Back 2 School Giveaway!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

And the winner is:

#11: Chrystyna, who said: LBB- What don't I like from Ashley?!? My favorite is probably the adult tunic pattern. Tie Dye Diva - ruffled bloomers pattern 1 Puddle Lane - reversible pea coat"

The winner was chosen from 106 eligible entries via Random.org. Chrystyna, you have until 7 p.m. U.S. Pacific time on Saturday, Aug. 6 to contact me at deanna @ birdsongbows (dot) com to claim your prize! Congratulations!!!

(Photos shown are just examples of the companies' work; not indicative of your exact prize)

GRAND PRIZE

A $125 Logo from Boutique by Design
The Juliette Dress from 1 Puddle Lane
Your choice of 3 patterns from the Lil Blue Boo Sewing Pattern Collection
Your choice of 5 patterns from Mamachee
A $25 Gift Certificate to The Ribbon Retreat+Fabric
Your choice of 5 patterns from Birdsong Bows and Patterns
Your choice of 3 patterns from Tie Dye Diva

Each person can earn one (1) entry by combining three (3) tasks from the lists below. Please complete all of your entry “tasks” first and then post everything in ONE comment box below. This will help us keep track as we record your entries. Entries added as comments on other blogs of the giveaway team will not be counted. This is the only entry location, to prevent flustered giveaway team members and missed entries. Thanks for understanding!

You may do ANY COMBINATION of the following different ways to enter:

First way to Enter:
Visit THREE of our shops and comment on what you like best from each shop (up to three comments, all added in one comment box, equals your entry):

Tie Dye Diva: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TieDyediva
The Ribbon Retreat: http://www.theribbonretreat.com
Birdsong Bows and Patterns: http://www.etsy.com/shop/birdsongbows
Lil Blue Boo: http://www.lilblueboo.com
Mamachee: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamachee
1 Puddle Lane: http://1puddlelane.bigcartel.com/
Boutique By Design http://www.boutiquebydesign.com


Second way to Enter:
“Like” the Facebook pages of THREE of our companies or become a confirmed subscriber of their blog (liking or following three Facebook pages/blogs of three different companies equals your entry). If you are already a member of someone’s fan page or blog, we ask that you “like” someone else’s page in order to have an eligible entry.

Boutique By Design: http://www.facebook.com/boutiquebydesign
1 Puddle Lane: http://www.facebook.com/1PuddleLaneClothing
Mamachee: http://www.easymakesmehappy.blogspot.com
Birdsong Bows and Patterns: http://www.facebook.com/birdsongpatterns
Tie Dye Diva: http://www.facebook.com/tiedyedivapatterns
Lil Blue Boo: https://www.facebook.com/LilBlueBoo
The Ribbon Retreat: http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog


Third Way to Enter:
Buy from the following shops during the giveaway period and combine this form of entry with any of the other two ways to enter. (Only ONE purchase from any of our shops during the entry period counts as one task, but you may make purchases from different businesses to add to your list of 3 tasks. Sorry; previous purchases are not eligible. We still love you, of course, but need to limit this to the giveaway period.)

The Ribbon Retreat: http://www.theribbonretreat.com
Lil Blue Boo: http://lilblueboo.bigcartel.com
Birdsong Bows and Patterns: http://www.etsy.com/shop/birdsongbows
Boutique By Design: http://www.boutiquebydesign.com
1 Puddle Lane: http://1puddlelane.bigcartel.com/
Tie Dye Diva: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TieDyediva
Mamachee: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamachee

Examples:
1. If you “like” a business’ Facebook or blog page and then make comments about two other business’ products, you earn 1 entry.

2. If you comment on one business’ products and then like/join two other Facebook pages, you earn 1 entry.

3. If you buy from 1 shop, like another's Facebook page and comment on another's shop, this earns you 1 entry.

4. If you buy from 3 shops, this earns you 1 entry.

5. If you only comment on 2 business' products, or just like two Facebook pages, or just buy from one shop and comment on another -- but don't do a third task -- you have not entered and your entry will not be counted.

Again, please post all of your entry tasks in ONE comment box below. Thank you!

Here’s the boring stuff, but you need to know it to collect your prizes:

1. To protect your e-mail addresses, we are NOT asking for them, so you will need to check this blog to find out if you’ve won. All winners have 72 hours (until 7 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, August 6) to respond to deanna@birdsongbows.com to receive your prizes. Prizes unclaimed after 72 hours will go to another winner, chosen by Random.org - no exceptions. So please check back to see if you've won; and watch the Birdsong Facebook Page to see if there's going to be a re-draw. The re-draw winner has another 72 hours to respond to deanna@birdsongbows.com!

