Hooked on House Portraits (& Giveaways!)

by hookedonhouses on May 7, 2009

Welcome to Hooked on Fridays, a blog party I host at the end of each week to celebrate the things that make us happy. This week I’m hooked on house portraits. You may have seen this photo of the old stucco-and-stone house I grew up in that I have on my “About” page. It was the first house I fell in love with. (Look closely and you’ll see me opening the front door and my little brother toddling up the driveway.)

The house probably doesn’t look like much to you, and I have to laugh at the state of the yard, but it was a wonderful place to grow up. I keep this photo on the wall in my kitchen just because it makes me happy. So you can imagine how over-the-moon thrilled I was when the talented artist Fifi Flowers sent me this painting. I love it!

Now the Good News for YOU:

Fifi Flowers has agreed to paint a portrait like this for one of my lucky readers. That’s right–if you win, she will paint a house for you on 6″ x 7″ archival paper–a $150 value (you can upgrade to a larger size for a slight fee). You may want her to paint your current home, your childhood home, or someone else’s to give as a gift. We had my in-laws’ home painted as a Christmas gift one year and they loved it.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before midnight Monday (May 11). Want an extra entry? Visit Fifi’s Etsy shop, look around, and then leave a second comment telling me what your favorite painting of hers is. I’ll announce the winner on Tuesday, so stay tuned!

Now it’s your turn to tell us what you’re hooked on. If you have something to share with us on your blog, then add your link below. Just please be sure to:

Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address.
You can put what you’re hooked on in parentheses after your blog name. You’ll probably get more visitors that way! Ex: Hookedonhouses (Not So Big Houses)
Link back to the party from your post so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is talking about today!
Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what a blog party is all about!
Double-check to make sure your link works and goes to the right page so it doesn’t get deleted! If you come back and see your link is gone, re-read these rules and try again.

Hooked on Fridays Participants

1. Mary Beth {Cupcakes-They’re Not Just for Eating!}
2. Arleen @ Seasons for All at Home (More Ottomans!)
3. DesignTies (It’s a pool party!)
4. Amy @ Finer Things (cupcakes)
5. Christy – Mother’s Day
6. Linda@Lime in the Coconut( simple easy meal)
7. Misti of Studio M Designs
8. Living With Lindsay (Transforming with Paint!)
9. Mrs. Petrie (care packages)
10. The Shabby Chic Cottage (croquet)
11. Trish @ TheOldPostRoad
12. TK – My Foyer
13. songbirdtiff-Aldi Face products
14. Puna @ Life Signatures
15. Wayfaring Wanderer {Hk’d on Rodanthe}
16. Jenelle at This lady Blogs (photo cards and a GIVEAWAY!)
17. The Tea Room (Pink Roses, Pink Hats)
18. Lindsay @ Peacock Blue (Peacocks)
19. Tricia {Chalkboards}
20. Sarah (Starbucks knockoffs!)
21. Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam(Mother’s Day traditions)
22. m @ tales from an oc cottage (Chiclets!)
23. Katie @ Clean and Classic Interiors (SkyMall)
24. Beach Cottage Love (Tybee Island beach house)

25. Italian Dessert | Gennaro
26. SuzyHomemaker (Butler’s Pantry)
27. Daly Essentials (Wallpaper)
28. Vintgesquirrel (MOGGIT)
29. maya | springtree road (hooked on rescue kitties!)
30. Cooking During Stolen Moments (sausage smothered white beans)
31. A Simple Walk
32. Jennifer @ Blogging God And Me (What is our calling in life)
33. Katie @ Making This Home
34. Everybody Loves Greece
35. Fifi Flowers
36. Michelle@Sweet Something (Hooked on Seashells)
37. It’s Frugal Being Green (Molasses Crinkles)
38. A Beach House Dream (ignore first link)
39. Animators Wife (blogging)
40. Angela @ Peonypatch (Flower Garden)
41. Liz@Violet Posy Garden Entertaining
42. mannequin(who lives there?)
43. Frippery (color)
44. Kate@kandgbookclub(Smelling Flowers)
45. Star’sFault (Hooked on Garden Tags)
46. Alpaca Farmgirl (Crab Cakes)
47. RehabOrDie.com — Hooked on Meat
48. Something to do (Our new kitchen)

