Win It Wednesday: All About Love

The local discount retailers near me actually started stocking a few shelves with Valentines items even before Christmas had arrived!  That is a tad early...but now that we are into early January, it is acceptable to begin thinking about the holiday of LOVE coming up in a month and a half!

So to honor the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, this "Win It Wednesday" will focus on items that remind me of LOVE...here we go!

The Sunshine Studio is hosting a giveaway by Artful Goodies for one pendant of the winners choice...there are several love themed ones...perhaps a great accessory for Valentine's Day!  Ends THIS Sunday, 01/10!!

 
Bridal Gown Blog is hosting a giveway for a vintage-y handpainted "Love Is Sweet" sign made by The Back Porch Shoppe.  This giveaway also comes with 100 custom printed/stamped party favor bags...perfect for a candy bar at a wedding or other special event!  Ends January 16th.


I have a coffee lover in my house...so anything coffee related always makes a good gift - including Valentine's Day!  Here's a couple giveaways that could be paired to make a great coffee gift for yourself or someone you love!

Melissa over at Sew Sweet Stitches is hosting her very first giveaway, for a very cute coffee cozy...beats the cardboard ones you get from the coffee shop - and it is eco-friendly!  Ends January 17th.

If you enter for the coffee cozy, also enter at Only The Best of Etsy because they are hosting a giveaway from Java Scents for a set of three coffee scented sachets!  Pefect for a caffeine-free pick-you-up in the morning...just sniff and go!  Or keep it stored with items that you'd love to smell java good!  Ends January 11th.

Have you gone sugar-free as you start 2010 like I have?  If so, chocolates for V-day would not be very helpful!  But this felt cake (that looks delicious enough to eat!) from Urban Craft would be a perfect sweet treat that won't add any inches to the waist or pounds to the scale...YAY!  Ends January 25th.

Leave a comment and let me know if you entered any of the above giveaways OR if you are hosting a giveaway or know of a giveaway that I should check out!

Feature Friday: Vintage Sewn!

Pinot Grigio.  Chardonnay.  Merlot.  Reisling.  Pinot Noir.  Savignon Blanc.  Cabernet.  Zinfandel.  

Wine...which is your favorite?  Mine is definitely Reisling...or other sweeter variations of wine. 

Wine is not only enjoyed with dinner...it is often given as a holiday gift, wedding gift, host/hostess gift, etc.  It is quite versatile that way!

And while there are all sorts of paper gift bags designed for wine, how much better would it be to give the gift of wine in a handmade eco-friendly wine bag?!?

Vintage Sewn does just that, making quality, unique and reusable eco-friendly wine bottle bags!

Check out some of the options at Vintage Sewn:

I love these two nature inspired bags...

 $8.95

 $8.95

 

This would make a classy wine gift bag for the holidays...

 

 $7.95

This embroidered felt bag just says 'cozy up with a blanket & glass of  good wine...' to me!...

$9.95

There are more options too (19 in all) on Vintage Sewn's Etsy shop...click on over to check out the options for yourself!  They are all very reasonably priced, from $7.95 to $9.95.

But that is not all that Vintage Sewn is working on!  She recently added a set of nature photo gift cards.  The photography is spectacular, and a great feature is that the photos can be removed from their photo corners in order to be added to to a frame or photo display of your own! 

$14.95 for a set of 10 cards

Here's what Chantel from Vintage Sewn has to say about herself, her work and how she got started!

How long have you been selling your products?

I started making my wine bottle bags in October, to be ready for a November craft sale. After receiving great feedback, I decided to create an Etsy site.

How did you get into it?

I had a wine bottle bag lying around and when I looked at how it was made and the fabric chosen, I knew I would be able to make them using more trendy fabrics and better made quality wise using more luxurious ribbons. As well, I always kept paper wine bottle bags to use for future presents, but the paper bags always got wrinkled and looked used. Using fabric allows the bag to be reused without looking used, as the fabric can be ironed out if necessary.

Is your Etsy shop your primary shop?  Where else could people find your work?

My Etsy shop is my primary online shop, but I have a selection of the wine bottle bags available at Sheppard Wine Works (Yonge and Sheppard intersection in Toronto, ON).  

What inspires your creations?

The fabric inspire my creations. Finding interesting fabrics to use is the most fun part, as it is usually a surprise what I will find. I then find ribbons or buttons to match the fabrics. 

Do you have an all-time favorite piece?  What is it and why?

My favourite so far is the "Reusable Embroidered Felt Wine Bottle Bag w/ Silk Lining". The felt fabric is actually a pillow case, and i think the the vibrant pink lining is unexpected and contrasts perfectly. The bag is accented with a thin black bow which works well as it doesn't try to bring too much attention to itself against the coloured embroidery in the felt.
 

