Handmade Striped Bud Vase Giveaway (CLOSED)

I've recently discovered another new shop that I've fallen in love with on Etsy. Neal D Miller is a college student who has done some work in various ceramic studios - and the beautiful vases he creates are gorgeous. With fabulous bold colors and unique glazing techniques - the vases are really something to behold!



Not only do I want to own every single vase in his collection, but I think they would make fantastic gifts for Mother's Day, birthdays or other special occasions. You'd expect to pay an arm and a leg for these beauties, but the prices are VERY good!



I'd really recommend picking up one of his pieces for yourself or the next time you need a really special gift for someone you cherish.



Neal has graciously offered to give one of his beautiful vases to a 2 Lil Muffins reader! The striped bud vase is an adorably small vase that I think would be perfect to pull out when the little ones bring you handfuls of wildflowers from the yard...and wouldn't it make them feel great that you've got a special vase just for such occasions? The dimensions are: Height: 3.75" Diameter: 2.5" Opening: 1".

How to Enter: Visit the NealDMiller shop on Etsy and let me know which vase is your favorite.

Extra Entries:

• Follow this blog publicly. (1 Extra Entry)

• Subscribe to 2 Lil Muffins via email and confirm. (1 Extra Entry)

• Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Can be done daily! (2 Extra Entries)

• Purchase anything from the NealDMiller shop on Etsy and leave me a comment letting me know what you purchased. (10 Extra Entries)

• Heart the NealDMiller Etsy Shop. (2 Extra Entries)

This giveaway will end April 13, and the winner will be chosen by Random.org! Please remember to leave a comment for each entry so they count when the winner is generated - and leave your email address if it's not available in your profile. Good luck, ladies and gentlemen! :-)

Comment of the Week:

"Carapace said... And I follow this blog, so obviously I appreciate the finer things! :D"

Eco-Luxury + Win a Sandy Shore Glass Bead Bracelet (CLOSED)

I'd like to take a few moments to talk to you about something that means a lot to me. The Green Connoisseur is a company that my partners and I have been proud to be affiliated with. Highlighting eco-friendly luxury - from organic pet-pampering products to eco-friendly jewelry to energy saving luxury cars - the company makes it super easy to keep up to date with the newest and trendiest in eco-luxury items.You can visit the site and check out some really fabulous items - highlighted by my partners and myself in feature articles. I'd love to hear what you guys think of the site and what you might like to see there. They've recently started a Facebook page and Twitter account to make it easier to get great information and tips on green and eco-friendly related companies and items. Because I believe in this company so much, I'm offering a super-fantastic giveaway to help promote the Facebook and Twitter pages.
The Giveaway:

When I have time, I really love making jewelry. This giveaway will give one of you the chance to win my very favorite handmade item - ever. The Sandy Shore Glass Bead bracelet is without a doubt my favorite and I'm not even sure why. It's a memory wire bracelet, so you just wrap it around your wrist and you're good to go.



Plus - this will look fabulous with absolutely any outfit! It looks to me like sea glass collected during a romantic walk and saved - later to be added to jewelry as a memento. Maybe I'm just a romantic at heart. In any case...it's soon to belong to one of you!

How to Enter: Visit the Green Connoisseur's Facebook page and become a fan. Leave a message on the wall telling them 2 Lil Muffins sent you!

Extra Entries:

• Follow The Green Connoisseur on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

• Refer The Green Connoisseur to your Twitter followers (leave a comment with a link to the tweet) (2 extra entries - can be done daily.)

That's it! As you can see, this is a very special giveaway. It will end on April 3, 2010 and the winner will be chosen by Random.org. Don't forget to leave your email address if it's not public in your profile and leave a comment for each entry. Tell your friends about this post too, please! Good luck everyone.

UPDATE: I just wanted to make sure it was clear that the bracelet isn't made by The Green Connoisseur, but by me. The giveaway is hosted by me to help promote The Green Connoisseur - an eco-friendly luxury site. Check it out at www.TheGreenConnoisseur.com - I think you'll like it!

Pearl Flower Asymmetrical Necklace Giveaway (CLOSED)

When I saw Beads Story on Etsy - I absolutely fell in love. Every single piece of jewelry is beautiful and unique. In fact, it would be difficult to choose a piece of jewelry from their shop that isn't 'my style.' The owner, Anca, generously allowed me to choose an item for a giveaway...and it was so hard! I think you'll find that I didn't let you guys down though. But first, let's find out a little more about the shop.

