Speckled Frog Crochet Pattern Giveaway!

I am beyond thrilled, honored, amazed and excited to be able to offer you a chance to win once of Speckled Frog Crochet's absolutely amazing patterns.

I'm gonna get sappy for a minute.  Bear with me here...because you see....

I "met" Cyprianne Nolan, the lovely and talented lady behind the wildly successful Speckled Frog Crochet, back in February or so.  I was buying my first hat patterns from Etsy.  I shopped around a lot - I mean A LOT.  I was drawn to her shop.  Her shop was full of textures and cute designs and I sort of fell in love right there.  I bought a few patterns.  I "liked" her Facebook page.  We started corresponding by email.  I had no idea that purchasing a few patterns would lead to a friendship that is so near and dear to me that I cannot imagine my life without it.  Silly, right?

Here's the thing about Cyp - she's just THAT amazing.  Truly.  I know many of you reading this know her as I do.  You'll all agree.  Not only is she talented, but behind all of that talent is an amazing woman with a huge heart and so much love to give that you just feel filled up - and you know she has more to share.  You want to tell everyone you know about her.  You feel instantly like you've known her for years after just a few words with her.  She is what we should all strive to be as work at home moms.  I love her.  In a few short months - she has grown to be one of my best friends.

NOW - on to the pattern part!  I use Cyp's patterns all the time!  I once joked with her that her patterns are like my Pokemon - I gotta catch 'em all.  And seriously - I pretty much have.  I have almost every single one of them.  It's true.  Her patterns are full of fun textures and are SO easy to follow.  A beginner can EASILY follow any pattern of hers.  AND - if you do need help - she's only an email away and is ALWAYS happy to help you figure out where you've run astray.  My dino hat, sock monkey hats, tied diaper covers, hammocks, and hanging pods (just to name a few) are made from her wonderful patterns.

Here's how to enter:

Go on over to Cyp's Facebook page here:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speckled-Frog-Crochet/111896938851071 and click that little "like" button (oh - and tell her I sent ya please).  THEN - comment here that you did so and which of her amazing patterns is your favorite.  It'll be hard to choose - trust me - I know!  You won't be bound to that selection if you win - I promise.  Then on Wednesday, September 14th, I'll draw a winner.  You'll get a free pattern of your choice - and you'll never be the same.  Truly - it will change your life.

Many thanks and the best of luck to you all!

-Nikki

Fall 500+ Fan Give Away!

Wow...I mean...WOW!

I cannot believe how far my little page and business have come and how quickly!  It is absolutely amazing to me.  Seeing the little red bubble at the top of my page telling me I have a new fan or more never gets old.  It makes me giddy and very school-girlish.  I love it!  And I love all of you!  You keep me going.  You help make what I do fun.  You keep me on my toes.  You all rock and I'm grateful to you and for you.

Enough blabbering!  On to the fun!!!!

So - fall is just around the corner.  Someone please tell me where the heck the summer went!  Seriously. 

Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to comment below telling me what fall-inspired hat/item you'd like to see in my shop.  I have so many hats I can make that aren't listed in my shop: pumpkin, apple, candy corn, Frankenstein's Monster (yeah - you read that right - cool huh?), Jack Skellington, and more!

So - comment below and tell me what you'd like to see.  It can be from the list above or something else you'd like.  It just needs to be fall-inspired!

One lucky commenter will win a fall-inspired hat of their choice.

Good luck and bring on the comments!

I will draw before bed tonight!

Win It Before You Can Buy It

Here's the deal, folks.

I'm a pattern junkie.  I have a real problem.  I'd go so far as to call it an addiction.  I have patterns upon patterns that I haven't gotten around to making because I just can't seem to find the time recently.  Yet, I can't stop myself from buying them.  I need an intervention...really.

So now that you know my dirty little secret, here's how the game is going to work:

I am going to link four (4) patterns from super talented pattern designers that I have purchased that I have all the intentions in this good world to make.

Your job is to comment below as to which item made from one of those four (4) patterns you'd like to see in my shop first.

I will leave this open for a while - I'm thinking until I go to bed tonight.  Then random.org will choose a winner and that winner will receive the item they voted for in the size of their choice.

Make sense?

Okay - here we go!

From the lovely and talented Heidi at SnappyTots (www.totscreations.etsy.com) I have:

1.  The Mouse Hat - http://www.etsy.com/listing/77233569/crochet-pattern-mouse-hat-for-girls-and

and

2.  The Moose Hat - http://www.etsy.com/listing/77898816/crochet-pattern-moose-and-deer-all-sizes

From the amazing and wonderful Kristi at RAKJPatterns (www.rakjpatterns.etsy.com) I have:

3. The Aubrie Hat - http://www.etsy.com/listing/78097138/pdf-aubrie-hat-crochet-pattern-all-sizes

From the insanely awesome Micah of Micah Makes (Crochet) (www.micahmakes.etsy.com) I have:

4.  The Penguin Hat - http://www.etsy.com/listing/66286050/penguin-hat-crochet-pattern-bomber-style


Okay - go forth and comment below with your mostest favoritest of the patterns listed above.  I have so many more.  So, so, so many more.  I have to start somewhere though, right?!

EDIT:  I'll draw for the winner in the morning!

A Blog?!

I know it looks rough.  I know I have no idea what I'm doing.  I know I'll probably drive you all crazy while I work this blog out.

Be kind.

Oh - and that 300 fan Win It Before You Can Buy It give away will be held here.  Mostly because I would be a very, very sad panda if Facebook shut me down.

Cheers!