Monday, September 12, 2011

goodbyebluemonday Feature and Giveaway! ~CLOSED~

What better way to start your week then with a giveaway?! I am so happy to have Erin & Shoshana here from goodbyebluemonday, for an interview and giveaway. Goodbyebluemonday is an Etsy shop specializing in adorable handmade cloth dolls and fun hand knit toys. If you haven't heard of their shop yet, then you're in for a real treat :) Just check out how sweet these ladies are and how AWESOME their dolls are....




So who are Erin & Shoshana? Tell us about the ladies behind these adorable dolls!


Shoshana is a librarian in Los Altos, Ca. who enjoys creating all kinds of cute and cuddly knitted goodies, her most popular being her cupcakes, bombs and extensive line of grenades. Shoshana loves vintage fashion and all things "booky".
Erin is a dollmaker, artist and mother of two. her hobbies include obsessively searching for and aquiring new music, and attempting to fix things that would generally require the knowlege and skill of a trained professional.

                     What inspired y'all to open a shop together and start selling dolls and knitted toys?


We have been friends since 2006, our husbands worked together and we were neighbors as well. We have a lot of common interests, the most pertinent being our love for making things. Whenever we hung out, we would  always be working on something, so, we figured, why not see if other people might enjoy our items as much as we enjoyed making them. We chose ETSY because of the wonderful community it provides, and the freedom it allows us to make and sell whatever we want, whenever. We work independently

from one another, but  the differences in our work provides our customers with an interesting and well balanced dual perspective.

Nora - handmade cloth doll with linen bow 
Nora

                          What is your creative process when it comes to designing then sewing your dolls?


 Erin: The ispiration for my dolls come from a whole host of things, like, a much admired fabric print, art (I especially love children's book ilustrations), or even a current trend that has caught my eye.
Usually I'll start with drawing. I'll sketch a bunch until i come to something I really like, then I draw out a formal design. Once that's done, the rest of the process goes pretty quickly, because I can't wait to see what the end product will look like.

 Lewis - Large, 28" cloth doll
           ok, i love your hand grenade knitted toys! Are they an original design? Is there a fun backstory to   these pretties?

 Shoshana: I was inspired by a favorite Threadless tshirt featuring happy- faced  weapons in the design. Originally, I designed the grenade and bomb with that in mind, then decided that the grenades actually look better without the happy faces.  i kind of like combining cute with edgy,  and am often drawn to the juxtaposition between an actual grenade (cold, hard, violent) and the knit one (cute, soft, cuddly). 


Fuzzy Grenade Monochrome Series
       Your plush clouds are oh so dreamy- do you plan on extending that line or are they meant to be 
a minor role to your customizable dolls?
Yes, the clouds are ever evolving! Our most recent addition, Mr. Nimbus, has drawn quite a response, so we plan to further develop his persona. After all, he can't very well hang out in flip flops and cutoffs forever! he is a complex fellow,with a multi-faceted personality. I think, next, we might explore his more "dapper" side...


Mr. Nimbus
Mr. Nimbus

Can you give us a peek into your sewing/creating room? Perhaps at a current project as well


 Erin: My studio is in my home. We live in the mountains of Santa Cruz, CA. Whenever I get bored or frustrated with work, I get to stare out my window at some Redwood trees. It's lovely.

 The space is small, but quite orderly, mostly thanks to my amazing assistant Dru (who is also Shoshana's husband). There are many stacks of fabric and felt, children's drawings up all over the walls, and almost always some music playing.
 As far as current projects go, we keep a special box for up and coming dolls. In it you will find random legs, half completed dresses and bodies, heads adorned with still pending hair designs... This box gives one the impression that some sort of doll massacre has occured; it's pretty grisly.


Ellie - handmade cloth doll



 And one last question, how do you come up with the doll names? I think my daughters' names, 
   Evelyn & Flora would make adorable doll names *hint hint* wouldn't you agree? 

 Erin: Yes, I would agree, in fact, we already have a Flora in the shop!

I really love names with a classic, or old fashioned feel to them. But it isn't really until I am setting up a new listing for the shop, that I make a decision on the name. I tend to just stare at a short-list of possible names, until one finally stands out as a winner, or until I give up, and instead, go the "eeny meeny miny mo" route.


