Well, here we are at the final day of my Grand Opening Week! Thank you for visiting the shop and helping to kick start this new adventure! There’s still a little bit of time left for entering Wednesday’s giveaway, and if you haven’t picked up the free patterns, check out Tuesday’s and Thursday’s posts.
And now. It’s time for the last giveaway, so I’ll get right to the point. Today I’m giving away a free copy of a brand new pattern set. A recent discussion for a private swap got me started on a design for an embroidered Matryoshka doll, and I thought, Hey, why not expand it a little and make it into a pattern? These Russian nesting dolls are hot right now, so I hope someone out there will enjoy this.
I’ve actually got two different patterns. One includes three different dolls in three sizes each, so you can stitch them alone or together, however you like. (Sorry, the images are blurred and watermarked for protection. The actual patterns are completely clear.)
The other pattern also has three dolls, in “nested” sizes and in a cute little pose.
I’m going to give the winner both of these patterns. (They’re also available in the shop for purchase.)
The winner will receive (by e-mail) an electronic file in PDF format. Each file consists of the pattern and a page of printing, transfer, and stitching tips. The second pattern also includes a reverse image for additional transfer options. (The first pattern doesn’t need to be reversed because the design is symmetrical.)
To enter to win, leave a comment answering the following question. What are you most likely to purchase and why: a handmade product that you really like or the pattern/supplies necessary to make a product yourself? That comment will give you one entry into a random drawing for the giveaway prize.
If you Twitter about this giveaway, come back and leave another comment letting me know you’ve done so, and you’ll get a second entry. If you link to this giveaway on your blog, leave yet another comment for a third entry. That’s all there is to it.
Comments for the giveaway will be closed on Tuesday, November 24, at 10 p.m. EST. I will use a random number generator to determine a winner, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 25. I’ll be in touch with the winner at that time to send the files.
Thanks again, all of you, for the kind words, support, and encouragement. It’s the best thing in the world to be doing something you love, and I’m glad I get to share that with you!
I’ve done both – purchased a finished product and, I’ll also tackle the DIY, so, it depends on the product and the time involved, budget, etc! Some products inspire me, so then I’ll DIY…but others I know I just have to have THAT ONE! But I can see these nesting dolls patterns as real fabric dolls, so I’ll happily make this a DIY!!
written on November 20th, 2009, at 10:24 amBecause I like to stitch, I would likely purchase I pattern. If the project is really unique, I might be apt to purchase it though instead. Hope this helps:)
written on November 20th, 2009, at 10:26 amI like to try my hand at making things on my own so I usualy go for the materials to make it myself :)
written on November 20th, 2009, at 12:33 pmI would be most likely to buy supplies to make it myself and mytryoshkas are my favorite!
written on November 20th, 2009, at 12:58 pmIf the item is something I think I can make myself AND would enjoy making or tweeking then I would by the supplies, BUT sometimes the items are made with materials I don’t love to work with or don’t have the patience or know how to do it and so then I would be the already made item to enjoy.
written on November 20th, 2009, at 1:45 pmHere is my tweet for you! Good luck on ur new shop! <3 it!
HonorCrowned juneatnoon.com has a great giveaway on her blog & lots of great patterns for sale at her shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ju...
written on November 20th, 2009, at 1:57 pmOh, what adorable little dolls. Their faces are so sweet!
written on November 20th, 2009, at 3:43 pmWhat? I’m gone for a few days and your dollshouse pattern is up for sale at your shop? Pfff,I really need to check back here more often!
Congratulations on the shop, I love all the patterns already!
So to answer the question and enter the giveaway I’d say I would get the pattern/supplies necessary to make a product myself. I like the challenge and I like the idea of making something myself. Even if takes a lot of times sometimes, even if the result is not perfect or exactly as expected, nothing beats the satisfaction of making something, realizing something. It’s priceless.
Thanks for the giveaway and good luck with the shop!
written on November 20th, 2009, at 3:44 pmI think my daughter is going to have a room full of pillows embroidered with your patterns! I love them so much!
As far as you question…it depends on if I am able to make the item and if I have the time.
If I can make it relatively easily, I will do it myself.
