Hello curly folks! We’re keeping my birthday bonanza simple. Here’s what we’ll do.
1) You’ll read about all my awesometastic (a term borrowed from my friend Alicia!) prizes below.
2) You’ll pick the one you want to win and wish for it while…
3)…you leave me a comment with a birthday wish or two! Or even none at all! Really, just leave a period if that’s all you want. I’m easy!
4) On Friday evening, while I’m celebrating at an early birthday happy hour with friends, I’ll ask some of them to draw the winner’s names. It’s as if you’ll really be part of my birthday!
(I’ll be drawing winners and prizes randomly. So cross your fingers on Friday night, Los Angeles time, and maybe your name will match the prize you wished for!)
5) Winners (with pictures!) will be posted Saturday, August 22. I can’t guarantee the time because I don’t know what time I’m going to get up…it IS the weekend, after all! (And hopefully I won’t be TOO hung over!)
So, enough talking. Now, prizes! I chose these because I’d love them as gifts for myself. As much as I love to craft and cook, I hope these inspire you to do the same when you receive them.
1) Sew Easy: The Essential Guide To Getting Started by Linda Lee
…a must-have kit for anyone learning how to sew! It features a 48-page booklet filled with illustrations and diagrams for the beginner. It also contains 12 fun projects cards that offer sewing ideas for fashion and home. A charming booklet outlines the basic principles of sewing and the tools you will need. Then, 12 project cards give you a head start on your very first sewing projects. Start off easy, making simple items such as a placemat, and advance to more skilled designs, like a wrap sklrt. Best of all, the booklet and project cards can be stowed in the kit for no-fuss storage!
2) Hershey’s Keepsake Recipe Box
This classic tin recipe box contains 99 sensational recipes from the test kitchens of Hershey’s. Recipes for cookies, brownies, pies and more! With five section dividers, wonderful food photography and vintage images from classic Hershey’s advertisements.
3) Bake It Pretty’s The Best-Ever Cupcake Icing Kit
This new kit has everything you need to ice the prettiest batch of cupcakes and in record time, too! Custom-assembled through rigorous testing (and tasting), the folks at Bake It Pretty found their four favorite jumbo pastry tips, and put them together with one 14″ professional pastry bag to make a custom icing kit that no baker should be without. Also great for making fake-cupcakes, bath bombs, and other baked treats like meringues, macaroons, and more. Individual pastry tips measure about 2″ long, with a 3/4″ diameter opening. Each set includes : Round Tip, Star Tip, Closed Star Tip, French Tip, one 14″ pastry bag made of lightweight, double-coated polyurethane with a reinforced bottom, stitched border and hanging loop and a glossy 4×6 postcard label with instructions and helpful tips!
4) Namaste Knitting & Crochet Tube
This is my friend Charlie. He bugs me on a daily basis. He has a full arsenal of things that he does as The Daily Thorn In my side: heat up smelly food and have the fumes waft into my office, talk to me in funny voices, stuff like that. But I forgive him for all of that, because he gave me this Knitube from a radio piece he recently did for NPR on the Stitch ‘N Pitch movement (where crafters get together and knit/crochet at baseball games) with Burbank’s Unwind, a knitting and crochet store. (Thank you, too, to his wife Wendy for not wanting the Knitube!) It’s a yoga-bag-like stow-and-go thing to transport your needle art tools, projects and supplies. It has a drawstring that allows you to draw the thread through it and work right from the tube. It has many compartments for all the tools of your trade and a hip interior lining. Pretty AND functional!
P.S. Charlie is very talented. HERE is his website for proof. And watch out for a link to his podcast on Stitch ‘N Pitch when it goes live!
5) My First Coin-Stack Baby Quilt
This project is very special to me. It was from a class I took under Alissa of Handmade By Alissa at the Urban Craft Center in Santa Monica. I don’t just love it for being my very first Coin-Stacked Quilt, not even for the fact that it has all my favorite fabric from my stash. I mostly love it because it isn’t perfect. Because after being told for many years that there are rules to quilting that need to be followed, I was encouraged to make mistakes. And I had fun doing things I was always scared of: not always sewing the straightest lines, not matching my seams, and my blocks don’t even square up! But the whole experience allowed me to grow creatively and to explore beyond tradition (I’ve already signed up for the UCC’s Improvisational Quilt Class in the fall!) I hope whoever receives this is inspired to keep making mistakes, because sometimes, they can inspire you in the most surprising ways.
