Weekend Welcomes 6th edition

Time to welcome the noobs to my little space on the 'net.  

Yep.  Discovered some new wee faces over yonder on the sidebar.

This week I will offer a tutorial on following your cottage instincts up large curbs.  

Should be all kinds of fun.

Below are the newest followers with links and buttons to their respective blogs

...if you have a blog link/button that I missed, email me by clicking on the crazy birdcage lady in my side bar and I'll get it up asap.  

Everyone please go welcome the new folks!

Y'all are all kinds of awesome....and have serious cottage instincts. Thanks for following along and make yourself at home.  I'll even share my Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies.  I appreciate you just that much.

Bridget @


Lori@


Lily @ Everyday Lily

Lucy @ Lucy Designs
Sheila @ Dodging Raindrops
Brandi @ The Mullins Family
Green Willow Pond
Jessica @ rented cottage life
Mari @ that girl can cook
Becky @ over at the little house
Rhonda @ if you do stuff, stuff gets done
Suzanne @ Thrift Store Decor Junky
bethy.d @ The Dragness Family
Denise @ Thrifty By Design
Miranda @ Blooming in Alaska
Tiny's Crafty Corner
Sue @ The Rocking Chair Muse
Tia @ Cottage By The Sea
Tanya @ Life: the Pursuit of Something More than Ordinary
kucuksheyler @ dublinde
Mrs. Jones
Deseiree @ Just Another Day in Paradise
Julie @ View from the Windshield
scrap -n- away
Midwest Cottage
Kathy @ Tinket's Vintage Treasures
The Holmes Family @ Four Sweet Holmes
Oonafey @ Little Pink House
Elaine @ Hospitali-Tea Cottage
Pine Grove Farm
Cranberry Cottage
Laura @ The Good Stuff
Jami @ The Rudinger Life
Leslie @ Farm Fresh Fun
Stephanie @ Ivy Road
Sheep Thrills in Brooklyn
Jessica @ The Hinz Home
Michelle @ Shell's Shabby Shack
Mi @ eumesma
Emma @ Fresh Look Furniture
Jonna @ Buggaboos
Renee' @ Bearable Deals
Melissa @ Ador
Shelly Atkinson's Blog
Teri @ At Home with Teri
the perfection of rottenness
Swen @ Gwenny Penny
Maria Avila Galeria
Kikumi
Marie @ Marie's Maison
Jane @ Janie's Porch
Jan @ Papercraft Pleasures
Gail @ Victorian at Heart
The Cozy Cape
Michelle @ Trash to Treasure
doni @ faithgracecrafts
Tammy @ Junk Wild
Cristy @ Sassy Southern Lady
Cathy @ Cobblestone Farms
Marissa @ kentucky girl
sunnyville cottage
Traci
Lauren Mack
Lisa Shatzer
happy nester
mkreillyco
jane
wanda.contreras
Kim Trosclair
Michelle Mickle
lindy
Tara
the home front
Justi Lundeberg
s_hhn65
This Home of Ours
Jennifer
CozyHomeScenes
Jeana
secondhandchic
Charlee
paintinthyme
heart of a cowgirl
Travis Graff
aperdue7
zsa_zsa67
Tracie Benetz
Angela Richardson
Allison
Sarah
K2D2vaca
Kendra Tucker
Spelled with an I
Nancy Schofield

And a hearty welcome to my newest anonymous followers and subscribers.  I'm sure your pictures are cute too.....here's some pies for you.

Weekend Welcomes 5th Edition, Favorite Comment, and Questions Answered

Ooooo, I love me some new followers!  Hey, wait a minute, it's not the weekend.  I know that, duh.  (And I'm not green.  And you're prolly not orange. Well, unless you're an Ompa Loompa.) But I missed the last 2 weekends, so I figgered I better get a move on or this post would be like a million miles long.

So, WELCOME to the craziness that is ::cottage instincts::  and thanks for your support :)
Below are the newest followers with links and buttons to their respective blogs...if you have a blog link/button that I missed, email me and I'll get it up asap!  Everyone go visit those with links and bring some:

Y'all are all kinds of awesome....and have serious cottage instincts. 

