Win It: Emily McDowell

Emily-McDowell-1-Design-Crush

 

Have you ever had someone from one chapter of your life pop up again in another one way down the road? I’ve had it happen to me a few different times, the most recent with illustrator Emily McDowell. The two of us attended advertising portfolio school together, and a few months ago our paths crossed again. This time in our post-agency careers. It was a welcome surprise, and the icing on the cake was realizing she was the Emily McDowell whose work I’d been seeing everywhere recently! Life is definitely funny sometimes.

 

Emily-McDowell-2-Design-Crush

 

So to celebrate friendship, Emily and I are teaming up on a giveaway of her lovely work. The winner will receive the print of their choice from Emily’s shop along with a second print for their best friend!

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Shell! 

To Enter:
1. Visit Emily’s shop.
2. Leave a comment below telling me which print your BFF would love best.
3. Do both before Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 11:59 pm CST.

A winner will be chosen randomly shortly after the giveaway closes. Good Luck!

 

Full rules + disclosure.

107 Comments
  • FripperyVintage

    February 25, 2013 at 9:07 am

    Cute prints, very clever.

  • Rachel

    February 25, 2013 at 9:20 am

    Definitely the one about being your true self!

  • Stephanie

    February 25, 2013 at 9:21 am

    Oh, oh! Best friend would LOVE the Love box print – she is spending her Lent focusing on spreading the love, actually. So pretty, Emily, and such a cute friendship story!

  • Laura M

    February 25, 2013 at 9:41 am

    I love these! My BFF would love the Peter Pan “Just always be waiting for me.” print 🙂

  • Nell

    February 25, 2013 at 9:41 am

    Oh, my! my bff would adore the Peter Pan print — of course they’ll always be waiting for her!

  • Kelsey

    February 25, 2013 at 9:54 am

    definitely the picasso bear print!

  • Gloria

    February 25, 2013 at 9:55 am

    My BFF is working on starting her own consulting company, so I think she would appreciate the “Not Afraid of Storms” print 🙂

  • Monica

    February 25, 2013 at 10:11 am

    My BFF would love the Be Yourself one or the BE Kind one. Thanks for the chance to win!

  • fathima

    February 25, 2013 at 10:16 am

    “Though She Be But Little”
    We love that quote! I’m such a huge fan of Emily’s work – so inspirational, both design-wise, and in the words themselves.

  • rooth

    February 25, 2013 at 10:22 am

    What a lovely giveaway! My bff would totally dig The Girl Test print – because we always joke about that type of thing 🙂

  • JayEssJay

    February 25, 2013 at 10:29 am

    Gosh, I love her work! It would be a tough choice, but I would give the “Not Afraid of Storms” poster for a new BFF… it seems to fit this time in her life.

  • Tristan B.

    February 25, 2013 at 10:36 am

    I haven’t been on the actual blog darn blog reader, didn’t realize you have a new and BEAUTIFUL design (of course) and congrats:)

  • Lauren

    February 25, 2013 at 10:37 am

    My best friend is 5 feet 1/2 inch. She always reminds me of that 1/2 inch. So for her, I’d choose Shakespeare’s “Though she be but little, she is fierce.” For she is fierce of heart.

  • Leigh

    February 25, 2013 at 10:39 am

    I love the Picasso “Everything you can imagine” print, and think my friend would too!

  • Jessica Peters

    February 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

    My BFF Abigail would love the Elanor Roosevelt quote! Very motivational

  • Kayla

    February 25, 2013 at 10:52 am

    My BFF would love the “Not Afraid of Storms” print, not that she needs any reminders to be fearless.

  • Melissa Dixon

    February 25, 2013 at 11:09 am

    My BFF is a performer in Chicago and the “I am not Afraid. I was born to do this” is a perfect fit for her!

  • Ashley M.

    February 25, 2013 at 11:14 am

    I love the Be Kind one or the Smile one, or the Thank You for Existing one, and my BFF would as well!!!!!

  • Brady C

    February 25, 2013 at 11:33 am

    Definitely the “You’re doing a … great job!” The BFF would love it!

  • rob christianson

    February 25, 2013 at 11:37 am

    I’d have to say “Just always be waiting for me.” from JM Barrie

  • Trish T.

    February 25, 2013 at 11:41 am

    My bestie would love the “Be Yourself” Oscar Wilde print. (There are so many great ones, it was difficult to decide!)

  • Rebecca @ Pavlova's Dog

    February 25, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    These are beautiful! My sister is absolutely my BFF, and she’s been going through the worst time right now. Just really down. In an effort to get her thinking outside of herself for a bit, me and my family are helping her give her room a makeover. Serendipitous! So the ‘I am not afraid of the storms’ quote would be an apt inspiration message to hang in her new bedroom :).