Alright, ready, set, comment! And good luck, all!
August 17th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Sew Easy and the Quilt are niiiiiice D:
But I guess I’d like the Sew Easy… I wanna leeeaaaarn! hehe
Anyways, Happy Advance Bday to you once again! >:D<
Hope I get to see you when you come over! <3
August 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
That guy is so cute!
August 17th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
advance happy birthday!
i wuv all the choices, especially the sew easy and the recipe tin, but if i really really had to pick only one, then i’d go for the sewing kit. ^.^
i wish that your dream comes true very soon, the opening of your etsy shop! add to that lots of happiness and loving as well.
{{{hugs}}}
August 17th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Wonderful prizes! But even better, you’re having a birthday! I hope your special day is filled with laughter and love. Many wishes for the year to come to be rewarding and refining, ridiculously full of good things.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Happy Birthday! Hope your day is really special. I love, love, love anything from Bake It Pretty and that cupcake kit is awesome! But I am so torn - I need to learn to sew but I LOVE TO EAT CUPCAKES!
August 17th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Happy early birthday!! I just love that you will chose while celebrating with friends, so it’s like we are there with you! I’d love the Bake It Pretty kit!
August 17th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
I LOVE the cake decorating stuff. I’m just starting to get into it and having people ask me to make some for them.
Sew Easy wouldn’t be bad either, since I have my mom’s old sewing machine but haven’t sewn for about 20 years.
August 17th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Happy birthday! I love Bake It Pretty!
August 17th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I would the the icing kit! I’ve been eyeing that baby for awhile now.
Hope you have a great birthday… Live it up!
August 17th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Happy happy birthday to you! I’ve been wanting to take a class at the Urban Craft Center, but I’m nervous that quilting/sewing is going to become a very expensive hobby (thanks to my obsession with designer fabrics!). I’d love to eat some cupcakes in you honor, or brush up on sewing basics just to make sure I’m doing it right
August 17th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
It’s oh so wonderful!
Hrm, I’m going to have to go for the Sew Easy 
curious as to what projects it has in store. Have a fabulously curly birthday honey 
August 17th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
http://www.flickr.com/groups/freshmodernquilts/discuss/72157621908635981/
August 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Happy Happy Day! I’m wishing for the icing kit. What are you wishing for?
August 17th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I would like to sincerely wish you the happiest of birthdays, and may the year ahead be the best you’ve ever had!
I’m particularly interested in the Bake it Pretty best ever icing kit. Because I believe it really is the best ever :O)
August 17th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I’m not hitting you up for any prizes, I just wanted to pop in & wish you a very, very happy bday!
August 17th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Happy Birthday! Your curliness birthday bonanza is very special indeed! Just wanna say Happy birthday to you! Please allow me to wish you all the best in life! God bless you J!
You now how much i’d love to learn sewing however, i don’t think i can do it because of my lack of the machine so, i’ll wish for the recipe tin, that would be very lovely!
August 17th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I love the namaste knitting tube for those days I’m on the side lines watching field hockey!!!
Happy, Happy Birthday to you!
August 17th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
OMG! I want the cupcake icing kit! Err…oopss…I’m supposed to greet you first, am I not? Hehe
Happy birthday, curly genius of a crafter you! Are you going to make your own birthday cake???
August 17th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
the baby quilt! handmade with love by J, the girl with bouncy curls and a bounce in her step
August 17th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Happy, happy birthday J!
I had a hard time choosing among your fabulous prizes, as in! I love both baking and sewing! I guess i’d like that Namaste Knitting & Crochet Tube since it’s something I haven’t tried.
Enjoy your day!
August 17th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I just wanted to say I hope you have a wonderful Birthday!
I’m a big fan of your blog too!!
The Best Ever Cupcake Icing kit book! -totally be my choice!
Enjoy your day!!
August 17th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
wow! wonderful prizes.
happy birthday to you Ms J. i wish you all the best that life could offer. enjoy your birthday!
August 17th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
happy birthday!
August 17th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I forgot to say this: I love that Baby Quilt!
