500 Free Business Card Giveaway!!

I have a fantastic giveaway for you!
UPrinting is offering you a chance to win 500 high quality business cards absolutely FREE, even free shipping!
Here are the details of the prize :

500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner
Sizes : 2x3.5", 2x3", 2x2"(square), or 1.5x3.5" (slim card)
Paper:14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock, or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Specifications, Full Color Both Sides, Offset Press, 3 Business Day Printing
Shipping: Free UPS Ground Shipping
Eligibilty: Limited to US Residents Only

Here are the links, so you can check them out
Business cards http://www.uprinting.com/Business-Cards.html
Print Online http://www.uprinting.com/

check them out, they do a great job.

Okay, here is how you enter, and you have 5 chances to win
1. go to www.etsy.com/shop/originalsbylauren and find your favorite item, come back and leave a comment telling me what you chose and why
2. go to www.etsy.com/shop/originalsbylaurentoo and do the same with this shop, but make sure to leave it in a seperate comment
3,4 &5 tweet, post on your blog, or post on facebook this offer

So that's it, easy to do and a great prize offered! Don't need new business cards right now, you can use these for hang tags, or even for personal cards, so make sure to enter.

The contest ends on May 1o, so you have a very limited time to enter.

Good Luck, Lauren

More Food Talk

Now that my food storage bags are made and listed, and I had my first sale of them last night, I though it would be fun to show you some things to put in them. Of course, this is just an excuse to think about food.

The delicious oranges dipped in chocolate are from
my friend Nicole's shop, www.etsy.com/shop/nikid .
Check her out, she has tons of delicious goodies.

The snack sized bag is perfect for, well, snacks, such as cookies, carrots, cheerios, or whatever you want to take with you or pack in your children's lunches.

The sandwich bags are big enough for most breads, and the large bag is perfect for a wrap sandwich, or to store banana bread on you kitchen counter.

I think the next time I bake some cookies for a neighbor, I will enclose them in a large bag, that way they can have something to use when the treats are gone.

Just a reminder, check out my shop www.etsy.com/shop/originalsbylauren for these items and lots of other things you might like.

I have to go now, I am starving so I am going to make lunch :)

Lauren

I Have Added A New Line

I have added a line of food safe bags to my shop www.etsy.com/shop/originalsbylauren . They compliment my oversized lunch bags, and I am very excited about them.

I really owe many of you a thank you for your input about this. I have taken alot of your suggestions, and still feel free to let me know if you think I am missing something.

I have made 3 sizes for now, snack size, sandwich size, and a bigger bag for whatever you need to store or carry. I used zippers instead of velcro, and they are lined with food safe ripstop nylon. They can be wiped out with a damp cloth, or machine washed when necessary.

The large bag is 9" square, the sandwich is 7" square and the snack bag is 4.5"x6". All of them are a little larger than average, so if you use large whole grain bread, or want to carry alot of carrot sticks, you will have plenty of room.

The larger bag can be used for wraps, or an number of lunch items, or you can use it for food storage in the kitchen. I plan to store banana bread in mine, or fresh baked cookies. They will look alot nicer on my counter than a plastic bag.

I have offered a variety of sets, from 2 to 5 bags. If you have a different quantity or configuration in mind, just ask and I will set up a custom listing for you. Of course, the sets are less expensive than buying individual pieces.

So take a look, and let me know what you think. They make a great mother's day gift!

Lauren

And The Winner Is

Congratulations to Kim from
www.etsy.com/shop/kimscraftyapple
and www.etsy.com/shop/theapple .

Kim has won her choice of pinup pouches from my shop www.etsy.com/shop/originalsbylauren

For those of you who didn't win, if you go to my shop and purchase a pin up pouch before May 1, put the code blog10 in the comments to seller and I will give you 10% off the price of the pouch and anything else that you purchase with it. Discount does not apply to shipping charge.

So here is the deal, you buy a pouch and as many other items as you like, put in the code, and you get a discount, so everyone is a winner!

Thanks to everyone that entered and watch for more contests and giveaways in the future.
Don't forget to visit my shops, and stop by Kim's shops too, she has alot of great items.

I am also in need of fans on facebook, where there will be upcoming goodies too, so click on the facebook badge to the right and it will take you there.

Thanks again everyone, Lauren

Happy Earth Day!

Today is earth day, and it got me thinking. Times have changed so much over the last 40 years. My grandmother used to reuse aluminum foil and grocery bags, and we kids thought that was awful, everyone wanted "new" and we thought it was an "old lady" thing.

In the 1970's the hippies reused things, but we thought it was a matter of need, and most people wanted new things.

I have been bringing my own bags to the supermarket for quite a few years now, and would never go back to those plastic bags, first because of the waste, but second, because my bags are so much nicer .

I started a couple of years ago bringing my own bags for all of my other shopping too, and isn't it nicer to have a new article of clothing in a cloth bag than in one of those plastic ones?

We changed to cloth napkins quite a while ago too, and now I can't stand those flimsy little paper ones. I toss them in the washer when doing a load of clothes, so I am not even wasting soap and water to wash them.

So I guess my grandmother knew more than I did back then, what's next, will my mother have been right about my boyfriends?

Lauren

I Need Your Input

I have been making lunch bags for a while now for my etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop/originalsbylauren .

I have had requests for a while for sandwich bags and snack bags, and would love some input.

I am thinking of making sandwich bags with the same foodsafe nylon lining that I use in the lunch bags, and a thin strip of velcro to close them.

I thought maybe a smaller snack bag too, or even possibly an oversize bag.

