Let me start off by saying Thank you all so much for entering this giveaway! The response was overwhelming, and though we didn't meet 100 followers, I am super excited to get the 86 Google followers and 71 Facebook likes that I did!! That's just awesome and I'm so grateful!!
(and I have to send a special shout out to Holly at 504 Main...she wrote up a little ditty about this contest and sent a ton of her peeps over!)
Thanks, girl!!
I know you all had a little incentive to sign up, but I really do hope you enjoy coming to this space and letting me share a little of my life with you! Thanks again!
And just a reminder~ it will take me a little while, but I plan on following you all back as well!
Ok, so....
With 86 Google readers and 71 additional Facebook likes, that brought the grand total of entries to 157.
If you haven't heard by now, I'm trying to get myself 100 {or more} followers in Google Reader!
Uh-huh...
That's right.
And to try and reach that goal (by May 17th~ Monday) I'm hosting a giveaway.
{The giveaway was mentioned a couple weeks ago, I'm just now revealing what the goods are=)}
Do you like what you see?
You can win it.
And this is a pretty special giveaway because not only is it in persuit of gaining more bloggy friends, but it's also to introduce a new creation of mine.
I got to tinkering around in the ol' sewing room and figured with all these pretty aprons I have going on, I might as well come up with some matching pot holders/ trivetts!
So I played around with some designs, mix and matched some fabrics, learned how to quilt them and...
VOILA!!
Some pretty snazzy kitchen accessories!
{They'll be in the shop soon}
In the mean time... Here's what you get.
One blue and white tin water pitcher
One white terry cloth dish towel
Set of three bamboo ChefMate spoons
Two handmade and quilted {LimaBean Designs} potholder/ trivetts.
All you need to do to enter is follow me in Google Reader.
{required}
For an extra entry you can "like" me on facebook, too!
{optional}
I will choose a winner via Random.org by midnight on Monday, May 17th.
Then I will announce them on Tuesday morning.
Oh, and if you follow me...
I promise to follow you back.
Though I'm still playing catch-up in those regards so give me a bit!
I hope you'll stick around and check things out for Marketing Monday!
I have a new style of apron in My Etsy shop and more will be added soon, so make sure you pop on by there as well!! I'd be happy to talk custom orders :)!!
Also, would you help me get to 100 followers?? My goal is to reach that (or more) by May 17th!!
I think we can do it!
And to give you a little extra incentive, on that day ALL of my followers will be entered in a really super, Fantabulous Giveway (details later so stay tuned)!! It might include something pretty and kitchen-y :)!!
And if you haven't already, go ahead and check out Marketing Monday over at Trendy Treehouse!! Your opportunity at getting a "free advertising" day for your blog, etsy shop, etc. and meeting lots of cool people at the same time!!
I'm so excited to announce that I am the featured Tickled Pink Blogger today over at 504 Main!
Holly has created Tickled Pink Fridays where every week she features bloggers from all around for their writing, products, ideas or recipes! It's really cool!!
This week I'm paired up with some awesome ladies, too!!
One lucky winner will win this apron from my Spring Collection!
All the details on how to enter {& get extra entries} are @ 504 Main!
So thanks Holly for having me over!! And thanks to everyone who reads and enters!!
It truly Tickles me Pink!!
{As a side note I just have to add that Holly and I met and became friends through blogging!! And I think that's just awesome! She's a great lady, wife, mom, blogger and the bestest wedding planner in all the land! She's a creative little thing, too~ check out her tutes! Oh, and she has quite possibly the best family stories, EVER!! Can you tell I just think the world of her!?! Please pay her a visit!!}
Here you go folks!! As promised, today is the day you can enter to win this little beauty!
Jacky over at The Sweetest Petunia is featuring my etsy shop today and was kind enough to do a review of my aprons as well as host this giveaway over at her place!
Given the number of entries (including additional entries) the lucky number chosen was #9 as picked via Random.org.
That would make Carley our winner!! Congrats and enjoy your new CD, Carley!! I'm sure you'll love it!
