Saturday 21 April 2012

Oh My Goodness! Time for a Giveaway!

Every day I have a quick look at the stats for my blog and website just to check that anyone is popping in to visit.  Yesterday I got an almighty shock as the figures suddenly sky-rocketed into the hundreds - surely this had to be a mistake?

But no - the lovely Jen over at Cake Wrecks had featured my little goldfish in a lightbulb on her other blog, EPBOT, and out of the blue I was swamped with visitors.  It feels a bit like having a mass of people turning up at your house for tea unannounced when you haven't tidied or vacuumed the carpet for three days and you are still in pyjamas with unbrushed hair.....you are very welcome, but please excuse the mess!

So, as the general opinion is that I should make more of these little gems, I'm holding a giveaway for the prototype on the condition that you accept the state it reaches you in!  My main concern about making and selling these in my Etsy shop is that they might get broken or the contents of the bulb move about in transit. So, just leave your name and a comment here and in a week I will draw a name randomly and send the bulb wrapped as best I can to the winner.  You just have to let me know if it reaches you in one piece and if possible send me a photo if the fish has moved inside. 

As to commissioning one of these, please get in touch - I will be making more with different sea-creatures in at a later date*, but will make time in my horrendously busy schedule for a custom order.  Anything that involves a break from knitting scarves is most welcome at the moment - I love having the work, but boy, garter stitch has to be one of the dullest activities on the planet....

*Please bear in mind that this kind of lightbulb is getting increasingly difficult to find in the UK as they are being phased out in favour of horrible curly-wurly energy saving ones, so the amount of fishes-in-bulbs that can be made may be very limited.

Update   The draw is now over - a winner has been chosen.  Please see the latest post to find out who!

66 comments:

Anne L. said...

Oh, my goodness, this is GENIUS! It looks like a mini aquarium. =)

Arielle said...

Saw this on Epbot and I have to say, this is adorable. Like...so cute he (she? it? I'm sorry I tend to assume all fish are boys) deserves a name.

Garden Pheenix said...

I utterly love this. And may lust for it for my steampunky livingroom :) You're very talented - how did you keep the light bulb intact? Either way I r be in draw, plox? <3

Holly said...

That is entirely far too cute. I'd love to be in the draw to win the the little fella.

As for the shortage of lightbulbs, could you try crowdsourcing? Work out where still has them and ask people to send them to you?

Martha M. said...

*squeeeee* This is so adorable and would be so perfect for my little guy who lost his beloved goldfish and *still* makes wishes at wishing wells for his fish to come alive again (it died TWO years ago!). Please enter me in the draw!

Ahateumezalea said...

So pretty! Have you considered doing one with a Siamese fighting fish?

Em said...

It be very cute! I've been wanting to have a go at putting something in a light bulb for ages, now Im really going to have to get organised and give it a go!

<3

Starrfade said...

Absolutely gorgeous, if you're willing to ship it to Finland, I'm willing to let you know what state it's in when it gets here!

Tricia said...

Too cute! If you're willing to ship to Phoenix, it's a dry heat, Arizona, please enter me in the drawing.

Unknown said...

Oh this is soo cute!! I love it! And it would look perfect on my new bookshelf...

Winter_Pixie said...

This is adorable! I've been looking for projects that involve used lightbulbs since my family use so many (it seems) Now I have an idea! Thanks to you!!!

Kelly-Belly said...

So cute! I hope I win! <:>< that is supposed to be a little fish...he he : )

Isabel C said...

This is so cute! I would totally buy these if you put them on etsy but your worries are understandable :)

Soggibottom said...

What about one with a Cavalier Spaniel in it ?
:-)
:-) x x x

Danielle said...

So wonderfully sweet! Can I be in the drawing, please? That little fish would delight my 4-year-olds to no end! And probably infuriate our cats, too...

Charkuta said...

Ooh m god So cute I love it. do you think you could possibly tell up how you did it id this doesn't work out?

Julie Burnette said...

LOVE! Thanks for having the giveaway!

Brittany Smith said...

It is so cute. You really should consider selling these!

Button Le Bouton said...

I love this. It's so cute! I would love to be part of the drawing!

JenBen said...

I absolutely love this! It is so cute and the perfect fish: no feeding or cleaning necessary! Please let me win!
Thanks!! =)

Anonymous said...

Wow, this is adorable!!!!!
Myrissa Rooks

RevAnne said...

Fishie! Love fishies! Please enter me in the drawing...and when other sea creatures come around, I hope they will make it to Etsy!

jeni said...

Oh, I'd love to win this little fishy! (I've been saving "real" lightbulbs myself, for when they're obsolete here in the US.)

Caren said...

Nifty cool! And my kids wouldn't have to worry about feeding or flushing him!

CC said...

I LOVE it! Please enter me :) I am a faithful Epbot reader...I'm so glad Jen recommended your site.

Caroline B said...

Poor Alison has been trying all day to leave a comment without success, so I shall do it manually - consider yourself on the list, Alison Atkin!

Elizabeth W. said...

Genius! I love your creativity! If you're willing to ship to the US, I'd love to win this little beauty.

Language Arts Lady said...

I love it! I would love to be the test ship. :)

Niki said...

