Sponsor Love + Giveaway – City of Blackbirds
Posted 1.04.2011 by Sandy a la Mode in Sponsor Love :: 270 comments
{shop} {blog} {twitter} {flickr}
Today’s giveaway (three more tomorrow) is brought to you by the lovely Eadaoin of City of Blackbirds! Eadaoin (love that name) is a big sweetheart and takes the most beautiful pictures of macarons, cupcakes, architecture, flowers and more! One of my favorite things that she does is heart bokeh with lights, so dreamy~! One look at her blog where she shares photos she has taken and you’ll immediately come away with a smile! Earlier this year, I got to participate in a series she was running called “Inspiration Secrets” where a handful of bloggers did guest posts, here are my secrets. If you aren’t following Eadaoin, I really think you’re missing out! I’ve asked Eadaoin to answer a few questions so we could all get to know her a little bit better…
{MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHER}
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a full time music student, part time library assistant and some times photographer living in Dublin, Ireland. Photography is a huge passion of mine but I also love to blog, write poetry, sing, doodle, bake and take care of my husband when I remember to 
The name City of Blackbirds is really just a reflection of my feelings about the city that I live in. I grew up in the countryside but moved to the city almost 10 years ago. When I first moved here I was really struck my the blackbirds that sang in our garden at all hours of the night. I guess they were a little off kilter because of all the bright streetlights, so instead of singing at dawn they sang pretty much whenever they felt like it! It used to keep me awake for hours, not because they were loud but because it was such a strange thing to lie in bed and listen to birdsong in the middle of the night.
These days I live in a different apartment and don’t hear them singing at night, but there is a blackbird who likes to sit at the top of the tallest tree in the garden on summer evenings and sing his little heart out, it makes me so happy.
I chose City of Blackbirds as a name because I think it reflects who I am and what I am inspired by.
3) How did you get into photography? What inspires you?
I got into photography rather slowly, it actually began with making coloured squares on GIMP, I set myself up with a Flickr account so that I could share them with a colour loving friend who was helping me to create them. You can still see them at the very beginning of my Flickr account! When I first discovered Flickr I spent hours on there looking at amazing images; something stirred inside of me and I wanted to start creating beautiful images of my own.
So I bought a little point and shoot camera and a Holga and spent many happy hours snapping away with both of them. But they were just not enough for me; in my head I could see the kind of images I really wanted to take and knew that I would need a different kind of camera for them. So eventually I got together enough money to buy myself a DSLR and since then I’ve never stopped taking photos, I just adore it!
I am incredibly inspired by nature and the world around me, and always have been in all my creative pursuits. When I am in the country I like nothing better than to take a dawn walk with my camera, there is always such a magical feeling and amazing light at that time of day. As a child I used to go outside and just sit in the early morning light in our garden, soaking up that beautiful magic and the dawn silence.
I am also very much inspired by my peers. There are many wonderful and talented bloggers and photographers I come across online, their beautiful work often fuels my own creativity, driving me to be the best I can be at my own work. I am so grateful to have met the most amazing people who not only inspire but also encourage me to keep on creating.
I just LOVE Ben and Jerry’s Caramel Chew Chew! In fact there’s a tub of it in our freezer right now… ice cream for breakfast is allowed when you’re on holidays right??
{GIVEAWAY}
Eadaoin is so graciously offering up any 2 prints from her shop, the winner can choose their favorite ones!
How to enter:
1. Visit City of Blackbirds shop and leave a comment with your favorite item!
For additional entries, leave a separate comment for each action. If you already follow the blogs/twitter, you can still enter by letting me know in your comment.
2. Follow this blog with Google Friend Connect
3. Follow City of Blackbirds with Google Friend Connect
4. Follow @sandyalamode and @ctyofblackbirds on twitter
5. Tweet about this giveaway (make sure to use @sandyalamode and @ctyofblackbirds in your tweet)
Feel free to use this tweet:
@sandyalamode is having a giveaway party! @ctyofblackbirds is giving away two of her beautiful prints! http://bit.ly/hpd41U
This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and closes on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 5PM CST. Good luck!
GIVEAWAY HAS BEEN CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!
love love love Hydrangeas in Sunlight! They’re my favorite flower!
I’m a GFC
I follow both of you on twitter.
tweet tweet http://twitter.com/#!/hanamik/status/22473834300968960
Ooooh I love all of the Paris prints! They’re making me want to go back there ASAP!
And I’m a follower.