I'm completely enamored with the bracelets. There are so many beautiful ones - and they're very different from what you see everywhere - which is what I love so much! The above one is absolutely darling. Of course, while there are a ton of gorgeous bracelets, there are other pretties too...The shop bio sums it up perfectly - "I love Jewelery." So do we, right, ladies? And one of you lucky 2 Lil Muffins readers is going to get the chance to win a beautiful piece of jewelry from Beads Story's shop.


Stunning and rich, elegant and luxurious, this pearl necklace features a unique flower.

This is a very beautiful, natural and romantic design featuring a antique brass filigree covered with pearls.Six 6 mm ivory glass pearls and one 8 mm ivory glass pearl designed in a flower shape will accentuate the beauty of this necklace. This special pendant is continued with 8 mm ivory pearls. It measures 18'' long with a 2'' extender.

• How to Enter: Visit Beads Story on Etsy and browse through the amazing jewelry. Let me know in a comment which one is your absolute favorite!

Extra Entries:

• Heart the Beads Story shop on Etsy. (1 extra entry)

• Purchase an item from the shop and let me know what you purchased. (10 extra entries)

• Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway. (1 extra entry)

• Follow this blog publicly. (1 extra entry)

• Subscribe to 2 Lil Muffins via email. (1 extra entry)

This giveaway will end March 28, 2010 at 8pm EST and the winner will be chosen with Random.org. Please remember to leave your email address if it's not public in your profile. Also, leave a comment for each entry so they count when the winner is generated. Good luck, ladies!!

Review of Conduit Press on Etsy and Upcycled Notebook Giveaway (CLOSED)

I can't tell you how much writing is a part of my life. It's how I earn a living, it's what I do in my spare time, and as if that weren't enough - I also keep journals that I write in on a regular basis. Writing and reading are as much a part of me as breathing and blinking - so finding Conduit Press on Etsy was a real treat for me. Talia, the owner, creates beautiful 'upcycled' journals, notebooks and other items that are unique and special.

I was lucky enough to be given the chance to review some special notebooks from Conduit Press, and to interview Talia. I hope you enjoy - and as you'll see at the end of this post, Talia has offered something very special for a lucky 2 Lil Muffins reader!

The Interview:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

"Well, I'm a stay.work at home momma of a beautiful bouncing little 7 month old beauty named Griffin as well as a wacky teenager and a game-playing 8 year old. I spend my days reading Goodnight Moon and The Hungry Caterpillar and singing the ABC's in my best soprano (I'm an alto, so it's not a very good soprano). I spend my afternoons (baby nap times) tearing paper and cutting leather to make into beautiful handmade books that give me a catharsis I can't even explain.

I spend my evenings helping glue together shoebox book reports and editing freshman English term papers. I spend my nights cuddling with my Loving husband on the sofa whilst watching Lost (on a good day). I spend my life creating beautiful amazing useful too many words to describe people and things and I pretty much Love it."


2. Your shop contains quite a few 'upcycled' or recycled goods. What is your favorite creation to make?

"Really, every book is a joy to make. It really is. And every time I come up with a new design for a new book I fall in Love with that very one just a little bit more than the last. I've recently discovered that upcycling materials to make into books is so much more fulfilling than simply buying book board and paper from an art store because, well, you can really feel good about where it comes from, and where it's going. So, currently, my favorite creation to make is the leather journals I've been working on.

Leather is such a versatile material in so many ways and it's really beautiful. I'm using an upcycled leather from an upholstery shop in town so I know it's of extraordinary quality and had I not purchased this leather, it would have ended up in a dumpster. It feels really good to know that I was able to save something from adding to the pile of rubbish that we create daily without even thinking about it."



3. How long have you been creating paper goods, journals, etc?

"I've been making books in some form since I was a wee child honestly. My father bought me my first diary when I was about 7 and when I filled that up I stapled some pages together, tore a beautiful photography of a ballerina out of a magazine and called that a cover. Since then I've definitely grown with my skills though. ;)

I took an Artist's Books class my senior year of college (about 8 years ago now) and I never looked back. There is where I learned how to make archival books using archival materials and learned how to really sew a book together they way you're 'supposed to'. Ever since I've been reading Keith Smith books like crazy and teaching myself all the new ways in which to bind and create books. One can never really have enough books I think, because we never stop thinking to fill them."

4. Do you have a favorite piece in the shop now?

"I do. It's leather, of course. It's a maroon leather journal with a large round chartreuse bead sewn on the wraparound cover. I Love the colors of this journal. I Love maroon and chartreuse together for some reason. I like their opposition on the color wheel, and their brightness. I also Love the size of this journal (about 4x6) and that it's landscape and not portrait. It could be used as a photo album or a journal or even a sketchbook. The pages inside are a nice medium tooth white paper that will take almost any medium and the leather covers are nice and durable to protect whatever is inside."



