Wednesday, March 11, 2009

One Year Anniversary Give-Away!

Please note: This give-away has been given-away.
The winner was announced on Monday, March 16th.
Two score and twelve weeks ago, my computer and I brought forth, upon this website, a new sewing blog, conceived in Lunacy, and dedicated to the proposition that somebody (somewhere, for some unknown reason) might be interested. ;)

Yup, I can hardly believe it, but it has been one year today! Frankly, I am in awe of those of you who have had a blog up and running for multiple years! My hat is off to all of you! :)

The only reason that I’m still up one year later is because of the warm, friendly and generous comments that many of you have taken the time and trouble to leave for me. Thank you!

I wish I could do something extra special for each one of you. Today, however, I’m going to offer up a very special give-away to one (randomly selected) commenter.

What exactly is this very special give-away? Here is a hint:


Do you recognize this fabric? It is my custom designed Spoonflower fabric, decorated with a graphic image of rock climbing gear, which was recently designed for me by Miss Black Pepper (aka Beth) of Etsy.

That whole adventure was so much fun, and I am so happy and excited with my fabric, that I want to let someone else have the same experience. So, my give-away is for a pair of gift certificates that will “make it so” – with a total value of $100!

The lucky winner will receive a $45 gift certificate to Spoonflower (enough to cover these two orders: a swatch + U.S. shipping, followed by 2 yards of your custom fabric + U.S. shipping) AND a $55 gift certificate towards Miss Black Pepper’s design talents (enough for 2 hours and 45 minutes of her time) to help create your design.

This is especially perfect for those of you (like me) with plenty of ideas, but not much experience drawing or using computer-based drawing programs. I loved working with Beth and know you will too! She
asked me to pass along this short message: "I'm excited to be part of this promotion and I am looking forward to helping you bring your dream fabric to life!"

And, of course, the folks at Spoonflower are simply the best! :)

If you would like to be included in this drawing, just leave a comment. The drawing will be open until midnight EST on Sunday, March 15th, and I'll announce the winner on Monday, March 16th. Good luck to everyone! And thank you for making this year so special and so much fun!

108 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like lots of fun. Your design turned out great. What a generous give away. Thanks for a chance.

megan said...

Happy Blogday!

Diane Doran said...

Wow, what a great give away! I just placed my first Spoonflower order last week and am waiting anxiously for its arrival. Happy Blogiversary!

Jen said...

Congratz! I just discovered Spoonflower and cannot wait to try it out. I found Miss Black Pepper's etsy site through Spoonflower, too. Love it. Thanks for the chance to win awesome prizes to get started with the fabric fun!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your first blogiversary! I know there will be many more to come :) You're blog is a lot of fun!
-Natalie

techno-librarian said...

Happy happy happy blogaversary!! I think Spoonflower is brilliant. My problem is that I have too many ideas for it, and can't settle on one to try first! Yet... :)

Anonymous said...

I love spoonflower.com . I have already ordered 6 yards from them, and they are perfect. Congratulations on surviving and thriving a year of blogging. Keep up the good work!

SunnyQ said...

HAPPY BLOG ANNIVERSARY GWEN!!! :-D

susan said...

Thanks for the encouragement, Gwen..for your example of a successful blog, and your encouragement for us all to become fabric designers. I just received my first fabric from Spoonflower yesterday, and I like it so much I think I will submit it in the Fabricof the Week contest.

silversmith said...

happy anniversary! i'd love to have a change to win your giveaway - i keep checking out spoonflower to design some of my own fabrics, but haven't figured out what or how to do it.

Anonymous said...

Happy Blogaversary!

Anonymous said...

What a great giveaway! Good luck everyone!

Bea said...

This must be the greatest giveaway ever! I am always thinking about designing my own fabric, but am too chicken.
Thank you for the opportunity and congratulations on 100 posts.

Jennifer Ladd said...

What a wonderful idea for a giveaway! I have been wanting to try Spoonflower since it first started! Thanks for the chance to win!

