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For the past month, I've been busy with commissions, some side projects, and just dealing with life.  Now that things have settled down a bit, I find myself anxious to prepare for the Christmas season.  New calendars (they're at the printer!! get excited!!!), greeting cards, maybe a print or two.  I had so much fun last November lambasting our little apartment with Ikea frames filled with my seasonal creations.  With The Stud's wedding in a few weeks and the likelihood of me traveling for most of September, I'm sensing some urgency to get ideas flowing and going before I take flight.

But I have no ideas.  Not one.  Well, one.  Half of one.  But it's not good.  It's bad actually.  It's really hard to think of seasonal things when it's nearly 100 outside and I'm in shorts.  Guys, I need help.  And I'm willing to beg and bribe to get it.  I'm so desperate for inspiration that the only idea I could come up with was to ask all of you for ideas and to offer you notecards.

So here's how it works.  Send me ideas!  I want them all!  Favorite holiday memories, recipes, cards, traditions, whatever!  Leave a comment here on the blog, post photos to my facebook page, or tag me in instagram photos (@engquisto).  No limit to the number of memories, photos, memories, paint swatches, whatever!  Send me your creative mojo!  Please!  The winner will be selected at random on Wednesday morning (August 28th) and will get a packet of notecards from my current collection.

There ya have it.  Help me help you (:  Whatever reminds you of the holiday season, I want to hear it!

summer giveaway

It's summer!  Beach, grills, sunburns, and lemonade.  Mm...lemonade...  Summer feels rather ironic this year as Mr. F is just starting work.  The fact that he is working just seems to make summer all the more wonderful.  He's happy.  He's happy!  Wahoo!!  So even though he's not home as much anymore, the change of season is just as delicious as it usually is.  Because there's so much happiness going on right now, I wanted to share the love.  Twice!  I'm giving away a five-pack of palm tree notecards to two different people!  (Don't palm trees just scream relaxation?)

Here's whatcha gotta do...  Leave a comment here on the blog telling me what you're most looking forward to this summer.  That's it!  For extra votes, follow me on instagram (@engquisto) or on Facebook.

Giveaway closes at midnight EST June 27 with a winner announced on the 28th.  

So tell me, what does summer hold for you??

cooo-kee

Don't judge me, I made my stand by sugar cookies for the first cookie exchange of the week. Time was of the essence and I knew I could pull them off quickly.  And let me tell you...they are SO good.  Like dangerously.  I think it's the amount of butter in both the cookies and the frosting.  Butter makes everything better.  Except my arteries...they don't like butter as much. 

Thank you everyone who submitted recipes!  I'm definitely trying out one or two this week for the myriad of parties still on the docket.  After reading through all the submissions and going to the exchange last night, I'm absolutely flabbergasted by the number of cookies available!  We never did the whole Christmas cookie thing growing up.  We had cheese, meatballs, and salmon.  A lot harder to ding-dong-ditch with but oh so good.  So yeah, I have very little experience with this magical world of cookies.  I think this new knowledge could be hazardous.

But what you're all wondering is if you won the giveaway or not.  So without further ado, the winner is....

jkthomas
with the recipe for Nutella S'more Bars.

Congratulations!!  Email me to claim your prize!

Happy Baking everyone!

the great cookie exchange

I've been invited to my first ever cookie exchange.  Yes, you read right, my first ever.  And I'm freaking out!  I can make exactly two types of cookies well and they're both variations on sugar cookies.  Not exactly something to write home about!  So, I'm begging for help.  (The cookies in the photo are from a local bakery.  Let's not talk about how often I go there, okay?  Okay.)  I'm desperate.  Truly.  There are some really terrific bakers coming to this shindig and I'd like at least pretend to wow them.  I'm so desperate, I'm resorting to bribery. 

For your help, I'm giving away a five-pack of my notecards.  All you have to do is leave a link to a recipe or the recipe itself in the comments section.  This will be open until the 17th of December and you can enter as many times as you want, you just have to submit a different recipe each time.  For extra entries, share photos of your favorite seasonal cookies on the facebook page.

So please, help! Think of this as one great big international cookie exchange!  And send me those recipes!