49. Stephanie (A Welcoming Home Party)
50. Christine {Patterns}
51. Flower Patch Farmgirl (Blooms)
52. Bonnie M
53. Laura @ Decor to Adore
54. Newlyweds (Summer Garden)
55. From the Right Bank to the Left Coast (An Inspiring Workspace)
56. ImagineCozy (Table Decor)
57. Janis@An Inspired Life (outdoor decor)
58. Likely Design (Funky Half Bath Ideas!)
59. Barbara @ Blogbitten
60. Jane @ Beach House
61. Melissa @ Frugal Creativity (postcards/giveaway)
62. Ramona @ A Day In The Life Of Ramona ~ Crocheting with Chunky Yarn
63. Melissa
64. Deb/Dumbwittellher
65. Sarah @ Designing Woman (Hooked on Damask!)
66. Jan’s Art (paintings)
67. Wendy Langston
68. Shelia @Notesongs
69. A Beach Cottage (giveaway)
70. Lara
71. Kylee at Our Little Acre

Tagged as: giveaway, home, house portrait, painting, portraits

Layout and Design Customized by EightCrazy Design.

{ 12 trackbacks }

Act Your Age Cupcakes : The Finer Things in Life: May 7, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Best Restaurants In Florence, Italy | Enduring Wanderlust: May 7, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Take Everyday Pictures | Making This Home: May 7, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Angela’s Peony Patch » Blog Archive » Hooked On: My Flower Garden: May 8, 2009 at 3:21 am
Alpaca Farm Girl » Serious Crab Cakes: May 8, 2009 at 6:56 am
Cupcakes-They’re Not Just for Eating! | Cupcakes and Crinoline: May 8, 2009 at 7:13 am
A Welcoming Home Party | A High And Noble Calling: May 8, 2009 at 7:18 am
Do You Have 2.5 Million Dollars? « Life Signatures: May 8, 2009 at 4:36 pm
The Winner of an Original House Portrait by Fifi Flowers Is… « Hooked on Houses: May 11, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Movie Monday: The French Village of “Chocolat” « Hooked on Houses: May 11, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Molasses Crinkles — It's Frugal Being Green: May 12, 2009 at 9:29 am
How I Furnished My Family Room on a Tight Budget: July 12, 2009 at 9:47 pm

{ 200 comments… read them below or add one }

← Previous Comments

1 Shelia May 8, 2009 at 11:49 pm: OH, how I would love for you to enter my name on the giveaway of Fifi’s house painting!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia

Shelia’s last blog post..Foodie Friday with Stella
2 karen May 8, 2009 at 11:55 pm: This is the first time I have visited! Fun! I will be back! I would love to be entered in the drawing and I also visited Fifi’s etsy and love pink trees in Paris and love both chair paintings! karen….

karen’s last blog post..A Little surprise in the garden and some flea finds!
3 Jan's Art May 9, 2009 at 12:12 am: great house and lovely painting!!!! my favourite painting of Fifi’s is “pink chairs in Paris” which is where I would like to be reading about hooked on houses

Jan’s Art’s last blog post..hooked on houses
4 Debbie May 9, 2009 at 8:12 am: Love these paintings. What a great gift idea thanks for introducing us!
5 Debbie May 9, 2009 at 8:13 am: OK I revisited and my favorite is “stolen pink car”.
6 TheUpstart May 9, 2009 at 8:24 am: I’d love to give this as a gift to my brother and sister-in-law. They bought a charming, little house in a great neighborhood when they first got married and have done little, DIY fixes here and there while they wait for the market to turn around. Some day, they hope to add onto it amd I think it’d be sweet to capture it’s current look for them to have too look back at.
7 Vintagesquirrel May 9, 2009 at 10:54 am: I think I forgot to comment before. So glad, I came bck to check out the newer entries. Plus, I certainly love a chance at winning a fabulous painting by Fifi.
-Michelle

Vintagesquirrel’s last blog post..Let Me Anthropologize (#2)
8 Lara May 9, 2009 at 12:57 pm: This site has already taken up so much of my day today b/c it ’s fabulous, of course. Now I’m on the bunny trail of checking out everyone’s passions—I’ll be up until 1:00 a.m.! Thanks for the eye-candy.

