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Win a Portrait of Your House by Artist Stephen Walker!

Our Old House

This red-brick house holds a lot of sentimental value for me. We moved into it 15 years ago as new parents, and our children did a lot of their growing up there. I still get a little homesick for it sometimes, but at least I have photos to remember it by.

And now I have a portrait of it, too, by Stephen Walker. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me! Want to see it? He posted it on his website, Walker Studio. Stephen, one of my blog’s sponsors, is a talented artist who uses pen and ink to draw houses and then finishes them with colored pencil and pastels.

One lucky reader is going to win their own 8 x 10 house portrait, worth $250. It could be a picture of the house you live in now, the house you grew up in, or whatever place holds special meaning to you. (Psst! Father’s Day is coming soon, and this could be the perfect gift! Details here.)

Walker StudioTo enter, leave a comment on this post by May 26, telling us which house you’d choose to have drawn. You can see the portrait he created of mine here.

I’m joining the Cottage Charm Giveaway at Twice Remembered. Head over there to see what other bloggers are giving away!

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Comments

  2. What a lovely gift! I’d pick our home right now. We built it 30 years go and all three of our daughters grew up here. Thank you for this giveaway.

  3. Wow what a wonderful giveaway…I would love do my own home..We have lived here for 40 years and it’s home to me…thanks for sharing…Pat H
    pattygary@kc.rr.com

  5. I would love to have one of my current home, the place my babies are growing up in!!

  6. I love these and I can see why you miss that house so much. Beautiful!!! I would love to have the chance to win one of his great works of art. Thanks for giving us the opportunity. Thanks Julia! ((hugs))) Susie
    .-= Susie Harris´s last blog ..Open Til …6 =-.

  7. I’d love to have one done of my parents home. We rebuilt after a fire in 1988 so it’s very special to our family.

  9. I’ve actually been thinking about this lately, so it’s fun to see some examples. I would do the home we are moving from next month. We’ve lived in it for 5 years while my husband attended school. We’ve had two children here and it’s hard to think about leaving. It would be a great memory to take with us.

  10. We just moved from a house that we lived in for 13 years. It was the house that my kids grew up in. Even though we built and moved into our dream house, the old house is missed. I would love to have a picture of it to remember it by.

  11. What a great gift. I would pick the house that we moved to when my kids were 3,6, and 9. We moved the day after our last one went off to college.

  12. It would be a toss up between the house that I grew up in, and the house that I live in now. I would LOVE to have one of these!!

  13. My current house is great on the inside, but a little lacking in charm on the outside. However, I’d love to have a portrait of my lovely foursquare kit home in Buffalo. I just loved that house. We made an offer on it half an hour after we walked through the door for the first time. Usually it takes us longer than that to decide what to make for dinner. 🙂

  14. I’d have a portrait of my parent’s house drawn. I know they would love it. It would be the perfect gift to celebrate their upcoming anniversary.

  15. I would love to have one of the house we live in now. Such a great keepsake to have.

  16. I would love to have a portrait done of my childhood home. My siblings and I have a lot of great memories living there and my grandma passed away in the house next door to us.

  17. I’d have a hard time choosing between my current home- my hubby and I have spent many many hours making it ready for a family and are finally enjoying it with our first child, or the house that my grandfather built that my dad grew up in…
    .-= Emily´s last blog ..I e Faces – Faces with Flowers =-.

  18. I love that Idea, what a great way to remember a home you love and pass it on to future generations. I would have my current home illustrated especially since it it the home I grew up in. I would love the carry the image with me to which ever home I move onto as a reminder of how such a small place could be filled with love and bring such great memories, thanks to the great family and pets that inhabited it.
    🙂

  21. I would have my current home–We have lived here for the past 21 years. When we first moved in we had 1 little baby and 1 little bath and now we have 4 teenagers/young adults and 2 1/2 baths! A remodel was definitely needed after all those boys!
    .-= desiree´s last blog ..Willow Glen Cottage Remodel with Modern Flair =-.

  25. My husband and I just bought our first house together…that’s what I would love to have painted!

  26. I would have my great-grandmother’s house done. I played in the attic there as a child and have many fond memories of the house. The house was built in 1835 and was used by Union officiers during the Civil War. It’s always been a very special house to me.

  27. What a special treat it would be! I would love to have a painting of my current home where my husband and I have lived for the last 10 years–the longest we’ve ever lived anywhere. I love my home. Thanks.

  28. I just bought my first house and would love to see it painted. What a great gift!!

  32. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway!!!! I really wanted to give my parents a joint Mother’s/Father’s Day portrait of their house because they are probably going to have to sell the dream home they designed and built themselves. It’s a really sad time for them, so if I win I would have the portrait drawn of their house for them to always remember it even if they aren’t living in it.
    .-= Sarah @ Dream In Domestic´s last blog ..Think About It Thursday: Do You Like Colorful Houses? =-.

  33. I would love to have a portrait of my current house. My husband and I purchased our 1920 Bungalow two years ago and have loved living here!

  34. What a great giveaway! I would love a painting of the house we had built for us when our kids were really young. We bought a wooded lot (my parents thought we were crazy) and a set of plans and 5 months later we moved in to a gorgeous house. We haven’t lived there in seven years but I still miss that house. Thanks for the opportunity!

  36. I would choose the home we have lived in the for last 10 years. My talented husband designed it, helped build it and continues to improve it even now. We love living here. Thanks for the opportunity to have a treasure like this.

  37. What a great give away. I think I would probably choose the house I live in now. I absolutely adore my little green cottage.
    .-= laurel sauls´s last blog ..30 by 30 =-.

  40. I would choose our current home. A place our sons helped us save during a difficult financial time. They put much energy, time, love into updating things. This home is very special to my heart. Thanks for the opportunity, really enjoy your blog.

  41. I have a picture of my family house, the one my children grew up in, and it was given to us years before we bought it.
    A friend of my husband gave it to us when we were first married, just because it was a nice old etching. After we bought and moved into the house (two children and ten years later), we were unpacking and found it – the self-same place. Good magic, don’t you think?
    .-= Tricia Rose´s last blog ..A Quiet Day =-.

