Wednesday, August 31, 2011

A Giveaway to Celebrate One Year!

In celebration of one year of blogging, and a big "Thank You" to all my lovely new friends who drop by, I wanted to do a GIVEAWAY!

 Sometimes, I can't belive the changes The Red Tin has brought to my life. Aside from actually learning a little bit about computers ( and the mystery of HTML), I have met so many wonderful people through this community. So many blogs have inspired me to try new things and opened up new worlds of possiblities with art. I may not have been making art dolls, trying more mixed media and altered art, painting, have done the Sketchbook challenge, participated in all the fun challenge blogs out there, discovered the vast creativity of mail art, and explored so many new mediums this year!
For this, I am grateful!

My blog has often given me a creative push when I was feeling a little lazy or my muse got away from me. And all your comments and words of encouragement have really kept me going and made many days better! I wish I could give you all hugs through this machine...but you will just have to settle for trying to win some goodies!

To win, please leave a comment with HOW YOUR BLOG HAS CHANGED YOU...

and you could be recieving a box with...

embroidered ribbons, hand dyed fabric I made, vintage buttons and postcards, and I'm sure I'll gather a pile of fun papers and things from the stash....


fabric postcards and one of my lavendar sachets...


A great, little wooden frame that is perfect for altering,


...and I am going to round up some more fun artsy stuff to play with...and, of course, a jar of the raspberry jam I made last week.

Thanks again to everyone for all your support and kind comments! Every day you are inspiring me!
I also look forward to hearing how your blog has changed your life too!
I will pick a winner next Thursday, September 8th. 
Good luck!


23 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

I love blogging, too, and you are right about meeting lots of nice people! Blogging has changed my life because it gives me something each day to take me outside my four walls where I spend so much time, it is a window to the world for me! Valerie

Joanna said...

Well I was already excited about your prize and then you mentioned the jar of your delicious raspberry jam - double count me in!

I have had my blog for just over a year and it has opened up a whole new world of creativity and creative friends who 'get', without needing an explanation, that I enjoy fiddling with a gluestick, scissors and paint. I don't have to justify why I do it. I don't have to explain what it is (mostly it's of no practical use whatsoever). My 'real' friends just don't understand what I do, and don't actually try. Before blogging, anything I made would just be put in a cupboard, never to be seen by anyone outside my immediate family. The feedback I get from the blogging community spurs me on to do more and better.

I have been so inspired by what other bloggers do. I have enjoyed taking part in swaps, challenges and online classes. My artwork has developed more in the last year than it had in the past 20 years.

I now watch very little tv, preferring to spend my time tinkering with colours and my moleskine. It keeps me calm, keeps my brain sorted out, and - as I tell my husband - is much cheaper than therapy!

I can't believe the changes Fiddlesnips! has brought to my life. Just wish I'd done it sooner!

Happy first year, wishing you many more happy years blogging.

xx

Bee of Athena said...

Blogging is like having a key to your own secret garden! The world you navigate and discover is just for you, to escape to and come back from with a new flower and a knowing smile...:)

MrCachet said...

I have made so many friends because of my blog. A little bit different than the mail thing I'm into, but finding images through FRIENDS - that's the special part.

Julie said...

My blog has certainly helped me meet lots of new people. But it's changed my life in a different way. As you know my blog isn't a craft blog or anything else specific. It's just little bits of my life. It helps me by letting me look back on things a year ago or more and see "Hey this thing was happening at the same time then, you got through it then, so don't fret about it now." It's made me a lot less anxious.

Sandy said...

My blog has put me in contact with so many wonderful people. It also forces me to create, so I have something to show following the 3 times a week schedule I set myself.

The Pen Thief said...

Like a lot of the people on this list my blog has certainly been a vehicle to meet new and interesting folks! I also have changed my posting style to include tutorials and other information filled posts between other fun "no thought" posts. =)

Unknown said...

What a great question, Katie. I've had fun reading all the comments. So much cross over here I think. I feel like I have found 'my tribe'. Surrounded by like minded people who are so caring and supportive. It has changed my life. I create more now than I ever have. I am so inspired by all the wonderful work which goes on 'out there in blog land', it can't help but nudge us all forward to become the best we can be. Congrats on your one year anniversary. A milestone for sure. I'm so honoured to have met you, and I do enjoy out contact via snail mail. Thanks for the opportunity fo 'add to my stash' such a gorgeous celebration gift. xoDonna

Kris said...

