Monday, 23 November 2009

100th Post - Giveaway Time

Hey Tiger Artwork I created
100 posts! Woo-hoo! Cue the brass band and streamers!! Huzzah!

OK, simmer down everyone, I know you're all over-excited by this awesome news. What do you mean, you did 100 posts in less than a year, and you're underwhelmed that it's taken me about 18 months? Speed isn't everything.

Anyway, prepare for more excitement. Oh yeah. Because you're going to have a week of unbearable suspense wondering who will win my blog giveaway!! The winner will have an all-expenses-paid trip to their letterbox to receive a fab parcel of my handmade and vintage goodies!

Handmade, you ask? Why yes, I've been making a few things, and will be making a lot more, I hope. I've been planning to open a new online shop for my handmade, crafty things for months. I wanted a separate shop because I decided 'Kitsch and Curious' didn't really fit my new work. Also, in the past, when I'd tried to put handmade things into my Etsy vintage shop, they were totally ignored. (Possibly wisely...) So I hope a separate shop will have things flying off the shelves.
Magnets created from pages of a Mrs beeton cookery book
Actually, my first shop on Etsy.com was for handmade stuff. It was 'The Dolls Have Eyes'. I didn't really understand how to get the best out of Etsy and I only sold one card. Oh. and someone ordered an altered doll, but never paid for it. Not a great track record, but I still like the name and have a website www.TheDollsHaveEyes.com. Trouble is, nobody else likes it much.

So that experience has made me think hard about a new name. A bit too hard, actually. I have considered hundreds of names. I'm not exaggerating. Everything from Velvet Morning to Midnight Feast, Red Feathers to Grey Squirrel, Peanut Park, Peppermint Carnival, Little Plum, Budgie, Pigeon, Plastic Posy, Curious Mind, Tangerine Art Engine, and...so...on....

I had settled on 'Hey Tiger!', but started to lose confidence (isn't an exclamation mark is a bit showy?), and have now returned to a previous front-runner, 'Nearly Teatime'.
Pincushions created with dolls' china
But now I've totally confused myself, and I need help. I'd love to know what you think. What will fit best? 'Hey Tiger!', 'Nearly Teatime', or something else entirely?

Please leave a comment and your name will be entered into the giveaway draw on the 3rd December. The winner will receive one of my dolly teacup pincushions, a magnet pack, a handmade greetings card, and other little goodies. And as I'm feeling all generous and Christmassy, there will also be a runner-up prize. This is open to everyone, no matter where you are in the world, so I hope I can lure out you lurkers too! Please leave a comment !

67 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wanted to name my daughter "sunny" but people I told felt confused by it because they were thinking "sonny" as in a boys name. I felt the pressure and named her something else and the day after I did that, two people called to ask how "sunny" was doing? I told them I named her Georgia and they said "oh, we were just really getting used to it" or "I decided I really loved sunny",and since then I have regretted not going with the name I originally loved and felt suited her. I think you should go with the name you really like, no matter what you think others will think of it. I think the "hey tiger!" name is great! It is unique and fun. Please enter me in your give away and stop by my blog to enter mine too!

Little Waltz said...

I think I prefer Hey, Tiger! to nearly teatime. Hey, Tiger! Really catches attention as well. so here's one vote for that!

=D

icandy... said...

Oh, I L.O.V.E. Peppermint Carnival!!!! What a wonderful name!
Hey, Tiger is uber cool, too~ they both sound really playful!! :)
Hugs!!!
Christina

Taz said...

I like the name Hey Tiger! but then I do have a perchance for a good exclaimation mark or two! :)
Love the name dollshaveeyes, I think you have a gift for coming up with interesting names ;)

Jodie said...

Wow - your stuff is gorgeous! I'm definitely going to take a look at your Etsy store!

jo so and sew said...

Count me in! Sounds great!

Jodi Wiley said...

They're both great names. Go with your gut, I say! Love your stuff, btw!

Mandy said...

Congrats on your 100 posts! I am glad to see you are getting a better response to your 100 than I did! hahahaha...

I like Hey Tiger! It is catchy & punchy!

The only thing I could come up with as an idea was All Tea-ed Up! Probably won't work but oh well. My brain is fuzzy. So Hey Tiger!

amelieandatticus said...

Hey, Tiger! to nearly teatime!

It's awesome!

Jo said...

Lovely giveaway! Count me in :)

Cathie said...

i love both names but as previous people have said, go with what you feel is right, which name makes you smile a little more ;)

Meg said...

Happy 100 posts! xx

Kathy F. said...

Ooooooo! Lovely blog! I came over from 'dottie angel' after reading your comment about your blog and, yes, give-away!
Anyway, lovely, lovely pics. :)

Becky said...

