Girls Just Wanna Win Swag: C-My Designs Jewelry Giveaway

Jennifer B. is the winner of the $25 gift certificate from last week’s Designs by Suzyn Swag giveaway.

It’s really a privilege this week to introduce you to Lynn Kvigne, artist and owner of C-My Designs. I have to admit when I first contacted Lynn, I was simply impressed by her jewelry designs. I wasn’t until our interview that I learned she’s a star in the jewelry-making world.

Lynn designs handcrafted jewelry in her Iowa studio.  Her creations include necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings, and earrings. She specializes in metal designs using sterling silver, fine silver, copper and bronze. “I love to incorporate beads and stones into chain maille and fabricated designs.  My style’s been described as girly with an edge – not too fussy, just a little funky,” she says.

Sterling Silver Heart Pendant

You may already be familiar with Lynn who is recognized as an expert in the field of jewelry making. She publishes jewelry-related articles, free tutorials, and reviews at BeadingHelpWeb.com. “I love to share knowledge, tips and tricks,” Lynn says. She’s also been published in Bead Trends magazine, and is a member of the Ornament Thursday craft team (ornamentthursday.blogspot.com). Lynn is a three-time winner in the Rings ‘N’ Things “Your Deigns Rock!” contest, and was awarded Best In Show at the Grand Cities Art Fest in 2008.

Lynn’s sense of humor is apparent in some of her designs such as the Not Made in China Earrings.

Not Made in China Earrings

That sense of humor also came through in our interview. She says when she’s not making jewelry you can find her, “asking Home Depot employees where the copper wire and flashing is, stalking the mailman for my supply orders, and walking my dog along country roads.”

Despite her obvious talent, it seems that Lynn doesn’t take herself too seriously. I asked her where her inspiration comes from. “Pizza.  You know how pizza’s a little of this, a little of that, and you’d better have a stable crust to hold it all together or you’re just going to end up with a big mess?  Jewelry making is a lot like pizza.  Throw together the right components, make sure you have a solid foundation, and you’ll end up with something beautiful.  Or tasty, depending on what you’re making.”

Lynn followed up that remark with this refreshingly honest answer, “Okay, I’ll admit, like Stephen King, I hate this question….everyone expects some magical perfect answer…like I’ll say my inspiration stems from nature and meditation, or that my designs come to me in a dream.  In all reality, I sit in boring “left brain” meetings all day long and start doodling on a piece of paper.  I have to pretend I’m actually taking notes while my mind wanders and I start sketching out my next project!  Sometimes I do go the meditation or dream route, but honestly, it’s highly overrated.”

Sterling Silver Wrap Ring (Oxidized)

Lynn says when she first started her business she went about it all wrong. “I signed up for a craft show and forgot about it for a year. When I was reminded that I had a table paid for and that the show was in two weeks, I decided to make jewelry.  My first creations were REALLY pathetic, but I did have some sales…and I was hooked!  I loved making jewelry, I loved working the shows and talking to people, and I loved making money to buy more jewelry making supplies.  It’s a vicious circle, a black hole, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Over time and through experience Lynn says she’s refined her style, ability and technique. “Today I’m proud of each and every piece of work I put up for sale or create for a commissioned request.  While I love to give my work new homes, it sometimes feels like one of my kids are leaving the nest when I sell a favorite piece!”

Win It!

Lynn is offering one lucky winner the Sterling Silver Heart Pendant pictured above on a 16-20″, (winner can specify) sterling silver snake chain.

To enter visit C-My Designs then come back here and comment ON THIS POST with the name of your favorite item (not pictured here) from the store. Comments not following the rules will be disqualified. Earn an extra entry by posting about this contest on your blog, and linking to this post and to C-My Designs. If you do the extra credit, let me know by leaving a separate comment with the link to your post.

Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. The contest is open to readers in the US and Canada.

The contest is open until 11:59 p.m. EST August 27. I’ll randomly draw a winner, and announce it on the next edition of Girls Just Wanna Win Swag. The winner will also be contacted by email, and will have three days to reply. If the winner does not reply in three days, another will be chosen. You may also check Prizey Fetch to see if you’ve won.

Have a women-owned business you’d like featured in a Swag giveaway? Fill out the contact form in my sidebar and let me know.

Princess Time Toys Giveaway

“UPDATED”

Betty N. is the winner of the Disney Princess 7-in-1 Game House from Princess Time Toys. Congratulations.

And I’m back!

I been over at The Chocolistas for a few days completely screwing up, uh — practicing my CSS skills for a few days. It’s still a little rough, but check it out and let me know what you think about the new look. I really have no clue what I’m doing when it comes to html, so I consider it a personal triumph every time it turns out mostly O.K.

