Win a $20-$40 Gift Certificate to Risky Beads! (Ends Sat., 11/14 at noon)

**WINNER CHOSEN BY RANDOM DRAW ON 11/14**

Well, it's been awhile since I've done a giveaway for my shop, and this time I decided to do a gift certificate. But here's the awesome-nest part.... you get to determine the amount!

Here's how it works:

The base gift certificate for this giveaway is $20.00, redeemable in any of my shops. All you have to do to sign up for that is visit my shop and comment below with your favorite item AND your email address so I can contact you if you win.

Want more than $20? You can do any or all of these things and earn more money for the GC if you're the winner!

Add $5 if you tweet this giveaway for me - tweet must mention my store and link to this post. (It's just $5, not $5 per tweet.) You must comment back here with a link to that tweet with your email address.

Add $5 if you purchase from me during between now and when the giveaway ends next Saturday, 11/14. Comment below with your order # and email address.

Add $10 if you do a blog post that features my shop, shows a picture of at least 1 item, and mentions the giveaway. You must comment back here with a link to that blog post with your email address.

So a $40 gift certificate is up for grabs if you do all 3.

Entries will be accepted until noon, next Saturday 11/14!

Have fun and good luck!!
~Lori

Winner chosen by random draw on 11/14!

ArtFire Mother's Day Giveaway-May 2009!

**CONGRATULATOINS THERESA!! SHE'S OUR WINNER!**

It's time for the ArtFire Mother's Day Giveaway!! It's your chance to win a bunch of Mother's Day girly goodness from a bunch of awesome ArtFire sellers! This giveaway will run from today, Sun. May 3rd - Sat., May 9th at midnight. There are 8 sellers participating in this giveaway, so please read the entry rules them carefully! On to the loot!



This month's prize consists of my Clouds & Berries bracelet from Risky Beads, a Seafoam Narrow Glass Fused Barrette and Oriental New Jade earrings from AJewelGift, a Tea Pot Rose Fabric Key Fob from PrettyPurse Designs, Rose Glycerin Soap from Soapsmith, a 'Mom' bookmark from Bijoux Designs For You, Hand Knitted Coffee Sleeve by LilBritKnits, Black Raspberry Vanilla Satin & Silk Lotion by Shine Your Hiney Soap Co., and a Country Blue Apron Towel Kitchen Set by acadienne. These products retail for $99! Here are some close-ups:




But, wait, it gets better!!

Each owner of these shops has volunteered one of their products because they want to promote their shops but also ArtFire as a venue so we are all offering 10% off in our shops during this giveaway! Use this code when purchasing: RBMAYAF10P**

The winner of the contest will be chosen by the random number generator at random.org, so each comment is one entry unless it's incomplete, in which case it will be skipped. To enter the contest, you must visit at least 4 of our 7 shops listed above, come back, and leave 1 comment that mentions your favorite item from those shops, not 4 separate comments. After completing your main entry, you can earn extra entries by doing any or all of the following, putting each one in a separate comment:

--visit the other 4 shops you didn't visit in your first comment and mention your favorite item in one comment for all 4 shops

--blog about the giveaway and link back in a separate comment

--tweet about the giveaway and link back in a separate comment

Want automatic entries in this giveaway? Well, then all you have to do is:

--purchase from any Artfire shop from May 3-May 9 and link back with your order #. Your seller will give it to you or ask for it.

--purchase from any of our 8 shops and receive 2 extra entries per shop and link back with your order #. Your seller will give it to you or ask for it.

Please remember to leave your contact information in your comment. We can't contact you if we can't find you!!!

-Lori

ArtFire Interview...Ninja Jenn

This is the 7th interview of a featured seller participating in our April ArtFire giveaway running Wed. 4/1/09-Tues. 4/7/09. The theme is Eco-Friendly, and all of our sellers offer a 10% discount during the giveaway week and a purchase from any ArtFire shop during that week gets you an extra entry into the giveaway. Buy from a featured seller that week, and we up it to 2! Today's interview is with Jenn Joyner of NinjaJenn. Jenn is donating this precious Earth Day Upcycled Scrabble Tile Pendant.
Here's Jenn...

