I have so much to be thankful for this year, but I’m sure you all know what tops the list.
I’m so thankful to have my sister Debbie and my niece Kris living here in Minnesota! I honestly can’t even remember the last time I spent a Thanksgiving with them. But I do have one very vivid Thanksgiving memory. The year was 1986. I was living in South Carolina with my parents and the three of us drove up to New Jersey for Thanksgiving. At the time, Debbie was pregnant with Kris. She was very, very pregnant, yet she put on a huge Thanksgiving dinner at her house for both sides of the family. I still clearly remember getting up the next morning and finding Debbie cleaning up the kitchen. She made a comment to me about how she thought maybe she was going into labor. She said it so matter of fact-ly. My only experiences with child birth were what I’d seen on TV, so I was pretty sure she should have been writhing in pain and rushing around to find her overnight bag and speed off to the hospital. But no, she was very calm. Several hours later, sure enough, she and Kris’ dad went off to the hospital where she gave birth to my niece. It was pretty fabulous timing since it meant that my parents and I were there to greet the new addition to our family! I’m pretty sure this Thanksgiving won’t be quite as eventful, but I’m very happy to be spending it with family.
In addition to Thanksgiving, I have one more thing to celebrate today. It’s my blogiversary! How appropriate that it should fall on Thanksgiving Day this year. I’m so thankful for all of you who read my blog and occasionally take the time to leave a comment or two (or many!). I’ve been blogging for two years now, but it weirdly feels longer. It’s strange to look back at some of my earlier posts and to see how much my blogging style has changed. And it’s hard to believe it was only two years ago!
As a way of showing my gratitude to all of you who follow q is for quandie and to celebrate my two year blogiversary, I’ve decided to host a Thanksgiving Giveaway!
Here’s what is included: the November Jeanne d’ Arc Living magazine, a bag of MMS milk paint in Bergere, a jar of Fusion’s Mathew Mead Studio Metallics in Bronze …
Some Miss Mustard Seed brush soap (I swear by this stuff!) and a pretty vintage glass …
A lovely vintage soup bowl that just wants you to believe …
And because I want the whole box to smell fabulous when it arrives at your door, I am also throwing in a bar of Thymes Frasier Fir soap. This stuff smells amazing.
All you have to do to enter your name in the drawing is leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite part of q is for quandie is. Are you a fan of chippy pieces painted in milk paint?
Or maybe you love just seeing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pics.
Are the garage sale ‘find of the day’ posts your fave?
Or perhaps you really enjoy the gardening posts.
Do you get inspired by the room make-overs the most?
Or maybe you love the quick and easy makeovers like these stenciled buckets?
Whatever it may be, leave a comment and your name goes in the hat for the giveaway! You have until Sunday, November 29 at 6 pm to get your comment in. The winner will be announced on Monday.
Mr. Q and I are off now to pick up Debbie and Kris and head out to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. This year we’ll have quite the feast since my sister is adding 4 dishes to the mix. I’m bringing my favorite sweet potato casserole (shared here last year). I’m also bringing my camera because I want to get some pics of my father-in-law’s amazing workshop to share with you guys, so check back next week!
q is for quandie 
I enjoy your daily blog. I love what you are capable of doing in one day. You muct be the energizer bunny. You have a great talent for staging. I love going to your sales. Thank you for sharing your talents..
LikeLike
I wish I was the energizer bunny! The truth is that I gave up cleaning and cooking in favor of furniture painting 😉
LikeLike
I absolutely love your blog ! My favorite part of your blog are all of the before and after pictures of all the wonderful vintage furniture that you finish.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Sarah! Best of luck in the drawing 🙂
LikeLike
Since I live on a farm I’m most excited to see your stenciling. But giving new life to old furniture gets my creative thoughts into motion.
LikeLike
I do enjoy using stencils on lots of my pieces. I added a little stencil detail to a mirror that will be coming up next week, so be sure to check back!