Giveaway ends December 17th at midnight EST.

election day giveaway

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you'll know that I'm really into this whole process.  I always have, but especially since living overseas, I have really come to appreciate the privilege it is to have the right to vote.  It's huge!  And so few people take advantage of it!  My mom raised me on the phrase, "If you don't vote, you can't complain about it," and I really believe that.  We as Americans have the opportunity to let our voices be heard through our votes.  Don't like the way the country is being run?  Vote to change it.  Like what's happening?  Vote to keep it.  It is up to YOU!

Because this is such a big deal to me, I am giving away one of my calendars to one of you.  After you vote, come back here and leave a comment saying "I voted!"  For extra entries, post a similar comment or a photo of your "I voted" sticker to the Facebook page.  This is an honor system thing.  I'm trusting to you to have actually voted.  But please do!

Ok, so go vote, and when the presidency is announced, so will a winner be!  

giveaway winner

I took this cute girl to the airport last night and cried most of the way home.  Then I woke up this morning to not only an empty apartment but her empty bed still in the living room.  I think it is safe to say there is a need for some serious cheering up today with a mild dose of distraction.  Luckily for you, that means a winner for the weeks long summer giveaway!

so here we go!

Congratulations Träk and Heather!  Email me at engquist@seewhatiseadesigns.com with your addresses so I can mail you your loot!

summer giveaway

There's a lot to celebrate today.  It's my mom's birthday (WOO!!), family is coming in just a few days, it's not as hot, life is good...  The list goes on and on!  Because of all this happy, I thought we would party hearty with a giveaway.  And it's a good one.  Actually, it's two.  You heard me, 2!   Here's what we're doing.  1 free 8x10 watermelon print (a $20 value) to one winner and to another, a packet of 5 different summer lovin' cards (a $15 value)!  Be excited, be very, very excited....

So here's what you do...

1. follow this blog via google friend connect   skip to 2 and 3 (:

2. like our facebook page, and...

3. leave a comment here on the blog telling me what you love most about summer

extra votes for commenting and sharing on facebook

Winners will be announced next week.

Again, you could win either...
an 8x10 watermelon art print
or...
5 summer-lovin' notecards!

Good luck and tell your friends!

giveaway

I'm teaming up with Daryl of Roots, Wings, and Other Things for her big 500 Follower Giveaway.  Be sure to head on over there for more details!

and the winner is..

Thanks to everyone who participated in this contest!  It was my first ever and I was equal parts anxious, giddy, and excited for it.  But you don't care about that...

Based on random selection, the winner is...

who said: My favorite thing about spring is having the windows open and hearing the birds in the morning! Such a peaceful sound!!!!!

Congratulations!!  Shoot me an email at engquist@seewhatiseadesigns.com with your address so I can mail you your loot!

Also, don't forget the deadline for Easter cards is THIS SATURDAY!  That came quick..  I can take orders after that for stuffing baskets, but cannot ensure delivery in time for the bunny.

the results of a fitful night

I have a  hangover.  Okay, no I don't, I just feel like I do.  Not that I'm exactly familiar with that sensation.  At all.  The closest to drunk I've ever been is a raucous bout of giggles after about a gallon of extra-sugary Kool-Aid at sleep away camp when I was 11.  It was epic.

Nope, today I'm just majorly sleepy after a not so restful night.  (More staring at the ceiling while listening to the call from the minarets than sleeping. le sigh.) So it has been that I've been searching for energy for a list of rather fun projects I have in mind.  Like a festive spring inspired garland made of paper from around the house and bits of string.  Or delightfully happy recipe cards.  Or painting a storage box to turn it into a bench.  Instead my triumph du jour has been to start a facebook page.  (Technology and I really have issues with one another.  This stuff should be easy!  I blame the headache...)

Anyway, in honor of the occasion, I'm doing my first giveaway!  To the lucky winner, I will be sending a packet of five different cards from the collection.  To enter, "like" the new page then leave a comment telling me what you love most about spring here on the blog.  (If you already like the page, just leave a comment to enter.)  You have until midnight EST on March 20th to enter.

Also, don't forget that there's barely more than a week left to order Easter cards to ensure on time delivery.  Good luck!!