The Giveaway is going strong!

Hey y'all - thanks for your wonderful entries to The Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway: Spring has Sprung! You've still got another week to enter, so keep them coming! And, if you've been wondering just what it is you might win, well, here's a SAMPLE of some of the prizes that may be in store for you...

Congratulations AMANDA - you've won the Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway!!

Three cheers to commenter Amanda, who - by random selection - has won our Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway! Amanda told us that this vegan pendant from For the Animals is a great way to help donate to animal causes, this handmade brooch from Dark Fairie will proudly proclaim her veganism, and that she'd love to receive a Pansy Maiden bag for the holidays!

Thanks for your awesome entry Amanda, and thanks to everyone who entered and who supports us the whole year through. We couldn't do it without you!

It's Back: The Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway!

This giveaway is now CLOSED!! Thanks so much to everyone who participated, and keep your eyes peeled for the next one!

***It's the Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway!***

Hello friends! In this season of thanks and giving, we here at the Vegan Etsy Team would like to do some giving of our own... with The Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway! You'll enter by telling us about some of your favorite Vegan Etsy Team shops. If you win, you'll receive a Vegan Etsy Team prize pack full of items hand-crafted by our members! It's been a while since we've done one, and we have some terrific new items from amazing new team members in the prize pack.

So how do you enter? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...

In a comment to this blog post, please:

1. Name a Vegan Etsy Team shop which donates a percentage of its proceeds to an animal cause, and tell us about your favorite item in that shop;

2. Name a Vegan Etsy Team shop which makes items that help you proudly proclaim your veganity to the world, and describe your favorite item in that shop; and

3. Name a Vegan Etsy Team shop which you think has great gifts, and describe an item in that shop that you would like to give (or recieve!).

And now, the fine print...

*You must complete ALL THREE STEPS to qualify for entry!

*Please INCLUDE LINKS to the items that you choose.

*Please make sure we know how to get in touch with you! You can't win if we can't find you. ;)

*You can find Vegan Etsy Team shops by checking out our Etsy Teams Page of Active Members!

*Winners will be chosen by random drawing.

*The giveaway starts NOW and ends at Midnight, Eastern Time, on Sunday December 11th. The winner will be announced on Monday, December 12th right here on this blog!

*As always, blog followers get double entry!

***Good luck, have fun, and Happy Holidays!***

* * * * * *

Example Entry:

1. Melissa Bastian's shop Melissa Bastian donates 10% of proceeds to Imaginary Animal Sanctuary. I love her painting of bunny rabbits because I have bunnies too! http://www.etsy.com/listing/74566476/september-hares-a-tale-of-three-rabbits
2. Melissa Bastian's shop Bright Design would help me show off my veganness with these cute "vegan" pins: http://www.etsy.com/listing/20700819/vegan-pins-show-your-veganity
3. I think Melissa Bastian's shop Libellule is the best gift shop ever, and I would love to receive this sparkly blue necklace: http://www.etsy.com/listing/74586654/on-the-town-some-enchanted-evening-a

Pansy Maiden Giveaway - the Gabrielle Satchel!

Hi all! Check out this amazing giveaway from VET seller Pansy Maiden!

* * *

I wanted to let you guys know about my most amazing giveaway ever! I guess, in a way, that's not saying all that much since I don't do giveaways very often but seriously, this giveaway is sort of in a league of its own. I have paired up with Chloe of GirlieGirl Army to offer one lucky commenter her very own Gabrielle Satchel (a $195 value)!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on the GGA post detailing why you need this bag. Once the contest is over (June 1st, so act fast!), I'm going to ask an "as yet undecided" loved one to pick out his/her favorite comment. I just know I'm not going to be able to pick just one, there are already so many awesome, creative comments! So, I'll just make someone else do it. ;)

I already have a Gabrielle Satchel made, wrapped, packaged and ready to go. Will I be shipping it to you???


Keep Tabs on Us:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PansyMaiden
Blog: http://www.pansymaiden.com/blog

Newsletter: http://www.pansymaiden.com/newsletter

Congrats to Radioactive Vegan - Contest Winner!!

Congratulations to The Radioactive Vegan, winner (by random drawing) of our most recent contest. She will be receiving a handmade pin by Neva, a postcard and magnet of Neva's design, and an assortment of other little goodies from the Vegan Etsy Team!