LikeLike
If I have to pick ONE, I choose the garage sale find of the day posts! I like them all! Happy holidays!! thanks
LikeLike
Those are fun posts. I am heading into garage sale withdrawal season here in Minnesota, but hopefully next summer I’ll have many more ‘find of the day’ posts! Thanks Mary!
LikeLike
Your “one of the family” style of blogging. It makes even strangers feel like friends.
Thanks to you!
LikeLike
That’s cool to hear. Thanks Donna!
LikeLike
I really enjoy your blog. I love seeing the transformation that paint makes on a piece of furniture. You have a real talent. Your staging is something I look forward too. You’ve inspired me to use vintage finds in a guest bedroom we will soon be doing. I would love to try the Fusion paint too. Happy Thanksgiving.
LikeLike
I love decorating with vintage finds, so I’m glad to hear that I inspired you to do the same in your guest room. I bet it will turn out fab!
LikeLike
I really love your blog you do great photography, writing and have the ability to turn something old and useless into something new and useful. You do beautiful work! Love all the vintage props you use in your photos! Keep up the great work thank you and happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
LikeLike
Thanks so much Jeannie! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well!
LikeLike
My favorite part of your blog is to see the transformations come to life. You have an incredible eye for “trash to treasure”. Also, your blog IS you…what you see and read really is the “real” you. Not just anyone can do this.
LikeLike
Aw shucks! Thanks Terri! Hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving.
LikeLike
Hi!! I love your photo shoots especially in your carriage (?) house. Too cute!! I am curious about Where you lived in SC…I have always lived in the Palmetto State!
LikeLike
My carriage house is the big barn like structure where I hold my sales and paint my furniture (in summer, in winter it isn’t heated) .. but my photo cottage is where I stage the photo shoots. I lived in Lake Wylie, South Carolina which is just across the state line from Charlotte. While living there, I worked in Charlotte. That was many moons ago! And I only lived there for about two years. But it was such a lovely area! My parents also had a weekend home up in the Blue Ridge mountains, but I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the town now.
LikeLike
I enjoy all the before and afters. I can’t believe some of the great furniture you find on craigslist!
LikeLike
Thanks Teresa! I do get lucky on craigslist a lot. We seem to have a very vibrant CL community here in the Twin Cities.
LikeLike
I don’t know if I can pick just one thing!! I love reading you blog- I am crazy about your carriage house and the photos you take of your beautifully staged before and after furniture! You give such great detail on how you transform your finds!
LikeLike
Thanks Stephanie! I’m glad to hear that you appreciate the detail, I’ll be sure to continue sharing my methods!
LikeLike
I just love reading your blog. You give me so many inspirational ideas for my home! Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLike
Thanks Karen Ann! Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving.
LikeLike
I love the before and afters especially your staging and style. I also love when you throw in some vintage inspired scrapbooking. Thank you for the opportunity.
LikeLike
Thanks for mentioning the scrapbooking Lori! I’m glad to know that some of my readers enjoy those posts! Best of luck in the drawing.
LikeLike
There is so much to love about your blog, it’s hard to choose my favorite part! We just finished a remodel of our main level and your furniture transformations have inspired me to “shop my house” and transform some furniture pieces of my own. Thanks for the inspiration!
LikeLike
You’re welcome Renee! It is fun to shop your own house isn’t it?
LikeLike
while I love all the thing you listed in this post, mostly I love your “voice”. Every post I read is like a conversation with a good friend, right down to the part about missing my sister(s).
Happy Holiday season to you and yours Quandie and keep up the wonderful work you do 🙂
LikeLike
That is the most flattering compliment Tammy, thanks so much!
LikeLike
I really look forward to your before and after projects. You have inspired me to start a few of my own and I am secretly relieved that Thanksgiving is over and I can focus on my next project! Happy Holidays!
LikeLike
LOL, we must be two peas in a pod Lisa. I am right there with you. I’m finishing up a dresser in the most gorgeous shade of blue today, and I have two more projects lined up behind it. I should be starting my Christmas decorating, but instead I’ve got a paintbrush in hand.
