100th Blog= GIVEAWAY!

I'm super excited to announce that I'm celebrating my 100th blog by hosting my first giveaway! Juliea (Gypsy Jewels) was awesome enough to donate a $20 gift certificate for her Etsy shop, to the winner! Check out her blog and shop and you'll get an idea of why I love this chick so much. Her shop is great for anyone, but especially Moms! You can get some jewelry to gussy yourself up, nursing blankets, cookies, burp cloths and other goodies, all in one place!

Juliea and I met several years ago at Michigan Peace Fest and have been keeping in touch online and visting each other via road trips as often as we can. I am truely grateful that I met her and that she is a part of my life. Juliea is one inspirational woman, and after checking out her sites, I'm sure you'll agree.

I asked Juliea to answer a few questions, so you can get to know the woman behind the magic!



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Tell us a little about yourself.I was a misplaced child who had my first child right after turning 17. Soon after I met my now husband and started designing jewelry out of my desire to work with gemstones and have their energy with me all the time. Through the encouragement of others around me who insisted I had a talent for it, I began making pieces to sell. Eventually I sought out venues for selling my wares and loved the experience of meeting new people and traveling around Michigan.

Since then I have enjoyed the journey and value the fact that I can do what I love for a living. I am now a proud mother of 3 who has evolved into a Birth Doula with a passion to change the world. Currently my aspirations include adding more product to my Etsy shop including belly casting kits, birth jewelry, and herbal baths for postpartum mums.

When did you start designing jewelry? I started making jewelry in 1999 & selling it in 2001.

What have been your favorite things to create? I love necklaces. I never have a huge inventory of bracelets or earrings or anything. I'm always open to making matching things for people on request, but I am just never moved to making it. Necklaces are what I wear most and catch the most attention. I love the ones that make themselves, that I have visualized so well that they just get put together instantly and are AMAZING. It's all about balance.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now? I love the Wild Woman necklace. I'm really surprised it's still even in my shop because it really is such a fun necklace. It looks amazing on!

Why buy handmade? I pride myself on being unique so I have always loved buying/making handmade because I know that no one has anything just like it - and that whoever made it took great care and loved making it - and poured their own creative energies into it. When you DON'T buy handmade you are stuck with an item with almost no soul...and the energy it is carrying is probably a lot more negative than positive. It's no secret that most everything comes from other countries where they are paid pennies for their hard work...or on some factory belt line. I just think it's meaningless and I also strongly believe that every dollar we spend is a vote for the world we would like to live in. When you spend your money locally or on things that are handmade you are supporting the individual our your very own community.

Mmm... Mama Munchies!

 Now, for the giveaway!

*Can't wait to win? Purchase something from the Gypsy Jewels Etsy shop now, and get extra entries!*

Rules: 

• You must complete the mandatory entry. All other entries are optional.
• Include your e-mail when you comment, so I can have a way to reach you if you win!
• Leave one seperate comment for each entry.
• Giveaway open to US Residents only
• The giveaway is open until 11:59 CST Friday, 1/28/11
• The winner will be randomly chosen and notified via e-mail on 1/29. Winner has 48 hours to reply or another winner will be chosen.

Mandatory Entry: (No entries will count until this has been completed!)

Go to the Gypsy Jewels Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item, along with why you love it! (1 entry)

Extra Entries:

Follow my blog via GFC  (1 entry)
Follow Gypsy Jewels' blog using GFC (1)
Follow Juliea's other blog, Mothers of the Milky Way using GFC (1)
Heart  the Gypsy Jewels Etsy shop (1) - *Must leave your Etsy name for entry to be verified!
*Buy something from the Gypsy Jewels Etsy shop (5)
Blog about this giveaway (2) *Must include the link to your blog post!*



That's a total of a possible 12... count 'em, 12 entries!

GOOD LUCK!