1200 Fan Giveaway

I would like to thank you all for your support!  It really means the world to me that you are passing the word on and returning.  I love hearing from you all.  :)  1200 fans is a huge achievment for me.  I really can't express it to you. 

I have this amazing friend, Karen, who inspires me everyday.  She did this type of a giveaway earlier this year and I loved it so much!  I got her permission to do it myself.  Thank you Karen!!!

You will need a partner for this special giveaway.  Each of you will need to visit this blog and leave a comment in order for your team to be entered.  Once the comment period is closed, I will choose a winner.  If your comment is the winner, both you AND your partner will win a "Nia"!!! 

So pick your partner and get your comments in!!! Remember you only qualify once BOTH partners have commented.  I will leave this giveaway open until Sunday, May 29th at 3 PM (AZ time).  So leave a comment with the name of your partner and why you chose them.  :)

GOOD LUCK to all the teams and have fun getting to know your partners!!

What is a "Nia"?

It is my own design that I created one day when I wanted to make my kids a stuffed toy.

I made them these.  I did not have a name for them at first.

When our nephew drowned and was hospitalized I made him one in hopes he would get better.

Sadly, he did not and I ended up laying his to rest with him forever.

When I came home I decided that they need to be named in his memory.

I chose Nia (pronounced NEE-ah) because it is Nephew in Irish Gaelic (I am part Irish).

It is easy to remember and fun to say. :)

My kids help me make these and they love each one that is made. We get a chance to remember the sweet boy we lost, Richie.

1,100 fan giveaway

I thought since this week is the first time the Get Hooked Boxes (GHB) goes on sale that I would give one away to a lucky fan! <3 

What is a Get Hooked Box?  A box of samples from different designers and shops.  This month's boxes includes 3-4 samples from various places.  Not all participants items will be included in each box.  They will be chosen at random.  Items include but are not limited to discount coupons, gift cards, earrings, and soap samples.  They are currently available for sale- $7 plus actual shipping!

This months participants are:

http://www.gemscrystalsandwire.com/

http://www.facebook.com/GemsCrystalsAndWire

http://www.artfire.com/users/OSebastian

http://www.facebook.com/karensnydersO.Sebastian

	http://sbunke.uppercaseliving.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Twisted-Vinyl/152481098135110?sk=wall

	http://www.auntiegoatsfavoritesoap.com

http://www.facebook.com/auntiegoatsfavoritesoap

http://www.CraftysCreations.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/LoveCraftysCreations

Please visit their webpages and their facebooks- let them know that you are grateful for their participation and look forward to receiving your GHB! <3

Comment here to be entered in the 1100 fan giveaway to receive a free GHB!!!  Ends Monday Night.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

*NeW* Product

Nia's.... What is a "Nia"?  Well Nia means Nephew in Irish Gaelic.  I recently lost my [just turned 4 year old] nephew in a drowning accident.  I made him one of these beautiful stuffed creatures and laid him to rest with it forever.  I then came home and named them Nia in honor of him. 

I made him and my son matching ones except Richie's (my nephew) has a sweet and special heart on it.  When I made it we were not sure what the outcome of his condition would be.  He was in critical condition at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake.  When we got to the hospital they pulled the plug.  I held him and told him how special he was and that Auntie made him something extra special just for him.   <tear>

Each Nia is unique and made with extra love. 

Green mini Nia and Large blue Nia

Thank you for reading how I came up with Nia's.

New Panda

I got to hang out with the cutest girls today, Miss I & Miss S.  I photographed them in January and will be photographing them every so often until October.  I made both of these hats modeled by Miss I.  The panda is a new addition (will be added to my artfire shop shortly) while the cup-e-cake is a customer favorite. <3  I hope that you enjoy them. :)

Charity Auction

April 22, 2011 The Hook Up by MC is hosting an online auction on our facebook page for my Uncle Mark.  We did an amazing job raising $1,200 for him in January.  That money has helped with his trips back and forth from Phoenix to Chicago every other week the past four months.  It also helped pay for medications he needed. 

I had some amazing boutiques sign up last time.  I am hoping to try and make this one a bit bigger than last time.  If you can create and would like to donate an item (or more) please let me know by emailing me!!  I will need a photo of the item, a brief description, retail value (to determine starting big), shipping (free or charge), if you are charging for shipping you will be responsible for billing that. Thank you for donating to this very dear to my heart charity.

Who is Uncle Mark?  My wonderful uncle that has been battling a hard battle with colon cancer.  He has been going to work while getting chemo and making sure his family (see photo below) is taken care of.  He is the strongest, most amazing & inspirational man that I know.  He has always been there for me and this is how I am there for him.  Helping anyway that I can. 

This image is my Aunt & Uncle, their kids & spouses and their grandbabies! 9 (10 tomorrow) of them live at the house & 7 live nearby and are over just about everyday. 

Please help me help them. <3

A portion of the proceeds will go to a charity or cause chosen by my aunt and uncle while the rest will go to my uncle for treatments.

Thank you!

*Bald is Beautiful* photo contest

 As you know my dear Uncle is battling colon cancer.  I heard he is having a hard time.  I of course was upset and started to think of ways to brighten his day.  SOOO, I came up with this idea and shared it with my dear friend Karen with O. Sebastian. :)  She generously offered to match my $10 GC.

