Blog Block Party– Blog Hop to Taste Freebies from our Bloggin Neighbors and Enter the Giveaway!

Today I am excited to announce an amazing giveaway brought to you by an even more amazing group of photography businesses! 17 bloggers have teamed up to bring you a GIVEAWAY valued over $1,700!!! What better way to kick off summer than to have the chance of winning a HUGE Giveaway as well as 17 freebies from all the participating bloggers.  To receive the freebies follow each of the participants links (don't forget to leave a comment saying THANK YOU!)  To enter the giveaway, follow the rafflecopter link at the bottom of the post or go HERE. 

Good Luck!

This giveaway was brought to you by…

Sisk Photography  |  Summerana  |  For You, With Love  |  Melissa Davis Designs

Beauty Divine Design  |  WordSmith for Photographers  |  7th Avenue Designs  |  Oh Snap Boutique

Creative Motion Design  |  SewTamz Design  |  Prairie Sweet Boutique  |  Laura Novak Photo Education

Go4Pro Photos  |  Chic Critique Forum  |  My Photo Biz Coach

Nifty Knowledge Rocks  |  Photography Spark

Here is our Goodie for the Blog Block Party:   Download

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day Giveaway

Don't miss out on the fun Mother's Day Giveaways going on right now over at Fabulous Fun Finds

Photographers you won't want to miss this one... 

of course there are some goodies from my shop 

a $40 Shopping Spree

Sew Tamz

Facebook

and Free Shipping with the code FABFUN

 Some bags

Jo Totes

Epiphanie

Some Back Drops

Backdrop Baby

Splash of Color by Moonlight Backdrops

 Some cute Crowns and Props

Handcrafted Crowns

Galpin Studios

 and much more...

Enter the Fabulous Fun Finds Giveaway here (click)

Spring is Here!

Finally spring is here - although living in Minnesota you would never know it.

This is what I woke up to this morning ~ I have to admit it is pretty and at least the pond is not frozen anymore...

This is looking out to my backyard in Minnesota

For Spring there are lots of new designs in the shop - these are sure to brighten your day! 

What is your favorite?

Spring styles

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Chic Giveaway

$50 Gift Certificate Giveaway 

1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6.

Enter Here Chic Critique Forum Giveaway

SewTamz Designs - Twice as Nice Giveaway at Iheartfaces!

Isn’t it true that you always seem to find the best items when you are holiday shopping for your friends?  Wouldn’t it be nice to get one for yourself too?  Sew (oops! I mean 'so' -- been super busy sewing these days!) in the spirit of giving during this holiday season, I came up with the perfect giveaway for you!  Pick a camera strap cover set for your friend and pick one for yourself!  And best of all, SewTamz will ship the set directly to your friend in time for Christmas (a $66.00 value including shipping)!

As you all know, I create personalized custom camera strap covers and camera straps for all you Diva Photogs who want to look good in designer fabrics.  My products are made from fresh and funky fabrics made by designers like Amy Butler, Michael Miller and Alexander Henry.  My concept is to couple fashion with comfort by pairing designer fabrics with luxurious plush minky to create a super comfy, padded yet durable product.  Fashion and comfort for those heavy cameras all in one!

I also came up with a unique dual lens cap sleeve that provides functionality with personality.  Simply slide the lens cap sleeve over your strap cover. It has dual pockets, one on each side so you can place your lens cap in one pocket and your ID, credit cards, business cards, SD/CF card, lens filter, USB or any other small goodies in the other pocket.

To enter the giveaway, visit my esty site and take a look around.  Pick a camera strap cover set that you would love to give to a friend and the one you would love to keep for yourself.  Then go to iheartfaces.com and leave a comment with your picks!  It's that easy!

Here's to a wonderful season of giving!

Happy Holidays!

Starting Etsy Year 2 – with a Savvy Giveaway!

Wow I can’t believe summer is over.

It has been a whirlwind and with a blink of the eye it is over. Summer has been so busy with me trying to keep up with orders while also keeping up with the kiddos. Talk about a juggling act! I can’t believe it has been almost a year since I decided to start SewTamz Designs. 

I have been making baby blankets for friends having new little babies for several years. I love the little soft blankets with the satin trim and the special personalization. I love mix-matching fabrics and textures. Somehow I found my artistic medium in Fabric. I am a bit of a fabricholic.   So last September when the kiddos started school I registered for my Etsy shop.

I think it was November when I was brave enough to actually list something! Or was it that someone was brave enough to buy something! (hee hee) Getting started and waiting for that first sale is probably one of the most trying times for Etsy shop owners. On Nov 9, 2009 - My first sale! It was a sweet baby blanket lovee – fuchsia pink minky, brown satin trim and sweet paisley with pinks and mochas for Ann in Oklahoma – Thanks Ann for starting things off!!! 

I am constantly thinking of new creations.  It is just hard finding the time to experiment.  It was actually conversations with some of my photog friends that lead me into Camera Strap(s)/Covers.  With the help of my friends (Paula , Christina, & Vikki), I did some experiments with camera strap covers/ hipster camera straps and photo props.  

I sold my first Etsy Camera Strap Cover on Jan 21, 2010.  It has been a whirlwind ever since!  As well as, a learning curve of the ins/outs of having an Etsy Shop, blogging, & networking.  

Now with 400 + sales across the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, & Romania
over 10,000 hits a month from 40+ countries on my Etsy site

I think I am starting to get the hang of it. 

