I was contacted recently by Catstudio, a unique design shop whose Geography Collection I have long admired (ever since I spotted it in the Uncommon Goods catalog). They make hand-embroidered pillows, aprons, totes and trays featuring whimsical illustrations of the favorite places you have been to (or hope to visit)- across the U.S. and beyond. The pillows ($155 apiece) are a best-selling item for Catstudio. People snap these up as wedding gifts, anniversary gifts, and hostess gifts; they are perfect for remembering a honeymoon, hometown, or special destination. They are fun, colorful, sentimental, and educational all at once. 
These are no ordinary pillows. Many hours of research and handiwork go into each design. Each city, state, region or country is thoroughly researched before being turned into a sketch (“locals” are consulted to make sure the designers make smart choices in which landmarks to include- or not). Each pillow is embroidered entirely by hand. What results is an heirloom quality collectible- I received the New York City pillow and I know it will stay in my family for generations (it is already a collectible- it shows “Shea Stadium” instead of Citi Field!)
For our 3rd giveaway of the week, FIVE winners will be lucky enough to receive a Geography pillow of choice (pending availability). Each of these pillows retails for $155.
Win it! FIVE READERS will win their choice (pending availability) of a Geography pillow from Catstudio. Here are the contest rules (they have changed a bit- please read carefully!) Remember that you can enter as many of this week’s giveaways as you’d like now from now until Sunday, May 2nd at 11:59pm EST. Winners will be chosen by Random.org and announced on Monday morning, May 3rd (with the exception of the Minted.com giveaway whose deadline is tonight; that winner will be announced tomorrow, Thurs. April 29th).
1) Visit Catstudio and then leave a comment here about which Geography pillow you’d choose. Leave your comment on THIS post (click on “comments” below).
2) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, May 2nd. You may leave an extra entry if you are newsletter subscriber (please mention that you are a subscriber, or leave your e-mail address to subscribe). US addresses only, please.
3) FIVE WINNERS will be chosen at random (using Random.org) and announced on Monday morning, May 3rd.
4) NOTE: If you wish to be contacted by e-mail if you win, please include your e-mail address in your comment. Otherwise you must check back on Monday, May 3rd by 10am. If the prize is NOT claimed within 72 hours, the next random winner (using Random.org) will be contacted.
GOOD LUCK!
I would have to choose either the San Antonio Pillow for my brother and family who lives there or the California pillow for myself!
I'd choose the Kentucky pillow to remind me of my great college days at the University of Kentucky!
I'd pick the SC (state) pillow or the Jacksonville (city) pillow for my best friend.
I would have to get the NY or the California pillows!
zmama09 at yahoo dot com
The Atlanta or Paris pillow – would be a hard choice between my hometown or my favorite city!
My home is in DC, but my heart is in Paris. I love both pillows. I guess I would choose DC. Thanks for the chance at a fantastic giveaway!
I would love the Maryland pillow to remind me of home.
nadineandethan@sbcglobal.net
I have long been an admirer of these pillows. Love them and the craftmanship that goes into them. I would love the Florida pillow for my parents who have a house there.
bja7765@comcast.net
having relocated after 13 wonderful years of being a new yorker, i would love the nyc pillow to remind me of my favorite city in the world.
drydenw@msn.co
paris or new york for my sister in law's upcoming birthday!
moving from new york to florida was HUGE. i'll be happy with any (or both). love them all…act
Hellooo…LOUISIANA of course!! What and AWESOME give away!! This si soweird b/c I actually found an add for this pillow an have it pinned up in my cubicle at my design firm! LOVE IT! and would LOVE it for my new home- closing on Friday =)
This was easy… I've been coveting the LA pillow for years. They are stunning in person.
Sign me up for the newsletter too… (And it's still the LA pillow for me!)
karen2 at jarsky . com
Thanks!
I would love the Ohio pillow!
What a fun, but difficult decision on the wonderful pillows! I live in Illinois,my paternal grandmother came over from France and my son
and husband are traveling to Ireland very soon! So many memories, these pillows could represent! I most likely would go with Ireland as a
gift for my husband and son to remember their Father/Son trip!
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I am a subscriber to your email
newsletter! Merci, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I would choose the Utah Pillow;}
These are really cute and great gift ideas: give one to mom if you live in a different state!
Thank you for the opprotunity!
I subscribe via newletter;}
chacoyaguayoatyahoodotcom
I've thought about purchasing one of these pillows for myself for a while, but the money always seems to end up for something else. I'd choose my home state North Carolina. Amazing giveaway!
I guess I would have to choose PA or DE my two home states. Wish they had a Taiwan pillow!
