Spring Celebration -- So Many Colors!

I'm so excited to introduce you to my next participant in the Spring Celebration. I would certainly not be surprised if the Seminole Patterned Pillow in bold Spring colors is the first prize to be taken. I love the way So Many Colors uses colors and patterns in this and all of her work in her Etsy shop of the same name here. She also keeps her Facebook page very up to date about her work. You can also find handdyed knit fabric and handmade handbags in her shop.

As part of the Spring Celebration you could win the gorgeous pillow above valued at over $50. Glenda gave a step by step tutorial on her blog showing how the pillow was made using the Seminole Patchwork technique. I found it quite fascinating and I'm going to share the abridged version of it with you. You can find the entire post here. But first here is a description of Seminole Patchwork from So Many Colors:

Seminole patchwork is a piecing technique originated by the Seminole tribe in Florida after the introduction of sewing machines in the early 1900's. The technique consists of sewing strips of fabrics together, cutting the strips into smaller pieces then sewing them back together to create beautiful, repetitive patterns.

First I selected the five fabrics to be used in the pillow, all very vibrant! Then I chose one of the band or strip set patterns from Basic Seminole Patchwork by Cheryl Greider Bradkin. This particular band pattern uses four strips but I wanted to use one strip of each color so I added one. All of the strips except the very narrow one are 1 1/4" wide so adding another strip was easy. I also decided that I wanted a wider finished band so I added 1/4" to each strip.

First step is to straighten up the edge of the fabric. Then carefully cut one strip from each of the fabrics. Accurate cutting show up in the quality of the finished band.
With the adjustments I made to the strip widths I ended up with four strips at 1 1/2" wide and one, the yellow, at 1". Then I tried the strips in various arrangements until I was happy with the look. This is not the arrangement I ended up with.
Sew pairs of strips together using 1/4" seam or as close to that as possible. More important than the seam width is the consistency of the width for the length of the strip.

Don't sew more than pairs of strips together at one time. Each pair should be ironed flat then ironed open before adding another strip. This helps to minimize stretching when ironing, again helping with accuracy for the finished band.

Continue sewing strips together, ironing after each seam. Usually all of the seams are pressed in the same direction.

Even with careful cutting, accurate seams and careful pressing you can get a wavy edge.

The next step is to cut the strip set into strips. Some patterns use straight cuts with offset seams. This pattern uses a diagonal mirror image cut so the strip set can be folded in half and cut.

Now the strip sets are sewn together, matching seams a closely as possible. This is the part where I often rip seams out. Small mismatches don't bother me but more than a tiny bit will interfere with the finished pattern. Here's the finished band sewn but not ironed from the front.
Now we're ready to put banding strips on the edges and assemble the pillow.
SoManyColors on Etsy
SoManyColors on Facebook
SoManyColors on Blogger

See the contest rules here to find out how you could win the Spring Seminole Patchwork Pillow!

Spring Celebration Giveaway!

Spring Celebration with
Lenox Knits! Ends April 25

Over $200 worth of Prizes! 9 Winners!

Come Celebrate Spring with me! Thanks to generous friends, I'm offering nine handmade prizes with a combined value of over $200. It is open to everyone and there will be free international shipping! See rules below.

Here is what you could possibly win:
A Crocheted Silk with Pearls Wrap Bracelet or Long Necklace-- WillOaks Studio $20

Wine Bottle Gift Bag with 4 Coasters-- Nature Acre $15

Three bars of handmade soap (your choice of scents)-- Happy Goat's Soap $15

Skein of Handspun/HandDyed Wool Yarn in Spring colors-- Split Rock Ranch $20

Seminole Patchwork Pillow in bold Spring colors-- So Many Colors $50

Antique Vintage Button Pendant-- Alterity Button Jewelry $25

Lime green Spring knit scarf with an appliqued XL tee-shirt from the remaining inventory of GrayEyedScorpio --Lenox Knits combined value at $35

Knitted Yoda Star Wars Golf Club Cover-- Tracey Knits $25

OR 2 like new craft books from my own library Craftivity: 40 Projects for the DIY Lifestyle & AntiCraft: Knitting, Beading and Stitching for the Slightly Sinister valued at $25.