And I follow you both on Twitter.
what a wonderful giveaway!! im following
and i love love love the ‘notre dame paris’ print.
xoxo jcd
also now following city of blackbirds blog. xoxo jcd
following sandy a la mode & city of blackbirds on twitter.
xoxo @cornflakedreams
and finally just tweeted! xoxo jcd
@cornflakedreams
Love the Good Morning Paris
OH my gosh I AM SO EXCITED. I love HER! My favorite is the teacup and pearls!
Follow
I am following you on GFC!
I follow city of blackbirds!
Following city of black birds
i follow you both on twitter!
I love everything! Especially the macaron photos!
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/brightwishes/status/22478511293865985
following you both on twitter!
tweeted!!!
My favorite is the lovely 5×7 with the title ‘Cornfield’. It is stunning!♥ xx
I follow @sandyalamode and @ctyofblackbirds on twitter!! (@kikicamaro) ♥xx
I follow via GFC!! ♥ xx
The above saying “I follow via GFC” was for your blog and now this one is for ‘City of Blackbirds’, which I now follow.
♥ xx
What an amazing shop, her stuff is so gorgeous. My favorite is French Macarons and Perfume.
And I of course follow you, how could I not?
Tweet tweet!
I would love any of the macaroon pictures!
And I follow you on GFC
And both of you on twitter
What fabulous shots! My fav is the eggs in a basket.
Great giveaway!
I adore the Afternoon Tea and the Little Rose Teacup, what an adorable duo for a breakfast nook or kitchen!
AZinAugust {at}gmail {dot}com
I follow via Google Friend Connect
)
Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/AZinAugust/status/22484120764424192
I would LOVE to have Afternoon Tea!
i follow you!
I tweeted!
Wonderful giveaway! I think my favorite print is “The End of Love is a Haunting.” SO beautiful!
*kate
I follow you on GFC! Of course.
And I follow City of Blackbirds on GFC now too!
And I follow both of you on twitter!
Ok, I’m done now!
All of Eadaoin’s photos are gorgeous! How could I pick a favorite? Well, I am going to go with “Good Morning Paris.” I absolutely love it. I wish I were in Paris now.
My favorite is the Paris Carousel — how I’d love to visit that city!
Of course, I already follow Sandy a la Mode.
And now I am following City of Blackbirds.
I am following both of you via Twitter.
And lastly, I tweeted about this lovely giveaway.
http://bit.ly/h1S79x
I LOVE the Paris Carousel!
Oh, goodness, her photographs are just beautiful! I think my favorites are The Human Heart Has Hidden Treasures and The End of Love is a Haunting. I think they’d look so pretty framed side by side!
And of course I follow you using GFC.
And now I follow you both on Twitter, too!
The photos are absolutely beautiful! So whimsical! I LOVE all the ones of Paris
AND of course I follow you!
I love the Afternoon Tea Print.
& Following on twitter
I am a follower!!
Beautiful photographs! I really like “Hydrangeas in sunlight”.
Éadaoin is one of my favorite bloggers and a dear friend. I love her photography and her writing and her beautiful sensitivity to nature and life. I’m lucky to already own several of her prints!
Thanks for hosting this giveaway, Sandy, and for introducing all your readers to Éadaoin and her work.
Happy New Year, in case I didn’t already say it! xo – g
LOVE all of the Paris photos! I wish mine had turned out so nicely!! I’d love to put these up to remind me of my own travels
I’m following via GFC!!
Folling Sandy on twitter!! (@elisekayem)
Following City of Blackbirds too!! (@elisekayem)
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/elisekayem/status/22499516439592961
beautiful, beautiful work! My favorite? http://www.etsy.com/listing/53691802/pink-green-and-cream-treasure-5-x-7-matt dreamy.
oh I love her French Macaroons and Perfume print. So pretty!
I’m a follower!
oh yes yes yes — this is fantastic! choose 1 only??!! this is one of my favorites: http://www.etsy.com/listing/57962959/french-macarons-5-x-7-matt-photo-print
china and pearls<3
such sweet photos! i esp love good morning paris.
thanks!
u know i’m already a google follower!
i love so many of em! definitely love the teacups and pearls. her pix are so dreamy and girlie!
btw, im having a giveaway too!
http://www.mirauncut.com/january-giveaway-nikon-coolpix-l20-camera/
Gorgeous photos! My favorite is the Pink Green and Cream Treasure macarons one! So lovely
and I’m a follower!
and I follow both of you on twitter! =]
So many lovely photos! Love this one best http://www.etsy.com/listing/55573956/the-human-heart-has-hidden-treasures-5-x !
