Thursday, March 10, 2011

AND THE WINNER IS....


Congratulations to Cora of Heartfelt and Homemade!

You have won a copy of Waterside Cottages.

Thank you to everyone who entered and keep visiting because I'll be running a contest of my own later this season. Hint: my giveaway will be a signed copy of Fabulous Fifi's Romantic Prairie Style.

A big hug and thank you Lidy at French Garden House for the chance to share my story and get to know your fabulous fans!

For the next few weeks, I am going to share some sensational photos that I have in my "Future Blog Posts" folders.

Knitters have a term--STASH-- for yarn that piles up in your closets. It's all wonderful yarn, of course, and when you got it you planned to make something wonderful with it. Now, alas, you've moved on, and the yarn just sits there.

I'm a serious knitter but have always tried to resist developing STASH.

While I've done a pretty good job of keeping my closets clear and free (okay, there ARE a few shopping bags tucked into a corner or two...), I've not done nearly as well with Blog Photos.

I've got hundreds on my computer (organized in neat little folders) that never got into blog posts yet.

I spent this week looking over my PHOTO STASH. Most are too good not to share. Some never got used because they didn't relate to Coastal Decorating. Others languished because life moves so fast that they missed their chance before I moved on to other posts.

I've organized my photo folders into themes and come up with a plan on how to showcase the best of the best.

SO expect the unexpected as I spring clean my photo files. Hold on to your hat, it's going to be a wild ride.


SPRING BULBS: At this time of year, I crave flowers. And the flowers that are coming up in my garden are my Fall bulbs. These gorgeous Spring bouquets, courtesy of the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center, all started with papery skinned, onion-like bulbs that are planted in Fall but bloom in spring.

Each year when my hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and small bulbs bloom, I take photos. That way when the bulb catalogs start popping up in my mailbox, I can remember where there were blank spots that need filling in.

The deer, squirrels, chipmunks and even my own chickens are hard on bulbs. That's why I grow so many daffodils. Everyone loves to nibble on tulips but no one disturbs my daffs!

6 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

I love your idea of taking photos of the blank spots where you grow bulbs. Every fall I add to my bed and ultimately dig up old bulbs. I am definitely following your advice this spring. Thanks.

Congrats to the winner. I already have your book but count me in on the next giveaway!

XO,
Jane

Cora said...

Thank you so much for your beautiful book Barbara. I love it! I have scanned and drooled over all the photos, now I will go back and read to get more ideas and the how to's. My daughter and her Coast Guard husband just got orders to Jacksonville Fl. and the house they found has a Flordia room, sooooo....your book came at a great time...we get to decorate!!! Thanks again so much!
I too have a stash of photos....hummmmmm? what to do with them all, but I love photography so much!
Blessings to you!
Cora

Alison Gibbs said...

Cora you are going to love your book. I am constantly looking through my copy - I love it
Alison

Lana Manis said...

Congratulations Cora!

I loved seeing all of your lovely photos, Barbara!

Cass @ That Old House said...

How delighted I am to find your blog, Barbara! I have had a copy of your Waterside Cottages pretty much since it was published -- and it is one of my main inspirations now.

My sister and I are re-doing the waterfront home on eastern Long Island where our parents used to live, turning it from their retirement home to our family vacation getaway.

Waterside Cottages comes with me in my bag whenever I make the 2-1/2 hour trek from my New Jersey home to the beach house. I flip through the pages as we plan, debate, take notes on flooring, walls, furniture -- we hope to keep this wonderful property in the family for a long time, and your book is helping us make those plans.

It's a large-ish house -- 3 stories -- but we are giving it the feel and friendliness of the beach cottages we grew up with on the Island.

Right now I'm searching for the perfect blue for the upstairs hall bath, the perfect sprout-like green for the downstairs powder room, the best color for the master suite which gets intense Southern exposure light . . . Benjamin Moore is my best friend right now!

All best wishes to you!
I'll be back.
Cass
PS And a Hello to my friend Jane of Blondie's Journal who made the first comment, and congrats to the book winner as well.

White Ironstone Cottage said...

I love your book it sits on my pine coffee table (great color)in our living room
xo
Pam