Giveaway!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dMu7ZSDGQGELt7o3A6HYf4j9H4Z_eTrjpKuuG2oqGD0Mmkhjkl_BMwxJLGQ6znGcXJM4dcThf3i4A-JYiQEoeglVmZer-leispLpZCXLaENCS02UuOrTvkr4oCn8WP-ujcHjQnmxAq0/s1600/key+necklace+artistan+handmade+etsy+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570388686230489154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dMu7ZSDGQGELt7o3A6HYf4j9H4Z_eTrjpKuuG2oqGD0Mmkhjkl_BMwxJLGQ6znGcXJM4dcThf3i4A-JYiQEoeglVmZer-leispLpZCXLaENCS02UuOrTvkr4oCn8WP-ujcHjQnmxAq0/s400/key+necklace+artistan+handmade+etsy+2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I'm excited to say that my facebook page is almost at 1,000 fans! Only about 40 "likes" away from hitting that mark. When it hits 1,000 I'll use random.org to pick one lucky fan for a fantastic giveaway! I'll leave it up to the winner to choose either a large print of their choice, a personalized necklace, or jewelry similar to the necklace above. So c'mon. Suggest to your friends on facebook to like my <a href="http://facebook.com/lilacpopphotography">page</a>. Spread the word on twitter by tweeing: Follow @Lilacpop on facebook! http://facebook.com/lilacpopphotography. Let's hit 1,000! Thanks!!!<br /><br /><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=%3Curl" /> height="61" width="51" /></span></div>

Giveaway!

I'm excited to say that my facebook page is almost at 1,000 fans! Only about 40 "likes" away from hitting that mark. When it h...

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Yellow Door Art Market- Email

<p align="center">I was delighted to find this waiting in my inbox today! Wow-when they feature an artist they really feature an artist! Awesomesauce.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=8ppvlwcab&v=001lAJKb32DnbiOe3fxSX9nwQBKBHaK1HzyhjYjWiLrX_Ovb-OYYyhs1Qp_xUAyuv2omov07hYjUDsdF0xPw17iohFcdCPkWeMYq8OtxoEDKshHBqhV9eeJ5A%3D%3D"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535360818362305298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuOeemvLw86qIeO1SBptspiyFaS_5C8YguJEMlmeF-T4MHqU2kde2Lx7zr5WMQHdP_MQG1-qomhzYMvcT_R5_-ITVOXV1JU8QoPqKAyNzRiBLOyWxCLHcDTBb28E_5pVDVDAefQRWy3M/s400/yellow%2520door%2520loop%2520copy.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><br /> <br /><br />Experience this new shopping adventure in downtown Berkley * 3141 W 12 Mile Berkley MI 48072 * 248 336 2038<br /><br /><br />All About Janna Bissett<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJByY1YDoo6KLfaAj8w4-Xervr-X9jzlCfiqe3uRPxgdeMW3aHFIriKzYXC4pQ1V-lH2IgewTR8pTnlujgmSZMC7KUmlUbNBxrTALmEUrnO8vVmMPzPbO87fKXhZnA6S75TKoRm3F8GA/s1600/last+9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535360821496730594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJByY1YDoo6KLfaAj8w4-Xervr-X9jzlCfiqe3uRPxgdeMW3aHFIriKzYXC4pQ1V-lH2IgewTR8pTnlujgmSZMC7KUmlUbNBxrTALmEUrnO8vVmMPzPbO87fKXhZnA6S75TKoRm3F8GA/s400/last+9.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br /><br />Meet Janna Bissett of Clawson, Michigan. She is the talented gal behind Lilacpop photography & jewelry who likes to be constantly trying new & different things & pushing each medium to the limits. She is drawn to areas or objects that are either overlooked or considered ugly & is challenged to either make them beautiful or at least noticed. <a href="http://www.yellowdoorartmarket.com/yellowdoor/2010/11/artist-of-the-week-janna-bissett.html">read more.... </a><br /><br /><br />Pretty Personalized Necklace Giveaway<br /><br />Since we're shining the light on Janna this week, she has graciously<br />offered up one of her personalized necklaces for our art good giveaway.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHup0RSjzHXq3qxZQpTjDPyGdYes9-S4VwEbRU9T621q-O_Ngt4ADei4gKS0pTLTjcvw7cUQD6IoiLwvDthg1ZGpfDTsEqxjHB8rKMWD1kpxlAYD1f4PPQianzvD-2WFdz_XibF4V78GA/s1600/last+8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535360809079627922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHup0RSjzHXq3qxZQpTjDPyGdYes9-S4VwEbRU9T621q-O_Ngt4ADei4gKS0pTLTjcvw7cUQD6IoiLwvDthg1ZGpfDTsEqxjHB8rKMWD1kpxlAYD1f4PPQianzvD-2WFdz_XibF4V78GA/s400/last+8.jpg" style="WIDTH: 325px; HEIGHT: 357px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div>There are 6 ways to enter - you can do 1 or all 6 to better your chances.<br /><br /></div><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHup0RSjzHXq3qxZQpTjDPyGdYes9-S4VwEbRU9T621q-O_Ngt4ADei4gKS0pTLTjcvw7cUQD6IoiLwvDthg1ZGpfDTsEqxjHB8rKMWD1kpxlAYD1f4PPQianzvD-2WFdz_XibF4V78GA/s1600/last+8.jpg"></a> </p><div>1. Comment at the bottom of <a href="http://www.yellowdoorartmarket.com/yellowdoor/2010/11/pretty-personalized-necklace-giveaway.html">THIS BLOG POST</a> and tell us what name<br />or word you would like on this necklace & why<br /><br />2. Forward this email to your friends (each forward counts as an entry -<br />use the forward button at the bottom of this email)<br /><br />3. Spread the word about this giveaway on your Facebook page by visiting<br /><a href="http://www.yellowdoorartmarket.com/yellowdoor/2010/11/pretty-personalized-necklace-giveaway.html">THIS BLOG POST</a> & clicking the Share on Facebook link located<br />at the bottom of the post... then leave a comment that you did<br /><br />4. Tweet this link: <a href="http://bit.ly/PersonalizedNecklaceGiveAway">http://bit.ly/PersonalizedNecklaceGiveAway</a><br /><br />5. