Giveaway $25 Gift Certificate from charmeddesign1012

Win $25 Gift Certificate to spend on charmeddesign1012, generously sponsored by Lori.

Get to know Lori, the artist behind charmeddesign1012. You'll learn a few things from the interview on yesterday's post.

There are many ways to enter. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry.

How to enter to win:

Mandatory entry:

• Go to charmeddesign1012 . Return to my Adore By Nat blog and simply leave a comment here about your favorite item from her store.
  

Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):

• Earn 2 entries - Go to yesterday's post to know her more. Leave a comment there (yesterday's post) on at least one the following: what you learn from the interview, what you want to see more on her shop and why, or any constructive feedbacks are always appreciated.
  
  Come back here and leave 2 comments that you did, to ensure your entries are counted.

• Heart charmeddesign1012 (1 entry). Simply let us know your Etsy username.
• Follow charmeddesign1012 blog (1 entry).
  
• Follow my adorebynat blog (1 entry). If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.
• Like charmeddesign1012 FB page (1 entry).
• Like my Facebook Page (1 entry). Let me know your FB username please.
• Follow adorebynat on twitter (1 entry).
• Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat " in your tweet. (up to 14 entries - once a day).
• Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.
• Be creative and share the love! Refer your friends and family to enter this giveaway. Use your social media (other than twitter and blog) to shout out this giveaway. As long as you provide me a link or a way to confirm it, you'll earn 2 entries (two separate comments). Hint: there are share buttons in the bottom of this post, maybe you can use them?
  
• Tell us how did you hear about this giveaway (1 entry).
• Purchase an item from charmeddesign1012 and earn 10 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting us know by leaving comments :-)

Contest starts now and ends on Oct 30, 2010. Contest opens worldwide.

Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you. Entries without contact information will be disqualified. Entries that do not follow the rules will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn on Sunday, Oct 31 by a random number generator, by the artist herself. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.

To win $25 Gift Certificate from NatalieHopeful @Etsy enter here please.

Saturday Artisan: charmeddesign1012

Introducing our Saturday Artisan this week, meet Lori the artist behind Charmeddesign1012.

A great story behind her shop. So touching and it's real. And that's one of so many things that differentiate between handmade and mass-produced products.
It turns out that my favorite is hers as well.
Find out which one as you read the interview below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/ crafts that you make?
I am a 42 Atlanta,GA native that is now living in New Haven, CT. I have lived here a little over two years now. About a year ago, I became ill from an infection that was a side effect of a routine tooth extraction. I came very close to dying, had several life saving surgeries, and am blessed to be here today. My first bracelets came into being as something constructive and positive to do while recovering from this sudden and life threatening illness.

I sell charm jewelry, mostly wrap bracelets made from leather, satin and silk. I use charms that inspire me and make me smile and stones I find beautiful. My jewelry is all about feeling good.


Which part of creation process that you like to do the most?
I love seeing the final product and how my vision is now a reality.

What is your favourite item in your shop?
My favorite item is a silk wrap bracelet.

What is your best seller?
So far, my sales have been varied. I have a lot of pieces in my shop, and I have only been on etsy three months, so I am not surprised I do not yet have a best seller. I do a lot of custom pieces as well.

What inspires you?
Although I lost my job, home, and life as I knew it, surviving such a near death experience has made me feel and believe that I am indeed - CHARMED. My jewelry reflects my experience and love for life. I am inspired by signs and symbols that are all around us and that, if we let them, can uplift and guide us. It can be something as simple as a leaf falling from a tree.


Holiday season is fast approaching. Give us a scoop on your prep. What are you exciting to offer for 2010 holiday season?
This is my first holiday season so I do not know what to expect. I am trying to build up my inventory and I have stocked up on shipping supplies. I am considering whether to offer holiday discounts.

How do you promote your shop?
I am constantly looking for new ways to market my shop I designed a logo, banner, business cards, wrapping that are all cohesive as a brand. I seek out opportunities, like this, to expose my craft to new audiences. I now have a blog and a facebook page. I make treasuries. But, my most important marketing tool is amazing customer service. I try to return emails within an hour, mail items the same day they are bought, wrap them nicely, make changes to pieces for free, anything reasonable that makes my customers happy. I already have had a few sales that were referrals from past customers.


Stay-tuned for tomorrow's giveaway! You don't want to miss out.

For current's handmade giveaway, enter here.