5. In your opinion, what's the coolest thing about Conduit Press?

"For me, the coolest thing about CP is that it gives me the freedom to create things and share them with people I might never meet in real life. I Love creating and the art of creating things and being able to share them with the world, is really amazing. Aside from that, I think the coolest thing is that I am able to use a lot of materials in my art that would otherwise be trash, and saving our world from more trash is well, cool. :)"

She's right - it's totally cool and really admirable as well...not to mention the truly unique works of art that come out of the process!

The Review:

Talia sent me three small, upcycled notebooks to review. Made from recycled vinyl, thin typing paper and featuring a hemp closure - these notebooks are very pretty. What I love most about them is that they're so natural looking - very clean lines but rustic in a way. I immediately fell in love with them! When I'm not writing non-fiction articles for my clients, I'm writing fiction - and throughout the day, an idea will suddenly come to me for one element of a story or another. Usually, I jot them down somewhere and come back to them later. Well, I've started using these mini-notebooks to jot down my ideas.


I think it will be super-cool to have these little books full of inspirational thoughts and ideas, long after the ideas have transformed into stories and poems! What a neat little memento, right? The books are wonderful quality and I just love how they're so unique. I think these kinds of books would make a PERFECT gift for someone in your family who is a writer, or someone who enjoys writing their thoughts on a daily basis.

The Giveaway:

Talia was generous enough to offer 2 of these beautiful mini notebooks as a prize for one lucky 2 Lil Muffins reader! Here is the description:

A due of pocket-size blank journals: each measure approximately 4" x 6" and hold 40 sheets (80 sides) of a thin typing paper. Each book is hand sewn with hemp thread using the pamphlet stitch and can lie flat when open. Each also has an excess of hemp thread to use as a tie closure. Covers are upcycled vinyl remnants with various colors. Great for use as a simple list book to keep in your purse or a place to keep thoughts."

• How to Enter: Visit Conduit Press on Etsy and browse through her unique and beautiful items. Let me know which one is your favorite in a comment!

Extra Entries:

• Follow this blog publicly or let me know if you already are. (1 extra entry)

• Heart Conduit Press on Etsy. (1 extra entry)

• Purchase an item from Conduit Press and let me know which item you've purchased. (10 extra entries)

• Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Can be done daily. (2 extra entries)

• Put my button in your sidebar and leave the link, or let me know if you already have it. (3 extra entries)

• Subscribe to 2 Lil Muffins via email and confirm. (2 extra entries)

Good luck to all!! This contest will end on March 16, 2010 at 8PM EST and the winner will be chosen by Random.org. Remember to leave a comment for each entry so they all count when the winner is chosen. Also - leave your email address if it's not public in your profile.

Note: I was sent an item free of charge in order to make a review about this shop and its products. I was not monetarily compensated in any way, and the opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine and honest.

Child's Room Painting of Your Choice Giveaway (CLOSED)

I think a child's room should be special - it's their getaway, a little place belonging to them! They should be surrounded by images and items they love and that comfort them. That's why I'm excited about The Ivy Lane on Etsy and this giveaway!


Amy is an incredibly nice and very talented woman. This artist is also a Michigan mommy of three! **Where does she find the time to paint?** If she's anything like me, a lot of her work is done to the sound of snoring. ;-) Her shop is filled with beautiful paintings for little boys and girls rooms - and she loves customizing paintings for her customers.



So, if you have bedding or other decor in your child's room that you'd like a painting to match, Amy is your gal! Just let her know what you need and she'll fix it right up for you. Amy has generously offered one painting for 2 Lil Muffins readers - your choice! How exciting!!!

How to Enter:

Visit The Ivy Lane on Etsy and browse through the beautiful paintings there. Let me know which one you'd choose if you win the contest!

Extra Entries:

• Heart The Ivy Lane shop on Etsy. (1 extra entry)

• Purchase any item from The Ivy Lane shop - maybe get started on a collection!! Come back here and let me know what you purchased. (10 extra entries)

• Follow this blog publicly. (1 extra entry)

• Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Can be done daily. (1 extra entry)

• Enter any of the giveaways over at Champagne Wisdom and let me know which one. (2 extra entries)

• Follow my partner Yona's blog publicly for excellent giveaway news, reviews, and thoughts. (2 extra entries)

• Grab my button and put it on your blog sidebar. - leave me a link! (3 extra entries)

Good luck all! This contest is open to US and Canadian residents only and will end March 14, 2010 at 8PM EST. The winner will be chosen by Random.org. Have a great time winning this beautiful item and let your friends and family know about 2 Lil Muffins!

