Look what I won!

I'm a big fan of blog giveaways - and you can't win unless you enter, so I enter LOTS!

I was lucky enough to win these fun earrings from the poetess wug and they just came today, sailing all the way across the pond. They came beautifully packaged and boxed and tied with a ribbon (yes, I really should have photographed that, but I was too keen to see the earrings!)

I love Debbie's philosophy expressed in her profile: "I give so much attention to my projects that are made from LEFTOVER yarn is because of a desire not to waste materials in a world that seems to want to throw everything away and move on to the next and newest thing..." I agree - I get extra joy when I finish a project using yarn or buttons and beads from my stash, I feel "worthy" somehow!

Please check out Debbie's shop wuglyees and stop by her blog and enjoy her musings - complete with poems. Who knows, you might be the next winner...

GIVEAWAY time: Win your own Meerkat Sales Fairy!

We all need a little help from time to time, especially after the busy holiday season - so I've designed a Meerkat Sales Fairy, and will give one of the very first off the needles to my winner!

She's dressed in Zibbet green and has a wand with bell to tinkle whilst working her magic (she's told me she's prepared to work for other venues too, so don't worry if you don't yet have a zibbet shop)

So what do you have to do to enter?

First of all, just look at the date - ooops, Happy New Year! Have you made a resolution? Mine is to work at promoting my Zibbet store as it's my newest and not so well known (yet!) as my Etsy and Folksy stores.

So - for your first and obligatory entry, leave a comment with your New Year's resolution. Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you! If you haven't made a resolution for yourself, you can suggest another one for me!

Second chance to enter - join our Zibbet facebook group! It's not just for Zibbet sellers. Check my post yesterday if you want to stop email notifications. Leave me a SECOND comment telling me which facebook ID you've joined our group so I know who you are.

Third possible entry; leave me another SEPARATE comment with your Zibbet url. You don't have to be a shop-owner, you can sign up as a buyer - it's free!

Good luck!



I will count up all separate valid entries and choose the winner with random.org next Saturday 8th January. This giveaway is open to ALL countries, and I will contact the winner for their address using the details left in your entry - so don't forget to leave me your contact details!

If you can't wait - she's for sale on Zibbet :-)

Thanksgiving Giveaway!

I'm thankful for all the support my virtual friends and customers across the world have given me over this year, so Meerkat Pilgrim Father would love to come and share his slice of Pumpkin Pie with one of you!

FIRST ENTRY
To enter, select an item from my Zibbet shop and leave the link in a comment below telling me WHO you think would love it. Be sure to leave me a way to find you - email, shop link, twitter link, facebook.

Second entry?
Want to enter a second time? Promote this giveaway ONCE in any way you wish - twitter, facebook, blog, stumbleupon, anything - and let me know what you've done in a separate comment, again remembering to leave me a way to contact you. Please don't promote more than once, I don't want everyone to hate me!

In a week's time I will number the entries and choose a winner with random.org

Entries accepted worldwide (cos I sulk when I'm excluded!)

Bye bye Etta

One last hug from Mum, then off she goes into her travelling box to her new home, with all the other lovely goodies.

Congratulations to Quincifer of Purple Schmurple Jewellery

World Tour Meerkat Giveaway

Etta is home!

If you haven't caught up yet, here's Etta's map

Here are all her souvenirs that you could win :-)

Now just come over to our Etteam blog and enter the giveaway: Click Here

Meerkat World Tour Giveaway!

Finally, little Etta has arrived home from her epic adventure and we are ready for the GIVEAWAY!



Although Etta was very pleased to see her Mum again, after her adventures she's eager to set off travelling again, this time to a new permanent home!

One lucky winner, to be decided by random.org, will win not just Etta but every single one of her souvenirs, pictured and listed below!


Etta is peeping out from her Travel bag from KnitzyBlonde and modelling a pair of human earrings from ZaftigDelights


Etta loves a bedtime story, so here is a vintage Peter Rabbit book and apron from ByTheWayside


Etta will bring her surfboard and bikini from ZaftigDelights for when you visit the beach.