Ashley @ The Hillside Home  (sorry Ashley!!!!  I feel like a dorko)

Danielle @ My Blessed Serendipity Life

Sherri @


Hot Pink Peonies

Whitney @


Kirsty @ A Little Bit of Sanity and A Lot of Chaos

Robin @ WIMAGES

Janis @ GRAMS

Amy @  Like Yesterday Shop

Becky @


Richella @


Twig


Ali @


Alex @ Malice in Underland

Jane @ Flora Doora


judi @ The 1829 Farmhouse

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes

Summer Gypsy @ UNSHELVED WORDS

Elise @ Nest Sweet Nest

Lisa @ The Heart of Us

Christine @ Coffee With Chris

Ron @ THE OLD GEEZER BLOG

Violet @ Hidden Acre

Anna @ Anna's Excellent Adventure

ANTIQUE CHASE

Melissa @ Livvy Loo Who

She Dreams Big!

Modern Vintage Interiors

Linda @ Nina's Nest

Dennise @ Little Green Table

Moe @


T.bird @ Nestled in Rosenberg

Mrs. M. @ Cabbages and Kings.

Karen @


Joycee @ Granny Mountain

Green Jeans @ Central Florida Gardening

Jane @ Mamie Jane's

Anne @


Nikki @ The Best Part of Believe (got your email!)

Lauren @ Inspire Me

Marla @ May Flower Mama

Kate @


Stephanie (got your email too!)
Kristie and Jason
Dave's Wife
autumnladystarview
FOBeliever
Carrie
BountyHuntress
Shari
Mary
Amy Meyer
kcb-101
taijastagg
mary at vintage patina
Debbi
Angelika Stratiichuk
Missus Rinehart
Cricket
rita
chrissie
Polly
Lynda Krozell
deborah-may
taylorst
Sue

And welcome to the 11 new anonymous followers and the 80 new subscribers!  Can't tell you how much I appreciate your visits here:)  And please do leave me a comment sometime to introduce yourself ...I'm kooky, but pretty nice most days.  Except when I have to delete links from the Mi4M party.  Oy.

As for questions, I had tons regarding the bedding and such in these pictures from this post:

Many of it was clearanced or found at TJMarshalls (can never remember which one), but I added links if they're still available.

The paint: Reflection by Devine Paints (in her Tide Pools Collection)
Floral and Stripe quilted sham: found at TJMarshalls (it was a long time ago, and I was never able to find more than just this one.)
Pale Aqua floral quilted sham: Walmart here (BHGardens)
Tan plaid: TJMarshalls (actually a bedskirt from Ralph Lauren's Prairie Plains Collection, still found on EBAY HERE)
Aqua stripe blanket: 4 yards of HEAVY fabric from JoAnn's (it was clearanced out 9 months or so ago, so not sure it's still available, might have been Christopher Lowell.)
Tan and Floral Pillows: Fabric from Hancock's (no identification, and it was on the flat fold table, got it back in the winter)
Shirred Pillow: I got nuthin'  Can't remember.  Maybe Target's Simply Shabby Chic?
Pale Aqua Quilt: TJMarshalls (it's over 3 years old)

I've also had many emails about my home situation, and though it's been a pretty emotional roller coaster ride, we're doing a little better each day.  Working on home projects, blogging and homeschooling have helped to keep life ticking away and bring welcome breaks from the chaos. I will write a brief post soon with a bit more detail, but for now, thank you SO MUCH for your care and concern for my family.


And this weeks FaVoRiTe CoMmEnT came from GRAMS regarding my distressed dresser:

Girl, that is FAB-U-LUST!! I want it! It's on wheels so just put a note on it and send it down the interstate. It'll get here eventually and a little more wear and weather will only make it better.
Your boys are great. I love random odd behavior. 


Janis is HILARIOUS, and her home projects are incredible...like THIS and THIS and THIS.  I know.  She's quite the stripper, eh?  *snort*  Go visit her for inspiration and wicked humor.  I totally want to be her when I grow up.  She's like the coolest gramma evah.

Okie doke.  I think that about covers it.  Don't forget to get your BLUE & BROWN ever-lovin' projects ready for the shindig on the 22nd...and feel free to add the button to your sidebar to help advertise.  The code thingy is up in my sidebar....fiddle dee dee.

Weekend Welcomes 4th Edition...and Questions Answered

Hola!  More followers to introduce to y'all.  Can I just say how amazed I am that I get new folks reading my blatherings each week?  Seriously, I'm like stunned.  But there they are....bright shining faces letting me know they're stopping by now and again....I won't tell you about the 2 who un-followed.  BTW, that's me in the red up there.  Not sure where my ears are or why my left arm is 3 times the size of my right arm.  Any ideas?