Robin's Egg Blue Necklace Giveaway (CLOSED)

Discovering different artists is a fabulous part of keeping up with this blog, and I'm a sucker for unique and vintage-inspired jewelry - so when I saw the items available on Botanical Bird on Etsy, I immediately became interested. The seller, Cyd, is obviously very talented with an eye for color and creating unique designs. She has generously offered to answer some questions for me and she has a fabulous item that one of you lucky readers is going to win!

Interview:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Well lets see, my birth name is Cynthia, which I changed to Cyndy and then about 6 years ago, changed to Cyd, which is what I go by now. So, I guess my name keeps getting shorter, who knows, I may eventually end up with just "C". (lol) I am a lover of all things nature related, I adore gardening, bird watching and just being outdoors as much as possible. I currently live in a forested area of Portland, Oregon, where it's very green and beautiful! I have also lived in both Arizona and Alaska. I am a long time self taught artist, I have worked with various mediums, including watercolor painting, tile/glass mosaics and now jewelry.



2. How long have you been designing jewelry?

I have been making jewelry really since I was a kid, I use to make beaded earrings and necklaces with my Mom. I got more serious about it 2 years ago when I opened my etsy shop. When I first opened my shop I was also running my gardening business, so I had 2 businesses going at the same time for awhile. After one year of selling on etsy, I was able to discontinue my gardening business and make jewelry full time, which was really great.

3. Where does your inspiration come from?

I get my inspiration from Nature, always nature! I am continually amazed by the natural world, and love nothing more than spending time being totally immersed in a rain forest, and seeing the abundance of life there, really love that!



4. Do you have a favorite piece?

Not really, but I am fond of the "Blue meadow Necklace" which is a newer design of mine.

5. What is the coolest thing about Botanical Bird designs?

The coolest thing, I would have to say is that by having my shop, it has allowed me to meet many online friends, which is really sweet, and it has also afforded me a certain amount of freedom in my life, and really what artist doesn't love that?

I love Cyd's shop - it's absolutely packed full of unique designs that are striking and bold, and very reminiscent of nature. I could close my eyes, choose an item and know that I'd be happy with it, no matter which one I chose - her stuff is that good! Today, Cyd has so generously offered to give one of you a beautiful piece from her shop.

The Giveaway:

"Here is a lovely Vintage Inspired Necklace, featuring two gorgeous creamy blue Amazonite beads, reminiscent of robin's eggs, along with a brass swallow, an antiqued gold leaf, and a tiny Czech glass flower bead, all on a delicate antiqued gold brass chain."



How to Enter: Visit Botanical Bird on Etsy, and let me know what your favorite item is.

Extra Entries:

• Follow this blog publicly. (1 Extra Entry.)

• Become a fan of Botanical Bird on Facebook and leave a message on her wall, letting her know 2 Lil Muffins sent you. (2 Extra Entries.)

• Follow 2 Lil Muffins on twitter and Botanical Bird on twitter. (2 Extra Entries.)

• Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link. Can be done daily. (1 Extra Entry.)

• Grab my button and leave me the link to where it's at. (1 Extra Entry.)

• Purchase an item from the Botanical Bird shop on Etsy and let me know what you purchased. (10 Extra Entries.)

That's it!! What a beautiful necklace - perfect to keep for yourself or give to a very lucky friend. Remember to leave a comment for each entry so each one counts when the winner is generated. Also remember to leave your email address in your comment if it's not available on your profile! This contest will end March 5, 2010 at 8pm EST and the winner will be chosen by Random.org. Good luck!

My Family Ties Review and Gerbera Daisy Clips Giveaway (CLOSED)

My kids wear uniforms to school, so everyone is dressed in the exact same thing. Because we can't use clothing and clothing styles to do it, we have to establish our individuality a little bit differently.

My daughter prefers cute hair clips, jewelry and accessories that really express her personality - that's why I was thrilled for her to try out some handmade hair accessories from My Family Ties on Etsy. I'd love to tell you how we enjoyed them - and to give you a chance to win some of your own! But first...



About the Designer:

My name is Brandi. I'm a 35 year old mom to a 3 year old little girl and a wife to a great guy! I come from a wildly creative family with people who can do everything from draw and paint to sew and arrange floral pieces. I have been making childrens' hair accessories for a bit over a year. While this is relatively new to me I love doing it!



I draw, cut, and stitch everything by hand. My inspiration comes from all things kid related...story books, coloring books, characters, and lots of suggestions from people who ask "can you do this in felt?". My favorite things change constantly but I am rather fond of the Birthstone Flower clips right now.



