Countdown to Christmas: KC Etsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK THIRTEEN: Win a MY DAGGERED HEART necklace from Silver Trove Designs!

WEEK THIRTEEN: Win this "My Daggered Heart" necklace from Carole Braden-Williams at Silver Trove Designs! My Daggered Heart is a sterling silver and banded agate pendant necklace. According to Carole, "This is the first piece in my new series, Skeleton Keys. It is a Victorian style wire wrapped piece that has been oxidized to give it an antique look. It is on a leather cord with a chain extension so it is adjustable from 16 inches to 21 inches."

"I was lucky enough to have a mother who taught me to sew, knit, crochet and craft when I was a child, which was a great foundation for becoming a silversmith," notes Carole. "I started making fancy barrettes for my two daughters 18 years ago and they were noticed by a buyer for the children's clothing designer, Chocolate Soup. After making thousands of those barrettes for them, I started stringing beads and teaching myself to make simple jewelry. A lady who owned a bead shop showed me a few wire jewelry techniques and I was immediately hooked. I learned more from other wire jewelry artists and began selling my work through an artists' coop store and then my own store. I later took a night course at a local high school in silversmithing. I loved it so much I convinced the teacher to teach an advanced course. Since then I have been lucky enough to be able to make jewelry as my full time career."

"As cliche' as it sounds, I am inspired by the world around me - nature, the changing seasons, and the people I have been blessed to know," says Carole. "My children have always helped me see things through their eyes which helps to keep me up to date on styles and colors, and yet I also love vintage styles and jewelry making techniques. I am also inspired by other artists, past and present. Etsy is a wonderful source of inspiration!"

"I have totally enjoyed making all the pieces in my shop so it's hard to pick a favorite. I put so much time and love into each piece that they are a lot like children to me. Although they are sometimes hard to part with, it is always exciting to send them out to their new owners. Usually my favorite item is the one I have most recently completed so I would have to say the My Daggered Heart pendant is my current favorite. I can't wait to find out who will win it!" she quips.

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN the My Daggered Heart pendant necklace, simply visit Carole's Etsy Shop silvertrove.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Include in your comment a link to your post! If you'd like a FOURTH ENTRY, become a fan of our KC Etsy Facebook Fan Page and post a comment indicating you've done so! Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Monday Nov. 16, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Carole to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings, and good luck to you!

THIS WEEK'S LUCKY WINNER IS MAR! CONGRATULATIONS!