Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Come on in, we're OPEN! + a Giveaway

*tinkle tinkle*

Do you hear that? That, my friends, is what I hope you hear as you enter in my shop. Not the white porcelain kind of tinkle, of course ;), but in the form of sweet little bells that welcome you as you open the door to my shop and take your first step inside. 

Awhile back I dropped a hint about something in the works. That something already had a name, even way back then. It was SparrowJoy. And now that I've officially opened shop, I can let you in on the rest of the name:


I've had the fun of being the graphic designer behind a wide variety of printed things in the past few years. Cards, invitations, posters, magazine ads. Promotional material, wedding stationary, magazines. Even a few books! It's been a wonderful way to stay home yet earn a bit of money, as well as being a great way to give of some time and talent to Him who gave it to me. Working with committee's in our church denomination for a project here and there has been a joy! And being able to do that while being home for Tim and Hadassah has been such a blessing.

And then came Etsy. Ever since I discovered this very cool online crafter's marketplace - I've had a little thought dancing around in my head about being one of those 'shop owners'. (for those of you who haven't heard of Etsy, basically it's a marketplace of crafters and designers coming together to sell their goods online - it's fabulous!) One thing I do love to do is come up with cards (Christmas cards, invitations, etc.) and 'diy' art for my home. And with Etsy, now I can share those things with you! For example, Playroom Rules:


Here comes the slightly sheepish part: I'm starting small. Rather small, in fact, as there are only 3 art prints listed in my shop right now! And trust me, this has caused some major stalling on my part. This is me to Tim: "I need lots of prints before I can start a shop, don't I?" or "Not that I'm complaining about getting custom work, but how come it always comes flooding in when I think it's an ideal time to open my Etsy shop leaving me no time to design shop stuff?" or "Tim, what if no one buys anything?" or...the big one..."Tim, I'm scared." 

This is Tim to me: "Just open it." And "Start somewhere. Then build it as you go. No one but you wants it perfect right from the get go." 

Well then.

And so here we are, folks! SparrowJoy Print & Design is up and running. (Eventually it will be) A mix of instant download art prints and customizable cards/invitations. Right now, you'll find a 2 Tim 2:15 print, Playroom Rules and if you want to add a little seasonal art to that 8x10 frame sitting around your home, you'll want to head over to the shop and get my Joy to the World print.


Now comes the part where I need your help! And where the Giveaway comes in! I love designing this stuff, but when the world of quotes/verses/song lyrics/etc is opened up to me, I get overwhelmed. So many great things to put on the wall! Someone help me focus! 

Here's how it works: Leave a comment below with your suggestion(s) for a special text, your favorite saying or the best ever hymn lyrics you'd like to see on your walls. A winner will be picked at random and they will receive TWO prints! First off they'll receive the Joy to the World print right away, to enjoy on their walls (or fridge? or put in a frame and given as a gift to a friend?). And then as soon as I turn their choice of text into an art print and list it on SparrowJoy, they will receive that print for free as well.

Sound good? I thought so! 

So comment away. This giveaway will be open until Monday, Dec 2 at 9pm. I'll announce the winner on Tuesday - check back to see if it's you! (And I hope it is!) 

Update // This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Srrraah! And thank you to all of the participants. 

26 comments:

  1. Congrats on opening up your own Etsy store. Etsy came in very handy when my sister in law was married this summer. Many great items came from there!

    This post made me think of this quote:

    Start Where You Are.
    Use What You Have.
    Do What You Can.

    Something that is important to remember when feeling overwhelmed... although we think "Start where God placed you, use what God gave you, and do what God enables you", but it doesn't have quite the same ring to it ;)

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  2. This is exciting Jen :) I may have *ahem* added you to my favorites a day or two ago :) This may sound silly, but I have been looking for a certain text to hang in our bathroom. It's the most common room in the morning :), and I would love to see Lamentations 3:22b-23 on a print for everyone to see before starting their day.

    "Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness".
    Congrats on the shop!

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  3. Yay! Congratulations :) I understand your fears...but your work is great!

    I would love to see the chorus of "His Eye is on the Sparrow"

    "I sing because I’m happy,
    I sing because I’m free,
    For His eye is on the sparrow,
    And I know He watches me."

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  4. Stacey posted your adventure on face book, so I popped over to take a look! Congrats on opening the Etsy shop :-). Aren't husbands just great? "Just do it" LOL Jake keeps telling me I should sell my stuff online, but I never seem to have enough inventory either.

    I love those wall art pieces. I have several of them, and love reading them in other people's homes. One saying I would LOVE to have some day for my quilting hangout is:

    "Sewing is tea for the soul".

    If you can do something with that, I'll be your first customer :-).

