Etsy North Georgia Weblog

This month is all about contrast.  A classic clash of light and dark, you won’t find any muddy shades of gray here!  Sometimes the world is easier viewed in solid shades of black and white.  Here is how a few North Georgia artists see the opposing colors!

Choose your favorite from the group below & you will be entered in a contest to win one of these fabulous prize packs made up of some awesome items from Team NorGA shops. Here’s what you could win:

Card provided by Gnagey Gallery, Fabric provided by Jackie Sewing Studio, Wine stopper by Kelly’s Clay Creations, Bottle cap pendant by Cowgirl Jewels, and Bracelet provided by C Elizabeth Designs.

Card provided by Gnagey Gallery, Fabric provided by Jackie Sewing Studio, Wine stopper by Kelly’s Clay Creations, Hair clip by Elephunk’s Trunk, and Bracelet provided by C Elizabeth Designs.

Below is our collection of Black and White challenge entries. To view the entries close-up, you can click on the links below the mosaic. That will take you to the Etsy listing for the item where you can see more pictures, get more details & even purchase the item if you like! You can vote once between now and midnight EST on Monday, December 7, 2009. Note voting rules: Everyone, including Team NorGA members, may vote for a favorite entry. If you have entered a piece in this challenge, you are not eligible to vote. The challenge winner will be announced on December 8th, 2009.

1.) Black and White Christmas Holiday Dress by CelloRaisen

2.) Monogrammed Soap Wedding Favors by Pamperpantry

3.) PONG-The Purse by WorthySoyCandles

4.) Headband with Black and White Organza Flowers by Elephunkstrunk

5.) Original Painting of a Bearded Collie by GnageyGallery

6.) Little Lamb by Cavemanpottery

7.) Vintage Sheet Music Paper Bead Lariat by Seedlingsjewelry

How To Enter:

• Simply make a comment on this post and tell us what your favorite item is.
• Be sure to leave your contact information (Email, Etsy shop, etc.) Any entries without a way to contact the person will be disqualified.
• You get 1 entry for leaving a comment. Only 1 entry per person/email

Note: Contest open to legal US residents, 18+ years old. Void where prohibited by law. Odds of winning depends on how many valid entries are received. Winner will be chosen using Random.org’s Integer Generator. First Place winner will get to choose which of the 2 prize packs they want to receive. 2nd place winner will receive the other pack.  No purchase necessary & purchase will not increase your chances of winning.

Shortly after the contest ends, the winner will be contacted. If you do not respond to the message that you won the prize within 72 hours, a new winner will be selected. Contest ends at Midnight EST December 7th, 2009.

*** Search “Team NorGA Nov” on Etsy.com for more great Black and White items ***

Be sure to check back January 1st, 2010 when we will showcase the best of 2009’s challenge entries!

(Please note your comments must be approved, this keeps our spam down, so if you dont see yours right away don’t worry!)

You are the winner of a free set of greeting cards from Gnagey Gallery! I will be contacting you shortly!

Thank you to everyone who participated! Please check back often for new contests and giveaways!

Congratulations to this month’s challenge winners!!

First place goes to COWGIRL JEWELS!!

Second goes to  SEEDLINGS JEWELRY!!

Bringing in the rear…SMOOSHY DESIGNS!

Congratulations to everyone!  And speaking of winning…

Two lucky guests were randomly picked to win the super cool, super special prize packs put together by Team NorGA artisans!

And the winners are…..

AMANDA SIMMONS and SARAH HENSLEY!

Thank you to all who participated in the challenge, as well as the contest!  Please check back between the 1st and 7th of December to vote again, when the challenge will be…Black and White…

Earlier it was posted there was a tie between Cowgirl Jewels and Seedlings.  I miscounted (SORRY!!), and have corrected my mistake.  Again, my apologies to the team members who participated.  Sorry for the confusion.

You are the lucky winner of a custom hat from Elephunk’s trunk! 

Much thanks to everyone who took the time to comment–keep checking back for more contests and giveaways!

Tell us a Little about yourself?

I’m currently working on my PhD in Women’s Studies at Emory University, with a graduate certificate in human rights. I study gender-based violence and human rights violations, specifically the ways we talk about acts of violence differently depending on where they happen. I I like to walk barefoot, and I can say “This is my Nose” in about a dozen languages.

How Did you get Started Doing What you Do?

I first became interested in sewing and hats through costuming–Halloween has long been my favorite holiday and ever since high school my costumes have been more abstract art pieces than anything else. They usually center on a piece of head sculpture made by making a plaster mold of my head and then building off of it. The same interest in the dramatic has led to an interest in the fashion of the first half of the 20th Century and especially to the beautiful, elegant hats of that period.  Unfortunately I have a very small head, so every hat I’ve ever found slides right down my forehead to sit on the tip of my nose. Finally I decided that if I couldn’t buy hats I would just have to learn how to make them! And I had so much fun, I figured I should make them for other people too!

How Did you Pick Your Shop Name?

I’m actually really terrible with that sort of thing. I was sitting around talking with my husband trying to come up with a shop name that would capture my sense of aesthetics without being too specific to any one kind of item. I wanted to be able to expand into new kinds of items without making my shop name outdated. My personal goal has always been to strive for a funky elegance. My husband suggested combining those two words. I blinked at him and said “Elefunky?” He smiled and suggested “Elephunk’s Trunk.” I like it because it speaks to my aesthetic and my love of elephants!

What makes your items special/unique?

Many of the items in ElephunksTrunk are one of a kind. I like to look for fun, unusual fabrics. Some of my hats are made from upcycled saris I got while studying in India and Bangladesh, others are made from designer cottons, still others from vintage scarves. Whenever I see anything, my first thought is “how could I make a hat out of that?”

Is there anything else we should know?

If you are interested in learning more about ElephunksTrunk, feel free to follow me on twitter (twitter.com/ElephunksTrunk) and become my fan on Facebook (facebook.com/elephunkstrunk). I also have a blog where you can learn about my current projects and read interviews with other creative people whom I admire. (elephunkstrunk.blogspot.com)

Want to win a custom beret or sun hat?  Visit Elephunks Trunk and pick your favorite item, and then leave a comment here.  The winner will be randomly chosen, and they will receive a custom beret or sun hat–their choice! Contest ends on Saturday, October 24th & winner will be chosen at random & announced on Sunday, October 25th.

The winner of C Elizabeth’s Giveaway is Celeste from Elephunk’s Trunk!  Congratulations!