These are my sister's creations which leads me to what I think is great about our shop ~ we are 3 generations of women who each have something unique to bring to the shop. Our shop keeps us in touch on a weekly, even daily basis. I love that my middle sister and I have developed a common ground and that we keep each other motivated :)

The Review:

I LOVE that this family is doing this together - and creating some truly adorable accessories in the process. Brandi was so nice and responded so quickly when I contacted her about doing a giveaway! She sent us two of the beautiful Gerbera Daisy flower clips. The first thing I noticed about them was how soft they are! Usually, clips and hair accessories will irritate my daughter after a day of wearing them and she's ready to yank them out as soon as she gets home from school, but not these! You can see her wearing one of them below:



I also noticed that they held a lot better than some of the other clips we have - which is good because it keeps the hair in place and looks great all day. My little girl was in love with these clips - and she wanted to see the other ones available! There are tons, by the way, so we'll be doing some shopping tonight! These clips are a definite winner.

The Giveaway:

Brandi has generously offered to send one of you lucky readers a set of two of your very own Gerbera Daisy clips. You're going to L.O.V.E. them! Each one is sketched out by hand, cut and then hand-stitched. Brandi and her family are so talented!



How to Enter: (Note: You MUST be following this blog publicly in order to enter.) Browse through the My Family Ties shop and let me know what your favorite accessory is.

Extra Entries:

• Heart the Family Ties Shop. (1 Extra Entry.)

• Purchase Something from the Shop and Let Me Know What You Bought! (5 Extra Entries.)

• Subscribe to this blog via email. (1 Extra Entry.)

• Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway. (2 Extra Entries.)

• Comment on any post here that is NOT a giveaway. (1 Extra Entry.)

That's it!! This contest will end March 3, 2010 at 8PM EST and the winner will be chosen with Random.org. Note: Please make sure you leave a comment for each entry so each one counts, and include your email address if it's not available in your public profile. Thanks!

I was sent an item at no charge to review, but was not monetarily compensated in any way for my review. My opinions are 100% honest and mine!

Rosebud Lips Ethereal Beauty Rosebud Headband Giveaway (CLOSED)

Wow. I have found an absolutely fabulous shop called Rosebud Lips on Etsy. The seller, Lauren, is so nice - she didn't hesitate a bit when I told her I'd love to do a giveaway with her! She's a stay-at-home mommy of a precious baby girl and she is amazingly talented.

Every single one of Lauren's headbands and necklaces are so feminine and pretty, and many of the head clips can also double as brooches! Most of the headbands can be worn by adults or children - which would be fabulous for me since my little girl steals all of my hair things and jewelry anyway!

About the Designer:

Rosebud Lips. That's the nickname that my mom gave me when I was a little girl, and then my daughter (her grand-daughter). All three generations shared the Rosebud Lips. I have always been creative, and learned to sew at a young age. I was taught by my grandmother (Nana) and my mom (Tama). I have always loved fashion, and at a young age moved to New York City. I had the opportunity to intern for designer Cynthia Rowley, which was an amazing experience.


To tell you why I became a designer would have to be because of my sweet memories of being a little girl (about 4) and dancing around in my Nana's silk bed sheets (my cape), adorned with her costume jewelry. I felt like a princess. My Nana has collected jewelry from my family generations back, and I felt like each piece had a story. This inspired me to use antiques in my pieces. I love textures, antiques, fabric and jewelry.


Together, these form my concepts for my collection-- Making every woman feel beautiful I started the company in 2009, shortly after my mom passed away from Cancer. She was my best friend, and my biggest supporter. She was an artist herself, and she told me to follow my dreams and be creative. This motivated me to leave the marketing/PR world that I worked in for over 5 years. She has changed the course of my life, and I'm so excited for what the future holds.



Set Hope Free is a project that I'm so passionate about. It's about redeeming women who have been held captive and have been sold into slavery. Human trafficking doesn't just happen in other countries, but in our cities. Every item that is sold through Rosebud Lips contributes to a care package that is being sent to help these women reclaim their dignity. To make them feel beautiful again. My heart desires to set hope free among these women and children. To bring awareness of trafficking, so that we may protect our loved ones, and rescue those that have been enslaved. To learn more, go to www.iamchange.org and see what we are doing. Thanks so much, Lauren

I am absolutely in love with the beautiful accessories at Rosebud Lips, and you MUST check out the bridal items available! Everything there is so pretty and sweet. What Lauren does for the above organization is both noble and inspirational as well! Lauren has offered to give one of you lucky readers your very own Ethereal Beauty Rosebud Headband. (below) I love. this. headband!!

• How to Enter: Visit Rosebud Lips on Etsy and browse through the absolutely beautiful collection of headbands, clips and jewelry. Come back here and tell me what your favorite is!