Thanks for the entries everyone! Keep your eyes peeled for our next giveaway toward the end of the month, when we'll have some truly excellent produce bags from the VET's Johnson Family Zoo!!

A Giving Heart: NevaA Special Valentine's Artist Story and Giveaway!

Meet Neva - longtime Vegan Etsy Team member, artist, and devoted animal advocate. First, read her moving story. Then, find out how to WIN an adorable prize pack of items from her shop!

Words from the artist:

I've long been active in animal rights, veganism, and animal rescue. I've also been painting, drawing, sewing and creating all kinds of crafts for as long as I can remember. I like to make items celebrating the beauty of nature and animals. I now have two Etsy shops: my original shop, Neva Jewelry and Design, and my second shop, a side project for tiny plush cats called Camp Kittens.

My latest rescue efforts have centered around stray, feral, and abandoned cats in my neighborhood. My husband Sean and I moved into this neighborhood and soon discovered that approximately 60 cats were living on the grounds of the local elementary school, and new colonies were spreading out around the neighborhood as the cats got too crowded. Many neighbors didn't like the cats, and our first involvement was finding some of the cats dying from being poisoned - we rushed them to the emergency vet though it was too late to save them.

We have now spayed/neutered and vaccinated approximately 45 cats and returned to them to the neighborhood. We've received help from some neighbors, so now the cats live in various yards and shelters with a much more manageable number living at the school. We've removed and found homes for about 22 cats who were tame or were kittens. Unfortunately, a few cats were extremely ill and had to be euthanized.

One thing I found through doing a TNR (trap, neuter, return) program on this scale was that some people weren't supportive because they didn't understand its goals. So when I explained to these neighbors that if I was successful, then 1) no new kittens would be born into the colony, 2) the number of cats would immediately decrease as I sought homes for tame cats and kittens, and 3) all remaining cats would be vaccinated against disease, people became very open to the effort. I still sometimes have neighbors stop and thank me as they drive by while I'm walking my dogs.

When we initially began this project, I went out every single day to feed the cats at the school as well as another few cats who made their home bases elsewhere. Now more neighbors have taken on feeding cats, and there are just fewer cats around. Four of the once feral cats, Deedee, Leelee, Pookie, and Apollo, now live inside with us. Deedee was hit by a car and severely injured, and had to stay inside during her long recovery. She was deeply bonded to her mother, Leelee, so I brought her inside to keep Deedee company. Pookie is older and is now deeply attached to our dogs. In addition, after Apollo was adopted but returned to us for misbehavior, he also stayed in our home. He has a great deal of energy and really needs to be with our two boys Liam and Obi so he can get the rough play out of his system every day.

One of my main goals for my Etsy shops is to help finance my rescue efforts, but I also hope to raise money for donations to some of my favorite charities. For example, I did a pre-Christmas fundraiser for Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. Because I work full time and have an autoimmune disease, I don't always get as many things listed in my Etsy shops as I might like to. But creative work is also my therapy in a way. It's something joyful and fulfilling when sometimes rescues don't go as I planned and the evening news is full of sorrow.

I've been vegan for about 16 years now, after having been vegetarian since high school. I love being vegan, I love to cook, and I love to eat (a little too much). Being vegan is the ideal diet for my autoimmune condition as animal fats and the hormones in animal products fuel inflammation. However, the real reason I'm vegan is because of my love for animals. I can't love them as much as I do and wear pieces of them or eat them. I've never once regretted the decision to be vegan, though even so sometimes knowing the kind of pain animals go through can be heart-wrenching.

I grew up in a family that essentially ate a big slab of meat, an over-cooked vegetable and some kind of starch at every meal. When I look at the colorful rainbows of vegetables I eat now, and the different cuisines I've tried from all over the world, and as I appreciate the subtle flavors of fresh herbs and spices, I can't imagine why anyone would find a vegan diet limiting. Being vegan has expanded my palate and made me appreciate a much greater variety of flavors and textures.

And now, for the giveaway! In order to enter, you must do ALL of the following:

• mark one or both of Neva's shops as a "favorite" on Etsy
• follow this blog
• leave a comment telling us why you like Neva's story and art, and how you've entered!

What you'll win:

• A prize pack including a postcard and a magnet featuring Neva'a art, a one-of-a-kind handmade pin crafted by Neva, AND a few little goodies from the Vegan Etsy Team!

Entry Deadline:

• Entries must be made by February 28, 2011. One lucky winner will be announced in the beginning of March!