  42. My home now. It’s the home I raised my boys in and I have lived here for 30 years. It has been a refuge and a home full of love.

  43. This was a hard one because there are so many houses that have meant something to me in my life. However, I would like to have a picture done of my dream house to help keep me and my husband going while I am finishing up on my double Masters degrees. We know we want some sort of 1920-40s bungalow because we love to live vintage (we met at a WWII dance reenactment and had a 50s wedding in a bowling alley). We see houses all the time that we just adore and I know it would be so much fun sitting down with him and looking for the house to be painted!
    .-= Steph @ Tart Deco´s last blog ..So Much Excitement! =-.

  44. Oh, what a cool prize!! I would choose the Tudor I live in now.

  45. This is an incredible and generous blog giveaway! The home I would choose is the house we are currently living in. We have lived here for 14 years, and this fall, our youngest will start college. It is pretty certain that we will not be living here much longer, as it will be too large and too much upkeep for two people! This home saw us through good times and hard times, and big parts of our hearts and souls will aways be here.

    Thank you for this entry!
    .-= suzy´s last blog ..New Arrivals from J Crew & Newest Followers! =-.

  46. recently with the help of my dad I was able to purchase my first home. I would love to have a portrait of it made to give to him to thank him for everything he has done for me.

  47. Of course, I’d pick our current house, which is our first house. In a couple weeks, we’ll be celebrating our one year anniversary in our home and a portrait would be a totally awesome way to celebrate!!

    Also, while we’ve moved out of town, my husband and I are both originally from St. Louis, and since Stephen is from STL… it would be a great way to also represent our hometown.

    Thanks!

  48. I’d love to surprise my son with a drawing of his first home! I had one made of my first home many years ago, and I cherish it to this day! Thanks!

  49. I wouldn’t have to choose, my husband and I are raising our family in the house I grew up in. We are the third generation to own the home and a portrait of it would be a treasure that we could all enjoy!

  51. I would love to have a painting of our current house… except we are still remodeling so it will probably be the end of summer before it’s ready for its close up.

  53. I would choose my current residence; the place where my youngest child grew up in and calls home. (my garage door needs painting anyway – maybe not the way it needs it done but at least I could see what it could look like.) 😉

  54. What a beautiful job he did. What a wonderful way to always remember the home that brought you such lasting memories. I would like a drawing of the home I live in now. After 6 long years of waiting and looking every free weekend , we bought what I knew was “our home” the moment I walked in. I love it. I love working in it and dreaming of all the project I have planned for it. A home is like a family, its a space to grow in.

  55. This is a great idea. I choose my current home, it is my nest!

  58. Whenever I dream about being in a house, it’s always about the house I grew up in even though I have lived in 5 houses since then.

  60. I’d have to think about it a bit…maybe my childhood home where I grew up from age 4 to age 18 (and the house is still owned by my sister), maybe the Charleston style home we sold a couple of years ago (love the look) or maybe our current one because we’ve owned it longer than any other house and are back living in it. Anyway, if I win, I’ll make a decision then ;).

  61. My present home is an old Victorian next to a historic district in a small town in Iowa. Our community looks like a small New England town and is very picturesque. I would love a portrait of our home. We have a beautiful garden in the back with a three-tiered cast-iron fountain. That might be a nice view as well!

  65. Well since we put on offer on a house today I am hoping my new home! 🙂

  68. I saw on his website that he also has Christmas cards, what a wonderful idea.

  69. What a wonderful idea! Thanks for the chance at winning. Hard choice, but I think I would choose the house I grew up in, there are so few pictures of it. Again thanks, Have a blessed weekend

  70. I would pick our current home. We just bought it and moved into our ‘forever’ house, as we like to call it, 3 months ago. It is the home we plan to start a family in and the first place we both ever felt totally at peace in. A portrait of it would be amazing!

  71. I have always wanted to have this done. I would choose our first home, where we moved into as newlyweds and our kids were brought home to when they were born.

  72. I would definitely have the house we just moved into done! It was built in 1865 and is on the National Historic Register. We are so in love with it!

  73. I would love to have my current home which is a raised cottage with big porches. We built the house in 1997.

  75. Lots of blood sweat and tears were put into our home. We have been through so much here would love to have the oppurtunity to win this.

  76. I would love to get a portrait done of my parents house! I love my own house, but the house I grew up in and my parents still live in would be just perfect! Thank you so much for having such a wonderful giveaway!
    .-= Bella McBride´s last blog ..Owl Needle Felted Soft Sculpture =-.

  78. I would like to have a drawing done of my husband’s grandparents home. They were very dear to him throughout his growing up years — particularly his grandfather who loved him and taught him how to be a man when his own father could not. This home has a lot of special memories for him and now, as he lost his grandfather last summer and his grandmother is gravely ill, I believe this portrait would be a special reminder of that which he has not lost.

  79. Would Stephen Walker come to Denmark and make one?? 😉

  81. I love this idea! I would choose the house my husband and I bought when we got engaged. It was built in 1912 and has lots of old-fashioned character. It is where we spent the early years of our marriage. Two babies were brought home from the hospital to this house and one more was born in the sunny master bedroom.
    Of course, it is in the core area of our city so the lot was teeny and there were party animals next door.
    We have since moved to a suburban bungalow with more room to run, but I still miss my pretty doll house from time to time.
    Here is a picture:
    https://prairieknitwit.blogspot.com/2007/08/makeover.html
    .-= Jen´s last blog ..A Dramatic reading. Sideways. (Probably only interesting if you are Grandma) =-.

  82. A portrait of our current house would be lovely! It’s the first house we’ve purchased in 10 years of married, Air Force life and we love it.

