so. many. things. (a blogiversary giveaway)

Published on by Quandie

Did you know that November is statistically the gloomiest month in Minnesota.  It averages just five days with clear skies.  Egads.  Luckily, I have so many things to be grateful for in November to cheer me up.

For one thing, there are lots of birthdays to celebrate.  There is nnK’s birthday, my handyman Ken’s birthday, my niece’s birthday, my brother’s birthday and my own birthday.

November is also the month that I retired from the day job.  Can you believe it has been three years already?!

Then of course there is Thanksgiving, the perfect day for reflecting on gratitude.

And finally, there is my blogiversary.  Today marks 11 years that I’ve been at this blogging thing.

I never thought I would stick it out this long.

Every year around now I start reflecting on why I write this blog, whether or not I want to continue with it, and if so, where to go from here.

As I’ve mentioned many times, I don’t do this for the money.  My blog isn’t monetized, I pay extra for my WordPress account to keep the ads off (because let’s face it, ads on a blog are super annoying).  Although I do sell many of the items I create, those sales barely offset the related expenses.  I also create content for Dixie Belle Paint Co in exchange for free product, but they don’t pay me and I don’t get any commissions from them for sales.

Here’s the thing, I absolutely love blogging.  I really enjoy the creating, the photography, the writing, and the interacting with my very gracious followers.  And now that I’m retired, I have all kinds of time to devote to it.

But lately things have been feeling a bit stale.  I seem to repeat the same sorts of projects year after year.

Painted sleds for Christmas.

Toolboxes galore.

And lots of stenciled cupboard doors.

I post about gardening in the summer.

Well, sometimes in the winter too.

I also post about travel now and then.

That’s Malta, by the way.  It is one of the most beautiful places to arrive in via cruise ship.

  Anyway, I’m wondering if my readers feel like things have gotten a bit stale as well.  There has been a steep drop off in the number of comments I receive.  In 2022 I got 4,439 comments on my posts, and so far for 2024 it’s only 1,513.  Ouch.

My sister tells me that’s because it has become too difficult to leave a comment, are you having that experience as well?  Unfortunately, there isn’t anything I can do about that, that process is regulated by WordPress, not me.

People are still viewing my posts, that number is down slightly, but not nearly as drastically as comments.

So now what?

Well, as I mentioned, I don’t do this for the money.  So it doesn’t really matter what the numbers say.  I also don’t do it for the accolades, although I often have to remind myself of that.  But I take you back to earlier in this post where I said that I do it because I love the process.  As long as I continue to enjoy creating, writing, photographing, gardening and traveling, I’ll just keep at it.

And perhaps my new projects in miniature will help freshen things up a bit going forward.

I’m definitely excited about them.  You’ll certainly see more of them over the coming months.

And that brings me to my annual blogiversary giveaway where I try to pay it forward.

I’m including a few of my very favorite Dixie Belle products; Drop Cloth and Midnight Sky chalk mineral paint, Iron and Bronze patina paint, Blue and Green patina spray, and their Scrubby Soap in orange and lemon.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this soap much, but I absolutely love it for cleaning my paint brushes.  It’s also excellent for getting paint off your hands, as well as dirt (from gardening of course).

The bars have a built in scrubby pad that works right up until all the soap is gone.  I’m also a fan of the citrus scents of the orange and lemon (it also comes in lemon/lime).

But wait, that’s not all!

I’m also including the Christmas themed Lane cedar box, and both of the Dixie Belle transfers that I used on it, Yuletide Hearth and Caroling Cardinals.

Finally, I haven’t forgotten that I promised to include the spare miniature dress form that I created back in October.

She’ll be nestled cozily in the Lane box.

You may not have a dollhouse, but she’d look great on a bookshelf or desktop.

I wish I could give these things to each and every one of you, but unfortunately that isn’t possible.  But please know that I am grateful for any support you give me, whether it’s leaving a comment, purchasing one of my items, or even just simply becoming a follower of the blog.  Thank you so much!

The rules for today’s giveaway:  Simply leave a comment on this blog post and let me know you are still out there.

Your comment must be left on this blog post, not on Facebook or Instagram.