So what a better way to start Etsy year 2 off 

then with a wonderful giveaway 

with the gals at The Savvy Mom's Guide.  
If you have a minute check out their blog they have so many great projects and ideas - Making the Every Day Savvy The Savvy Mom's Guide

To win a Personalized DSLR Camera Strap Cover with a Dual Lens Cap Holder 
($30 credit)

Make sure you go over 
and enter in the
Savvy Mom's Guide - SewTamz Give Away.

Also check out these new designs that my sweet hubby helped me out with this weekend. 

(It is always nice to get a honest opinion) 

Silk Vintage Kimono 

Nature's Splendor

A Splash of Autumn Scarlett

Which is your Favorite?

Lovin the New Fall Colors

Love these colors from the fall color palette -

Thanks for the heads up Handmade Spark

Hand Made Spark is always so informative
with articles like new fall color trends http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/fall-2010-color-trends/

Michael Miller's Lagoon has been one of my favs for a while - it seems turquoise is not blue this year it is "Lagoon"! 

Some fabrics in my shop following the trends

Click Camera Strap Cover

You Pick your favorite Michael Miller Reversible Camera Strap Cover

So Funky Earth Tones Camera Strap Cover

&

Oh so sweet - Chocolate Minky Dots

My favorites are Lagoon and Woodbine. 

What is yours?

Thanks for stopping by
check out other Friday Favorites

Today’s Spark – - Awesome Blog

Love - Love this blog

 it is a must read if you have an Etsy shop!

The Citrus Summer Camera Strap looks pretty great in their summer finds too!

Check out the link...

Handmade Spark - New Handmade Items From Our Fans

Dang Gina Giveaway

It's that time again.  Give-Away Time - Check out Gina's site for all the details: Dang Gina Give-Aways

http://dangginagives.blogspot.com/2010/05/sew-tamz-designs.html%20

I Put my Engineering Cap On

Before kids I used to be a software engineer  -- it was actually quite rewarding.  Figuring out problems basically in virtual air - that is how I think of computer programming.  I am a puzzle person - you feel accomplishment when the puzzle is complete & it is a bummer when you are missing pieces.

So a customer wanted a lens cap holder for the camera strap - easy enough right.  Except lens caps are the same width as the straps that I make.  I have made wider straps with lens caps but personally I do not like the wider strap - it does not lie as nicely and the strap loses some of its sophistication when it gets wider. So I came up with a solution:

A lens cap pocket sleeve that will fit on any camera strap cover!

It is wonderful because it slips right on any camera strap cover - so if you have already invested in some straps – not realizing that you needed a lens cap pocket but realize it would have been really nice - whoa la! These will come in basic colors too! Monogrammed with initials to make them pop - I think will make them pretty fun!

It is a dual pocket so you can put your lens cap on one side & memory card/filters or other things on the other side.  Even business cards & credit cards.

 

I have big plans for it too - some cute spring ideas - so stay tuned!

Find it on my ETSY site: Sew Tamz Designs on Etsy

And The Winner is….

 

Jennifer was one of the hundreds of entries; even one as far away as Greece (isn’t the internet amazing)!

JJ had two entries one for hearting my Etsy Shop and one for choosing a favorite item (hearting it via Etsy).

It is so fun looking at the hearts in my shop and there is a really cool site that gives the info in an easy format. Check out CraftCult.  I think it is a must for anyone running an Etsy Shop.

Thanks so much to everyone that participated!
Your Awesome!!!
I had so much fun reading all your favorites!

I would like to welcome to all the new FaceBook Fans and Etsy Shop Hearts!

Also Thanks for all the sweetness – it is very inspiring!

~♥ ♥ Follow Your Heart Giveaway ♥ ♥~

I’ve wanted to start a blog for a while. I find that I can get lost in the blog world moving from blog to blog for hours. Not even knowing how I started or how I got where I ended up at. So how do I get started? I stumbled upon a blog www.tidymom.net which if you know me - it would not exactly be what you would think I would be me reading. Who has time to be tidy when there are so many things to create? I thought it may be a good place to get some pointers and give me some much needed help. Well anyways tidymom had an awesome giveaway for Valentine’s Day heart shaped pan with a yummy cherry cake recipe. Needless to say I did not win but I have come up with a little giveaway of my own. Here’s how the giveaway works. Since it is the month of love and hearts; and I just got my Etsy shop off the ground. What a better way to start then a Follow your Heart Giveaway!

If you are new to ETSY (Your place to buy all things handmade) you may not know all about the ♥~♥ HEARTS ♥~♥. Etsy is kind of like blogs - you start one place & then who knows where you can end up. A heart is a way of saving (bookmarking) your favorite place – you can heart a shop or a particular item. This is then saved to your profile under favorite shops or favorites (items) so you can find them again.

 ♥~♥ ♥~♥ HOW YOU CAN WIN ♥~♥ ♥~♥ Leave a separate comment for each thing that you do – also make sure you leave your blog or email so I can contact you.

(Required)

1. visit my ETSY shop sewtamz.etsy.com and tell me your favorite item. (give the item an heart or leave a comment here)

(additional entries – one entry for each that you do)

2. Heart my Shop (www.sewtamz.etsy.com)

3. Make a purchase...tell me about it.

4. Follow/subscribe to my blog.

5. Become a fan on my facebook page (www.facebook.com/sewtamz)

6. Blog, tweet or facebook about this giveaway-tell me that you did.

♥~♥ ♥~♥ WHAT YOU WIN ♥~♥ ♥~♥
(Camera Sleeve Cover – Personalized with your Initials - as pictured)

Entries taken through the month of February
Winner will be randomly chosen and announced March 1st, 2010.

Thanks for participating and Good Luck!