Search Results for: Gussy

Giveaway Day Fall 2010

November 15, 2010 Filed Under: giveaways

Welcome to a new kind of giveaway day. Today’s giveaways are hosted by 17 sponsors of Nesting Place. For each giveaway, you simply click on the link to the merchant’s blog or facebook page and they will tell you how to enter to win. Enter as many giveaways as you would like. Lots of giveaways are open to international readers, each sponsor will let you know. The giveaways run through midnight Thursday and winners will be announced on Saturday.

Thank you sponsors for making Nesting Place possible, let’s all remember them this holiday season when we are looking for meaningful gifts to give.

1.

The first giveaway today is hosted by Ashely at Pure and Lovely. Head on over to Pure and Lovely to find out how to enter to win a $100 gift certificate to her shop.

2.

Ruthanne from Eclectic Whatnot is giving away two of her ruffled camera strap covers.Visit the Eclectic Whatnot blog to find out how to win yourself a new camera strap cover.

3.

Dee at Red Letter Words is giving away this candle and matching print from her shop. Click here to find out how to win. {Isn’t this fun?!}

4.

The ruffle sewing Gussy is offering up two $50 gift certificates to her shop. Visit her blog, Gussy Sews to find out how to win.

5.

Angela from the Grocery Shrink is giving away an ebook collection {Slow cooking, Grocery Shrink and A Grocery Shrink Christmas} along with a Peach Satin Hands. Many have learned from Angela’s ways, visit her blog to find out more and enter.

6.

Susie Davis, author, speaker, radio host, and Texas celebrity is giving away a whole slew of wonderfulnes:

$50. gift card Williams Sonoma

$50. gift card Pottery Barn

$50. iTunes gift card

ESV compact bible + 10 Davis books

Total > $275 value

Visit Susie and her Joy Challenge to enter to win.

7.

Jodi at Back 40 Life {hand crafted signs and wall decals} is offering up a custom family name sign. To enter to win, visit Jodi’s blog.

8.

Kristi, the Slipcover Whisperer {her ebook will teach you how to make a slipcover for your furniture–that’s how I made mine, well kind of because I actually bribed her and 10 girls to come to my house and make one for me but, we still used her method…} is giving away a $75 gift certificate to fabric.com so that you can buy fabric to make your slipcovers! Or window mistreatments, or whatever. Enter Here.

9.

Erin from The Vintage Pearl is giving away THREE $75 GIFT CERTIFICATES. Visit her blog The Vintage Pearl to enter to win some pretties.

10.

Kelly at The Purple Lemon is giving away three Christmas Stamps. Visit her blog Within Purple Lemon Designs to find out how you can get free cute loot.

11.

Find out how to win some store credit to Burlap and Blue where you can get a pretty dessert pedestal, cupcake stand or coasters. Visit Linda’s blog Burlap and Blue to enter to win.

12.

Next we’ve got a FABULOUS BLOGGER makeover package from Lucky Girl Design Studio. The winner will get a total blog makeover. Be sure to read more about it at the Lucky Girl Blog before you enter, if you are on wordpress, you can still win a $150 credit toward a wordpress makeover. These days, you can tell a good blog designer by her waiting list, the lucky winner will have a good 2 months to start compiling ideas of what they want their blog to look like.

and we’re walking, and we’re walking…..

13.

Kristi from Willow House is giving away two of these beautiful Herald Angels. Visit her facebook page to find out how you can win one.

14.

Ok, so before you get your hopes up, no one gets to win this perfectly yellow armoire. It was a commissioned piece painted by my painting furniture muse, Mandi from Altar’d. She is giving away some of her ebooks {How to Paint Furniture AND a brand new Decorative Finishes} and a store credit or choice of chunky frame from their shop. Check out her blog to enter.

15.

Next we’ve got a giveaway from Tickle Bellies Stationary. Up for grabs are a personalized notepad, holiday address and gift labels, and a set of three luggage tags. Visit the Tickle Bellies Facebook page to enter.

16.

They’ve got a 50 photo card giveaway over at Studio DaySpring~perfect timing for that, huh? Visit their page to find out more.

17.

Lastly, how about a $375 value one room complete e-decorating service offered by High Heeled Foot in the Door’s Camila Pavone and her business, Effortless Style Interiors. Visit her blog to enter to win.

*****

Remember, DON’T try to enter the givaways here in the comments, your name won’t be entered.

