ANOTHER PICK UP STICKS CONTEST – TELL US YOUR STORY!!

 

Glena and Sabrina, when their story was just beginning. . .

 We blog because we love a good story, and we figure you do too. Based on your comments and feedback, you love the stories of Glena and Sabrina when they were just getting started, how our retailers display their Pick Up Sticks, how we come up with new designs, and how the poodles make our lives complete.

But what we’ve found is that, most of all, you love stories about people just like you, how they wear their Pick Up Sticks (thanks Carly Cristman!) and how sometimes, if we’re really lucky, Pick Up Sticks has a small part in touching their lives (thanks Erika Martinez for your story – see at https://pickupsticksjewelry.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/desere-and-erika-an-amazing-pick-up-sticks-story/).

Erika and Desere

All of you may not have had the chance to read the post on Erika and her cousin Desere. But at the studio, we were inspired by Erika’s story of her love for her cousin and their deep bond. We were touched and grateful that we were able to share just a moment in their lives.

Based on the fact that everyone enjoys a great story, we’re having a “testimonial contest.”  Send us your best Pick Up Sticks story (please include photos or videos) to sabrina@pickupsticks.net by midnight on Christmas Eve and we’ll read them all and pick a winner.

If your story’s chosen as the winner, you’ll receive a charm and trinket of your choice on a stainless steel ball chain. We’ll also run your story on our blog and Facebook on January 5.  And because you all love stories so much, we’ll try to run several additional entries after we announce the winner.

Do you have a favorite Pick Up Sticks story? A moment between you and a sister, mother, daughter or best friend, when Pick Up Sticks helped make the moment more complete? Do you just want to say how much you love Pick Up Sticks (we’d be happy to hear it!) and send us a photo with your favorite necklace or bracelet? Do you have a favorite charm, and if so, why? Are you a retailer with a great customer story?

Stories. We’ve all got them. We’re betting your’s will make us proud to be a part of your life. We have great fun designing and selling our jewelry – getting to hear about how it fits into your day is icing on the cake.

Here’s the fine print:

THE RULES

Deadline: December 24, 2010, midnight

1. Who is eligible? Anyone! But please understand, if you win, we can only ship your prizes to United States or Canada. You may enter as many stories as you want, before the deadline.

2. What is eligible? All stories must be original.

3. What do I need to submit? Entries accepted via email only. High resolution images work best.  Please email images in a jpg format.

4. Where do I email the entries and who do I contact if I have questions? Sabrina@pickupsticks.net

You don’t have to purchase anything to win or participate. Internet access and valid e-mail address required. Void where prohibited. All entries must be received by December 24, 2010, 11:59 pm (MST).

When you submit a story, it means you have read and agree to the following:

Submissions must be the exclusive original work of the entrant. You must have the unrestricted right to provide this narrative. You guarantee that the submission does not infringe upon any third party’s proprietary, copyright or other rights.

You transfer to Pick Up Sticks all rights, title and interest in and to the stories you submit.

Pick Up Sticks reserves the right to alter any story submitted for the purpose of grammar, syntax, and spelling, in any way they see fit.

If you’re not the winner of the competition, you still grant Pick Up Sticks the right to use your story if they deem it appropriate.

You grant Pick Up Sticks the worldwide, perpetual right to use your name as the narrator of this story and winner of this contest, without approval or compensation.

Happy Thanksgiving from Pick Up Sticks

 

Alice, Joan, Logan and Butch looking pretty

It’s been a wild couple of months at Pick Up Sticks, getting new designs ready for market, trying to get a few out early (because that’s what you asked for, and when you ask. . .). Since we saw you last at market, we’ve had a couple of weddings in our studio family, we lost a beloved poodle (life is soooo not the same without you, Butchie), we’ve been on YouTube twice (love you Carly!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKAGT0k_EUs ), we had a break-in (crazy stuff, but no one was hurt!) we got a new rescue poodle who needs extra love and care and understanding, and we now have a baby girl on the way (can’t wait to meet her, Candace!).

This is our annual “We’re thankful for our lifes, our loves, and for one another, and we’re very thankful to have you on board as a customer and a fan of Pick Up Sticks.” blog post. We’re big believers in gratitude and thanksgiving (the attitude, not the holiday, although we do love a holiday that gives us carte blance to eat everything on our plates, twice!), and we want to let you know how much we appreciate you.

Here’s what we’re most thankful for this year:

Glena: I’m thankful for all the wonderful people in my life including my family (newest member – my terrific daughter-in-law), my friends, my boyfriend (and his kids), and of course the great girls at Pick Up Sticks who make it all happen at the studio. Many, many thanks!.

Jalaina: Family, friends and good health.

Brenda: Family, good health, and friends.

Candace: My wonderful family, perfect husband and a healthy baby.

Jalaina also asked me to pass this along: “Mom, Candace, and I are all very thankful to work at Pick Up Sticks with such amazing bosses!!”