I have to say 'Hey Tiger!' is perfect - it has wicked style and flare, just like your creations.

Besides- an exclamation mark or two is good for the soul ;-)

Cheers,

Bec

artemisies@gmail.com

Sal said...

Definitely 'Hey Tiger!' as it certainly catches the eye.
Good luck with whichever you choose!
;-)

VintageVicki said...

As a heavy user of exclamation marks, I'd go for Hey!Tiger!

Well done on 100 posts :)

Am thinking my 100 post will be about the same time as my 40th birthday in March, so am already thinking about a giveaway.

Kate said...

I think I am in the minority but I LOVE nearly teatime. happy 100 posts! X

Ngaire said...

Hey Tiger! makes me giggle!

Rie said...

Nearly Teatime - I like it!
As my dad used to say... you call me anything you like, just don't call me late for tea!

carly mary said...

ooo! lovely giveaway!
cute etsy shop too!

miss fancy said...

'The Dolls Have Eyes' is a great name! Congratulations on your 100th post!

Stefanie Galvin said...

I can't really decide between Nearly Teatime and Hey Tiger! They're both such creative names. (And I also have a soft spot for Peppermint Creative, too.) And, might I add, the giveaway is just fantastic. Beautiful work.

atelierlemlem said...

Oh, a difficult choice! But I go for 'nearly teatime'!
mama lieveheersbeestje.

menopausalmusing said...

I'm going for "Hey Tiger"...... loved the image that went with it too........ good luck with it all. In answer to the question re the crochet course: it was at Bristol Folk House :O)

Elaine Prunty said...

i never knew you had a website..i loved it...i have to come back for a better look....it should be on your left hand column there as a link ...bet you'll get loads of visitors...LOVE your teacup pincushions, really clever....and if I don't win i might have to kill myself ...( no, i'm going to buy one anyway) and i love the name velvet morning only because i really love that nancy and lee song .....i agree about going with your gut....inside you KNOW which one you like ....go for it....

Sally said...

Can I bring stagglers - oops I mean toddlers - with me to the letterbox?
My son is obessed with tigers so I'm liking Hey Tiger! & I think the exclaimation mark works. It's all about the intonation.
Good luck :)

the yellow house in the U said...

It has to be Hey Tiger! I had the same problem and had a long list of potential names. And look what I came up with in the end. Perhaps it best not to listen to suggestions...

va said...

Hello , I like the ideas of the names you came up with since they are very creative . The name I thought of that might go with tea is - Whimsical Tea or High Tea
I could definitely help u out with name you might be looking for :)

Thanks for having this giveaway and I'm happy to have found you through Rabbit and Duck's giveaway . How cool !
tumblemumbo(at)gmail(dot)com

carmel said...

i looove your teacup pincutions!
they are soooo cute!!!!!
thanks for the giveaway
i also became a follower
thanks!

SarahBeth said...

You're walking down the street and someone calls out "Hey, Tiger!" wouldn't you stop and take a look? Definitely a catchy name for your shop! And !!!s are our friends! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity - very cute teacup pincushions!

Anonymous said...

I love "Hey, Tiger!" It's spunky. I also love your stuff, and I hope you stick with it!

Smallest Friend said...

I love the name Hey Tiger! It can be anything and I think you won't ever feel boxed in by the name if you decide to take things in a different direction or try something new.
I really understand your pain here. I was so stressed out trying to think of a name for my etsy shop. Then when I thought of Smallest Friend it just clicked into place and I felt so relieved... haha
Good Luck!

Camilla said...

Wow- look how many comments you're getting! I love Hey Tiger! and I also love anything teatime related. And you already know I really like the dolls have eyes, so I guess i'm no use at all am I? love the teacup pin cushions!

Allison said...

Thanx for the giveaway. I think Hey Tiger! has more possibilities and it's snappy! Happy 100th

Anonymous said...

I'm going to jump on the Hey Tiger! bandwagon and say that, even though I do love the teatime pincushions. Tigers drink tea though, right?

Kaye Prince said...

I really like Nearly Teatime actually as apposed to Hey Tiger! Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway! I've also posted a giveaway on Pip's blog - stop by and enter if you haven't done so already!

Violetmist said...

I love Hey Tiger, of to have a look at your other stuff.

pepper said...

i really love hey tiger, but i think nearly teatime fits better with vintage bits and pieces. Either way, great names!
fingers crossed
x Pepper

Vic said...

I think "Nearly teatime" is ADORABLE, it's sweet & cute & captures the product, me thinks.

PJ said...