    Jacqui VMS

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  5. How very exciting for you! (: My favourite would be: All is grace.

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  6. So fun, Jen! My pick would be : Always, only, all for Thee.

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  7. Would love to see more of your work!! I'm excited to know someone who can do this so I don't have to keep searching for exactly what I want..lol :)

    This is what I would like to see... and maybe get for my own wall...
    "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord"

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  8. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deut 6:6&7

    P.S. Jeff might be hosting the Etsy show again at Vermeers this spring, if you're interested :)

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  9. 'As for me and my house we will serve the Lord'
    Rachael

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  10. So excited to see you up and running!
    There are lots of great suggestions too.
    I would love to see any of the following:
    1 Cor 13:13 - And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
    OR
    Faith, hope, love
    OR
    Live, Love, Laugh

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  11. P.S.
    Love the new design of your blog :)

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  12. I love your prints! I will be purchasing the Playroom Rules in the near future! :o)
    Is. 40:31
    'But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.'

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  13. I would love to see something with the words of 1 Peter 4:8: "Love each other deeply." This was our wedding text and this part of the verse will always stick with me. Tim did a wonderful job with his message to us.

    Good luck with your shop!
    Amy

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  14. I love this great quote from Spurgeon "Remember this: had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there".

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  15. Very cool Jen! I like music in print - I just made a crosstitch for R's room from the cute kids song 'rise and shine and give God the glory' - Love it!!
    Also 'You can have all this world, just give me Jesus' - love that song too and put it on a canvas photo for our living room.
    Oops - that's two! Couldn't pick :) Hope that helps!
    Lisa VS

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  16. Wow Jen! I am glad you followed Tim's advice and went on ahead and opened shop! I love this kind of thing. I seriously can think of ten or more things I'd love to have hanging on my wall, but that might be a bit much. I have bought two of these type of wall hangings already (though they have yet to be hung!), but somehow being able to pick your own words and have it say JUST what You want! is pretty cool. SOOOOO . . .narrowing it down to just one choice was pretty tough stuff for me. I gave it lots of good thought and decided to go ahead and still list two:) If I happen to be the lucky winner . . .we'll you'll have to choose your favorite:)
    1) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
    2) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
    Fun Giveaway! I had fun reading everyone else's suggestions too! Lots of good stuff out there!

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  17. Lots of good sayings already listed (some I would have picked), but others I like: "With God ALL things are possible!", "Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing, and In all things, Give thanks" I Thes.5:16-18 (combined or separate), or the one I saw at someone's house: "Pardon the mess, we're busy making memories". :) Congrats on opening your shop!! Good for you!
    Jen P.

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  18. Hi Jen,
    I've been stalking your blog for a long time. Now it just so happens that I've just painted our ensuite and the walls are very bare. I have a few ideas for how to fix that and my vision for one wall is a couple prints just like this!
    I haven't decided on the text for both yet, but one of my husband's favourite verses is Psalm 17:15: "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." so I would love to have that one!

    Congratulations on opening your Etsy shop!

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  19. Hi Jen,
    Congratulations! Hope you have lots of fun with this!
    I recently saw this quote on pinterest, and thought it would be great for my daughter's room. Maybe you could have some fun with it?

    I am the daughter of a King who is not moved by the world; for my God is with me and goes before me. I do not fear for I am His.

    I can pass on the link to it on pinterest if you want

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  20. Jen - congratulations on taking this step and opening your own shop. I['m so happy for you! and even though it's small right now, I know it will do well. :)

    For a print (do you know how hard it is to pick one?!) I'd like to see this one (or at least the first part):

    "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

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  21. Ok.. I picked one from one of favorite psalters, " My hand Thou holdest in Thy own to keep me near Thy side" If I win I would love this quote in our nursery :)

    Kristen K

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  22. Okay Jen, there are so many good quotes out there. I have narrowed mine down to three:

    "Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world" Anne of Green Gables

    "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save;
    He will rejoice over you with gladness,
    He will quiet you with His love,
    He will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3:17

    "Expect Great Things from God! Attempt Great Things for God!" - WIlliam Carey

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  23. Wow everyone! Thanks so much for the wonderful suggestions. They're great and I can't wait to give some of these quotes/verses/songs a designing whirl.

    (a couple of friends wanted to enter but couldn't comment, so I'm adding them myself...)

    Arlene would love to see "The Serenity Prayer"

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  24. And Cathy would like to see "He who sings, prays twice. We pray with our heart and voice."

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  25. I was reading my Bible this morning and came across 1 Samuel 1:27. I've probably read it many times before but maybe it really struck me b/c I am brainstorming the decorations for Karter's room and I thought it would be a great verse to have on his wall. Just another idea:)

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