  • Ashley P.

    February 25, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    My BFF and I would both love the “Though she be but little” because we’re shorties. Fierce shorties, of course!

  • Lea Anna

    February 25, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    The small but fierce print is great.

  • Lauren

    February 25, 2013 at 1:04 pm

    I would LOVE LOVE LOVE the print from Oscar Wilde that says “be yourself, everyone else is taken.” I have this written almost everywhere, my bathroom, my desk at work, I truly try to live by these words. I think the rainbow letters are a beautiful way to bring this AWESOME quote to life!!

    XOXO,
    Laure
    (LOVE YOUR BLOG!)

  • Kelsey J.

    February 25, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    My BFF would LOVE the Don’t Shush Your Inner Voice!

  • VSA

    February 25, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    I’d get the “You’re Doing A F*@king Great Job!” for my sister, because she cusses like a sailor but really is doing a great job! She moved to LA last year. She’d love it!

  • Katie

    February 25, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    My BFF would LOVE the “Not Afraid of Storms Quote” print! And the “small but fierce” print… love them all!

  • Caroline Winegeart

    February 25, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    It’s virtually impossible to choose because I ADORE all of Emily’s prints, but my BFF would love this one!: http://www.etsy.com/listing/101111077/dont-shush-your-inner-voice?

  • Sarah

    February 25, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    These are so great!! I know my BFF would love the “Be yourself” print!

  • Solange

    February 25, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    I think my friend would like “You Are Doing A Fucking Great Job.” Love your work!

  • Jill

    February 25, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    I love all of them, but my BFF would like the
    “Be yourself” Oscar Wilde quote.

  • Claire

    February 25, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Gosh. So many would be perfect. “You are doing a F**ing great job” or the Velveteen Rabbit one….

  • LULU ROCKA

    February 25, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    My Choice:

    “And Delight Reigned”

    Thank you!!

  • Stacy

    February 25, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    Though She Be But Little by Shakespeare print – I love that quote!

  • Lindsey

    February 25, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    My friend would LOVE the “Though she be but little she is fierce.” It would be so perfect for her.

  • Gretchen Alice

    February 25, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    My BFF loves that Jeremy Taylor quote.

  • Elyse

    February 25, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    My BFF would lurve the “Everything You Can Imagine Is Real” print because the colors are lovely, it has a bear on it and the message is a Pablo Piccasso quote. So really, it’s a triple threat.

  • Amanda

    February 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    when i saw the “and delight will reign” print, i immediately thought of my bff emily. i would love for us both to own it, and think of happy times together when we see it.

  • Susan

    February 25, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    my bff’s are my daughters and they are both working hard in undergrad and grad school–definitely the “you are doing a f*ing great job!” print!

  • Audra Blair

    February 25, 2013 at 3:55 pm

    My BFF would love the Lucky print. It is her word of the year and it would make her chuckle each time she saw it. I have been a huge fan of Emily’s work for years now and the chance to gift a print would be great! Thank you!

  • Emily H.

    February 25, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    My BFF would love the “We are all awesome” print!!

  • Kristin Swanson

    February 25, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    My BFF would love to have and i would love to give her the Secret Garden print.

  • Megan

    February 25, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    I love the “And delight reined” my sister in law would looove the “though she be but little” print. She also already loves Emily McDowell!

  • Angie M.

    February 25, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    My best friend epitomizes “I would rather be lucky than good.” I would love to give her that print!

  • Chad M

    February 25, 2013 at 7:19 pm

    Best Friend Forever would for sure 100% love the “Just Always Be Waiting” print – she just got married and it would fit perfectly in their new love nest. : )

  • Libby

    February 25, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    My bff would love the Shakespeare print (Though She Be But Little) cause she’s a lot of personality in a shorter stature. Although she might get a real kick out of the ones with the more colorful language!!

  • Annie

    February 25, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    BFF would definitely love the Peter Pan print. A constant reminder of childhood whimsy.

  • Bonnie

    February 25, 2013 at 7:51 pm

    Love her work!

    My BFF would love the Oscar Wilde “Be Yourself” print – fond memories of being ridiculous together while growing up.

  • Laurice

    February 25, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    My BFF would enjoy the “You Are Doing A F&cking Great Job” Print

    🙂

  • Elle

    February 25, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/93608941/thank-you-for-existing-quote-print-11×14?

    Id like this one for my bestie, because she really needs to know this all the time. and when i need to go to work, this poster can step in for me!

  • Rebecca

    February 25, 2013 at 8:59 pm

    my friend would love the picasso quote because it has a bear!