LikeLike
Hmmm…my favorite part?? Oh, let’s see…maybe the before & after, no…maybe the acquisition story of the piece, no…maybe the pros and cons of the painting technique, no…maybe the wonderful staging of props you use in the final pics??? Gosh, I LOVE it all!!! I look forward to your inspiring blog of humor and talent everyday!
Thanks for sharing it ALL with us, Linda!
LikeLike
LOL, thanks Patty!
LikeLike
This is Mr. Q. I would like to point out to any who might read this far down into the comments, that quandie’s writing style is a true reflection of her persona. She is warm and witty and has such a positive outlook and a great sense of humor. I enjoy reading her blog (even though I am pretty much ODing on the furniture thing!) simply because it is like having a conversation with her, and that is one of my most favorite things to do. I fell in love with her when I was an adolescent, as only adolescents can, totally and fearlessly. I’ve never regretted it.
LikeLike
Congratulations on your blogversary, Linda! What a wonderful giveaway! I love seeing all of your re-do and makeover projects! Mr. Q’s comment was so sweet!
LikeLike
Thanks Linda! That Mr. Q, he can be pretty sweet some times 😉
LikeLike
Let me see. l love painted furniture, love vintage items and the stories behind them, love the thrill of the hunt, love the before and after pictures. Oh and love the inspiration you provide. Thanks Linda, for sharing your talents in such a special way.
LikeLike
You’re welcome Andrea! Thanks for leaving a comment, good luck in the drawing!
LikeLike
I like your style. You put things together so nicely and have good ideas. You also use a mix of paints and aren’t stuck on a brand, but more what will work. I am impressed with how you have taken what could be just a hobby and made it into a showcase of ideas & products while doing the day job! Amazing.
LikeLike
I do like to use a variety of different brands and products based on either what works best for the piece, or sometimes just what works best for my budget! Thanks for your comment Mary!
LikeLike
What I love about your post is you seem to have no ” it is a……”, and that is a good thing! Just because it should be a desk, doesn’t mean it can’t be a potting table. If a dresser speaks to you in black, you paint it black, duck egg, kitchen scale, you do it…..knobs seem wrong you change them, and like all good designers if it does not feel right, you change it……A design teacher once told us “if you have IT (the feeling something is right in design) you will create great design, if you don’t, hire someone that does”. Paint on Linda, you have IT.
LikeLike
Great comment Beth. Thanks for saying I have IT! I love that.
LikeLike
I love your blog, it’s my absolute favorite. It amazes me how much you accomplish in short periods of time. I love the before and after photos. I love how you always seem to pick the perfect paint color for a piece. Great Job you should be very proud😊❤️
LikeLike
Thanks so much Amber! Best of luck in the drawing!
LikeLike
Happy Thanksgiving and Anniversary, Linda! Hmm … favorite thing …. While your talents in painting and styling led me to your blog, my favorite thing would have to be the Minnesota connection. Having you mention places/things I haven’t thought about in over 20 years is kind of fun. And now I just read that you lived in Lake Wylie, SC — we lived in Charlotte, NC for 7 years. That, and your sense of humor — it comes through on the written page, which is no easy task. Finally, LOVE that there are no pop ups and crazy ads and non-relevant sponsored posts! 😀 Congrats again! Cynthia
LikeLike
Thanks for noticing my lack of non-relevant sponsored posts. I’m planning to keep it that way, since I’m not too fond of them either. Ditto those annoying ads that appear at the bottom of each photo on some blogs. You know, those ones that block the bottom of the photos themselves? I’m not a fan of those either. I’ll keep mentioning the Minnesota stuff and I’ll try to include photos too. So keep reading Cynthia!
LikeLike
I love the before and afters and the gardening posts! Gives me hope I can whip my gardens into shape one day. Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLike
Oh good, I’m glad I have a few readers out there who enjoy the gardening posts. I’m going to try and step that up next summer. If I’m not to busy painting that is. Thanks Gretchen!
LikeLike
I love before and after pictures of anything. Please enter my name. Thank you.
LikeLike
Consider your name entered Tracy! Thanks for the comment!
