Thursday, December 29, 2011

Free ipad App for Kids! until 1/1/12 June Blossom ABC Coloring Book

Remember a while back I told you about a great new ipad application for kids or anyone learning their alphabets and sounds?  No?  To refresh your memory, click here!



June Blossom ABC Coloring Book
 is now offering a special promotion!  
Download the initial application for FREE!
Get it here!

All they ask is that you spread the word!

But hurry, this promotion won't last!
It's only free until New Year's Day (that's this Sunday)!
Click here!



Regular price is a mere $0.99, but what a great way to try something different and new!  Plus they sell great add ons to the app at really low prices, too!

Looking for a great educational application to help your child (or anyone, for that matter! - know someone trying to learn English?) build a solid foundation?  June Blossom believes that children and adults learn best through fun and engaging activities!  They want to turn your child's play time into an active learning environment without them knowing!

Check out the demo!





June Blossom is an effective tool with colored illustrations and interactions, allowing children to color in pictures, apply stickers to their creations and playing with interactive alphabet blocks!  They consulted educators, pediatricians, designers, parents and children while building their application!

They carefully chose words and pictures that best represent each letter of the alphabet, so that your child hears the correct phonetics of pronunciation from their voice coach.

Even Better?

After each session, your child can be surprised with a congratulatory award message an animation!  I love the positive reinforcement!

AND, once your child has mastered their ABC's, they offer many more upgrade avenues like writing, counting numbers, a wider variety of themes and colors for a low low price!

In anticipation of having our first child, my husband and I have already downloaded this app to our ipad!  =)

Would love to hear what my readers think about this application, too!

Want more information?  They have a facebook page!

Saturday, December 3, 2011

HGW Jewelry Designs Giveaway!

Hope everyone is getting into the Holiday spirit!

I would love to introduce you to the designer behind HGW Jewelry Designs!  Harriet Warkel!


Harriet's shop specializes in fine silver jewelry, wire wrapped , enamel and handmade beaded jewelry!
She's got something for everybody with pendants, earrings necklaces - all with gemstones, crystals or cubic zirconia!

Harriet, how did you get into making your lovely jewelry?


I am an art lover. It’s who I am and a part of me. For 25 years I was the curator of American art at our local museum.  I spent that time looking at art, writing about it, exhibiting it and being thankful for the wonderful opportunity of overseeing the museum’s collection of American art. When that ended during their big layoff, I knew I had to stay in the arts, but this time I wanted to be the artist not the art historian. I have a BA and MA in Art History, but never envisioned having a creative side.



Before I left my position, I began taking courses in metalsmithing at our art center. I soon discovered that I had a talent for creating jewelry. I continued my creative learning experience by taking additional courses in wire wrapping, beading and precious metal clay. I have a Level 3 certification in precious metal clay. I don’t like to specialize in a certain technique because for me it is limiting.  One of the most exciting aspects of being an artist is learning something new and creating something different with my newly acquired knowledge.  What I do specialize in is one of a kind jewelry.  I don’t think I could, nor would I try, to duplicate my pieces.  I want people to feel they have something special that they won’t see on anyone else. 




Thanks, Harriet!  You've got beautiful jewelry!  I think it would make the perfect gift for someone who loves jewelry and already has everything or loves intricate designs!

Where you can find Harriet

This is going to be a different kind of giveaway!

When you purchase an item from HGW Jewelry Designs, you will be entered to win this!
A gorgeous and intricately wrapped copper and marisposite pendant!



Number of entries are determined by the dollar amount that you spend in HGW Jewelry Designs' etsy shop!  So, the more you spend, the more entries you get!!!

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

ALL MY READERS WILL GET A FREE GIFT WITH THEIR PURCHASE FROM HGW JEWELRY DESIGNs' etsy shop!
that's right!
You will get an additional FREE copper name pendant 
HANDMADE by HGW JEWELRY DESIGNS
 (in name of your choice, of course)!
similar to this:



Now for details...


How to enter:
1.  Once you make a purchase from HGW Jewelry Designs Etsy shop,
come back here and fill out the rafflecopter form below!
Click the entry form up to the dollar amount you spent!
So if you spent $70, you get 4 entries!


Make sure you include a link to your paid invoice so that your purchase can be verified!


It's that simple!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Antoniya Koleva Designs Giveaway! ends 12/14

Just in time for the holidays!  Please meet Antoniya!



My name is Antoniya, but everyone calls me Tonka. I was born in Bulgaria but lived in Hungary and Holland while obtaining my business degree. Throughout my studies my only goal was to learn how to be an art entrepreneur. I love making things - since I was a little girl I was sewing Barbie doll dresses with my cousins, learned crochet from my grandmas, and being a cool teenager made my own jewelry. I am now living in Turkey with my awesome husband and our zoo - 2 dogs and 2 cats. I live near the beach in the suburbs so nature is my biggest inspiration. There is so much it can give us! I like to combine natural and man-made materials for the best results in my products!



 My inspiration are the creative people around me and nature! I take the shapes and materials from nature and use the creative energy around me to turn them into something fun and beautiful! For my jewelry I use local newspapers which inspire me with their originality. In my art the important thing is to make things always different and one of a kind. I might make something similar but I wouldn't like to make the same things over and over again!



Thanks, Antoniya!  Great stuff!

See something you like?
Antoniya is offering YOU
10% off all items with coupon code
GIVEAWAY
in her etsy shop!



Enter to win this!  One of a Kind!  Headband and bracelet set:
Hand cut and sealed newspaper over a plastic bangle and headband, and varnished for anice, matte look. The bangle is 7 cm/2.6 inches in diameter inside and it will fit most. It's width is 1.5 cm/0.6 inch. The headband is tight and will sustain even the craziest hair! Both are somewhat water and alcohol resistant


Giveaway open internationally
How to enter:



Mandatory: You must be a follower of my blog!
1. Mandatory Entry: Check out Antoniya Koleva Designs etsy store and then come back fill out form below. Be sure to leave me your blogger ID (1 entry)
optional entries (1 entry for each one you do unless otherwise specified):
2. Like Jewelry By J on facebook
3. Like Antoniya on facebook and tell her Jewelry By J sent you
4. Heart one of Antoniya Koleva Designs item in her etsy store
5. Antoniya Koleva Designs etsy store
6. Heart my etsy shop or an item in it!
7. purchase an item from Antoniya Koleva Designs etsy store (10 entries)

Contest ends on 12.14.2011

Winner will be chosen by random.org