FREE SHIPPING!!

Vintage Sewn is graciously offering shipping deals to readers of Gonna Want This-Handmade!  If you are in Canada, you can receive FREE shipping and all US based orders can receive 1/2 off shipping on their orders!    So go now to Vintage Sewn, browse her site and when you are ready to make an order, contact Chantel through a message on her site with the code 'BLOG FREE SHIP' so she can calculate a final price for you and work out an adjusted price.

Thanks Vintage Sewn!

Feature Friday: Child's Play

Think it is tough to find handmade gifts for kids?  Think again!  There is a wide variety of child-friendly handmade vendors with more creative products than I could ever dream up.  Here is a smattering of a few I have discovered...


Hello Buffalo

This shop is full of the cutest little mini needlefelted and polymer clay animals, like Buffalette, the Baby Owl.  Though Hello Buffalo has only been open on Etsy for a couple weeks the store has started out with some early success and great feedback already.   

Dad's Wooden Toys

This talented Dad is also a poet (see his shop announcements).  I love his focus on toys that encourage imagination and discourage total reliance on modern technology.  I know my son would have all sorts of adventures with the African Animals Set and I would love the simple Nativity set.  My daughters would be fans of the Magic Kingdom Set.  But my faves by far are the wooden iPhone, Cell Phone and Laptop!

Miss Pretty Pretty: Imaginative Play Toys

This vendor creates some awesome heirloom quality table play tents for kids!  All are custom made.  And made with entirely child friendly materials - eco-friendly too!  There are many styles to choose from - Bluebird Cottage, Local Library, Fairy's Tea Party, Animal Sanctuary, Little Mechanic and so many more!  She also does custom creations and has a number of other imaginative play toy items.  Though the deadline for holiday gifts have passed, there is a great post-holiday sale going on at this shop, so check it out!  (PS - This is my favorite tent design...

 

Sue Dolls

If you have or know of a little princess that loves her Barbies, you'll be able to find something for her at Sue Dolls shop.  Chock full of handmade Barbie clothing, Sue Dolls prices are extremely reasonable too!  I know that this red & feather boa ball dress would be a MAJOR hit at our house!

(No product or monetary compensation was provided to Gonna Want This-Handmade for the completion of this Feature, 

nor were any of the vendor’s products reviewed.  This is an artist feature post only.)

Win It Wednesday!

With many handmade artists busy with creating for the holiday season, giveaways hosted here at Gonna Want This-Handmade will be on hold until after the holidays. 

HOWEVER that doesn't stop me from bringing the best of the handmade giveaways in blog-land to you!  So read on for some fun giveaways you can enter!

1.  Since many readers are handmade artisans themselves...many with a shop on Etsy, I found it important to include THIS giveaway from Green Heath Treasures...an Etsy Advertising Media Mega Pack complete with custom designed banner, avatar vacation banner, etc.  Click on over to Green Heath Treasures to enter!  Giveaway is open through this Sunday, December 13th.

2.  I am a sucker for stamped jewelry (even though I don't actually own any yet!  hint hint honey...).  THIS is a great giveaway over at Etsy It Up, featuring Charitable Creations.  The giveaway is offering a $25 gift certificate to use at Charitable Creations towards any purchase.  Prices at Charitable Creations range from $2.50 to $45 with an entire selection of gifts under $20 as well!  And as the name suggests, this artisan donates 10% of her earnings to various charities.  Click HERE to go over to Etsy It Up to enter!  Giveaway open through this Tuesday, December 15th.

3.  I heard about HandmadeMN and had to check out their blog...because I live in MN, I love handmade AND I write a blog too...instant things in common!  And lo and behold, they have a giveaway going on!  Now it ends soon (December 11th) so if you are interested, get over HERE right away to get entered!  The giveaway item is a Bellaboogie Spa Pampering Basket with all natural products (including dusting powder, soap, sugar scrub, bath melts, and hair/body mist...all in your choice of essential oils!  The giveaway is hosted at HandmadeMN.

4.  There is often a new giveaway happening at Audrey's Giveaways and when I went to check out the latest, I found THIS fun and eco-friendly "upcycled" giveaway of an Ocasiocasa custom designed oil lamp!  Perfect for deck or bar decor, this one of a kind piece is sure to be a conversation item!  The giveaway is open through December 23rd and there are up to 12 extra ways to enter to win!  Check it out HERE.

If you are hosting a giveaway of handmade products, leave a comment and I'll feature your giveaway on my site!