Entries for this giveaway have been closed! Thanks!
Today’s lovely giveaway is brought to you by the beautiful momma, Anna! Anna’s blog was one of the first ones I started reading when I started blogging. Her blog is super inspirational for those trying to juggle family time and a handmade business. The items she sews for her shop are made with perfection and of the happiest mix of fabrics! You can find accessories for your cup of coffee or tea such as coffee sleeves and mug rugs, boppy pillows for your newborn baby, personalized name and scripture pillows, hoop art to decorate your crafting space, camera strap sleeves for your DSLR and more!
{MEET ANNA}
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hello! My name is Anna Joy. I follow Jesus. I am an Indie Girl who is in love with a Cowboy. We have a 2 year old son who we are crazy about. I was born in Virginia but I call Texas my home. I am studying Visual Communications (aka graphic design) and *should* be done soon. I recently quit my web editing job to pursue my sewing business, For The Love of Joy, full time and it is the best decision I have ever made. I feel extremely blessed to be able to pursue my dreams! I am photography enthusiast and try to practice my mad skills daily. I also enjoy cooking and baking and am always trying to feed my family the healthiest foods.
2) What inspired you to set up shop?
My fiancee, Ben, was the one who really encouraged me to start selling my handmade items. I would talk about doing that for years and then one day he pretty much said, “Stop talking, more doing.” And so I did! The first year of business was very hard as I didn’t really understand the whole aspect of promoting my business. I signed up for the Indie Biz e-courses (ran by Leigh Ann from Freckled Nest) and that was when things started taking off. My sales were pretty good for about 6 months and then I decided to take time off from the shop to focus on my classes. However, that didn’t stop me from sewing! I started signing up to participate in sewing swaps over on Flickr. I made a lot of new online friends who were passionate over sewing/quilting like I was. My craftsmanship became so much better and I was challenged to try making things I had never made before. I love doing swaps! Later in the year, I had the feeling that I needed to open my shop again. My contract work as a web editor became slow so I wasn’t bringing in a lot of money so it seemed like a good idea but of course, I needed to pray over it. Two days later, two people approached me and asked if I would be willing to do giveaways for their blog because they had loved my shop so much. My prayers were answered! I opened again during Thanksgiving weekend and business has doubled within the last two months giving me the ability to quilt web editing and focus on my biz full time!
3) Who are your favorite fabric designers?
Hmmm, how to choose??? I am in love with all modern designer fabrics but my very favorite designers are Joel Dewberry, Lizzy House, Amy Butler, and Dena Designs. I am drawn to bright colors and eclectic patterns which all these designers have in their fabric lines!
4) What do you like to do in your free time besides sewing and blogging?
I love to cook and bake and eat, watch funny movies, play outside with my little man, and sleep!
5) What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Cookies and cream, hands down!
{GIVEAWAY}
Anna is giving away $30 credit to her beautiful shop, to one lucky winner!!
How to enter:
You must be a Google Friend Connect follower of Sandy a la Mode
1. Visit For The Love Of Joy and leave a comment with your favorite item!
For additional entries, leave a separate comment for each action.
2. Be a Google Friend Connect follower of Anna’s blog
3. Heart (add to favorites) For The Love Of Joy on etsy
4. Follow @sandyalamode and @thejoycottage on twitter
5. Blog, facebook, or tweet about this giveaway (make sure to include @sandyalamode and @thejoycottage in your tweet) and include the link (one entry each)
Feel free to use this tweet:
Need a new mug rug, coffee sleeve, pillow, or hoop art? Win $30 credit to @thejoycottage’s shop on @sandyalamode! http://bit.ly/h0tZhf
This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and closes on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 12PM CST. Good luck!
love the camera straps. so adorable!
i hearted the shop on etsy 🙂
and im following you both on twitter @keandres13
following her blog!
i tweeted! @keandres13
I love it all! I really like the coffee cup sleeves and camera straps.
Hearted her shop!!
I love the Patchwork Camera Strap Sleeve! I’ve actually been eyeing it for a while now… 🙂
I follow both of you on twitter!