August 17th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Happy Birthday! So glad we were able to see you and E this past weekend.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Happy, happy birthday!
I wish you more happiness and more new recipes to try and post on this blog as I’m really an avid reader!
Oh, I’m envying that Hershey’s Keepsake Recipe Box.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:25 am
How generous of you! W00t! Happy birthday J.!!!
I pick the baby quilt!
I wish you lots of love in your new year of life, that you’ll be able to share more of your crafts and cooking love with others (Etsy store? Bakery? Ooh la la!), good health and good fortune! Hugs!
August 18th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
The icing kit!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
August 18th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Happy birthday to you!
Have an awesome birthday week
August 19th, 2009 at 3:02 am
Great giveaway! I’d like to have Hershey’s recipe box. I’m wishing you good health and that your constant source of joy be nourished. =) Advanced happy birthday!
August 19th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Happy birthday Ms. Curly J!
I hope you have a fab one and may all your dreams come true! xox
August 19th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Happy Birthday TGWAC
I love the recipe kit from Herscheys, but i am commenting from India..so no hope of receiving any of these goodies
Anyway, keep posting the pics and recipes of delicious brownies, pies, puddings and many more.
Cheers!
August 19th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Happy Birthday To YOU!!!!!!!
Have an amazing birthday. My wish for you is……..whewwwwwwwww (that’s me blowing a candle out) I hope my wish comes true!
August 19th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
[...] a birthday bonanza over at Girl With a Curl! Lots of generous prizes up for grabs, so get over there and enter the free giveaway. (One of [...]
August 19th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Happy Birthday! How nice of you to give presents out on your birthday! I would die for the cupcake kit!
August 20th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Happy Happy Happy Birthday! What a lovely idea, to gift others for your day.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:20 am
Happy birthday to you. That icing kid looks delicious. Have fun on your special day.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Happy Birthday! With 28 grandkids, I could make good use of the Best Ever Cupcake icing Kit!
August 20th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I want Sew Easy…sew bad.
I hope you have an awesome birthday. Let’s face it any girl who gives out gifts on her birthday deserves to have the best birthday ever! You are too kind.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:10 am
oooh!! I’ve had my eye on that cupcake set! Happy Happy!
August 20th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Happy Birthday Manang J
I agree with kara’s wish. I wish I could sew stuff so that I can make stuff for Therese. I’d love to win your handmade quilt for her too but then I never really win at raffles so I will just be grateful that I have such a lovely, creative, intelligent and caring cousin like you. I may not have all the luck in the world in terms of winning raffles but I think I got it pretty good having you in my family.
Love you!
August 20th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Happy a great birthday. Hop eyou get EVERYTHING you wish for:) I love, love the bake it pretty prize. It’s almost my birthday oh how i would love to make myself some pretty cute cupcakes:D
August 20th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Happy Bday!
I’ve been a long time lurker and a chance like this is hard to pass. Wink!
Have a new year of your life ahead!
August 20th, 2009 at 3:51 am
Oooo! I’d love the cupcake icing kit, or the knitting tube.
OOo I could knit cupcakes! heheh.
My birthday wish for you is to always have the yarn you need in your stash, and a spare yard of fabric for each project!
August 20th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Dear Girl with a Curl,
Birthday celebrations are special! Enjoy yours!
Bake It Pretty’s The Best-Ever Cupcake Icing Kit would be a FAB giveaway to win.
Thanks for celebrating your b.day with all of us!!
August 20th, 2009 at 8:07 am
lovely giveaways, all across the board. I would be privledged to win ANY of ‘em! I love to bake, craft and sew so I’m equally excited!
Happy bday!
-k8
August 20th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Happy Birthday! What a fun site you have!
I would love the bake it pretty icing kit. I love icing!
Thanks and have a great birthday week!
August 20th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Happy Birthday! I’d love the cupcake kit! Hope you have a great birthday!
August 20th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Have a great birthday! All the giveaways look wonderful!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Happppppppppy birthday!!!!!
Great giveaway, thanks.