1. Biographical info:

name: Jenn Joyner

Location: Kannapolis, NC (about 20 miles north of Charlotte)

Family size: just me!

I make pendants and other jewelry using wood, resin, paint and paper. I also like to use upcycled/recycled materials as often as i can

2. Who and or what inspired you to become an artist? Was there a specific event or period in your life when you decided to go this route and why? Was it the right decision?
I've always been into creating things. I think it just runs in my family. All the men in my family are diamond cutters and/or goldsmiths, and all the women sew, cook, dance, paint, etc... so it's in my blood. I decided to devote myself to my art full time last year. I just got tired of now doing what I love on a daily basis, and I thought I should give it a shot! It has been rough, and making ends meet is sometimes hard, but I couldn't be happier... so yes, it is TOTALLY the right decision!

3. Define your craft as you see it and explain the mental and physical process you go through to create what you sell. For example, do you spend 90% of the time creating and 10% listing or 70% ruminating on an idea and 30% of the time bringing it to life?
That's a tough one! I'd have to say I spend 100% of my waking time thinking about what I want to create... it's always in the back of my mind! And I spend about 75% of my time actually making things. I LIVE my art... I take it with me wherever I go, and I love to talk about it, think about it, involve myself in it... whatever!

4. What purpose does your art serve in your life? Is it just paying the bills?
It's my therapy, my release, my sustenance, and my sometimes headache. It makes me who I am.

5. Are you a full-time artist or a double agent?
Full time! :0)

6. What other creative outlets do you employ?
I paint, sculpt, and cook along with my "normal" jewelry making.

7. Why do you like selling on ArtFire, and why is being apart of the upcoming giveaway important to you?
I LOVE artfire because of the people. It's not the only site I sell on, but it IS the only site I think of as family. Being in the giveaway is important to me because I LOVE the idea of being "eco friendly"... and I want to let people know that I try my best to be just that at every turn.

8. Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t assume just from browsing in your shop.
I used to think I would be a corporate drone for the rest of my life. I have a degree in business administration, one in accounting, and one in communications. I am totally "ready" for the corporate world, and I was once a "suit all day" broker. (PS. I was MISERABLE! LOL)

9. What have you learned about yourself by being an artist? What have you learned about others and/or society?
I've learned that I am happiest among other creative types, and that I can NOT be happy UNLESS I am creating something. I've learned that others in this community are truly AWESOME, and they will be supportive of me even at my worst... and when I need it most. <3

10. What have you learned about yourself by being a business person? What have you learned about others and/or society?
I've found that, even though I know how to do all the "right steps" to run a business, I still think 90% of it is malarkey. I've learned that we are taught to be cutthroat and hard edged in the business world to survive, but the reality is that the more "human" you are the better off you will be.

11. If you weren’t the artist you are today, what else would you be?
I can't imagine anything else to be honest. I used to be a bartender, and that was about the most fun job I've had besides this one, so I guess I would have to choose that... but please don't make me! LOL

12. What advice would give to someone who wanted to start their own shop on ArtFire or another handmade venue?
Make what you love. Be honest and sincere in all you do. Ask for advice and be willing to listen.... really listen. Be aware of your competition but don't dwell on it. Let your work show who YOU are and the rest will come...

13. What flavor of ice cream are you and why?
I'm more like baskin robbins... I'd have to say i'm ALL the flavors... I have pretty severe ADHD, so I tend to be a lot of things at a lot of different times. I'm totally quirky, so, while I can say what flavor I WOULD be, I CAN say I sure wouldn't be vanilla!

Now see, all ninja's aren't scary! Some of them are downright hilarious! Thanks, Jenn!

Interviews of other sellers in this giveaway: Chelsea Lynn Designs, Jennuine Candles, Campgirldesigns, CobWebPalace, MeaCulpaBodyandBath, Green Hill Soap Co.