I would definitely pick Nebraska! Both of my parents are from there even thought they now live in CT. I would give it to them as a gift for their anniversary!
I've always wanted one of these pillows. New York for me! JRG
Okay, this is a no brainer since I and my husband were born and raised in New York-how could that not be the one I would want.
However I also really like the Florida one-thinking it would make a great gift for my parent's condo in Florida!
I am a midwest gal so I would probably pick Mpls/St. Paul pillow or WI pillow. I am very tempted by the Virgin Islands pillow too. They are pretty. PS I am a newsletter subscriber
Anna C.
This is AWESOME!! I've seen these before and think they are the cutest things. It's nice to know where to find them, thanks. I would choose Alabama!
gomeggo[at]gmail[dot]com
I get your email. Thanks!!
gomeggo[at]gmail[dot]com
I would choose the Arizona pillow.
aspc23@yahoo.com
Can you please subscribe me to your newsletter? I am a big fan of your site!
aspc23@yahoo.com
I've always loved these pillows!!! I just noticed the North Pole one today and I think it is adorable.
Definitely my homestate of Michigan to share with my sister who recently relocated.
I would love the Oklahoma pillow as a reminder of my college years!
But the NYC pillow would also be nice becuase thats where I live now.
maria.k.davidsson@gmail.com
I have had my eye on the Alabama pillow for some time now! My hometown, Huntsville, even gets a shout-out! These pillows are so great! zupkosarah (at) gmail (dot) com
Chicago, for sure! Thanks for the chance.
PTrippiedi@aol.com
I would choose the NY pillow!!
lmg3378@aol.com
NYC pillow, of course (I've only lived here my whole life!)
I would definitely choose the West Virginia pillow – love seeing all the places I love to visit.
I love these pillows! I'd either choose New York, as it's where my husband and I met and where we live now, or Pennsylvania, where I grew up and where both of us went to school (before we knew each other).
Those are really fun! I think I'd want the Dallas one since that is where I grew up!
I'd probably choose SF (hometown), but would have to seriously consider NYC for the time I spent living there! Very creative and fun!
mmatosian(at)hotmail(dot)com
This is hard- I'd love the Iowa pillow to remind me of home but I'd love to get the San Diego pillow for my hubby to remind him of home! Too bad I didn't grow up in San Diego!
i wish they would have Germany
so i would choose Nebraska for my Hubby ( Hometown )
i also subscribed to your newsletter
cdm65atmaildotcom
I'm not sure if i'd pick PA or the north pole
I love the Italy and Paris pillows!
love this for my sis: WASHINGTON ST. PILLOW
subscribe to u!
So cool! Love New Jersey, North Pole and America!
aimeemfriedrich@yahoo.com
I'd pick the Paris pillow. So pretty.
applez_55@yahoo.com
I love the Florida one since that is where we live!
ykatrina at hotmail dot com
This would take me a few hours to choose just one pillow. Do you go with something from home, California or San Diego or your fave city in the world, NYC , or a wonderful vacay that you will never forget, England, just too many possibilities, they are beautiful!
please add me to your newsletter
samandsib @ Hotmail
I'd choose the Iowa pillow because I grew up there! Such cute pillows!
lsb13@comcast.net
I would love to have the Nantucket pillow, since we have spent many summer vacations there as a family– what a great reminder of such happy memories!
I totally know which one I'd want!!! England!!! My husband and I are headed there this fall for a little getaway and that would be so fun to have as a souvenir!
Definitely Boston! Thanks!
I would choose the America pillow.
SamneneD@aol.com
I would love to have NY pillow.
Thanks.
cnsakar@msn.com
I'd pick the Michigan pillow. All of them are wonderful though!
I want to subscribe (I couldn't find where on your site)
My email: racergirl1313(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
i would choose the cape cod pillow- a perfect gift for my parents!
I'd love the New York City Pillow!
cabonargibaby (at) yahoo (dot) com
I would choose the Cape Cod pillow…nest vacation memories made there! Thanks!
Willlily@optonline.net
i could choose the idaho pillow for my kids since thats where they were born
j.mcdilda at gmail dot com
I would pick the North Pole Pillow, 1st Edition. I LOVE IT!!!
hotpepper71 at bell south dot net
I emailed you about being a newsletter subscriber.
hotpepper71 at bell south dot net
I would pick my home state of Indiana
I am a subscriber
I would ♥LOVE♥ to win a GEORGIA Pillow!!!!!
debevans at bellsouth dot com
These pillows are AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL!!
I would love to win the Houston pillow!
