vol.25

hosting another giveaway....

hello! Wanted to let you guys know that there is a giveaway happening over at sandier pastures blog. You have until april 17th to leave a comment and be eligible to win. It is any 8x10 print of your choice, so you can actually pick which one you want.... AND I finally finished up a print I have been working on for months.... so now you have one more print to add to the 93 other choices in the shop. :)

It is titled "you are unique" and you may recognize the perfume bottle from my blog banner. :) Anyhow, have to make this short but I wanted to get you all in on the giveaway!!

I'm a little late... but here with a winner!

Good morning! :)

So sorry for the delay in announcing this winner, something came up making it impossible to post at midnight. Then the baby had one of "those" nights, and I was grateful when she let me sleep in this morning.

Anyhow, I had Jaydon pick a number between 1 and 19... He picked #6. So, if I counted correctly ( I wish I could number my posts) that would be Nicole who said;

"I really don't recall how I found your blog. It may have been from your Etsy site, as I have you listed as a favorite seller there.

Love the new sketches! They're so cute. I wish I had that kind of talent."

Posted by: Nicole | January 16, 2009 at 05:33 AM

Congrats Nicole! E-mail (vol.25@hotmail.com) me your address and I will get your print out asap!

Thank you everyone for stopping in and lending your invaluable opinions/advice. :) It is really appreciated!! I have a 4 year old wanting breakfast, so I'll try to be back with a more thorough post a little later! :)

Thanks everyone!

Thursdays winner and todays giveaway...

Hello!!

To choose the winner, I had Jaydon (my husband) pick a number, and that number was 13. So, Abigail your the lucky winner! E-mail me (vol.25@hotmail.com) your address and I'll get your owl print headed your way asap! :)

Todays print is "We are shaped by our thoughts" 8x10 on 8.5x11" canvas paper.

Just drop me a comment along with your name, and you'll automatically be entered into the drawing. :) If you feel inclined to share, I would love to hear how you stumbled across my blog.

To everyone that commented: Thank you! Your opinions are invaluable! Several good points were brought up, and has really got me thinking. (yep, me... thinking!! :P) After re-reading my post yesterday morning, I realized I really didn't do a good job at explaining the upcoming baby book project. :) My plans include illustrating a baby book for my friend to be able to fill in. But, I do plan to have some blank picture "blocks" labeled in the book for the future addition of pictures. I think I might try shutterfly for printing. I have another friend who had some books printed from there, and they turned out great! So, it wont really be so much like a scrapbook... but if I want to have full control over the cover, those are my sizing choices. Maybe I should do the book at 12x12 in size, and then re-format it for the smaller 8x8 size. Then I can offer both in the shop? To say I am excited about this project would be an understatement. I was illustrating baby books long before I even got married. :) It was just something I enjoyed doing. To think that I have so many more resources available to me now... makes the whole project seem like it really has no limitations! :) Anyhow, I am rambling and will be heading to bed now... but I wanted to share with you some sketches I did for the baby book....

whatcha think? You cant really see the rhino, but him and the flamingo are my favorites. :)

Goodnight... umm morning! :)

a new giveaway and a winner from yesterday's...

The winner of "love happens" is Brittany D. who said:

"This is too cute for words!!! Thanks for doing such an amazing week of giveaways... fingers crossed =)"

Congrats, and thank you to everyone who commented. :) I always feel bad that only one person is able to win, but....

if you missed out you have a couple more chances still... Today I'll be giving up love who you are in ttv format. The image is sized at 5x5" and the paper itself is 8.5x11."

With this giveaway I need your help/opinion. I have been trying to decide on something, and was hoping that you could comment with your thoughts.

My first question is this: Do you think 12x12" is too large for a baby book? Is 8x8" too small? *I am planning another baby book using a different printing source, (lulu just didnt work for me) and these sizes seem to be the most versatile, however they are not your typical 8.5x11" baby book. What is your honest opinion on the sizing? Also, does anyone have any ideas for themes? I have a close friend expecting in march and I have begun working on a zoo themed baby book. I am really excited to get it finished and printed. :) But I need your help with the sizing! If all goes well I plan to offer them in the shop for sale.

its late, and I am ssoooo tired. I planned to update my shipping back to its normal pricing, but am way too tired to change it tonight. If you havent grabbed a print with the free shipping here is your last chance. :) I'll probably update it after breakfast in the morning... ummm I guess that would be this morning. :)

Well I am off to bed!

Today's giveaway... "Love happens"

Its officially wednesday! Which means its time to begin the giveaways. If your just tuning in, be sure and read monday's post where I give a complete play by play for the next few days. Also if you found your way via 30daysofhandmade... welcome! :)

Anyhow, today you have a chance at winning "Love happens."

Your print will be printed on 8.5x11" canvas paper, and the image itself sized at 8x10". :) To be eligible simply leave a comment. Your name will be randomly drawn, and winners will be announced at 12:00 am the following day. Staying up till 12:00 for the next few nights really wont be hard. :) Once the girls are finally off to bed, I can think of any number of things that keeps me up way past midnight! Fortunately, I am also able to sleep in the following morning. Journey generally sleeps from about 5:00-9:00, and that is so nice!

