Annie B, a frequent commenter on the blog, won last month’s “Love the House You’re In” contest. Her prize: The lovely and talented Mel Kolstad immortalized her house in a collage, above. Mel writes:
I had a great time making this collage for Ann – I always love making them, but the fact that her house is still standing made it even better. Just a week or so before the contest, there was a tropical storm that rolled through North Carolina. Many of Ann’s neighbors suffered major damage to their homes. Thankfully, Ann’s house wasn’t hit as badly. Sort of gives a more poignant meaning to the phrase, “Love the House You’re In”, doesn’t it? 😀
To enter this month’s contest — and to win a custom collage featuring you and your house: Leave a comment on this post answering the question: What is your most prized possession? Please read all the rules here before entering, they all apply. I’ll pick a reader the last day of the month.
Meanwhile — thanks to Mel for another fabulous collage. You can find Mel’s collage works on flickr and her blog, Much Ado About Stuff.
Lindsey Cota says
What a great way to start my day, I love contests.
I would have to say, that since I am only 24 and haven’t been able to really build on any of my want collections… my most prized possession would have to be a quilt my Abuelita made for me when I was a kid. I still have it and use it all the time. She just turned 90 this year and hasn’t made anything like it for any of my cousins.
After that I would have to say my book collection which gets bigger every year! However, I have been working on my cookbook collection and I use that all the time as well. =)
Have a great day, thanks for offering this contest.
Mary Tatum says
My most prized material possession is my Grandmother’s maple hutch. My Grandmother had a beautiful gift and china shop in Carthage, Missouri called The Old Shingled House that she opened after she was widowed in 1961. This hutch served as a display for merchandise, although it had been in the family long before that. I have a great picture and newspaper article with my mother, aunt and Grandmother standing in front of it when the shop opened. Now it sits in my dining area and holds placemats, napkins, and some glassware. The cats use the top of it as a lookout. I wish there was a way to send a picture – it’s a wonderful, sentimental piece. Thanks!
Eartha Kitsch says
Mine would have to be this old Whitman’s candy sampler box that my late grandmother kept next to her chair. After she died, my Mom gave it to me. It holds all of these artifacts of her daily life – her comb…her powder compact and lipstick (when I smell them, I can still smell her)…a couple of pieces of jewelry that she’d throw on if visitors appeared in the driveway…needles and thread…her trusty cigarette lighter…a couple of handwritten notes that she made….
I call it my “Granny Nell” box and whenever I need a connection with her, I can just open up the box and for a few minutes, it’s like she’s there with me.
Annie B. says
Wow! What an honor!! My sincerest thanks to Pam and Mel, my paragons!
Mel says
You’re very welcome, Annie – it was absolutely my pleasure and I LOVED making this for you! 😀
Natalie @ Chadwell Chronicles says
Well, I have issues getting attached to things. So bad, because that is one of the signs of a hoarder! Good thing I have my husband to keep me in check. Anyway, there are two items that I won’t ever get rid of – the table from my grandparents house that we grew up eating Holiday dinners on and a small glass elephant from my other grandmother. =)
Jenny says
My prized possession(s) are two Heywood Wakefield chairs I found on Craig’s list. They’re not in perfect condition but they make me so happy every time I look at them.
Paige says
Oh this is easy! It’s my lovely red house out in the country.
4 years ago I set out to purchase my first home and got to this one and just fell head over heels in love. Even before seeing the inside, I knew it was meant to be mine. Walking around the property, checking out the old barn in the back, I found a massive Texas flag painted on the side of the barn and just knew I had found my perfect Texas dream home. And 2 weeks later it was mine!
I love every inch of this house. Every nook, cranny, wall, door, window, wood floor, front porch, back porch, every thing about it!
Kristin says
Prized possession, man that’s a hard one! I would say my wedding ring. It is always on me and reminds me of how much my husband loves me. I’m proud of how much work we’ve put in to our marriage and how we’ve grown together through the hard times. I know it’s replaceable, but it will always mean a lot to me.
Vanessa says
Oh, I am so sad this is for US and Canada residents only – can’t us internationals be a part if we cover the postage/shipping to our country? I love these collages – I have long been an admirer and only thought of being a part of your competition now…oh dear! Please can we have a ‘non US and Canada resident competition’ month? Please????
Cheers
Ness
denise says
Wow, that’s a tough one…I’m not real materialistic but I do have items of sentimental value. I want to say my dogs, but don’t they possess us?? 😉
Something that I’ve held dear to my heart since I was very young is a whole cloth, very simplified, quilt/blanket that my dad made when I was about 6 years old. I’ve had it for about 40 years and it’s showing it’s age, it is literally ripping apart around the edges, but it brings me comfort and warmth whether laid over me on my bed for night time sleeping or covering me for a nap. My dad passed when I was 28, whenever I look at, or touch this quilt, it brings me warmth inside my heart.