Who's the Hound in the Header? It's Maisy!

The Etsy Beagles blog is wearin' the green for St. Patrick's Day! And the adorable beagle standin' in the green (grass, that is) is DuffyDesigns' darlin' Maisy! Maisy is ready for Spring, and so is the Beagles Team! We are gettin' ready for our next team challenge, which will start on March 17th! No blarney! ;) Check the blog for our next team challenge giveaway from March 24th- March 27th. We will have our April Hound in the Header featured then, too!

Team Members: Keep Current/New Rules

As you can see from our list of Etsy shops, the beagles team has grown quite a lot in the past 2 years! Because sending multiple convos through Etsy is very time-consuming, and with the threat of being muted by the spambot, I'd like to post some news (or, as we call it, "beagle business") on the blog.

We just finished our first team challenge for 2010, and had great results, with more entries than ever before! I know many team members don't frequent the Etsy forums, and may be missing out on the team challenges. We have decided to send a link to this blog post so everyone knows about the next team challenge, and a few changes to team membership.

First, the next team challenge is scheduled for March 17th-20th. We will have a thread in the Etsy Teams and Events forum running at this time, to post your challenge entry in. Directions will be in the OP post of the thread. The blog giveaway will be running after we all post our entries, from March 24th-27th. The theme for the upcoming challenge is "Dog Tired of Winter." Think spring colors, and about anything goes -Easter, flowers, bunnies, whatever. Main focus is on color after the long winter we've had! We want this challenge to be full of cheery "promise of spring" entries! :D

Second, We have an official team tag that will help your items show up on the Etsy search. It is EtsyBeagles (one word).

Third, We are a large team, and really need more active participation from our members! Remember, beagles follow the rule of the pack! We request that all team members take part in at least one team challenge per year. We ususally have 4-5 challenges every year, so taking part in one is all we ask! Besides, it's a great way to promote your shop, and help the animal charity/org. of your choice. We ask that a percentage of the sale of your challenge entry item be donated to your favorite animal group/charity/organization. The amount is entirely up to you, as is the group to receive the donation. This is a very laid-back team; no dues, no demands. Asking each team member to participate in one challenge per year seems fair to all team members.

Fourth, If for any reason, you are unable to continue being part of the team, please contact me/Linda/MsAnomaly through an Etsy convo and ask to be removed from the team member's list. It takes a great deal of time to keep the lists updated, and I've found many members have closed their Etsy shop (this does not include those on vacation mode). Since I am in charge of updating both the blog list, and the team profile list on Etsy, it really would be helpful to know if anyone is not interested in staying on the team, or no longer has an active Etsy shop.

Finally, The best way to keep up-to-date on the team is to check the Etsy Teams and Events forum. We have a chat thread running there constantly, and even if you pop in once a month to say "Hi" we would love hearing from you! Here is the link to the current chat thread in the Etsy Teams and Events forum: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6424010&page=22

The last post on this page of the thread will explain how the team challenge works. We also welcome our members to post in the thread. We are also running a team roster list in the thread, and would appreciate if your name could be added. Thank-you, and

PAWS UP to the Beagles Team! :)

Giveaway Winner for Hearts and Hounds challenge!

We have a winner! Here is the link to the video(s) on my flickr, of Flash choosing the winner for the Hearts and Hounds team challenge Blog Giveaway! http://www.flickr.com/photos/17124653@N03/sets/72157623372012978/

Use the thumbnails to see the videos in order; I had to pause between them, but all 3 are short.

Congratulations Furr Baby Love! Please contact Tricia at her Etsy shop, Kookyhandbags, to claim your prize. As mentioned, Tricia is on vacation now, but she will be ready to mail your lovely pouch on Feb. 16th!

Thank-you and Paws Up to all who entered our giveaway. We do this 4 times a year, and our next team challenge and giveaway cotest is planned for mid-March. We will post in the Etsy forums, and you can check back here, too! Sharing the love with all our animal and human friends! MsAnomaly and the Beagles Team

Etsy Beagles Hearts and Hounds Team Challenge Giveaway

Welcome to the Etsy Beagles "Hearts and Hounds" team challenge/blog giveaway! Lots of handmade love in this challenge! The entries pictured above are listed in the order they are pictured, starting with the upper left corner and going across, then down (just like reading)! Have fun checking out the entries for the Beagles Team "Hearts and Hounds" challenge.

MsAnomaly - Rhinestone and Vintage Clear Faceted GlassBracelet
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=24631805

mustlovehomedecor – kitchen dish towel – beagle dog embroidery
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39252452

Fatbasset - "Bountiful Basset Love" Original Drawing
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39450779

BeagleBeads - Hearts and Hounds Beaded Bracelet Bangle
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39848893

CodysCloset - Hearts Abound Placemat & Poo Pack Holder
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39660345

CiaoHound - Heart Shaped Mini Muffins for your Valentine dog
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39674570

FrumsGlassMenagerie - Pink Deco Hound Necklace
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31632348

2RavenChicks - Hearts & Hounds Valentine's Bracelet
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39306479

kookyhandbags - 'puffy heart pouch' *A similar pouch is the prize for this giveaway!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39507824

CamargoCreations - Dog Tote Bag - Beagle Lover
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38673305

CutiepieCompany - Puppy Love Valentine's Day Card
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39280912

DogsRule - Hearts Hearts Hearts...Purple and Lavender...Card
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39623225

Cody's Creations - The Pocket
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38318146

RockyMountainGiftCo - "Puppy Love" framed art

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39414707

Here's how to enter: First, visit the entries from the shops linked above for a close-up view of our challenge entries. Then, come back here and post to tell us your favorite challenge item and/or shop (the item doesn't have to be from your favorite shop and vice versa). And that's it! You're entered. Contest begins Wed., 2/03, and ends on Sat., 2/06 at 11:59 PM, EST. Winner will be chosen randomly from all entries on Sunday, 2/07. We'll announce the winner here on our blog, so make sure you check back to claim your prize! The lucky winner will receive a beautiful pouch (much like the one she entered here), from kookyhandbags. If you're the winner, contact Tricia, with your mailing address, at kookyhandbags via her Etsy shop. Notice: Tricia will be on vacation until Feb. 13th, but she will mail the prize to the winner on Feb. 16th. Winner will have until Sunday, Feb. 14th to contact Tricia to claim their prize. If winner doesn't claim prize before that date, we'll select an alternate winner, who will then have until Wed., Feb. 17th to claim their prize.

*One entry per person. Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win. Sorry, Beagles Team members, you aren't eligible to enter this contest. Thanks for looking at our entries! MsAnomaly and the Etsy Beagles Team