Giveaway from Pokadot Penguin (this giveaway is now closed)

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to introduce you to Amy from Pokadot Penguin. This is one of the very first shops I contacted. I honestly didn't think she would ever write me back because I think I only had 20 something followers when I contacted her. Amy was so excited though and jumped at the opportunity.


Right after Amy said she wanted her shop on my blog she lost one of her closest friends and we had to delay things a little. I think the timing was worked out perfectly by God though. Amy goes way beyond what she needs to and has been a huge blessing to our family.





The day I got the package from her I was blown away. Amy did not only wrap the shoes beautifully but she added gifts in for my other kids because she didn't want them to feel left out. Amy had made the shoes for my daughter Amaya and when Amaya came home that day from school she was so upset and crying because of something that had happened at school and it just made her day when she saw the incredible shoes Amy had made for her.


This is what Amy from Pokadot Penguin had to say about her shop:

How long has your Etsy shop been open? I joined Etsy on Jan. 12, 2010. I have loved painting and crafting every since I was a little girl. I was and am blessed with a very creative and talented mom and instead of disciplining me (when I painted her bathroom cabinets and shower doors at age 5) she encouraged and challenged me to stretch my imagination and taught me how special a handmade gift really is.

I always make or paint all my daughter's friends birthday gifts for her to give. Out of this, I started to get request from others and a few local orders for customized things. Everyone has told me for years that I should go into business and sell my stuff, but I never really gave it much thought because I just do it for fun and it's actually therapeutic for me.

Your hand painted shoes are what caught my eye, can you please tell us how you can customize the shoes? About the shoes, I have done Sesame Street, Polka Dots, stripes, Zebra stripes, names, initials, monograms. I have made them with corker bows all over, ribbon only, and rhinestones only. Really, the possibilities are endless for these. Whatever you have in mind, I can work until I get what you want.

I know you customize shoes but what about the other items in your shop? The other things in my store are personalized and painted tiles, cork squares, and Easter buckets. I am trying hard to get more things listed, however, I have done many canvases (both art prints and names, monogram), birthday plates that are personalized, wooden round disk that are painted with face or name and make into necklaces. Both the plates/platters and necklaces can be personalized for boy, girl, mom, dad, grandparents, etc. This is one of my favorites to do. I love the personal touch of them.

I've also done a few black boards (chalk boards), bulletin boards, and another favorite of mine; old wooden pane windows. I have done them two ways. I have painted the actual window for hanging as decor and I have painted the outside frame and a border inside the glass window to display Neely's (my daughter) art work and pictures.
I really love old antique things and if it can be painted to add a touch of fun and personality, then all the better and all the more fun.

What makes you smile? Well, I absolutely LOVE that my daughter makes all her gifts and when she gives me a piece of construction paper that she gave 100% effort to make just for me... there's nothing better than that. And I think that another smile moment for me is helping someone else smile. It has to be a "GOD Thing" because I can't explain it nor do I understand it. That feeling of helping another get through a rough day or a little bit of encouragement to someone that needs it and then all of a sudden, I want to say, "Thank You" to them and feel such gratitude because the blessing of that is awesome.

Before I begin to paint something for someone, whether it be a friend, customer, order or as a gift, I say a prayer for that person and ask God to use my paint brush and that the end result honor Him and Bless the receiver of that particular item.

Buy It - Pokadot Penguin's is offering FREE SHIPPING if you order during the 2 weeks that this giveaway is going on.

Win It - Pokadot Penguin is offering one of my readers a $25 gift certificate to her shop! Pokadot Penguin is also leaving this open to ALL my readers including international readers.

Mandatory entry (this must be done before you can gain any extra entries) - Visit Pokadot Penguin and tell me your favorite item in her shop.

**YOU MUST LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOUR THE WINNER.

Extra Entries (must have mandatory entry completed before you can gain extra entries) -
If it say (3) comments you must leave 3 separate comments.

1. Follow my blog - (3) entries

2. Grab my button and leave a link of where I can find it - (5) entries

3. Blog about this giveaway - (5) entries

4. Heart Pokadot Penguin on Etsy (add as favorite) - (1) entry

5. Enter any of my other giveaway - (1) entry for each giveaway

6. Email 3 friends or co-worker telling them about this giveaway and make sure to give them the link (I'm trusting you on this one) - (3) entry

7. Purchase anything from Pokadot Penguin and come back letting me know what you purchased - (10) entries


This giveaway will end on March 30, 2010 and is open to all my readers including international readers. I will select a winner using a random number generator and I will email the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I select a new winner.