That is so unbelievably cute!
I think swaddled in bubble-wrap it would do just fine through the mail.
I'm enjoying back-reading your site; super glad that Jen sent us over here.
Good luck with more filled bulbs.

Jo-ann said...

I'm a reasonably long time lurker on your blog. i enjoyed the posts about the trials and tribulations about getting the fish to stay in the bulb. I'd love to host this. It can come and hang out on my desk at a university in Australia. that will really test the postage fragility!

Valerie said...

Love this! So adorable. Would love to own this darling gem! So glad that I found your blog through Epbot!

Colette said...

I absolutely love it. If you would ship to the US, I would love to win this drawing!

Marrisa Brenton said...

Adorable! Keep up the great work....I'd love to win something like this!

Elizabeth said...

Too cute! As a fellow knitter I am envious. I doubt I'd have the patience for something so tiny. Do you make your patterns yourself?

Anonymous said...

Martha stole my squeee, but I reckon this is SO cute another one wouldn't go to waste! SQUEEE! Consider you blog bookmarked!

Anonymous said...

Oh, my gosh! This is just the cutest! What a wonderful idea... :) Beth

Katherine said...

Man - that's AMAZING!!! I love it!! I wish I had the gumption to do interesting things with lightbulbs, but I know I'd end up with ribbons for fingers. . .

Kayla F said...

This is too cute. I only wish I had your talent! I am loving your blog!

Heather said...

This is lovely! Do you have it up on Ravelry?

Julie said...

So cute! I love how creative this is! I would love to have one of these! Julie

Carrie said...

I love this! Please do enter me in the drawing, thank you!

--Carrie

Ginamonster said...

So cute! It makes me sad that they are phasing out incandecent bulbs. I don't tlike the light that flourescent ones create. :(

salla said...

this is absolutely adorable and I want it! Want want want!

Catherine said...

This is really too cute! So darling not to share!

Anonymous said...

I love it! I had to add my name to the drawing. :-)
Kathy M

Maureen said...

Caroline,

Just found you through Epbot and this is the coolest idea ever! Jen is absolutely correct when she sayd you should sell them on your Etsy site. I would love towin be it is perfectly OK if I don't.

Maureen

Helen Wilbers said...

I saw this over on Epbot- so cute, so brilliant! I need to learn how to knit now.
~H. G. Wilbers

Seana Kelsey said...

Soo bloody cute I had to rush over and sign up for the contest. Is it still up?? *looks around in confusion* Oh I think a purple octopus would be really cute inside one too, with the tentacles crocheted so they twist <3 Everything about this idea is insanely cute. The bubble like bowl of the light bulb, the way the fish is suspended and also kinda reminds me of those fish tank TV's. *bounce* I wants! :)

ukelady said...

I love your fish in the bulb, and think you are very clever to have thought of doing this. If you do sell them, I would buy one, even though mailing something like that could be chancy.

Unknown said...

this is so clever! love this...

Bonkers823 said...

I love this!!! I want to knit little goldfish now!

Cheers,
Bianca

M'ris said...

super cute! even though these old bulbs are being phased out, i'm sure craigslist or some such would be happy to help you collect the burnt out ones that people are chucking.

Allison said...

This is absolutely adorable!! If you're willing to ship to New York to give it a try, I'd love to win it!

Timba said...

That is the cutest thing I've ever seen!

You can maybe use Christmas ornaments instead of lightbulbs? I'm pretty sure there are some that are made for you to add your own insides....

Jen said...

This is adorable and so clever!

PA said...

What a unique idea and how very cute! I'd love to be in your drawing!

Sabriam - www.edenslittleones.com said...

oooooh, I want in the drawing! I found you through Jen's blog and have to say your goldfish is adorable!! there's still no problem finding those bulbs in the usa, so if he ships ok maybe you could order some from the usa and then there would be no shortage of fishies lol.
Thank you for the chance to win him,
Sabriam Loll
eden_52@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

He's a bold explorer in this strange, airy world, and he has created this enclosed habitat to prevent the alien world from encroaching on his health.

Awesome crafting. The idea and execution are amazing from start to finish. I would love to have him here at my house in the U. S.
Kim C.
bookrdr123@yahoo.com

Abigail, Chanteuse Crochet said...

I *love* this! Super adorable!

Unknown said...

Absolutly fantstic! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it so much! Really, I can't tell you how wonderful this little aquatic piece of art is- So COOL!

pinkchry1982 said...

This is the cutest thing I have seen all day!!! What a way to totally brighten my mood!! It gave me so many ideas as well. I think it would be so fun to see an octopus inside a light bulb. I would love to win this little guy though too!!. Thanks so much Jen for sending us over here.

AmyK said...

I love this!! If I don't win (and let's face it, the odds are not in my favor), I will TOTALLY buy one from your Etsy shop should you decide to sell them.

Tempestmir said...

This is adorable. I feel one of these could only be made better by the addition of a wee octopus.

Octopi make everything better.

I would love one of these!

hello haha narf said...

absolutely adorable!
i promise if i win to take all the photos you desire. pick me, pick me!
:)

Diane (aka Dilk) said...

This is super cute! My husband might question it, but I would totally find a spot in my home for it. I also agree that an octopus would be super cute in a bulb as well.

Saldek said...

Love this!!! Hope you make more of these. An octopus or sea horse please! :)