and the WINNER is....

Thanks to all who entered my Blogiversary Giveaway. I wish you could all win, but alas, random. org can only choose one winner. According to random.org, the winner of Crooked Shmooked's first ever giveaway is....

and the 44th comment happens to belong to.......drumroll please....

Lindsay of Shrimp Salad Circus!

Congratulations, Lindsay! We are all very jealous.

Thanks again to everyone who donated and everyone who entered the giveaway. Hugs to you all!

happy BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY to you!

One year ago today Crooked Shmooked was born out of my desire to share a home remodel with family and friends and as our remodel dragged on (and continues to drag on...) my dream homes, decor, fashion, and fun came out to play. I have been so blessed by this outlet and all of the amazing and talented artists and bloggers I have met. Thank you for your support, inspiration, and readership. I have never done a giveaway before, but to commemorate Crooked Shmooked's first anniversary, I wanted to gather some of my favorite Etsy artists to offer one great big, amazing prize package to a lucky reader. I am so excited to be able to offer this prize package to you. Thanks to everyone who has donated their talent and art to make this possible!

Katie Daisy: Katie Daisy is the country soul behind her self-named shop. Her shop is full of her whimsical paintings and illustrations. If there was ever an illustrator that channels my Crooked Shmooked style, Katie is it. The colors, sentiments, animals, florals, and designs are all pieces after my own heart. Take a look at her wonderful work and welcome some of her cheerful illustrations into your home. Check out Katie's blog to learn more about her work and also check out her man's wonderful folk music! Katie wanted to bless you by donating not just one print, but THREE! Enter for your change to win her 8.5" x 11" You Are My Sunshine Print, 8.5" x 11" Anywhere Print, and 8.5" x 11" Have A Nice Day Print.

The Brilliant Magpie: Amy Abshier-Reyes is the artist behind the gorgeous ladies of The Brilliant Magpie. Amy was one of the first artists to catch my eye on Etsy and thanks to hubby, I own 4 of her beautiful women although really, I would love to adorn an entire wall with them. Amy's vintage-inspired portraits all have stories hidden behind their eyes and expressions that are hinted at in the names descriptions. To learn even more about Amy's art and life, check out the interview I did with her back in February. Also take a look at Amy's blog and online gallery to see and lust after her larger original pieces. Amy has donated her lovely She was Like a Queen in Her Palace ACEO.

Serendipity By Erin: Erin's shop was born out of her serendipitous introduction to beads and wire. She has long worked with various creative mediums such as clay and various bath items, but we are most lucky that she directed her creativity towards jewelry. Her shop is filled with beautiful colors found in glass beads, stones, metals, crystals, and more. Her filigree rings andstone bracelets are some of my personal favorites, but there is something to be found for everyone within her shop. Not only is Erin's Etsy shop beautiful, but she also happens to be local to me and her jewelry can be found in shops across the Bay Area. Erin has graciously donated her vibrant Pink and Yellow Boro and Gemstone Wire Wrapped Bracelet.

shelby evans jewelry: Shelby Evans is the talent behind her self-named shop. As a senior in highschool, Shelby's talent betrays her age. Shelby's shop is full of beautiful stones and precious metals. Her unique jewelry designs are perfect to complement any outfit, or should I say any outfit would complement her stand-out jewelry... : ) Check out Shelby's flickr for photos of even more of her work. Shelby has donated a gorgeous Silver Purple-Stone Ring.

Zoetropa: Pam is the talent behind the charming illustrations of Zoetropa. Her shop is full of paper goods, magnets, and more in colors and designs that make you smile. Inspired by nature, animals, Nordic design, and Japanese Zakka- there is a design for everyone. Check out Pam's site for more smiles. Also check out her blog for a chance to win even more Zoetropa goodies. Pam has donated a Small Dala Horse Journal and 6 Magnets (dala, hello, pencil, plaid, happy cat, and love bird).

Kiki & Polly: Lisa Golightly is the artist behind Kiki & Polly. Her painting is nothing less than magic. She captures perfect childhood days in a sea of pastels and is somehow able to convey all sorts of emotion in her portraits without her paintbrush having to create a single facial expression. The shop name Kiki & Polly was imagined out of the name of her daughter's beloved bird and imaginary friend. How can such a start create anything less than childlike magic? Check out her website for even more beautiful art and the opportunity to have her paint you a custom family portrait. Lisa has donated a 8.5" x 11" print of her sweet Pink Day.

la fille facetieuse: Dana recently returned to the states from France and is bringing herself and the Etsy world happiness through her beautiful ruffled and feathered headbands. She makes her head adornments with upcycled, recycled, and vintage materials as much as possible. Her headbands are the perfect accessory for any outfit and any sweet head. Check out Dana's blog to stay updated on her shop and life's adventures. Dana has donated her perfect Ruffle Headband in White.

tree & kimball: I was first introduced to Lisa's work when she contacted me back during my break from blogging. I remember wishing that I wasn't taking a break just so I could post about her lovely lace jewelry. Lisa works as an apparel designer at Anthropologie full-time... you gotta trust an Anthropologie girl. Her pieces are all beautiful, original and affordable, accentuated with quaint beads. If you love vintage, lace, and feminine beauty, you must check out her shop. Lisa has donated one of her new designs, the gorgeous Rhodanthe Necklace.