Flora - handmade cloth doll with linen bow
Flora


Thank you Erin and Shoshanna for answering all my questions :) 


These ladies from goodbyebluemonday are generously giving away a Daisy doll to one lucky reader!


Daisy - handmade cloth doll with linen bow


Daisy - handmade cloth doll with linen bow


This sweet doll can be yours!



How to enter: 

1. Become a public follower of the Urchin Knits blog via Google Friend Connect

2. visit goodbyebluemonday and add their shop to your favorites

3.Once you complete these two steps, leave one comment below telling me what your favorite
item from their shop is- leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!


For extra entries:


-Follow me on Twitter

-Tweet about this giveaway mentioning @URCHINknits

-Follow goodbyebluemonday on twitter



(Be sure to leave a comment for each extra entry in order for it to count! )


*The giveaway closes on Monday the 19th at 7am pacific time*


UPDATE: Please read the 'How to Enter' carefully! Only post ONE comment confirming you are a follower,that you favorited their shop, and what your favorite item is. DO NOT leave a separate comment for each. Only leave a separate comment for each extra entry. THANK YOU!
 *all invalid comments (commenters who are not followers, or extra mandatory comments -3 comments when only one should have been left- will be deleted before the winner is chosen by Random.org*

85 comments:

  1. Good Morning, what a lovely interview. My favorite item from goodbyebluemonday's etsy shop is that cute, fuzzy cordelia caterpillar.
    -mommee45kidz@aol.com

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  2. wow!!!! I love their work!
    My favorite is Mr Nimbus!!

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  3. I'm following goodbyebluemonday on twitter:)
    -mommee45kidz@aol.com

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  4. I'm also following folklureboutique on twitter.
    -mommee45kidz@aol.com

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  5. I tweeted about your awesome give away this morning!!
    -mommee45kidz@aol.com

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  6. I'm following you and favourited them!
    The Lewis doll is my favourite--it's hard to find 'boy' dolls and I LOVE his hair.

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  7. Now following your blog! :)

    My favorite item from the shop would be Penny the adorable dolly... :)
    (and I added the shop to my favorites)

    Modern Buttercup on Etsy
    modernbuttercup.blogspot.com/

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  8. I like Anna the best!

    Jamieadkins@mail.com

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  9. I follow via GFC as Debbie (CrippleHorse), hearted their shop and my favourite is the

    DESPINA
    deb_oro@yahoo.gr

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  10. I'm your newest follower & added goodbyebluemonday to my etsy favourites! I simply adore Coco... what a lovely shop... so talented.

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  11. I follow your bog, added goodbywbluemonday to my favorites and my favorite item from her shop is Coco because of her bright red bow!

    geminicalli@yahoo.com

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  12. gfc follower
    gustosa heart goodbyebluemonday on etsy
    i like the Hug A Cloud in pink and gray

    gustosagiveaways atymaildotcom

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  13. @gustosagiveaway following @Folklure_ on twitter
    gustosagiveaways atymaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  14. @gustosagiveaway following @gbyebluemonday on twitter
    gustosagiveaways atymaildotcom

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  15. tweet
    https://twitter.com/#!/gustosagiveaway/status/113418167375769601
    gustosagiveaways atymaildotcom

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  16. Hi! I've done the two mandatory steps, and I have to say, what a special, unique shop! My favorite item is by far the "I Heart You Cupcake", as I adore all things cupcakes :) They're my special weakness!!!
    Thanks for entering me!

    tracksaloquin@yahoo.com

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  17. I am a public follower Folklure on GFC under Morgan! I added goodbyebluemonday to my Etsy favorites, and my username is sweetsweetmorgan. My absolute favorite thing in the etsy is Mr. Nimbus, the cloud doll! He is too awesome for words! My email is mtaggart4852@gmail.com

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  18. I am following you on Twitter udner @MorganTaggart, my email is mtaggart4852@gmail.com

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  19. I am also following goodbyebluemonday on twitter under @MorganTaggart! My email is mtaggart4852@gmail.com

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  20. Oh I love dolls - I have quite the little collection! I even have a blog post showcasing part of my doll collection! These are such adorable dolls - lovely work ladies! I also enjoy knitting and doll making! I am almost done with my first two dolls. I love Beatrice - she is Definitely my favorite! (hearted her!)Keeping the shop on watch!

