I LOVE Wooden Toys!!!

Maybe it's because I grew up going to Silver Dollar City, in Branson, Missouri, or maybe it's because I feel like I should've been born in the time of Laura Ingalls Wilder, or Anne of Green Gables, but I LOVE wooden toys! They are so imaginitive, and even almost alive to me. So that's why I'm hoping that we can win a natural finish racing car from Maple Landmark, via Seven Dogs and a Baby. These toys are not only NOT made in China, but they are made right here in the USA! In Vermont to be exact. You can read more about their company on the Seven Dogs blog, or on Maple Landmark's website.

If you love wooden toys, and you want to try and win the natural finish racing car, be sure to get over to Seven Dogs and a Baby before September 15th.

And don't forget to scroll down and enter to win a $25 gift certificate from Hullabaloo Boutique!

Have a great Tuesday!
Angie

Friday Features No. 21 -- Featuring Black Mountain Furniture Co.

It seems like one might come to expect the "Friday Feature" segment to appear on Saturdays now. I don't intend for things to keep going this way. We got back Wednesday from our 5 days of camping, and I have had a cold with a fever ever since! Needless to say, much has not gotten done in a timely manner. We just unloaded one of the coolers yesterday! I know, pretty bad. But I have been able to nap when the little guy naps, so that's been good for me. Yesterday I took a 3 hour nap! YIKES!

Ok, so I know many of you are waiting for the results from the $40 Amazon.com gift card giveaway. I need to ask you to please wait a little longer. I got 280 comments, and many of them have multiple entries, so I have to do a lot of tallying and checking. I will do my best to have the winner posted by no later than Monday. Thank you for your patience.

This week's Friday Feature is featuring one of my favorite places to look and dream and drool! Black Mountain Furniture Company is a place to find some gorgeous "rustic" style furniture...just my style. Reginia from BMFC emailed me and asked if I would be willing to feature her, and that she would be willing to give away a 24" bench!!! Of course I said "yes" right away! If only I could enter to win it!

We'll find out a little more about BMFC and Reginia, and then we'll get to the giveaway.

TDB: When did you start making furniture, and how did you learn?

Reginia: BMF is a family business run by Craig & Reginia Boling. Craig learned the woodcraft from his Dad and Grandfather while growing up. He can build anything I (Reginia) come up with. This was super when we got married as I was pretty picky about a certain dining room table I had my eye on but that needed a few changes. Instead of settling for something that wasn't exactly what I wanted, Craig surprised me and built me a table just like I was wanting. It has grown from there and we have been offering our custom made items to the public for over 11 years now.

TDB: What is your favorite thing to make, and why?

Reginia: We love it when a customer sends us something different to make. 85% of the items we do are custom, and it is always exciting when a new style/design is finished. Recently we made a buffet style unit which the customer is actually going to be using as a changing table for her daughter.

TDB: How far do you ship your furniture?

Reginia: We have shipped as far as Italy and Australia.

TDB: What do you do when you're not building furniture?

Reginia: We like to go Jeeping, spend time with the kids. Craig likes to do anything outdoors and I am happy with a good book or in my scraproom.

TDB: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Reginia: Don't be afraid to take chances.

TDB: If you could learn any new skill, what would it be, and why?
Craig: - Pottery, he thinks it is awesome what people can make out of some mud and time. Reginia: - Painting, I always see beautiful art work and envy the artists their talent. (I am actually going to a local art class on Sunday evening so it remains to be seen if this "Can't draw a straight line" Gal can do anything with paints.)

Reginia (and Craig), thank you for sharing this small part of your lives with us. Makes me think of one of my favorite places in the world to visit: Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri!!

Ok, so let's start out with this cool offer that Reginia and Craig are giving to The Downtown Boutique readers:

*********************************************************
Now for the giveaway. Black Mountain Furniture Company is giving away a 24" Custom Bench, valued at $56.00.

This bench measures 24"L X 12.5"W X 19"H and would be adorable in any room in the house!

Finished in the Winners color/finish options of choice.

Due to the cost of International shipping we are not able to open this offer to anyone outside the US/Canada at this time.

To enter to win your custom 24" bench, please visit Black Mountain Furniture Company, then come back here and comment on your favorite item. PLEASE be sure to leave a VALID email address. If there's no way to get ahold of you when I choose your name, I will pick another winner!!!

To earn one extra entry, you can blog about this giveaway on your blog. Be sure to leave a seperate comment if you blog about it...with the link to your blog.

Deadline to enter is Friday, August 8th at Midnight PST.

This giveaway is only open to residents of US and Canada, due to costs of International shipping.

Have a great weekend!

Angie

Update: Apparently there is something wrong with the BMFC website. I have contacted Reginia to see if they have any idea of what's going on. I will wait to hear from her, but you can still enter to win.

Angie

Update to Update: WOW! You guys have overwhelmed the server for the BMFC website! That's why the site link wasn't working. They have upgraded to a bigger server, so that should eliminate the problem. Now you can go and look away! Don't forget, if you mention The Downtown Boutique, you will receive 20% off on your order!!!!

Angie

I see that some of you still are not able to visit the website. I think that we are overwhelming their server, so I hope that you will be patient until you can see the site. They have some really beautiful things there, so it's definitely worth it!

Angie