My favorite item would have to be the Hoop Art – I (heart) Sewing! 😀 I’m also a follower via GFC!
I “hearted” For The Love Of Joy on Etsy 🙂
I had previously “hearted” the patchwork camera strap, but I just “hearted” the shop! 🙂
I just Google Friend Connected Anna’s blog!
HI Anna:) Totally in love with the coffee cozies:)
I tweeted! 🙂
http://twitter.com/#!/Hollzers/status/40247940836495360
I love every camera strap and coffee sleeve! They’re all precious. 🙂
tweeted from @allisonmseward as well. What a cute giveaway!
Oh, also favorited For the Love of Joy on Etsy!
I follow via GFC! And I love the boppy cover!
I follow Anna’s blog via GFC!
I follow you both on Twitter (@okiebelle)
Her stuff is SO cute! My favorite is the bunting flags pillow!
I follow on Twitter!
I really like Anna’s pincushions 🙂
I follow you both on Twitter as @cuteshopper 🙂
Tweeted!
And I followed Anna’s blog on GFC (ended up being her 100th follower 🙂 )
Oh! I tweeted too! RT’d this: http://twitter.com/sandyalamode/status/40245215411310592
I have had my eye on that boppy cover for a while! I love her shop!
There’s so much joy and warmth in the Quilted Scripture Pillow, love it! Thanks for the lovely giveaway.
Oh, I adore her things – old-timey but modern! I’m particularly partial to her Quilted Patchwork Pillow. I love patchwork in small bits like this!
I follow your blog on Google Friend Connect, and my favorite item is the Camera Strap Cover. So cute! 🙂
i love this Quilted Text Pillow -Joy alot because it makes me feel happy!
I just adore her camera straps! Such an inspirational blog, thanks for sharing!
uuuh-dorable shop!! my fave item is this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/66194333/sale-valentines-day-edition-quilted
very cute giveaway!!!
tweet, tweet!!!
I love the quilted boppy cover
I like the boppy cover
The Joy Quilted Text Pillow is so pretty! I would definitely use the credit towards that. You know I’m already a happy follower of your blog 🙂
I am now following Anna’s blog.
I just hearted For the Love of Joy on Etsy!
Love the Bunting Flags pillow! so adorable!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I’m a Google Friend Connect follower of Anna’s blog 🙂
Love this etsy shop! My favourite is the patchwork pillow…so cute!
Heart For The Love Of Joy on etsy (HolyCuteCA).
I have added this giveaway to the sidebar of my blog under the giveaways section with a link back to this post!
Following @sandyalamode and @thejoycottage on twitter (Sarit_Gabay)
Tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/#!/Sarit_Gabay/status/40266103292821504
I just sent the following Tweet: Need a new mug rug, coffee sleeve, pillow, or hoop art? Win $30 credit to @thejoycottage’s shop on @sandyalamode! http://bit.ly/h0tZhf
I am now Anna’s follower too:)
I am a follower and I love this coffee sleeve! 🙂
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67616661/coffee-sleeve
Lovely- the quilted pillow is super cute-
thanks for hosting.
I follow Sandy!
I tweeted this with Sandy!
This is my fav. thing!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66194134/sale-valentines-day-edition-quilted-text
Hearted her shop!!
i love the patchwork mug rug!
i am following anna on twitter! (PeggyAnn_Design)
i tweeted 😉
http://twitter.com/#!/PeggyAnn_Design/statuses/40294796891389952
What a fabulous giveaway! i love her hop and pillows with scripture! And the mug rugs are too cute as well!
I adore this pillow http://www.etsy.com/listing/63744605/quilted-text-pillow-joy !
Hearted the shop (BLehner)!
Love the mug rugs – especially the Valentine’s day ticker tape one!
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Knititall/status/40339600295735296
I follow you both on twitter @knititall
Signed up to follow her blog with friend connect 🙂
what don’t i like from Anna’s shop?!? but the “joy” pillow is definitely my favorite.