I am changed by my blog because it has expanded my community....in which I feel accepted,understood, inspired and most of all loved. :)

Anonymous said...

Sweet giveaway Katie...blogging has totally changed my life, brought me friends like you, inspired me woth the ginormous amout of creativity out there and been just plain fue. xox Corrine

karen said...

Blogging has encouraged me to try out all sorts of new crafts and art! I used to only make a "Christmas craft" once a year but now through blogging I am crafting and creating all year round!
I love your blog by the way! Thanks so much for visiting me and leaving a lovely comment!
xoxo Karen

sharon said...

First, thank you so much for visiting and your kind comment! I am so glad you did because now I amazed at your work also....so creative and you are trying so many new things, it's wonderful!
My blog has helped me have confidence to achieve dreams of mine, small and large, and still ongoing, by the constant warmth and kindness form the blog community. It seems that here there is room for everyone and their ideas, and everyone helps everyone. Until the blog I was doubtful this existed anymore. I am grateful to all. I will be back to visit again!

Penny said...

My blog has been such a amazing adventure for me. First and foremost are all of the wonderfully creative and supportive people that I've met. Its such an adventure to 'talk' to people who live far away, people I would never ever have met without my blog. Secondly it has been a great incentive for me to keep creating -- after all have to have something to post *smile*. I've been able to share my explorations, joys and not-so-well-done experiments. I never thought, when I began that I would still be at it two years later, but I can't imagine my daily life without both my own blog and visiting all the amazing blogs that are out there.

Kim Mailhot said...

I started blogging when I was feeling kind of lonely and isolated as I had moved to a new town and have few real time friends close by. I so appreciated gaining a community and a wonderful group of Blogland friends to share and grow with. I also love having a place to share my art and life experiences. While I am happy to say that I have found some great new friends close by, my friends in Blogland have become an important part of my connection to others in this life ! Yay for blogging !
You have put together such a beautiful giveaway, Katie ! And raspberry jam is my favorite !!!
Thanks fo rthe chance to win.
Happy Long weekend !

MulticoloredPieces said...

I don't want to win anything, but I appreciate this post (congrats for the one-year birthday) and the question you raise. I agree with all of the above. Because I research women's history, I find the general trends of blogging to be fascinating, especially the formation of women's communities around crafts, home decor, art, etc. Of course, men are present, but certain circles apparently contain a majority of women. In addition, blogland has allowed quite a number of women to achieve some kind of professional status and/or to get into business for themselves, whether they are out there in the "real" work place or working at home. All this would make an interesting study, don't you think?
best, nadia

Anonymous said...

Oooooh......a giveaway! :)

Hmmm....my blog has made me think more about my life - the details - and has helped me put some things into focus. It's all good!

:)

Unknown said...

Congrats on being published over at the Erosion Project site. I really love what you did with your bundle, Katie. hugs, Donna

My Creative House said...

Oh Katie what a wonderful giveaway, please count me in - thanks.
Anni

Barbara said...

Oooooh...lovely little prizes! Blogging changed me? Well, at first I thought I'm not different, but then I realized it has made me a busier person! Not because of the time I spend here, but because I feel a need to get more sewing/crafting done in order to keep my blog from getting stale. It's so much fun to see everyone's show and tell, and they are all an inspiration to me!

Unknown said...

Oh count me in please, what a treasure trove of goodies :)
I've meet some great blogger friends since starting my blog, it's nice to be able to find people with similar or other engaging interests!

artymess said...

gosh Katie... .how did I miss this one ....!!!
my blog ....well where do i start I love the connection with other like minded kindred spirits........the support,friendship and mind blowing inspiration !!!.........there are such creative people out here in blogland ....and without my blog I would never have found them ....no longer working in a sterile bubble on my own ......I have now burst out into the multicoloured world of blogging and here is where i am going to stay !!.....thanks for the chance of your FAb giveaway...xx

Mail Art Dramas said...

My blog has changed me in a big way. It was my first outlet in "going public" with my art work.

Emma said...

Great giveaway, congrats on a year! I started blogging to join in with the group of women who seemed to think as I did, & found more adventurous, supportive & wonderfully creative people. We inspire each other & inform & take each other all over the world sharing bits of our lives we'd never otherwise have seen. It's a big part of my procrastination but at the same time has given me focus in my work ;)