43 Comments

Bird Watch(in)g at Hilton Head

September 11, 2010 Filed Under: (in), bird watching

This weekend, some of the writers of (in)courage gathered at a beautiful beach house (with perfectly chosen non cliche beach colors that I will have to show you) in Hilton Head Island to laugh, cry, connect and dream. I thought it would make a great bird watching post. Early on, Stephanie, Holley and Lanie had a dream. A dream of a place for connection with that easy going beach house feel. Online that place is (in)courage. This weekend it’s happening at Hilton Head Island, SC. Maybe next year you can come with us to Hilton Head so we can all relax, enjoy the beach, connect and just BE together.

Photo:: Emily let’s all pretend we don’t see a gut hanging out

Hilton Head did it up right and provided the most beautiful beach with starfish (actually, God provided that) bicycles (because even non coordinated people can ride a bike on a flat island) a dolphin tour, yummy food and great weather.

Photo:: Dawn Camp

Hilton Head is also the place where my family vacations every year thanks to some generous friends of our family. It’s a magical wonderous place to come. Grown up, yet completely family friendly.

as June says, the weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Last month when we were here on our family vacation, my husband let each boy choose what he wanted to do with him. One choose the wave runners, one did the para-sailing, and one did shark fishing. I read a book. There’s so much to do here. Or not to do, depending on what you are looking for.

Here’s the bird watching links to all the other beautiful women here. Do you know them? If not, you will love them. And it’s not in order of their photos in that boat up there.

Low country food by Soozi and Linda

So seriously, if there were some type of (in)courage getaway, have fun, let’s get together, come to Hilton Head so we can all meet and hang out-thing next year, would you consider coming and hanging out with us?

Photo:: Dawn Camp

It would be really fun.

DaySpring and Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce are hosting the (in)courage bloggers for a long weekend of relaxation and fun. Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce generously provided the accommodations at the amazingly huge beach house, bikes with sassy baskets, an ocean cruise with a cutie-Ben Stillerish captain, and dinner at The Aqua Grille & Lounge. DaySpring took care of all the incidentals, Lisa Leonard bracelets and meals for each of the bloggers. We even got Gussy Headbands! Too good to be true. Like seriously, thank you.

51 Comments

Bird Watching :: Sponsor Edition

April 17, 2010 Filed Under: (in), bird watching

Is your home for sale? Will your home be for sale one day? Well, this is your chance to get some free advice. If you have a question, leave a comment over on this post at Setting the Stage and then stay tuned for some answers. And, if you need some personal online staging help, you can get that too.

Have you ever SEEN a cuter button? Lucky Girl Design Studio doesn’t just make cute buttons for herself she can make them for you too. And etsy banners, and business cards, and blog design…

Back 40 Life is your one stop shop for vinyl lettering. From monograms to quotes and signs, it’s fun and low commitment way to customize your home.

The Shabby Chic Cottage has different items every time I visit. Hello Bumble Bee Tea Towel.

You know you want it. Orders placed by at the Vintage Pearl by April 20th will be shipped in time for Mother’s Day.

Hooked on Houses is THE hub for house lovers from all walks of life. From celebrity tours to bad MLS photos to unique finds, you will get …well…hooked.

I basically want to have one of everything from Red Letter Words. Yes, please.

I’ve fallen hard for Mandie and Colby. They are the cute couple who rescue furniture over at Altar’d. If you live in Texas then, you are lucky. For the rest of us, they can ship small stuff.

Need I say more? They ♥ Mom at Bonbon Charms.

Does anyone out there NOT know Gussy? Charming ruffles and a great informative hangout for crafters of all walks of life.

Remember Karol with the magic colored pencils? I gave her that photo up there of our last home that we owned and she rendered it into this. It’s one of our most cherished things. Wouldn’t you love to have one of your childhood home?

Check out the pages of choices at the Designs by Tahra etsy shop. And, she’s even having a giveaway at her blog right now.

I’ve been working with DaySpring for a year now and I truly love this company. Currently, DaySpring is the only non cottage industry company I’m associated with and there are many reasons for that. They have beautiful, meaningful home decor and they believe and invest in online communities. DaySpring supports the women behind (in)courage. I’ve gotten to know some of the people who work there, had them in my home, hung out with them over lunch, giggled on the phone and I love them, they are my friends. I’ve even asked them if I could build a house next to their warehouse because that sounds like fun to me. Now, if only I could start a Nesterized line of wares with DaySpring…

PS: The promo code 15GIFTS still works–it’s good through Sunday for 15% off your entire order from DaySpring.