Following your blog on GFC !!
Beautiful photographs! My favourite is the Morning Paris print…I’ve tweeted too (m_heart_m) xxx
I love the teacups and pearls post cards!
I’m a follower on Google connect
I’m a follower on Twitter!
Love the good morning Paris print!
And of course I follow you…
tweeted!
I’m a follower now. Great pics, hard to choose which ones I like best, the Good Morning Paris one is cute and the hearts one is also adorable.
I {heart} the hydrangeas!
All of the pieces are beautiful. Hard to pick one, but if I had to I think it would be “The End of Love is a Haunting”
I also followed and tweeted @wrkdesigns
Great work!
i follow you both on twitter.
i adore eggs + macaroons so i cannot choose just ONE beautiful print in her shoppe.
i sent a tweet regarding the giveaway! : )
Gosh, I think my fave is the Pink, Green and Cream Treasure. But it was really difficult to choose!!
<3 Ashley
http://www.ahastylife.com
ashley dot hasty at gmail dot com
I’m a super duper happy follower of yours through GFC!!
<3 Ashley
http://www.ahastylife.com
ashley dot hasty at gmail dot com
I’m a brand new follower of City of Blackbirds!! Thanks for introducing us to this great new blogger!!!
<3 Ashley
http://www.ahastylife.com
ashley dot hasty at gmail dot com
I follow you and City of Blackbirds on Twitter!
<3 Ashley
http://www.ahastylife.com
ashley dot hasty at gmail dot com
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/AHastyLife/status/22657165638508544
<3 Ashley
http://www.ahastylife.com
ashley dot hasty at gmail dot com
OMG this is such a stunning giveaway:) I love love love it, sweetie…Cheers to Wednesday Giveaways, darling hahah
Muah
I follow on GFC!
I love Good Morning Paris. Reminds me of my time when I studies abroad.
Follow via GFC.
Follow via twitter @curliemegs
I LOVE “city of hearts” AND “heart lights” so bee.uuu.ti.ful!
CrowndVic (at) gmail.com
I now follow on GFC (how did I NOT before?! gasp!)
I follow City of Blackbirds on GFC (and SO glad I do! thanks for the rec!)
I follow both on Twitter
(@CrowndVic)
Tweeted! (@CrowndVIc)
Love City of Hearts!
I am a follower on Twitter!
I’m a big fan of the Eiffel Tower photo. I’m going to Paris this April!
I follow via GFC!
They are all nice, but I like this one!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60677476/hydrangeas-in-sunlight-postcard
The French Macarons and Perfume print is my fave!
Love City of Hearts print!
gorgeous!!! among many others, i LOVE the Heart Light – 5 x 7 Matt Photo Print.
i follow you via GFC!
i now follow you both on twitter
aaaaand i tweeted
What an inspiring interview! I just adore the City of Hearts photo!
Thank you for sharing!
You have the best giveaways!
If I had to chose my fav item from her shop it’d be City of Hearts – 5 x 7 Matt Photo Print
I follow you with GFC
I’m following City of Blackbirds via GFC
I follow you both on twitter
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/jointhegossip/status/22745097749663745
All these photographs are amazing!
seriously amazing!
My fav is City of Hearts & Heart lights!
xo
i follow your blog Sandyyy ♥
xo
I am a follower of “city of birds”
xo
she has gorgeous photography, TOO! i love her “cornfield”, “good morning paris”, and “city of hearts” photos a lot!
i follow your blog, of course!
i follow city of blackbirds through friend connect
AND i follow both of you on twitter
I LOVE LOVE heart lights <3
Wow, I’m in love with these photos! I love the Pink Green and Cream Treasure photo–it would look great in my future French classroom!
I follow you with Google Friend Connect and on twitter!
i like this macaroon print .
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53691802/pink-green-and-cream-treasure-5-x-7-matt
tumblemumbo at gmail dot com
thanks
gfc follower of this blog
gfc follower of city of blackbirds .
Sandy! I love her etsy shop. She is quite talented.. and I love that that photographs macarons! <– my obsession! If I won, i would love this print: http://www.etsy.com/listing/53691802/pink-green-and-cream-treasure-5-x-7-matt. I would hang it up proudly in our little home! Crossing my fingers for this one… Eeep! And of course I follow you.
xx Love & Aloha
Sharon
mademoisellekitty@gmail.com
My two favorites are “The Human Heart Has Hidden Treasures” and “The End of Love is a Haunting”. I know just where I’d hang them too! I love art!
