Countdown Giveaway: #5 of SIX Sisters

As, the give-aways comes to a close, I should congratulate those of you who've entered...because your chances for winning one of these gifts is pret-ttttty high, ummmm.....considering the number of you who have signed up.  Come dear ones...it's as easy-peasy as pudding pie to log in as a follower and then leave a comment + your email.  I entered a giveaway just last week on the lovely and popular PVE's {blog} and won a darling set of letter press LOVE notecards that I am planning on putting to good use this year with my kids + myself + will.

What would be better than giving the following gifts to yourself or someone you love?  Reminder: You can sign up for each day's give-away, and the entry deadline is now extended to February 14th {v-day}.  Be sure to check back in for a give-away that I will be offering come Monday.

Before I start with Millie's Gifts, here are today's random thoughts:

*First off, I'd like to thank my sisters, who have put some time, thought, and talent into the countdown giveaway for the store opening.   Thanks, guys.

*I'm sure you know by now which sister's which, so I'll not post that same ol' picture again of all of us.

*Someone mentioned that the past four blog titles make it sound like I'm giving my sisters away.  No, but they will be for sale at the store.  Just k.

*Yesterday, we road-tripped to pick up some really cool, one of a kind, fragile goods. We loaded them into the bed of the truck, which was/is still fully mounded with snow.  No bubble wrap needed. We just covered the breakables in snow and then later uncovered the buried treasures with our shovel.  Hopefully this ice age will end quick, so we can move in and not break our backs, bottoms, and babies {goods}.

*Store's soft opening is Monday.  Just four days away and we haven't even begun the set-up process.  {Lots of coffee and patience needed.  Slow-it-down on panic}

*Hey, locals, Don't forget that the store will have fresh flower bouquets from the lovely Orchid Lady to purchase, and Eleanor's freshly baked sugar cookies + slushy-pink, berry sweetheart drinks + recipe cards on Monday.  And, of course, complimentary shopping and limited supplies of take-home gifts.

*I'm overwhelmed by everyone's generosity.  I had a fellow colleague/friend offer up her whole "girls- night-out-group" to spend their "precious" hours helping us out at the store on Friday night.  How sweet is that??!!

*It's been a long stretch leading up to this point and I've had some bumps in the road.  "I'm not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship."--Louisa May Alcott
* With the bumps, come great knowledge and understanding.  On this day, I have gratitude for all of the infinite possibilities in my life that are continually proving themselves to me this year.


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Alright, enough about me...here's what you want to hear about...Camille Joy Arnold Johnson.

She goes by Millie and she is the finest genius. The eighth of nine, she fully understands the wealth of time.  She makes the day both useful, and pleasant and takes not a minute for her own greed of selfishness.  She is the mother of three... Mabel, Ralph, and a sweet little Birdie.  She sews and sings and makes really beautiful dolls, blankets, dresses, curtains, clothes, and other things. She grew up fast.  Married Young.  No regrets.  Not one.  

Millie is the best roller skater and homemaker ever..  If you've ever been to anthropology, that's what her house looks like, and she's made almost everything in it.  Anthropology store actually asked her to make 100 dolls in a six week period, but she told them "babies can't be made in a hurry".  Millie lost mom at the tender age of fifteen, in the midst of the two of them reading to each other each night...the Charles Dickens novel "David Copperfield".  Far too young to have lost, but so much of mom remains in her, nonetheless.  She has strong convictions that precede great actions.  A woman of ALL good traits + the prettiest hair and drop-dead gorgeous braids!

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Millie's giveaway:  You will see nothing like these dolls anywhere.  She made one for Sylvie's birth and I cried.  Such sweet loving details are poured into her creations.  Framable, Wearable, and Stealable, almost edible.

Here's what Millie had to share with us...

Quote.... you get what you get and you don't throw a fit..... I say it at least 26 times a day

Id like to meet....Tasha Tudor

My favorite movie... Life is beautiful

Favorite meal...moms homemade noodles

Best memory... Our dryer catching on fire and getting to go to Limited too with the insurance check

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See blog posts below for the drill on the giveaways.

Countdown Giveaway: #4 of SIX Sisters

                                                

A Tiffany Blue Photo Album with a cover page image of Julie Blackmon's + a Vintage Candy Dish Filled with Lizzie's favorite thing:  Candy...{ozark saltwater taffy}

sisters from left to right:  me, lizzie, julie, rosie, jeanie, and millie

I hope you all are liking the six day giveaway week.  In addition to today's....I'm going to have two more days of sister give-aways between now and Monday {the day we have our soft opening}, at Pickwick House.  It's going to be a busy weekend for us.  The store update: We are going to start loading tomorrow to move everything in.  We have things stored all over town, the garage, staxx, flea markets, and at the painters. We'll have two days to set up and get the computer system loaded and ready to go.  I was hoping to have a full week to make the store look like I had imagined it in my head, but I still think we can get it done.

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Dear sister, Lizzie. Sixth of Nine kids...A finisher of marvelous schemes, and dreams.  She has an indomitable spirit that gets things done.  An ever-flowing source of useful information, stories, ideas, artistic visions, thoughts,  and business savvy skills, she infuses her magnetic personality and sweetness into all that she does.  Her to-do lists are more like Audrey Hepburn show times because she makes her work looks effortless, fun, and beautiful all at the same time.  Passionate about others, she's spontaneous and ready to help at the drop of a hat.  Nothing is too hard for her to accomplish.  

She loves to laugh and is known to break down laughing so hard that she can't stop.  She was also the sister that was left behind at church one Sunday.   No one in our family realized she was gone until after an hour and a half had past...we had gone out to eat, come home, and we got a all to attention of her absence by phone call from the church deacon, telling us that Lizzie was still waiting at church. She was probably five.  Bless her heart.  