So anyway,

to my little spot on the web.  If you're listed below and have a blog I missed, please click that kooky woman in the birdcage in my sidebar, and I'll get you set up right quick.  Everyone go welcome these nifty folks!

Ellen at Abounding Life
Laura at White Spray Paint
Tingle Lane Primitives
Alayna
Hilary at sweet as june
Lori Lynn's Cottage
Graphic Design by Tara
The Paper Princess at Create With Joy
Cathy at The Far Fifty
Stage My Home
May Flower Mama
Linda
Cindy at Purple Froggie Clay Stuff
Angie at Living Aloha
Love of All Things Vintage
Kari
Liz at Bizzy Dayz
Dreamingof03
Anneliese at Sew Blessed
Molly at White Trash and colorful accessories
Heather at Vintage Girl
And the few anonymous new followers and subscribers, y'all are welcome too :)

Just a few questions this week.

Anne at Fiona and Twig asked:
I'd like an explanation as to how you got in my garage to snap that photo, hmmm?
Me:  Um, I just kinda walked right in.  And I'll be stalking your new place too.  

Debbi Thinks Deep wondered:
Remember the old song? ". . . makes my hear go Pitty Pat, Do Li Do . . ."
Me:  If I do I'm not letting on.  But glad to know my re-dos bring a song to your heart :)


May Flower Mama asked:
Do you sand or prime the furniture before you paint or do you go right to the fun color?
Me:  I didn't sand or prime the bookshelves...just wiped them down with some Liquid Sander.  I'll be doing a post soon on how I paint stuff and what I use.  It all depends on the finish I'm after, the condition of the piece and what kind of mood I'm in. :) 

Well, that's it.  Be welcomed and have an Oatmeal Cake.  And hook up your home dec projects tomorrow at Make it 4 Monday 'round about 6pm my time....that'd be Indiana-time.  The east side.

Weekend Welcomes 3rd Edition and This Week's Questions Answered.

Time again to greet my new stalkers! Welcome to cottage instincts......

Don't they look like a fun bunch over there?  Yes.  They are fun.  Their blogs are fun.  Their comments are fun.  There's just a lot of fun-ness going on here. If you have a blog that I missed, just email me by clicking on the crazy lady in the bird cage over yonder.  I'll get you set up asap.  Thank you as well to my new anonymous followers and subscribers who I'm sure are very fun people too....why else would they read my weirdness?  Of course they're fun.

So come on in everyone!  Just step over the mess...

  Feel free to ignore the goofy relatives....

Pull up a comfy seat...

Grab a cuppa, a snuggie, and one of my decorating books....

...and make yourself at home.  You're in good company, and I'm glad to have you join us!
May the force be with you circle be unbroken, by and by.

Please pop over and welcome these nifty folks:
Abigail at Raising Camelot
sunnyvillecottage
Mandy at Diaries of a craftaholic & demented housewife
Dolly at From My Cherry Heart
Sara at The Sherlock's Home
Elo Silveira
Patty at sewingseeds4U
Sheryl at ain't for city gals
Janice at Candy Coated Dame
callie at Chickens on the Porch
Hannah eden
Debbi Thinks Deep
Tiggeriffic at Birds and Nature
Glenda at Junkin in My Pink Cadilac
Helen at House and Garden
The Old Weeping Cedar 
Erika at Thrifty and Fabuless
Simply Bungalow
Lisa Snyder
Robin at Robin's Nesting Place
Mandy at The Little Things In Our Life
Peggy Williams
The Frat Pack + Me
Renee
Sandy at Spring Lake Farm
Debbie
KentuckyFarmGirl at My Country Blog of This and That
Rose
The Brick House at Porch Sitting Time
moosecraft
Marilyn at marilynart
Kristin at Bringing Pretty Back

Ok, now on to your very important questions this week.

Many were in regards to the Coop Keeper posts:
Jayme (The Coop Keeper herself):
"I wanted to add that I carried four eggs up in me bra today."
Me: You're a regular egg carton, you are. I'm sufficiently impressed.  Everyone, tell Jayme you're impressed.

She also asked:
"Exactly how old DO I look in that picture?"
Me:  You don't really want me to answer that, right?  Of course you look about, oh I'd say, 22.  Yeah, not a day over 22.  Ok, maybe not a week over 22.  But thereabouts.