Jennifer
jennifereladd at yahoo dot com

goodworks1 said...

Happy One Year Anniversary!

What a great give-away! I've been watching the Spoonflower business since it opened online, but haven't had the ooomph to consider it seriously until now!

Elaine

Angel said...

Wow, what a great giveaway! Congrats on one year!

Becky said...

Sweet!! I've been wanting to try that place, so count me in! And happy blogoversary!

HLRussell said...

This is a great idea. Thanks for your generosity.

I'd like to hear more about your weaving adventures.

Claudia said...

I just found out about your giveaway through Spoonflower blog. Very generous of you! I hope your blog keep up for many more years, and I would love to win. :D

Lady and the Stamp said...

I TOO just discovered SpoonFlower...what an incredible site. Loved looking through your blog. Your rock climbing fabric is terrific!

Unknown said...

I love Spoonflower because it lets me fantasize that one day I will have time to sew all the fabrics I vote on.

I love the flying pigs -- I'm a pig farmer during the day!

Wood Violet said...

Super idea for a giveaway - I just found your blog and am enjoying reading through the archives. Congrats on your blogaversary!
Karen

Damia said...

Congrats on 1 year! What a fabulous give-away :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! Your fabric is fabulous!

jmb_craftypickle said...

wow what a day to stumble upon your blog! Congrats on the anniversary! I can't wait to win!

Tacha Reed said...

Good for you! The internet sure does open up a whole new world doesn't it? Thanks for sharing and the best of luck in your second year of blogging:)

Maggie Muggins said...

Happy Blog Anniversary. Fun design too. I've been dying to try Spoonflower out but I'm just not brave enough to design on my own.

Unknown said...

Congrats! What a lovely giveaway - so kind. Thanks.

thorngrove said...

Congrats on your Bloggiversary! And cool giveaway - please count me in.

Anonymous said...

hat's some fun fabric! Don't you just love spoonflower!

Christine said...

Happy blogday to you!
Happy blogday to you!
One year of fine writing,
and great sewing too!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous giveaway!! Thanks so much for letting us participate. Happy Anniversary!

maryitige said...

so glad to find out about Beth - I hope to use her talents very soon. Great idea for a promotion.

Kristin said...

I'd love to be included. Thanks for having the contest!

made sweet said...

how generous!!! and congrats on one year, that's exciting. :)

Kim said...

Congrats! Love the fabric too :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, very cool! Keep up the great blogging!

Anonymous said...

Happy Blogversary. Thanks for this great giveaway!

Summerset said...

Sure, why not? Enter me in!

Anonymous said...

Congrats! It is a great giveaway! And totally nice of you for those of us that can't draw!

Anonymous said...

How many products did you have when you went on Etsy?
I have been making fabric one sheet at a time, kind of slow. Good luck on Etsy.

Karen

Rmissbrooks58@hotmail.com

Rhiannon said...

Holy crap what an awesome giveaway! Happy blogaversary!

KnitnWeave said...

Happy Blogiversary!
I have many, many designs uploaded to Spoonflower already, but unfortunately, no funds to have them printed yet. I'd love to have a chance to win your giveaway to give me a chance to see them "in the flesh"!

Anonymous said...

First of all congratulations!!! i can feel how excited you are! and second thanks for such a wonderful giveaway!!! i love it!! would come so useful for me to decide to finally order my own fabric!!! thanks so much! you are so sweet!!

Dionne said...

Happy blogiversary! What an awesome, awesome giveaway! That is so very generous! so... pick me, pick me. No, just kidding. I'll be happy for whoever wins (but happiest best for me)
Cheers,
Dionne
:-)

Amy Badskirt said...

Congratulations! What a terrific giveaway!

Dilliander said...

WOW, that is so cool. It never even occurred to me that you could design your own fabric in small batches - although even that is a bit daunting if you have not designed before. What a wonderful combo - Miss Black Pepper & Spoonflower. I can't believe I'd win but would love to! Thanks for a great blog (that I visit often) and for sharing all your sewing projects that came 'after the dress'. Happy anniversary.