I am a follower
I love the “Pink, Green, and Cream Treasure”. So beautiful!
ONE of my faves is the Pink, Green and Cream Treasure print.
i follow your blog!
I looove “Good Morning Paris”. I’d love to have that hanging on my wall in the family room.
I’m now following your blog and her blog via Google Friend Connect. Same goes for both on Twitter.
i tweeted: @sandyalamode is having a giveaway party! @ctyofblackbirds is giving away two of her beautiful prints! http://bit.ly/hpd41U
i follow you on twitter.
i follow city of blackbirds on twitter.
and i already follow her blog. i love her work!
love the The End of Love is a Haunting print!
following your great blog via GFC
I really like the Hydrangeas in the Sunlight print. So lovely & dreamy!
blog follower!
I love this print:
.City of Hearts – 5 x 7 Matt Photo Print
I am redoing my bedroom and would love to go with a city light theme.
ashley d fines at gmail dot com
http://www.etsy.com/listing/55575548/hydrangeas-in-sunlight-5-x-7-matt-photo?ref=v1_other_1
ashlyloves2blog at gmail dot com
I now follow this blog via GFC as ashlyn
ashlyloves2blog at gmail dot com
I now follow City of Blackbirds.
ashlyloves2blog at gmail dot com
I love her City of Hearts photo – although all of her work is gorgeous! Thanks so much!
ang_vaughan at yahoo dot com
Love Paris Carousel!!
Thanks!
That City of Hearts photo is definitely my favorite! It’s so beautiful!
I’m already a follower of your blog!
oh i love eadaoin’s work and she is such a sweet friend too! and i also love her city of hearts!!! i already follow the blog through mail, and i will tweet about it later and come back!
oh wish me luck ladies!!! hugs!! twiggs
I love the Louvre print, as it was one of the most inspiring places I have ever been. I miss Paris all the time, and I’ve only been there once!
I adore the City of Hearts print! What a beautiful shop!!
I love all of the pictures of Paris! How I miss Europe!!
I follow you!
I now follow Eadaoin!
I follow you both on twitter.
I tweeted.
The End of Love is a Haunting is beautiful!
The Paris Carosel is my FAV!!!!
My favorite print is: The Human Heart Has Hidden Treasures – 5 x 7 Matt Photo Print
My favorite is The End of Love is a Haunting.
city of hearts
twitter follower
blog follower
[...] City of Blackbirds is giving away ANY 2 prints from their shop! You choose your 2 favourite prints from their store. [...]
I love the “Oh Sweet Cupcake”… too cute!
My favourite is Paris Carousel – Paris by Lensbaby – 5 x 7 Matt Photo Print… I have a weird obsession with classy vintage carousels and merry-go-rounds
. But the one with the macarons in the box is nice, too… well, every print of her is gorgeous, it’s too hard to choose, her style is so similar to mine…
the end of love is a haunting <3
I love the Paris Carousel print! Would love to put that in my son’s room
I now follow you on GFC
I love the Paris photos, especially the second Notre Dame picture.
I’m now a GFC follower
I Follow City of Blackbirds with Google Friend Connect
I’m now a follower of City of Blackbirds with GFC.
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/jinxedjill/status/23197914826276864
I love how bright the French Macaroons picture is – that would be my pick!
love hydrangeas in sunlight
I like…
the end of love is haunting and eggs in a basket.
Really pretty
Like the Hydrangeas in Bloom photo-gorgeous!
I follow you both on twitter
I tweeted…
as mixdspice by the way…
I like City of Hearts and Heart Light!
lynsym at gmail dot com
Love love love this one.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58193954/good-morning-paris-paris-by-lensbaby-8-x
Following you via GFC
Tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/#!/rasdwadree/status/23249420887785472
lovelove pink and green treasure – or any of the cupcake prints!
following your blog, miss sandy!!
following her blog!!!
and following both of your twitters!!!
tweet, tweet!!!
The print that I loved best is “The Human Heart Has Hidden Treasures.” It is so beautiful and serene, and it seems to say something about where I am at this point in my life.
I tweeted about this giveaway.
I follow you both on twitter
I adore the China and pearls print. Sooo pretty!!
I follow your blog via GFC of course
And tweeted
I love the little rose teacup print
great giveaway
thanks
diarygirl at live dot com
shaha
#1
Hi! Thank you for the chance to win!