LikeLike
Linda,
Your blog is my favorite one I follow, so it’s hard to narrow it down to one thing on the Q. I love the chippy furniture of course and your fab garage sale finds! Two of the many things we share in common.
Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
LikeLike
Woo hoo, thanks so much for calling me your favorite Jane! Happy holidays to you too.
LikeLike
I just read Mr Qs post and that is the sweetest thing ever. Awe.
LikeLike
He was convinced that no one would read down that far into the comments to see his post! It was awfully sweet of him 😉
LikeLike
LOVE all the pretty vignettes you put together!
LikeLike
Thanks Cindy, that is one of my favorite parts of doing the blog. I’ve got some good ones coming up next week, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, best of luck in the drawing.
LikeLike
I have read your blog from day one and found it via Jeanne @ bees knees bungalow. My family and I moved from Minnesota 20 years ago and you remind me of how wonderful it was to live there. I must admit at times I am envious of all the fab items you are able to transform and all your great garage sale finds! The part I miss most about not living in Minnesota is not being able to spend time with my mother and sisters. Your blog makes me feel like I am at home and I love that you and your sister are so close. Thank your for sharing your adventures and taking us along.
LikeLike
It sure is nice having my sister around now, so I feel for you! Thanks for following along on my adventures:-)
LikeLike
I always enjoy reading your posts on all subjecsts because they are interesting and funny. Nut my favourite would be the furniture painting. I love how you share your struggles and how you fix them. Also your photos are alway well done. Thank you ! ps even though I cannot probalby enter the contest being in Canada I wanted to let you know anyways how much I enjoy all your work !
LikeLike
You can enter! I don’t care if you’re in Canada! That’s practically right next door 😉
LikeLike
Thank you neighbor ! My main reason for writing was to let you know how much I enjoy your blog !❤
LikeLike
You are such an inspiration! And the first incoming email I look for each morning! Your talent(s) will take you far! Thank you for sharing with us!
LikeLike
Thanks so much Jeanne!
LikeLike
I stumbled upon your blog around July via a Pinterest picture. I have been hooked ever since! You have inspired me to try MMS paint on a few of my antique furniture pieces. I am an owner of an occasional shop in Buffalo MN, so I too love painting/refinishing furniture-home decor too–and I absolutely LOVE everything you do. Your photography is gorgeous, furniture is flawless, your staging is perfect, and you are hilarious! I find myself lol’ing many times while reading your blog posts. I’ve told my husband many times that I have to go to your next sale when you have one. You really have inspired me and opened gates to paint worlds I never knew existed, not to mention, really focusing on antique furniture. Although I do a few MCM pieces here and there too. (All the rage right now) 😉 I always look forward to reading your posts. A majority of them are read while I’m in bed for the evening or like right now at 4:14 am. I have been reading a lot of them early morning lately, due to my 3 year old daughter who likes to crawl into mom and dads bed and sleep with her arm over my face. 😉 I know I’m too late for the give away (which looks amazing by the way) but I figured this was as good of time as any to finally tell you that you are amazing at what you do and super talented. Never stop your work! 😊 look forward to your future posts, it truly is my favorite thing to read. Cant wait to go to your next sale! 👍
LikeLike
Hi Allison! Which shop is yours? I’ve been to a few of the shops in Buffalo, my husband’s brother and his wife live in Buffalo so I get out that way every now and then. Next time I’ll stop in and say hello if I know which one is you!
LikeLike
Ps- didn’t leave my name- it’s Allison aka (carall27)
LikeLike
Hi!
My shop is called “Harlow’s House”. (Named after my 3 year old daughter I mentioned earlier) We are located on the same street as the Buffalo movie theater. I Would love to have you stop by sometime! We are open the first weekend of the month for ocassional, and the Saturday after the sale weekend. I post on my Facebook the hours/days etc so people don’t get confused with all the weird days/hours occasional shops usually have. Again, your so talented, and I wish you all the success in your sales! Your items are All beautiful! 😊
Allison
LikeLike