Imagine opening you home once a year to members of the public to walk through and admire or criticize at their leisure.

Well, Sandie Maldonado does it with relish to show off her Primitive home to anyone looking.

The Holiday Home Tour Fundraiser in Shelburne began in 2003. Anyone can buy a ticket to this event, which allows him or her to take a selfguided tour through preselected homes for $25. Ticketholders are also entitled to a lunch at the Trinity United Church.

“Only people who collect primitive know what dirty and grungy is,” said Mrs. Maldonado. “Primitive is having items that our ancestors would be proud to own.”

Decorating in the primitive style can involve antiques or anything from old signs, braided rugs, blanket boxes, dry sinks and primitive style furnishings. The list of decorative items you could own to decorate your home in this style is almost endless. It is a very specific style.

“The things that we collect they used, I love the look,” said Mrs. Maldonado.

Her love of primitive and colonial wares started with her husband’s niche for vintage oak furniture and just exploded into a way of life for the couple.

In addition to operating her own website — www. thehollowcupboard.com — Sandie is also featured on www.aprimitive place.com and this is where the editor of Country Sampler magazine found Sandie.

“She e-mailed me and asked if I would be interested in being in Country Sampler,” said Mrs. Maldonado.

The answer for Sandie was a resounding yes.

“They first sent a photographer here, and it’s never certain until the photographer lets the editor see the pictures, then she approves the home,” she said. “They chose us.”

Country Sampler is a complete resource for country décor. The magazine provides country- lifestyle articles and catalogue decorating products. Useful tips are provided for readers as well as the tools you will need to decorate your home in the country style.

The feature article section provides readers with a room-by-room photo tour of selected homes that have been exceptionally decorated in the country style.

According to Mrs. Maldonado, Country Sampler is the largest primitive magazine around.

Mrs. Maldonado’s house was built in 1928 and has since had four owners.

A historic home in Shelburne, the house was given an award from the Town of Shelburne’s historical society.

Mrs. Maldonado’s home will be featured in the fall issue of the magazine.