14 Comments

Blissdom ’10 and a Survey

February 8, 2010 Filed Under: Uncategorized

emily, emily, lindsay, melissa, rhoda, nester, sandy, kimba, jen, laryssa, gina

Blissdom was phenomenal, yet again. It was beyond wonderful to get to know other bloggers a little better. I especially loved the time we house bloggers got to spend together even though it was not near as long as I would have liked. It’s hard to really connect in a crowded super loud restaurant or in a trendy club where the main attraction is Harry Connick Jr.–as it should be. I’m more of a let’s-sit-at-a-table-in-a-coffee-shop-and-talk-kind-of-girl. Next year, I hope to be even more intentional about meeting the girls I was looking forward to meeting {Layla}. With over 500 women hanging out, you can easily feel like you hardly connected with anyone.

Kimm @ Reinvented, Kate @ Centsational Girl

I also had the privilege to speak on a panel about niche blogging. If you are looking for the questions I read during the session they are at Chatting at the Sky, my sister’s blog. {I’m not posting them here because this is a niche blog and I’m already risking making people mad by posting too many photos of myself and not talking about paint and fabric today} She and I spoke this summer at She Speaks and she came up with these 7 questions to help people be able to refine the focus/purpose of their blog. I thought it was a great tool to use as a niche blogger. I also declared that niche bloggers are the luckiest bloggers since we get to write about our passions. I hope I don’t get beat up by the writer-type bloggers.

Thrifty Decor Chic, Becky @ Infarrently Creative

Lindsay @ Pleated Poppy

AnNicole @Our Suburban Cottage, Julia @ Hooked on Houses, Sara @TDC, Nester

Melissa @ A Familiar Path, Emily @ Chatting at the Sky

I wanted to add in 49 million more photos but my computer is so slow today and I didn’t take 49 million photos…but my sister did.

I got to hug GUSSY!

embarrassing that I got a photo of Edie’s Mocha Cupcakes but NOT one of Edie

I also came home wondering about you. I have always assumed that most of you reading this have your own blog. But now I’m wondering if most of you don’t have blogs. So, I thought I’d take a survey.

98 Comments

Advertise / PR

Have something great that you want to share? Partner with Nesting Place to get the word out!

Why Advertise Here?

Daily exposure to a large, loyal and ever growing audience. Nesting Place was started in October of 2007 and gets over 500,000 page views monthly by women who are passionate about making their home beautiful. These women are actively seeking change in their homes and aren’t afraid to try new things.

I feel such huge connection with Nesting Place readers and encourage them to avoid debt and purchase items for their home that they truly love and find useful and beautiful. The trust that I have built with the readers is more important than any advertisement. I only partner with advertisers that I think have great stuff at a great price. Stuff I would spend my hard earned money on.

That being said, I am incredibly passionate about fabric, home decor at a fair price, handmade goods, high heeled shoes, all things beautiful, personalized items, and anything coffee or chocolate. If you have a product that you think we will appreciate, contact my mentor in organization and friend, Caroline who is responsible for handling the advertising section at Nesting Place. You can reach her here::

NestingPlaceHome (at) gmail.com

What’s Available:

Premier Advertising for Cottage Industries

* 145 x 145

*300 x 145

*300 x 250

30 or 90 day ad run for a non flashing, non animated, beautiful ad space just for your shop

you are renting the space and you don’t have to share, so your ad will show up every single time someone clicks and scrolls–the space is yours.

email Caroline for current rates :: NestingPlaceHome (at) gmail.com

all invoices billed via paypal

Prices are subject to change based on how poor or rich I get and how many people are hanging out at the Nest or how many people we have on a waiting list.

Here’s what Dee from Red Letter Words, has to say about advertising at the Nest:

I first stumbled upon the Nester in the Spring of 2009 when I was just beginning to consider where to advertise. I was immediately entertained with the Nesters hilarious writing and her decorating style. But when I first contacted her, all the advertising spots were full!! That spoke volumes to me – this is a Great place to advertise!! So as soon as the blog advertising spot became available I signed up! Hits from the Nester have been huge and consistent!! I have received lots of orders from the Nester’s readers as well as wonderful emails from them saying they love my prints and are bookmarking www.redletterwords.com for future purchases! It is wonderful working with the Nester! Even though I don’t know her real name:) But then again, who cares? She is the Nester, and she is the greatest!