    They are now in my favorite shops!
    GFC follower pabkins
    email tlabunski **((gmail))**
    following on @folklure_ and @gbyebluemondaytwitter as @pabkins
    Tweeted here http://twitter.com/#!/Pabkins/status/113473972271710208

    I found you on etsygiveaways because I had posted a giveaway up there for my sister - check out her giveaway a cute zombie plush bunny! http://rinnisplayground.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-giveaway-handmade-zombie-plush.html

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  21. I am a follower of folklure
    butterflyanla6318@gmail(dot)com

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  22. GFC: jc
    Shop added to Etsy favorites: jcloh

    Favorite Item: The so cuddly Hug A Cloud in Pink and Gray

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/65710493/hug-a-cloud-in-pink-and-gray

    Thanks for the lovely giveaway, love the doll to bits, reminds me so much of the fabric dolls my mom used to make when we were kids.

    yumihamano@gmail.com

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  23. My favorite doll is Coco! They are all so cute though <3

    GFC = Katharyn
    etsy fave= mrscupcakeman
    I follow both twitters!= mrscupcakeman
    tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/mrscupcakeman/status/113506617961619456

    katvela12345 At hotmail.com

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  24. Wonderful dolls with so much character!
    I am a GFC follower.

    My email is in my blogger profile.

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  25. I am following you on twitter.
    @kanelstrand

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  26. And I am following Erin and Shosana as well!

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  27. Wowzers! Look at all your entries!
    Here goes nothing! -
    I favorited tthe shop on Etsy
    I already follow you via GFC!
    I kinda love Beatrice. She's my fave!
    sewsavoirfairecreations (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I follow Folklure on GFC as sirentattoo!
    Dagmar B.
    sirentattoo at hotmail.com

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  29. follow you on twitter!
    Dagmar (@sirentattoo)
    sirentattoo at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. tweeted!
    http://twitter.com/#!/sirentattoo/status/113649918106804225

    Dagmar B.
    sirentattoo at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. follow BlueMonday on twitter
    Dagmar (@sirentattoo)
    sirentattoo at hotmail.com

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  32. I follow your blog and hearted this sweet shop (etsy username: chickadeechickadee)!
    My favorite item in the shop is the Anna ballerina doll--my oldest is totally obsessed with all things ballet!

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  33. I follow you on twitter. chickadeechicka

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  34. I follow goodbyebluemonday on twitter. chickadeechicka
    (email in profile)

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  35. I tweeted about this giveaway:
    http://twitter.com/#!/chickadeechicka/status/113783287339679744

    ReplyDelete
  36. My favorite item is Anna the ballerina doll.
    Etsy sn:wiccankitty89

    saulpaugh.chelsea(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Following you on twitter. @csaulpaugh89
    saulpaugh.chelsea(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Tweeted.
    http://twitter.com/#!/csaulpaugh89/status/113856258121011200

    saulpaugh.chelsea(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Following goodbyebluemonday on twitter. @csaulpaugh89

    saulpaugh.chelsea(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Added to my Favourites on Etsy: Hand2HeartSA
    And following: Adri

    My favourite has to be Poppy...
    hand2heartsa(at)gmail(dot)com

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  41. Dominique...

    My favorite items are Flora and the Happy Bomb.

    GFC: Dominique
    Etsy: Codipher (goodbyebluemonday hearted)

    couponcookie at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Dominique...

    I follow you on Twitter: @laylees

    couponcookie at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Dominique...

    I follow goodbyebluemonday on Twitter: @laylees

    couponcookie at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Dominique....

    Tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/#!/laylees/status/113873776160161792

    couponcookie at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I follow your blog via GFC

    I hearted Good Bye Blue Mondays Etsy shop

    My favorite item in the shop is Coco
    http://www.etsy.com/listing/65715591/coco-handmade-cloth-doll-with-felt-heart

    LLMG1960 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Tweeted

    https://twitter.com/#!/LLMG1960/status/113918040088915968https://twitter.com/#!/LLMG1960/status/113918040088915968

    ReplyDelete
  47. Yay! What a sweet giveaway!
    I am a follower of course, and already loved goodbyebluemonday's hug a cloud (seriously would love one for the baby space nursery makeover!!)and have marked them as a fave on etsy.