Lara’s last blog post..Funny signs.
9 Jennifer May 9, 2009 at 1:57 pm: I love those! We just bought a new home last year and would have her do that! Thanks!

Jennifer’s last blog post..Lindie’s First Craft Project
10 Jennifer May 9, 2009 at 1:59 pm: I love the Tiffany Blue chair painting! She is really talented!

Jennifer’s last blog post..Lindie’s First Craft Project
11 Karen G May 9, 2009 at 3:51 pm: Fifi’s work is simply beautiful!
12 Karen G May 9, 2009 at 3:54 pm: Fifi’s GARDEN CHAIR is my favorite from her Etsy site.
13 E May 9, 2009 at 4:58 pm: What a great house portrait! I’d love to have one of our home.
14 E May 9, 2009 at 4:59 pm: For her Etsy work, either Pink Trees in Paris or The Stolen Pink Car!
15 Joanne May 9, 2009 at 5:08 pm: Oh, I would definitely want a portrait of the house I have lived in for the past 19 years. It’s where I have had the happiest moments with my husband and 3 sons. Thanks, Joanne ~~ glamourgirljoanne@yahoo.colm
16 Kate May 9, 2009 at 6:03 pm: Love Fifi’s work! I’d love a painting of my home. It is our first home, and my husband and I are busy renovating and redecorating to make it special.
17 Laurie May 9, 2009 at 6:31 pm: What a fun picture. A great way to capture your favorite house.
18 Jen R May 9, 2009 at 8:23 pm: Hi Julia, just wanted to stop by and wish you a happy mother’s day! jen

Jen R’s last blog post..I won Mother of the Year!
19 Kylee from Our Little Acre May 9, 2009 at 9:56 pm: I’ve been a big fan of Fifi’s art for some time now. It’s just such happy stuff!
20 Kylee from Our Little Acre May 9, 2009 at 10:04 pm: I really like her “Wine and Roses in Paris”. Those roses are charming!
21 Carrie O. May 9, 2009 at 10:27 pm: I would LOVE a painting like this of my home!!
22 Carrie O. May 9, 2009 at 10:29 pm: I’ll vote for Stolen Pink Car as the favorite!!
23 Petunia May 9, 2009 at 11:18 pm: I have a love affair with the house I grew up in as well. Homes become a member of the family and I think even more so when we are young. And Fifi? Oh my, she is le FAB artist and one of my most favorite bloggy people!

Petunia’s last blog post..Fashionable and Pink Tea Time!
24 Jacqueline May 10, 2009 at 4:26 am: Beautiful!
25 Robin Rane' ~ All Things Heart and Home May 10, 2009 at 6:08 am: Love this! Absolutely love it!!!
Fifi is a talent isn’t she? Headed right over to her little blog spot!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home

Robin Rane’ ~ All Things Heart and Home’s last blog post..Chocolate Chip Banana Cake!
26 Robin Rane' ~ All Things Heart and Home May 10, 2009 at 6:13 am: Okay just dropped by Fifi’s little blog shop and my favorite is the Bright and Bold Flowers! I’m really into sunflowers lately and there’s a great one included in this montage’!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home

Robin Rane’ ~ All Things Heart and Home’s last blog post..Chocolate Chip Banana Cake!
27 Pat May 10, 2009 at 7:43 am: Fifi is an amazing artist. I love her work. I’d be thrilled to win this wonderful giveaway!

Pat’s last blog post..~A Tiny Break and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie~
28 Pat May 10, 2009 at 7:49 am: I just took another look at Fifi’s shop. It’s difficult to pick a favorite!! I love the Bright and Bold Flowers!