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lilacpopphotography">LIKE Llilacpop on Facebook</a>, then leave a comment that you did<br /><br />6. <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/lilacpop">FOLLOW Lilacpop on Twitter</a>, then leave a comment that you did<br /><br />We'll draw the lucky winner on Friday, Nov. 5 & post the winner on our site!<br /><br /><br />Tunes to Groove To<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.yellowdoorartmarket.com/yellowdoor/2010/11/janna-loves-listening-to.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535360808137759154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu40Tqq-o9kpr632H-oLYivZX20SKGFBbPv6TsHdKat7pi35cni_-Bme9cK6WbaeRUQgdE7w9GdqtnDfKXt0Zfb-eqPIqEs0bMQ71kQGeqHW3qegw4pCjKH0Smzc6MLSx8iMQh-uT3gBY/s400/last+7.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 151px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br /><br />Janna has a broad selection of music she enjoys, including these poppy prep-sters, Vampire Weekend. Click <a href="http://www.yellowdoorartmarket.com/yellowdoor/2010/11/janna-loves-listening-to.html">HERE</a> to<br />listen to some of her other picks.<br /><br /><br />Artists to Talk About<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Close"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535360801284710178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxFJYGQqYQYUM9V1zY1WphEOsJq-wYSrRdXQaB3aCMRbGTqUQZ_FBJwxzrOkJK80464dcNb7FkJ2CfqrqmQRGkSPSPkZbIuojfca3ovZs6fmUtJ8PONyUO6M9B_43zNVTSbdXL1ANG4g/s400/last+6.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br /><br />One of Janna's favorite artists right now is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Close">Chuck Close</a>. She loves how his work has evolved over the years and his<br />portraits over the past 10 years are incredible. He took something as simple as a painted portrait and made it absolutely<br />unique and never done in that way before.<br /><br /><br />Reads to Check Out<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.bluecanvas.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359816650084530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWMK238dgoKk-cjdupHQ-eQ7MaN9-Me08gTze8LOQn6w4kuU2A1TNlLDDXrMIaalHs6O_JTJBRIiiti2U1zhw2bRFsTcz9nxP5ER8jX1t55oZ0UnPLiju9ksZzB6TTGEu7GBXy9ZrpNg/s320/last+5.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.bluecanvas.com/">Blue Canvas Magazine</a> hopes everyone will be able to find inspiration that reaches across genres & believes it can provide<br />the right tools to inspire everyone... artists & non-artists alike... and Janna agrees.<br /><br /><br />Places to Visit Around the D<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ilovecitybird.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359809651135842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehxmyHVNwvnXeyvKtFgnq3on5aSr3g0J2ANtDKOlrLXIF9blSUDbulrFyBvi9PnsY36TkVoHpvvRQ1XynhoxpBypA7n6YCai8MrYVLOf8bKZdNBvddvsgVnETf13oOmm-rI4lc8y8Kds/s320/last+3.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />One stop Janna likes to make around town is to <a href="http://www.ilovecitybird.com/">City Bird</a>. They carry Detroit-themed housewares, accessories & paper<br />goods as well as work by more than 75 other artists & designers.<br /><br /><br />Other Marvelous Market Finds<br /><br /><br /><br />Ultra hip upcycled accessories that will make people think twice about throwing out a plastic bag. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RadicalRecycks?ref=top_trail">Shop Tracie's goods</a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RadicalRecycks?ref=top_trail"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359805909658882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7yPs-BJERKo68COo5AqQTs9IB_xq2MTRQ3DD5tHbk7pSgzAaiNdSSUZH9fX7lW4O_Sh-efBNEBJgwNoGGjWShZ6NseXSkpOuxmyGXHx55KwysX0mMLTCTelvuyYHxGQxxmcPOifzwJc/s320/last+2.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><br />Fine silver bracelets, earrings & necklaces that can be dressed up or down & go with any outfit. <a href="http://www.designedbybeth.com/">Shop Beth's goods </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.designedbybeth.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359803873638882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3_oy4Y4g_s0IUvibRQbecd6M_BtW4aTAyaji5OR8RzcfBVZqg0w1Yrj9u14sTYoCOqm0cwsSBRCt3Ijv1q8uOAq2JvUyIepTZuPbyxI2-MeTcM1pjXvhh6PPwGyTVZBgB6gux-b0Cyw/s320/last+1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 100px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br />Top quality martingale styled collars that will make other dogs in the neighborhood do a double take. <a href="http://www.collarddogs.com/index.html">Shop Maggie's goods</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.collarddogs.com/index.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359799376527874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlso-J8FLBhaYwPqv_J3u3KqiE9znRGfuGfDKraMIjC9-09LX9za7TFN9dm-DN8Vs97OUwilA3R80u1zQ9gJ77LKZzmSZGHWEs1Wnjzzp8NLycrZAOcYGJY3lQMw41Bl_zNi6n8BRO9Ss/s320/last.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 90px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><br />Of course, feel free to forward this art-filled email to your friends who love<br />hip handmade goods made by creative people in their community </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Yellow Door Art Market- Email