  83. Oh, I would *love* to do my parents home! My father built it himself 40 years ago (with a little helps from all of us kids) and they raised all 4 of us there. They are in their 70’s now, and we each have our own home & families, but it will ALWAYS be HOME. They beautifully landscaped it themselves over the years by transplanting perennials from my grandparents’ garden, digging up saplings and planting seeds. My dad grew all our vegetables in the garden out back (and still does). The sapplings are huge trees now and have had kids & grandkids climbing in them, swinging in their branches and forts built underneath. They still do all their own yardwork (nearly 2 acres) despite their age and it’s a haven in this crazy world. My dad built the house, but they made it a home. To have a portait of it would be an amazing honor!

  84. What a beautiful idea…our one and only home where our children were raised, and our garden nurtured. A happy place.

  85. I think I’d choose my current house. It’s for sale but it’s the one we’ve been in the longest and the one we think of a home.

  86. His work is beautiful – I like how he removes the stray pole or electric lines to make the house look just right. I would love to have a portrait of my current house – it’s the first one I had built from the ground up and I’m not planning to leave it until I die.
    .-= the 7msn ranch´s last blog ..FAQ Friday, episode 4 =-.

  87. I would definitely pick my current home ~ it’s our first house as a married couple, and it won’t be our forever house…it would be nice to remember it with a portrait!
    .-= Angela ´s last blog ..Remembering =-.

  88. I would definitely pick my grandparent’s house. My grandmother was recently put in assisted living and is devistated she can’t be at home. My mom is also holding on to her childhood home as much as she can now that no one is living there any longer. It would be a perfect present for both of them. I could just see how much joy it would bring to them.

  89. I would LOVE this! We actually move out of our current house next week. We brought both of our children home to this place and it is going to be so hard to leave. We are on to better things (more room to play, a better school district)… but this place will be hard to leave! 🙂

  90. I want a pic of the house I live in now! It is a craftsman bungalow and almost 100 years old. thanks!

  91. My husband is a general contractor and I am an interior designer. We are currently finishing our personal home (3 weeks to go!) and it has been very difficuclt. We began the process a year and a half ago, when the market was much better, but now things are different…much less work for us. We have continued building our “dream house” for us and our 4 kids, but it hasn’t been very “dreamy”. It’s hard to excited about our new house, when we aren’t staying busy building other people’s new houses. :)We would love, love, love something like this to look at this home in a positive light!

  92. I would definitely pick my grandparent’s old house. It was the house that I grew up in and that my mother grew up in as well. It holds a lot of memories. I am currently raising my own family 500 miles away and while we love our house and our community there is no place like “home”.

  93. I would love to have our former house – the one in which we started our married life, and parenthood.

  94. I would love to have a portrait of our current house…but I have to paint the outside first!

  97. What an amazing giveaway! I would have one done of our current house most likely. We’ve been making memories here for 3 years now and it’s become a special place.
    ~Michelle
    .-= Michelle´s last blog ..Sick and Tired =-.

  98. I was just thinking I’d love a painting of our house! this would be perfect.

  100. I’ve been wanting a portrait of our current house for awhile now and haven’t found the perfect artist to create it! I love Stephen’s style. We built the house we currently live in while my husband was in Iraq right after we were married in 2006. This is the house he came home to after being overseas for 15 months. I love it and love that it was complete when he finally came home.
    .-= Jen´s last blog ..livin for the weekends =-.

  101. i would love one! I would choose our current house we recently built. This is where we will raise our kids.

  102. There is nothing fancy or unusual about my 71 year old home. It is just a plain old house that I truly love. My dad was an architect with a talent for watercolor paintings of old homes. Since he is no longer around to do a painting of mine, I would really love a Stephen Walker original!

    Thank you!!

  103. I would love to have a portrait done of our current house, which is our first house. We’ve been here for almost 12 years!

  104. I have a portrait of our first home where my oldest son was born, but sadly, we had to leave it. I never thought our current house would feel like home or that I would ever care about having a portrait of it, but after seven years here, we’ve made it our own and it has been home to two new babies! I would love to have a portrait of our current home.

  105. We’re in our first house which is also our forever house. We thought about moving at one point because there isnt’ much storage but after looking couldn’t find anything better and decided we didn’t need to keep a lot of stuff after all. Some remodeling inside and out has made it so beautiful and functional, we just love it. Our own little slice of lovely.

  106. I would adore a painting of the house I grew up in, a late 1970s contemporary design in a country setting. Although, a painting of my parents’ house, a little adobe-style in New Mexico would be a great gift since they’re selling it to move to Florida. Hmmm… selfish or unselfish? Lol, I’ll decide if I’m chosen!

  107. We just built a new house. Would love to see it as a portrait!

  108. I would love to get this for my parents – what a great (unique) gift idea!

  109. Oh I would love to get this for my mom! She would love a picture of our family’s farmhouse!

  110. After years of living in houses that were nothing special to look at we finally have a home that makes us say ,”WOW!” from the curb. I’d love to have a painting of it!

  111. Our 1928 bungalow, that my husband and I have poured our blood, sweat, tears (and life savings!) into….despite the fact that there’s ALWAYS something that needs to be fixed, we love our home. It’s the house where we became a family.

  112. My first house with my husband! We’ve lived here less than a year!

  113. I would choose my in-laws’ house. They are thinking about downsizing, and I know it makes my husband and his siblings sad that they may no longer be able to go to the house they grew up in. This would be the perfect keepsake to always have!
    .-= Laura @ so alaurable´s last blog ..Sum, Sum, Summertime! =-.

  114. Our first home! We bought it in 2008 and have since gotten married, hosted friends and family gatherings, and are looking forward to raising our future family here.

  115. I would get a portrait of my Grandparent’s home to give to my Mom. My Grandpa died one year ago and his house recently sold – which he built and my Mom grew up in. It’s very hard on her and I’d love to give this to her to remember it by!
    .-= Ruthie´s last blog ..Our Princess Bride =-.

  117. I would love to have a portrait of my grandparents house. It was built in the late 1700’s in Beaufort, North Carolina. It is a historic house and my grandfather “Pop” who is 101 years old still lives there. He moved there in 1946. My grandmother passed away 7 years ago. Pop sits on the front porch everyday and speaks to the people walking by visiting our beautiful town!