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  48. And am also following you on twitter. (tweet!)

    ReplyDelete
  49. like Edith
    blog follower via GFC

    anna_k67 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  50. following @gbyebluemonday on twitter-annakul

    ReplyDelete
  51. http://twitter.com/AnnaKul/status/113946150427566080

    anna_k67 at yahoo dot com

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  52. This is a cute giveaway!

    I love the coco doll! and im a follower!

    larissabree at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  53. follow goodbyebluemonday on twitter too!

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  54. I'm a follower. ;) Already favorited their shop awhile back, sooo cute!
    My fav is Flora because I love the colors: http://www.etsy.com/listing/68638524/flora-handmade-cloth-doll-with-linen-bow

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  55. I'm one of your twitter followers. :)

    ReplyDelete
  56. I follow goodbyebluemonday on twitter as Calliandras.

    geminicalli@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I follow urchinknits on twitter as Calliandras.
    geminicalli@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I'm a GFC follower! Thanks for the great giveaway! My favorite is Ellie.

    walindeman@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I follow GFC. I added goodbyebluemonday to my favorites (penelope plum).

    My favorite doll is Coco.

    nordstromemily at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  60. I follow on GFC and I also "hearted" goodbyebluemonday on etsy (MadeWithLoveByLaRynn).

    KarisaTomkinson{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  61. public follower of the Folklure blog via Google Friend Connect

    Cindy Ray

    green_eyed_princesss at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  62. I follow on twitter
    @iceequeen81

    green_eyed_princesss at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  63. I tweeted

    http://twitter.com/#!/iceequeen81/status/115163310088929280

    green_eyed_princesss at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  64. I Follow goodbyebluemonday on twitter
    @iceequeen81

    green_eyed_princesss at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  65. i follow (mamipdx) and hearted on etsy (maestramami)
    shen
    divertida AT fastmail dot fm

    ReplyDelete
  66. i twitter follow you @mamipdx
    shen
    divertida AT fastmail dot fm

    ReplyDelete
  67. i twitter follow goodbyebluemonday @mamipdx
    shen
    divertida AT fastmail dot fm

    ReplyDelete
  68. i tweeted @mamipdx
    shen
    divertida AT fastmail dot fm

    ReplyDelete
  69. GFC: Sarah Crawford
    Etsy: SarahEC

    My favorite item is Coco - handmade cloth doll with felt heart. She's so cute!

    sarahandmike@hellokitty.com

    ReplyDelete
  70. Follow Urchinknits on Twitter: @sarahcrawford14

    sarahandmike@hellokitty.com

    ReplyDelete
  71. Follow goodbyebluemonday on twitter: @sarahcrawford14

    sarahandmike@hellokitty.com

    ReplyDelete
  72. Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/sarahcrawford14/status/115494556081995779

    sarahandmike@hellokitty.com

    ReplyDelete
  73. Follow you via GFC and added goodbyebluemonday to my faves on etsy as nikxmarie. I love all of the adorable little cloud dolls, especially the hug a cloud doll in pink and grey.

    ReplyDelete
  74. I follow you on Twitter as @coakleynicole

    ReplyDelete
  75. I tweeted the giveaway here: http://twitter.com/#!/coakleynicole/status/115600915372838913

    ReplyDelete
  76. I follow goodbyebluemonday on twitter as @coakleynicole

    ReplyDelete
  77. I became a public follower of your blog via Google Friend Connect! (ksyshenka)

    I visited goodbyebluemonday and added their sweet shop to my favorites! (oksana2372)

    I adore Ellie - handmade cloth doll! http://www.etsy.com/listing/62581803/ellie-handmade-cloth-doll

    Thank you for the chance!

    ksyshenka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  78. Following you on Twitter!

    (@oksana2372)

    ksyshenka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  79. Tweeted:

    https://twitter.com/#!/oksana2372/status/115757479329153024

    (@oksana2372)

    ksyshenka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  80. Following goodbyebluemonday on twitter!

    (@oksana2372)

    ksyshenka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  81. I love CoCo she is so adorable would love to win it for my granddaughter threekiwikids@bigpond.com

    ReplyDelete