I was delighted to find this waiting in my inbox today! Wow-when they feature an artist they really feature an artist! Awesomesauce. Experi...

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Armillata Designs Giveaway

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3zVcDCGWb8-AFrvE7fOe4w7T7MY0gnUX5EYgQHc7ClJkPrqD7B-5qnY0VdYyMg_up2v7N3rcpVmMgwhtw3xkUhXMIzKlv9_k2sm64ydFCPRLlOsZuCuP1Ote6qONZEqUDc34gGD2fRIo/s1600/a1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469783987818193666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3zVcDCGWb8-AFrvE7fOe4w7T7MY0gnUX5EYgQHc7ClJkPrqD7B-5qnY0VdYyMg_up2v7N3rcpVmMgwhtw3xkUhXMIzKlv9_k2sm64ydFCPRLlOsZuCuP1Ote6qONZEqUDc34gGD2fRIo/s400/a1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"> <strong>We have a winner! Thank you everyone for participating!!</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">It's Giveaway time again! Meet Sarah, the artisan behind Armillata Designs, who has graciously agreed to giveaway one of her beautiful hand crafted necklaces worth $27. It's the necklace pictured above.</div><div align="center"><br /><br />Have a look at some of the gorgeous jewelry from her shop. Her shop is FULL of stunning pieces!</div><div align="center"></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469781849156241778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ltm4NsA2VMk-mff33qBDrMCV-uIwlD4Dw_BejLBWPPuPNmrKuBdbTasEpyVMF4cCzpMGGSkmtxUVjYSIabthXxNdV8tSn-rP1xesMCCVqy3z1hTnK0gJytY831y88d_0l8POlBSkiSsA/s400/a1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" /> Pearl Garnet and Green Flower Garden Copper Earrings $20<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/40915352/pink-and-cranberry-pearl-choker-necklace"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469780138333395538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL170NQdcirt_VngkZh4id1Ei0k-B_pagYzF3vRnbgWbiEaswEwPksHV1W3NvSIVk4SUr8Yfi5P8tU2hjZIczDGVD3o0eAa8Oa7Jg_wUmRDygXxXL_KkSUkUCQj-gK89-kjfMNU7D5G2Lg/s400/a1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Pink and Cranberry Pearl Choker Necklace $22<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/42360804/aqua-quartz-pink-pearl-cluster-bracelet"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469778897734623442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhax5VwGuN2YF6tjTmUpdOaVRMZeIbWCwuwMYD1kMyrQf35JvRJNMgVGgtYbnFgMYee7S4pCcU8M_8jST8jUQ4hw9QWApCcxSgZmHG1k_5CihFh0M2PN-21klmxWAKPQcs_OHXNcPYbxG3b/s400/a1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Aqua Quartz Pink Pearl Cluster Bracelet $35<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45110904/white-wisteria-blue-flower-pearl-cluster"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469778647830042706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrvAcRZp4Kyd0aTFJjY_oLh5S41yAElVjrKB33yD-G4ldS7S2-5Gnq1mHc0Rv85fXpH0r46MvYP1WUrHnhMMdeoLqyGGjXheW4R-bfcR5H2I98BMJCUiSiguSlBRx0G1cYQCHgIy2UlpM/s400/a1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> White Wisteria Blue Flower Pearl Cluster Earrings $22<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-0ODstD27j3LyTImNub9yZE_i627j7pzZHm-TSPvbg01fmwNx1Gr3qxa9ZPvpmBHXsSzbxd6NTUkH-tGqMgie2uqqymWVNG9uQPJgJ2CC6WUFT_V9dC7eg1MKHnieLJH8_HlvB79eKbK/s1600/a1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469778286719961330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-0ODstD27j3LyTImNub9yZE_i627j7pzZHm-TSPvbg01fmwNx1Gr3qxa9ZPvpmBHXsSzbxd6NTUkH-tGqMgie2uqqymWVNG9uQPJgJ2CC6WUFT_V9dC7eg1MKHnieLJH8_HlvB79eKbK/s400/a1.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Amber Crystal Brass Bird Necklace $25<br />I think this one may be my favorite but it's so hard to pick just one!!<br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><strong>What is your background/where are you from?</strong><br /><br />I grew up on a small farm in central Indiana, in a town so unknown that instead of telling people its name, I just tell them it's halfway between Indianapolis and Purdue University, two of the few locations non-Hoosiers are likely to have a passing acquaintance with. After college, I struck out for Dallas, TX, where I stayed for seven years, until I decided it was time to continue my search for constantly warmer places to live and moved to Florida.<br /><br /><strong>Please share what inspired you to name your shop Armillata Designs?</strong><br /><br />In college I discovered that my favorite foreign language happened to be a dead one, Latin. To make up for the fact that I'll never get to use it unless I move to the Vatican, unlikely given that I'm Jewish and female, I try to slip Latin in where I can. “Armillata” is the feminized form of the adjective “armillatus,” meaning “adorned with a bracelet.” It seemed fitting for a shop dedicated to historically influenced designs, and no one else was using it yet (a small miracle in the Internet age). On the down side, it's a popular term among scientists for naming banded birds and insects, so when you google it, you're reasonably likely to find a research report on the mating habits of fruit flies before you find my jewelry.<br /><br /><strong>How did you discover your talent for making jewelry?</strong><br /><br />Growing up, I was a passionate crafter, something my parents and the local 4-H program wholeheartedly encouraged. I played with jewelry designs as a teenager, but it wasn't until after college, when I began seeking less academic outlets for my creativity and mental energy, that I became truly addicted. For the first time, I had access to real bead shops, classes, clubs, and training materials that helped me shape my clumsy self-taught techniques into more polished and professional directions.<br /><br /><strong>What is your favorite place to get supplies (online/ or a favorite local supply shop)?