  118. Fathers day! What a great idea. My husband would love a portrait of our house in Ohio, the one he built brick by brick from start to finish (took two years though) and yet we’re still married…Yay for us! We no longer live there, but it will always be home. It’s where my children were raised and have so many wonderful memories. Good luck to me!!

  119. This may seem weird but I would want one of the buildings painted from my college. College was my home for four years and where I met my husband in person for the first time, right in front of the building I would want painted. It’s also where I work and holds a lot of special memories for me. It is an amazing place and such beauitful building.

  120. I would love one of the current home we are in, we moved in 3 weeks ago, our dream home an 1860 Victorian home.

  122. I would love to have a portrait done of my childhood home in Alexandria, Virginia. My parents still live there after 35 years and it is a traditional colonial with white pillars in front. It has so much meaning and memories for us all (7 kids!) and would make a beautiful family heirloom someday.

  124. I would love a portrait of my last house which was waterfront property. It was on a wooded bluff lot and had a tree house feel. However, I’m not sure I have a good picture of it from the front (the side that faced the river) so I might have to settle for a portrait of the mid-century cape cod that I currently live in.

  125. I would love a portrait of the house I grew up in! My parents are thinking of selling it and both my parents and I are very sentimental about it – it would be perfect since we put so much into it! It’d be a fun anniversary gift for them!!!
    .-= Rebecca´s last blog ..~ Long Time, No See ~ =-.

  126. I would love to have a portrait of my home done- it’s my first house. Thanks for setting up this fun giveaway!

  127. These are amazing. I’d love to have a portrait of the house we lived in when I was a teen-ager & where I’m living now. After my dad died & I moved away, my mom stayed here for the next 45 years. She passed away in 2007 at the age of 94 and left me the house. I decided to move back to FL from Seattle and live here again. I know she would be so happy to know that I’m back and that her beloved house is still in our family. Sue

  128. Oh wow – how cool! I would love to have an artist draw our townhouse. It is an end unit with two beautiful trees and I just think it is beautiful. I love houses – I have cross stitched a ton of them – especially front doors from Charleston. So, this is my thing! Thank you for the contest! I am recovering from back surgery last week so finding things to occupy my time is keeping me from going stir crazy! Thanks Julia! -Neva

  129. I would choose to have a picture of the house we are listing for sale in just a few weeks. We are a military family and have moved every few years throughout my husband’s career and always lived in base housing, where nothing was quite ours and everything felt temporary. Three years ago we were reassigned to lovely Enid, Oklahoma and purchased a house of our own. My three girls each had their own rooms for the first time and we have had a wonderful time updating this house and making our own. After three years, though, it’s time to move again. I cry when I think of leaving this house, the first house that ever really felt like it was OURS. Oh, how I would love to have a portrait of it to take with us!

  131. I would get a portrait done of my mother’s house. It’s the house I grew up, and the house many family gatherings and special events have taken place in. Such a special place to me and my family.

  134. What a cool idea! I would love a portrait of my house done…I love my house & our neighbors 😉 By the way, I’ve never seen a picture of your old house-it’s beautiful!

  135. One Friday night about 10 years ago, we noticed someone was building a house on a lot we had always admired. We drove out to see if it was for sale and it was (a previous deal had fallen through.) When we asked to see the floor plan we could not beleive it – it was identical to one that I had clipped from the paper years before. My dream house. By Monday it was ours so of course I would love to have a portrait of this one.

  137. Eleven years ago my husband and I moved to our (almost) 200 year old farmhouse in apple country in upstate NY. We would love a portrait of this old house. We have shared many happy times here along with a few sad moments and look forward to the day when our grandbabies can enjoy this farm and land with us. It would be a wonderful gift.

  138. I would love to have a portrait of my current home, a little log cabin in the woods!

  139. Hi There!

    What a wonderful idea! My fiancé and I just purchased our new home and moved in a few days ago. Our little bungalow is proving to be so much more than our first house, it is already feeling like home. We would absolutely love to have beautiful portrait created for us! In fact, we would hang it right next to the original house listing flyer we saved and had framed. :o)

    Have a blessed day!
    Doreen ?

  141. One of my husband’s most prized possessions is a watercolor of his grandparents’ house painted by his aunt. I would absolutely be beyond thrilled if I could have a drawing/painting of our home to give to my son. This house is such a sweet house and my son had a wonderful childhood growing up here. What a wonderful gift for him this would be. Thanks so much to you and this talented artist for offering such a meaningful prize.
    .-= Cheri´s last blog ..More About ME =-.

  142. A portrait of our home would be so special. My husband and son Connor and I bought our lovely home 2 years ago. My whole adult life I would continually say “When I get where I’m going”. Those who know me well heard this so much. Well we got there and we could not be happier. Our home is 37 years old and is in the perfect place. We feel like we live in a state park. Lovely trees everywhere with gently rolling hills and nature galore. Every day we all wake up and feel so blessed to be here together. I remember when I was a teenager, and there were so few houses there, but I so wanted to live there….looks like I made it.

    CHERYL

  143. My husband and I just bought our first house. I’d have Stephen create a portrait of that!

  144. I would have my current house drawn. It’s my husband’s and my first house together and we’re completely gutting it top to bottom. Lots of sweat equity = much sentimental value 🙂 Great giveaway!

  145. I would love to give my mom a portrait of the house she grew up in. They sold the house after my grandfather died a few years ago. I have photos of the house and have been meaning to get them done into a portrait for some time. I’d love to give it to my mom as a retirement gift.

  146. my home, I thank my heavenly Father every day for my home……I love your site…..blessings

  149. Oh, wow–what a WONDERFUL giveaway! I’d choose to have a portrait of this house. We’ve only lived here five years, but I’m hoping that it’ll be a very long-term home. Funny thing, though. . . today I wrote a post about the house we lived in before we moved here. I guess we always feel attached to spaces we shared with our little ones, don’t we?