Want to peek at past giveaways? January February March

See you tomorrow with another awesome interview!!! ~Lori

ArtFire Interview...Chelsea Lynn Designs

Since the beginning of 2009, I've been hosting a monthly giveaway on my blog to promote sellers on a relatively new but quickly growing handmade venue called ArtFire. Our April giveaway runs Wed. 4/1/09-Tues. 4/7/09 and the theme is Eco-Friendly, and I decided to do interviews with the participating sellers so you could get to know them a little better and see what fabulous items they're contributing to the giveaway. All of our sellers offer a 10% discount during the giveaway week and a purchase from any ArtFire shop during that week gets you an extra entry into the giveaway. Buy from a featured seller that week, and we up it to 2!

So, without further ado, here's on first featured Giver: Larry Hamm from ChelseaLynnDesigns. Larry is donating the sweetest Handpainted Key Hanger for the giveaway. I can vouch for how precious it is because it's already at my house!

and here's Larry....

1. Biographical info:

Hi, my name is Larry Hamm. I live in the North Carolina mountains, my family consists of my beautiful wife Janet and 8 year old son Jacob. I've been married for 14 years and look forward to many more. I'm a disabled diabetic but that hasn't dampened my inspiration to create. I love to paint just about anything I can get my hands on and do some woodworking when my health allows.

2. Who and or what inspired you to become an artist? Was there a specific event or period in your life when you decided to go this route and why? Was it the right decision?

I've doodled, drawn and painted since childhood. My grandmother always encouraged me to pursue my gift from God. And that's my true inspiration. Without Him I would have no talent. Yes I think it was the right decision for me.

3. Define your craft as you see it and explain the mental and physical process you go through to create what you sell.

I really just take it as I get it. I don't sit and plan out my paintings or designs; I just start them and let them happen. If I get a creative block I just walk away from the project and come back to it later. I spend a lot of time promoting myself and other Artfire Artisans online in my blog at Chelsea Lynn Designs and in the Artfire forums.

4. What purpose does your art serve in your life? Is it just paying the bills?

I don't sell a lot so no its not paying the bills. LOL. It just makes me feel good to create something beautiful.

5. Are you a full-time artist or a double agent?

I was a computer technician for 20 years. Since becoming disabled, I've went full time as my health allows.

6. What other creative outlets do you employ?

I sing in church

7. Why do you like selling on ArtFire, and why is being apart of the upcoming giveaway important to you?

I like the way the site is laid out, but most of all I like the community. The people, I've made so many new friends. I wanted to be a part of the giveaway mainly to help promote the Artfire community, but a little personal promotion can't hurt.

8. Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t assume just from browsing in your shop.

I believe it would have to be the fact I'm disabled. I try not to let it reflect in my work. Most people are really surprised to find out I can't walk and am on oxygen full time. But I don't want people to see me that way. I want them to get to know me for who I am on the inside.

9. What have you learned about yourself by being an artist? What have you learned about others and/or society?

I've learned that I have a gift that I can use to make others feel better. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing the look on a Child's face or the glisten of a tear stained eye of a elderly person in a rest home when you hand them something you have put your heart into and made with your own hands.

10. What have you learned about yourself by being a business person? What have you learned about others and/or society?

I've mainly learned that a business person I ain't. But this is more of a hobby for me to keep me busy and active.

11. If you weren’t the artist you are today, what else would you be?

Without my talent I would still be me a father a husband and a servant of God.

12. What advice would give to someone who wanted to start their own shop on ArtFire or another handmade venue?

I myself would say don't bury yourself thinking about it, just do it if you're doing what you love; then follow your heart.

13. What flavor of ice cream are you and why?

I guess I would be moose tracks. Overall I'm a sweet guy, but folks have called me chunky all my life, and it's been said I might be a little nutty :-)

Thank you, Larry!! I've only been corresponding with Larry for a couple of weeks, but somehow I just knew he was going to say Moose Tracks! Don't forget to check out Larry's shop: ChelseaLynnDesigns and stay tuned for more "Getting to Know the Givers!"

~Lori

Want to peek at past giveaways? January February March