</strong><br /><br />Oh, this is tough! One of the first things I discovered when I became serious about beading is that there's no one outlet that has everything I need, or at least not at the best price. When I lived in Dallas, my favorite place was the Rock Barrel, a huge no-frills lapidary shop that had a wonderful variety of well priced semiprecious stones. I miss that shop terribly. Here in Florida, my favorite place so far is actually the Oldsmar Flea Market. It's turned out to be a very fun place to hunt down the vintage jewelry and found objects I love adding to my designs.<br /><br /><strong>What inspires you? Is there a specific art movement/artist, place, person, time period?</strong><br /><br />I have always loved history, ancient or otherwise, and I try to add a taste of it to my pieces, even when it's not obvious, though I've never focused on one specific time period. For me personally, if I won the lottery, you'd find me in a Tuscan villa, whose inside would be floor to ceiling Art Nouveau, but for my jewelry, I look to everything from rustic ancient Roman glass and intricate Etruscan gold granulation through the classic shapes of mid-century fashion.<br /><br /><strong>Where do your ideas come from? Can you explain the creative process?</strong><br /><br />My creative process is best described as organized chaos, minus the organized part. I wish I could sit at my sketch pad, plan a design, and neatly create it, but I never can. Instead, I sit amongst piles of beads, stones, and supplies, to the intense consternation of my husband-to-be, who sees a big mess rather than creativity at work, and wait for inspiration to strike. Usually I find myself captivated with a particular shape or color, marveling at the way light hits it or how it feels, and then begin building my design around that part. When ideas won't come, I often find a trip to an antique store helps jump start my brain, either because I bring home some new component to play with, or I'll see some gorgeous vintage piece I can't possibly afford, and I'll begin thinking of ways to adapt aspects of it into handmade jewelry form.<br /><br /><strong>Is this your day job or do you have another?</strong><br /><br />This is presently my day job. I spent the past six years working in, and eventually managing, a used bookstore. It was a wonderful place, with incredible people (and books. Did I mention books?), but when I learned that life was going to take me to Florida and away from my bookstore, it seemed like the perfect time to explore the dream I had poking around in my head about selling my jewelry.<br /><br /><strong>Do you have a favorite project/piece out of all the pieces you've made and why?</strong><br /><br />My favorite piece was one I made years ago. It's not the most elaborate design, or the most challenging, it was simple stringing, but it was one of those pieces where all the components just seemed to come together on their own and look perfect. It has a hand lamp worked focal bead, framed by sea green faceted pearls, Czech crystals, gold accents, and smaller pearls, and I love it. It looks like an ancient Roman choker, and of course, matches almost nothing I own.<br /><br /><strong>Have you found any challenges in your work?</strong><br /><br />Every day. Mental challenges, like finding fresh ideas or the patience to complete more elaborate projects, and structural challenges, like figuring out why a necklace won't drape properly when you've reworked it twelve times and everything should be right. And of course, opening my Etsy shop created a whole new category of challenges to be be worked out, like how to create professional and appealing photographs (some thing I still struggle with. There's nothing as sad as making a beautiful design that just isn't photo-friendly) or how to decode the language of SEOs and page ranking and and website design. Fortunately for me, there's a planet full of helpful people and resources, most of which are only a quick search away.<br /><br /><strong>Is there anything else you would like to add?<br /></strong><br />I'm honored and delighted to have been featured on your lovely blog, and I hope that if anyone reads this who's been considering taking their passion or hobby to the next level, whether that means selling, or just investing more of themselves into it, that they go ahead and take that plunge, and that they find the same kind of fulfillment and reward in their creations that I have in mine.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>*Giveaway*</strong></span></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><br />To Enter To Win The Beautiful Necklace:<br />Visit her etsy shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Armillatadesigns">Armillata Designs </a>and leave a comment telling me your favorite item in either store. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you have won.<br /><br /><strong>Extra Entries: please leave one separate comment for each entry.</strong><br /><br />•follow my blog with google - 1 extra<br /><br />•follow me on twitter (lilacpop)-1 extra<br /><br />•become a fan of LilacPOP on Facebook - 1 extra (and there are giveaways on there as well which you will be automatically entered into each time just for being a fan).<br /><br />•tweet this giveaway and post the link in your comment- (may do this daily) 1 extra/day<br />Copy and paste below:<br />I just entered to win a handmade necklace on the LilacPOP Blog! @lilacpop http://ow.ly/1JyBn<br /><br />•favor me on technorati , stumble upon or any other social networking site- 1 extra<br /><br />•Put a link to my blog on your blog - 1 extra<br /><br />•blog about this giveaway - 1 extra<br /><br />•buy a product from either etsy shop - 5 extra<br /><br /><br />Contest will run for 1 week. Ends at Midnight on the night of May 17, 2010. Open to All Countries. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 3 days to reply or another winner will be chosen. </div></div></div></div>

Armillata Designs Giveaway

We have a winner! Thank you everyone for participating!! It's Giveaway time again! Meet Sarah, the artisan behind Armillata Designs, wh...

