8.22.2011

announcement and giveaway

You've been faithfully and patiently waiting for me to make my big announcement.  Well, here it is: the Rhymes With Smile Etsy shop is now open for business!  I'm sticking with "Rhymes With Smile" because saying it makes me smile (and I hope it makes potential customers do the same!).  You can access the shop by clicking on the above link or by going to http://www.etsy.com/shop/rhymeswithsmile.

With hundreds of thousands of items for sale on Etsy, I bet you're wondering how the RWS shop is any different from the next one.  Some things are the same - like, my items are handmade (with love!) and the majority are for house and baby.  But what makes Rhymes With Smile different is the twist - most of my items are upcycled.  The standard definition of upcycling involves taking items bound for the landfill and repurposing them to keep them in use.  Think recycling + creativity + oomph = upcycling.  What it means in my shop is that most of the items contain fabrics that used to be sheets, pillowcases, clothes - including skirts, jeans, shirts, headbands, ties, dresses, and sweaters - blankets, curtains, and decorative items.  When they no longer served their original purpose, they were UPCYCLED into the items I now have for sale.

Take this iPod/iPhone cover, for example:



In its former life, it lived happily as a gray wool sweater and a green flowered skirt (the lining you can barely see).  But then, the sweater got a snag and a shrink in the dryer, and the green flowered skirt ended up out of season and unloved in a thrift store.  I came to the rescue, did a little snipping and sewing, attached some velcro, and shazam - an upcycled iPhone cover!

Well, thanks for sharing in my excitement - many of you provided the encouragement that helped me make it this far.  But the fun isn't over!  As a thanks to all of you, I'm hosting a giveaway of the little wool sweater that could - also known as the Upcycled iPod/iPhone Cover pictured above - along with a $10 iTunes gift card!  You have up to three ways to enter:

(1) Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment saying so (if you're already a follower, leave a comment letting me know that);

(2) Browse through the shop and leave a comment saying which item you like;

(3) Share the news about the Rhymes With Smile Etsy shop on your blog, and leave a comment with the link.

The giveaway ends on Monday, August 29th at 5 PM - and the winner (hopefully that's YOU!) will be announced Tuesday morning.

16 comments:

  1. Great idea! I love the "twist". Going to check it out now!

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  2. How did I not know you had a blog? And I'm so glad your Etsy shop is finally up and running! I can't decide whether the veggie placemats or the kite sweater are my favorite...

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  3. I am SO proud of you friend!!! Love it!

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  4. I like the coasters, placements and baby dress!

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  5. AWESOME, Katherine! I love it. What a creative approach. Way to go!!

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  6. Well I think this is just wonderful! Good for you!!

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  7. I love the burp cloths and the pink striped dress with hearts. BUT I think my favorite are the vegetable place mats. I've been in love with that trend of yours since the pot holders, and this is no exception :)

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  8. Katherine,

    You inspire me to quilt! You're so talented. So glad that I stumbled upon your new blog :) Hope y'all have had a great summer! Sorry I never made it to Blacksburg for you wonderful Thursday Potlucks.

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  9. Am I allowed to enter?? :) My new favorite thing in your shop are the little birds! They are so cute! And my favorite before that were the veggie placemats :)

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  10. I love the shop! Everything is really cute, but my favorite is the baby dress set, definitely! :)

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  11. Wow Katherine, vaya que tienes talento!.. Me encantó el vestido de bebé!.. está precioso!

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  12. Hooray Kat! So proud of you....I think you are the most creative person I know. My favorite item? The soft bird toys! I loved how you linked some together over Elliss crib....I remember thinking how cute they were. Can't wait to see you soon!

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  13. I'm following the blog via Google Friend Connect :)

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  14. I just posted the link on my blog-http://thriftyhippo.blogspot.com/2011/08/check-out-this-blog.html. :)

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  15. This is SO exciting!! I love everything you've made! : ) But I guess since I don't have a little one of my own yet, I'll have to say that these are in a three-way tie for my favorite: the fabric coasters, the reusable grocery bag, and the placemats. You are so amazing!

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