The Rules:

• You may visit each shop twice weekly and return here to tell me your favorite item. Make sure that each shop visit is entered as an individual comment. If you visit each shop and write about them all in one combined comment, you will not get the maximum amount of entries possible. (32 possible entries)
• You can tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and tell me about it in a comment below. (1 entry)
• You can write a blog entry and tell me about it in a comment below, including the link to your post. (1 entry)
• Please make sure that you leave either your e-mail address or a link to your blog in each comment, so I am able to contact you if you win.

The deadline for entries is Friday, September 25th at 8:00pm PST, and I will post a winner by Monday, September 28th.

ALL MODERN PILLOW giveaway

My real life friend, Jess, is doing an All Modern pillow giveaway over at her blog, Cute & Cozy for Two. We could all use a new pillow, and there are so many cute ones to choose from! Head on over to her blog and enter to win by Friday the 21st.

link FRIDAY

Ruthi Auda: Ruthi is a friend of a friend. She is one of the stylists for Anthropologie. You know those amazing and ridiculously detailed displays within the store and behind the storefront windows? Yeah- she does those. Best job EVER. I have always said I could live in Anthropologie... but maybe I should just have Ruthi come and design my home.

fonts for peas: Have you ever wanted to see your handwriting as a font? I'll admit, I've considered it, but part of the fun of using fonts is that they are so much prettier than my inconsistent chicken-scrawl handwriting. If you are willing to share your handwriting, great or small, with the world, head on over to Kevin and Amanda's blog to participate in fonts for peas. (found via oh, hello friend)

Lukas VanDyke Fine Art Photography: Lukas and I went to college together and I have long been a fan of his photography. I wish I had him shoot my wedding, but we won't go into all the things I wish I had done for my wedding... My little sister, on the other hand, has gorgeous wedding photos from Lukas. His photography truly is art. He captures all the little moments and details others may not notice and manages to make any person he photographs look 100% photogenic. Someday, Lukas, I will find a need for your photography- even if I have to pull one out of thin air.

Indie Fixx's 3rd Anniversary Contest: Happy 3rd anniversary to Indie Fixx and happy contest to us! Jen has four amazing prize bundles ready for the giveaway, donated by some amazing artists. You can comment four times a day and the contest closes on August 20th, so get on over there and get your comments in!

DIY Baby Food Jar Chandelier: Thank you, Natural Home Magazine. With all of the DIY chandeliers floating around the internet these day, you'll never have to buy one again! This is one of my favorites so far because I love the two levels. I'd definitely make it without all the little wire curlies though.

Happy Friday, friends! Have a wonderful back-to-school weekend!

giveaway over at SIMPLY GROVE

I love you, girls. I love you so much that I am willing to make my odds of winning this fabulous dress worse just so you also have a chance of winning it. Enter over at Simply Grove now. The giveaway closes on Sunday night. Maybe if one of us wins the dress, we can pass it around to each other Sisterhood-of-the-Traveling-Pants-style and write stories of what happens when we wear it. And then we can get a book deal and make some big bucks. Just a thought.

win an ENHABITEN PILLOW

One of my absolute favorite Etsy shops, enhabiten, is giving away a pillow over at Scoutie Girl. You have until this Sunday the 26th to sign up. Head on over!

And you must check out Liane's Quit Your Day Job interview at The Storque. She is delightful. Definitely the type of person I'd want to have a cup of tea with.

i'm a WINNER

Apparently last week was my week. As always, I entered the many weekly giveaways at the decor blogs I read. If you are a regular reader of even 10 of the most popular decor blogs, you are not a stranger to all of the great giveaways offered by the generous artists out there in Etsy and beyond. Well something stuck last week because I won two of the most fabulous gifts!

First off, Scoutie Girl e-mailed me to tell me I had won a horse hanger (similar to the one shown and linked) from Monkey & Squirrel. I was and am so excited because if you know me, you know that a vintage animal wall hanger is right up my alley. It is going to fit into my home (you know, the one that is torn to shreads right now) just perfectly... when hubby and I live in it again.