Flower Patch Farmgirl asked:
"Why did I get stuck with all the cowlicks whilst the hens are Homecoming Queening it up?"
 Me: I assume for the same reason I got stuck with large-ish legs whilst them hens got sticks. Just ain't no fair....And they're breasts are sheer muscle!  Just sayin'.

Brenda asked:
"You sure aliens didn't drop them there for some unforeseen reason?" (regarding the shoes)
 Me: I'm fairly certain aliens did indeed leave them there.  I await their arrival to whisk me up to their mother ship.  They want me to help them slipcover a couch in the captain's quarters.  Something a bit shabby chic with a retro metallic polyester stretch fabric.  Pictures and tutorial forthcoming....

Conny asked:
"How was THAT wine from the green bottle - any good?"
Me:  Boy howdy, it was a wine cooler all dressed up for the prom.  Fizzy and sweet....*smacks lips at the memory*  Especially yummers spiking my sweet tea.  Should I be confessing this in public?

Jayhawk Fan wanted me to:
"Please share your recipe for sweet tomato spread."
Me:  Just tomato paste mixed with some I-talian seasoning and sugar.  I add it to taste. You can use tomato sauce too, and use it on salad.  It's not so great on bacon.


Mandy asked about my couch:
"Please tell me where and when you got it??!! And then tell me it cost like, oh $100.00 would be good;) Or better yet can you just come to Oregon and help me with my house??? I'll make you bacon" 
Me: Start sizzlin', I'm on the next flight outta here.  Wait, I'm terrified of flying.  K, the couch is going on 2 years old, and it's a Broyhill.  We picked out the fabric at the furniture store where we bought it.  It's a brushed aqua cotton twill.  I think we paid less than $800, and the only reason we spent that much is 'cause my folks had pity on us and our old sofa....they paid for most of it or we'd still be pilfering craigslist.  Bogart the big black dog is convinced we got it for him alone.  Did ya know black fur looks fab clinging to aqua?

Well, I guess that's a wrap for this week.  Thanks ever-so-much for reading and commenting.   I hope to reward your good behavior by showing you some items I've painted recently along with lessons I've learned about products and techniques.  This is a decorating blog, right?

Oh yeah, Make it 4 Monday will be up and running tomorrow at 6pm EST.  'Cause I live in EST.  When I'm not aboard alien ships.

 

Weekend Welcomes 2nd Edition and Questions Answered

Well, believe it or not some more crazies discriminating readers decided to follow my blog this week.  Let me introduce them to ya, and then go say hi....tell them I sent ya.  'Cause I'm all about networking :)  Again, if you're listed below and have a blog that I somehow missed, email me and I'll add it pronto.  Which means quickly.


Oh, and the picture above is a tease for all who are waiting for my trip report.  It's in the works.  It'll be amazing.

Anyway, welcome to ::cottage instincts:: all you new folks :)

Anke
Kristin at Adventures of a Betty Crocker Wanna-Be 
The Swigarts
Nancy at Flatrock Cabin
Sweetpea at Sweet Life
Melanie at The Frosted Gardner
my uncommon slice of suburbia
comecajones
Alyssa at Always Creating Something
Kristi
Judith at Creating Balance
Jenni at Nest to Keepand {Beautiful Nest}
sarajillian
Robin at Chris and Robin's Nest
Beat until Fluffy (do you have a blog?  LOVE this title!)
Cozy.Cottage.Cute
Patricia at Keeping in Touch
Hannah at Crayons, Critters, and Craziness (oh, you'll fit in over here perfectly)
Anita at Going a Little Coastal (you'll fit it too)
poetrycherie
Amanda at More than Stars in the Sky
French Country Cottage
The Homesteading Apartment

Now for your questions....

Ok, there weren't any.

What there *was*...... tons of encouragement and kindred hearts sharing on this post.  I'm glad it resonated with so many, and I think I might try to highlight a few of the lesser known bloggers who embrace the 'follow your instincts' mantra....there's some out there who really don't get their due, and I intend to change that. :)  Thank you for all the warm fuzzy comments this week, both on that post, and on the others....it's nice to know I was missed, that Mi4M was missed, and that I'm not alone in my struggle with feelings of inadequacy in the face of the 'big girls'.  *sniff*

Lastly, I'll be throwing up the Make it 4 Monday post tomorrow at 6pm EST.  It was really fun to see everyone's projects last week, get re-connected with lots of gals, and meet some new ones.  It truly is a fantabulous way to find new bloggy friends and inspiration.  I'm honored that you guys link up and party here at ::cottage instincts::  I feel wubbed. 

