Giveaway: Gumball Bracelet from Pikithins

Win this beautiful Gumball Bracelet, sponsored by Pikithins.

Get to know Carolina, the artist behind Pikithins. 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 Pikithins shop. 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 Pikithins (1 entry). Simply let us know your Etsy username.
• Follow Pikithins 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 Pikithins FB page and kindly tell Carolina that Adorebynat sent you there. (1 entry).
• Like my Adorebynat Facebook Page. Don't forget to say hi to me there and come back here to leave comment (1 entry). If you liked my FB page already, you still can say hi and earn 1 entry.
  
• Follow Pikithins on twitter (1 entry).
• Follow adorebynat on twitter (1 entry).
• Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat " in your tweet. (1 entry).
• 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).
  
• Purchase an item from Pikithins and earn 10 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting us know by leaving comments :-)

Contest starts now and ends on February 5, 2011. 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, February 6 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.

Saturday Artisan: Pikithins

Meet Carolina, our Saturday Artisan this week. Come and explore her Etsy shop, Pikithins, a sweet little shop of jewelries and doll making.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/ crafts that you make?
I live in New York by a marina. My love for crafts started in Jr. High School, when I was obsessed with Japanese culture (still am). I enjoyed Japanese character design, crafts, and pocky cracker sticks. When I reached college, I decided to study illustration because of that interest. I also studied in poetry, so I write as well. I mainly create bracelets and dolls but have dabbled in illustration, printmaking, painting, card making, and costume design.


What is your best seller?
The Hollow Bead Bird Charm bracelet. It originally was a birthday gift for someone. I tailored it for this person specifically because I wanted to show that I cared. However, I never got to give it to them, so I decided to put it in the shop one day after it sat on my desk for awhile. I was really surprised as to how successful it became. This bracelet is a reminder of a person I don’t have contact with anymore. The bird tries to fly, but its purpose is hollow, unfulfilled. The name fits, doesn’t it?

What inspires you?
Color. Color. Color! It dictates the style and materials used in creating a Pikithins’ bracelet. I like my bracelets and dolls to have strong character, and through color I can achieve a bold, stylish, and cute personality. The color of the seasons is a huge factor in the design of my bracelets as well.

How do you balance your personal and work life?
I am a workaholic! I get so caught up in ideas and craft supplies, I forget to have a social life sometimes. I have one or two off days of putting crafts aside so I can breathe a little. I don’t want my brain to burst! During that time, I write stories or try getting in contact with my friends. My favorite thing to do though is to ride the boat to the city and watch the sunset in the park.

Any advice for others running their on-line shop?
If you have a lull in sales, don’t take it as a sign that you’ve done something wrong. Take initiative and promote yourself through blogs, passing out business cards, and talking to people who have the same interests as you do. Also take the time to go outside and get inspired. There is always room for new ideas and time to relax before you take the plunge in running your business!


Anything else you would like to share?
You can reach me at these links and check out what I’m up to!
Blog: pikithins.blogspot.com/
Dream Blog:http://pikidreams.blogspot.com/
Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/Pikithins
Fanpage: www.facebook.com/Pikithins
Twitter: twitter.com/pikithins
Deviantart: pikithins.deviantart.com/

Stay-tuned for a new giveaway starting tomorrow!