  150. I’d love a portrait of my cottage!

    I also want to say, that if I do not get any housework, gardening or laundry done it’s all your fault! I never watched Gilmore Girls when it first aired. After reading your post about the show and enjoying all of your pics, I checked out a copy of the complete first season from my library! I am hooked!! I had to pry myself away to just compose this post!! It has everything, great settings, quirkiness, Jeeps and saddle shoes!!

    I try never to miss your posts because I love houses so much and always have!

    Lots of love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo
    .-= Susan´s last blog ..Vintage Wine Decanter =-.

  151. What a wonderful gift give away. I would love to have one done for the new home we just moved into.

  152. I would love to have a picture of my home. It really is our dream home and we are so blessed to have moved here. Thank you for your generous offer and for such a beautiful blog.

  153. I would love to have my last house done because that’s where we lived when my children were all born and my family has so many happy memories there.

  154. I would love to have a portrait of our first house 🙂 It’s so special and I have to pinch myself daily to realize that WE are responsible for the good, bad and the repairs!
    .-= emily´s last blog ..creamy chicken enchiladas =-.

  155. I have an emotional attachment to all of the houses we’ve lived in, but I think I would have a drawing done of the current one. It’s unlike a house I’ve ever lived in before with double front porches. It just naturally lends itself to a drawing!
    .-= Carla´s last blog ..For the Love of Polyvore =-.

  156. We have moved around quite a bit in 13 years and have owned 4 houses. We have a portrait of our first home and would love to have a portrait of all our homes, but the 2nd house is dear to me because that is where both my daughters were born. : )

  157. I would love to be picked…I would use our current home 🙂

    Kathy 🙂

  158. My husband and I are currently building our first house. Its nearly done and its everything I wanted and cute to boot! Knowing this will be our home where we will eventually raise our babies makes it all the more special.

  159. Julia! What a fabulous give away! Stephen’s work is amazing! I would probably have him do the house I am in because it is where I have stayed the longest since I was a little girl! FUN!
    .-= Polly´s last blog ..Hang gliders. =-.

  160. I would love to have a portrait of the house I live in now! I would have said my Grandparents’, but the old house burned to the ground several years ago and they house I grew up in was raised.

    Smiles~
    Marilyn
    .-= Marilyn B. Hughes´s last blog ..The Swap =-.

  161. I would love a portrait of the house we live in now–our first and we had it built. The one thing I remember is when my two sons were little they asked if they were going to live here with us after they got married! We just laughed! Maybe a potrait of this house would make a nice wedding gift someday!

  162. I would have my childhood home, from 0 to 23 I grew up there. A few years ago after my parents divorce and mother moving away it was sold. I drive back and visit when I’m in the area and was so sad to see last month that it’s empty and been foreclosed on left in pretty bad shape. I would love to have a portrait painted from an old picture, the way I remember it!

  163. I would love to have the house that my husband and I have build together done! We have put so much love into this house and it really is our dream house!

  164. I would love to have my home drawn that I live in now. It is my first new house I ever lived in and I had it built just for me. I love it!

  165. I would have the house I grew up in drawn. It’s so pretty and bright – it’s pink! And not a faded pink – It’s very pink, with white trim and a sweet little front porch. My father built the house and my parents have lived there for the last 50 + years. I love it!!!

  167. The house we live in now is my dream house. Although it isn’t finished yet, I love that my husband and I did ALL the work – and made our house a home! I love my house!

  168. Oh my! Definitely our little cabin in the mountains. It’s fabulous, log with Pine Trees and a great front porch.

  169. I would choose my current house. We have worked so hard on the inside that we haven’t done much for the curb appeal. I would love to see how he corrects our landscaping flaws! He may inspire our next project…

  172. I recently added a portico and stone walkway to the front of my house. I would love a drawing of my “new” home. Thank you!

  173. This is such an appropriate prize for a site named “Hooked On Houses” to offer to its readers! Everyone who comes here is in love with a house or two, even if they don’t own it themselves.. lol.

    We’ve been in our home for 32 years and raised both of our wonderful sons here. It may not be fancy, but we sure are ‘Hooked’ on THIS place, and once we downsize, it would be great to have such a special momento. Stephen Walker’s work is terrific!

  174. I just bought some wave petunia hanging baskets that look so pretty on my porch! I’d take a pic of my houses as is right now! I love my house! Great contest.

  175. The house we have lived in for the past 20 years, built over the years by us, family and friends (and still not finished!!)

  176. What a wonderful giveaway Julia!
    I would love to have one of our house with the porch and dormer back on so that we can look to the future of what she’ll be again one day 🙂

    rue
    .-= rue´s last blog ..Fake out =-.

  177. I would love have him do my grandparents house. I just loved there old house! This is a really cool giveaway:)
    .-= amanda´s last blog ..Question? =-.

  178. I would love to have a drawing of my current house. It’s my dream house – a small stone capecod built in 1936. I LOVE my house. It makes me smile everytime that I pull into the driveway. We moved in as a young married couple and have had both of our children here. They are both in junior high now and we have so many wonderful memories in this house. I can remember being devastated to learn that I had a miscarriage and then years later finding out that we had been chosen by a birth mother to adopt a baby girl. Then when she was 11 months old finding out that I was pregnant and nine months later we had our son. We have had so much fun decorating out home and sharing it with our beautiful children and our golden retrievers.

  179. I would love a drawing of our old farmhouse. We recently added a side porch and a pen & ink rendering would be lovely!! What a great giveaway.

  180. I would choose to have the house that I grew up in drawn. I would look at it every day, and I would smile. 🙂

  182. I would have a portrait done of the house we live in now because I am watching my kids grow up here.

  183. I once toured a home where the owners had portraits of all their previous homes right by the front door. What a cozy and sweet idea.
    So many happy memories are being created to in our current home that I think having a happy portrait of it would be the way to go… but I may have to save up for our previous home’s portrait to be done too!

  184. I would chose the house we live in currently. We built it ourselves from the ground up. I LOVE my home. 🙂 Thank you for the chance to win a portrait!

  185. I’m feeling lucky! I’d chose our current house, which we built. We brought our son home to this house, and it will always be special.