I will randomly draw the name of a winner for today’s prize from all of the comments left on this post by Saturday, December 7, 2024 at the stroke of midnight (U.S. Central time).

The fine print: no purchase necessary, you must be 18 years of age or older to win, void where prohibited by law, the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning, approximate retail value of prize is $215, if the prize is not claimed by Sunday, December 15, 2024 another name will be drawn at random to win, yada, yada, yada.

Good luck!

Thank you to Dixie Belle Paint Co for supplying most of the items I’m giving away today!

141 thoughts on “so. many. things. (a blogiversary giveaway)”

  1. Love your blog so much! You bring joy to my world with every post. The miniature dress form would look great in my dollhouse 😉. Love the posts on your dollhouse renovations. I hope to renovate my dollhouse someday soon…I need a place to retire to!

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  2. I love reading your blogs. I absolutely love love love all the pieces that you have created. You are so talented. I first learned about transfers and Dixie Bell paint products in your blogs and ever since I have been hooked! You have been such an inspiration to me. I came to a carriage house sale earlier this year and dragged my mom with me because I told her I had to meet the person behind these beautiful designs and wanted to see your beautiful garden! I hope you pick me for the giveaway as I am one of your biggest fans! I will try share a pic of one my pieces inspired by you! I hope you do continue to blog and share your beautiful one of a kind creations!
    Steph

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  3. I read your blog every time I see it in my inbox. It’s one of the few I’ve kept over the years. I find that I don’t comment much anyplace anymore because other readers can be so rude. That hasn’t been my experience here but I just don’t comment really anywhere. Thanks for producing your blog. It’s a bright spot in my day!

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    1. Thankfully receiving a rude comment on my blog has been an extremely rare occurrence. I should also note that I have the option of deleting comments, and I have done so once or twice. Nobody needs negativity like that, right?

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  4. Linda, I’ve read every single one of your posts and often go back and look things up. You’re an inspiration and in my opinion, your projects are always gorgeous.

    I read your blog posts faithfully, and yours is the only blog that I subscribe to. I’m just not that good at leaving comments, I guess.

    Thanks for your many creative ideas and your posts, I appreciate them so much. They’re a bright spot in my day.

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  5. I absolutely have loved your blog for years! I am glad that you love writing it and sharing with us. I have learned so much through the years from your sharing your talents and experiences with us. Crafts, gardening, traveling etc. I just got back from Europe and cruised into Malta. It was absolutely breathtaking! As long as you continue to blog I will be here to read, learn and enjoy. 😘❤️

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  8. I am still here and will continue to be. I look forward to each and every post. I love your style and hope to one day incorporate some of your ideas into my own home. Keep doing what you love.

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  9. Happy Blogiversary!

    I so enjoy receiving your emails and I’m usually able to drop everything to check out what beauty you’ve created next. I share your love of Dropcloth and you’ve been my inspiration for several pieces I’ve created. Since I’m no longer on FB, you are now my only source of inspiration.

    I don’t find it too difficult to post a comment or question and appreciate that you’ve always taken the time to answer when I do.

    I can only guess that perhaps the economy has been a factor in the slow down of purchasing crafting items and thus the slow dwindle of interest. I can’t speak for others, but that’s what I’ve experienced personally.

    I’ve learned so much from following you and thankful for your willingness to share your techniques and tips and step by step process of beautiful creations.

    Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving.

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  10. I originally found you because I too am a DB paint user and there’s not many of us out there! I have thoroughly enjoyed following your tool & fishing box creations! And a couple of your furniture projects have been an inspiration for me!

    as to the drop in #’s, perhaps the drop in readership has more to do with lack of Covid & captive audience than disinterest in what you have to say! I have noticed this trend in other organizations!

    I have responded to a couple of your posts and yes, it is a cumbersome process and my typed response disappears- extremely frustrating ! once I tried simply responding via the normal email process, and one time I even received a reply from you, not sure which method that reply was generated from!

    Irregardless please keep on keeping on as I enjoy your varied topics along with my morning coffee!

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  11. Happy Anniversary!! Your blog posts are entertaining, educational and just fun! It is a mystery to me when I see a picked item and wuuuunder what its end stage will be:). Love your imagination & would love to visit someday. Perhaps you will have a bus travel tour someday……..mmmmmm,

    Thanks for taking the time to share your life lovin’ things including family, travel, gardening and all that creative stuff!