But if I am unable or I just dont want to put in the effort, I would buy the finished product.
Hope that helps! Keep up the lovely work!
written on November 20th, 2009, at 5:19 pmI love patterns and supplies because I am a crafter and I truly enjoy doing the work myself. I like to make things for other people, but when it comes to buying for myself, I prefer finished projects as I dont want a home filled with my own work.
Your patterns are lovely and I can’t wait to see more!
written on November 20th, 2009, at 6:32 pmhugs & best wishes
Heidi
Because money is is a never ending balancing act, and I like to out my own spin on things… I will usually buy the supplies to make it myself. If I am not prepared to try and make it, I might not have wanted it that much to begin with. However, there are some things that are not in my skill set, or I see something so fabulous that it calls to me, then I will buy already lovingly handmade.
Now that that’s out of the way, I love those patterns so much that I lurve them. If I don’t win them, I will have to figure a way to leave a very big hint for The Engineer, I have a birthday next month, hmmmm
written on November 20th, 2009, at 11:07 pmTo answer your question: It depends on what the project is! Although I *can* sew, it isn’t as fun for me as embroidery, so I would prefer to buy a handmade sewn craft over making one. Then again, if the sewing craft came as a kit (fabric already cut into appropriate pattern pieces), I might be inclined to buy the kit — the thing I get frustrated with re: sewing is cutting the pieces :).
Great patterns!! I immediately thought they would be very appealing for a Craftster embroidery swap.
written on November 21st, 2009, at 3:04 amFor the most part, I love to make things but there are a few that I just can’t do myself or haven’t figured out the technique well enough to consider my attempts “gift-worthy”. There are also some one-of-a-kind items that need to be purchased a)because they support the artist and b)they are an item that can never be reproduced.
I, too, love the patterns – I have a weakness for matryoshky!
written on November 21st, 2009, at 3:45 amI have a new found love for babushkas I am in love with these patterns :o)
written on November 21st, 2009, at 3:54 amHave a great day!
Adorable patterns, Gretchen!
I tend to buy many more patterns than I do finished items. However, just because I purchase the pattern doesn’t mean I ever actually MAKE it! LOL
written on November 21st, 2009, at 9:15 ami love patterns anda i love to do thing by myself…but some times i dont actually dont have THE time to do them…so i get the pattern..and it doesnt mean i make it!jajaj
written on November 21st, 2009, at 10:17 amDepending on the price and time. If the finished product is within beyond my budget, I will buy the pattern.
written on November 21st, 2009, at 11:36 amI’m much more likely to purchase the supplies to do a project. I mostly stitch for the process of stitching; the finished project isn’t necessarily why I’m doing a particular project.
Cute dolls! They remind me of my trip to Russia.
written on November 21st, 2009, at 11:29 pmIf the project is one I can do, I will buy the supplies. But I would never hesitate to buy the finished project if I couldn’t do it myself. In fact, thinking about it, I would buy a finished project for time constraint reasons, too.
written on November 22nd, 2009, at 12:00 amI have to enter this giveaway. Love the pattern – so cute. Mytryoshkas/babushkas are one of my favourite things. I have a small collection but I can see it expanding over time…
To answer your question, it would depend. If the product was really unique and appealing and I knew I would struggle to do it myself then I would buy the product. But it the pattern/makings were something that I felt I could handle or challenge myself with learning something new then I would buy the pattern. I always have a great sense of achievement when I’ve made something myself.
written on November 22nd, 2009, at 6:06 pmI’d purchase something already handmade/crafted. I’m a procrastinator so I know that if i bought the supplies it would probably never get started, let alone finished
written on November 22nd, 2009, at 6:21 pmJust blogged about your giveaway over here http://threebs.typepad.com/three-bs/2009/11/opening-up-shop.html
written on November 22nd, 2009, at 8:29 pmHope your still enjoying all the excitement of opening your shop!!
I’ve done both, but this time of year is when I am getting ready to write final exams so I prefer to buy a nice handmade item because I don’t have time to spare to make it myself.
written on November 24th, 2009, at 3:09 pmI blogged about your giveaways over here: http://pink-ladies-art.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveaway-alert.html
written on November 24th, 2009, at 3:15 pm