2. Winners will be picked via Random.org. You are agreeing to have the name in your comment post published on this blog, as well as on the blogs and Facebook walls of any member of the giveaway team.

3. Awards have no “cash” value and cannot be traded for cash. The prize is the prize.

4. No giveaway team members, their immediate families, or their employees may enter. By immediate families, this means your spouse, children, mom, dad, brother, sister, mother or father.

WE'RE SORRY; THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Hair Bow/Flower Challenge 3: Off to the State Fair!

Image by Lora Risley Images

The theme for our third challenge is "Off to the State Fair!" You may make a boutique bow or bow set, a headband, a bowband, a funky loopy bow, a fascinator, a hair flower -- basically, anything you've fashioned out of ribbon or fabric -- following this theme. This time, the hair bow or flower must be made from a Birdsong tutorial or pattern. The state fair is a time of carnival rides, "fair" food, animal showings, 4H projects, freak shows and magic. What type of hair accessory can you make that will follow this theme?



Image by 3L Photography
There will be two prizes again! The first will be a "Judge's Choice" Award. Our judge is Jen of Tie Dye Diva. Jen is a fantastic pattern designer and has a great eye for color and design. The winner of the Judge's Choice award will receive a $15 gift certificate from The Ribbon Retreat!
The second way to win a prize is through "Voter's Choice." I'll put all the bows on the blog and will host a poll in the sidebar, beginning Friday, August 5. Invite your friends and relatives to vote for your bow! The winner of the Voter's Choice Award will receive your choice of either a selection of unused ribbons and notions from my personal stash, or a FREE e-book from Birdsong Bows and Patterns.
To enter, E-mail your best photograph of your finished product (either on a model or not) to me at deanna [at] birdsongbows.com by 3 a.m. Pacific time (midnight Eastern) on Thursday, August 4 (so, basically before you go to bed Wednesday night). Please keep your photos around 600 pixels wide, so that they're neither too big nor too small. And remember: They must be recognizably made using at least one Birdsong tutorial or pattern. No more than one entry/photo per contestant, please. If you're on Flickr, feel free to post a photo to the Birdsong Flickr Photo Group as well, for all to see!
Good luck! I can't wait to see your entries. :)




Image by Raceytay

Shop feature: Whitesuggar's Creations

Because I've met so many fabulous designers through my business, I'm going to write an occasional feature on some shops I know you'll love visiting! Additionally, as I focus more on my pattern/tutorial business, I find myself with less time to fill orders for customers. I want to direct you to some other terrific designers! I know you'll enjoy buying from the shops I'm featuring.
Yudelca, whose shops on Etsy, Whitesuggar's Creations, and her own website not only feature beautiful accessories, but the photographs in her shop are To Die For! She says, "I got inspired in creating hair accessories when my little princess Sadie was born. I found it so difficult to find accessories for her at local shops and when searching online they were too expensive. So I checked out some tutorials and started creating them for my daughter. I started liking my creations and my daughter received lots of compliments for them. That is when I decided to offer them to the world at affordable prices!"


Yudelca started creating accessories in December 2009 and began selling on Etsy in early 2010. Another bonus when working with Yudelca: She's also fluent en español.


If you link to Whitesuggar's Creations newsletter, you can receive 15% off your order on either her Etsy shop or her website. Be sure to stop into Whitesuggar's Creations and take a look around!

New Pattern: The Ribbon Star (Étoile) Ornament or Pendant

Last year I waited until the very last minute to create a PDF pattern for the holidays, and this year I decided I was not going to wait! The latest Birdsong pattern, the Ribbon Étoile, is a beautiful holiday ornament when made from 1 1/2" ribbon. But when made with 5/8" ribbon, it's a stunning accessory to wear! In the e-book I demonstrate it as a pendant or an ornament, but you can use it as a hat or hair accessory, a package topper, or as an embellishment for a sash, coat or purse.
This tutorial is great for beginners. These embellishments are great for crafting if you're a passenger in a car, or if you're watching TV or relaxing. The technique is based on the ribbon work techniques from the 1920s. In old magazines, you'll see these referred to as "cockades." Enjoy trying out this latest pattern!