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  12. I love the tone of your blog -and the lack of ads-so I’m so glad that you enjoy the writing process and have continued for so long.

    My favorite posts are furniture projects but I don’t do as much furniture anymore- my back doth protest too much-but I enjoy your smaller IOD projects too. I have some IOD transfers but find them too expensive for a one-off project and I never get back to using the rest of the transfer. I love the garden tours too.

    (Typed a whole comment out then was asked to reset my WordPress password then lost my comment so, your sister is correct about the difficulties in leaving a comment. Some WordPress expert should be able to fix that!)

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    1. I’m with you on the furniture thing, I’m not so fond of lugging big pieces of furniture around anymore either. As for the IOD, I hear you on that too. Unless you are going to get multiple projects out of one, or one really fabulous piece, they are a bit on the pricey side.

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  13. Hello there! Still here! I enjoy and appreciate that I can read your posts right from my mail without having being directed somewhere else and the fact that that there are NO ADS! Guess I’m just not much of a commenter unless it really strikes me but I do find all the different content interesting! Thank you for sharing!

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    1. I have purposely chosen to allow my followers to read my full blog post in their email without having to click on a link to be taken to the blog (it’s an optional setting in WordPress). I think a lot of bloggers don’t opt for it because it reduces their ‘number of views’ count. But since I’m not monetized, and I don’t have ads (which often pay out based on number of views), I want to make it as easy as possible for my readers. So I’m glad you appreciate that!

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  14. Hi, I’d love to be entered in the giveaway! Also, please keep doing what you’re doing because I love reading your posts, and am especially fascinated with the dollhouse renovation you’re working on.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  15. I got into redoing toolboxes and other metal boxes because of your blog. I’ve tried to do them exactly like you’ve done. I also recently purchased a dollhouse kit and several of the pieces you’ve done. Thank you so much for all your detailed instructions and the information on products you’ve used. Makes it so much easier to find them. Thank you so much for the blog. I enjoy seeing what you’ve done. You are such a creative person. Julie

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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  16. I love your blog!! NEVER stop! I always read it, but I don’t always comment. I’ll do better!!! I’m especially loving all the dollhouse content, You know that’s right up my alley! And I hope one day to use one of your travel blogs as an itinerary for myself-They’re the most inspirational to me!

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  17. I was planning on commenting even before I read about the giveaway (and it’s a stellar prize!) because it got me thinking. I think blogging is a form of therapy, letting your creative self out and also tracking time and life. It’s a gift to yourself and to your readers. We don’t comment because as time goes by it’s like a comfortable relationship. We drink our cup of morning coffee, we know you’re there, we anticipate what you are doing, we learn from your projects and adventures, we close the page and go about our day. It’s like when you’re dating and you talk talk talk when you’re driving , dining, sitting… then you’ve been married for 10 years and you sit and enjoy. The love is more and the words are less. But we still have to say I love you and want you. So, here we are. You are part of the fabric of our life. We still love you and look forward to the goings on, the changes, adventures and new chapters of life – which we are all experiencing.
    Carry on the good work and if changes take place we will miss you and ask that you do what you can to take us with you💕

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    1. OK Ruth, this is one of the most lovely and thoughtful comments I’ve ever received. I may have to print it out and put in somewhere I can see it on the regular. Thank you so much!!

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  18. oh Linda,

    I agree with your sister because trying to get my comments posted it took me a long time. I love your blog. I love all your creativity. It’s something I look forward to every morning when I look at my email. I only wish I was closer because I would be buying more things. I absolutely love your style and the new little dollhouse as I’ve said before if I could live in it, I would. You and your family have a very happy Thanksgiving and looking forward to seeing what else you do in the coming year.

    smiles, Alice

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    1. You, my dear, are the 2nd most prolific commenter on my blog (right after Monica above), so you have clearly figured out the commenting thing! Thank you so much for all of your comments throughout the year, I appreciate you Alice 🙂

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  19. Your blog is the ONLY one I read, because there are no annoying ads. I only found you about a year ago but have enjoyed reading everything you share. I get so much enjoyment, and education too, from each post. You are super creative! I’ve learned so much about painting, prep and IOD products that I cannot get anywhere else. Just wanted you to know that I appreciate your efforts to the fullest!