Dionne said...

Congrats on your blogiversary! Your fabric looks cute too!

~ Michelle ~ said...

Happy blogging anniversary!

I too, am a big fan (addict, that is) of ETSY. Can't wait to try out Spoonflower.
~ M

Anonymous said...

happy blog anniv!
Your spoonflower fabric looks amazing.

Anonymous said...

Happy Blog Anniversary. What are great way to get people to check you out. Smart lady. The fabrics you have posted are so cute!

Chris Davis said...

How generous of you!

My hubby sent me a link to Spoonflower eons ago but I haven't gotten brave enough to try to design on my own.

Ellen said...

Love your blog title! What a perfect package for all of wanna-be fabric designers. Thanks, and happy anniversary!

jojoebi-designs said...

what a fantastic giveaway. i popped over from Spoonflower and now i am off to have a poke around your blog, if you don't mind that is...

Anonymous said...

wow, how generous! Love the idea of designing your own fabric!

Faye Lewis said...

Happy Blogaversary! You really have it going on. I FOUND MY PERSON! I will blog about it tonight and link you. Thanks a bunch again, will keep you posted.

meredithp said...

What a wonderful give away! BTW I love your kitty. Do you only have one?

Jan said...

Happy One Year Anniversary! What a generous give away. I love Spoonflower.

Unknown said...

Great fabric! Love the blog

Anonymous said...

Your wonderful fabric reminds me so much of the formica pattern on our kitchen table and counters in the 50's. I love it!

foolily said...

Happy Blogiversary! I love graphic patterns, like your fabric, and have been dying to try something for spoonflower for a while now.

Carmel said...

Congrats on your anniversary :) Your fabric looks amazing!! I just discovered spoonflower and can't wait to play with some designs there.

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing such beautiful fabric for a wonderful occasion :)

hope.september[at]gmail.com

Pattern and Perspective said...

Awesome giveaway. You have some lovely prints, as well. Hope I get picked:)

Anonymous said...

what a great idea. I design fabric, but have limited (OK, NO) computer design skills......
Bernie

Anonymous said...

What a generous give-away! Spoonflower are the best!
Happy Blog birthday, wishing you many more to come!
Lisa x

lisa.littlek@yahoo.com.au

AmeliaSews said...

What a generous idea, Gwen! Thanks and happy blogiversary!

Ruth said...

Fun and generous giveaway. ...imagining all the designs I could come up with...

Tonya said...

Congratulations on one year. Thank you for the giveaway.

Monica Gee said...

What a fantastic giveaway - congrats on your one year!

Joyce in NC said...

Congratulations!! Please enter me for the drawing. Love the fabrics.
Joyce in NC

Anonymous said...

What will they think of next?! Happy Anniversary and much continued success! I'd love to design my own fabric!

Snowberry and Lime said...

oooh, how exciting! Happy anniversary!

Spoonflower is great, and your design is really colourful. It just makes me want to try it out myself. :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the one year anniversary

Paulette said...

Gwen - how very generous to celebrate your anniversary like this!

By the way...can you post more pictures of Sammy - he is SO cute!

sue said...

Wow! What awesome fabric. Thanks for sharing your anniversary with the Spoonflower family!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 1-YR. ANNIVERSARY!! That is no small accomplishment. Heaps of thanks for the opportunity to participate in the drawing.

Itty Bitty said...

Here is to many years to come!

Anonymous said...

What a great give away! I love Spoonflower -- you can visit my profile at http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/minka
It would be greeat to get some help with tweaking my swatches. Thank you!

Webfrau said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary. You know it's really easy to keep a blog going for years if you rarely post on it!! :)
What a wonderful giveaway, I think spoonflower is a brilliant concept but distance and very poor exchange rates mean I've not tried it yet. I watch with interest.

Natalie said...

What a cool giveaway! I am enjoying your blog. Thanks for the chance to win the awesomeness!

StephenGerard said...

