Hello everyone!! Welcome to BlogFest 2010! A virtual event running this weekend, organized by A Journey of Books, where the participating blogs will be offering a fantastic giveaway for their readers to enter. Each blog links to another, pulling readers through the fantastic party we'll have set up for them!
So, I'm one of the blogs participating and today I'm having a great giveaway for you guys!
Please welcome Mandy and her awesome etsy shop called: Stupid Shiny Designs. She makes beautifil and original bookthongs for your favorite books I'm sure you're going to love! But first, lets ask her some questions:
Hello Mandy, thank you so much for being here today! :) Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Mockingjay Inspired by The Hunger
Games series by Suzanne Collins
Gaby! Thank you so much for inviting me! My name is Mandy and I work with teenagers every day. I’m always interested in what they’re reading, but I think I give out more recommendations than I get. Unless you’ve discovered the joy of reading a good book, it’s just another homework assignment/chore. However, I seen that once they find that one story that sucks them into another world, they can’t get enough and suddenly they’re seeking me out and asking my opinion. It’s great and I enjoy sharing my love for books… as you can see.
How and when did you start making bookthongs?
In 2005, my oldest daughter wanted to read a new book titled “Twilight”. Hmmm… vampires. The only vamps I ever read about were in Stephen King books, blood-thirsty monsters and murders of innocent children… hmmm. My daughter didn’t care for scary books at all, still doesn’t. But, her friends were raving about it so I bought it with the condition that I would read it and if it wasn’t scary, I’d tell her to go for it. I read it. Twice. In about 3 days. I didn’t want to give it up. But, I did, eventually. As the book was read by both my daughters,(over and over), I decided I wanted to make myself a pretty bookmarker just for that book because, well, I was going to read it a few more times while I waited for New Moon.
Bella Swan inspired by The Twilight Saga
So Edward was my first.
I took a few pictures and shared them with some other Twilight-obsessed friends and they are the ones who encouraged (insisted) that I make more and in a very short time, this little beading thing I did every once in a while became hobby-gone-wild.
What inspires you works?
Mostly characters; their hair color, eye color, color of a symbol such as a ring or tattoo. I have even used the color of their car. I see lots of little things… the color of a jewel in a dagger, or I try to find a bead that symbolizes a scar or emotional turmoil. I’ve also had people ask me for something custom and once they give me the colors they want and the reasons why they have meaning, I totally get it. Some of these ideas from others I love so much, I add them to my site.
Jacob Black Inspired by The Twilight Saga
I get a lot of requests for bookthongs for books I haven’t had the chance to read yet so I try to gather as much info as I can without getting spoiled in the process. Some designs take longer than others, but I’ll keep at it until I get it just right.
Can you share a story with us behind any of your products that you especially enjoyed working on?
John Matthew (Lover Mine) from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I wanted to incorporate so many things that, at first, I never thought it would work, but it did. I planned and sketched and searched for just the right crystals and beads. Just by chance, I saw a little hand-stamped tag someone had attached to a bracelet I bought from them and that led me to another person who was willing to stamp a tag for me with the word MINE. It was perfect! Once I got it all put together, I could hardly wait to post it, but the book wasn’t even going to be released for another month and a half! I waited, though not very patiently, and added it to my shop 4 weeks before the book came out. I love it and apparently, so do quite a number of other people because it’s sold more than any other bookthong I’ve made since I officially started selling them in July 2008.
Inspired by Blackdagger Brotherhood
books by J.R. Ward
Recommend us a book!
A book?? Just one??? I can’t do it! Not just one! Let me think…. One, well a series really, you might not have read, but I believe you would enjoy is The Sharing Knife series by Lois McMaster Bujold, beginning with Beguilement. It’s full of fantasy, romance, magic and malice. Do I have a bookthong for it? No. I tried to make one and did, but I wasn’t happy with it. Since I haven’t found a knife charm that I felt was absolutely perfect, I put it aside.Isn't she nice? Did you like the bookthonges? You can find more models on her shop besides these ones, and she also takes custom orders! Visit her at Facebook and her shop.
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GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to the amazing Mandy, you can win one (1) of these beautiful bookthongs (your choice)! You just have to visit Stupid Shiny Desings and FILL OUT THE FORM. Easy, right? It's International, and it ends Sept 12, 2010 (midnight).
"These bookthongs are the perfect accessories to decorate your favorite novels! Colorful durable twisted cotton/poly cords are hand beaded at both ends with an assortment of brilliant Swarovski® crystals, Czech fire polished glass beads and/or natural semi-precious stones, some displaying a charm inspired by famous characters or novels. A wonderful gift for yourself and any book lover you may know. Each bookthong comes in a beautiful complimentary organza gift bag provided by Jen's Enchanted Garden."
CLOSED
Thank you for entering! Now, be sure to check out the next blog participating on BlogFest 2010 and enter another giveaway :)
But wait! Don't forget about the massive BlogFest 2010 grand giveaway! Head on over to http://ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net and click on the Tracking Site link to head to our own exclusive tracking site. Once there you can register with a valid email address (to be used solely for the purpose of contacting the winner). This site will allow you to track your progress through BlogFest 2010! You can log on from anywhere at any time and continue where you left off. The best part is that every blog that you visit and mark off through this tracking site will give you one entry into the massive giveaway! We have a great collection of books, goodies and other swag that is looking for a new home!
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