Thanks for the opp!
jane and jimbo at yahoo dot com
I'd absolutely love to have the England pillow because my husband is from England and we've had a few wonderful trips there.
I would love to subscribe to the newsletter –
janeandjimbo at yahoo dot com
Thanks!
I'd choose the 'France' pillow! It's so so lovely!
heatheranne99 at gmail dot com
And please add me to your newsletter! Pretty please of course!
xo
heatheranne99 at gmail dot com
These pillows are beautiful. I'd choose Pennsylvania, or Paris!
I subcribe to your newsletter bailecm5 at hotmail dot com
I have always been a big fan of these items. Alaska would be pillow of choice for me. My husband's home state and it holds many fantastic memories of fishing, camping, Christmas's, engagements etc for us!
I am a news letter subscriber and love the NY pillow! Jennifer G.
i likey;} i would get the Utah pillow. what a great gift idea for mother's day, get your mom a pillow of where you and your family live-if your not close to home;}
chacoyaguayoatyahoodotcom
I love thE PARIS AND NEW York one
janow at yahoo dot com
the Florida pillow!
email:
celeste@mail4me.com
I'd choose the Paris pillow b/c that's where I honeymooned!
faganrl@yahoo.com
Gotta go with our home state of Washington.
I would choose the italy pillow
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I love Catstudio and have pillows for the 3 states I've lived in, hubby has gotten them for me over the years. I would love to have the America pillow or the Yellowstone pillow to go with them!
e-mail: someluckydog at gmail dot com
I sent an e-mail to subscribe!
someluckydog at gmail dot com
I would choose the Hawaii pillow…these are awesome!
mainlandmama at gmail dot com
Please subscribe me
mainlandmama at gmail dot com
How lovely the California pillow will look on my couch in New York! Beautiful pillows!
I'd pick either Pennsylvania for my grandkids' birthplace, Minnesota for my daughter's birthplace or Kentucky as my homestate!
jdwoods@qx.net
I would choose the Pennsylvania pillow, although the America one is a close second. Beautiful!
I'm a newsletter subscriber. tmp95 at comcast dot net
I would choose the Missouri pillow.
romancingthestork (at) gmail (dot) com
i would LOVE to have the england pillow!
kshuttle@uoguelph.ca
These pillows are AMAZING! I am going to tell all my relatives about them! My favorite has to be the Austin pillow because it reminds me of living there when my husband and I went to college. Thanks so much!
foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
Please add me to your newsletter:
foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
my, my those are cute!!! i'd have to pick nyc b/c that's where i live…but the paris one will be on my "to buy" list b/c je taime…..
I would choose the Louisiana one
I would choose the France pillow.
elena.cacahuete(at)gmail(dot)com
Sent you a request for subscription.
elena.cacahuete(at)gmail(dot)com
I would pick NC – my state. It even has my city on the pillow! Love it!
signed up for email subscription
Wow, they are really pretty! I was surprised to find Israel pillow. That's the one I want!
I'd love the Maryland pillow since I live there. Looks great! tylerpants(at)gmail.com
I'm a newsletter subscriber. tylerpants(at)gmail.com
OMG, I can't believe that this is where 'those' pillows come from. Saw a Delaware pillow in a youtube video (been on facebook awhile) and it shows a picture of a Delaware pillow at the end. Everyone (of course) asked where it was from and wanted one but no one was ever able to find it (til now) Hoping I win one (that would be awesome!!)
Jane (@ snanimals .com
I'd pick either the New York pillow or the Adirondack pillow, I can't choose! I'd probably have to flip a coin if I win.
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/13245086261
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com
there are some wonderful choices, but i'd like to have the "the Hamptons" pillow, and thank you for the chance!
ranmel(at)televar(dot)com
We're in Greenfield, so I'd go with the MA pillow! Love Uncommon Goods too!
judychrz at gmail.com
My fave is the NYC pillow. So cool!
I'm a newsletter subscriber!
its a tough pick i would go with washington st or a national park thanks for the chance eaglesforjack@gmail.com
isubscribe thanks for the chance
Ohio!!!!
Love it!
I really am impressed with these pillows…I love the America, Ohio or Great Lakes pillows especially!
The Ohio one would be a gft for a lovely lady who is from another land, but lives here now.
What stunning work, and a delightful idea!
pumpkinlady430@yahoo.com
I like the France pillow. Reminds me of my family…
Ohio pillow!!!
Pennsylvania pillow! My little town is on the pillow!
michelinaz at hotmail
I'm not sure if I'm signed up for the newsletter but if not, please sign me up at michelinaz at hotmail dot com.
I love the Paris one! Thanks for the opportunity!
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