It's My First Blog Birthday...

Today is Brynwood blog's FIRST Birthday! I started writing to you on March 15, 2009, and I have written a total of 326 posts! I never knew when I started, how much joy and how many new friendships this endeavor would bring my way.

The celebration is about to begin and I'm so excited! I've been waiting for you! This party is by invitation for my followers, but they can invite their friends, too. So if you're a guest who isn't a follower yet, you'll want to sign up right away. It's ok. There's still time! It's going to be a grand time!I've set the table with tea and cookies, but you'll also find among the party hats and refreshments, all kinds of goodies that I'll be sharing with some lucky followers when I draw names at the end of March.

Because it's March, and because Alice has visited Brynwood before, I couldn't think of a better theme than Alice in Wonderland. Many of my gifts feature Alice, The March Hare, The Dormouse and The Mad Hatter himself! So, the first thing I want you to do is grab your party hats. Hmmmm, should I wear this one?

or do you think this one is more "me"?

(I know...you're all gonna tell me how much
I look like my mum again, aren't you?)

Now, to show you the gifts I'll be sharing for this celebration...

My dear friend, Lenore, makes the most beautiful jewelry. I'm going to share one of her handcrafted crystal heart necklaces with you in Alice's favorite blue and white...just like her dress and pinafore! One lucky winner will receive this necklace from me.

With the exception of this necklace (and the b/w Alice charms I used for the bookmarks) all other prizes have been handcrafted by moi - Mrs. Brynwood Birthday Girl, myself!

THREE lucky followers will win one of Alice's Teacup Pincushions!

Each teacup pincushion is embellished with French silk ribbon roses and velvet leaves, with a tiny clock button on a creamy fabric. There is tea-dyed crocheted lace around the edge of each cup, and look! Under the edge of the cup...sitting on a tiny demitasse spoon is a little mouse. The dormouse is brown, and I could only find white mice. So, I painted them brown for the pincushions, but I had to put a mouse on Alice's Teacup Pincushion! After all, The Dormouse slept in a teacup at the Hatter's party!

I know how much y'all like to read, so I've made Alice in Wonderland velvet ribbon bookmarks, too. Each one is different with a different "Alice" charm on each end of the ribbon. SIX lucky followers will win one each!

It seems that my Brynwood Needle Keeps were a big hit last time I had them in a giveaway, so I've made FOUR Brynwood Needle Keeps with an Alice in Wonderland theme. I used Alice fabric outside and inside each one, and I added my signature acorn charm to the inside.

I'm even going to add a Queen of Hearts stickpin

inside each pin keep for each of the winners!

So, let's get this party started!

You can only win if you publicly follow Brynwood Needleworks.
After all, you've had to listen to me carry on throughout this first year.
There should be some special chance at compensation for you, right?

The Fine Print:
If you're already a Brynwood follower (or want to become a follower now):

• Leave a comment on this post only for one entry in the drawings. I'd love to know you're favorite thing(s) in the giveaway.
• Leave another comment (here only, too) if you post my giveaway on your blog - or put my celebration button on your sidebar.

That's it.

This drawing will close on March 31st at 9 pm ET.
I'll choose the winners using Random.org,
using the well-known Random Number Generator.
I will announce the winners on April 1st...
and I promise there won't be any April Fools!

You may use any photographs in this post for your blog -
and feel free to take the Celebration button, too for your sidebar.
Don't forget to link it back to this post!

If you don't have a blog, be sure to leave an email address or another way for me to reach you if you win. I'll draw another name from The Mad Hatter's hat if I don't know how to find you.

By my count, there will be a total of FOURTEEN sweet winners in this giveaway celebration. Good luck to all of you. I appreciate each and every one of you every day of my life. Oh, and please do take a cookie before you leave!

3/31/10 - 9:08 pm. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED! THE GIVEAWAY DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED.

You know you can click on any of the photos to enlarge them, right?

By the way - You might want to see what else I've been doing by visiting the Boutique. I have a few Alice-themed goodies over there for sale, too!