Good luck to all, and Happy Valentine's Day!

VET Giveaway on VegWeb.com!!

Do you dream of winning a Vegan Etsy Team grab bag? Well now's your chance! This week's VegWeb Weekly Giveaway boasts a prize of just that - a prize pack jammed full of VET goodies. For a chance to win, you must enter by Midnight on Tuesday 12/21, so hurry!!

And the winner is...

Vegan Soap Kitchen!! Congratulations on winning the November Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway!! You will soon receive your prize package of goodies from various VET members!

Thanks once again to everyone for your wonderful entries. It was great to see the wide range of reasons that inspire people to become and stay vegan - there are so many of them!

We'll have another giveaway soon, and of course we post frequently with many other interesting features and team happenings, so check back often!

Just a few days left...

to enter our current Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway! Get those last-minute entries in folks!

Starrlight Jewelery teams up with CypherLOX for a Halloween Giveaway!

This giveaway may rock your world. Whether you're polishing up your nightly wardrobe, or just looking for the right pieces for this year's costume, the time is NOW.

The VET's very own Starrlight Jewelry has teamed up with the radical CypherLox for a Halloween Giveaway - and with three fabulous tiers of prizes, no less! There are numerous ways to enter, including fanning on Facebook, submitting customer appreciation photos, and of course placing orders! So don't forget, purchases with Starr's shops benefit Starrlight Cat Sanctuary. Get the full contest details here - and good luck!

Vegan Etsy Team Grab Bag Giveaway on VegWeb.com!

That's right! For this week's Weekly Giveaway, VegWeb is offering up a Vegan Etsy grab bag. And it's super easy to enter! But you'd better do it soon, because you've only got until Tuesday the 24th! So hop on over to VegWeb.com right this moment...!!!

Win a Vegan Craft Sample Bag- 2 ways to win! Giveaway on vegan etsy

Just posted a new giveaway on our facebook page this morning, all you have to do is tell us what your favorite vegan food is!
Yep its that simple, favorite vegan food and you are entered to win a vegan craft sample bag!

Only a couple of days left to enter our other giveaway for a free vegan craft sample bag, we need a design for our bags, yep thats right...check out our blog for details!

Heck, if you dont feel like trying your chances with a giveaway, swing on over to our etsy shop lickety split to grab one of the few sample bags left!

The Coma Girl Giveaway!

The Coma Girls Designs is having another giveaway on her blog! Just go here to leave a comment for your chance to win. The giveaway closes on July 4th. Good luck!

The Coma Girl is Giving It Away (again)!

The Coma Girl Designs is having another handmade vegan giveaway on her blog. Go here to enter to win the above hair clip from Cards & Jewelry by Michele. The giveaway closes on June 29th and all you need to do to enter is comment on her blog post. Good luck!

Peaceful Prairie will receive 100% of sales

Peaceful prairie has been voted for on our blog to receive 100% of profits from the vegan craft sample bags coming out in August!! We decided to donate 100% of profits instead of the original 10%.

We have also chosen our new name and the person who came up with that name will receive a free vegan craft sample bag!

The winner is one of our very own Vegan Etsy Team Members....
Midnight Rabbits
The new name is "It's all in the bag" and the new blog name is "It's all in the blog"
thanks to everyone who entered!

Here are some upcoming events, if you are interested in signing up please get in touch!

Vegan Craft Sample Bags-August bags- 100% of profits to Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary
we are still looking for vegan crafts for our new bag, your entire shop doesnt have to be vegan but your samples do! Many people send in small samples of their craft, along with a coupon to entice buyers to their shop! You can check us out and sign up on our website Vegan Craft Samples

Syracuse Veg Fest 2009- is coming up in September
I will be tabling at this event, selling the craft sample bags, and also I am putting together little vegan etsy team promotion bags, free to everyone who comes to our table.
Please if you want to be in these little bags, I am looking for business cards, small small samples, and Vegan Etsy Team promotional items.

You can get in touch if you have questions about either of these things by emailing me at ecosampler@yahoo.com

The Coma Girl is Giving It Away!

Melanie of The Coma Girl Designs and Doolang Doolang Boutique just started her first of several vegan giveaways on her blog. This first giveaway is for two prints from My Zoetrope and to enter, all you have to do is comment on her blog post right here. Super easy, right? The giveaway will end on June 14, but there will be more to follow after that, so make sure to stay tuned to her blog!