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The Omega Workshop Interview and Giveaway

<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">This giveaway is now over and the winner was chosen. Please feel free to read the interview and check out the shops featured! A new giveaway will be up soon.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">New giveaway!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center">"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think,</div><div align="center">all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read,</div><div align="center">and all the friends I want to see."<br /></div><div align="center">-John Burroughs</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">This is the quote that you read when you look at Zena's (the talented artist behind two etsy shops, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOmegaWorkshop">The Omega Workshop</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bloomsburygroup">Bloomsbury Group</a>) profile. She has graciously agreed to do a giveaway of one of her beautiful bird ornaments. She also let me interview her and after reading it, you realize there is a wonderful joy in the way she looks at life.<br /></div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/45022409/snubbler-plush-doll"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461636763800562898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYARFWJyrNRPjNqvrwupyb0kJuSLP5NiWyBtLOrN96Vpo0QyRUHTmugkC8-u91dIzIgs0fC8teLn36sxlcv6jBDJh6h-DZUcNMT6Gv4P9TCFzAQMfmABuUQ4sMzk-8gYFrSJ6lrdO5bOB/s320/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><p align="center">Snubbler Plush Doll $26</p><br /><br /><p align="left"><br /><strong>How did you get started in fibers? Do you have an art degree or are you self taught?</strong><br /><br />I am self taught, but have always had a flair for putting 'things' together , an eye for design and a penchant for wanting to make places interesting and homey! Now my children are older and I have more time, I feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes, able to unleash my pent up creativeness!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Is this your "day job" and if not what is?</strong><br /><br />Yes I balance being an artist with, homemaker and mother duties!<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/42972597/love-bird-cage-hanging-ornament"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461636157719288770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2NUhgFFhN-x0o1V-2KlOGkafhqgV5Hsv0Mi4Yb_A97gLrKnukSFFHhtOW9UTxHwdt9YXe_82JVE5doJ0alsJvEj13N18ulSsqwGLRVhPn3OfhGCAEQ-TC-tKSVrPNCWDcrXvfXEu0TJl/s320/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><p align="center">Love Bird Cage Hanging Ornament $20</p><br /><br /><div align="left"><br /><strong>Are you originally from England? How does your surroundings inspire/influence you?</strong><br /><br />I was born here in England. I never take where I live for granted. We have definitive seasons and am lucky enough to live close to the sea and rolling countryside! We aren't far from Stately Homes and Castles and oodles of historic cities and towns blot our landscape. I adore our antique and vintage shops.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left">Wildlife is in abundance, and birds, especially, inspire me to use their form in my work!<br />I never know what might inspire me to make the next thing. I can go off at a complete tangent from the last creation! But hiding in every piece will usually be a little part of me, and something that was inspired by a moment in time.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5hGXuJVM9XoMx9-ZK6YVack78SJS2jJtJnPPgZU4FjgZB4HgvlKy0XMyq4hM38_gr_tk7scm8hDdeQIzBtQZiqWVvEEh5zc9fRoBT8R25AKflhJ5kqiiAwcZ27v6fGeAXf-mcYG9wEYR/s1600/a1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461654167835111106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5hGXuJVM9XoMx9-ZK6YVack78SJS2jJtJnPPgZU4FjgZB4HgvlKy0XMyq4hM38_gr_tk7scm8hDdeQIzBtQZiqWVvEEh5zc9fRoBT8R25AKflhJ5kqiiAwcZ27v6fGeAXf-mcYG9wEYR/s320/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />FAITH and BLISS Bird Ornament $42<br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiYYI_dgBQOKPz_k7AuIJfBqoRpnwFwlSOcbMd3Jm27TeSO9bBVCL4tF2kW97jDa_NX0If8nIpw3V8ugupbnuUtwRaSZqleA5pvQ_r49mBlaVPhgAzmw3dFlvJEHt0get1Izhna662R_R/s1600/a1.jpg"></a></p><br /><strong>What are your favorite things to make?</strong><br />Oooooooo I don't think I have a favourite thing that I make! As long as I enjoyed the process and it makes me smile when it's finished, then that is food for my soul.<br /><br /><strong>How did you come up with your shop names? Do they have personal meaning to you?</strong><br />Definitely! Bloomsbury Group: The Bloomsbury Group or Bloomsbury Set was a group of writers, intellectuals and artists who held informal discussions in Bloomsbury throughout the 20th century. I admire their art works and am fascinated by their bohemian way of living. I am lucky enough to live quite near Charleston Farm House, my favourite place, where you can enter a passage in time when some of the leading cultural figures lived and were invited. The house is the most important remaining example of Bloomsbury decorative style. I am a romantic and am fuelled by exploring lives lived ,as part of the Bloomsbury Group!<br /><br />The Omega Workshop: The Omega Workshops was a design enterprise founded by members of the Bloomsbury group and established in 1913. In addition to offering a wide range of individual products, such as painted furniture, painted murals, mosaics, stained glass, and textiles, Omega Workshops Ltd offered interior design themes for various living spaces. So yes, personal to me and I suppose a homage to some very talented people!<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/42348901/wool-fabric-decorative-pillow"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461636412601173490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiYYI_dgBQOKPz_k7AuIJfBqoRpnwFwlSOcbMd3Jm27TeSO9bBVCL4tF2kW97jDa_NX0If8nIpw3V8ugupbnuUtwRaSZqleA5pvQ_r49mBlaVPhgAzmw3dFlvJEHt0get1Izhna662R_R/s320/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><p align="center">Wool Fabric Decorative Pillow $44</p><br /><strong>What is your biggest source of inspiration?</strong><br />I think my biggest source of inspiration comes from my own mind! I have always had a very vivid imagination and can see past main stream!<br /><br /><br /><strong>What style is your home decorated in?</strong><br />My home is the most important place to me. I am a Cancerian, and like a crab my home is never far away. I love to collect and I like a more traditional homey feel. I am surrounded by art, vintage, antiques, books and 'things' that are comforting and nice to delve into and look at! I guess we have an eclectic mix of things that compliment each other. I love subdued lighting and open fires! I like to be organised, but think a home should be lived in!<br /><br /><br /><strong>When not creating fiber pieces what are your other hobbies?</strong><br />I love to read, walk, swim, enjoy my own company, shop, spend time with my family, garden, watch meaningful films........<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/40685378/textile-flower-ornament"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461635977254704930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8V_gMDJrTgq8tetYHefJQvNcr0CZJ0HcYU3uQXHPMaCPjKw-6R2jJuzpjyghtEmuMkbHp-s8nbn1RK6Xq326biMrxAP4WVGp3sZmpSaO578SF5GXRvWjdUXtZ5g53Nh45s77tGcpeNbc/s320/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><p align="center">Textile Flower Ornament $29</p><br /><strong>Can you describe your creative process?</strong><br />Mmmmmmmm I guess it's like a light comes on in my head and I can't wait to try it out. I don't mind making mistakes, it's how I learn. You'll often find a half finished plush in the recycling bin! But that's good. I teach myself through being hands on, which I think is the best way for anyone to learn! When I am making something I am focused and lose myself completely. Like a form of meditation I suppose!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">*Giveaway*</span></strong></div><div align="center">Zena is giving away one of her sentiment bird ornaments like the one below!<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNazfzRc7gNekGFeFINB6rizHcVQPMdvg4WKm4zG8jnrUviz_tKo9DTT36Lv1IVrKf0aVhXA-r8hFibJnl2NZsBFhP3Gts9qwbZhG1FtoEmWzhoupUdNQoqDlx41AmULQAGzlcYwb9wgIG/s1600/a1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461635703336409522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNazfzRc7gNekGFeFINB6rizHcVQPMdvg4WKm4zG8jnrUviz_tKo9DTT36Lv1IVrKf0aVhXA-r8hFibJnl2NZsBFhP3Gts9qwbZhG1FtoEmWzhoupUdNQoqDlx41AmULQAGzlcYwb9wgIG/s320/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><p align="center"></p><br /><br />To Enter:<br />Visit her etsy shops <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOmegaWorkshop">The Omega Workshop </a>and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bloomsburygroup">Bloomsbury Group </a>and leave a comment telling me your favorite item in either store. <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't forget to leave your e-mail</span></strong> so I can contact you if you have won.<br /><br />Extra Entries:<strong> please leave one separate comment for each entry</strong>.<br /><br />•follow my blog with google - 1 extra<br /><br />•follow me on twitter (lilacpop)-1 extra<br /><br />•become a fan of<a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/lilacpopphotography?ref=ts"> LilacPOP on Facebook </a>- 1 extra (and there are giveaways on there as well which you will be automatically entered into each time just for being a fan).<br /><br />•tweet this giveaway and post the link in your comment- (may do this daily) 1 extra/day<br />Copy and paste below:<br />I just entered to win a handmade home decor hanging @lilacpop http://lilacpop.blogspot.com/<br /><br />•favor me on technorati , stumble upon or any other social networking site- 1 extra<br /><br />•Put a link to my blog on your blog - 1 extra<br /><br />•blog about this giveaway - 1 extra<br /><br />•buy a product from either etsy shop - 5 extra<br /><br /><br />Contest will run for 1 week. Ends at Midnight on the night of April 25, 2010. Open to All Countries. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 3 days to reply or another winner will be chosen.