    Good luck to everyone! Thank you for this generous contest 😀

  186. I would choose the house we currently live in, it’s special because of so many happy memories & is the only home that our youngest son has ever known who is now 22 years old. My husband always says that we will live here forever. The pictures are so beautiful that I wish we could have one of each house we have lived in.
    Thank you for such a heart warming contest.

  187. I would love the home we live in currently. We moved here when we were pregnant with our first son. It’s seen us through some WONDERFUL times and horrible times. We survived a fire, my husband’s father passing (after receiving a new lung) and our sister in-law’s miscarriage at 21 weeks all in one month. It’s been repaired and our memories continue in the house we call our home. Now filled with two great boys, two great dogs and a mom and dad who love each other … LOTS!

  189. I would love one of the house we live in now. We built it 21 years ago and love taking care of it.

    Donna

  190. I would have a portrait made of my childhood home…a beautiful Victorian-style house. So many wonderful memories!

  191. Oh, how great is this! Its like a little piece history and time all captured at once!
    I would love it to be me! I think I might have my grandma’s house painting.
    Thanks for all the great info…this is one of my favorite sites 🙂

  192. Oh, how great is this! Its like a little piece history and time all captured at once!
    I would love it to be me! I think I might have my grandma’s house painting.
    Thanks for all the great info…this is one of my favorite sites 🙂

  193. I have always wanted a picture of the house I grew up in. Many of my dreams are set in that house… My parents sold it and moved when I was in my early 20s, and I miss it!

  194. I would love to have our current house drawn. Both my children were born while living here and the house holds many good memories. We live in a 80+ year old neighborhood in a California style bungalow. Lots of character! Thank you so much for a great giveaway and I really look forward to checking out your website everday.

  195. What a great contest! I’d love to have a portrait of our home. Thank you!

  197. Would love to have my house’s portrait done. It is our first home and we love it!

  198. I would have the house on the Guadalupe River my dad was living in when he passed away – I aways drive by that house when Im down that way just to see it one more time…

  199. Great giveaway! I would love to have a portrait of our current home. It’s our forever house (I think) and we had the front yard landscaped a few years ago.
    .-= Vanessa´s last blog ..Happy Birthday! =-.

  200. awesome, awesome giveaway. I’m thrilled just thinking of it. I’d choose to have a portrait of my first house purchased by me,myself & I. I wanted a house tbat would make me smile when I drove up my drive – and I got it. 🙂

  201. I would like to have a portrait of our house done. The house we live in is a 1950’s ranch style that my husband has remodeled himself, it has undertaken a total transformation (inside and out) and now has a old english look to it. Beyond the incredible look of our house (we’ve had people ring the doorbell and offer to buy it) this house has been our home for our family. This is my first true home, I’ve never felt as if a house was a home before this one. This was the first home my husband purchased when he moved here from New Zealand, where he is originally from. We will live in this house until we are old and gray and would love to have a portrait to keep through the years.

  203. How fun!? We actually have a portrait of our first home which was given to us as a going away present from my Bible study group when we moved from Greenville, SC to Houston. Now we’re settled in Columbia, SC and plan to live in our current home forever. I would love a portrait of this home. Thanks!
    .-= Nikki´s last blog ..Final Soccer Game =-.

  205. I’d have a picture of our current house made. It’s a new home and it’s not everything that we wanted but we will get it there someday. What an awesome idea for a father’s day present!
    .-= Brandy´s last blog ..Some Where Over The Rainbow =-.

  206. How I would love to have a portrait of my house. As my husband and I are getting older, we often talk about how much longer we want to live in this house due to the huge yard and upkeep, but we love the house so much, we hope we’re here a long time.

  207. Wow!!! I live in the house my grandfather built for his family. My mother grew up here as did I and then my girls. I would LOVE to have a portrait of the house!!!
    .-= Donna´s last blog ..Genealogy Resources =-.

  208. When we moved in our house you could not see it from the street because there were so many trees in a natural area. I found out quickly it was harder to keep a natural area than a grass lawn. After much hard work we still have plenty of beautiful oak trees with a grassy lawn and can see our pretty home. It would be very nice to own a professional portrait of our home. Please enter me in your giveaway.

  209. I’d love a portrait of our current house–it is our first home, and it is so perfect for us right now.

  211. I would love a portait of the house we finally landed in after years of looking!
    Thanks,
    Katherine

  212. I love your blog because I, too, am “hooked on houses.” We’ve moved 5 times in the past 4 years. Long story short, we sold our house to build, moved to a rental, material costs skyrocketed unexpectedly due to hurricanes so we changed course and bought an old house, learned it was not kid (or BUDGET) friendly either, built a new “dream” house that became a nightmare due to a shady builder (and was even LESS budget friendly), then were living with regret in that mess when my dear sweet hubby agreed to take a leap of faith with me once more and agreed to build our new home–while our other house was on the market, no less. Thankfully, we moved into the new home 7 mos ago and sold the other house 2 mos later. Though the new home is not nearly as large as our former “dream” home, our new home is just what we needed in so many ways. Family friendly. Budget friendly. Great yard. Great location. Terrific builder! After 4 years and 6 residences, I am so happy to say that we are finally settled. I knew this was our “forever” home when, shortly after moving in, my 2 year old suddenly said to me, “This is our house. This is where we growed up. This is where we eat chocolate.” I thought to myself, “Oh my gosh, out of the mouth of babes!” As much as I’d really like to think he was waxing poetic, I know he was partially trying to parrot what he’s heard (plus recognizing that we DO eat a lot of chocolate!) However, at that moment, it hit me like a ton of bricks the emotional toll all this moving has taken on my family, my marriage and myself, and I vowed never to take the stability and meaning of “home” for granted again. A house really IS so much more than just a bunch of building materials. I told DH what our son said and we agreed, how could we ever leave the house where we “eat chocolate?!” I would really LOVE to have a drawing of our home to memorialize that we are finally “home”…and the end of my house “wanderlust.” Thanks for this wonderful opportunity, and for your blog to allow me to get my “house fix!”