Anyhow, I am off to do something monumental. Maybe I'll clean out the fridge. ;) Happy commenting!!

a week full of giveaways!

Happy Monday everyone!

I have some pretty exciting news to share with you all. Aside from selling my 600th item (yay yay!!) last night, YOU also have the chance at winning your very own print, and your chances are pretty high, cause there will be not one, not two, not three but FOUR giveaways happening this week. Yep, four. :) I had planned to celebrate my one year etsy-versary (happening this wednesday) by having three giveaways.... but last week Mique from 30 days asked me if I would be willing to host a giveaway for her readers. I am generally always excited to host a giveaway. So, of course I said yes! I will be giving away any 8x10 print of your choice, and you have until wednesday to enter. Simply leave a comment to be eligible. You can enter her giveaway by leaving a comment here.  I have been communicating back and forth with Mique for the past few days and she is a very sweet person. She wrote the kindest most thorough write-up on vol.25 (Thanks Mique!) I am sure you will be adding her blog to your favorites, I know I did! :)  

Wednesday will also kick off a stream of giveaways here on my blog. See... here is a giveaway planner of sorts for you to take a peak at.

If you have your own blog and you would like to share the giveaway with your readers, you are more then welcome to snag the graphic for use on your own website. Here is how things will work:

Wednesday morning 12:01 AM PST will begin wednesday's giveaway for "Love happens."

Thursday Morning at 12:01 AM PST will begin by announcing the winner of Wednesday's giveaway, as well as beginning Thursdays giveaway for "love who you are"

Friday Morning at 12:01 AM PST will begin by announcing the winner of Thursday's giveaway as well as beginning Fridays giveaway for "we are shaped by our thoughts"

Saturday Morning at 12:01 AM PST I will announce Friday's giveaway winner. :)

whew... what a week, and what a year! :) Thanks to everyone who has purchased art from me, or supported my little "hobby" in their own little way. I appreciate it! Looking forward to seeing what 2009 has in store.

Dont forget to enter the giveaway over at 30 days, TODAY! :) Then be sure and come back here wednesday. Best of luck to everyone!

this is kind of unbelievable...

... but I sold my 500th item today! Yep, seriously...

I am shocked, ecstatic, surprised and super duper excited!  I am sooo excited that I am throwing a blog party tomorrow at 9:00 PM. The party will most definitely include some free blog candy, a giveaway and a little bit of a surprise for all you scrapbookers, crafters etc. :)

So consider yourself invited... and feel free to pass the word on.

Thank you everyone for all your kindness. The blog and shop would not be what it is today without your support. :) I'll see you back here at 9:00 PM (pacific time) tomorrow!! Be sure and bring your lucky shoes... oh and if anyone wants to bring some punch, I'll supply the goodies. ;)

Hosting another giveaway...

Hi everyone! Just a quick note to let you know I am hosting a giveaway over at "within the corners of my kitchen"

 We are giving away a free 8x10 print for simply commenting on her original post, letting her know which print you would choose, if chosen. :) How easy is that? You only have until Tuesday October 28th, to get your comment in before she chooses a name, so dont delay! :)

Remember to be eligible... you need to comment on her actual blog under the giveaway post found HERE

In other news- My Christmas cards are due to arrive today! I already have an idea of how I plan to photograph them, so *hopefully* it will not take too long to get them listed!

A new free embroidery pattern, and a contest!

Hi! I just finished up a new embroidery kit, and as promised here is a free pattern from the kit:

I hope you all get some use from it. If you havent taken a peek yet at our new flickr group yet, then you need to hop on over: :) http://www.flickr.com/groups/vol25embroidery.com We have 50 members now, and would love to have you join as well! There are a few completed images/creations in the pool, and it is super exciting to see the patterns come to life.

I finally have all three patterns listed in the shop! It feels really good to get a new project underway. I am also super inspired to start yet another... bookplates. Thanks blockpartypress for the idea. It seems that quite a few of my readers are book lovers, so maybe this will be right up your alley. I am currently researching different papers. So, it will be fun to have these listed, hopefully by Christmas I imagine they would make great stocking stuffers. :)

And... about the contest: If you head on over to this post over at rarebirdfinds you can have the chance of winning 2 8x10 prints of your choice, and a pack of postcards. Just by leaving a comment. You only have until sunday to enter... so dont delay! :)

ALSO: The buy 2 get 1 free sale in the shop has been a huge success so far! I'm telling you... its a great way to beat the crowds at the mall. ;)

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

The newsletters have gone out...

...and a winner was selected! Aimee H. your name was chosen for the e-love giveaway. Thanks to all those who have subscribed to the list. I now have exactly 100 subscribers! How exciting is that? I am *still* enjoying reading everyone's comments and new product/art suggestions. Keep em coming.

If you havent subscribed yet, you can do so by clicking the envelope below. I never send more then two e-mails a month, and never share your address with anyone. I wouldnt even if they offered me a year's supply of chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and believe you me... that's something. ;)

I think from this point on, I will let the winner choose their print of choice. It really only makes sense!

I'm having a hard time believing that summer is over already. Seems we never really had a summer, the weather was so weird. Oh well, cozy nights by the fire is seeming nice. I'm also excited to start adding christmas cards and tags to the shop. fun fun!