A GIVEAWAY AND A BLOG PARTY!

Hi, y'all! I am way behind in taking part in 

Vicki's amazing blog party and I apologize. 

Life has been full.

But, I'm here now, with my giveaway and ready to tell you about me and blogging.

Jan Vermillion Thomason of

the Polka Dot Barn

and the blog, polkadotbarn.blogspot.com.

I started blogging several years ago thinking that I would use it as my personal diary. 

And, I have used it that way.

I don't get every event covered

(I've been known to go weeks.......   without hittin' the blog)

but when something funny, fabulous or rusty passes by me

I have to blog about it.

I let you see me at my worst,

I will entertain you with humorous stories,

I will show you amazing junk and antiques

(some I buy, some I simply photograph).

All the while hoping that you accept me,

and that you come to love me as I share my life with you.

I love Jesus Christ.

I adore my husband and three grown boys;

hoping that my sweet boys will always need

their mom.

I adore my brothers and sister.

Nieces, nephews, sister in laws, cousins, 

my dad and Ursula, 

all very important to me.

I try to find joy in every situation,

sometimes after I throw a fit or cry in despair.

I love spending time in my studio, The Crack House.

(I'll be doing a blog post about it in the near future.

If you want to make sure you don't miss it, 

sign up to receive my posts via email at the top of 

the right hand column)

Creating and spending time with 

my friends that create,

reading every single page of my art zines,

and being an mixed media hoarder

make me who I am.

Okay, that's enough, let's talk about THE GIVEAWAY!!

I am parting with two of my favorite vintage hats that I've been saving,

waiting for those perfect projects that will show off those beautiful 

flowers and leaves!

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!

To enter, simply leave a comment.

And if you want to have a second entry,

let me know if you're following me on Pinterest,

Twitter or my blog emails.

I'm supposed to close out my contest and draw for

winners on February 1st, but I'm extending my giveaway

to February 2nd and I'll draw for the winners

that following week.

I'm right in the middle of getting my house in order

and planning supper for fifty

as I get ready for my mom's memorial that will be held here.

After that I'll be able to get back to my blog. *happy feet*

I sincerely thank you for reading this post

and for entering the giveaway.

I hope that you come back often to see what I'm up to.

And, if you do, remember that leaving a comment

makes me do the happy dance!

Warmly,

        Jan

If, for whatever reason, you don't know how to get to the other (over 400) blogs participating

in the Grow Your Blog party, leave me a note in your comment and I'll get you there. :)

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER A BLANKET, FLARES, EXTRA WATER BOTTLES AND A CHARGED CELL PHONE???

What do you get when you put together a blanket, flares, extra water bottles and a charged cell phone?
Me.

Me and my really light weight convertible driving from south Texas *leaving today* to Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Snow storms, blizzards, really cold weather (lower than FORTY!!), black ice, truckers that really should have stopped hours ago for a nap on the interstate with me.....oh, my, that certainly doesn't sound right!

What I meant was that I'm on the interstate with truckers that should have stopped hours ago for a nap.

Not a nap with me.

Just a nap alone in their truck so that they don't fall asleep at the wheel and my car becomes their extra axle. (I think I know what an axle is so that crack should have worked...)

So, there you have it! I'm on my way to Michigan, laptop in hand so as to keep you up to date on all of the excitement on the way, while I'm there for FOUR *stinkin* weeks (another post), and the drive home.

Bringing mom back with me like I did last year. What a blast!! We do have fun!

So, until later, keep those prayers comin' for travel safety and I'll keep you abreast (still thinkin' about that trucker) of the adventures I happen upon on my way up north!

Loveyoumeanit.

You're the best!!

(oh, and not to worry, I'm takin' the giveaway with me:) It's all packaged up and ready to go out to the "winn'ah"!)

Hey, I'm taking all of my precious (leaving the stupid ones home) Valentines with me that are listed in my Lollishop.

Go order something.

I may need the money to pay the tow truck to pull my little lightweight convertible out from under than sleepy trucker!

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Blessing to you all,

.

XOXO,

.

OH, I JUST HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU!

BLOG GIVEAWAY

IT'S STILL OPEN, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ENTERED,

SCROLL DOWN A FEW POSTS & ENTER!

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Now, where to start???
Should I break all of my fun news into several posts over the next several days or give it all to you at once?
I'm feelin' "break it down into several posts" - keeps ya guessin' and comin' back, right???
So, let's start with the BIG NEWS!

I HAVE *finally* OFFICIALLY OPENED MY LOLLISHOP! wooo hooo!!
I have been working so hard on Valentine's pieces so y'all would have much to choose from and I feel like I've stocked the shop enough to break out in song that it's open!!
You're looking at some pictures of what you can expect to see in
my new shop.

And, while you're here, I'd like for you to take a poll........
in the comments section, after you rave about my art

and before you go to the shop and buy lots,

.........

let me know, do you think:
(a.) I should keep the name "Velvet Rain Studio" for my Lollishop name,
(b.) I should change the name to "the Polka Dot Barn" which is the name I've used forever for my Etsy shop and my blog, or
(c.) I should call it "the Velvet Rain Studio at the polka dot barn".

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I really value your input so please let me know what you're thinking - though I will tell you that if you "search" for "Polka Dot Barn" when you go to Lollishops, it should take you to my shop because I always use P.D.B. in my tags list.

OH, and this is a vital piece of information!..........
THE POSTAGE CHARGE IS FIGURED INTO THE COST OF EACH PIECE!
No extra postage charges tacked on at checkout.
AND, if you buy more than one item,

of course I'll combine the shipping!

I'm even using a digital scale, so I'm exact.
Obviously, I'm a professional. LOL

I hope you've enjoyed this peek into my new Lollishop!
I'm really excited about it!
Double click on any of the highlighted and underlined

"Lollishop" or "my new shop"
and my shop will magically appear for you to look over!
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Thanks so much for letting me ramble on about my new adventure!

And, don't forget the giveaway if you haven't entered!

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Like I always say,

I have the best readers and I do so appreciate you!!

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XOXO,

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