Then, dear readers, prepare yourself for the Coop Keeper post(s).  They'll rock your world.  Truly.

Weekend Welcomes 1st Edition, and Questions Get Answers

I'm so tickled when I get a new follower.  Gail over at My Repurposed Life features a few of her followers in a post every week....I'm totally on it.  Hope you don't mind Gail!(Go see her....she does incredible things with wood!)


I've also had several questions in the comments, and figured I'd answer them here....they're down below the introductions.

So in the last weeks, I've noticed lots of newcomers, so I figured I'd get us all in a circle and introduce the newbies to the cottage instincts circle of friends. Go visit them and tell 'em I sent ya...and if you're listed below and have a blog that I somehow missed, email me and I'll add it pronto!  I hope to do this every couple weeks so the list doesn't get too long....Kumbaya

Kim from Seasons of My Heart
The Jester from growdamnit (OMG how funny is that!?)
Cathy from Mille Fleur
Eileen from Cottage Beach House and FreshCutFabric Blog
Debbie
Vintage Sweet Pea
Lynn
Angela
Cozy Little House
Irma
Gina from Slipcover Chic
Freckled Laundry
Gloria
Tania
Welcome to My World
tatmuffin (love this!)
Donna from My Shabby Chateau
The Mint Chocolate Chip Inn
Sharon from Elizabeth and Co.
Deb from Cappucinno Cottage
Jennifer from Our Cottage in the Desert
Jennifer
Cat
wobegone cottage
The Finicky Frog
NanaDiana
Blue Ridge Altered Art
Erin from Little Apartment on the Prairie
Bargainmom08
Elise from Elusive Reveries
Pat
Vintage Girl at Heart
Jaensue
Lindsey from Happenings at the Honea House
Lynn from Desert Rubble
Beach Cove Jewelry 
Vintage Treasure Hntr
Shannon from A Southern Belle with Northern Roots
Mandy from Bunnies, Bullfrogs, and Kitties
DeeDee from A Sense of Comfort
And by the way....y'all have serious cottage instincts. Thanks for following along with my antics.


Now to answer a few question left for me in the comments....

Marcia from Vintage French Hen asked:
Can I come by for tea on your new porch!
My emphatic answer.....Yes!  I'll be serving stale Little Debbie Oatmeal Cakes with the tea. :)

Marilyn asked:
Do you know what it's (floral fabric) called and/or who makes it?
Me: Unfortunately I got it on the flatfold table at Hancock Fabrics.  It coordinated beautifully with the stripe, though, which is a Waverly from JoAnns.  Got that one in the 44" wide decorator fabric section.

Deborah from Fairfield House asked:
Now where's that martini shaker?
Me: My cottage porch soirees are strickly BYOM. Bring Your Own Martinis.  I'm a wine cooler gal. *wink*

Shelia from Dodging Raindrops asked:
I'm curious about the blinds.
Me:  Those are el cheapos I've picked up here and there for less than $5.  They're plastic and the cords get all tangled and annoying, but they do a good job filtering the western sun, nosy neighbors and torrential rain showers.  I hope to make canvas drapes next summer.....

Jayme from Tales from the Coop Keeper asked:
When ya comin back?
Me: Um.  How 'bout tomorrow?

Tracey asked:
I love the floral green fabric could I ask where you got it...
Me:  Check my response above to Marilyn.  If I happen to find more, I'll let you all know!

Denise-Marie asked:
I wonder how you painted the iron furniture. Do you use a paint box to not overspray or just take it out in the backyard corner.
Me:  Out in the backyard...I have some big cardboard boxes that I break down to set furniture on when I spraypaint, so as not to get the driveway or grass.  I also try to only spraypaint on non-windy days when it's not too cold or too humid.  


Whew...adding links is like wicked exhausting.  I'm off to help hubs in the dining room, which is becoming our official office.  I did a big 'ole remake on that room back in the fall, but having DADD (decorating attention deficit disorder) it will be changing again.  Switching back to homeschooling necessitates the change, though, not just my need to switch it up constantly.....at least that's what I tell myself.

And hey!  Make it 4 Monday will be up and running tomorrow night!  Hook up your home projects so we can all ooooo and ahhhhhhh.  I'll be serving the aforementioned stale Little Debbie Oatmeal Cakes.  Bring your own martinis.