Rakun Shop $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway [CLOSED]

I have another wonderful giveaway for you: a $25 gift certificate to the lovely and whimsical Rakun Shop!

 I grew up in a very crafty household with an artist mom and an entrepreneur dad, so I started making things to sell when I was really young. My dad used to drive my sisters and me to the farmers' market at 4 a.m. so we could sell friendship bracelets and flower pens. 

I made stuff as a side gig for years before deciding to jump into making things full time. I was working in a corporate fashion job and feeling really stifled. This was before Etsy, so I had to figure out how to build an e-commerce website all on my own and beg boutiques to carry my line. It was challenging and really frustrating at times. I started daydreaming about a perfect boutique for artisans just getting started, and I realized that opening such a boutique was just what I wanted to do.

When I set out to find a spot for my brick and mortar, I knew that I needed to keep costs low to allow giving as much back to artisans as possible and avoid a lot of initial investment. So I bought a two-house property in Denver's Art District. I opened the shop in the front house, and I live in the carriage house.

My shop carries all local design, and I am the first venture into retail for a lot of the artists in my shop. I love helping people figure out their branding and pricing, tweak Etsy listings, and just lend an ear when they need to vent. In fact, I spent so much time chatting with local creatives about their business over cups of tea that I recently opened a teeny, tiny tea house in the shop! Now my tiny space is always bustling with folks collaborating and creating, and the vibe is really inspiring.

I like that I have created a real community in my shop that drags people away from their virtual worlds from time to time. It feels like a quilting bee or something, which resonates with my old-fashioned sensibilities and taste (in my own craft, I'm drawn to vintage materials and folk motifs). I love playing a small part in keeping artisan traditions and community alive.

Mandatory entry: Visit Rakun Shop and tell me what you would buy with the $25 gift certificate.

1 entry: Heart Rakun Shop on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow Rakun Shop on Twitter. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like Rakun Shop on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, November 20. The winner will be announced Thursday, November 21. Please leave your email address in one of your entries so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open worldwide. Please note that these goods are not intended for children under 3 years old. Good luck!