You always need greeting cards, so Etta will bring you these cards from LamaWorks


Etta helped make this beaded pincushion from ValentineFiberArts


Doesn't Etta look stunning in her Tutu from GocksFrocks?


Etta painted this adorable Watercolour, which comes with an easel from Mozo


Etta is wearing beautiful disc beads from LindenAvenueDesigns, but you could use them in *human* jewellery.
This lovely Toad bead from Beadstylin’ seems to be whispering secrets!


Etta is hiding behind 3 fabulous ACEOs (miniprints) from Lori411



Although Etta seemed to think these might be edible, they are in fact beautifully textured stoneware charms from Midnightcoiler


Doesn't Etta look quite the Texan in her Rhinestone cowboy hat from Lindesigns?



Etta models a sweet little Fabric brooch from CrazyDaisiesDesigns



With her Silver heart and Ya’ll and Hook ’em Horns signs from LindenLeafStudio Etta disguises herself as a Texan!

All these gorgeous souvenirs...and of course Etta herself (from NiftyKnits) can be yours! Enter our international giveaway which starts tomorrow, on Etteam's blog

This is ... Neomi

of NoWonder



Favourite smell?

Vanilla!

Favourite place?

I love London for the atmosphere, New York for diversity, Jerusalem for the History and Venice for the beauty.

Favourite sound?

I'm not sure about sound but I do love the Beatles!



How did you get started?

It started as a school (uni, graphic design) project. I always loved the book "Alice in Wonderland" as I feel that you can interpret it in so many ways and as such do a lot with it. I loved the original illustrations and started playing with that adding some of the original text from the book. I was very happy with the result and wanted to do something more with it. I started taking some sewing, and textile printing courses and created "No Wonder"

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

My Feminine Alice dress


Why?

It's very feminine and design to flatter almost every woman. I initially designed it for a friend - she's a size 46 (US 14). She wore it to a banquet with our (Israel) president and many ambassadors, she got a lot of compliments that day. I wear it often, I'm a size 38 (US 6) and I too get complimented on it.

What is your best seller on Etsy?

My woollen scarves.



Why do you think they're so popular?

They are unique as they are made from very soft 100% woollen fabric and have my prints on them.

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

I can't really name just one as I love shopping especially for accessories - Bags, Jewelry etc. If I didn't stop myself I'd be shopping on Etsy all day. There are so many talented designers on Etsy.



What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

Don't be afraid to just go for it, but be prepared to work hard on marketing! It's very important to have great pictures. If you do than you can just give it a go and see what happens. It takes time and a lot of work. You need to learn how to work the net.

Niftyknits: Very true! Neomi has offered to giveaway one of these fabulous scarves to a lucky reader!
UPDATE 12th MARCH this giveaway is now CLOSED



All you have to do is to become a Twitter follower http://twitter.com/nowonder1 and come back and leave your twitter name in a comment so we can check. We'll then use random.org to pick a winner and tell you next week!

Find NoWonder on facebook here

NoWonder.etsy.com

International Giveaway!

Bonjour!

Ici at Niftyknits we love our international customers - especially as they're all so very very good at speaking our language ;-)

So when the weekend papers were kind enough to give us some free language course CDs we thought they'd work well as a giveaway ;-)





Por favor leave me a comment to tell me what you'd like to see new in my shops and I'll ask random.org to choose not just one, mais DEUX winners!

The first winner can choose which set of 2 CDs to win, the runner-up will receive the autre set (there are two Italian CDs, two Spanish)

Simples! Ne pas oublie to leave me a way of contacting you. I will pick the winners next Sunday.

Let's meet ...ecokaren!

EcoKaren and I decided to synchronise our blogs - so her interview is here, and if you go to her blog you can read all about me too!



Cats or dogs?