  • Sarah Smith

    February 25, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    I think my BFF would like this one best: http://www.etsy.com/listing/116554852/design-mom-collection-peter-pan-print?, mostly because it is so simple and cute, and because it has the moon on it which she and I are both obsessed with. 🙂

  • Melissa Cetlin

    February 25, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    Oh definitely “though she be but little”. My bestie is a tiny girl and we love using the word fierce. It’s so perfect, if I don’t get this I can def see buying it for her anyways.

  • Jessica Herschberger

    February 25, 2013 at 10:21 pm

    My BFF would seriously love the “Love Will Save Us All” print. too cute!

  • Madeline

    February 25, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    My BFF in Chicago could use some delight reigning down on her right now. I love that print too!

  • Piia

    February 26, 2013 at 2:38 am

    Amazing, amazing, I love Emily’s work! My best friend moved to Panama recently, for her I’d pick the “I’m not afraid of Storms…”, actually I would love this print for myself as well, such a good message! Thank you for hosting this giveaway!!

  • Christina

    February 26, 2013 at 9:44 am

    Her prints are lovely + her sense of humor is great! I love her description along the artful print “Smile.” It’s too funny: I suffer from a condition called Chronic Unintentional B—-face. People I meet sometimes think I don’t like them, when I really do! I made this drawing to remind myself that smiling is totally not that hard, and makes everyone feel good. My bestie would love this one!

  • Teresa

    February 26, 2013 at 10:11 am

    I would love the Shakespeare print for my daughter as she was in Midsummer Night Dream and loved that line in the play! I have admired this print for a while and have it on my pinterest board. Thanks for the chance to win!

  • Jackie

    February 26, 2013 at 11:06 am

    Love is friendship set on fire! So perfect.

  • Michelle in N. Cal

    February 26, 2013 at 11:19 am

    Love Emily McDowell’s art! My BFF and I would love just about any of them but I will go with “Secure Your Own Mask.” Thank you!

  • Sarah D.

    February 26, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    My BFF would love the Anne of Green Gables Print!!

  • Maureen

    February 26, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    Both me and my best friend would love the print that says “This scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity…” Now that is an encouraging quote! I love Emily’s style — it’s simple, graphic and clean. And all of the quotes she has chosen to illustrate are inspiring. Hard to choose just one. Thanks for offering this giveaway. Hope I win. 😀

  • Marianne

    February 26, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    My bff would love the “You’re doing a … great job.”!

  • Michelle B

    February 26, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    My best friend would love the Picasso “Everything you can imagine is real” Bear print! And I would too!
    Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!

  • Kristin

    February 26, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    My BFF would love the Joan of Arc print, “I am not afraid. I was born to do this.”

    I’d love it, too!

  • karen

    February 26, 2013 at 6:38 pm

    everything you can imagine is real.
    love that one

  • Michael K.

    February 26, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    My sister just gave birth to her first child, a daughter. I would go with “Though she be but little, she is FIERCE!”
    I want it to be an inspiration for her

  • Patricia

    February 26, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    BBF would adore the Winston Churchill inspirational quote print “Do You Have Enemies”. She is one tough cookie and has stood up for both herself and her colleagues enough times to have rattled the chain of command. She may have enemies, as Churchill states, but she without a doubt took a stand and refused to budge. My BFF is one admirable gal!

  • Rosie

    February 26, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    She would definitely love the Winston Churchill print! This is such a fun and cute giveaway 🙂

  • CS

    February 27, 2013 at 3:07 am

    Winston Churchill’s do you have enemies quote has special resonance for all my dear friends in the public service as we see staff reduced and reduced and workloads continue to grow. Something’s gotta give …

  • anna

    February 27, 2013 at 5:47 am

    Totally in love with her store. My bf was named after Wendy in PeterPan so this one would be cute. { “Just always be waiting for me.” This was the last thing Peter Pan ever said to Wendy, before she grew up.}

  • Addie

    February 27, 2013 at 9:34 am

    I so want the little/fierce one for myself! But I think my BFF would like the “be yourself” one… 🙂

  • Madysen

    February 27, 2013 at 10:20 am

    Both my BFF and I could use the print: You and doing a f*ing great job. That is some much needed reassurance.

  • BridgetSoup

    February 27, 2013 at 10:56 am

    The little but fierce print for sure. Love that quote. SO many great prints to choose from… love them!

  • Kim

    February 27, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken” – awesome!

  • wolfie

    February 27, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    Though she be but little, she is fierce…

  • Bethany

    February 27, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    Oh man I’d get my husband/best friend the “Love Is Friendship Set On Fire” print for sure! These are all so great though!

  • Christa

    February 27, 2013 at 4:30 pm

    I love the picasso quote print. The peter pan quote print is perfect for my best friend.