  213. How I would love to have a portrait of the farmhouse we live in now. The main part is over 100 years old but it has been added to and remodeled on the inside. This would be such a wonderful gift for my father-in-law who was born in one of the bedrooms and brought his bride here and lived together before they moved to town and allowed us to move in! Thank you for such a wonderful offering! Sure hope I win!
    .-= Connie´s last blog ..After the mania — a winner . . . =-.

  214. I would love to have a picture of my down town Orlando Cottage drawn. I live on a little brick street called Walnut street. What a wonderful giveaway if you get a chance take a look at my Cottage Charm giveaway at

    thepolkadotcloset.blogspot.com

    Carol

  215. I would love to have a portrait of my favorite Victorian home done, so many happy memories. Such a fabulous giveaway.

  217. What amazing work! Simply beautiful and a perfect keepsake. I would choose the home we currently live it. {we plan to be here forever if possible} It’s a lovely colonial we consider to be our dream home nestled on a nice piece of property. It would make the perfect addition to our entry way to treasure for years to come. Thanks so much for hosting the giveaway. Hope you are enjoying your weekend! ~ Stephanie Lynn
    .-= Stephanie Lynn´s last blog ..Reclaimed Wood Plant Hangers and Bird Feeders =-.

  218. I just love these drawings, it really brings out the character of a home much better than a photograph does, really shows the details. I especially love the gingerbread style home at the bottom of the page. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

  219. I would love to have a portrait done of our home in Maryland. My husband and I bought it shortly after becoming engaged. It’s a craftsman, built in 1903 and the home of my dreams. The first time we saw it, we knew it was home. My husband is in the air force, and we are currently stationed on the other side of the country from our dream home. Having it’s portrait to take from place to place with us, until we can return, would be amazing!

  220. I would love to have a drawing of my reproduction New England farmouse that we built 21 years ago in our darling historic town.

    I just love your blog… I am also hooked on houses

  221. LOVE the drawing he did for you! If I won, I’d have him draw the house I live in now. I’ve lived in a lot of houses over the years, most of which I have loved, all of which I have fond memories of, and many of which were much grander than the the little tiny cottage I live in now, but this house is still my favorite.

  223. WOW! I wannnntttt to win this one, please!!! haha., If only I could beg random.org! XD. If I win, I would want a portrait of the Engineering building in my university! Very memorable place for both my sister and I. 🙂 I think I’d probably give it to her as a birthday gift 🙂

    Thanks!

    bugs(dot)bittle23{AT}gmail(dot)com

  225. I would love to get a drawing of the house we live in now. It’s our cottage home and our first (and only, hopefully) house we bought about 8 years ago. We love it and it would make wonderful art. What a great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity.
    .-= Gina@3ringcottage´s last blog ..vintage ladder and the color red =-.

  226. I would love to have our current home done. I calle it “The Little House on the Corner” on my blog. It is only the second home we have ever owned and we have lived here the longest. It is a work in progress as I like to say. It is a happy place filled with love!
    And I LOVE your blog!

  227. How very cute! I would love to win! Thanks for the fun prize! I think I would have the family farm drawn…

    scrapmethis.blogspot.com

  229. Oh wow! I would choose the house that my dad had built when we ere little! He would love it!
    Thank you for the opprotunity!
    .-= Chacoy´s last blog ..What a weekend! =-.

  230. I was just linked to this wonderful post and I will be a fan from now on. If I could find a picture of the house I grew up in, I would love to have it done but I’m not sure we have one. So, I would love to have the house my children grew up in and my husband built. It holds many wonderful memories.
    .-= Gail´s last blog ..Tablescrape Thursday – Welcome to my Pad =-.

  231. Wow! I’d love to win! The only problem is I’d have a hard time deciding which house to have painted. My house… my grandmother’s house… my husband’s family home… oh dear. I guess I have a few days to decide.
    .-= Denise Casey´s last blog ..Tufted "Wallpaper" in My Attic =-.

  232. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A PAINTING OF THE HOUSE THAT I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN. MY HUSBAND AND I BUILT OUR HOUSE IN 1972 AND DURING ALL THOSE YEARS HAVE MADE MANY CHANGES. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE HOUSE HAS KEPT PACE WITH OUR OWN LIFE
    CHANGES. OUR HOUSE HAS BECOME A LIFE OF ITS OWN; IT SPEAKS TO US,
    LAUGHS WITH US, AND CRIES WITH US.
    THANKS SO MUCH FOR OFFERING A MAGNIFICENT GIVEAWAY.

  233. I would have loved to have a picture of the farmhouse where we lived for several years as I was growing up, but they tore it down to put a road through. I have the next best thing though, when my husband (with help from his dad) built our house based on the farmhouse as I remembered it. We live near Cincy, so we’re a little farther south than the “original” farmhouse, but it’s a great place for my son to grow up. I would love to have a drawing of the house that my husband built. Thanks!

  234. We live in a house built in 1940. It has the look of a cottage on the outside and we are continually working on the inside to continue the cottage feel. We have been here about 5 years now and starting to feel very settled and plan to stay. I would love to have a portrait of our home.

  235. I would love a portrait of our 1938 very lovely Greek Revival! It is in the National Registry of Historic Places – we adore this house.

  236. Ohhhh this is so amazing!
    I am so excited to have found this give away!
    I would love a hand painted portrait of our home….it holds so many wonderful memories and life changing events!
    Thank you so much for the opportunity to win!

    Hugz, Dolly
    .-= Dollys Cherry Heart´s last blog .. =-.

  237. I commissioned a water colorist to paint our first home and the home where our children spent their first few years over twenty years ago. It’s a great idea and money well spent!

  238. I would love to win a portrait of the home I grew up in. It was the first home that my parents owned & holds lots of childhood memories for me! Thanks for such a great contest 🙂

  239. Well my chances look a little slim here, but I’m gonna cross my fingers anyway. I’d love to win this absolutely generous giveaway. Thanks for the chance.
    xoxo,
    Kim

  240. I’d love to have a portrait done of our current home in Phoenix, AZ. Lots of folks think all of the houses look the same in our neighborhood, but I have grown to see the subtle differences and appreciate the individual touches that homeowners bring to their landscaping and decor.