True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 14
Result: 9
Powered by RANDOM.ORG
Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest as well!! Christie and I both have loved the positive response that her music has gotten!
That's why we don't want to leave you empty handed....
Didn't win?
Click here to download the full album for free!! All you have to do is enter your Email address and your zip code. You'll be able to save the album (in mp3 format) straight to your computer. You will, however, be asked to leave a "tip" in Christie's Tip Jar. I highly encourage you to do so seeing as this project took a lot of prayer, dedictation and hard work. God has blessed her abundantly in the way of song and this is just a small way we can show how much we appreciate her words.
Thanks again everyone!!
Many blessings!
!!Be sure to check in Monday to see how you can snag yourself a super rad apron for your kitchen attire!!
And if you'd like to get in on the Following Fun, head on over to Trendy Treehouse and link up!
Follow me and I'll Follow you!
Now on to other important business!!
I've been a busy little bee lately sewing up new aprons for my shop. In fact, I'm so excited about my Spring line, I've not only dropped my prices, but I'm giving an apron away too.
You like??
Well, you can win it. Just check back here on Monday morning and I'll tell you how.
In the meantime, do these two things...
1) Check out my etsy shop for drastically reduced clearance and some new aprons as well. And trust me, I've got more where that came from!
2) Sign up for my current giveaway here, for a chance to win the Blood Stained CD.
Wife to her equally as talented Youth Minister Husband (who sings on the album with her), Homeschooling Mother of three, Birthing Doula, Confidant and friend to many, and yes....
Singer/ Songwriter.
Is there anything this woman doesn't do?? I've often wondered myself. To me, not only is she my best friend, she also super human!
Christie just released her debut album, Blood Stained, last month and I am honored to give you a glimpse into her writing process, her inspiration, her hopes and dreams for this project...
and
to give away a copy of her CD to one lucky winner!! (more on that in a minute)
Here's the song Cling from the album. It's absolutely beautiful and one of my favorites. Click play to listen.
I had the pleasure of talking with Christie about all this and here's what she had to say about it...
Q. Tell me a little about the writing process.
A. Sporadic, I leave notebooks around the house, especially in the bathroon. Being a mother of three, sometimes the shower is the only place where I can have a complete thought! REALLY, what usually happens is God will open a Scripture passage or give me a tune, words or a quote and then He works out the rest. I have dreamed about songs before, too...that is pretty cool!
Q. What was some of your inspiration?
A. People are the most inspirational to me. Life is so hard and the strength, courage and faith of those who face the most difficult situations in life inspire me and bring honor to God...not to say that the great moments in life are not inspiring, it just seems that for me as a writer I see God's movement clearer in the difficult times. Life makes us holy!!
Q. Cling (though they are all good) has become my personal favorite. Tell me about this song.
A. Well, Cling was a labor of love. God gave me the tune months before the words ever came. I searched Scripture passages, journals, quotes, etc. to "find the words", but nothing fit. And one day while recording the tune, the words finally came. This song is one of the most personal (to me) songs on the album. It is a journey through my life over the past few years, as I dealt with my god, mother being ill, and then passing...having two babies in the process, life as a minister's wife and wife in general!! My knee jerk reaction to a stressful situation is to "do" something about it. However, when I read and meditated on Psalms time and time again God tells us to wait, cling and be still. The verse that inspires the song is Psalm 63.8, "My soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me." So as life happens, I am often times overwhelmed by the grief of others as well as with my own, my days run together as I have a "storm" of potty trips, clothes to wash, lessons to teach, and there are some times when I just want to lay it all out before God with the "WHY?" question. And over the years while I stuggle to stay about water, God ALWAYS brings me back to Him and His love for me. Whether I like it or not! But the most fabulous aspect of God for me right now is that HE IS BIG ENOUGH to handle WHATEVER I have. I don't need to hide my feelings, my lack of wisdom; with God, He already knows and still He loves me and will work for my good and His glory every single time!
