Time for Fall- and My First Giveaway!

Hello again!

Now that summer has officially moved out, it's time to brace ourselves for awful winter enjoy warm drinks and pumpkin everything (I'm really trying to be positive!).  I have finally given up on my summer flowers on the front porch and have replaced them with fresh pumpkins.  Soon I'll be bringing my more delicate plants inside and hoping I can keep them alive over the winter.  Then again, as I type this it's 80 degrees outside, so who knows what to expect!

I have seen a lot of fall party ideas come across my computer screen lately, more than I remember from previous years.  Plenty of table decorations, pumpkin lanterns, and cider recipes.  Even with all of the internet's ideas, I think the most ingenious idea that I have heard so far came from my Aunt.  Rather than dive into pumpkin everything right away and be sick of it by Thanksgiving, her family created a "Feast of Pumpkin", where they took one meal and made it all about pumpkin.  They put pumpkin into everything they could think of!  Isn't that a great idea!?  I mean really, how many of us will be sick of pumpkin by Halloween at this rate?  What a great way to actually enjoy the season, and a great excuse to get together with friends and family.

If you are thinking of throwing a party this fall, consider sending invitations by mail to invite your guests.  I don't know about you, but I still like getting cards and invitations in the mail, and I think most people do too!  

Which brings me to another family member with great ideas- Michelle from Michelle Miller Illustration, who happens to also be my sister.  Michelle is an artist, local to South Eastern PA, who has been making art for as long as she has been able to hold a pencil.  One of her recent projects is to develop a line of greeting cards.  She paints the designs by hand in her signature style, which is really awesome by the way, and then prints the cards on heavy cardstock.  Just look at this one!

You can view her entire line here.  As I mentioned, she is currently working to build this greeting card line, so check back often for more designs.  She also has some great original artwork, so make sure you check that out as well.  Speaking of original, if you really want to have a special card to send out this holiday season, talk to Michelle about a custom card- maybe with your family or favorite pet?  Hard to beat that, huh?!  She has a great imagination, and I love getting to see whatever she is working on next.

So, to get your fall party started, Michelle and I are teaming up to bring two deals to you today!  First, Michelle is generously offering everyone reading the blog free shipping from her Etsy site through DECEMBER 15th (code: Lancasteraveliving).  Also, one lucky reader will be given a free set of 5 cards in any one style from her shop!  In order to enter, I'm asking the following:

1. Please enter the contest by visiting Michelle's site and picking your favorite design.  Then, leave a comment on this post with your selection.  I will randomly pick the winner on October 8th.

2. If you happen to be the lucky winner, please use the cards!  This is a great way to promote an up and coming artist, and it works best if those cards go in the mail! 

I hope you all have enjoyed the little taste of Michelle's work, and maybe have the motivation you needed to pull that party together!

Good Luck!
~Amy


Update: Thanks to those that entered my giveaway and offered kind word's for Michelle's artwork.  I picked the lucky giveaway winner in the most random way I could think of: I wrote your names on a piece of paper, put them in the floor, and chose the one Lucy Dog tried to eat first!  And the winner is...


Cady Bond!


Remember, everyone is offered free shipping on Michelle's Etsy site using the code Lancasteraveliving through December 15th.