$50 Gift Certificate Giveaway from NorthernLodge

NorthernLodge is a wonderful little Etsy "cabin in the woods". You'll find vintage, antiques, lodge, primitive, seasonal,and spiritual items that its owner and creative spirit, Patti Kryzanowski, creates with loving energy in her rustic Colorado cabin. Her products reflect a love of nature, and demonstrate a strong desire to create responsibly using eco-friendly upcycled components. Patti has graciously offered to sponsor this great month-long giveaway for the month of March, and now you have the opportunity to win a gift certificate valued at up to $50.00 US for any one item of your choice from her great collection. This gift certificate can also be applied toward item purchases exceeding $50.00. Free shipping on your prize/purchase is included for winners living in the US or Canada.

With items like this rustic this Snowflakes -winter white handmade afghan, At the edge of the timber-two elk flannel pillow , or even this Turtle medicine bag-beaded by Northernlodge, you're sure to find something perfect for yourself or someone special to you!


Before I go into the details about how earn a chance to win your gift certificate, I'd like to take the opportunity to share a little of what I've learned about Patti and her log cabin life in Colorado...

In Patti's own words... " I’m a Biologist in my day job, and as such I feel a responsibility to create with an underlying sense of responsibility. I try to incorporate the ideas of recycling, upcycling and eco-friendly materials in my work. I use quality materials so that my products will last.

My work is influenced by the lifestyle of my childhood..nature, spirituality, and responsibility to the planet are key elements in my creations.

Family is first and foremost to me. I'm the mom of four kids-three I birthed, and one who "adopted" us. I'm extremely proud of all my children and their life paths.

This past November, I achieved a life long goal of opening a store. With the help of two wonderful friends, we've opened a store called North by Southwest at the base of the Spanish Peaks in beautiful LaVeta Colorado. Please come visit if you are in Colorado.

I hope to make a website soon for the store..and THAT will test my computer skills or lack thereof.

I also asked Patti to share a little bit about herself through some "interview" questions - these are her answers to my curiosities!

If you could have lunch with anyone (presently living or from the past), who would it be and what would you talk about? My dad, who left this earth two years ago for new adventures. I would ask him what adventures await us on the “other side” and if they have bigger blueberries and better fishing over there. And then we would have some great discussions about “new stuff” we have learned or discuss the new books we’ve read since we last talked. The Dali Lama would be a close second though...especially since now he has decided to include Science as part of the training monks receive.

When you're not being artistically creative, what do you like to do to pass the time? WHAT?? You mean you can take a break from the creative process? I love to hike but even then I’m writing poetry in my head and taking photos with my brain as I walk through the woods. Love to garden, but that is a creative process for me as well-working with textures, colours, and space. Avid birder and fishing woman. Pretty much love anything which involves the great outdoors! Sometimes I sit still enough to read.

Name one thing that not many people know about you. Hmmm…I’m SUCH a blabber mouth that one might be hard…Oh I have it...that I feel guilty about writing in books. Books are so sacred to me that I think it is wrong to deface them by writing in them, and using highlighters in books is just plain uncouth.

If you could be a crayon, what color would you be? No question about it AQUAMARINE...I used to BEG my mom for the big box of Crayola crayons so that I could get aquamarine. I was always sad when I broke that crayon. I even wrote a haiku about aquamarine crayons...I’m a dork what can I say.

What song always makes you happy when you hear it? My Girl by the Temptations. And please don’t laugh at me if you drive by me when that song is playing and I’m dancing in my car.

You've been asked to put an item of your choice in a time capsule, to be opened in 100 years. What do you put in it and why? A teenager... why? Because they know everything. Seriously, I would record a CD with songs from various genre because I think music is always reflective of the current culture.

Now that you know a little more about Patti, let's work on telling you how to enter this great giveaway!

Entry criteria for this great giveaway-

1 entry for visiting NorthernLodge and then posting and commenting on a favorite item
1 entry for visiting Patti's second shop CabinWindows and then posting and commenting on a favorite item
1 entry for visiting Patti's daughter's shop TheOlivePit and then posting and commenting on a favorite item
1 entry each for following Patti on facebook

2 entries per purchase at any of the three shops - NorthernLodge, CabinWindows, or TheOlivePit.

1 entry for following my blog here on Mysticwynd
1 entry for following MysticWynd on Twitter (http://twitter.com/mysticwynd)
1 entry for following MysticWynd on Facebook (http://facebook.com/mysticwynd)

Easy-peasy with LOTS of opportunities to win! Just be sure to include a way of contacting you - cuz I get a bit grumpy when I have to go tracking down winners ;)

Now for the business end... Entries will be accepted with a posting timestamp prior to 12:00 midnight MST on March 31st and I'll be picking a winner at noon MST on Thursday, April 1, 2010. Just as an FYI, this giveaway is open worldwide (unless you live in an area where this type of giveaway is prohibited! Winner is responsible for any taxes, duties, and/or compliance with local laws.) A hard-copy gift certificate will be mailed to you within 48 hours or if you would prefer an electronic version, that can be sent within 24 hours via e-mail.

Good luck and happy shopping!