I love The End of Love is a Haunting !
#2
I follow your blog!
#3
I follow city of blackbirds!!
^_^
I love the print “The End of Love is a Haunting.” It actually made my eyes well up. Absolutely stunning.
I am a follower via GFC!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I’m following City of Blackbirds with GFC, too!
I just downloaded her Sugar and Spice textures! They are awesome! Thanks for pointing me in her direction!
Hydrangeas in Sunlight is beautiful…great work!
I love the City of Hearts – 5 x 7 Matt Photo Print! Thanks for the chance. bekki1820cb at gmail dot com
Following both on Twitter: @bekki1820cb
bekki1820cb at gmail dot com
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/bekki1820cb/status/23555185313849344
bekki1820cb at gmail dot com
GFC follower. Rebecca Orr
bekki1820cb at gmail dot com
City of Blackbirds GFC follower. Rebecca Orr
bekki1820cb at gmail dot com
Gosh, lot of things i adore, but this one is the faviest http://www.etsy.com/listing/53691802/pink-green-and-cream-treasure-5-x-7-matt
Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone
liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow you both on twitter bird name doki doki co
Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone
liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com
I twit here http://twitter.com/#!/dokidokico/status/23607321405956096
Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone
liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love Paris Carousel photo print!
titina.b@seznam.cz
I love the Hydrangeas print! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
The End of Love is a Haunting .
I love tea, macarons and this one:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53690393/afternoon-tea-5-x-7-matt-photo-print?ref=v1_other_1
I follow on twitter
My tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/simonka_t/status/23884199018635265
Love Notre Dame and The human heart is filled with treasures
I adore the City of Hearts print! xo
kimberly.long at gmail dot com
following your blog via gfc
kimberly.long at gmail dot com
following City of Blackbirds via gfc
kimberly.long at gmail dot com
following you both on twitter @sparkily
kimberly.long at gmail dot com
Thank you for this giveaway contest
My favorite item is Notre Dame – Paris by Lensbaby – 5 x 7 Matt Photo Print: http://www.etsy.com/listing/58191489/notre-dame-paris-by-lensbaby-5-x-7-matt
I’m following this blog with Google Friend Connect ( WR – @wealthyriver )
I’m following City of Blackbirds with Google Friend Connect ( WR – @wealthyriver )
I’m following @sandyalamode and @ctyofblackbirds on twitter ( @wealthyriver )
I tweeted about this giveaway as well: http://twitter.com/wealthyriver/status/24081292467376128 ( @wealthyriver )
I love the “Heart Light” print. So beautiful!
stacybowler@yahoo.com
i love the good morning paris print as well as the heart light print…both so magically ethereal and warm
!
aliciabenedict.info@gmail.com
I am following this blog as Alicia B on google friends connect.
aliciabenedict.info@gmail.com
I am following city of blackbirds on google friends connect.
aliciabenedict.info@gmail.com
I am following sandyalamode and cityofblackbirds on twitter!
aliciabenedict.info@gmail.com
Its so hard to choose! My favorite print is Goodmorning Paris. I like the off-center composistion and the focus on the birds.
Following this blog with google friend connect!
following @sandyalamode on twitter
following @ctyofblackbirds on twitter
Just tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/teacupofcoffee/status/24215351600349184
My favorite is the China and Pearls print. So lovely!
Already following this blog.
Following City of Blackbird’s blog.
I like the pink, green, and cream treasure print.
I tweeted about this giveaway.
I follow @sandyalamode and @ctyofblackbirds on Twitter!
I love Good Morning Paris from her Etsy!
I follow this blog.
I just followed City of Blackbirds blog.
I follow both of you on twitter!
I tweeted!
Beautiful photos!
My favourite is City of Hearts.
I follow this blog:)
I am now a follower of City of Blackbirds!
difficult to choose…but I love the Little Rose Teacup print…
Thanks : )
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog today! This is a great giveaway and I love your blog!
The City of Hearts print is gorgeous! Love it!
i love the Hydrangeas in Sunlight print!
kileen[at]gmail[dot]com
i love “the human heart has hidden treasures” print–but they are all beautiful!
i also follow on GFC as Kileen
following with google!
i follow on twitter under @kileencheng
following you both on twitter (@dreamincursive)
I have been a fan of Eadaoin’s work for some time now. Truly stunning work, and her blog is full of fab.
I will choose Cornfield and City of Hearts as my two favourites from her etsy shop. Just lovely.
x