And the winner of the Nakpunar Giveaway is.....

Melitta!

Congrats there lucky lady :)

Please check your email for instructions.

You've got a fabulous prize coming your way from Nil over at Nakpunar!

Buy it here

If you're joining us for the first time, make sure you read the original post

about Nakpunar's fabulous shops!

Buy it here

She's got you covered when it comes to crafting supplies and handmade appliques.

She makes some gorgeous pincushions, too.

Buy it here

 Have fun shopping!

Meet the Artist and Giveaway: Nil from Nakpunar

It has been WAY too long since I hosted a giveaway.

Better late than never, right?

Next up is a lovely item from Nil.

Nil runs 4, going on 5, Etsy shops:

Nakpunar

ILoveYoYo

ILoveYoYoWedding

ILoveYoYoDIYFlowers

NakpunarButtons

Nil has kindly agreed to give one lucky winner
a tutorial and a set of 100 pre-cut fabric circles, everything you need to make your very own appliques!

Buy it here

Buy them here

The very talented featured artist, Nil sent me a pincushion from Nakpunar for review:

Buy one here

I've never seen anything like it!

This is not your run of the mill tomato pincushion, these have got pinache!

Nil send the royal blue pincushion on the bottom left, the color really pops.

I can't wait to put it to use :)

You've just got to run over and check out Nil's stores.

First of all, I don't think I know a single other seller with so many shops. 

I can hardly keep up with 1 store, let alone 5.

Are you trying to make us look bad? Just kidding ;)

It actually made me think about opening a second shop....

If you're looking for a supplier, Nil most likely has what you are looking for.

Nakpunar is all about pincushions, threads and ribbons.

Buy it here

ILoveYoYo has pre-made appliques galore, from silky satins to crocheted flowers.

Buy these here

ILoveYoYoWedding sells a combination of everything with a focus on weddings.

If you are looking for pre-made accessories and gifts, this is the shop for you.

Buy it here

ILoveYoYoDIYFlowers is all about making your own appliques.

This is what originally drew me to Nil in the first place.
I'm dying to try the flower applique tutorial!

Nil has a great variety of pre-cut fabrics and various other supplies.

Buy it here

 Have I put you in the mood to craft?? Thought so!

If you haven't already, head on over and check out the stores:

Nakpunar
ILoveYoYo
ILoveYoYoWedding
ILoveYoYoDIYFlowers
NakpunarButtons
Let Nil know I sent you!

It's Giveaway time!

How to Enter the Giveaway:

1. Follow this blog (Mandatory)

and leave a comment here saying you did.

2. "Heart" any or all of Nil's stores on Etsy (links above)

and leave a separate comment here saying you did.

3. "Heart" an item or 7 from one of Nil's shops (links above)

and leave a separate comment about it.

Nil would also like to offer my readers an exclusive coupon code.

Receive 5% off your entire purchase from any of Nil's shops

using coupon code BLOGFEATUREMARCH at checkout!

Best of Luck!

Make sure to bookmark my giveaways page if you haven't already, 

and READ THE FINE PRINT

Fine print:

Only 3 entries per household please

Giveaway ends March 20th at midnight PST

Winner will be chosen by random.org

Entries will be validated

Winner will be announced here

Winner will have 3 days to contact me, 

after which a new winner will be chosen

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter

Otherwise open to everyone!

My Etsy Christmas List - No. 31 vijako

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Did you have a nice day with your friends & family? I hope so :)

I thought this item from vijako would have been really nice to have for such an occasion.

Buy it here

These come in a variety of fun colors.

Buy it here

Of course, they sell other cute stuff, that also might be nice to have with guests visiting.

Buy it here

Buy it here

I really love that pattern.

Nice work vijako.

Meet the Artist and Giveaway: Daphne from Octopurse

Ready for another great giveaway? I thought so!

This time I've teamed up with Daphne from Octopurse

who sent me this lovely purse to giveaway!

You can never have too many purses, right? This one is just too cute, from the inside out!

Let's get to know Daphne a little better 

while having a look at a few of the MANY great things she has in store:

Q: Tell us a little about yourself

A: I'm a Belgian woman, 32 years old, with 2 kids, who studied history. I've been a bookseller for 8 years. I started to sew 3 years ago and my fingers have never stopped moving. My hobby transformed into a craft with Octopurse's birth. 

Q: How did you learn to sew?