<3'd her shop on etsy!
follow you both on twitter 🙂 @kdaviscreates
tweeted 🙂 @kdaviscreates
i love the quilted patchwork pillow~!
and i follow your blog via google
just came across your blog and it’s soooo cute! xoxo i love the quilted patchwork pillow!
I LOVE the quilted scripture pillow! How cute for Christmas!
Oh I love her sweet little pincushions and the patchwork pillow!
*kate
(I follow on GFC!)
I hearted the shop on facebook!
*kate
Oh, I love the I (heart) Sewing hoop art! So pretty. 🙂
{hearted} the shop! (as petuniablooms)
I like the coffee sleeves and the quilted Scripture pillow. I think I’d keep it out all year long!
Following The Joy Cottage blog now. 🙂
Tweeted!
Following both of you on Twitter now.
I love the “I heart Sew” Hoop, very cute! the coffee cuffs are adorable as well!!
Following her blog now!!
I’ve “hearted” For the Love of Joy’s shop on etsy 🙂 WEE
The pastel coffee sleeve would sure make me fill less guilty about all of the caffeine!
Added For The Love of Joy to my Etsy Favorites!
Following @sandyalamode and @thejoycottage on twitter!
I love the boppy cover!
LOVE her hoop art…as well as her Stripe Pin Cushion!
“favorited” her lovely shop!
new follower of anna’s blog!
follow you both on twitter
burlapbluesays
retweeted this fabulous giveaway
burlapbluesays
I love the quilted patckwork pillow.
I follow this blog with GFC. 🙂
I love the scripture pillow!
I follow her blog!
I added her shop to my favorites!
I follow you both on Twitter!
following her blog.
love the Pin Cushion – Stripe!
i hearted her etsy shop!
i tweeted!
My first instinct was to say the hoop art , but I love the Mug Rugs! How cute are those? I know I’d use one – I always have coffee next to me 🙂
I am now following her blog!
I have hearted her shop!
I am now following you both as @AshleyPahl
I tweeted the giveaway!
Favorite Item is the camera straps 🙂
I am buying my rebel next week so hehe!
I ♥Hearted her Etsy Shop !
xo
My favorite is the scripture pillow!
Follower!
Tweeted <3
I love the I (heart) sewing hoop art! 🙂
I’m following Anna’s blog! 🙂
For the Love of Joy is an Etsy favorite of mine! 🙂 (And I favorited the I (heart) Sewing hoop! 🙂 )
I’m following both of you on twitter now! (I was already following you, but now I’m following Anna as well! 🙂 )
I tweeted! 🙂 ( @wendaybird )
i love the Valentine’s Day Quilted Text!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66194134/sale-valentines-day-edition-quilted-text
What a cute shop! My fav is the I heart sewing hoop art!
Tweeted! (@piperpost)
Love the childs name pillows. Those would be perfect for my boys’ rooms!
I heart her Etsy shop
I follow you both on Twitter.
…and I am now a follower of her blog 🙂 I have no idea why I wasn’t following before, as I have been a big fan of her shop for a while now!
I love the bible verse pillows.
I follow Anna’s blog
I follow both of you on Twitter.
I heart her on Etsy.
I tweeted.
My fave item is the Valentine pillow.
I follow Sandy on twitter.
I’ve tweeted the giveaway.
I absolutely love the children’s names on the pillows with scripture! How awesome!
Following Anna’s blog!
folllowing you both on twitter! @kbberger
tweeted 🙂 @kbberger
hearted her shop on etsy!
Love the patchwork coffee sleves!
oOO I love the coffee sleeve!
already her follower and of our course urs!
tweeted!!!
already follower of twitter
I love the bunting flag mug rugs!
I heart her shop! (yesteacher)
I follow her blog 🙂
I follow you both on twitter (@yes_teacher)
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/yes_teacher/status/40814582473822208
Quilted Scripture Pillow – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – LOVE THIS!
I follow the Joy Cottage on GFC.
I follow both of you on twitter (@channynn).
http://twitter.com/channynn/statuses/40851678118940672
I think the Mug Rugs are sooo cute!! Everything is cute! I follow your blog.