Lizzie was and still is a crowd-pleaser {who also won a city-wide concert piano award}.  She was also mom's favored one when it came to chores or leniencies.  We all kinda got upset from time to time over the favoritism, and Lizzie usually took the brunt of our frustrations.  Looking back, it wasn't her fault. She did have a sweet, wide-eyed look that none of us could match, I guess.  She still has that way about her, actually.

                                             
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Lizzie had these things to share when I asked:

*Favorite Quote...No word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. - Mark Twain.  (I've never been good at this but wish I could be.)

*Currently Obsessed With - Vintage Valentines and candy dishes.

*What film has had the greatest influence on your style/life...Funny Face with Audry Hepburn.  S'wonderful, S'marvelous.

*I'd love to meet...either one of the Hepburns.  Alive, Betty White

*Favorite Meal...Crab legs with risotto or a twice baked potato....and lots of butter and a glass of white wine.

*Best Memory Growing Up...Late night snow ball fights with Mom and coming in for some homemade hot chocolate while we scorched our freezing toes on the the steaming radiator.

                                             

Thanks, Lizzie.  

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Contest Guidelines:
1. To enter the giveaway, simply become a follower and leave a comment on this blog post including your email address so that we may contact you if you should be the winner.
2. Leave ONE comment on this post between today, Thursday February 3rd, and Sunday February 13th.  All winners will be announced on Monday, February 14th...my opening day at Pickwick House.

For Extra Entries:
3. Link to this post on your own blog (include the url to your blog post in your comment) to receive an extra entry. It is up to you to return to this post to enter your second entry after blogging about the giveaway.
4. Post about this giveaway on Twitter with a link to this blog post for another entry (follow Sharon Taylor Designs on Twitter in order for us to verify your tweet). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your additional entry after tweeting about the giveaway.
5. Anonymous entries will be ignored, so please include your e-mail in your comment. Your e-mail address will never be used for anything other than to notify you if you are the winner.  If you wish to be on the Pickwick House e-blast list, you may make a request to be added.

Thanks for stopping by, everybody!  Have a wonderful day!

sister image by janae hardy.

xo

Countdown Giveaway: #3 of SIX Sisters

Signed copy of Someday and One of Rosie's Hand-made Paper Doll Sets

me, lizzie, julie, rosie, jeanie, and millie

Sister, Rosie, the sixth of nine kids.  An absolute whirlwind of charm, whimsy, and talent, she turns the world right side up!!  Rosie is a self-taught writer, illustrator, and mother to Goldie, {+ little one on the way}.  Her work is a delightful reflection of the happy life she leads and also projects to everyone around her.  She takes great care in everything she does and brings a unique calming and magical touch to her home, work and everyone in it.

Her house is sister hang-out at four oclock everyday and it feels like a good, cozy cup of tea in London-house in these winter months...but at the same time and for the most part, her home is like a large sailing vessel headed for adventures across the great blue sea {imaginative kid-land}.  Her dining room table is one long stage of crafting, sketching and daily inspirations that entrance kids and adults alike.

Growing up, she could tangle herself into balls with legs wrapped around her neck while playing the piano.  Piano skills, NOT, but knack-of-humor she's got.  Feeling a little stiff and cranky? Rosie will lighten you up and make you laugh like no other.  With a name like Rosie, how could she not?


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Rosie had these things to share when I asked:

ONe of your favorite Quotes... "Above all, don't fear the difficult moments.  The best comes from them. --Rita Levi Montalcini

Currently obsessed with...breakfast, lunch and dinner

What film has had the greatest influence on your style...I think it goes back to The Adventures of Natty Gann. I really liked that old fashioned tom boy look, the time era seems adventurous, and everything was so make do with what you got. Plus, I have always wanted to run away, hop a train, and make friends with a wolf or any animal that would have me as a friend. But the real reason is that Mom took me to see that movie for my birthday.

I'd love to meet...up with mom for a walk or tea by the fire.

Favorite meal...fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy.

Best memory growing up...making Valentines with mom. Dad buying all nine us our very own box of Russel Stovers chocolates. Mom got the biggest box. 

                                                                    

Rosie's giveaway includes a signed copy of Someday, and get ready for this....The most adorable signed ensemblage that accompanies one of her signature paper dolls.  Completely one of a kind, hand made, with stylish outfits, crowns, and a miniature box of chocolates for the paper doll.  I wish you could see this!
Almost too cute to touch.  Framable, for sure.

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Contest Guidelines:
1. To enter the giveaway, simply become a follower and leave a comment on this blog post including your email address so that we may contact you if you should be the winner.
2. Leave ONE comment on this post between today, Thursday February 3rd, and Sunday February 13th.  All winners will be announced on Monday, February 14th...my opening day at Pickwick House.

For Extra Entries:
3. Link to this post on your own blog (include the url to your blog post in your comment) to receive an extra entry. It is up to you to return to this post to enter your second entry after blogging about the giveaway.
4. Post about this giveaway on Twitter with a link to this blog post for another entry (follow Sharon Taylor Designs on Twitter in order for us to verify your tweet). It is up to you to return to this post to enter your additional entry after tweeting about the giveaway.
5. Anonymous entries will be ignored, so please include your e-mail in your comment. Your e-mail address will never be used for anything other than to notify you if you are the winner.  If you wish to be on the Pickwick House e-blast list, you may make a request to be added.

Thanks for stopping by, everybody!  Have a wonderful Friday and a warm-filled weekend.

sister image by janae hardy.

xo