Here is what I need to know, would you prefer to buy these items individualy or in sets, and what would you like a set to consist of, how many, which size ?

I am planning on using some of the same fabrics you see already in my shop. Would you want your bags to match or be different, and what are your thoughts on children's novelty prints with a matching napkin?

I am also thinking of silverware rolls.

I would love any input you can give me, it is so hard to be objective.

Thanks, Lauren

Swan Lake

I had the great pleasure of seeing Swan Lake performed at the Stanley Theatre in Utica, NY last night. It was magnificent, and I have been replaying every moment in my head this morning. I was fortunate enough to have orchestra seats, so I was able to see every expression on their faces as they performed. If anyone gets the chance to see it, don't pass it up. I have a question though, how do women who are so skinny that you can count the ribs in their chests have the strength to dance like that? They have these wonderfully thin legs, and they can dance on them for hours.

Lauren

I made the front page of etsy this morning. I want to thank lindesigns for curating such a lovely treasury, and I would encourage everyone to visit the other shops that shared the front page with me, they are all full of fanstastic goodies.

Lauren

I Have Entered The 21st Century!

I can hardly believe it, but after much resistance, I joined facebook last night. I have been told that I need a fan page, so now I have one. I have the link listed to the right at the top of my links, I would love some fans.

I am still figuring out what to do there, but I plan to make it fun to visit.

If you become a fan, come back and leave a comment on the givewaya post saying so and it will enter you .

In case you haven't scrolled down yet to see what you can win, here are a couple of pictures.

Hope to see you on facebook, and good luck with the contest.

Lauren

Thank You Etsy Friends

One of the reasons that I have neglected my blog for so long is that my brother Bobby was tragically killed last fall in an automobile accident while travelling for business in NH. He was 46 and left a wife and 2 teenagers, and was hit by a teenager that had only been driving a month, but was going over 100 mph.

When all this was going on, many etsy friends were wonderful to me, and I can't possibly name them all here, but I wanted to thank a few of them . Some came to the wake or funeral, some were great comfort through email and convoes.

This wonderful quilt was made by Nancy at www.etsy.com/shop/uniquelynancy

The gorgeous cathedral window pillow cover is by Tiffany at www.etsy.com/shop/warmnfuzzies

This beautiful cut paper is done by Cathy at www.etsy.com/shop/myserenityway

The colorful birdfeeder is done by Dan at www.etsy.com/shop/ddb7

This fun felt sandwich comes from Myrhieah at www.etsy.com/shop/tangbaby

Please check out these shops, they are not only wonderful friends, but they do great work and you might just find something there that you can't live without.

I wish I could thank everyone, there are so many of you, but this small group will have to do for now.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words, their thoughtful gestures, and all the prayers. My sister-in-law, niece and nephew and doing pretty good, it is still very hard for them but they are trudging along like troopers. Bobby would be proud of how well they are doing.

Lauren

Made to order Hospital Gown

I don't know about you, but those gowns they give you at the hospital do not fit me, or anyone else that I know. The paper ones at the doctor's office are even worse!

I make custom hospital gowns for men, women and children in your size and in your choice of colors and fabrics. They are 100% cotton, and very comfortable.

I put your choice of snaps or ties down the back. In my maternity gowns I have snaps on the shoulders to make nursing easier. I do offer them on all gowns though, your choice.

These gowns are great for a day of tests at the hospital, or even to bring with you to the doctor each time you go.

The best part is that the back overlaps enough so you aren't showing off anything you want to keep covered.

So stop by www.originalsbylaurentoo.etsy.com today and order yours. I ask that you allow a 1-2 week turnaround time, but if you need it right away, just let me know and I can usually accomodate you.

Lauren

P.S. don't forget to schroll down and enter my first ever giveaway, get your own pinup pouch for free!

Pinup Pouch Giveaway

I have decided to do my first blog giveaway. I am very excited to see how this goes, and if it is well received I will do more of these, so pass the word.

The winner gets to choose a pinup pouch from my shop http://www.originalsbylauren.etsy.com/ .

Go to the shop, choose which pouch is you favorite, and leave the link in a comment. The winner gets the pouch of their choice.

Here is how you enter, visit my shop, choose your favorite item, and leave me a comment letting me know what that item is.
To enter twice, tweet this and leave a comment saying you did
Post it on facebook and get another entry.

The winner will be chosen randomly on April 24.

Thanks and good luck! Lauren

Calling All Expectant Moms

As many of you know, I have a second shop on etsy that I opened last fall. In that shop, http://www.originalsbylaurentoo.etsy.com/ I carry children's handmade clothing, crib shoes and hospital gowns. The hospital gowns come in children, adult and maternity styles.

As you can see by the photo, my pregnant model has had her baby, only a few days after she modeled for me, a daughter Briana. Both mother and daughter are doing well.

My crib shoes come in size 0-6 months, and are available in a variety of fabrics, including satin with the name and date of birth embroidered on the soles.

I hope to add women's clothing in the future, but at this time I have a variety of items for children.

All the items are hand made by me, and I have been a professional seamstress for over 20 years. I love to do custom orders, so if you have a specific request, feel free to ask.

Lauren

Turning Over A New Leaf

I have been seriously neglecting my blog, so I am turning over a new leaf. I am going to try to blog alot more often.

To kick this off, I thought I would share some of my newer items from my two etsy shops www.originalsbylauren.etsy.com and www.originalsbylaurentoo.etsy.com .

Stop by and see what else I have, both shops are stocked with lots of goodies.

Talk to you soon, I promise.

Lauren