GIVE-A-WAY!
November 21, 2011 Happy Monday!
I know, I know what's to be happy about with no more quiltlets, is probably what you're wondering. Well, as a sort of olive branch offering, I have another giveaway for you. You're welcome. ;)
* * * * * * *
Ok. Do you remember what it was on Etsy that you had to have so badly that you became a member just so you could buy it?
I do.
It was this adorable set of pin toppers - impossibly tiny sewing notions ... IN PINK! (You may have noticed them in my banner photo up top.)
I've bought many pins from this artist since I discovered her 3 years ago. And I've even managed to keep a few for myself. But these pins have become my go-to gift for crafty family members, dear friends and very special people who mean a lot to me.
Now, I'm normally a little shy when it comes to introducing myself (I know, you're probably surprised - but it's true. My natural tendency is to be introverted.) But I was so excited about starting my blog I wanted to tell her that I'd included her pins in my banner. So I emailed her and a conversation started.
(Are you serious? LOOK at this little mushroom!)
This past summer, my family spent several weeks in California very near - it just so happens - to where she lives. So at the risk of making her think I was a crazy stalker person, I asked if she was interested in meeting. She said yes.
(I'm dyin' here ... now I need to make myself a pink tomato pincushion! You know I'm gonna. See what she does to me?)
We got together a few times - for breakfast, hanging out, burgers and yes, crafting. I begged her to come to our place with all her pin-making paraphanelia just so I could watch her work.
(Dude ... !!!!!!)
I gotta tell you, it was the absolute weirdest, out-of-body, "pinch-me-I-can't-believe-I'm-sitting-here-with-HER" time of my life. HER as in SHE MADE ME SIGN UP FOR ETSY HER! (Can you tell I'm a little excited?!)
(Can't you just imagine THESE in your pincushion?)
I mean, of all the merchants and crafters with shops on Etsy from all around the w.o.r.l.d, SHE'S here. Drinkin' my Pellegrino and hangin' out with me.
She's amazing. She is Gigi Minor of Pinks & Needles.
I am just SO HONORED (you really have no idea) to have this opportunity to share Gigi's fabulous talent with you because she's designed this exclusive 4-piece pin set especially for one of my lovely readers.
Gigi suggested making something that reflected my style. Naturally, it had to be pink. :) My favorite beverage is tea and I always blog with a cup beside me. So she started with this sweet little cup of tea, complete with a tag and string from the teabag! (Omg, can you beLIEVE her?)
A tiny pale blue blossom that she was inspired to make when she noticed the blue flower in the fabric.
A spool of thread because, well, you know ...
And then the piece-de-resistance, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! This rose - the quintessential symbol of pretty, romantic, shabby chic, flower sugar ... everything that makes my heart so happy. (I watched her make this rose and I still don't know how she did it, but to quote a very famous Vulcan, "Fascinating" - except I have to add these ... !!!! ... even though Vulcans don't have emotions.)
She even fashioned a pincushion out of a little pink egg cup and a scrap of fabric from my stash.
She makes every single pin - one at a time - by hand. Incredibly tiny, detailed and no-holds-barred ADORABLE! And let me tell you she is a perfectionist. She takes great pains to ensure all her pins are flawless.
So here's the deal (still with me?). To enter the draw to win this 4-piece pin topper set PLUS eggcup pincushion - all hand-crafted by Gigi Minor - go to her Etsy shop, have a browse, come back and leave me a comment telling me which are your favorite designs ... and I'm warning you - it's impossible to have just one!
I've already done some Christmas shopping myself ... and it's possible everything I bought will end up in my stocking from Santa, just sayin'. ;)
Comments will close Wednesday Nov 23 6:00pm PST (west coast United States) and I'll announce the winner Thursday Nov 24th.
PLEASE double check your email address to make sure it's spelled correctly when you leave it for me.
And now I'm going to try to calm down and hope no one enters so Gigi will send the pins to me.
Kidding!
Probably ...
:)
Reader Comments (264)
What incredible designs, I love them all but my favourite would have to be the teacup set with polka dots. What a fabulous giveaway!
I can not ever fathom the talents and creativity of people. I wish I had just a "Wink" how happy I would be....Dear Santa, I want them all.