Pat’s last blog post..~A Tiny Break and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie~
29 Kat May 10, 2009 at 9:06 am: I would totally pick the house I grew up in as well – it was my first house love, a late 70s contemporary, complete with asymmetrical roofline.
30 rue May 10, 2009 at 2:51 pm: Hi Julia

Fifi did a beautiful job as usual. I just love that woman

Happy Mother’s Day!!
rue

rue’s last blog post..A mom…
31 Cassidy May 10, 2009 at 3:50 pm: Wow-her artwork is gorgeous! Love it.
32 Cassidy May 10, 2009 at 3:52 pm: Ohh… my favorite painting from Etsy is definitely “On the Street with Eiffel.”
33 jennie cambarare May 10, 2009 at 4:01 pm: What great work she does. Thanks for doing this.
Happy Mothers Day
jennie

jennie cambarare’s last blog post..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET GRANDDAUGHTER
34 jennie cambarare May 10, 2009 at 4:03 pm: thanks for the chance at a second entry i love the pink trees in paris.
thanks again
jennie

jennie cambarare’s last blog post..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET GRANDDAUGHTER
35 Glenda May 10, 2009 at 4:17 pm: a painting of the house I Love, be still my heart.
Fifi you did a wonderful job
36 Diana G May 10, 2009 at 6:46 pm: Love Fifi’s work – colorful, whimsical and pretty!
37 Diana G May 10, 2009 at 6:47 pm: I’m enamored with Fifi’s Garden Chair painting. I’m obsessed with chairs and this painting is so lovely!
38 Serena May 10, 2009 at 9:32 pm: What a lovely idea!
39 Serena May 10, 2009 at 9:34 pm: I like Garden Chair!
40 bj May 11, 2009 at 12:02 am: No wonder you were so thrilled with your house painting…it is fabulous.
My favorite painting of FiFi’s is probably the latest one she has blogged about..looking out the window above the desk to a bright blue sky.
Thank you for the chance to win a piece of her art….
bj

bj’s last blog post..5/11…COOKIN’ BLUES..
41 sue May 11, 2009 at 5:46 am: I love Fifi’s artworks! She is a very talented lady.

sue’s last blog post..HOOKED ON FLOWERS
42 Sarah May 11, 2009 at 9:42 am: LOVE the simplicity of the designs!

Sarah’s last blog post..Catching Up This Morning on Clover Lane
43 Rhondi May 11, 2009 at 10:17 am: Oh how I would love to win one of Fifi’s paintings. I went to her Etsy shop so i would have a second chance and I like the painting of the rooster against the black and white check background. Your childhood home is charming.

Rhondi’s last blog post..It’s Time To Party!
44 Sandhill Sis May 11, 2009 at 12:50 pm: What a simply perfect idea.
45 Amy S. May 11, 2009 at 1:42 pm: What an adorable picture! I was just introduced to your site last week by a firend and have to say I love it! Thanks for sharing all of the great house pictures.
46 Kelsey May 11, 2009 at 1:52 pm: My mom painted our first home for us and gave it to us as an anniversary gift–it’s a treasure we’ll have forever! However, we’ve made so many improvements that I would LOVE to have a new version.
47 Kelsey May 11, 2009 at 1:55 pm: My second entry:
My favorite painting is Pink Trees in Paris–perfect for a little girl’s room! (Would go great with my pink toile miniature wingback chair.)
48 Beverly May 11, 2009 at 5:23 pm: Aahhh!!! I sure would love to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beverly’s last blog post..The Story Of A Rose
49 Pam Kersting May 11, 2009 at 6:32 pm: What a house with great character! I can now see why you are Hooked on Houses! Sorry to have missed the Friday Blog party, but I do have an interesting house for you to check out on my blog today!

Pam Kersting’s last blog post..The Future is Now
50 Susan Smith May 11, 2009 at 7:39 pm: Oh my, over 200 comments really dilutes my chance for winning! lol

LOVE Fifi’s work! Thx for sharing it w/us!

Susan Smith’s last blog post..11 Easy Tips for Green Living at Home