I follow your blog using google!
I added the etsy shop to my favorites!
I follow both on Twitter!
I tweeted about this giveaway!
I love these pillows:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67656545/childs-name-and-scripture-verse-custom
SO CUTE!!!
I also heart her etsy shop!
New follower of you both on Twitter! 🙂 Love the mug rugs, so unique & fun.
Cute! I love her camera straps! 🙂
I follow you both on Twitter. 🙂
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/justhope17/status/40918628140466176
My favorite is the “moms can do all things…” hoop art!
And I’m a follower of her blog!
and her shop has been one of my “hearted” etsy shops for a little while now 🙂
The “I Heart Sewing” hoop art is my favorite. 🙂
I’m following Anna’s blog.
I follow you both on twitter. (@SingNightingale)
I tweeted the giveaway. (@SingNightingale)
I blogged about the giveaway. http://sweetnightingalesing.blogspot.com/2011/02/for-love-of-joy-giveaway.html
I love the bunting flag pillow!
I follow via GFC!
I am loving the coffee sleeves!!!!
I heart For the love of Joy on Etsy!
I follow you both on Twitter @SheLikesRuffles
I tweeted – http://twitter.com/#!/SheLikesRuffles/status/41247324038635520
I am crazy about the camera straps!
I follow you both on twitter!
Love the camera straps and pillows! I happen to need one for my new camera!
I favorited (is that a verb?) Anna’s shop on etsy.
would LOVE a camera strap!
I love the personalized scripture pillow!
I follow both of you on twitter.
I “heart” her on Etsy!
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/sospig/status/41690799527698432
I love the quilted scripture pillow, it is wonderful!
sunshine
Congratulations, sunshine
You are now following The Joy Cottage
Heart (add to favorites) For The Love Of Joy on etsy
Follow @sandyalamode and @thejoycottage on twitter
autumnsunshine Jenn Wells
{NEW GIVEAWAY} Need a new mug rug, coffee sleeve, or pillow? Win $30 credit to @thejoycottage’s shop on @sandyalamode! http://bit.ly/h0tZhf
I love the patchwork pin cushion!
marija.majerle at gmail dot com
following Anna’s blog via GFC
marija.majerle at gmail dot com
following both on twitter @mrsclutterbuck
marija.majerle at gmail dot com
I love the pillow with the bunting pattern! Too cute!
the quilted text pillow – joy is my favorite
I love the camera strap sleeves. I follow your blog through GFC as sandyandcosmo. Thanks for the giveaway!
The coffee holders are very cute!!
Big fan of the camera straps!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67617052/camera-strap-sleeve
Google Friend Connect!
Tweeted! @iamashleyk
Following on twitter!
I love the personalized pillows.
I love your blog! The graphics and color scheme are really cute… love love love.
I would have to say my fave item is the little hoop art about moms… my mom is a Christian and loves handmade things and I think she would really enjoy that.
Alyssa
alyon006@odu.edu
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rebelbellevintage
My favourite item is Moms Can Do All Things Hoop Art! *.*
lilibang008@gmail.com
2. I’m a Google Friend Connect follower of Anna’s blog
I shared this post on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/methamphetamine707?ref=ts#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=179900655388309&id=1668740197
lilibang008@gmail.com
GFC follower of Sandy a la Mode – Goga
I love the Camera Strap Sleeve!
gogunia3(at)wp(dot)pl
GFC follower of Anna’s blog – Goga
gogunia3(at)wp(dot)pl
Follow @sandyalamode and @thejoycottage on twitter (@Kaziutka)
gogunia3(at)wp(dot)pl
tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/Kaziutka/status/42569015222218752
gogunia3(at)wp(dot)pl
I am in love with Quilted Patchwork Pillow. Supercute x
titina.b@seznam.cz
Love the camera strap sleeves!
check out the giveaway going on at my blog! http://www.randomnessfromtheaddiecorner.blogspot.com
adelyn
noble1ofgod@gmail.com
not sure what’s going on with my last comment. weird.