  241. I’d love a portrait of the house we currently live in. It is our first house as a family, and we will probably be relocating in a few years and I’d love to have something to remember where our kids first lived after they were born.
    .-= sherri/the claw´s last blog ..asheville wrap-up =-.

  242. What a wonderful giveaway. I would love to have a portrait of our first house. We left it 25 years ago and I still miss it. It was the only house I every truly loved. We bought it after it had been empty for over ten years and it was a wreck. We spent 18 months making it livable. I bought items from houses that were being torn down in about a hundred mile radius and we had a stained glass door, chestnut ceiling, wainscoting, mantles and light fixtures from other old homes. We called it Hodgepodge Lodge but I loved it. Please enter my name.
    .-= Judy´s last blog ..Nutter-Butter Banana Pudding =-.

  243. How lovely – that would be a dream come true for us! Thank you for the chance to win!

  244. I would love to have a portrait of our home made, this is our first home together and it would be wonderful to have something to remember it by. Thanks!

  245. I’d love a portrait of the house my husband and I live in now on Saint Charles Lane. He proposed to me on the front stoop and it is our first home together. Still newlyweds, we’re on the path to making it our home…and this would be the perfect touch.

  246. I would love to have a portrait made of the house that my brother, sister and I grew up in to give to my parents. They lived in the house for over thirty years.
    Thanks!

  247. What a super idea for a Cottage Charm giveaway! Please PLEASE enter me!! I’d love to have our current home drawn. It is the home where we have had sooo many happy years together and have helped raise our precious granddaughter here, so it would become an heirloom to pass down to her someday! AND, I have THE PERFECT empty spot right over our mantle to display it, too!

    I would love for you to stop by my blog and enter MY Cottage Charm giveaway, too!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents
    .-= Stephanie´s last blog ..PINK SATURDAY + GIVEAWAY! 5-22-2010 =-.

  248. My daughter (Angela from Peony Patch) turned me on to your blog! Love it!! Please enter me in your giveaway ~ I’d love a portrait of our current home that my husband has spent many years renovating!

    Thanks!

  249. Oh My My….I almost have tears in my eyes thinking about winning this prize. I am the third generation to own my glorious home built in 1900. First my grandparents, this home is where my mother grew up and I bought it from my grandparents estate. This home is not a house but a very sentimental HOME! Pick me! Pick me!
    Thanks for the opportunity
    Hugs N herbal Blessings, Mandy
    .-= Mandy Baker´s last blog ..How to Prune Lavender and Lavender Recipes =-.

  251. This would be awesome. We live in a City rowhouse which could be a great image to add to his portfolio too!

  252. I would get my current home painted… it” a cute little grey shingled cottage where I will start my marriage and family. It’s going to be ‘home’ no matter where we end up!
    .-= shawna´s last blog ..WHEW! =-.

  253. we JUST bought a house in Oct ’09…our first…it looks actually VERY similar to your mentioned ‘first’ home above…red 4 side brick and pretty as can be! i am keeping my fingers, toes and EYES crossed because if i win it will be like dying and going to heaven! hahaha! cheers – CC

    link to our house pic here: https://www.casacullen.com/2009/12/casacullen-welcome-to-our-austin-tx-work-in-progress.html
    .-= CasaCullen´s last blog ..ReBlog: DIY & Chic – How to Make a Family Bulletin Board =-.

  254. Would love to have a portrait done of the house we are in now. It is our first home and our daughter’s growing up home, and we are putting it up for sale soon! This would be fabulous! Thanks for the chance:)

  256. This house – our LAST one! We just retired and NOT moving anymore 🙂 I am sitting in my wicker porch swing on the front porch as I write this……so lovely. Thanks, M.

  257. Wow, I am so facinated by your work! I live in a brick house and that is what I would choose! Following on Twitter @2boysblue

  258. Iwould love to have a portrait of my home…it’s a farmhouse that my husband’s family lived in for 47 years and now we’ve been in it for 5. I just love it and it’s big front porch 🙂
    .-= Kim~HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs´s last blog ..~? My Screen Door ?~ =-.

  260. I would definately get my current home painted. I has a huge grand tree in the yard, white and grey California cottage style. I love it. OOOO, I hope I win! 😉
    .-= Janet´s last blog ..My New Baby! =-.

  261. We moved into our house about a year and a half ago. It never felt quite like home. We really loved out last house, but this one just made more sense, for many reasons. We’ve done some updating and continue to work on this place. It’s slowly starting to feel like ‘home’. I’d love a portrait of it and have the perfect spot to hang it.

  262. We changed the look of our house and a portrait would truly be a treasure.

  263. Oh my goodness – last day to register! I would love, love, love, to have a portrait of my current home. Both of my children were born here, but we’ll probably be moving in the next few years. It would be an incredible keepsake!

  265. We have lived in our home for 35 years this /dec..it has been filled with joy and laughter, friends and family, it has cradled us in times of sorrow,absorbed our laughter and listened to our tears.It’s the haven that our growing family gathers at and runs home too. Our boys were born and raised in this house and now we share it with our beautiful Grandchildren and Daughter in laws and so the memories gather.We are very fortunate to have stayed in one place all these years and hope that we will continue to make memories and laughter in this little house in our little town.

  267. What a GREAT gift! I would probably want a portrait of our current house. It must be the porches and wonderful wisteria and roses that I love the most. It would be so awesome!

  269. I’ve never had a forever house, although I always wanted one. For one reason or another, we’ve always had to move away from houses, and a couple I considered my “dream” home. We won’t get to keep this house, either, because we won’t be able to pay it off before retirement comes unless we win the lottery!

  270. I’d have my current home done. This is such an interesting giveaway! Our home is over a 100 yrs old with so much character. I’d love to see his interpretation of it.
    thanks

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