I nearly fainted when I saw the absolutely cute cute pin toppers! You are so fortunate to have a few in your possession...lucky gal! Even luckier to be Gigi's friend! My favorite is the pink sewing machine with the squirrel fabric! Heck, I think they're ALL my favorite! :)
Happy Holidays, Kristyne!
Bernie
Oh. My. Gosh! Those are the cutest things! I wouldn't turn down a single one, but I love the sewing ones. I might just have to have one with scissors - and maybe the spools of thread! Oh my.
OMG!! You are going to get me in soooooo much trouble because you post all these cute things and I want them ALL!!! LOL Ok I love the sunflower pins...my pin cushion is a felt sunflower my friend made me. And you know I have a thing for strawberries so I love that one too! Seriously they are all awesome but those are my faves. Thanks for showing us these. I will have to hint to "Santa" to put one in my stocking! =)
Oh my goodness, these are SO CUTE! I really love the mini spools of thread, and the pin topper bunting is absolutely adorable!
Oh wow, what a gorgeous array of absolute cuteness. The attention to detail is amazing. My favourite is the Mad Hatter Hat.
All are beautiful but I am in a festive mood and the gingerbread houses are my pick
Kate
Oh my goodness, they are all TOO CUTE! I love them! I think my favorite are the little spools of thread though, or maybe the sewing machine, hmm, but I do really love the gingerbread houses too though! Being a pink lover myself, I think I love everything in the shop!
lauren.stennett@yahoo.ca
Oh, wow! Thanks for showing that lovely Etsy shop and Gina's amazing talent. Youngest and I are oh, ah, wow over and over.
The Owl and the Pumpkin pin is most amazing to this owl loving family. They are all fascinating pins. I see some buying soon.
Adorable, I like the sewing basket the best. Very cute!
Those are adorable!! I LOVE the little spools of thread and thimbles and I love the little blue/aqua bird. So cute and you are right, they are a great gift idea. My mom owns a bridal store and they would look so cute in the pincushions in her sewing room!!
It's really too hard to pick just one favorite, so I've narrowed it down to two - the first being the most adorable buttermint gingerbread house pin topper closely followed by the slice of cake with demitasse fork pin topper. I just love Gigi's creativeness! And thank you, Gigi, for introducing me to Pretty By Hand!
Happy Thanksgiving
How can anyone pick just one, but I think Alice in Wonderland, not for me but perhaps a friend. What fun you must be having, enjoy!
Truely she is amazing:) i really like the ones that you are giving away on her website my favorites are the personalized bunting and the little strawberries. thanks for sharing this i had never heard of her
Kristyne, what a generous offer. I have viewed her site before and agree with what you say--very creative detail in all her designs.How exciting the two of you could meet and share time together. You are absolutely correct, it is difficult to pick just one favorite. Today the Gingerbread houses are awful cute but I would be perfectly happy with the give a way or ANYTHING on her etsy site. : )
I love your blog!
I've admired her work for months.....my favorite design is the little banner that spells a name of your choice. Yep, I may have to order that for my bday. ;0
Wow - that polka dot tea party set is just adorable! Thank you for sharing this talented artist with your friends!! Toni
Wow! Gigi does incredible work - so tiny and so perfect. It's hard to choose a favorite, but I do love the happy sunflower - so cheerful!
These are absolutely wonderful! I'm going to buy some now for gifts. Thank you for introducing these to me!
Wow - so adorable! I love the Mini Thread Spools, the Sunshine Sweet Corn, and the Gingerbread House. But really they are all so great. Thanks for the chance to win. :-)
Caryn
Way too cute! I have to say the Slice of Tea Cake with Demitasse Fork Pin Topper is definitely my favorite. Although, I would be very happy with any of the goodies in her shop.
Wow! What a decision! The Slice of tea Cake is wonderful, but that Retro Vintage Sewing machine is awesome, too! But then there's Toto!
I love, love,love that gorgeous pink gingerbread house!! Wow - what a talented lady!
They are all so pretty, its hard to choose. But I do believe the sewing machine is my favorite. Love these pins!!
