I'm a Winner! :D

Wow!  I never win stuff.  Anything.  Evah!

But I won this gorgeous little handmade leather wristlet from Lori Plyler of Waterstone on her latest giveaway!  How cute is this little wristlet!  I LOVE the little strap and the darker brown flower!!!

Lori shops around to find leather coats or big leather bags that she can reclaim and sew into gorgeously unique handbags, totes or wristlets.  She gives old leather new life and I LOVE it.  And not only does she make handbags, totes and wristlets, she also makes jewelry.  You can check out Lori's etsy shop HERE. 

I am so extremely excited about this!  I had the pleasure of meeting Lori in person about a month ago when I was sneaking around etsy buying up Lorelei's favorites as surprise birthday gifts.  After I bought this cute little wristlet from Waterstone, Lori emailed me and asked if I wanted personal delivery because she literally lives just a few miles from me!  So I have already seen in person what extraordinary workmanship and care goes into Lori's items.  Did I tell you I'm excited?!

The last time we met, I did not pull out my camera to document the occasion.  I'm sure Lori would have declined having just come from the gym and I was a mess from spending a few hours in the yard and still had leaves/branches in my hair, I'm sure.  This time, I'll make sure I'm showered so we can take pics and I can properly introduce you to Lori on my blog. :)  

I love when I find out that bloggers/artists I admire turn out to be my neighbors!

Eggs tonight.  Pics tomorrow!

We Have a Winnah!

Although I did hear much begging and received a few threats "IT DANG WELL BETTER BE ME!" from a few, un-named friends (I am envisioning them shaking their fists at me right now).....I couldn't bring myself to rig the contest.   There is a lot of loot at stake here.  One and a half pounds of beads, people!  That is serious business.  :)

I have been excited all morning about finding out who would win.  The Random.Org site had to wait a little longer because I was driving the kids across town and back.  On Fridays when there is no school with the strict 7:30 start time, we treat the kids to Dunkin Donuts.  I'm sure their camp teachers are loving us this morning with them jacked up on sugar.  I got a glazed doughnut, but it only re-inforced for me that I just need to stop buying doughnuts for myself because they no longer taste as good to me.  I have silently been following a handful of bloggers for several months who have eliminated sugar from their daily life and I do feel better for it.

I truly enjoyed reading all of your comments and literally laughed out loud.  Cindy's was my favorite.  She has such enthusiasm which always brightens my day, but this comment has had me laughing every day since she posted it!

OMG! I just died and went to heaven girl! And I'm not a beader - BUT OMG Imagine the possibilities of combining these with my silver!! OMG OMG OMG..

NOW... I don't feel right doing this on YOUR blog... but my absolute FAV blog... in the whole world... is Keirsten Giles ~ cerebraldilettante.blogspot.com OMG she's so talented and funny ... omg FUNNY...sometimes I pee myself!!

Thank you all for taking the time to leave the names of your favorite blogs and Etsians.  It took me a few hours last night, but I got them all in a list and verified names/addresses.  Since there were 99 different blogs noted and 68 shops, I will be doing two posts to keep them separate.  Out of 153 commenters, 32 of you name Lorelei's blog as your favorite.  She was also the top favorite shop.  I do owe her big thanks for alerting so many of you to my giveaway and will be sending Lorelei her own goody box of beads for being at the top of the list of favorites for blogs and shops by leaps and bounds beyond any other blog or shop named.  Yay Lorelei!

But enough of my morning and other ramblings, you folks want to know who is the Lucky Winnah!  So here you go.

Count with me folks.  Twenty two was easy.  Not too far down on the list at all.  When I count down to commenter 22, I get to Nicole Campanella of Beadwright.

Congratulations Nicole!!!!

You are the winner of all these luscious beads :D

The Loot

Just thought folks would like to see what Pearl & Pebble won from my Need a Name 2 contest. :) A dozen beads that would sell for $35 in my Etsy shop.

And the Winner Is....

Out of the 29 comments left on I Need A Name: Part 2, 28 of those counted and Random.org chose #23.

Congratulations to S&J of That's What Love Is All About is the winner of a dozen free beads!


Please send me your address so I can get some cools beads shipped out to you ASAP! :D

*****12.3.09****************S&R, I can't send you your free beads if you don't email your address :) Your email is not on your blog, nor does it allow comments :(

Please contact me by December 7th, or I will go back to random.org to select a new winner. Thanks!***********************

Sarah's Loot

These are the dozen beads that went out the door today and are headed to Sarah for winning this contest

for giving these beads below the name Iodine. Appropriate, no?

Anyway, I wanted to give Sarah a sneak peak at what is headed her way and also to show that with my giveaway contests, I have no intention of sending out shmutzy beads to the winner. These giveaway beads are ones that I would sell in my shop for $2-4 each. I want you all to be just as excited later this month to enter my next contest in two weeks in the hopes of being the next winner :)

Thank you again to everyone who left comments. I really was amazed at the number of people who responded, that I now have more good people following my blog and just how many wonderful names that were suggested. You all are wonderful!