Extra Entries:

• Follow this blog publicly. (1 Extra Entry)

• Follow Rosebud Lips on Twitter. (1 Extra Entry)

• Follow Me on Twitter. (1 Extra Entry)

• Follow Rosebud Lips on Facebook. (1 Extra Entry)

• Subscribe to this blog via email. (2 Extra Entries)

• Heart the Rosebud Lips Shop on Etsy. (2 Extra Entries)

• Purchase something from the Rosebud Lips Shop on Etsy. (10 Extra Entries)

• Put my button on your blog, and leave me the link. (3 Extra Entries)

This contest will end February 17, 2010 at 8PM Est and the winner will be chosen by Random.org. Please don't forget to leave a comment for each entry so every one of them counts. Also, leave me your email address in your comments if it's not available in your profile. Good luck everyone!

Steampunk Trunk Review and Giveaway (CLOSED)

Until recently, I had no idea what 'steampunk' jewelry even was! Now, I'm completely sold - I love how each piece is so unique and whimsical. I've had a wonderful opportunity to interview the fabulous and talented seller behind The Steampunk Trunk on Etsy - and test out a gorgeous necklace she sent me. She's also generously offered to give one of you lucky readers a special surprise, which you'll find out at the end of this post.

Interview:

Let's meet the mastermind behind the gorgeous jewelry available at this shop.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm a stay at home Mother of 3 wonderful young men whom I am very proud of. The oldest (22) is in School for plumbing, the middle (19) is in the US Army stationed in the states but with every phone call from him my heart sinks at the thought of him telling me has been deployed...Thankfully that hasn't happened yet. My youngest is 10, he is so much fun and loves to try to help me in the studio which is right smack dab in the middle of our home.



You have such beautiful and unique designs. What inspires you to create a piece?

I let my components inspire me, Ive never been on to sit down and pump out a bunch of pieces just because I have the parts. I will let pieces sit for months before they are complete and trust me there are many pieces get torn apart if they are not just right, esp the pocketbooks. The actually take months to complete from conception to listing.

How long have you been creating steampunk jewelry and accessories?

I have been making jewelry for about 15 years and really had no idea what steampunk was. I had made many, many pieces of what some would call steampunk but at the time I called it altered art. An Etsy customer of mine steered me straight, I thank her often:)



Do you have a favorite piece?

I sold a piece many months ago that I just adored, it was an antique pocket watch case which I filled with a pocket watch face, a small main spring, the gorgeous gold hands from the watch and filled it with Jewelers resin. It was called Pieces of Time...it pained me when it sold but I was proud too.

In your opinion, what's the coolest thing about the Steampunk Trunk items?

The coolest thing about "The Trunk" is that my pieces are so unique. I have some very cutting edge items that you will only find here...the pocketbooks and the Extreme Rotating Cufflinks are just a couple. I am working on some new designs that will hopefully be released over the next week or so...stay tuned. "You never know what you'll find in The Trunk."

The Review:

She is absolutely right - the pieces are so unique and gorgeous! I absolutely love them. I was sent a vintage typewriter key necklace that I think is so unique. It has the vintage look I love and has gotten so many comments on it's uniqueness and beauty.


Isn't this really cool? Mine had an asterisk and I think the fact that she sent the typewriter key necklace was perfect, since I'm a writer. It's a necklace that I'm really going to cherish for a long time! I have to tell you that the quality of the jewelry from The Steampunk Trunk is fabulous. You can certainly be sure that it will last for a long, long time.



The Giveaway:

One of you are going to get the same necklace I got - but with a special twist! She's going to customize it for you so you can add initials of your kids or your 'special someone!' It will come on a 22 inch 18k white gold chain, too!

• How to Enter: Visit the Steampunk Trunk and browse through the awesome treasures there and come back here and let me know what you think is the coolest! Make sure you leave a comment for every entry and your email address if it's not public in your profile!
  

Extra Entries:

• Follow this blog publicly or let me know if you already do. (1 Extra Entry)

• Follow the Steampunk Trunk's blog publicly. (1 Extra Entry)

• Heart the Steampunk Trunk on Etsy. (2 Extra Entries)

• Purchase an item from the Steampunk Trunk. (10 Extra Entries)

• Subscribe to this blog via email. (2 Extra Entries)

• Enter any of the contests over at Champagne Wisdom, then come back here and let me know. (2 Extra Entries)

• Leave a comment on any blog post here that is not a giveaway. (1 Extra Entry)

• Follow me on twitter and tweet this contest. Can be done daily. (1 Extra Entry)

The contest will end February 16, 2010 at 8PM EST and the winner will be selected by Random.org. Good luck, everyone!

I was sent an item to review free of charge by the sponsor of this giveaway. I was not compensated monetarily for my opinions and they are 100% mine and honest!