Q. What are your hopes for this album?
A. I hope that after listening to the album, people would begin to see the song of hope and love that God is writing in their lives. I pray that those who don't know Jesus at all will get a small glimpse of His love for them and how He cares for them even when they don't realize it. He came while we were still sinners to die on the cross for us.
Another hope I have for the album is to help people open up to each other. To talk with other brothers and sisters about Christ and life. I don't think they everyone on the planet needs to know every detail of our lives, however, Christ has given us the church to support, uphold and correct us. Often times we run in fear of what others will think if we don't have the "right church answer" to the situation we are struggling with. In reality we NEED each other because that is often times how God works.
Stay with me here...
Harry Potter is one of my favorite book series and movies and in one movie Harry's friend Luna Lovegood explains to Harry that the dark lord WANTS Harry to feel alone, because then he will be powerless. There is no greater power to defeat sin than love and we know we have the love of God but He provides the body to up hold us in love for our protection and our sanctification process... being made holy as he is holy! I know that is a weird example but it was a quote that open up community to me in a new way.
Q. What has God taught you through this process?
A. He sees the whole picture and is ALWAYS working. This album reflects homelessness, stubbornness, adultery, and death, these are realities in human life that it can be overwhelming to not be able to "fix" the problems of the world. Ryan tossed me a puzzle piece on night; when I was struggling with some things... he said "what is this?" I replied... "a puzzle piece that I couldn't get the vacuum to suck up!" ... "no" he said, "it is what we get to see... God has already finished the puzzle... but this is what we get to see. Trust Him and Obey Him." That has rocked my world and had a huge impact, whether intentional or not, on the record.
Q. Are there any plans for more songs?
A. YES! I have a notebook of songs and tunes buzzing in my brain at this moment...
Q. What advice do you give to other artists/ writers?
A.Just do it! (rarely is that an appropriate response but it is here)... I have struggled with my biblical knowledge and feeling useless in God's kingdom because I was trying very hard to fit a mold God never intended for me. One day while having a migraine God reminded me of Joseph and David... a dreamer and a singer/songwriter and both the baby of their families (as am I). He spoke clearly to me... "Dream, Sing and Trust Me". It is most important to submit your art (whatever that might be) to God and let Him refine you and WRITE everything down, because you WILL forget it!
And just to be fun, I asked her this!
Q. Who's your bestest friend in the whole world and why do you love her so...
A. My best friend is Kelli Helms Mayhorn.... when I look back over my life before Christ there are few things I am proud or thankful for... she is one of just a handful of things I praise God for during that time in my life. Through the pain of breaking friendships God brought us together on the front steps of our college. Years of struggle followed on both our parts but God knew... I need her like I need air to breathe. She is much more than a best friend because she tells me when I am wrong and not just to be right but to bring my thoughts back to God. There is nothing that I can't tell her... and there is no journey in my life that I don't want to share with her. We are honest with each other in a way that I can not be with anyone else... we understand each other... and get excited about what God is doing in our lives... Kelli keeps me sane... I am thoughtless more times than not and she grounds me... There is no pressure to "perform" best friend duties... she will write our story one day...while I sing! and when we are old and living together with our rocking chairs, we are going to tell and retell all the wonderful stories of our life.
Spoken so eloquently, there is nothing I can add other than I feel the exact same about her.
There you have it folks!! There's her heart and soul!! And we can expect more songs in the future!! I think that is a beautiful thing!
Christie is available to do small group shows around and in VA/NC. If you'd be interested in having her perform for your group or chuch, please contact me for more info or email her at:
If you'd like to enter to win a copy of Christie's CD all you have to do is leave a comment. Please leave an email address so I can contact the winner at the appropriate time.
Additional entries ~ please leave a comment for each.
1. Let me know you follow SustainingCreativity~ 1 entry
2. Tweet this giveaway linking back to this page (leave your twitter name too)~ 1 entry
3. Facebook this giveaway linking back to this page~ 1 entry
4. Blog about this giveway linking back to this page~ 2 entries
Contest is open until Saturday (March 6th) at Noon (EST). I will randomly choose and annouce the winner that evening.
