For those with questions.........

If you are new to this blog and/or this event and are still unsure what it's all about......click HERE or just scroll down to the first post for ALL the details!!!

REMEMBER: You must have a current and active blog to be a participant . The reason for this is that it is a blogwide event so that bloggers can greet and meet people/blogs they may not otherwise know of. ALSO, there must be a way on your blog for comments as this is how people enter your giveaway. UPDATED: It was brought to my attention about those wanting to enter to win a giveaway be allowed even if they don't have a blog..........in thinking about this I am going to leave that up to YOU! If you have a giveaway and would like to open it up to ANYONE who can comment then please do so. I want everyone to be happy, that's the point of this. Obviously you still must have a blog to do a giveaway, that stands to reason!

I hope this helps but after reading the explanation you STILL have questions feel free to email me but be sure and include your blog address in your email.

Let's have fun!!!!!!!!

COUNTING DOWN............

OK Bloglandia........there is ONE week until the official kick off of this event! (we have some fun early birds already on the list in the sidebar)
Be SURE that when your giveaway is ready that you leave the LINK TO THAT POST here in comments so I can add you! IF you aren't ready on the 1st never fear.....as long as you leave some time for people to get around to you when you ARE ready that's fine.

If you are not offering a giveaway you MOST CERTAINLY CAN enter your name to win something anyway. Meet and mingle!

Keep checking the PARTICIPANT list on the side bar as new people are added all the time! AND please tell your friends, there is still plenty of time to get involved!!!!

XOXO

Just an event FYI

A couple of bloggers have already posted their giveaways.......that's truly fine... I will put up ready links for anyone who wants to start early.......I would just ask that you wait to announce your winner or winnerS until Valentines Day. The event officially kicks off on February 1st so do NOT worry if you don't know yet what yours will be (like me)............you still have plenty of time.

Remember, if you have any questions please feel free to email me anytime!
EDITED TO ANSWER A GOOD QUESTION: once you have posted your giveaway ANYONE (who has a blog) can leave a comment to win the item(s). EVEN IF you are not participating with a giveaway you can still enter to win on the various blogs. The point is to find new blogs, meet new people.

EDITED AGAIN TO ADD: Be sure that your blog is set up to receive comments. ELLIE, yours is set up for only Team Members so no one can leave a comment....you'll have to open your blog comments for anyone in order for people to enter your giveaway. Email me with any questions.

XOXO
.......and thank you for all the supportive comments on the "Side Note" post. It really is going to be fun!

A Side Note

I know some who read about the ONE World-ONE Heart event may think it's frivolous and unnecessary. It won't be the catalyst to world peace or feed the hungry, house the homeless and so on. Some may feel why not giveaway to a worthy cause instead of people vying for an item(s) they don't need. Well I am here to say that although, and without question, those and so much more ARE vitally important and should be attended to ALL the time........my intention for this and last years event was for people to meet. The blogging world is vast with more created all the time....and through blogging we can learn new things, read about other countries, learn of new ways to promote those vital issues, support causes as well as learn about new artists, writers, photographers et al. By having a list of those with a giveaway it is like a home tour with a map......going from place to place to see how others "live" and perhaps along the way make fabulous new connections and maybe win a door prize in the process.
The giveaway portion is entirely up to the individual and a donation to a charity in the winners name is also an option if anyone so desired.
We are all located in varied geographical locations...and in our every day lives the chance to meet otherwise is pretty much nonexistent for the most part. Through the blogging world we have that opportunity and through these chance encounters we may find those who can enrich our lives in many different ways. Through things like the Bloglandia Ball, the Halloween Party,the blogwide tea party, swaps and so on.....or checking out blogs on someones side bar list or through a new comment....we also find and meet new and wondrous people. In this case not only will you have the chance to do that BUT you may win something in the process....and the list will be right here for you to cruise through.
So I hope you will take this event in which it was intended........a big meet and mingle full of joy.

Thank you for listening.
XOXO
Love, Lisa Oceandreamer

THIS YEARS EVENT INFORMATION

Welcome to the ONE World-ONE Heart blog. I am Lisa Oceandreamer from Heart of the Nest and Imagination Cafe. I am your host for this event(the second annual) THIS blog will be the place to get information AND when the time comes to leave your link if you are participating.