Definitely dogs. My kids are allergic to cats. I have a four year old Maltese who doesn’t shed (I lose hair more than she does), she doesn’t smell, and hypoallergenic because she has hair, not fur. But still, she’s not allowed in my studio.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars – gotta love that Yoda.

Fruit or chocolate?

Chocolate covered fruit – best of both worlds.

Favourite colour?

Purple

Favourite meal?

Soups in winter and grilled anything in summer

City break or weekend in the country?

I’m lucky to be 45 minutes away from NYC where I can get my hustle and bustle city life fix when I need it. But I love my country living. Love going to the farms for fresh produce, eggs, grass fed meats, jellies, and fruits. .



Soaps or documentaries?

No time for TV but I love “House” (Hugh Laurie, actually) so I bought all the seasons on iTune and watch when I’m knitting.

Bath or shower?

Shower with my organic washcloths



Dress or jeans?

Jeans with pearls

Your favorite material?

Anything that we thought of throwing out because we had no use for them.

What do you want to reveal about yourself?

I am not really an environmentalist or a tree hugger in the conventional sense of the word. I’ve always lived a recycled life, if you will. It’s in my nature NOT to throw things out - call me cheap or call me a packrat. I find it amusing to turn old things into new functional things. It’s quirky but I think it’s fun and unique. So, this whole environmental movement is not new to me; just the term is.



What brought you to Etsy?

I have two active teenagers. I used to sit and wait for their activities to finish so that I can schlep them to their next activity. Then, I started to knit reusable cleaning cloths, washcloths, and scarves for friends and family to be more productive while I waited. Then, one of my friends suggested that I sell them. I researched a little and found Etsy, where handmade goods are appreciated and respected. The rest is history.

Tell us about your shop.

I used to have one shop called “ecogeneration” but I just added my second shop “ecokaren” where I sell my eco creations and supplies and vintage in “ecogeneration” When I thought about selling reusable cleaning cloths and washcloths, I wasn’t really thinking “eco-friendly” as a marketing strategy since the whole eco-friendly movement, in my mind, was something that “other people” was involved with. I didn’t realize that my items were considered eco-friendly. I was involved with the “eco-movement” at home without realizing it. I just use up whatever I have and if I buy new materials, I buy sustainable materials like organic cotton yarn or bamboo yarn. But because I make items with materials I already have, most of my items are one of a kind original designs. I sell supplies and destash items on ecogeneration to “share” with other crafters – not really to make money.



What’s the favourite item you’ve made so far?

The felted wool handbag. I was really skeptical about felting since I had to wash my sweater in hot water several times and dry in hot heat for a long time. Energy wise, it didn’t seem so eco-friendly to me. But once I did it, the possibilities of products I can make were endless. I made the bag, several coffee cup sleeves, wrist cuffs, a pincushion stuffed with small pieces, and I still have some pieces leftover…all from one small wool sweater. I can see why people are so addicted to felting.




What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt (about Etsy) so far?

I’m still learning and searching for that magic formula to make it successful. I bought one of those “Etsy Seller’s Success” kits and read every page. There were some new things I learned but I think the bottom line is… it takes time and a lot of blood, sweat and tears…like everything else. There’s no free lunch and you have to put in your dues. The trick is to have fun while you do it and I am having a blast.

How do you see your store developing?

I opened my store in October, 2008…just as the economy was taking a nose dive. So it hasn’t been easy but in all fairness, I only work on my shop when I have time so I am grateful for the sales I have. My short-term goal is to improve my skills to make better products so that I can streamline the shop to just a few lines. My long-term goal is to make it a full-time home business. I’m getting there, slowly but surely.



How do you market your business?

I don’t sell outside Etsy, although, I am exploring doing some wholesale deals with local stores. So most of my marketing takes place online. I just moved – well, in cyberspace – from blogspot to Word Press for my blog. I have my own domain now, www.ecokaren.com so it’s really awesome.

