!! *still laughing and shaking my head!A couple of close-ups so you can see how the banner would look with just two letters. hahaha

Okay, I'm off to bed. I'm obviously fried.

I love all of you, my sweet readers!! That's the only reason I can post such a mistake! LOL

.

XOXO,

. . .Jan

DO YOU STILL LOVE ME?

I wonder.
Do you still love me?
I haven't posted since last month and every day that goes by without me posting,
I go to bed wondering if you'll still love me in the morning.
Aaaaaa! (as in "cat")
I try so hard to get everything done every day so that in the evening I can post,
but LIFE keeps getting in the way and I seem to stay behind!
Take yesterday for instance.
Phone calls to the pharmacist, the dermatologist, and my internet provider.
The call to the internet provider necessitated a house call *which will cost me money* to switch me from wireless to DSL because our renter's Direct TV non-English speaking idiot (did I say that out loud?) of a satellite man TOOK OUR HIGH SPEED INTERNET SATELLITE DOWN and used that bracket for a new satellite for the renter.
WHO HIRES THESE PEOPLE???
We finally discovered our stolen satellite sitting in the garage AFTER we had switched to DSL. (Trust me, this is not over. There's a phone call to Direct TV in my future and I'm afraid my nice voice is going to give away to my frustrated voice. I just hope that when I call that I'm not routed TO INDIA!)

Is it any wonder that I'm bald, have wrinkles, puffy under eyes, constipation, dry skin, weeds, a husband who can eat 1/2 of a 9 x 13" casserole in one sitting that was going to be tomorrow's leftovers, a studio that looks like a crack house, a dog that sheds, another dog that derives great pleasure in licking her privates in my presence, no ice cream in the house and hate to cook???

I'm so behind, and so afraid that you'll leave me in the morning without even a note on the pillow, that I'm going to post a fascinating group post here to get caught up.
Then, after I'm sure y'all have had time to read this amazing post, I'm going to post the next giveaway.
Oh, my gosh. You aren't going to believe what I found to give away. It will probably cause you to tinkle just a wee bit because you're going to be so excited!

So, on with the photos of my latest (even I can't remember what they are).......

First, let me mention once again that we are going to have the best little art retreat in Texas in June! And, boy howdy, would I ever love to see you there!!
On the trip down here from Kalamazoo in February, I kept my eyes peeled for these kind of soft serve ice cream dives. They have the BEST soft serve!
Did you know that ice cream "parlors" up north close during the winter?
What's with that???
We stopped in some town at the most precious shop as is attested to by their parking sign! Isn't it the best???

Another stop that I always make if I happen to be on I-35 in Ardmore, Oklahoma, is The Cloverleaf...mostly for ideas...they're a wee bit expensive!

If it was for sale, I'd probably have to rent a U-Haul and buy it. I know just the place for it...

I'll never understand why everyone doesn't drive the back roads when traveling.

The photo ops...........see the swans? I think they're real.

I love, love, love taking pictures of old buildings! ...The texture!

A PINK TRAILER with all of the amenities!! I'd almost live in it!

Have I showed you this yet? ...A HUGE Barbie tote! ...Still trying to decide if I'm going to keep it or sell it! I'm always amazed at how much I look like her...

Oh, these vintage hankies! I love them - check out the one with the lovely lace edging. Amazing!

A corner of a fabulous photo I found in Noblesville, Indiana. Look at those precious kiddos!

A whole bunch of vintage patterns and all were simply darling!

I've started collecting Bobbsey Twins books! They were one of my favorite series when I was a kid and I thought it would be fun to try and collect all of them. I'm well on my way - this is the first one.

A 1910 dance card! You don't find these anymore! I was thrilled to find it.

Okay, y'all, that's it! Whew! I'm going to look over at the pillow next to me and am hoping to see your head lying there! LOL

I love my readers - y'all are the best to stick with me when I'm lame! hahaha

.

XOXO,

. . .Jan

MY FIRST BLOG GIVEAWAY WILL SOON LEAD TO MY SECOND....

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Photo Challenge from my dear blog friend, Sally.
You can visit her blog by clicking on "Photo Challenge" above.



Here's what 'cha do; it's really easy!:

1. Go to the photo folder in your computer.
2. Go to the seventh folder of photos.
3. Go to the seventh picture.
4. Put the picture on your blog along with a description of it.
5. Invite seven friends to join the challenge.

So, here's my picture:

This is my picture - it's of my first blog giveaway which was earlier this year in January. I had so much fun putting it together and I enjoyed the entry comments so much that I'm thinking it's time for blog giveaway #2. What do you think??

Okay, now I'm going to email seven friends and invite them to join in the "fun". heeheehee

Lovin' ya,

. . .Jan