The Omega Workshop Interview and Giveaway

This giveaway is now over and the winner was chosen. Please feel free to read the interview and check out the shops featured! A new giveaway...

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Skies Dream Blue Giveaway and Interview

<div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/skiesdreamblue"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.120615570.jpg" style="WIDTH: 421px; HEIGHT: 550px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><div align="center">It's giveaway time again! Meet Grace Hamilton, an incredible artist, illustrator, and lover of fashion from the UK. Let me tell you, she is fiercely talented!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br />How did you get started?<br /><br />Well I started my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">etsy</span> shop very recently, after many years of thinking how I'd love to get my work out there, but still being a little unsure. But I decided that now was the right time for a number of reasons. Mainly because for the last few months I was on an art course, which wasn't really supporting me and my style of work - and so after leaving it I just knew that I couldn't give up on my art, I just had to try and do it on my own.<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/skiesdreamblue"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441459258489078162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1fJSH1zmkA-KeB2p5sVzjLH705QUTvNARq4ziIOERESzquyj_yNA-ARJ2twPeToz3xDCvEaBOXWYqb-8M0CIILUWYtxfmpD-qHP43I_F0Z9gvARVLpm4SXTizNhAPwh2kUPZDe6Pp3g/s400/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 304px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><div><br /><br />What is your favorite creative thing to do?<br /><br />Drawing serves as the basis of all my work, especially when its inspired by fashion photography. That plays a large role in all that I do as I find that it takes the clothes into something much more magical and has so much impact. For example <a href="http://www.timwalkerphotography.com/">Tim Walker's </a>photography. He's my absolute favourite!! It's the fairytale sense you get from his work, and I suppose in my work I aim to try and create something like that. I really love mixing vintage pieces such as old fairytale book pages or prints of flowers with my drawings. I guess that personally it's all about trying to make something innocent and beautiful, but with a sadness to it. Much like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fairy tales</span> themselves.<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/skiesdreamblue"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441459500924202066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEd73wUKdSzaivoK7COvSYm_LtomRPkkMl-Ln15QcA79kPRUaDN2JpHkOTdh5q77K4isdplAwU853Tgjs1KLrDUxu9sRpe53V3aZGmvgcTI-Rn4SA0b2nEGAnSlgYGK1EtD93Zl-Zv7Q/s400/a2.jpg" style="WIDTH: 291px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><div><br />How long have you been doing this?<br /><br />I've only recently started my shop but for a few years now I've been collecting vintage books and clothes, and stacks of fashion magazines to inspire my drawings. But last summer I left school and because I was feeling a little lost and unsure of what to do with myself, I started drawing nearly every single day and started to see the progress in my work. As for art in general, it may sound corny.. but for most of my life I've been creating things and drawing pictures of people or clothes. There's the most <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">embarrassing</span> little fashion illustrations I did when I was twelve that my mum still has!!<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/skiesdreamblue"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441459659975920082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMurx2wGtO-6kgBDiOfv4cmdXyzzKWBjfZKm-DpkScYXgxqN1gOAKCyUA42Xfa5ZKVu8TCcdi5KjW3c3opYLj30xybEXvVNz0qJEt_xy9hcD-21dtpitk3S-NPcQfVAnnccUV6G8IsprA/s400/a3.jpg" style="WIDTH: 291px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><br /><div><br />Can you describe the process?<br /><br />I always start with a pencil drawing, and then depending on what it turns out like I start to imagine the background and the clothes. Most of it strangely depends on the way the face looks, the expression or the way the hair falls. From then I decide if I should use watercolour or marker pens, or which vintage papers and materials to use. I have a large box of paper and I just rummage around it until I find what I need. Most of the time my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">original</span> idea for the drawing finds a new path and it ends up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">surprising</span> me.<br /><br /><br />What is something most people may not know about you?<br /><br />I actually have around 5 or 6 vintage books that I've completely <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">collaged</span> inside using song lyrics, mainly from Iron and Wine, Death Cab for Cutie, or the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Decemberists</span>. Some of the pages I've created prints from, but the majority I never show anyone. I absolutely love music as much as I do art, and I physically can't draw without my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">ipod</span> on, or a movie playing in the background. My favourites are probably Breakfast at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tiffanys</span>, 500 Days of Summer or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.<br /><br /><br />When did you realize that art was your calling?<br /><br />To be honest finishing my last years at school and doing well at art made me think that maybe I had a chance at art. Before I had only drawn out of a personal need to, for myself or my family, but finding out others supported me too made it all the more real. Also starting this shop has made me believe even more that I can be an artist. For so long I felt it had only been a dream of mine, not a reality. I suppose that I've known for many years now because I've always sat and drawn pictures wherever I am.<br /><br /><br />What is your "day job?"<br /><br />I'm currently a waitress in a small coffee shop that my friends mum owns. But as for deciding on what I want to do as a job in the long run, I'm still figuring that out. In a way it depends on how creative the job is or if it makes me happy.<br /><br /><br />Your work is obviously influenced by fashion. Who is your favorite designer?<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ohhh</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">that's</span> a tough one!! I'd have to say <a href="http://www.rodarte.net/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rodarte</span></a>. Everything they make is incredibly beautiful and delicate. I also love <a href="http://www.chloe.com/#/en">Chloe</a>, <a href="http://www.miumiu.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Miu</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Miu</span></a>, <a href="http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/">Alexander McQueen</a>. Anything <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">that's</span> incredibly <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">girly</span> or fantasy-like, or inspired by a book or a film or a period in time. I LOVE <a href="http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2010RTW-CKANE">Christopher Kane's </a>new Lolita inspired dresses! Then again I can turn to any page in a magazine and fall in love with the clothes if the fashion photography is beautiful! </div><br /><div><br /><br />Favorite piece of clothing?<br /><br />As much as I love clothes, I'm a real handbag addict!! I recently bought the most <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">beautiful</span> deep red velvet bag with a large bow. And a 1960's wicker bag for the summer. My favourite current outfit though is a black velvet dress, with <a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=12556&catalogId=19551"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Topshop</span></a> heart print tights. For everyday I've got a well worn floral skirt with knitted plum red tights. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">*Giveaway*</span><br /><br /><br />One winner will receive a beautiful 8x10 print from <a href="http://skiesdreamblue.etsy.com/">Skies Dream Blue</a> of the image of your choice.<br /><br />To Enter:<br />Visit <a href="http://skiesdreamblue.etsy.com/">Skies Dream Blue </a>and leave a comment telling me your favorite item in her store. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you have won.<br /><br />Extra Entries: please leave <strong>one separate comment</strong> for each entry or they will not be counted.<br /><br />•follow my blog with google - 1 extra<br /><br />•follow me on twitter (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">lilacpop</span>)-1 extra<br /><br />•become a fan of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/lilacpopphotography?ref=ts"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">LilacPOP</span></a> on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> - 1 extra (and there will be a random giveaway when my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> page hits 200 fans--you will be automatically entered)<br /><br />•tweet this giveaway and post the link in your comment- (may do this daily) 1 extra/day<br />Copy and paste below:<br />I just entered to win a 5x7 print @<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">lilacpop</span> http://lilacpop.blogspot.com/<br /><br />•favor me on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">technorati</span> , stumble upon or any other social networking site- 1 extra<br /><br />•Put a link to my blog on your blog - 2 extra<br /><br />•blog about this giveaway - 3 extra<br /><br />•buy a product from Skies Dream Blue - 5 extra<br /><br /><br />Contest will run for 2 weeks. Ends at Midnight on the night of March 9, 2010. Open to All Countries. Winner will be chosen by online random generator. Winner will be notified by e-mail on March 10, 2010 and will have 3 days to reply or another winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Skies Dream Blue Giveaway and Interview

It's giveaway time again! Meet Grace Hamilton, an incredible artist, illustrator, and lover of fashion from the UK. Let me tell you, sh...

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Andrea Despot Photographer and Giveaway