You can enter in multiple ways, as follows (please include your e-mail address if there is not a link to it on your profile page):

1. For one entry you must follow my blog and at least one other participant site from the list below. If you already follow just let me know. You must do this to earn the extra entries mentioned next.

2. You can earn an additional entry for visiting another participant's site below and following their blog, hearting their etsy shop, or becoming a Facebook fan, for a total of seven more entries. Please leave a comment here for each site that you visit letting me know. Here are their chosen sites:

Alterity Button Jewelry's blog
Nature Acre's Etsy shop
WillOaks Studio's blog
Split Rock Ranch's blog
Happy Goat's Soap blog
So Many Color's Facebook page
Tracey Knit's Facebook page

3. You can earn another two entries for blogging about the contest. Please give a link to the blog post and leave two comments here.

4. You may earn up to 5 extra entries for tweeting about the contest, one tweet per day. Please leave a comment for each extra entry with a link to the Twitter post.

You may cut and paste the following for your tweet: Lenox Knit's Spring Celebration Giveaway with over $200 of handmade prizes! Ends April 25 http://bit.ly/9y5Sk3

5. You may earn one extra entry for mentioning the give away on Facebook with a link. Just leave a comment letting me know that you did.

NOTE: You must leave a comment, as mentioned, for each entry in order for it to count.

So there are a total of 16 possible entries. There will be nine winners, chosen on April 25 by random number generator. The first winner selected will be given first choice, with 48 hours to respond. After the first winner responds, I will contact the next winner, who will also have 48 hours to respond, and so on until all 9 prizes have been awarded. There is free international shipping, and the items will be mailed directly from the participating shop owner.

I will be featuring interviews and additional pictures of the items which can be won throughout the month of April. Stay tuned!

My Spring Celebration

So I was thinking about ways to shake things up a bit around here and bring some excitement back to the blog. I thought about having another giveaway for a Spring accessory like the lime green scarf here with wood beads. Then I got the idea to open it up to a few other shops that might like to promote their spring items with a giveaway and make it a Spring Celebration. I would of course want to keep it to handmade items or supplies and you would need to be open to shipping internationally if necessary.

I have had three giveaways in my year and a half of blogging. I've been really happy with how they have worked out. My first blog giveaway was called Lose the Winter Blues just a little over a year ago and was my biggest prize to date. I gave away a $50 spring accessory set in hemp and I had 133 entries into the giveaway. I then had a smaller one in the summer called Summer Fun and gave away a scarf and headband set worth $25. I had 60 entries into this one. I did not promote it quite as much and did not have as many ways to enter so that is why there weren't as many entries. My most recent giveaway was a little different. I had a specific goal of getting newsletter subscribers for this contest. I gave away a $40 gift certificate to one of my newsletter subscribers and I was successful in growing my list from 30 to 117 with the contest this Fall.

I would like to get my blog followers over the hump of 400 and spread some of the love around with other crafters. I would promote the heck out of the contest and would also promote the shops of those participating. I can't promise you a sale if you donate an item but if you want to get some blog followers, Etsy hearts, or Facebook fans I think I can help you with that goal. And who knows if that could translate into a sale in the future. If you are interested please e-mail me at lenoxknits@yahoo.com and we can work out the details.

And the winner Is...

I know you probably can't read the screen shot above but I hope you will take my word for it that it says #9. I couldn't get a decent save of the page but I wanted you to know that I had used Random.org to choose the winner this afternoon at 4:30, the end of my workday. And the winner is Rose Works Jewelry, a lovely blogger that I've gotten to know through Entrecard. Here is a sample of the amazing work she does with seed beads called Etsyholic. I hope she enjoys the scarf and headband set coming her way!

A little game

UPDATE: The itinerary has been guessed! See bottom of post for more details.

So I was writing up my posts for when I will be on vacation with my thoughts for each leg of our 2 week adventure when I had an idea. I thought it would be fun to see if anyone can guess the itinerary of our trip with some clues from Etsy. If anyone can guess all four stops on our 2 week trip than I'll send them a wristcuff made from sari silk very similar to the one seen above. The first person to get all four in order before Wednesday wins so that I can get it in the mail on Thursday before we leave. If you know me in real life and I've talked to you about our plans than obviously you aren't eligible. If no one feels like playing I won't get my feelings hurt. Here are your clues! Bonus points if you can guess what I'm most looking forward too.