Oh my she is too kind. Dee has advertised with Nesting Place for over two years! And not to brag or anything, but it’s because of her ad at Nesting Place that Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson and Cameron Crow all have an original Red Letter Words work of art. See…

Here’s what Gussy had to say about advertising at the Nest:

“I recently started advertising on The Nester’s blog, which was a big accomplishment for me. For months I’ve been waiting and waiting for the right opportunity (financially and professionally). I look at my blog sponsorship with The Nester as “a dream come true.” Becoming a sponsor was a professional goal for my line of Gussy products. I have my blog linked to Google Analytics, as well as SiteMeter, and the facts are in my face: My investment as a sponsor with The Nester has been incredible. While I can’t prove increased sales (aside from customers telling me themselves that they came from The Nester), I can prove increased (and consistently increased) blog and shop traffic. I would say traffic to both sites have increased 30%. That is huge. I’m a happy Gussy!!!”

A helpful note about ad buttons:

If you are advertising online, and have a 145 x 15 square in which to tell your world about your shop, your little real estate needs to be fantastic. And it can be fantastic. Don’t settle for a so so button after you have worked so hard on your website and your beautiful products. Your personal goal should be to make sure that your button is the most beautiful, eye catching button on any site you advertise on. Don’t underestimate the power of your amazing button. The prettier the button, the more clicks. If your button is not nice and inviting, it will not generate as many clicks. And to spare us both the embarrassment, I might not even return your email if your button isn’t something I would want to click on myself. Oh I cringe. Create a pretty button. Update your pretty button. Ask five friends who will tell you the truth if you have a pretty button. Pay a professional to make the most beautiful, smart, eye catching button online, it will be some of the best money you will ever spend on your online business.

Gone are the days where we internet readers are tricked into clicking on flashing, animated bright NASCAR looking buttons. This is your chance to make us want more. I, personally, like buttons with some white space. Buttons that invite me in and make me curious as to what that shop has to offer. Buttons that look hand made or make me think or lure me in. Think about your fonts, colors, and don’t feel like you have to show everything in your shop. Really, you want to set the tone and create interest. Here are some of my favorite buttons.

Why below the fold is just as good if not better than above? People who want to be here scroll down! After they read the content, they look over and see your pretty button!

Giveaways at Nesting Place::

Everyone loves a great giveaway! Especially when it is something they want. Giveaways at Nesting Place are the most highly requested form of advertising. If I accepted every inquiry for a giveaway, Nesting Place would be a giveaway blog, and then no one would come here for imperfect decorating advice.

If you think that the nesting place community and I will be shocked and awed and wowed by the generosity of your amazing giveaway, then feel free to contact us. Like if you want to give away a room of furniture or something. Otherwise, I’ll be happy to tweet about a giveaway that you hold at your site during your sponsorship at Nesting Place.

Giveaway Winners Announced

October 1, 2009 Filed Under: gday

1. Elephannie Winner: The Brennans

2. RHB Designs Winner: Candace

3. Imperfectly Beautiful Winner: Rachelle {rachelledanae@xxx.com}

4. Love the Decor Winner: Brittany {b.leitch@xxx.net} {if you didn’t win the table, it’s $20 off till Sunday!}

5. Tinsel & Company Winner: June @ Crafty Niche

6. L. Herbert Designs Winner: Shannon Morrison

7. Whitney Caroline Designs Winner: Anne Carr

8.Elsie Eleanor Designs Winner: Christie

9. White Flower Farmhouse Winner: Norse, Jesica and Boden

10. Small Words Winner: Design Esquire

11. Two Funny Girls Winner: Angielove

12. Maggie Whitley {Gussy} Winner: Alison Mayes

13. Baby Bella Winner: Shellie

14. Stella and Dot Winner: timlinzrowland

15. Old Post Road Winner: Heather J

16. Pink and Polka Dot Winner: Jennifer Ensor

17. Just Simply Southern Winner: The Mommy

18. J & C Designs Winner: Buzzings of a Queen Bee

19. Mary Kay System Winner: Chasing Davies

20. Capron Collection Winner: The Tripp Family

21. Back 40 Life Winner: {L}

22. Lola B’s Winner: Cheryl {ccccl2@xxx.com}

23. Red Letter Words Winner: Mikelle

24. Caromal Colours Winner: Kara Miller

Yippie for the winners!