I’m equally torn between the Sew Easy kit, cupcake kit, or your lovely coin stack quilt (coin stack quilts are my FAVE). xo
August 20th, 2009 at 10:26 am
What a gorgeous quilt!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:27 am
happy birthday to you! it’s my birthday tomorrow so i’d LOVE to get the baby quilt for my daughter! =)
August 20th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Happy Birthday! I would love the cupcake icing kit!!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 11:10 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
oh oh oh
The best ever cupcake icing kit!!!!
dreammmm swoooonnnnn
August 20th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Happy Birthday!! I’d love the Best Ever Cupcake Icing Kit!
August 20th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Many Happy birthday wishes!!!!!! I love the sewing kit adn the cupcake kit!!!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Happy Birthday and many more to come. I would enjoy the cupcake icing kit.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Happy Birthday! I would love to win the cupcake kit!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Happy Birthday! Grand dancing, candle blowing, and cheers all around!
(Best ever cupcake icing kit - please and thank you)
August 20th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
QUILT!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Oh, how I have been wanting the Bake It Pretty’s The Best-Ever Cupcake Icing Kit! I have had my eye on it as a birthday present for myself and it’s been sold out
So, today being my birthday, I thought it would be a nice wish to win this giveaway and actually get the one thing I wanted for my birthday!
Thanks for the great giveaway, and I can’t wait to see who wins the great prizes!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Happy Birthday to you and enjoy your celebrating!
August 20th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I just wanted to say. HAPPPPPPPY BIRTHDAY!
And, that guy Charlie, I don’t know about him…
August 20th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
happy birthday!
i would love to make you virtual cupcakes with the decorating kit!
August 20th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Happy Birthday!!! I would love to have a real cupcake decorating kit, I always use ziploc bags with a hole cut out!
August 20th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Happy Birthday to you!
Great way to celebrate. Thanks for including us all.
the cupcake kit is great. So is the Baby quilt.
August 20th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Happy Birthday! Mine was just last week, August birthdays are the best. I hope you get an extra large slice of cake at your party.
I would love to receive the Bake-It-Pretty icing kit. I love cupcakes.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Happy Birthday!
I’ve just started sewing and it’s super intimidating to me, the Sew Easy book would be wonderful for me.
Best Wishes from a curly hair sista!
August 20th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I hope you have a fantastic, early birthday celebration and a wonderful trip too! I’m dying for the Bake-It-Pretty icing set. {they are always sold out on their website!}
August 20th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Happy birthdaaaay!!!!
We have something in common!! I also have curly hair!! hahaha
I would LOVE the Bake it pretty icing kit!!
I wish you have a very good birthday celebration!! Enjoy it!!
August 20th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Happy Birthday! I found your link at Bake it Pretty. I too have curly hair.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
HaPpY bIrThDaY tO yOu!!!1
Cupcake decorating kit and the Sew Easy
August 20th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Happy Birthday to you and many wishes to come!!!
Cupcake decorating kit and the Sew Easy
August 21st, 2009 at 1:42 am
happy birthday! hope your celebrations are fabulous! i have long been coveting the bake it pretty cupcake icing kit…would love to win this one!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:49 am
Happy happy birthday. For your birthday I would love the icing kit!
August 21st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Happy Birthday!
Mine was Wednesday, August is a fabulous month to be born in
If I had to choose a prize it would be the cupcake icing kit, oh that would be a handy thing to have.
Enjoy your day!
August 21st, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Joyous Natal Anniversary.
For me, I want the quilt; it’s too precious for words. For my niece, the Sew Easy book, cause I’m a loving, sewing aunt who lives too far away to teach her.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Fun giveaways for your bday. Love the cupcake one…and the quilt one too. Okay, any would be great.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Happy Birthday to another curlie girl. Love the cupcake one.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Happy Birthday! What an amazing giveaway!
I would be happy with many of the options. Thanks so much!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Have a curly happy birthday. Mmmm… that cupcakes set looks beautiful.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 am
woot! generous prizes! abot pa ba ako? hmmmn… ang hirap pumili! but i think i’d love to have the sew easy. no, the knitting tube. no, the sew easy na talaga. sheesh… kahit alin dun sa dalawa. ;D:D:D
happy birthday, j! may all your wishes come true…soon!
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 am
Am I too late?
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Happy Birthday…cha cha cha!!!
Being a baker, the keepsake tin calls out to me. But I’m about to begin radiation treatments and not feeling too perfect, like that beautiful quilt.