Congrats! Hope I win!!
I love spoonflower, I used them for a client but can't afford to use them for myself, but I would love to. I have lots of ideas for my own wardrobe.

Lisa Laree said...

Congratulations on a year of Blogging!!! That's quite a milestone!

snow said...

Wow, another great site (Spoonflower.com)I love the idea of designing your own fabric.Thanks for putting this contest together. Happy one year anniversary! :O)

Tracy said...

Congratulations! What a great giveaway.

PrincessMax said...

Oh, I just made my first Spoonflower purchase. So exciting!

Aimee said...

Wow! I just found out about Spoonflower and would LOVE to try it! Thanks!

Hannah LaRue said...

Happy Blog-o-versary!! I have wanted to try Spoonflower's services for awhile now. This is such a generous give-away. Thanks for the opportunity!!

Michele/TextileTraveler said...

I just found Spoonflower, and of course now I'm going to HAVE to design my own fabric!

RitaPita said...

I love your blog! I have quite a few RTW pieces I would love to make in another color, fabric, et. Hopefully when my dear friend Frank builds me my new computer desk, my "sewing table" will clear off magically and I can get to it. I do miss sewing-had the machine repaired, not just gotta use it! thank you for your generosity, and congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great giveaway! I have just today found Spoonflower - thanks to a friend. I would LOVE to make some of my own designs! My daughter just started sewing and that would really inspire her to use my designs! Thanks for the opportunity!

Anonymous said...

I stumbled upon your blog by accident. Congratulations on your first year. I see that we have something in common. Scottie, at the Sewing Studio, helped me pick out the fabric for my mother-of-the-bride dress. Great place to shop.

I like your Spoonflower fabric and I've been thinking about doing some for a Greyhound Adoption Group.

sweetpea53 said...

Congratualations on your Anniversary. This is the first time to your site. It's great.. Ok, have to go explore it lol

Anonymous said...

your fabric is really cool. i would love to give it a try.
congrats and thanks,
robin
heaphywest@gmail.com

Carly J. Cais said...

I love your design! I can't wait to try Spoonflower out..I'd love a chance to win this gift certificate. Thank you!

K said...

Happy Anniversary! I just love your fabric design it is so bright and colorful.

Just found spoonflower myself a few weeks ago, been working on some cute designs that I will end up using for products in my etsy shop Rathina Decor Switch Plates.

Good luck to everyone, and congrats to whoever wins this awesome prize!

Celeste said...

Happy Blog-anniversary and your fabric is wonderful! I would love to be included in the giveaway and the opportunity to try out Spoonflower. Thank you so much!

Tanya said...

Oops - I think my 1/2 post posted. In any case, happy blog-versary and great giveaway. I saw it posted on the Spoonflower blog. :)

Rhea said...

Congrats on your 1st Blogiversary!
I never knew you could design your own fabric, how fun! Thanks for sharing this!!

~Rhea
rhea61@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

Wow, one year old! Congrats. Thanks for your generosity!

Gwen said...

I'm sorry - comments are now closed.
--Gwen

RoyalScandal said...

what a pretty design

Anonymous said...

That's a lovely fabric you designed! I'm hoping to make my own on Spoonflower, but haven't quite finished a design -- YET!

Great giveaway, Thanks!!

Teresa S said...

Happy Blogday to you! What an exciting opportunity! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Awesome contest!

kstef said...

Congratulations!

kstef said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Leslie Greene said...

Hi, I love the fabric, I love anything to do with outdoor sports, I was Professional XC Mountain Bike racer fro 10 years and have many friends into climbing. I happen to love sewing and desiging too. I studied Textile design, at Ontario College of Art, so long ago, this site has truely inspired me to get back to something I loved so passionatly in the past. I love the story about the wedding dress, I have spent the past 20 years designing and making wedding gowns... I must add the fabrics I have worked with are beautiful, but not in the way custom print designs are... I would love to try my hand at designing something.
Thanks for this oppourtunity.
Leslie