A: I started to sew when I was young, with my mother, making pillows and curtains. When I bought my sewing machine three years ago, I followed some great tutorials on the web making a ton of things, trying to find MY way to make great purses.


Q: Do you remember the first time you heard about Etsy? What did you think?

A: I think it was 5 years ago. I was searching for earrings for my mother. I found earrings, as well as an incredible inspiring influence. I couldn't have imagined there were so many beautiful things in the world! I fell in love with a Kokka fabric, bought my own sewing machine, and my life was changed forever!

Buy it here

Q: I love the deco tape and stickers on your package. Are you a crafter, beyond the sewing?

A: Yes indeed! I love all forms of art, images, colors. My husband is graphist designer and photographer. Each day he opens up new horizons for me.

Buy it here

Q: I've noticed you include a little octopus pin with your items. Why the octupus?

A: I was searching for a cute logo, and my son loves ugly animals. With his 8 tentacles, the octopus is just like me: always busy! Work, kids, meals,... I have one tentacle for each activity ^^

Q: What is the best advice you've received about running your business/shop?

A: As my English is not fluent, it is very difficult for me to follow blogs and help guides... When I opened my shop, I contacted all my best suppliers and asked their advice. They've helped me find good tags, write policies, create better photos... This is what I love about Etsy: it's a great community!

Buy it here

Q: Where do you promote your shop?

A: I have distributed lots of business cards during events here in Belgium, and created a Facebook page. Etsy is very young here in Europe, so making treasuries is a great way to promote a shop.

Buy it here

Q: What are your future plans for your shop?

A: I really love the relationships that I have with my customers on Etsy. Also, more great fabric and lovely frames; trying to marry them is so fun!

Buy it here

Q: What't the last thing you bought yourself on Etsy?

A: I bought the dress-up Polly necklace from Vectorcloud shop, for my best friend. It is her birthday next month. [Small world, isn't it?]

Ready to go shopping? Daphne has created an exclusive coupon code for my readers! Use the code MODERNTYPOGRAPHY10 at checkout to receive a 10% discount in Octopurse. When you're done, head on back and enter the giveaway!

How to Enter the Giveaway:

1. Follow this blog

and leave a comment here saying you did.


2. Heart Octopurse on Etsy and leave a separate comment here
about your favorite item from the shop.

3. "Like" Octopurse on Facebook & let them know I sent you

and leave a separate comment here saying you did.

Don't forget to visit the Giveaway Page for other great giveaways :)

Fine Print:
Only 3 entries per household please
1 winner will be chosen September 28th at midnight PST
Winner will be chosen by random.org
Entries will be validated
Winner will be announced here
Winner will have 3 days to contact me, 

after which a new winner will be chosen

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter 

Meet the Artist and Giveaway: Elvina from NewMomDesigns

I have something really special for all you fabric lovin' gals, a new giveaway!

Elvina from NewMomDesigns has graciously agreed 

to send one of my lucky followers

a yard of the fabric of their choice!

Buy it here

NewMomDesigns isn't your typical fabric shop. In fact, you won't find these designs anywhere else!
Elvina designed each and every pattern! I first came across Elvina's shop when my good friend Jessa from

littlepearlquilts marked this fabric as a favorite:

Buy it here

For some reason when I saw it I became instantly nostalgic. 

It reminds me of some blocks we used to play with as kids. 

I am IN LOVE with this color combination, just writing about it made me want to pin it, so I did :)

Buy it here

I don't often talk about it here, but I am obsessed with antique kitchen items. 

I have a fair collection of Pyrex and Fire King bakeware. 

This pattern reminds me of some of my favorite dishes and utensils.  

As you all have probably figured out by now, I'm pretty much a paper crafter.

Still, I LOVE fabric, and I'm super jealous of you sewing types. 

Elvina went ahead and sent me some fabric to play with.

Buy it here

Here are a couple little things I've made so far. 

More on that later....

 Elvina and I joked about what I would do with what was left over from a yard of fabric

if I was going to make magnets, still makes me chuckle a little thinking about it.