What IS ONE World-ONE Heart?

It is a blog-wide giveaway event. The original idea behind this was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way. Last years event had nearly 100 participants and many connections were made because of it......friendships that are still going strong.
How do you become a participant?
To be a participant in the event all you have to do is offer up something to giveaway. It can be handmade, which is encouraged but not mandatory. You can offer up more than one item so there is more than one winner if you like. The giveaway item(s) are entirely up to you. Once you have determined what your giveaway will be you will must post pictures of whatever it is in a post on your blog. You will then come to this blog and in the comments leave the link to THAT post! NOW THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT leave a link just to your blog....it must be to the actual giveaway post. This enables those going blog to blog to get to it immediately without having to scroll to find it. Also DO NOT leave a link UNTIL that post is up and ready. You need not comment to say "I will be participating" ahead of time. As the giveaway posts are ready and you then leave the link to it here I will add it to the list of participants that will be on the sidebar. You can check as often as you like so you can be sure and visit those on the list throughout the event. Please know if you have ANY questions ask away.......I will try to answer questions as fast as possible either through email or in a post here on this blog.

When is this event?

Last year it was done in March with the giveaway date being the first day of Spring. THIS YEAR the giveaway date will be Valentines Day - February 14th. That is 5 weeks away. On February 1st or as close to that as possible you should post your giveaway. This will give two weeks for people to get to your blog and enter their name. You should end the chance to enter by the evening of the 13th.........there are time differences to consider so keep that in mind. Winners should be announced on your blog on the 14th(or as close to that as possible). I will try to go from blog to blog to see who has announced their winner(s) and will change the color of that blog on the participant list to indicate that. This way when you check the sidebar you will know who has done so.

Who can enter a giveaway?

Those who leave their name in to win your item MUST have a current and active blog. You should be able to click on that persons name in comments to see that a blog is active or they should leave a link to their blog. The reason for this is that the idea behind the event is to meet, visit and get to know new BLOGGERS.

It will be up to the person holding the giveaway as to who an enter....some may require the person have a current blog and others may want to open it to anyone. That will be the individuals choice.

Also keep in mind that this is open around the world so there will be some international shipping involved if your winner(s) live outside the US or whatever country you are in. Weight and size of item(s) should be considered AND some countries do not allow certain items like feathers, leaves and things like that. (if you are making something that may contain those items)
How do you pick a winner(s) and what happens after the winner(s) is announced on your blog?

How you choose the winner(s) is up to you. Some write the names or print out the comments and cut them up....put them in something and do a random draw. There is also a random number generator that was created by the husband of Carrie at Violets Are Blue. To use the number generator you need to count the number of comments entering your giveaway. Put in a 1 to whatever the highest number you have and hit pick a number. Whatever number is chosen you then count down from the top of your comment list to that number to find the winner. These are only suggestions.....how you choose the winner is, again, entirely up to you.
Once yo have a winner or winners and announce it- you must instruct them to contact you via email with their mailing address and a link to their blog.......so be sure there is an email addy they can send it to. Winning items should be mailed as soon as possible but no later than the end of February. If there should be a delay the courteous thing to do would be communicate that to your winner(s). Once the winner has received their winnings it would be nice if they acknowledged that on their blog as well.



The above is the badge you can add to your sidebar if you plan to participate as well as add it to your giveaway post. The more we get the word out the more participants we'll have, giving many who may not have taken part last year or never heard of it a chance to be included. So if you could begin pointing others to this blog that would be fantastic. There is a code but each time I add it the image comes up so if you would like it please email me. In the meantime you can also right click and copy/paste it.

IF I HAVE NOT ANSWERED A QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE OR SOMETHING ISN'T CLEAR.....PLEASE EMAIL ME (SEE SIDE BAR)!! I DON'T WANT ANYONE LEFT OUT!

YOU HAVE 2 WEEKS TO GET YOUR GIVEAWAY TOGETHER - I SO HOPE YOU WILL BE PARTICIPATING AND JOINING HEARTS!