Sabrina: My life is a house, and I am thankful for all of the parts.

The roof is my Aunt Anna Lee – she defends me from the storms of life, even when we get the hail knocked out of us.

The attic is my Cousin Glena – she understands (then prioritizes) the contents of my brain. No one else can stand the chaos.

The mirrors are my Dad, Lloyd – he reflects my history and is proud of what he sees today.

The lights are Jalaina Candace and Brenda – they help me when things look dim and glow with genius inspiration.

The floor is my Cousin Shelley – always there… always solid, and a supportive witness to everything that happens.

The porch is Bunny – we sit together and enjoy the view, and don’t have to explain anything, we just get each other.

The doors are my Step-children Cory and Kayla, their children and future children, wide open and accepting all the wonderful surprises that life gives us as a family.

And saving the best for last – my Husband Bruce is the most vital part of the house, the refrigerator. . He nourishes my mind body and soul – and he always has a bright happy light on inside, no matter how bad I look when I open the door.

Here’s hoping your Thanksgving is filled with great health and happiness and yummy stuff. Let us know how it went. We’d love to hear what you’re most thankful for.

Carly Christman and Pick Up Sticks – We’re on Youtube!!!

The beautiful Carly - be sure to check out the link to her video!

  Carly Cristman, Youtube video star extraordinaire.  At least that’s how we see her.  She does amazing videos on a regular basis, discussing her latest fashion and style finds.  And she’s featured Pick Up Sticks on her channel, not once but twice, which makes her even more of a rock star in our opinion.

We recently tracked Carly down and asked her a series of questions.  Here are her responses.  Check out her first video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKAGT0k_EUs (“First Day of School”).  The second is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htW6daVRchA (“My  August Favorites”)  – you’re going to love these!

Pick Up Sticks: How did you get the idea for a fashion video series?

CC:  My friend, Hanh (ahanhbarbie34) actually was the one who inspired me to make videos.  She has been making beauty videos for years and has always told me I should consider starting my own channel.  I finally decided to make style videos, because fashion is my true passion.

P:  You’re incredibly talented at locating “finds” for your video – are you just lucky or do you spend lots of time searching for the perfect item to feature?

CC:  I don’t search for items to feature.  I search for perfect pieces to add to my wardrobe, and then make videos on how to wear current trends.  Often these pieces come from more inexpensive retailers, but it’s not about luck, it’s about having an eye for fashion.  It’s about the lines, fit and seaming.  Once you know what shapes flatter your body, finding perfect pieces becomes easy.

P: What’s the funnest part of creating the video every week?  Do  you do all the filming yourself or do you have a crew?

CC:  I do everything myself- the filming, the lighting, the editing, the styling.  The videos are fun because they just show what I do naturally.  I try to make my videos fun and upbeat, a few minute break from the real world that’s just great style combined with cool editing and upbeat music.

P:  What’s your background – are you from the East Coast, Midwest, South, etc.? Are you going to college, working in the fashion field, etc? What are your plans for the future?

CC:  I’m a Chicago girl.  I was born and raised in the suburbs of the city, and I LOVE living here.  I graduated with my first degree in political science with minors in studio art and art history, and now I’m working towards further studies in interactive media, such as video editing and web design.  I would love a career in styling or fashion.

P:  How did you locate Pick Up Sticks Jewelry?

CC:  My sister came home wearing an adorable charm necklace that I could not stop staring at.  She told me a store near us had some different types of them.  After looking, I searched for the website to see if there were any different styles.

P:  Besides the charms you feature on your videos, do you have any other fave pieces that you’re dying to own?

CC:  I find pieces on the site that I want each time I look at the site.  I’m really into decorating as well, and I think the jewelry displays are so cute.  I also would love if other famous individuals would be featured on your charms- an Andy Warhol charm with “the idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting” would be my absolute favorite.

P:  What’s your best advice for Pick Up Sticks fans? How can they think outside the box and create they own personal style?

CC:  Personal style is your opportunity to do and be exactly who you want.  Creating a style that is both fashionable and unique comes from knowing what you like as well as what works on your body.  Once you understand what type of clothing is most flattering and comfortable, you can decide the messages you also want your clothing to portray.  And cute accessories are always the best addition to any outfit

P:  If you were to enter a design contest for Pick Up Sticks Jewelry… what would it look like, and what would it say?”

CC:  If I were to enter a design contest for Pick Up Sticks Jewelry, I would stick with the style of the jewelry while incorporating my own personality.  Instead of a past iconic quote, I would include my own phrase specific to my channel. “Don’t you look fabulous?”

P:  We’re all dying to know – has the video proven to be a profitable venture or are you just doing it for fun?

CC:  My channel has grown to be more than I thought it would.  My videos have opened the door to work with great companies and exposed me to many opportunities that I would not otherwise have.  So my answer to that question would be that it has indeed been beneficial fiscally as well as personally.