  • Glynis

    February 27, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    My BFF would live them all but I would choose Amd Delight Reigned for her…and probably for me! LOVED her store, thanks for emptying my wallet. 🙂

  • Betsy

    February 27, 2013 at 6:38 pm

    My bestie would definitely like the tea quote from Alice in Wonderland, as most of our time together consists of tea sippin’.

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/120816660/design-mom-collection-its-always-tea?

  • shell

    February 27, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    Tea time! My hubby (BFF) and I met at a tea shop. Tea is kind of a big deal.

  • Charissa

    February 27, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    I love the Peter Pan “Just always be waiting for me.” print 🙂 so simple and elegant <3

  • Kelsey

    February 27, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    Amazing work! My favourites (hard to choose) are “tea time”, and “A Love Card for When You’re Kind of Together”

  • cait

    February 27, 2013 at 11:10 pm

    I love the “I am not afraid, I was born to do this” print

  • carina

    February 28, 2013 at 12:14 am

    Oh my, what a great giveaway! So excited to recently have learned about Emily’s amazing work and love that you two go way back. My BFF, Kathleen, would definitely love the “Don’t Shush Your Inner Voice…” print and although I love all the prints, I’m partial to the Louisa May Alcott quote, as it was the very first art I had on my wall as a kid – a gift from my mariner father.

  • DJ

    February 28, 2013 at 7:25 am

    I’ve always lusted over Emily Mcdowell’s prints. A BFF just had a little girl – I think they would both love the “be yourself, everyone else is taken” print (even though the little one can’t really focus here eyes yet… minor detail!).

  • Sarah

    March 1, 2013 at 2:51 am

    “Just always be waiting for me.”

    :’c *tear!

  • Shannon

    March 1, 2013 at 7:18 am

    My 5’1” BFF would love the “Though She Be But Little” print.

  • Katy Dennison

    March 1, 2013 at 7:56 am

    BE NICE TO YOURSELF! Ah, a theme for me in 2013 and one of my new year’s resolutions. So far, so good 🙂 I would love to hang that in my office as a reminder.

  • Andrea

    March 1, 2013 at 9:48 am

    My bff would love the Louisa May Alcott quote from Little Women

  • Suzanne

    March 1, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Fun giveaway! Definitely the “I love the shit out of you” print. I have such a soft spot for sentiment 🙂

  • Megan

    March 1, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    My best friend is a huge Anne of Green Gables fan -who isn’t? 🙂 She would love the “it is so much easier to be good..” quote. Fun giveaway!

  • Melanie

    March 1, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    Ohhh. And Delight Reigned! Gorgeous

  • Jen

    March 1, 2013 at 11:24 pm

    Definitely “the velveteen rabbit” quote

    love her store!

  • Casey

    March 1, 2013 at 11:53 pm

    I love her “and delight reigned” print, and I’ve actually wanted to buy it for my best friend for a while now! Would love to surprise her with it. 🙂

  • Melinda

    March 2, 2013 at 6:45 am

    Just gorgeous… So difficult to pick a favourite! There are so many beautiful and apt designs. Top three: be yourself, delight reigned, and sail my ship… Beautiful.

  • Ashley

    March 2, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    My best friend, who is really and truly the best, deserves the “I love the sh*t out of you” print because a) I do and b) we swear like sailors when we’re together.

  • Emily McDowell

    March 2, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    YOU GUYS! Thank you all so much for your kind words on my work! What a treat for me to get to read all these sweet comments and hear about all the different pieces that resonate for you, and why. Love it. xoxoxo

  • Elizabeth @ HobbyLobbyist

    March 3, 2013 at 12:03 am

    “though She Be But Little” would be great for my BFF!

  • Susan Schrock

    March 3, 2013 at 9:10 am

    The Velveteen Rabbit print – very true!

  • Linh

    March 3, 2013 at 9:22 am

    And Delight Reigned, because no matter what we do, it’s so much fun.

  • Jenna

    March 3, 2013 at 9:22 am

    My bff would love “I am not afraid, I was born to do this” because doing your own thing is scary!

  • Sarah

    March 3, 2013 at 9:43 am

    Gorgeous work! I think my pick for my BFF would have to be the “I am not afraid of Storms” print, which is also the one I’d probably have to pick for myself. And that’s probably why we’re BFFs!

  • Elana Dweck

    March 3, 2013 at 10:19 am

    I have a friend who needs the “You Are Doing A F&cking Great Job Print” on her wall pronto. Don’t we all need that print on our walls?

  • Christina

    March 3, 2013 at 10:32 am

    Love this contest! I would love to win the “it’s always tea time”, for my mom and I. 🙂

  • Casey R

    March 3, 2013 at 3:51 pm

    my bff would definitely love the “be yourself” print. such a fun giveaway!