<div><div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31859178"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431058944999577634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17r4KRAsZsCjliD2-bxIFXsfYd9trIESc9bn8DFPa7l72_WwHwcYXK6ZelTvyMTHemVCU0v-kg5rSP7upc7w4GUscxoVpRBojBuzhUTTWH-bKmshkv4istVSOwJrN29aicUKtJw1RYbA/s400/a1.jpg" style="WIDTH: 314px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div>You come across a lot of talented photographers on etsy who make very beautiful images but Andrea Despot not only makes stunning images with her grasp of composition, form, and light but also with her own personal style. You won't find the ordinary portraits in her etsy shop but powerful images full of striking shapes. She is a true fine artist, who uses her camera to paint with light in striking ways. Andrea also creates amazing self portraits and has entered the prestigious "The Power of Self: an image competition" put on by Artist Wanted in New York City. It is juried by actor and art lover Steve Buscemi, director and producer Chris Weitz, curatorial assistant at the Guggenheim Museum Helen Hsu, and Flavorpill founder Sascha Lewis. </div><div></div><div>She describes herself as a shy person in her bio:<br /><br />"Looking through the images of the past two years, I've found that in all of my favorites, I've hidden my face. I think this makes for an interesting self exploration. My shyness is something that I obviously realize, but to see it come out unintentionally in photographs is something that has surprised me. "<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsO7zNThIKu1LliqW_rYVodnzEr_HoiUo7TaAxgmpfJBBIjmFXCXUwO1iG6Bp5y5PD3eDQ6YmmX_XZbBFQkf1SPSIBVaRXEP446dN2wgmqlMfDAuBPfw080kzIYOvUpFxrxF9ZJYimOU/s1600-h/a3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431065183251962690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsO7zNThIKu1LliqW_rYVodnzEr_HoiUo7TaAxgmpfJBBIjmFXCXUwO1iG6Bp5y5PD3eDQ6YmmX_XZbBFQkf1SPSIBVaRXEP446dN2wgmqlMfDAuBPfw080kzIYOvUpFxrxF9ZJYimOU/s400/a3.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MFzFdI1IMTp27YPp6QsJ_fQar8UAOk1w2XKD74atuiek6n3Adhyktju92I7_f6V4MyOooG0HJGB8wzv5UczfTP-DIfskLSkkWNsYlviBaTNiBT1WkIoPXSNjDgIR9hiLJWE3bENSHMw/s1600-h/a6.jpg"></a></p><div></div><div>How did you get started?<br /><br />"I can’t remember what made me want to start doing photography other than the fact that I’ve always loved art and I’ve always loved photographs, so I guess it was obvious that the two would meld together at some point. I bought my first camera the summer after my freshman year of high school. Three weeks after my high school graduation I attended The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where I majored in Photography. I graduated during the summer of 2007 and I’ve been doing freelance jobs since then. I am currently working at a printing company as a photographer, though truth-be-told I am doing mostly color-correcting work at the moment."</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MFzFdI1IMTp27YPp6QsJ_fQar8UAOk1w2XKD74atuiek6n3Adhyktju92I7_f6V4MyOooG0HJGB8wzv5UczfTP-DIfskLSkkWNsYlviBaTNiBT1WkIoPXSNjDgIR9hiLJWE3bENSHMw/s1600-h/a6.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVxrR3rlr72vS7vRVnE5m2maNZfduNiP1rT2U4SYlMnY43TlHb4HlrzKxsBJXjzu_0i8mGTy80fgWUOoqtCUwoMBlVCp74WXvnZRNogqv1VYTQ_yaBhbTXbGC9s-djAuvsWQTunHNMfQ/s1600-h/a2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431065188225271890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVxrR3rlr72vS7vRVnE5m2maNZfduNiP1rT2U4SYlMnY43TlHb4HlrzKxsBJXjzu_0i8mGTy80fgWUOoqtCUwoMBlVCp74WXvnZRNogqv1VYTQ_yaBhbTXbGC9s-djAuvsWQTunHNMfQ/s400/a2.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br />What is your favorite creative thing to do?<br /><br />"Photography is obviously my favorite creative outlet! I used to draw and paint, but it’s been a long time since I’ve done either. If you count reading and watching movies as creative activities, I’m always doing both of those!"</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MFzFdI1IMTp27YPp6QsJ_fQar8UAOk1w2XKD74atuiek6n3Adhyktju92I7_f6V4MyOooG0HJGB8wzv5UczfTP-DIfskLSkkWNsYlviBaTNiBT1WkIoPXSNjDgIR9hiLJWE3bENSHMw/s1600-h/a6.jpg"></a></div><div></div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16663786"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431065169032493522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEyQryavmE1M6MOqMjBz1Lm9S2wuam7OK-Egmq9IBxGZUa6768Z2ArYVGbAnq9koWtpfkn4irmgrlf7SaHQjfp4zv1JiLatTHL3Kc3xvIsasveSQeQlumHnSUHscj_onnNvrSEwltNvQ/s400/a5.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br /><br />How long have you been doing this?<br /><br />"I started doing photography in 2002 and I think even sold my first photograph that year! During high school I entered several art competitions where I sold work and won awards. I would say that, technically, I’ve been working as a professional since 2005 because that’s the year my first photography internship began and also the year I started at the Art Institute. I had several more internships during college, but I’ve been working in the field as a photographer since 2007."</div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0x_AXu6QjI4FaKfFpPgj9H9ADCPKR2CDj6XVcf7i6Im2hNu_SR3rqf4Mx1Kfavw0XA3ydkYOsPjx7tCjyV-DqJ1As01k2A2IGAefCNvpirlkgoCwK_f3OUwKG4MlW9afDkLmxlgWUkc/s1600-h/a4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431065179927777986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0x_AXu6QjI4FaKfFpPgj9H9ADCPKR2CDj6XVcf7i6Im2hNu_SR3rqf4Mx1Kfavw0XA3ydkYOsPjx7tCjyV-DqJ1As01k2A2IGAefCNvpirlkgoCwK_f3OUwKG4MlW9afDkLmxlgWUkc/s400/a4.jpg" style="WIDTH: 314px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br />What is something most people may not know about you?<br /><br />"Most people know that I have always been a very quiet and shy person. What most people don’t know, other than very few close friends and family, is that once I open up I tend to be very talkative, to the point that I interrupt people because I get so excited about what I’m talking about. I can also get really loud and really silly, which can sometimes be embarrassing when I think back on it."</div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20329357"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431065514571370114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIs9Fu-AfLTg_B_ds4EqtDZNeoLV1vLN1dPeJuvixRNA54ANXto9AE-5SHrpSI7HdIhlU3wnm_574SN8FJDgWMigam54kBi2IKlnJnySTHal90b0OZrN9R9T_v5y-AGkAkMDZZpY49po/s400/a7.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br />When did you realize that photography was your calling?<br /><br />"There wasn’t an exact moment when I knew I wanted to be a photographer. I’d been photographing through high school and I loved it better than any other artistic medium I’d experienced. I always knew I would be an artist because I’d always been one, so by the time I needed to start applying to colleges I knew it would be for photography."</div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16719956"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431065165219796498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MFzFdI1IMTp27YPp6QsJ_fQar8UAOk1w2XKD74atuiek6n3Adhyktju92I7_f6V4MyOooG0HJGB8wzv5UczfTP-DIfskLSkkWNsYlviBaTNiBT1WkIoPXSNjDgIR9hiLJWE3bENSHMw/s400/a6.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br />Who is your favorite photographer of all time?<br /><br />"I absolutely do not have an all-time favorite photographer! There are way too many amazing photographers and amazing photographs for me to choose only one. I am not exaggerating or attempting to dodge the question! If you really want to know, I have a blog dedicated to all of the amazing photographs that I come across: <a href="http://www.andreadespot.blogspot.com/">http://www.andreadespot.blogspot.com/</a> "</div><div></div><div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">*<strong>Giveaway*</strong></span><br /><br /><br />One winner will receive a beautiful 5x7 print from Andrea Despot Photography of the image of your choice.<br /><br />To Enter:<br />Visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/andreadespot">AndreaDespot</a> and leave a comment telling me your favorite item in her store. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so I can contact you if you have won.<br /><br />Extra Entries: <strong>please leave one separate comment</strong> for each entry.<br /><br />•follow my blog with google - 1 extra<br /><br />•follow me on twitter (<a href="http://twitter.com/lilacpop">lilacpop</a>)-1 extra<br /><br />•become a fan of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#/lilacpopphotography?ref=ts">LilacPOP</a> on Facebook - 1 extra (and there will be a random giveaway when my facebook page hits 200 fans--you will be automatically entered)<br /><br />•tweet this giveaway and post the link in your comment- (may do this daily) 1 extra/day<br />Copy and paste below:<br />I just entered to win a 5x7 print @lilacpop <a href="http://lilacpop.blogspot.com/">http://lilacpop.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />•favor me on technorati , stumble upon or any other social networking site- 1 extra<br /><br />•Put a link to my blog on your blog - 2 extra<br /><br />•blog about this giveaway - 3 extra<br /><br />•buy a product from <a href="http://andreadespot.etsy.com/">AndreaDespot</a> - 5 extra<br /><br /><br />Contest will run for 2 weeks. Ends at Midnight on the night of February 9, 2010. Open to All Countries. Winner will be chosen by online random generator. Winner will be notified by e-mail on February 10, 2010 and will have 3 days to reply or another winner will be chosen.

Andrea Despot Photographer and Giveaway

You come across a lot of talented photographers on etsy who make very beautiful images but Andrea Despot not only makes stunning images with...