And by the way there is still one more day to enter my giveaway. I'll pick the winner on Wednesday.

TRIPLE SPIRAL pendant ALL AMERICAN necklace
FavmoongirlFront And Center

McGuire Studio

FLEUR DE LIS TIE TACKTIE

TAC SHOP by Funcky Love Designs

Cocoyol Necklace

TOOFASHION

We'll be heading first to Rolla, MO for the 4th of July celebration with the family. Then we'll be going to Florence, AL to spend a few days with my sister. From there we'll be heading to New Orleans which is actually what I'm most looking forward too. Then we'll be taking a cruise which will stop at several areas in Mexico. Thanks for playing along!

Summer Fun With Lenox Knits Giveaway!

I've decided to celebrate my 200th post with a little giveaway. Yes this is my 200th post and I am also just 4 away from 200 followers. Coincidence, probably. But I still wanted to have a little fun with it. I've decided to giveaway this lacy and fun scarf in vibrant summer colors with a matching headband worth $25 combined. It is a silk and viscose blend and is lightweight and very drapey, perfect for summer days. You can tie the scarf around your waist and wear it is a belt or let it hang loose as a fashion scarf all year round.

I'm going to keep the rules simple. All you have to do to win is follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know. If you already follow my blog than just leave me a comment letting me know. Please include a way to contact you if your e-mail is not easily found on your blog.

If you would like to get one extra entry you can tweet the contest and follow me on twitter. Please leave a comment with the link for your tweet.

It is open to anyone with free worldwide shipping. I will choose the winner by using the random number generator on June 30, 2009.

Overachiever Awards

So I didn't win the custom bag prize from Solsisters Studio, but I did win the second best thing. A $10 gift certificate and free shipping for being an overachiever in her contest. I used it towards buying the gorgeous bag above, which will be perfect for Spring. I liked her idea so much that I stole it, with her permission of course.

Anyone who has at least 5 out of 9 entries in my contest will go into a second drawing. I will draw 2 names to win a $10 gift certificate to my shop and free shipping! There are many items in my shop that are under $10 or close to it, or you can use it towards a scarf for next year. I will also be adding a number of spring items this week that you can wait to check out.

If you have already entered the contest but have under 5 entries you can still complete one more of the steps to get into this second drawing. As a reminder these are the ways to qualify:


1. For one easy entry just visit my Etsy shop, Lenox Knits, and tell me what your favorite item is.
2. For another easy entry follow me on Twitter and Tweet to all your followers about the Beating the Blues Contest.
3. Because it involves more effort on your part I will give you 2 entries for blogging about this Contest.
4. If you add my lovely new blog widget to your blog or myspace page, there is code for each, you will get an additional 2 entries.
5. And finally I would be thrilled if you signed up for my new newsletter and will give 3 entries for following through with the steps to submit your e-mail address. I promise not to spam you and you can unsubscribe any time. I will be e-mailing specials and deals seasonally.



Just let me know when you comment how many entries you had before. I'm going to extend the contest until 12:00 Sunday afternoon, Central time, March 8th. I counted up my totals so far and as of this afternoon I had 181 entries and there were 14 people qualified for the overachievers prizes. They are:

1. Sherry
2. Joy
3. Kristin at My Art and the Mom in Me
4. CB
5. Mariposa Farm Alpacas
6. LadyErlynne
7. Jo Hoffacker
8. Debbie
9. Charlene S Noto
10. TiLT
11. cdziuba
    
12. Cheryl F. (The Lucky Ladybug)
13. valerie2350
14. Christa
    

If you think you qualify and I missed you please let me know.

I also wanted to share my other winning from this week. I won this gorgeous button pendant from Alterity! It is absolutely stunning in person and I love how she sets the mood in her photos. She does amazing things with vintage buttons and I'm thrilled to have one of her creations for myself.

Lose The Winter Blues Treasury

I totally stalked the treasuries today and managed to snag the first one I've had in months. I, of course, named it in honor of the contest and included all the people who've entered that I could easily find their Etsy shop. If I missed anyone please let me know so I can rotate you in. Be sure to give it some clicks if you have time. Here it is, I tried to get it to copy with the alternates but it wouldn't let me. I used a great new site I just discovered called thumbalizr to capture the entire page:

Things That Made Me Smile

We've been having construction going on in our offices this week so there has been constant drilling, banging, and dust in the air, which is really great for my allergies. So I decided to talk about the things that have made me smile this week to take my mind off what has made me feel like poking my eyes out.