It depends on what vibe you want. I think Hey, Tiger! is hip and sounds excitable (definitely go with the exclamation mark). Nearly Teatime gives me warm happy feelings, but not so nearly as exciting ones as Hey, Tiger! I hope you aren't even more confused by everyone's comments!

Jacquie said...

I do like "Nearly Teatime"

Your work is lovely lovely!

jrodemann@hotmail.com

Vanessa said...

I think I like Nearly Teatime... but that might be just because I love tea. Cute pincushions!

Gill said...

not hey tiger! i'm an archers fan and that's lilian's name for matt!!
gill

Deb (Two Cheeky Monkeys) said...

Congratulations on 100 posts! I like the name "nearly teatime", it just has a more vintage-y feel to me. I absolutely love vintage things and am finding your pincushions so adorably sweet.

TK said...

OOh, I have those exact magnets in the picture.

I like Nearly Teatime but that would probably better suit the pretty things you make and not the sassy ones so much (probably the wrong adjectives but you know what I mean).

Is Hey Tiger a more flirty version of Hello Kitty?

For the record, I love the Dolls Have Eyes.

I had huge trouble coming up with a name for my blog as every time I thought of something good, I found it was taken.

Kitsch and Curious said...

For the record. TK, I must point out that you don't have 'those exact magnets', as each one is unique!!!
I gave you some similar magnets.

And for that reason, I might just exclude you from the giveaway!

Thanks for your comments, everyone!

Dolly said...

hello, just found your blog - i'm excited!

hows about 'tiger teatime'?

or 'tiger teatime!'

do i win a coconut? ;) x

yoborobo said...

I know I said "Nearly Teatime" on flickr, but I think I like "Hey Tiger" almost as much. God with your gut! :) Love to be entered in your giveaway. Pam

mazspazz said...

My vote is for 'Hey Tiger', it's a cute name but not too cute...know what I mean?
Congrats on the 100th posting too!

Hat said...

Nearly Teatime is kind of more relaxing, and makes me think of blankets and sewing and cake whereas Hey Tiger! makes me think of inappropriate familiarity in the workplace...so my vote is with Nearly Teatime.

flowerpress said...

Nearly teatime for sure! It conjures up lovely images of afternoon sun setting and a beautiful tea tray.

Anonymous said...

I would like oh so very much to be entered in your giveaway! please. and thank you.

Laura said...

hey tiger! is a great name :) yay

Bumble Bee Cottage said...

What about ‘Altered Existence’ or something along those lines? Congratulations on your big 100 – I’m comment 54 so there sure are a lot of lurkers out there, you popular little chickee you!

:)

Jess said...

Congratulations on your 100 posts! And thanks for the great giveaway :)

Lyn said...

beautiful beautiful beautiful! what a wonderful giveaway, thank you. I am following your lovely blog now too x

Digital Misfit said...

I think that Hey Tiger! is a great name - very fun and catchy. Don't be afraid to be showy. Etsy is a huge venue, and a bold name is something people will remember.

hugs,
Heidi
heidig@gmail.com

Jennie said...

A lot of people liking hey tiger, but I prefer nearly teatime myself as I like anything to do with tea and cake and tea and tea and more cake and a bit of tea. Then again I love dollshaveyes. Because I love dolls...but some people don't and are scared of them (?)
Anyway I am sure you'll decide and if you are anything like me probably end up making an entirely different name altogether xxx

Amelia said...

Interesting, yummy, inspiring hand-made things that make me wish I had my time in the day/week/month to make, make, make too, but in the meantime to enter a draw for some of your goodies sounds fabulous!!!

Amelia.x
www.101birdtales.blogspot.com

LOOPI... for you said...

Well, just to TOTALLY confuse you I like Peppermint Park... and Nearly Teatime.
So much pressure!
Good luck.

hello@loopiforyou.com

x

Always Sewing said...

I do think you should go with the name you feel is really you. Because that is what people are going to think of when they think of you. It is kind of your face, since we never really see you in person. I like Peppermint Park... and Nearly Teatime. But go with your heart.

Cindy said...

Hello fellow vintie! Or should I say "Hey Tiger!" ;)

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

Country Cottage Chic said...

'Nearly teatime' is almost all day, so I like that name!

congrats on your 100th post!

Jayne

Madeleine said...

I love tea so nearly teatime seems perfect to me! Thanks for the giveaway and goodluck with the name! :)

misszucchini(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Susana said...

I love "Hey Tiger!". I really like "nearly teatime", too, but it's far less catchy. Congrats on the 100 posts, and here's to another 100!

Desiree said...

I don't know if I am too late to comment or not. But I like nearly teatime. Thank you for the chance to win! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. -dez

simply.simon.sisters[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Resounding vote for Hey, Tiger! It's the kind of name I wish I'd thought of for myself.