House of Gems Contest

Passing along an awesome opportunity for all you jewelry designers out there. Here's your chance to win up to $1000 in supplies from House of Gems! Here's the info from their site:

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Looking for a Few Good Featured Artists:

Do you do a happy dance when you come across a gemstone you don't already own?

Do you find that every conversation you have comes back to your latest jewelry project?

Do you love to help other people on their projects by giving tips or showing them step-by-step how to do things?

If you answered to yes to any of these questions, we may have the perfect opportunity for you. If you answered yes to all three, then consider this destiny.

House of Gems is looking for Featured Artists to spotlight and promote on our website. In addition to the opportunity to present yourself as an artist, you will also generate traffic to your personal blog, Etsy store or social media profile. Artists may also be given opportunities to test new products, receive additional discounts and be the first to be informed of new releases.

Fill out entry form here:
spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=t-nh2cLJGns_PPZR7E8y...

Grand Prize (1):
$1000 Shopping Spree on HouseofGems.com
Runners Up (1):
$500 Shopping Spree on HouseofGems.com
Consolation Prize (5)
$100 Shopping Spree on HouseofGems.com

Timeline:
Contest runs July 18th, 2009 thru August 15th, 2009

Submissions:
Enter formal entry form here: spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=t-nh2cLJGns_PPZR7E8y... and then
Contestants are to upload a maximum of 5 original jewelry designs to the House of Gems Flickr "Featured Artists" group www.flickr.com/groups/featuredartists/. Any and all design types and styles are welcome.

NOTE:
In addition to completing this entry form, you must also upload digital images of your entry pieces to this Flickr Group: www.flickr.com/groups/featuredartists/ and share the contest on your personal blog or website.

Another Quickie!

Hi everyone!

In case you're following the baby news, little Kaili is finally here, turning our family of 3 into 4!!! She was born last Tuesday and we're all happy and healthy. I'll be back soon with pictures to share.

Thanks to those of you who offered best wishes, wonderful thoughts, and speedy labor vibes! :)

Also, I am supposed to draw a winner for my 1 year anniversary giveaway today, but am postponing it until sometime later this week. So for you late-comers, you can still sneak in your entries. I don't know when the drawing will happen, but I'll accept all entries up to the point I do the drawing. Click on the cupcake to your left. Good luck!

Hope you had a great weekend! Happy Monday!

GIVEAWAY TIME :: celebrating the first year of eNVe Designs

About 1 year ago, I launched envedesigns.com and opened an etsy shop to support my jewelry-making addiction. I started with zero experience in running a business, no marketing knowledge, and not a single expectation in my mind as to how it would all unfold. Now, looking back on the first year of this venture, I can safely say that it's been a bumpy road but one that I'm truly glad I set foot on. For me, making jewelry feels natural... but selling my creations was something that made me feel quite vulnerable.. like I'm baring my soul for the world's scrutiny. It still feels like that most times, but I feel a little more brave doing it now. But the most rewarding of it all is coming into contact with all the amazing (not to mention incredibly talented) people I've gotten to know, thanks to Etsy. In a perfect (teleportating) world, I would love to meet all of you in person over coffee and great conversation. So to express my gratitude for all the warmth and support I've received this past year, I'm having my biggest giveaway yet!

the prize:

WINNER'S CHOICE
FROM THE ENTIRE ENVE DESIGNS SELECTION

One randomly selected winner will get one item of choice (any value) from what is currently available from either one of my sites! Yes, call me crazy, but that is the prize! It's a special occasion and I'm feeling generous. :)

see what's new at eNVe Designs

Here's how to enter:

REQUIRED: Visit www.envedesigns.com and comment on your favorite piece. You can also visit my archives and etsy site to view past designs. This helps me decide what to make more of. Any other suggestions you can offer (e.g., your favorite signature style, what you would like to see more of, what you don't like, etc) would be immensely helpful. My goal is to keep growing and making things better.

Bonus entries:
* you can indicate all bonus entries in one comment or make separate comments if you'd like
* must include your email so I can contact you if you win
* I'll be verifying all bonus entries to be fair

(+8 entries) Blog about this giveaway (with a link to my giveaway post; please include your blog url in the comment)

(+2 entries) Include an image of one of my jewelry pieces in your blog post

(+4 entries) Follow my blog or let me know that you already do (I can only verify "public" followers)

(+4 entries) Subscribe to my mailing list (send an email to: subscribe@envedesigns.com)

(+4 entries) Follow me on Twitter or let me know that you already do (I'll follow back)

(+1 entry per tweet) Tweet about this giveaway (include a link to my giveaway post; include @eNVeDesigns so I can verify)

(+4 entries) Fan me on Facebook or let me know that you already do

(+1 entry per person emailed) And for those who don't blog/twitter/facebook (thanks to Elaine for bringing this to my attention), you can also help spread the word by emailing your friends about the giveaway (must CC contact@envedesigns so I know; I will only count the email addresses and then delete the email).

Enter by MAY 31
Winner announced here June 1st.
GOOD LUCK! AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY FIRST YEAR FABULOUS!

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Other happenings this month:

My customer appreciation giveaway:
All eNVe Designs customers past and present through May 31, 2009 are automatically entered to win a $50 gift certificate (plus a secret surprise!). Winner will be announced the first week of June.

Memorial Weekend Special:
I'll be having a special sale going on this Memorial Weekend (5/22 - 5/25) so check back in on Friday!