If you won: This is the part that I’m not that organized at. You can click on the link to the shop you won the goods from and find their email address and go ahead and contact them telling them you won. Or, you can wait for them you via leaving a comment on your blog {merchants, please contact them via the blog}. If you only had an email address, I already emailed you–respond to that and I’ll forward it onto the merchant.

Now, I’ve got something for everyone. I’m starting a new series today. Come on over –or scroll down and lets start our 31 days to a better dressed nest!

Maggie Whitley :: Giveaway Day

September 28, 2009 Filed Under: gday

There are some shops that I simply cannot do justice with my words. So I will show you photos.

Can you even breath after all that colorful, patterened wonderfulness? Maggie Whitley’s {affectionatly known as Gussy} work has been feautured in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine and most recently, on my arm.

I needed a snuggly bag for my laptop. I had a big huge bag that it needed to coordinate with and fit inside. Gussy stepped up to the challenge, doncha think? The ruffle is lucious!

You can enter to win both these handmade bags with the signature Gussy Ruffle~

One to keep, one to give away.

You can find Gussy at her blog: Gussy has a lot to say,or her online store: MaggieWhitley.com , or her etsy shop.

Good luck! Don’t forget to scroll down and enter as many giveaways as you like!

Giveaway Winners Announced

June 18, 2009 Filed Under: gday, giveaways

Photo: Vinyl Vineyard

Wowooosie! You sure do like you some giveaways! Huge, HUGE, HUGE response! Let’s get strait to the winners:

1. L. Herbert Designs :: Stephanie

2. Whitney Caroline Designs :: Blue Ridge Gal

3. Lisa Leonard Designs :: HopiQ

4. Back 40 Life :: Wendy @ The Shabby Nest

5. Maggie Whitley Designs {Gussy} :: Chelsea & Nick

6. Monarch Creations :: Trish

7. Stinky Toes Designs :: Stephanie M {no blog, I emailed you and you emailed back}

8. Just Simply Southern :: One Crowded House…

9. Star Hitched Wagon :: Finding Normal

10. Urban Industrial Farmhouse :: Dodi {no blog, I emailed you!}

11. Imparting Grace :: Carmen

12 Dreams of France :: Andrea

13. Chrissie Grace :: Truly Blessed

14. Small Words :: Julie Brooks

15. The Tarnished Crown :: Splendid Things

16. Noodles & Milk :: Bridget

17. Heatherjoile :: Dwelling in the Details

18. Jeanne Winters :: The Grigsbys

19. Vinyl Vineyard :: Nicole at BogaBoos

Congrats to all the winners! I’m too lazy to email you all, and I’m moving {how long can I use that excuse?} so you winners can either email me: nestergirl{at}gmail{dot}com or email the shop owner directly.

And I want to say a big thanks to the wonderful, generous shop owners and artists and bloggers who joined in. There were waaaaay too many for me to include in the giveaway so for those of you who did not get in, thank you and I adore you all!

My internet service is supposed to be up and running for realz this time by Monday, for now I’m getting fat and poor and distracted at Starbucks. Life is slowly getting back to normal and it’s really fun playing, I mean setting up the house. Miss you all!

Giveaway Day :: Maggie Whitley

June 15, 2009 Filed Under: gday, giveaways

Last November, Maggie Whitley {affectionately known as Gussy} borrowed her parents sewing machine in an attempt to teach herself how to sew. Since then, she’s closing in on 100 etsy sales, I’m thinking she learned to sew.

Gussy makes bags and wallets that have a vintage meets modern meets comfort accessories quality. I’ve been a fan since I first stumbled across her blog a few months ago.

Look at the attention to detail.

The colors and textures are screaming to be caressed. {caress me} Did you hear that?

I am madly, MADLY in love with this laptop bag. Look at those pleats.

And her cute Gussy tag. Love her. Or hate her, she’s only 23, what a baby. And so much talent. Gussy is offering a $40 gift certificate to Maggie Whitley where you can pick out whatever you want and be the envy of all of your friends. Don’t be alarmed if they want to touch your new bag.

Leave a comment {with your email address if you don’t have a blog where I can find you} to enter to win. Contest closes at midnight Wednesday. Be sure to scroll down and visit the other giveaways too! Good Luck!