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Great Contest!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjFLumb8GIQdlGk8tqEvrfyahBza0FBaTwHeEcpsivX5Db5XVBUV0sQGqdYP1DKBWW24mTLEvV2uQMrk0xpb2u1mdQu87etaS-OK_jhlhu8p3L6O8LfF8jk8v1NiCJ23Lfe-PZxSSKGZK/s1600-h/hp-mini-vt.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342387425596978066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjFLumb8GIQdlGk8tqEvrfyahBza0FBaTwHeEcpsivX5Db5XVBUV0sQGqdYP1DKBWW24mTLEvV2uQMrk0xpb2u1mdQu87etaS-OK_jhlhu8p3L6O8LfF8jk8v1NiCJ23Lfe-PZxSSKGZK/s320/hp-mini-vt.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div>Thought I would share this contest because it's awesome! I want to win this so badly. Fashion + Technology! It's for a HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition from Intel!! Enter here: <a href="http://blissfullydomestic.com/blissful-style/giveaway-hp-mini-vivienne-tam-edition-from-intel/">http://blissfullydomestic.com/blissful-style/giveaway-hp-mini-vivienne-tam-edition-from-intel/</a><br /></div><br /><div>Good luck!</div>

Great Contest!

Thought I would share this contest because it's awesome! I want to win this so badly. Fashion + Technology! It's for a HP Mini Vivi...

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Great contest!

<a href="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.63976219.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.63976219.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 458px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 485px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div>Check out these amazing Earth Day bowls!! Want to win one? Just go to Cinderelish's blog <a href="http://cinderelish.blogspot.com/2009/04/earth-day-giveaway.html">here</a> and follow her super easy instructions.</div>

Great contest!

Check out these amazing Earth Day bowls!! Want to win one? Just go to Cinderelish's blog here and follow her super easy instructions.

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Who doesn't love free stuff?!

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE free stuff. I always have and always will. I love a good bargain too. I am a pretty lucky person too. I win things all the time. People always ask me why I am so lucky. But actually I think it is more a ratio thing: the more contests you enter, the more you will win. So I spend time filling out contests while others might not want to be bothered. But you know what? It pays off sometimes. It really does. I decided to share some of the awesome sites that I have been winning things on! Sharing is good. The contest that I am hoping to win (and blogging about it gives me 3 more entries-woo!) is at <a href="http://erinstar.blogspot.com/2009/03/march-madness-2-elephannie.html">http://erinstar.blogspot.com/2009/03/march-madness-2-elephannie.html</a> and it is for this awesome decal of poppies that sticks to your wall. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeu29U6T1KmQIz2ke6utL8WJQjXIvc2Cki4TkDlw5sn6njl6HoPWzWgm0y3kirSz9oi26IaTtQ5h6mDu3xPrrfh8XktWvIVZ5H2XoIfhbJVyU8xTypiZpt2PveGBNDG-A9IfXHe0MrEX3/s1600-h/poppies.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeu29U6T1KmQIz2ke6utL8WJQjXIvc2Cki4TkDlw5sn6njl6HoPWzWgm0y3kirSz9oi26IaTtQ5h6mDu3xPrrfh8XktWvIVZ5H2XoIfhbJVyU8xTypiZpt2PveGBNDG-A9IfXHe0MrEX3/s1600-h/poppies.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLKdNeIjXaEM6f8K4QsbY8tZGI1M3-PqLeCQyz7pQIjGWw91xdpNMRKQI8fwt4AOkkwSikc0EfsgxYpJp7eRpVswghCqonOoBhcpbVGAI8S_oJyRVtUBcUZTncy1tWIgKF68tGQqkXRV3/s1600-h/il_430xN.52540418.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />Another great place to find contests and giveaways that people offer on their personal blogs is <a href="http://etsygiveaways.blogspot.com/">http://etsygiveaways.blogspot.com</a> Someone had this great idea to make a blog and let people register their contests on it. All in one spot! Love it. Don't worry, none of these are a scam or anything. I know this because I participated in a giveaway not too long ago of some of my earrings and a photograph. Basically, blog writers give their own items away or get other people to donate items for a giveaway. The idea is to get the blogger more readers and give the giveaway-er more exposure and hopefully some sales. Although I didn't make any sales from giving away all the stuff that I did but who knows, maybe someone will think of me when they need a gift in the future. The winner was really happy though and that made me happy. Most of the blogs will have you visit the artist's shop on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">etsy</span>, find something you like the best and the post a comment at the bottom of the contest page about it. Don't forget write your email address so they can contact you too. I usually write it like this: name at yahoo dot com. I guess it's so that you don't get spammed as easily. Sometimes the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bloggers</span> will give you extra entries if you subscribe to their blog. Or if you tweet about it on twitter. Just make sure you comment separately so you get multiple entries. I have won a couple of contests in a matter of weeks of starting to do this. I won these awesome <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lipbalms</span> from <a href="http://daisycakessoap.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Daisycakes</span> Soap</a>. I'm loving the cappuccino and saving a bunch of them to give as gifts. I also won a cute plastic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">velcro</span> robot and a starfish for my kid's backpacks. <br /><br />So if you ever have a few minutes and feel like winning something. Enter. It's easy and you just never know if you will be the big winner. <br /><br />AND if any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">etsy</span> artists out there would be interested in doing a giveaway on my blog I would be all for it! Just leave me a comment with your shop info and we can talk about it.

Who doesn't love free stuff?!

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE free stuff. I always have and always will. I love a good bargain too. I am a pretty lucky person to...

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Win Free Earrings Plus An 8x10 Fine Art Photograph

<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZjgWlZvShTjPHiwSyLMOptyEKkaKI5yTyBoL40YhmhNFye71fVzJQ8gGAv7Hfu0Zg3LH5jiuHsO434Le81MBnaXzpV0vDx8PF9rSUL59K5bCnOLpIa7jGFp_Nbzt1o3hX5hwvEFPY0AQ/s1600-h/Earrings+giveaway+2+bowl.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303497061879369314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZjgWlZvShTjPHiwSyLMOptyEKkaKI5yTyBoL40YhmhNFye71fVzJQ8gGAv7Hfu0Zg3LH5jiuHsO434Le81MBnaXzpV0vDx8PF9rSUL59K5bCnOLpIa7jGFp_Nbzt1o3hX5hwvEFPY0AQ/s400/Earrings+giveaway+2+bowl.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><br /><div>I've been featured on the <a href="http://queenconger.blogspot.com/">Elle Blog of Elle Bee</a>! Check out her blog and enter to win 5 pairs of earrings from my shop plus an 8x10 Fine Art Print--all completely free. Make sure to follow her blog too!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303497218153759218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lWhcBhervWnK9df39f5R-7WEBiZvnO8BzpU-CgOc8UVEuLy3pC8tKgcmAfZLd1XHCVlCAiqbyO7-ut56rTTRxG4NTaDHjj5Bpg5iRrdp_u5vC9kInKFAb76lt6nRIgwugG-7S6s8ReXD/s400/Earrings+giveaway+cards.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div>

Win Free Earrings Plus An 8x10 Fine Art Photograph

I've been featured on the Elle Blog of Elle Bee ! Check out her blog and enter to win 5 pairs of earrings from my shop plus an 8x10 Fine...

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