October Sponsors & 7 Giveaways

* Every month, Freckled Nest promotes a great collection of shops, blogs and artists in the right sidebar. This month, I've invited my sponsors to share why they started their Small Business and what's been their favorite part so far. Each sponsor has also contributed to the giveaway which will be won by one lucky person! How to Enter: Visit each sponsors shop or blog and discover something you like about them, their craft or a product you love and write it in the comments of this post. To make it a little easier, I put a number beside each sponsors blog & shop link so you can list your compliments a little easier :) In a few days, I will randomly draw one winner who will receive ALL 7 GIVEAWAYS, each arriving in the mail, one by one :) Giveaway is open to everyone! *Reminder* LA-TV tonight @ 7pm cst Craft, Giveaway, Sale during the Show, and Chat! NOTE: Giveway closed; winner=Megan! JILL... 1. Blog & Website & Shop Starting my own business seemed natural. I love experimenting, creating and collecting. It is a part of who I am, and who I always have been. It gives me a sense of self, purpose and individuality. For many years I have worked locally, opening up a bricks and mortar shop, and now a beautiful studio that I'm so very proud of. My favorite part these days is opening the door to Studio Lune, and feeling like I've just opened the door to my imagination. Sharing that with others comes in a very close second! ONJOLI... 2. Blog I started Pink de Ville because running my own business is something I've always wanted to do. So when the opportunity came up, I took the chance to stay at home with my son and start Pink de Ville. Our little business has grown so much from the start and now it's run by Mr. Jesse and myself. My favorite part about owning and operating Pink de Ville is the freedom you have from working for yourself and all the fun and creative times I have when making all the items we sell. It's so much fun to think up an idea today and have it up for sale in our shop tomorrow. Although owning your own business and working for youself can be bittersweet sometimes because it's literally work 24/7, I enjoy deciding where our future is headed and making all the goals and dreams I have for my shop come true. JAMIE... 3. Blog & Shop

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in January of this year. I started my etsy shop hoping to make some extra money for my medicines and bills! But I just love to create! My favorite part is seeing something I made in somebody else's home or on somebody else.

JUDITH... 4. Blog & Shop Being able to work for myself is a dream I hope to one day accomplish. As a photographer, I cherish that creative freedom that few photographers have, which is why I started my Etsy Shop. It started out as selling vintage items, then handmade items and finally, my prints. I love everything about working on my shop and I love that I have that freedom to offer a variety of items to suit everyone's needs. KATJA... 5. Blog & Shop I forgot about being creative for some time, but I thought I'd need a new hobby at the end of last year. So I started to get crafty again and... wooosh! There was the obsession :D My friends bought some of my creations, so I opened my etsy shop in May 2009. My first sold item was "Mr. Tea", a cute handmade tea-bag from felt. I'll never forget how overwhelmed I was that someone (apart from family and friends) really seems to like what I do. The best thing about it is that I rediscovered blogging at that time. It's an everyday "To-Do"-point for me right now. My very favorite part of it all is the "crafting communtiy". I love how respectful and cheering everybody is! This has become such an important part of myself, I couldn't imagine spending a week without crafting! INKA... 6. Blog & Shop I started my own etsy shop because Leigh-Ann inspired and couraged me to do so :) It had been in my mind for a while that it would be nice to sell my own creations in a place like Etsy. The favorite part of having my own little shop, is when you have the inspiration (and time) to make new things and you see/hear that people like what you´ve created. One of my very personal favorite thing is when I can pack the envelopes ready and ship them to my customers :) DIANA... 7. Blog & Shop

The reasons I began a small business were all a matter of opportunities that came into place; it was never planned, but I don't believe in coincidences. I was let go of my job as a librarian at an academic college due to budget cuts. At the same time, I was getting emails and flickr contacts asking for prints of my photographs. I gave out some free prints at first, but decided to start charging a small fee. It grew large enough that I added my more popular items into what is now my Etsy shop. The shop has expanded from prints, to paper goods! I'm very thankful for the opportunity to work from home and my favorite part is the challenge. The motivation and discipline can be difficult, but pushing through is a great feeling.

If you'd like to be a sponsor in November, please email FreckledNest@gmail.com to reserve your spot :) Please Note: The ad options have changed, details here. Thank you to my sponsors & supporters & readers!!! Good luck, this is a great giveaway!! XO!