It's Christmas in July!!!

There are some real bargains in the Promoting Creative Friends Christmas In July Auction that is going on right now!!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY AUCTION

The Auction starts today and goes until July 15th. But don't wait too long to check it out!

I've got 4 items in the auction and the starting bid is very reasonable!!

GO CHECK IT OUT!!

Where I work - Part One

I thought it might be fun to show you where I work.  The tools I use and how my pieces get made.  The problem is I don't really have a place to work yet.  We moved to this house about 4 months ago and the last room to get any sort of attention has been my work room.  It's in the basement and everything just kind of got thrown in there.  When I create something or have an order to fill I kind of run around from table to table to find the things I need.  Making that space a usable and functional space is going to take some work and is definitely high on my list of things to do.

This will be a work in progress as I figure out what works best.  Here are pictures of the mess I work in around right now

Boxes and piles of stuff that needs organizing

A cluttered desk and partially empty cabinets.

The lady that lived here before us was an artist.  She did this faux window in the room and I recently learned that she painted a beach scene on the garage doors.  It has since been painted over but it sounded pretty fantastic.  Not something I personally would like on my garage doors but something I would have liked to have seen.

Giveaways, Giveaways and more Giveaways....

Something occurred to me yesterday...

I have been participating in many, many, many more giveaways this year than I had originally planned.  It's only half way through the year and I've already given away some really great prizes through Treasure Hunts, Blog Giveaways, Gift with Purchases on my Etsyversary and Door Prizes at the shows I attended.

AND there's more giveaways still to come!!!  

I am currently involved in some AMAZING Christmas in July events (details coming) and a Great Canadian Blog Bash giveaway, and I've decided that once these are over I won't be offering any more giveaways until further notice.

So, if you are interested in winning something from me this year I suggest you check out these amazing events and submit your entries without delay!  : )

Great Canadian Blog Bash hosted by www.journeysofthezoo.com  This is going on now until Canada's Birthday (July 1st, 2012). I believe it is only open to Canadians but why not check it out anyway!

Maple leaf hand pyrographed on 5x8 bamboo can be won through the Great Canadian Blog Bash http://journeysofthezoo.com

Christmas in July Giveaways with the Strategic Promotion for Success Team.  This team is giving away fabulous prizes throughout the entire month and it is soooo easy to enter.  Begins July 2nd, 2012.

"Cowboy UP!" hand pyrographed on 4x16.5 sign can be won through the SPS team  Christmas in July http://strategicpromotionforsuccess.blogspot.ca/

The Promoting Creative Friends Team is hosting Christmas in July events also.  


One of them is an Auction where incredible deals on quality items can be found.  It starts July 10th, 2012 and runs until July 15th 2012.  


Here are my items in the Auction: 

10x10 hand pyrographed wall art available through the  http://www.pcfteam.blogspot.ca/ Auction 

5x8 hand pyrographed wall art available through the  http://www.pcfteam.blogspot.ca/ Auction

Hand pyrographed bookmark available through the http://www.pcfteam.blogspot.ca/ Auction

Hand pyrographed package of 4 Whimsical Christmas Tree cards available through the http://www.pcfteam.blogspot.ca/ Auction 

PLUS...during the event there will be random prizes being drawn for the bidders!!!

Hand pyrographed wood bookmark of your choice.  Prize for  http://www.pcfteam.blogspot.ca/  Chistmas in July Auction

AND the Promoting Creative Friends Team is also putting on a very fun Scavenger Hunt beginning July 21st, 2012.  There will be over $800 in prizes available to be won.  

Hand pyrographed package of 4 Whimsical Christmas Tree cards can be won in the  http://www.pcfteam.blogspot.ca/  Christmas in July Scavenger Hunt (details on how to enter coming July 21st)

My prizes for the scavenger hunt are a package of 4 Whimsical Christmas Tree cards and a $10 gift certificate to anything in my shop.

These are great deals and giveaways!!  I think I've given you all the links I can possibly supply so make sure you don't miss out!!  