PS. We're still waiting on baby... I'll keep you posted. :)

Last chance!

If you've been meaning to enter the drawing for a shopping spree to my site, this is your last day to do it! 100% of the raffle proceeds is donated to the American Liver Foundation. The 3 winners will be randomly drawn just before midnight tonight so get your entries in! I'll post the winners here on my blog, along with the weekend special tomorrow morning. Good luck to those who've entered!!! :)

Prizes:
$175
$100
$75

Click here to enter before midnight!

Weekend Special!

WIN a $175, $100, or $75 SHOPPING SPREE!
LAST WEEK TO ENTER! CLICK HERE!

Enter the raffle between now and Sunday (midnight EST) and receive one free item of your choice (equal/lesser value) with your purchase from envedesigns.com or my etsy shop.

You must first be entered in the raffle to receive this offer. Make your purchase as usual. Please mention this special during checkout in the message to seller and be sure to mention the item you've selected as your free item. You can also email me (contact@envedesigns.com) for an invoice. Those already entered in the raffle are also eligible for this offer.

Thank you to those who have already supported this fundraiser in some way! Your generosity will make a big difference in someone's life.

RAFFLE for charity

What's better than giving to a great cause? Giving to a great cause and having a chance to win some sparkling handmade jewelry! :D

My husband Alex (in the orange) is a part of the Run for Research marathon team again this year. Their mission is to raise funds for the American Liver Foundation and to run for this cause during the upcoming 2009 Boston Marathon.

And because I love my husband, his big heart, and his relentless determination, I am helping him raise money for this vital organization. I'm raffling off 3 shopping sprees to be used on envedesigns.com! Prizes this year are even better than last year!

1st prize: $175
2nd prize: $100
3rd prize: $75

Here's how you can get into the spirit of giving and help a great cause.. and potentially win one of these prizes!

To enter this eNVe Designs raffle:
(you must complete #1 and #2 to be entered; #3 through #7 are optional)

1) Please visit Alex's fund raising site: www.run-alex-run.com to make your donation. Be sure to leave a valid name and email address (do NOT check the anonymous donation box).

$15 = 1 raffle entry
$20 = 2 raffle entries
$25 = 3 raffle entries

2) Then leave a comment here (any comment) to indicate your entry. IMPORTANT: Make sure your name on the donation matches the name on your comment posted here. That's the only way I can verify how many entries to give you.

That's it! You will be entered into all 3 prizes drawings.

But wait, there's more. Here are some options for additional entries if you'd like to increase your chances of winning:

3) Make your donation by Dec. 15, 2008 (1 additional entry)

4) Link to this post from your own blog (2 additional raffle entries)
* please leave an additional comment indicating you are doing this, along with a link to your blog

5) Purchase an item from my "Earrings for Charity" collection (2 additional raffle entries)
* 100% of your purchase will be donated to the American Liver Foundation.
* please leave an additional comment indicating you are doing this

6) Email your friends about this raffle (1 additional entry for every 10 people)
* you must CC contact@envedesigns.com in order to receive credit
* please leave an additional comment indicating you are doing this

7) Subscribe to the eNVe Designs mailing list (1 additional entry)
* just send an email to subscribe@envedesigns.com
* if you are already on the mailing list, you will automatically receive the additional entry
* please leave an additional comment if you subscribe or if you're already on the list


The three winners will be randomly selected on January 16, 2009. Remember to check back to see if you're a winner! And as a thank you to those who participate, but do not win, I will post an unbeatable special just for you!

And the winner is.... *drumroll please*

***CONGRATULATIONS NANOUKE ***

You won a pair of earrings of your choice!

The winner was chosen at random, thanks to random.org. Thank you to everyone who participated! There will definitely be more contest fun in the future so check back often.

I wish I could make everyone a winner, but alas, I can't possibly afford to do that. :) But check back tomorrow for a super duper weekend special you can't pass up!!!


ADDENDUM: I just realized that I entered Shawna only once, when she should have gotten two entries (for joining my mailing list). So sorry! That means the fairest way to remedy this is to do an additional drawing. Everyone gets another chance!!! There will be a 2nd winner (of a pair of earrings of her choice) randomly drawn and will be added to this post shortly. Stay tuned... (if I made a mistake with anyone else, please let me know asap. it was sometimes tough to figure out who's name matched with their email since not all subscriptions were contest entrants).

And the 2nd winner is: MELODY

***CONGRATULATIONS MELODY***

You won a pair of earrings of your choice!
Please respond to this post and let me know which pair of earrings you would like.

BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!!

New fall items are here!!!

To celebrate the launching of my new fall line on envedesigns.com, and my upcoming birthday in October, I'm having a giveaway for ONE FREE PAIR OF EARRINGS OF YOUR CHOICE (any value)!

All you have to do is post a comment here with your responses to the following:

1) Of my signature designs on envedesigns.com, which is your favorite and the style you'd most likely/frequently wear:

- 50-inch wrap necklaces
- wrap and thread necklaces
- sliding Y necklaces
- stackable necklaces
- stackable earrings

This will help me decide what designs to make more of!

2) Which is your favorite piece from what's currently available at envedesigns.com?


That's it! Your answer to these two questions is your entry into the drawing. You can also double your chances by joining my mailing list (send an email to subscribe@envedesigns.com). If you're already on my mailing list, just mention that and you automatically double your entry. Be sure to include your name and email address with your response here.


One winner will be chosen at random on October 22nd (my birthday), so check back then to find out if you've won! :)