I promise I'll do more, Elvina, soon :)

I've really enjoyed getting to know Elvina, I know you will, too.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: After I had my first kid, I knew I wanted to be more in control of my work schedule, I wanted to have the flexibility to stay home when my kids are sick, or when it rains heavily for days :) I knew I needed a change from the demanding corporate interior design position. While I thought of other options, I got pregnant with my second baby, and that sort of pushed me to take a break from working all together. We had just moved into a new house, had a new baby, so I had my hands full. Some time later, I got swept up into fabric design - all because I could not find the fabric I needed for my son's room. Ever since then I see inspiration for fabric pattern everywhere I go, no matter what I do - fabric is always on my mind! Kind of crazy, right? LOL!

Q: Is interior design something you still do?
A: Interior Design is still a strong passion of mine. I read Interior designs magazines, follow design blogs, do small projects and help my friends with their design dilemmas.And because fabrics (not necessarily mine)  are such a big part of an interior design, I do plan to offer Interior Design services locally as well as via internet " E-design". I think custom upholstery fabric option could be a great perk for my clients ;)

Q: It seems like so many great things on Etsy started with a story like yours. Were you hesitant at first to go for it? 

A: Well, it was a bit different for me. Thanks to my great hubby, I was able to stay home with my kids for a while without any pressure of going back to work. Instead, he supported the idea of finding a way to balance my motherhood/family time with a flexible working schedule. It was important to both of us that my job makes me happy, because when the mommy is happy - everyone is happy! And that's when I started considering my fabric adventure as a serious candidate for my day job.

Q: I really get a kick out of your designs! How would you describe your style?

A: I always try to keep it clean and modern, but I end up squeezing a little bit of fun or humor into it as well.

Buy it here

Q: Sounds like you've got a couple of little ones at home. However do you manage to balance work and...well, work?

A: Ha-ha! That is so true! When I work on my designs I actually rest from the "work" with kids. Recently, they both joined a day care nearby, so I could dedicate more time to fabric business. So I try to do all my house chores, blogging, design work and occasional projects during the day while they are not home. Weekends are spend either visiting friends, grandparents or having guests at home, so work is definitely out of the question, except maybe answering emails really quickly.

Q: What kind of fabrics are you working on currently? Any holiday fabrics in the works?

A: Well, most likely I will skip this year on holiday fabrics, I have a bigger project in the works that is important to finish by the end of the year: I am in the process of setting up a REAL online fabric retail store with my brand, where most of my fabrics for sale will be organic, produced with low chemical dyes, and all with affordable price tags. That's a tall order! :))

Q: If you don't mind me sharing our funny little secret, I thought people might get a kick out of the fact that you and I don't sew! We're designers! Do you have any hidden talents?

A: It is true, I don't sew, but I wish I could... As for hidden talents - not sure I could do anything non-design related. One of my biggest talents, (and my husband would agree), is finding an excuse not to work out! Exercise and I, we have tension in our relationship! :)

Q: Do you have any advice for new sellers on Etsy? 

A: I know this been said many times, but try to photograph your products better. Just when you think the picture is good, try taking another one. Not that I have mastered it, but I do notice a big difference with better images. Always improve your pictures, even if it means taking a thousand, just to get the one right. I myself plan to re-photograph all my fabrics for my new website.

Buy it here

Q: Just for fun, what are some of your favorite Etsy stores to "window shop"?

A: cynthiavardhan - gorgeous handmade items, HelenRawlinson - such lovely patterns and graphics, vintageinteriors - I have been having a real itch to buy something vintage recently..., graphicspaceswood - I would shop blindfolded here, everything is so awesome, contemori - what is the age limit for buying toys...?

That should keep me busy for awhile, Elvina! You've really got great taste. Okay, readers, don't get lost! Head on back here and enter this fantastic giveaway for a yard of your choice from NewMomDesigns!

How to Enter the Giveaway:

1. Follow this blog

and leave a comment here saying you did.

2. Follow Elvina's Blog "Many Little Things Make Me Happy"
and leave a separate comment here saying you do.


3. "Like" NewMomDesigns on Facebook & let them know I sent you

and leave a separate comment here saying you did.

4. Visit NewMomDesigns on Etsy and leave a separate

comment here letting us know which item is your favorite.

By the way, Elvina is offering free shipping within the United States
exclusively for my blog readers!
Just let her know I sent you :)


Don't forget to visit the Giveaway Page for other great giveaways :)


Good luck!

Fine Print:
Only 4 entries per household please
1 winner will be chosen September 28th at midnight PST
Winner will be chosen by random.org
Entries will be validated
Winner will be announced here
Winner will have 3 days to contact me, 
after which a new winner will be chosen
Must be 18 years of age or older to enter