I will be updating my blog as the events happen.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone! 

Christmas In July!!

July is going to hear jingle bells and Santa belly laughs as two of the Etsy teams I am a part of are putting on some amazing promotions and giveaways!

Check out the Stragetic Promotion for Success blog to see their month long giveaways.  In week four you can win a hand pyrographed "Cowboy Up!" sign from me!!  All the details on how to enter are on the page: http://strategicpromotionforsuccess.blogspot.ca/2012/06/christmas-in-july-giveaway.html  A picture of the sign is coming soon.

And the Promoting Creative Friends team is doing a fun Auction on the PCFteam blog.  Check out the  page here for details on what is being auctioned off.  These are the items you can bid on from my shop:

There will also be another PCFteam Scavenger Hunt starting July 21st!!!  So many wonderful and incredible prizes to be won!  Over $800 worth of prizes up for grabs!  More details to come on that event as we get closer.


And only for the month of July I will also be offering 15% off anything in my shop with coupon code:  CIJ12


These are just a couple of ways to help you get some great deals and maybe get a head start on your Christmas shopping this year!

Canada Day Giveaway!

It's almost Canada Day!!

Where has this year gone?  I think I say that every year but this year seems to be flying by at an especially crazy rate.

To celebrate Canada's birthday I am a part of a fantastic giveaway being put on by www.journeysofthezoo.com  Check out her blog to learn how you can win this from me...

Hand pyrographed Maple Leaf on 5 x 8 bamboo  

There are a bunch of other great prizes to win too so go and check it out!

www.journeysofthezoo.com

Christmas In July!!

BKInspired will be participating in a few fun events next month to celebrate

Christmas in July!!

I've added a link on the right for the Auction that the Promoting Creative Friends Team is putting on.  You can check it out now and see the shops and their items that will be involved in the event but you won't be able to make any bids until July 10th.

There will also be another Scavenger Hunt, with lots of fantastic prizes, a couple of BNR's and another month long prize giveway being put on by the Strategic Promotion for Success Team.

PLUS, I will be offering 15% off all month long on anything in my shop!

Details on all of this will be coming soon!  Hard to believe July is just a couple of weeks away!!  Hope you'll join me in all the fun!

Well, the craft show did not go as well as I had hoped.  In fact one could almost say it didn't go at all.  It was an 8 hour event and there were 100 gift bags ready for the first 100 people to come through the doors.  We were all expecting a busy and prosperous day.

And.....it didn't happen.  Our first clue that something was amiss should have been the near 10 vendors (out of 40) that didn't show up.  The doors opened at 9am to let people in but they remained in the closed position for most of the day.  No one came.  It was deader than a ghost town, except for the vendors who did show up, of course.  A couple of us bought things off each other but otherwise not a sale was to be seen.  It was a big disappointment.

I feel bad for the organizer.  She put a lot of work into the event, appearing on local TV, putting ads in the paper, signs around town and lots of notices on Facebook.  The problem was she didn't do her homework completely when researching what other events were taking place that day.  We all found out later our competition was a Pride parade and celebration, Ribfest and a boat and/or car show.  That's lots going on and a good variety that appeals to lots of people.  They wouldn't give that up to look at a trade show.

Oh well, I tried it.  I have learned that shows in the spring/summer (read: after Christmas) may not be the best idea.  People are ready to be outdoors and most certainly do not have a list of gifts in their pocket that they must get crossed off.

This is how it was set up....and this is how it looked for 8 hours

A different view...still untouched after 8 hours

On a brighter note, I have been invited to participate in a BIG show in October.  I am so honoured that the organizer saw my work (at this show!) and thought I might be able to bring something a little different to her show than previous years.  It's also a well established craft and gift show that's been going for about 20 years.  Last year they had approximately 5500 people walk through the doors over three days.  Very exciting.

But, I can't make a big decision like this on my own.  I must talk to my husband first and of course he's working crazy hours all week this week.  It'll have to wait until the weekend to see if this is something I might be able to pull off.  If I was a nail bitter I wouldn't have many nails left.