I have a huge “House Warming Party” with Eco Spa Package Giveaway going on right now. You can find the rules when you go to http://www.ecokaren.com/2009/08/house-warming-party/

I blog regularly and really test my writing skills – or lack thereof. But it’s fun and I love it - no matter how time consuming it is or awkward my writing is. I love getting comments. I will be doing product reviews, blog reviews, featuring other etsy sellers, writing eco tip and tutorials. I also have sponsor spots on my pages now. I joined Facebook and Twitter for social networking. I’ve been having such a blast being on Facebook and Twitter. I love reading people’s blogs (such as this one), leaving comments, reading comments, etc. When you work from home, there’s no water cooler to go to or a coffee break to take to chat with colleagues. So, these outlets have been great for connecting with people. I’ve gotten sales from being on these platforms and it’s been great for my “water cooler” fix too.

Anything else you want to mention?

I want to thank you for having me here. UK seems so far and yet I feel as if I’m just hanging out in this pub, gossiping. Thanks for the opportunity to tell your readers about me. Stop by and say hello. I’ll watch out for you folks on my blog and in my shop. Just mention niftyknits and you’ll get a 20% off on your purchase for the month of August, in addition to FREE SHIPPING. Don’t pay the invoice when you check out; wait for the revised invoice. Thanks!


Shops: http://ecokaren.etsy.com and http://ecogeneration.etsy.com
Blog: http://ecokaren.com
Twitter: ecokarenlee
Facebook: http://companies.to/ecokaren

And the winner is...

The winner to my Winnie the Pooh giveaway has been selected by random.org from the 25 entries (some of them were multiples from people who had spotted they'd get another go by following me on twitter )



Entrant number 6 turns out to be Jenny, who said "I'm pooh, of course, round and absent-minded!"

If you don't believe her, check out her blog! Jenny's blog

Winnie the Pooh giveaway!

Winnie the Pooh was a favourite of mine as a child, and my own children were brought up with the "real" Winnie the Pooh, not the Disney version. We went to play Poohsticks in the Ashdown Forest at the original location. Even Disney has its good points though - like this personality test!

Leave a comment telling me which character you are most like (you don't need to use the Disney test if you already know) and you will be entered into a draw to win a brand-new CD of Winnie-the-pooh read by Alan Bennett (it was a freebie with the Guardian recently).

Have a second go by following me on twitter and leaving a separate comment (yes, it's ok if you are already a follower)

I will use random.org to find the winner on Friday - and to start you off, I think I'm a mix of Pooh and Eeyore, I bounce between being happy and enthusiastic to occasional bouts of feeling everything I do is bound to fail...oops, I used the word bounce, didn't I? There must be some Tigger in there too!

Meerkat mania - yours for free!

"Look into my eyes...you know you want me!"



"She wouldn't really leave me here, would she?"



Enough pictures already!

To win your very own baby meerkat, this is what you need to do:
Go to my shop and choose which three of my knits should take the top spots as featured items, representing my range.

That's it! That's all you have to do. come back here, leave a comment telling me which three you have chosen. I will number each comment and choose a winner using random.org. Don't forget to leave a contact - blogger profiles aren't enough if you have made them private!

What? You want a SECOND go? Ok then. Blog about the meerkats, and get a second go. Don't forget to tell me the blog addy though, I shall want to come and admire it!

Closing date? Hmmm. Let's say two weeks from today, so that's 15th April.

Another day, another prize :-)

My run of good luck continues with the arrival of a package from over the pond!

I entered a competition on Patti's blog a short while ago, and was lucky enough to win.

Even though I am a crocheter myself, I've never made anything like these nylon net dish scrubbies.



Mine are in all colours of the rainbow, and will look great in my grey kitchen!

They came complete with a lovely crocheted tote, but I think I will use that to keep my tangle of bracelets safe.



Plenty more in Patti's shop, Peacox Creations, so why not check it out?

And as always - if anyone else has a blog giveaway going, I'm always happy to enter!