12 Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffin Giveaway from HomeBakery on Etsy (CLOSED)

Oh boy - do I have a real treat for you guys! I really love home-baked snacks, whether it's chewy and fresh cookies or gooey and delicious cupcakes. Nothing is better than homemade, but I'd be lying if I said I had the time to make these kinds of goodies from scratch all the time. I know a lot of you don't have the time, either.

That's why when I saw this Etsy shop, I was amazed. They create some of the most delicious treats on the planet for the best prices!


The Home Bakery is a family-owned and operated online bakery. The best part about them is that they grow a lot of their own food - organically and with no pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Their eggs are local, from a cage-free, vegetarian-fed chicken ranch, and their milk is USDA certified organic from pasture-raised cows. They use unbleached flours and fresh herbs grown right in their yard!


The Home Bakery also specializes in custom orders - they have a whole list of ingredients that you can have added in your order - and you get 2 add-ins free! So, if you can dream up a snack, chances are, they can make it for you. If you own a cafe or restaurant, the Home Bakery would love to provide you with their delicious snacks on a wholesale basis - they offer volume discounts as well.

My real weakness is blueberry muffins - how'd you guess?! That's why I'm thrilled to tell you that the HomeBakery team on Etsy (Joe, Kris, TJ and Elise) have offered up 12...yes, 12 delicious Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins for one of my lucky readers to win! MMMM!



How to Enter: Follow this blog and visit HomeBakery on Etsy and browse through their mouth-watering goodies, then come back here and tell me what you'd most like to try! You must be following this blog publicly!

UPDATE: Please, please make sure you're following this blog or your entry doesn't count!

Extra Entries

• Favorite HomeBakery's Etsy shop. (2 extra entries)

• Purchase anything from HomeBakery's shop. (10 extra entries) CHECK OUT THOSE low prices!!!

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway! (2 extra entries) Can be done daily. Example "Win 12 delicious streusel-topped blueberry muffins from @2lilmuffins - http://tiny.cc/UVwaF"

• Refer your friends to 2 Lil Muffins. Have them follow and leave your email address (as well as theirs) in their comments. (3 extra entries for every friend that follows publicly.)
  

• Enter any of the giveaways over at ChampagneWisdom and then let me know which ones you entered. (2 extra entries)

The contest will end Feb. 4 at 8pm EST and the winner will be chosen by Random.org. Please remember to leave your email address in your comments if your profile isn't public. Good luck guys!

XO Brand Jewelry Making Variety Pack Giveaway (CLOSED)

Do you love to make jewelry or have you always wished you could try? I personally have a lot of fun making glass beaded jewelry! I've seen the scrabble tile jewelry and the glass bubble jewelry in a lot of different places, but have never had the chance to make it before now. I have, however, admired its beauty - what creative and unique pieces!



The jewelry looks so stunning and sophisticated, I would have never guessed at the gorgeous pieces that creators use to actually make it...the pieces like Julee from ImJewelee on Etsy makes. Great news!! One lucky reader and I are going to get the chance to try fabulous XO brand jewelry making supplies, because Julee has so wonderfully agreed to sponsor a giveaway! Like an absolute angel, she also agreed to tell us a little about herself and how she got into making jewelry pieces.

Artist Spotlight:

1. Tell us a little about yourself, Julee!

Hmmmm... a little? Oh that is so hard - I love to talk! Well, I am originally from Battle Creek, Michigan (Kellogg's home town) I love my family, my many many friends, and GOD! I love my life and live on a beautiful lake in a little country town.

I am a mom to one very sweet, beautiful, loving and funny daughter, a wife to a big huggy bear country man and the love of my life, the coolest substitute teacher as well as the owner of ImJewelee's which is almost famous for my Jewelry Findings Designer Line.

2. What made you decide to design jewelry pieces?

Oooo this is a long story, so I will try to make it short. My sister saw the scrabble tile necklaces on Etsy and said hey we can make those so we did and started selling them on Etsy. I found it hard to get the jewelry findings that would work well and not cost too much. So, I searched and searched and I finally found "my source" and then whamo a huge company asked me to cease sales of my bails and so of course I did.

Then I decided to develop and trademark my own line.. tada.. XO Brand™ of Designer Jewelry Findings was developed and I am loving that...story. It could have been a bad thing but being the positive and thinking of the best it has been an extraordinary adventure and continues to be one.



3. Whats your favorite kind of jewelry to wear?

I love to wear unique pieces that no one else has! A bunch of my customers occasionally send me pieces (thank you to them I have lots to choose from) and they are all very unique. When I don't have something to wear with a particular outfit I just get out my paints, papers, glitter, crystals, beads, crystals and XO Brand Bails and Pendant trays or bead bars and start creating. For New Years Eve I made a very cool XO Pendant Necklace.