Secondly, this last week I visited The Bright Side Project for the first time in a month or so. I caught up on a few questions and when I checked the site yesterday, I saw that I had won Lamixx's Check Mate Slanted Bow Top! I thought I was rather witty in a couple of my answers, but neither of them were the question I got chosen for.

Question: If there is one piece of advice you could give to your younger self what would it be and why?

My answer: Oh goodness. I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I would tell myself to be who God made me to be rather than trying to imitate those around me. I would tell myself that I can’t always worry about what others think and I can’t control the universe to make sure everyone is happy. I can only be responsible for who I am and how I treat people and how I react to what is going on around me.

I always assume it's the witty or really deep answers that get chosen, but apparently my truthful answer was what she was looking for. And I have been thinking about that a lot lately because I am just FINALLY learning that and living by it. If I had learned it earlier in life, it would have saved me a lot of pain and anxiety... but I guess I needed those things to shape me into who I am. Anyway! I can't believe I won this fabulous top! You know how you get all warm and tingly when something exciting happens? When I saw my name on the winners' list and starting loudly telling hubby I had won, my face got some major circulation going. I suppose it could have been from the yelling, but I like to think it's because I was so happy.

If you are curious how you can be a winner like me, in a couple of months I will be coming out with a book entitled: Be a Winner Like Me. Aaaand, I am kidding. Actually, check out some of these sites for a chance to win more fabulousness:

The Bright Side Project: It's just as much fun to answer the questions as it is to win... or just a tinge less fun. Honesty is the best policy.
Design for Mankind: They do awesome giveaways every week. I have yet to win one or hear of anyone I know winning one, but I trust that there are winners.
Etsy Giveaways: If you want to be a giveaway stalker, this is the site for you.

Good luck to you all! And thanks to Scoutie Girl, The Bright Side Project, Monkey & Squirrel, and Lamixx for making me smile 85.5% bigger last week... and for giving my cheeks some nice color.

the ULTIMATE prize

I was over at Bliss today visiting Mrs. French and saw the ad to win a Madsen Cycle. Of course I had to click. It is true. On July 15th Madsen will be choosing two people to win a Madsen Cargo Bike. Unreal. Can you imagine riding this thing to a local Farmer's Market and bringing your fresh fruit and veggies... and maybe a kitten or three home in the basket? I know you can. Check it out for yourself. I would love to have someone I know win! And if I win, I will let you ride in the basket with my kittens.

the BRIGHTSIDE project

Today I would like to introduce you to the smile-inducing, thought-provoking, goodie-giving Bright Side Project. The brain-child of Miss B., this project started as 28 days of art giveaways intended to brighten the day of anyone stopping by and as the end of the 28 days drew near, Miss B. realized she didn't want it to end. During The Bright Side Project II Miss B. has gathered some amazingly talented accessory designers to riddle us with their questions and delight us with their gifts. As Miss B. puts it,"The Bright Side Project is here to bring you a little metaphorical sunshine every day, to help you stop for a second and remember life is (still) beautiful and there is goodness in the world," and it does just that!

I have enjoyed answering the artist's and designer's questions so much that I actually stopped caring if I won anything. The most recent question is: What makes you laugh with pure and utter delight? What a fun question to sit and think about- Just thinking about the things that make me laugh, well, makes me laugh. 

But apparently that wasn't enough, because Miss B. put a smile on my face when I read that I had won this feathered beauty from Terri Jones of tenthings who has long been one of my Etsy faves. Yay!

If you stop by The Bright Side Project today, you can get in on some great giveaways and questions from Toy Watch, Morelle, Candace Ang Jewelry and more. 

Smiles... laughs... sunshine... a chance to win pretty things... what are you waiting for?

is it your DREAM HOME?

This year the HGTV Dream Home is in my neck of the woods! Has anyone been entering the sweepstakes on a daily basis? I always wonder how much time the people who win commit to trying to win. I read the rules the other day and apparently, on top of entering online, you can send in postcards- as many as you want. I have been entering on their site whenever I happen to think of it, but am not committed enough to send in postcards, although I know there are people out there who are tearing their way through stamps to win. On the off chance that I do win (ha ha- riiight), I think I will let my sister and her husband live there so that I can have them close again. I am perfectly content with our location in the countryside and have found that I like having a cozy little home.

So, what do you think of the dream home decor? Is it your dream home? You have one more week to enter. And when you win, I promise I'll invite myself over for dinner. : )

thanks, HEART HANDMADE

I won a contest! I won these beautiful Brooklyn Things earrings over at Heart Handmade.

I am so very excited. Aren't they gorgeous? 

Thanks, Marichelle and Katya!