Winner will receive:
$10 Gift Card from The Hook Up
$10 Gift Card from Karen Snyder's O. Sebastian
$5 Gift Card from Crafty's Creations

What do I have to do to win?
I am holding a photo contest!  Theme: "BALD is BEAUTIFUL"  The photo MUST be focused on the theme or it will not count.  I am going to have my Aunt and Uncle pick their favorite as the winner.  You may send a short story about the image as well. <3 

Small Print:
Starts NOW and Ends March 31st! You must have rights to the image! You must email (THUbyMC@gmail.com) me the image and it MUST be in JPEG format.  I will be posting ALL images onto my page.  The winner will be displayed on my page.

Thank you for brightening my Uncle's day. :)

WINNERS ARE #8 MISS ARIEL & #11 MISS KINLEY!!!  CONGRATS!

Customer Appreciation!!

I would like to show all of my customers how much I appreciate you all.  For the rest of this month you will receive 15% off your purchase.  This is for past customers ONLY.  <3 

Send me an email at THUbyMC@gmail.com to place your order. :)

Charity

I love to help out various charities when I can.  One of my favorite "charities" is my loving Uncle Mark who is the reason I started The Hook Up!  He is an amazing family man.  He has been battling stage 4 Colon Cancer for 2 years.  I put on a charity auction in Jan and at the end of the month we found out some bad news.  His cancer was back.  He had only been off treatment for three months.  It is so hard to watch someone you love with all your heart go through the brutal treatment that he is. 

I am putting on another auction for him in April.  If you are a shop/boutique and would like to donate, email me (thubymc@gmail.com) your images WITH details (Description, Shipping, FB Link & your Paypal addy).  If you are a shopper please make sure your settings are set so everyone can see your posts and to not bid on things to fast or you will be marked as spam.  Thank you!! <3

I am trying to get some unique items to place in the auction.  Example; my new knitted bikini's I just finished the first try tonight!

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http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&note_id=170104606372546&id=153725758002815

New {Get Hooked Boxes}

Have you ever wanted to try something from a shop before making a huge investment? I know I have! The Hook Up by MC now has something that is right for you… “Get Hooked Boxes” are coming May 15th!!! For only $7 you will receive a small “Get Hooked Box” with anywhere from 3-5 SAMPLES from a list of participating vendors. You will not receive something from every vendor. To find out more contact THUbyMC@gmail.com

List of our amazing vendors participating in the "Get Hooked Boxes"!!!!

3/10/11

The Hook up by MC
http://thubymc.blogspot.com/
http://facebook.com/thehookup.bymc

O. Sebastian
http://osebastian.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/osebastian
http://www.facebook.com/karensnydersO.Sebastian

Crafty's Creations
http://www.facebook.com/LoveCraftysCreations
http://www.CraftysCreations.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/CraftysCrea...
http://twitter.com/Craftyscreation
http://creatingthehive.com/craftyscreations
http://craftycoriscreations.blogspot.com/

Flowerskissing
http://flowerskissing.etsy.com/
http://www.facebook.com/flowerskissingscreations

Twisted Vinyl
Web: http://sbunke.uppercaseliving.net/Home.m
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twisted-Vinyl/152481098135110?sk=wall

GemsCrystalsAndWire.com
Website
http://www.GemsCrystalsAndWire.com/
Blog
http://www.ElegEaseJewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtFire
http://www.GemsCrystalsAndWire.ArtFire.com/
Etsy
http://www.GemsCrystalsAndWire.Etsy.com/


LooHoo Creations
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LooHooCreations
http://facebook.com/loohoocreations

Kayt Oates (My sister in law uses my site to sell at this moment)

800 Fan Giveaway

First 8 fans to leave a comment here will receive 20% off your next purchase! 
Comment with how you found The Hook Up by MC. :)  


There will be no expiration date for the winners.  You may not use this with any other offer or discount.  This giveaway is in no way associate with facebook.

Welcome to THU Blog

Hello Blog Readers,

I am new at keeping a blog so please bare with me as I get the hang of it.  I love getting comments and emails letting me know your thoughts. <3  So feel free to share please.

I am Ashlie AKA "M" (in the initials MC), Owner and Crafter behind The Hook Up {Custom Crochet, Knitting, & More} by MC on facebook.  I am a mother of two beautiful babes.  A daughter (turning 8 this July) and a son (turning 4 this June).  I have been married to their father since March 2004 but we have been together since 2002. 

Who is "C" in the initials?  My wonderfully brave Uncle.  He is the reason I started THU.  If you have been around since the beginning of the year than you know who he is and his story.  If not, then I will share it with you.  Two years ago my Uncle was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer.  He has been battling it ever since.  It has been a long and excruiciating journey.  After his first trip to the center He asked me to simple make some hats for him to take to his cancer center to add to the box for the other patients.  I did and shared images of some on Facebook.  Then I started making some for my kids and family.  Thus THU was born on Oct. 23, 2010.

I hosted a charity auction for him Jan 6th, 2011.  When it ended we raised over $1,200 for my Uncle.  I surprised him with a huge lump of cash and transferred the rest.  They were so surprise with how much we raised that he was speechless and tear-eyed.  My Aunt cried and was stunned as well. <3  I couldn't have done that without my wonderful fans and artisan friends.  I thank you from the bottom of my <3.  A few weeks after the auction he went in for his scans and they found 2 new spots.  Biopsy says it is back.  So he is yet again enduring chemo.  He has to fly from Phx AZ to Chicago ever 3 weeks for treatment.  I will be hosting another charity auction for him soon.

That is our story.