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    1. Doesn’t it feel like ads have taken over everything these days? I used to really enjoy Pinterest, and now it’s filled with ads. I also feel the same about Instagram. It’s so disappointing to have to weed through so many ads when all you want is inspiration for a project. I always like to ‘never say never’ and always be open to new possibilities, but in this case I promise I will never add ads to my blog!

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    1. I plan on having a ‘garden’ themed sale in the spring. It’s unfortunate that I can no long divide and share actual plants (due to my jumping worm infestation), but I hope to have lots of other vintage and/or repurposed garden items! We haven’t picked a date yet, but stay tuned.

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  23. hello,

    I read your blog on my email all the time and I look forward to every edition! I find your projects interesting and inspiring! Please keep it up!

    Is it stale or repetitive? Stale, nope – not for me. Repetitive at times, but I love seeing similar items done differently and I love how you go back over time. I am enjoying the miniatures but that is often a different audience and it requires a different budget than your usual upcycling. I am a thrifter so really I love seeing what you update that I can find and try. I think in this way perhaps I would love a bit more variety such as repurposing old windows, freshening an old magazine rack, milk can, sewing machine drawers, etc. thing we might find at the thrift store or an estate sale. I love your collections as well so maybe a new collection might be fun or using your current collection of white ironstone in different staging arrangements through the seasons as an example…I think many of us are in the stage of ‘use what you have’.

    keep creating, keep sharing, push your comfort zone!

    Jane from Winnipeg Canada.

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    1. Those are some great ideas Jane, thanks so much. I love the idea of adding a regular thrift/repurpose style blog post, but I haven’t had much luck finding goodies at the thrift store lately. I’ll have to work on going more often perhaps. I agree with that last comment about being in the ‘use what you have’ stage. I’m with you there, but another possibility is to being in the ‘for every new thing you bring home, get rid of an old thing’ stage. I did that with Christmas decorations this year, I made room for some new things by getting rid of some things that had grown tired.

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  24. I love your blog and share it with a dear friend and then we talk about it. You write transparently and that impresses me. Your passion for writing is conveyed well through your posts. I think there is something to be said about sticking with what you love and I never get bored with your posts. What you do, you do well. I on the other hand try my hand at so many things, I never get any one thing down. I do love your recent addition of miniatures. Its been fun to see how buying a “I think it was a barn” morph into painting furniture in miniature. I simply don’t leave comments because I feel like “who cares what I think” but I decided to today because I want you to feel supported. I hope you will continue. Whenever I see your post arrive to my inbox, I take a break from my day and read it. Its a little joy in the middle of my day. Continue making joy…your readers are blessed.

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  25. I’m always happy to see your blog posts pop up in my email! Please keep it up – there are lots of us reading and enjoying what you write even though we don’t always comment. Also, thanks for no ads on your blog. Thank you for sharing your talent with us – you are very inspiring!

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  26. I have followed your blog faithfully for years. I even made it to one of your occasional sales. I enjoy your garden and travel posts. I hope you feel inspired to blog for many more years to come.

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  27. I enjoy your posts – I’m guilty of not always commenting – most times I think it is just a time issue for me. Sometimes I just feel lucky to open my email and see your post and that is my bad for not taking the time to comment. I hardly comment on any posts by anyone. In fact I don’t follow many blogs anymore but I truly enjoy yours – especially the new miniature venture! So – yes I am still here and enjoying your content. I think we are close in age and sometimes it just feels like “same old – same old” don’t you think? If you enjoy the creative process then just keep on keeping on!

    Case in point – I meant to comment on your begonia post but thought I will just do it later and I never did. I wanted to tell you that I have had 2 large begonias for 3 or 4 years now. This past summer I didn’t even take them outside. I have them in a northeast window (in Michigan where we don’t see a lot of sun either!) They seem to thrive and bloom. I use a fertilizer (mixed by a local grower) every time I water them.

    This is an awesome giveaway and he dress form would be fantastic in my dollhouse that you have inspired me to work on!

