Sponsor Giveaway: Holly Knitlightly

Holly Knitlightly is a super awesome blogger and knitter who makes really cozy cowls and keeps up with all the latest silly holidays (like Bill Cosby sweater day). Let's learn more about Miss Holly.

Tell us a bit about yourself
I'm Holly & I'm addicted to knitting!  Haha.  I'm a 20-something girl living in Ontario and chances are if you see me I'm either reading blogs or knitting, ha.  Right now on my blog I'm celebrating every single "weird" holiday for 2011.  (For example, Dress Up Your Pet Day, Bill Cosby Sweater Day, Bubble Bath Day... haha.)  I've been having a lot of fun with it and it's going to be a blast celebrating every single day for an entire year.

What made you decide to open up a handmade shop?
Ever since I first discovered blogs & etsy, I was so intrigued by it and hoped to have a store of my own one day.  I had been knitting for years before that, and I was always just giving the things that I've made away, or throwing it into my closet never to  be seen again.. ha. I was in love with the idea of Etsy, I had actually been using it for a few years before I even thought of opening up my own shop.  I took a course early last year (Indie Biz with Leigh-Ann, Elsie and Jill) and then worked with Michelle Ward (When I Grow Up Coach) for 12 weeks and she really helped to push me in the right direction.  Before I opened up my etsy shop I was so scared... I felt like I would never be ready, but having the support of so many people really helped.  And once I finally did open it, it was such a great feeling!

What is your favorite part about blogging?
I absolutely LOVE the community.  I have met so many wonderful people who are so supportive and friendly and inspiring, I love it!  You can meet all kinds of people who have so much in common with you.  And I love that there are blogs about EVERYTHING out there, haha.  My google reader is filled with so many different types of blogs.  It's also so nice to be able to just write about ANYTHING that you want, to be able to share photos of things you love with people.  Just knowing that there are people (all over the world!) reading what you write is just such an amazing feeling.

When and how did you get started knitting?
My grandma had tried to teach me how to knit for yeeeeeeeeeeeeears, but I'm left handed so I would try to learn left handed... and always end up extremely confused, ha.  A couple years would go by, and I would ask her to teach me again.  And again, end up so confused & frustrated.  Then one day I decided to search online and see how on earth a left handed person could figure out how to knit, haha!  I read that if you are left handed, it's easier to just learn how to knit as if you were right handed.  You would never know the difference once you get started.  So I went over to my Grandma's house & she taught me!  I've learned how to do a few different things through youtube videos, and everything else I've just kind of taught myself.  Like cables, the way that I cable is SO strange, haha.  But it works for me!

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And now for the GIVEAWAY!!! Here's the loot: 
Holly has generously offered to give one lucky reader a cowl in the color of their choice. This giveaway is open internationally and will end on Monday, February 7 at 10pm EST.

    

    

Here's how to enter:

• Visit Holly's shop and come back here to leave a comment with your favorite item.
• Do any of the following for additional entries. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.
• Follow Holly's blog via GFC
• Follow this blog via GFC
• Follow me (@AnnieHP) and Holly (@hllly) on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway. You can use this text if you'd like: Win a cozy cowl from @hllly on @AnnieHP's blog http://tinyurl.com/6fd9m3c

Good luck!!!

And if you haven't already, remember to enter the Michellesque giveaway to win two adorable felt hair bows! (Ends TODAY!!!)