I painted the crystal RED HOT RED under the crystal then placed some beautiful beads hanging down. Then I also made some matching earrings. When I made my pendants mine were very unique scrabble tiles and one was even featured on the front page of Etsy! The pendant had a rhinestone flower with a painted gloss black background, very striking if I do say so myself...ha.

4. What makes XO Brand products so awesome?

That one is easy! They are very sparkly, high quality and affordable to everyone! I am amazed at the workmanship that goes into each piece. When I designed them, I knew they had to be over the top, awesome and so very cool! I love the logo that I designed with my sister and we each own the trademarked items.

We each create different pieces to offer to our clients too! I can't quit creating either I have some new items coming in very soon and am so excited to design them and offer them! The X and the O of course is for hugs and kisses. The little j is for me (julee) and the little k is for my sister (kelly). XO Brand™ Jewelry Findings are contemporary, classic and cool! Try some XO Brand™ products today!



The Giveaway:

Julee is so sweet and talented - you can sense her excitement even reading her words on your computer screen! She was generous enough to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a jewelry making variety pack. (Click on the link to see it in the Etsy shop!)



The pack includes:

• 5 XO Bails™ - One in Each Color (Silver, Black, Gun Metal, Gold, Antique Gold) Create gorgeous pendants!

• 2 XO Charm Bails™ - Make Charm Bracelets, Pendants, Etc!

• 1 Pair of XO Earrings™ with Posts and Backs - Make a Beautiful Pair of Earrings with These!

• 2 Silver Plated XO Rings™ - Make a Chunky and Funky or Pretty and Elegant Ring!

• 2 Interchangeable XO Bead Bars™ - LOVE THESE - you can change up your beads to match your clothing, the season, holiday, etc! It's like having hundreds of pieces of jewelry in one!

That's a ton of jewelry making supplies to get you started creating fabulous and unique jewelry. Plus, you're getting quality with Julee's XO Brand products...so you know the pieces will be beautiful and long lasting.

• How to Enter: Visit the ImJewelee Etsy Shop and look around. Let me know what kinds of jewelry making goodies you'd love to try! (1 Entry)

Extra Entries:

• Subscribe to 2 Lil Muffins via email and confirm your subscription. (1 Entry)

• Purchase anything from the ImJewelee shop. (5 Extra Entries Per Purchase)

• Favorite or Heart any of the ImJewelee items, come back here and let me know which one. (1 Entry)

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. Example, 'Win an XO Brand jewelry making variety pack - http://tinyurl.com/ydr4h3l' (2 Entries and you can do this daily!)
  

• Follow this blog publicly. (1 Entry)

• Comment on one of the few non-giveaway posts on this blog! (1 Entry)

• Refer your friends and family here! For every referral (they must enter this contest and follow this blog), you get 5 extra entries. Simply have them put your name and email address in their first comment...then you may use up your 5 entries!

So, that's it! That's a lot of different chances to win. Don't forget to leave a comment for EACH ENTRY so it counts when the contest ends. Also, if your email address isn't on your profile, you'll need to leave it in the comments so I can reach you! This contest is only open to U.S. and Canadian residents, will end January 24, 2010 at 8PM EST and I'll use Random.org to choose the winner. Good luck!

Why Etsy Folks are the Nicest on Earth + Thank You, Followers!

So...this blog is brand spankin' new - hot muffins right out of the oven, baby. I am having a ball with it. Naturally, I've been working my rear off to line up sponsors for fabulous giveaways. I love Etsy so much and there are so many amazing products on there, that it's one of the first places I went. I'm still going there, so don't worry - but I've been approaching other potential sponsors, too.

Etsy sellers are so much more willing to do a giveaway than the others that I've approached. Why is that? Are they the nicest people on earth? Is it because I'm talking directly to the person who put their hard work, creativity and love into the products rather than a customer service rep hired to 'deal' with customers? In any case, I really appreciate the sponsors we have on 2 Lil Muffins so far - they have been absolutely LOVELY! Let's give them a round of applause:

InseineCreations - FABULOUS hand-crafted, healthy soap!
Amlowi - Gorgeous crocheted creations of all kinds!
MAEandMe - Beautiful hair accessories for girly girls!

Also - readers - you guys have been amazing. We've been up and going for about a week now and we're getting so many visits a day it's making my head spin. Thanks so much for your tweets, your facebook posts, and for telling your friends and families about 2 Lil Muffins. I'm working on getting some ultra-cool items for you to win in the VERY near future, so please keep coming back!