I am coming close to 100 comments in my contest. I know there is actually more entries than that once it comes time to print them up. I want to talk about all the features in the different blogs who have promoted my contest. Here is a list of the sites that I know of at this point:

1. Feel Chic Boutique, seen above, is the one that gave me the biggest smile. She bought one of the custom headbands I blogged about a few weeks ago here. She posted a few lovely pictures of herself modeling her earwarmer and showing how warm and comfy it looks on her.

2.Char's Craft Room entered early and completed all 5 steps in the contest, giving her 9 entries. She has a new etsy shop called stitchary with some amazing pillows in the Arts and Craft style like this one, which would look perfect in my living room.

3. The Lucky Ladybug has a great blog for giveaway junkies. She posts just about every kind of contest you can imagine.

4. Valerie posted on not one but 2 of her blogs about the contest. This is a woman who knows her contests! She has Sweeps4Bloggers and Sweeps4California.

5. Sherry has a great blog called iLUVcontest and I actually advertised on her entrecard widget this week to promote the contest.

6. Joy to the blog has a vintage and crafty blog that is really easy on the eyes. She added me to her list of giveaways and I have a feeling she may become a favorite read of mine.

7. Sweepstakes Advantage dropped in to tell me the contest had been added to their very comprehensive list.

8. I submitted the contest to Etsy Giveaways and it was quickly added. This a great resource for looking for handmade items up for grabs.

9. I was also on the list of hot links at An Island Review.

I think that is all of them! I'm very happy for all of the blog love. I currently have 15 signed up for the newsletter and another 7 pending e-mail confirmation by the subscriber. This a great start for my subscriber list.

Another thing that made me smile this week was a new ring. I buy lots of pendants and necklaces but I very rarely buy myself a new ring. I just couldn't pass up this hammered copper and sterling silver spinner ring from Bonhomie Jewelry. I thought I had conquered my nail biting habit but it has been creeping back the last year. I had a spinner ring before and it was a good tool for distracting me from biting my nails. I was happy to be her first sale on 1000 Markets. She has a great blog were she talks about her adventures in jewelry making and is a great promoter of buying handmade.

Where in the World Are You?

Get Your Own Real Time Visitor Map!

I have to be honest. I actually considered limiting the contest to just U.S. and Canada in order to keep the cost of shipping down. But then I thought about all the great blogs that I visit every day from all around the world and the bloggers that drop in here as well. So I opened it up to everyone and I'm glad I did. It also inspired me to finally get my worldwide shipping set up in the shop. I had originally just shipped to U.S., Canada, and a few other countries I had checked out the rates on at the post office.

I have shipped to Canada a number of times now and have found it to be not much more than shipping here. I've unfortunately never had an overseas sale, and I'm hoping the changes in my shipping on Etsy will change that. I now have U.S. and Canada listed separately and then Everywhere Else set. This way people do not have to stop and contact me to find out what the shipping rates to their country would be. I am the queen of impulse purchases so I know that extra step probably killed a number of international buyer's shopping experience in my shop.

My Google Analytics statistics say that I've had visitors from 53 countries in the last 30 days. My top ten are here:

1.	United States	4,693
2.	Philippines	423
3.	Canada	328
4.	United Kingdom	277
5.	Malaysia	153
6.	Germany	105
7.	Netherlands	103
8.	Indonesia	96
9.	Australia	59
10.	India	46

The only one that really surprises me is the Netherlands. I'm not really aware of any regular visitors from there. The Philippines being my number 2 is certainly no surprise. There are an amazing number of Filipinos that are a part of the Entrecard community. I've gotten to know many of them through my daily drops like Lainy from Lainy's Musing. She has not one but 4 blogs that she updates regularly with original and interesting content. My favorite of her work is in The Certified Fashionable Chic where she discusses fashion from around the world.

I would love to hear from some of my global buddies. How did you come across my blog and have you entered the contest yet? I know that it may not be winter where you are so you may not need to lose the winter blues but I'm sure that everyone could use a freebie to lift their spirits.