Anyway, I stayed up way too late several nights working on The Chocolistas, and now I’m too tired to blog. So how about a new give way instead? This one’s for the kiddos.

Princess Time Toys Giveaway

Princess Time Toys is giving away one Disney Princess 7-in-1 Game House. It Includes Checkers, Bingo, Tic Tac Toe, Dominoes, Go Fish, Old Maid and Crazy Eights all inside an beautiful wooden table with a storage drawer.

Bloggers

To enter, register at Princess Time Toys, and write a review for one of the products on the site on your blog linking to Princess Time Toys. Please only review products you’ve actually used. Nothing there? Then post what you think or like about a particular product, and how you’d use it with your child to enrich his/her life. Make sure you leave a comment with the link to your post.

Non-Bloggers

Don’t have a blog? Register at Princess Time Toys and leave a comment here with your review or what you think or like about a particular product, and how you’d use it with your child to enrich his/her life.

Princess Time Toys honors your privacy and will NEVER send unsolicited mail or sell, give or rent your information. However, while registering, if you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll receive additional giveaway opportunities and discount codes!

The contest is open world wide.

Contest ends 11:59 P.M. August 24th.

The winner will be randomly drawn and contacted by email.

Girls Just Wanna Win Swag: Designs by Suzyn

The winner of the Mom Colors Bracelet from last week’s Girls Just Wanna Win Swag Giveaway is Sonya from Sonya’s Happenings.

This week I want you to meet Suzyn from Designs by Suzyn. She is a true artisan, creating one-of-a-kind designer jewelery from silver and semi-precious stones.

One look at Suzyn’s work tells you there is something special about it. “My jewelry is unique in the sense that every piece is different.  I pride myself on my designs.  My pieces are well thought out and made by hand.  I do not use molds to create my work,” she says.

When it comes to her creative process Suzyn says, “I am inspired by everything I see.  Sometimes I sketch a piece that I envision, but when I actually sit down to do the work, the piece takes on a life of its own and morphs into something completely different.”

Suzyn also has, “a very challenging job as an IT project manager for a large company,” and works as a real estate agent. “I find that jewelry making is my stress reliever,” she says.

Suzyn’s co-workers are, in part, why she opened her on-line store. “I decided to go into business because I have a large following at work. A lot of people buy my jewelry. I get stopped in stores, and on the street by people commenting on my unique jewelry.” Since people are always asking her where she sells her jewelry, she launched the website to direct customers to and to showcase her work.

Suzyn says she’s just getting started with the Designs by Suzyn site.  She has many more pieces to add, so be sure to come back again and see the rest of her gorgeous collection.

Win It!

Suzyn is offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky reader good towards a purchase of $50 or more from Designs by Suzyn. To win visit Designs by Suzyn and leave a comment on THIS POST with what item you would like to purchase from the store with the gift certificate. Comments not following the rules will be disqualified.

Earn an extra entry by posting about this contest on your blog, and linking to this post and to Designs by Suzyn. If you do the extra credit, let me know by leaving a separate comment with the link to your post.

Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. The contest is open internationally.

The contest will run until midnight EST August 20. I’ll randomly draw a winner, and announce it on the next edition of Girls Just Wanna Win Swag. The winner will also be contacted by email, and will have three days to reply. You can also check Prizey Fetch to see if you’ve won. If the winner does not reply in three days, another will be chosen.

Have a women-owned business you’d like featured in a Swag giveaway? Fill out the contact form in my sidebar and let me know.

Girls Just Wanna Win Swag Giveaway: Makeup from Mixology

The winner of last week’s giveaway for the $25 gift certificate from Soothing Rituals is Jen G. Thank you to everyone who entered. We had such a great response to the giveaway last week. I know Michelle appreciated all the wonderful comments. Please, when you need a special gift or just have an urge to go shopping, remember these ladies featured here on Girls Just Wanna Win Swag and go support their companies.

This week I want to introduce you to Rae who sells handmade organic, vegan mineral makeup through her company Mixology.

Rae says her makeup is a healthy alternative that will improve skin quality, and give a radiant look without harsh ingredients! “NO cheap fillers, NO chemicals, NO synthetic dyes,” which she says are the cause of most allergic reactions, “and NO preservatives.” It’s also Bismuth and Carmine Free.

Gentle and all-natural, Mixology is perfect for very sensitive skin. It also has anti-inflammatory effects and offers great coverage for acne & rosacea. The makeup is virtually water resistant, won’t clog pores so that the skin can breathe, and is a natural SPF. Because it’s light-weight and made from dry ingredients, bacteria does not grow in the makeup as long as it’s kept dry.