This is a new discovery Gigi Minor does great work and another thing to start to collect for us.I love Happy Sunflower and Harvest Sunflower with The Gingerhouse in there too. Sandy D
Hi, my favourite would have to be the red Polka Dot Tea Part Set. It's very hard to choose though as they are all equally adorable. That is one talented girl.... she must have great eyesight!! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh...my...!!! It's so hard to choose. I really, really like the little buttermint gingerbread house, the swirly pastel suckers are adorable, the shabby mushroom is too darn cute but I think my favorites are the giveaways. Roses and little blue forget me nots are 2 of my favorite flowers, and like you I love pink, and I always enjoy my tea while at the computer & sewing machine. Thank-you so much for showing these off!
They are all so beautiful!!
Definitely the Polka Dot Tea Party, but any would be delicious to own!
Oh, how can you make us choose only one? They are all sooo cute. I love the Polka Dot Tea Party and the Personalized Flag Bunting and the Grannies Sewing Basket and . . . . Thanks for this lovely giveaway, and also for introducing us to a wonderful artist.
There you go again! Another GREAT website and blog to follow. Buttermint Gables was jaw dropping darling! Loved the gumdrops too, but ones you're offering are my fave. Fingers crossed. Thank you so much.
My favorite are the gingerbread houses.The pink tea cup is very cute too. I would love to win.
WHY do these tiny beauties make me cry? Yes, Cry! Kind of like when I go into the local quilt shop. And, you are correct, it's not possible to really pick a favorite. But, I chose the "Little Pink Sewing Machine", with the aqua thread. I hearted her shop & this item! Thanks for the chance to win! Hugs ~ Jo
jomoseley57 at gmail dot com
Oh wow! These pins are gorgeous! If I had to pick just one it would be the Buttermint Gables House - adorable!! But I love the bunting too. And the birds nest. And the ........
So much cuteness!!! I loved all the cupcakes and gingerbread houses, the sewing machines and sewing baskets, and tomato pincushion and scissors. She puts so much detail in. They're amazing!
Gingerbread house, the Robot Butterfly and buw cute is the Alice in WOnderland set ...... i'm off to sign up now as I might just have to have a couple for ME!!!! Thanks for the chance and sharing an amasing talent with us
I LOVE them all, BUT the Pine Tree and the Ghosties are my favorite because they are sew different!!!
Oh my . . . How in the world can we pick just one! I love them all . . . the button cards, the spools of thread, the hearts with sprinkles. I may head back for the slice of pumpkin pie. But if I had to choose one, I think that Shabby Sewing Basket is the best. Thank you for introducing us, and thanks for the chance to win! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Kristyne!
OMG! These are ADORABLE! I had a hard time picking just one, but I have always had a "thing" for the Mad Hatter so I have to go with the Mad Hatter pin, love it!
Thanks for the chance to win!
OMG they are just too cute!! I couldn't choose just one, I really love the robins eggs in a nest and then I would have to get the tweet tweet little aqua birdie to go with it!!
Love the little pink sewing machine but it was hard choosing - everything is so wonderful.
Sorry I forgot my email: a.haun@sbcglobal.net. I am not trying to cheat with two entries - please do not think that!!
It's tough to choose a favorite, but I'll have to say the gumdrop trees - too cute!
OH, I bet that was so much fun to meet Gigi.
She is so talented. They are all so cute.
Oh no! you are so right, can't just pick one. At first my favorite was grannies' sewing basket. Then I saw the bird nest with eggs, and the bird.
Then the personalizing bunting. Too cute!
and last but not least the little Buttermint house.
All are so cute.
Well, I've been to pins and needles and oh my, how do you choose. I have collected thimbles in the past so I loved those. Now, I'm into little birds, so I loved the bird pins, but I dearly love polka dots so I guess my favorite is the red/white polka dot teapot and teacups. I'm afraid I'm going to have to order one - but is that really bad?
Found my favorite pin right off the bat, 'cause I LOVE snowmen! What a FUN giveaway!!!
Those are so cute! My favorites are the snowman, the roses that are exquisite, and the little owl on the pumpkin is just perfect. Thanks for sharing!
How does she do it? I've been to her shop before and I'm amazed at how much detail she puts into such tiny pieces of art. My favorites are the sewing machines, the scissors and the mini spools of thread. Wow!
I LOVE all her pins. Of course the sewing ones are my favorite, especially the pink sewing machine.
Too cute! I love the bird's nest with the robin's eggs.