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    1. Thanks so much Gloria! So far the begonias seem to be doing well, but it’s only November. We’ll see how they look come February. I have had to trim off some bad leaves, and I’m watching them closely for mealy bugs (I did end up with mealy bugs on my streptocarpus and had to toss them). Fingers crossed!

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  28. Your blog has been a source of great enjoyment since I discovered it via Pinterest a year or so ago, and has inspired me to resume building creative pursuits into my weeks. (Also to spend a small fortune on IOD and prima transfers that hopefully will be applied this winter to my many estate sale “finds,” LOL.)

    Quite frankly it’s head and shoulders above other creator blogs in terms of writing style, subject matter, art/photography, and sophistication. It’s great fun to follow along on your travel adventures, garage saleing, house tours, and gardening, too.

    As another reader said above, I like the painted recipe boxes and things that might be in the realm of possibility for me. I have many old windows in the garage waiting to be transformed, for example.

    Really, really appreciate that it’s not monetized. I have abandoned several bloggers because of incessant pop-ups, videos, SEO-laden writing and other intrusive elements. If you decided to offer content on a subscription basis, that would be preferable to the other money-making tactics, and more than worth a monthly fee.

    Please continue! As to comments, sometimes I refrain simply to avoid taking up your time or repeating what others have said, but definitely not out of lack of interest. Also, my WordPress account is wonky so I never know if the comments make it to their destination. But I look forward to your posts; thanks for all of your efforts.

    Btw on a jaunt to Phoenixville, PA last weekend for a film festival, we went on a tour of this funky place: The American Treasure Tour museum; its myriad dollhouses and dioramas (?) in miniature made me think of yours. Quite the sights to behold. https://www.americantreasuretour.com/

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    1. Thank you so very much for that lovely comment Melissa! And I agree, a subscription would be the way to go if I wanted to make any money doing this gig. If my medical insurance premiums keep going up the way they have been, I may have to resort to that (LOL, just kidding, I hope!). I clicked on your link, and did you know that my sister and niece lived in Audubon, NJ prior to moving here about 8 years ago? I wonder if they’ve ever been to the American Treasure Tour Museum. Also, we have just recently started talking about taking a road trip out to Philly next summer to see my nephew who still lives out there. There are a couple of public gardens that I want to see, some battlefields that Mr. Q wants to see, friends that my sister and niece want to see, and now I may have to add this place! Thanks for the info!

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      1. Linda, I saw the highway signs for Audobon but didn’t realize it was NJ. We stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn in Oaks; the film festival was in nearby Phoenixville, a very hip little old-fashioned village (but the only hotel there was reputed to have bedbugs) about 8 minutes away.

        Definitely an area to go back to; we already plan to attend the film noir festival next November. The Colonial Theater in Phoenixville dates to 1903 and was one of the filming locations for the 1950s movie “The Blob” with Steve McQueen.

        That museum was in an industrial park (former Firestone factory) right near the hotel; apparently a collector now in his 80s has privately purchased all of the thousands of items. The tram tour lasts about 40 minutes and is a scream; it motors through a jumble of everything from classic cars to a giant Gumby to vintage advertising signs, holiday animatronics from department stores, the stock of a defunct Halloween costume manufacturer and much more. Many elaborate old self-playing organs and carnival-type music boxes. It’s kitsch to the max and amusing to see big stuffed animals behind the wheel of classic vehicles.

        The room with the player pianos and similar also has vintage radios, telephones and again the many dollhouses which I think you would enjoy seeing. Well worth the $18 entry fee for those who like funky vintage Americana.

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  29. I’ve followed your blog for years. I’ll admit I don’t always comment. Your staging is amazing! Great ideas, fun stuff, many ideas. Thank you for all you do!

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  30. I love your posts, Q! They’re always beautiful, even if they’re not something that I work on (like miniatures), I like to see what you’re doing. Yes, it’s a little harder to comment on here because of logging in to WordPress, but it’s not that big a deal. My biggest problem is that sometimes life gets in the way and I don’t have time to stop and comment. 😦

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  31. I’ve been reading your blog for years, and went back and read a majority of the older ones too as I loved your style! I have to be honest and do find it to be not quite as enjoyable as it was, mainly because I loved your furniture makeovers and seldom see those anymore. I enjoy the other makeovers but feel the tool boxes are overdone (although you told me you aren’t stopping them anytime soon lol) I still read it every time I get an email though and I really enjoy your writing style. It seems that you, like me, have more time on our hands after retirement but get fewer things done than when we worked! When my time was limited, I pushed harder. Now that I’m retired, what doesn’t get done today will get done tomorrow! I still hope you continue to publish as you are the only one I read!

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    1. LOL, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with that last bit. I seem to think that way all the time these days, ‘if I don’t get to it today, I’ll do it tomorrow’. I also say yes to so many more things now. If my neighbor wants help planting her mom’s annuals, I say yes. If my niece wants to join a gym and work out together twice a week, I say yes. If my mom wants me to come for more visits, I say yes. If my neighbor’s parents invite me along on their trip to Mexico, I say yes. As for the rest, I know you’ve commented in the past about the lack of furniture makeovers. Unfortunately I don’t see them coming back any time soon. I have found that there just isn’t the same market for selling painted pieces as there once was. Putting all of that work into a furniture makeover just to have it sit in my carriage house unsold is not much fun. I could switch over to stripping and refinishing wood pieces, but I don’t enjoy that process at all. So, sorry to disappoint, but I’m definitely not promising a return to lots of furniture makeovers.

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      1. I totally understand! I don’t paint as much furniture either as I used to as furniture sells in spurts here. All at once, or nothing for a few months. I still love the process of doing it though – somehow relaxing to me. If I can drag a piece outside, in the sun, I’m in heaven. I have a heated workshop but outside is much more fun. I’m sure you will stumble upon something interesting again and bring us along on your ride! Christmas is my favorite time, so I enjoy all the doors, sleds, windowbox, etc. that you blog about! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

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  33. I love your blog. It is the only one I ALWAYS read. It is because you have not resorted to annoying, difficult to close, pop-up ads. I delete potentially interesting blogs when the ads begin. Please keep on blogging with NO ads.

    I read your blog because of the content. It is fun to “see” how you transform old, dilapidated pieces into something of beauty. I save some of your ideas or pictures to try to duplicate them. I’m a huge thrifter. You’ve given me a keen eye for what to look for and grab.

    Recently, I started volunteering at the furniture bank for the unhoused. In my capacity I help them sell more valuable home donations to provide money for pillows, cleaning products, and other household needs.

    Keep on blogging! You are appreciated.

    Kathy

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  34. I can’t believe it’s been 11years I’ve been opening my email anticipating your newest blog. I always read them but I’m guilty of not leaving a comment. I’ll ry to be better about that. Love that you’re giving the dollhouse a makeover. Congratulations and Happy Birthday!

    Donna

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    1. No worries about leaving comments Donna! But it is nice to hear from you once in a while to let me know you’re still out there. I hope you and Ron are doing well!

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  35. Hi Quandie. Love the blog and your sister is right. So hard to leave a comment on the blog. For some reason it doesn’t take my password and I have re- created one a million times. So frustrating but I get that you cannot control that. Please know that your readers are still here and enjoying all your content. You inspire us and I don’t feel like your content has gotten stale at all. Keep enjoying retirement and sharing your travels and creativity with the world! Sincerely, Sheri.
    Sent from my iPhone

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  36. Happy 11th Anniversary!

    I love your blog and look forward to reading it knowing I’ll find inspiration and information through your gardening and traveling articles. And the transformation of your project pieces, large and small, are always a source of delight!

    Hope you continue…as Marie Kondo says ‘does it bring you joy?’

    BTW – I too find that I sometimes lose my response in the cumbersome process of leaving a comment!

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  37. Happy Anniversary! and happy Thanksgiving to you! I truly enjoy your blog and I am thankful that you share your creativity with us. I have been inspired by your ideas and creations again and again. I look forward to your posts every week and I especially love your transformations of thrifted items. I also appreciate that your posts are easily accessible when I pick up something thrifting and I want to have a refresher on how to, for example, paint a vintage suitcase. You are gifted at writing too and that makes your blog fun to read. I comment now and then when something truly hits a cord with me. But I read every post and I am so thankful you are there adding joy to my world – it has begun to feel like I am sharing a cup of coffee with an old friend!

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  38. I can only imagine the amount of brain time needed to come up with new posts and ideas and feel like people are listening. I am glad you are not hanging up blogging yet – because I think your new stage of creativity is that dollhouse! Even though we don’t all comment all the time doesn’t mean we aren’t out there! I am on the edge of my seat waiting to see the whole process of the dollhouse design – I like seeing the painstaking details – and the end result! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  39. You are one of the few blogs I still follow! I would really miss not reading what you’re up to. Many great ideas are gleaned from your posts. BTW, I would love to be the winner of the products you have shown!

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  40. Please don’t think we aren’t in love with everything you do because we don’t comment. I just love your tool boxes and am trying to get up the nerve to try my own. Keep blogging, we all love your posts!

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  41. I hope you still feel the spark , or get more of it back, because you are so good at writing! I’ve gotten lazy about commenting, but it’s not from disinterest in your blog. You are so talented in so many areas, your travels and gardening have been of most interest to me. Maybe explore other areas, too, such as tours of others’ homes, like you did at Amy’s? Please keep rocking it!

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  42. There’s something about opening your email each day and finding something that you look forward to opening. I know that lots of people are not using email much anymore, and truthfully I don’t either. However, I still enjoy receiving an email. I love your creativity. It takes me back to times that I spent with a very talented aunt who taught me how to be resourceful, if not truly creative. I try to do projects with my grandchildren and I’m always scouting for new ideas. Over the years many bloggers have dropped out of the blogging business and I miss most of them. I hope that you will continue, especially of you really “enjoy the process.” BTW, I love the dollhouse makeover!

    Thank you and Happy Anniversary!

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    1. I think a lot of bloggers have switched over to making videos on YouTube, and as hard as I try to imagine myself doing that, I just can’t. I know video is where it’s at these days, but it’s just not for me. So I’m grateful to have followers who still like to read a blog post now and then 🙂

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  43. I apologize for being a Quandie lover but too rushed/lazy to leave regular comments, especially lately. I adore your work and every single mailing still makes me oooh and ahhh and wish I was close enough to purchase so so many of your lovely pieces. I hope you do continue to blog! You inspire me, with every post, and you make me laugh so much! I love every topic you post and never, EVER, think too many toolboxes, too many sleighs…..it’s always, WOW, this one is EVEN BETTER! And the dollhouse journey is over the top wonderful!

    All the best to you and Happy HAPPY Anniversary!!

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  44. Happy Blogiversary! Your blog posts in my email always make me smile. I love to read them while enjoying my first cup of coffee. I don’t always comment, but know that I am here and I love your style and enjoy your creativity. If blogging brings you joy, then I say blog away. And because you are not trying to make a living from it, you should stop when it no longer brings joy but instead feels like one more item on a never ending to-do list.
    I hope your November is filled with joy.

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    1. Hi Linda, Happy Blogversary. When I read this week’s blog it reminded me of Dr Suess’s Horton Hears a Who…..All The tiny Who’s are shouting We Are hear! We Are Here! WE ARE HERE! I apologize for not commenting more, but always look forward to your latest creation or garden planting. Thanks for blogging for 11 years!

      Melissa

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  45. Happy Blogiversary! I read every one of your posts as they arrive in my news feed and look forward to them. I don’t always comment though. I do not think your blog has become stale and I am have enjoyed reading about your dive into miniatures as you refurbish your doll house. Keep the posts coming! Please know I enjoy them even thought I don’t always comment. Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday.

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  46. I enjoy reading your posts although I admit I am less interested in the miniatures. You can never do too many toolboxes for me. Please keep writing, and Happy Blogiversary.

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  47. Glad I found you. Enjoy your blog every time I see it in my inbox. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Hope the winter isn’t too extreme, but still enough to enjoy. I live in TX now, used to live in Wisconsin so I know some winters are enjoyable … some too long LOL.

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  49. It’s amazing how many comments you get when there’s a giveaway! Maybe you should do more! I don’t need any of the prize items, so disregard my entry. I just wanted to let you know that I’m still out here, and I comment occasionally on your posts.

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