Rae has already gathered a loyal following of customers. “I think its the best out there and my customers do too,” she laughs. It’s probably the care that she puts into all her products that keeps them coming back. “I use very few ingredients and very high quality ingredients, all while keeping it cost effective for you.” She also says she puts almost as much love into the packaging as she does her product.

The Ultimate Love Beauti Set

When you visit Rae’s shop you’ll get to know her pretty well. “I think my personality comes out a lot in my makeup on the site. I use all my friends and family and a few brave customers in my pictures. I always have something sassy to say about it in the listings, so maybe you can get a laugh while shopping!”

After Glow Mineral Veil in Soft Glow Candlelight

There are many reasons Rae started making her own mineral makeup, but one of the biggest is that it was more cost effective to do it herself. “A few years back I looked into starting a makeup line and discovered that having a company make it and package it is very expensive. What I would have to sell it for, I wouldn’t even buy. So I began the research and the learning process of making mineral makeup, and Mixology was born!” Her own sensitive skin was also a catalyst. “I never wore foundations because it made me break out! This also spurred me on in my mineral makeup quest for something I could create to actually improve my skin! Now I can never go back!”

Rae draws her inspiration from what else? “Color! I love looking through magazines and seeing colors of random items and thinking ‘hmmm… I don’t have a shadow or blush that color’ and off to work I go! Also, just suggestions and ideas from people of things they are looking for or would like. It challenges me to help create it for them and I love that!”

There’s more behind the woman than just pretty faces when it comes to Rae. Add world traveler and humanitarian to her resume. She’s moving to China soon. “Only for awhile, but it is an opportunity I can’t pass up! There is a vocational school in Tumen, China called www.tumenriverschool.com and me and 2 other friends are going to help teach conversational English. They are even talking about me getting to teach makeup in some of the cosmetology classes which would be amazing!”

She says not to worry about Mixology falling by the wayside while she’s gone however. “I will still have Mixology up and running. My mom will be doing all my shipping while I am gone, and I will still handle the website and customer side of things while living on the border of North Korea. It will be all volunteer too, so I need to keep supporting myself,” she says laughing.

Rae’s generosity doesn’t stop with her volunteer efforts in China. “Right now we are donating $1 per item sold, not per sale, to help sponsor a clean water well in Africa through www.Bloodwatermission.com – We need to sell 3,000 products, and we are well on our way through amazing support we have had! You can read more about it in my shop too!”

Well, I’m convinced! Aren’t you?

Now stop reading this and go check out Mixology! Oh, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

Win It!

Rae is offering one lucky reader an eye kit which will include 1 full size shadow, 2 liners, and 1 eye liner brush in the winner’s choice of colors. To win, visit her store and browse around. Come back here and leave a comment ON THIS POST with the name of one other product, not pictured in this post, that you’d like to try. Earn an extra entry by posting about this contest on your blog, and linking to this post and Mixology. If you do the extra credit, leave a separate comment with the link to your post.

Please follow the comment rules. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. Rae has opened the contest to, “anyone in the world! I love to ship internationally cause I think its cool to send my makeup to Croatia and Ireland!”

The contest will run until midnight August 6 . I’ll randomly draw a winner, and announce it on the next edition of Girls Just Wanna Win Swag. The winner will also be contacted by email, and will have three days to reply. You can also check Prizey Fetch to see if you’ve won. If the winner does not reply in three days, another will be chosen.

Have a women-owned business you’d like featured in a Swag givewaway? Fill out the contact form in my sidebar and let me know.

Take 5 Minutes to Check Out this Great Site

I want to thank the ladies over at 5 Minutes for Mom for including the Soothing Rituals Giveaway in their weekly edition of 5 Minutes Around the Blogosphere, a round-up of announcements, contests and deals you don’t want to miss.

You also don’t want to miss all the other great things going on over at 5 Minutes for Mom. You’ll find links to their readers’ blogs, mom-owned stores and mom-run websites. While you’re there, make sure you check out their own original content which includes articles about everything form motherhood to blogging to product and book reviews. Take some time to visit the rest of the 5 Minutes family too, 5 Minutes for Books, 5 Minutes for Parenting, 5 Minutes for Going Green and 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

Twin sisters Janice and Susan are the women behind 5 Minutes for Mom. These two work-at-home moms are committed to helping you get the most out of your time on-line. When they’re not busy bringing you the best of the web, they’re running their two on-line toy stores, A Rocking Horse to Love and Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles.