Another Project Completed...

Brynwood Needleworks - Alice's Teacup Pincushions - Silk Flower Detail

 

I finished the order for five of my BW exclusive Alice's Teacup Pincushions. I so enjoy sitting down with needle, thread and silk ribbon to create something lovely.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Alice's Teacup Pincushions - Dormouse and Teaspoon Detail

 

I did manage to find one Schleik mouse (now discontinued, and expensive in secondary collector's market) that didn't cost an arm and a leg, so I'll be able to make one more of these for myself. The mouse was actually white, but I painted all of them in dormouse colors for each of the pincushions I've made like these in the past couple of years. I think they turned out really cute.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Five Finished Alice's Teacup Pincushions

 

So they're all finished now. I'll wrap them carefully in tissue and bubble wrap, pack them each into their own box, and then all of them into a larger box to be sure they arrive in Florida safely. They'll be mailing out today, and then I'll start on another special order. 

 

I want to complete all my outstanding orders before I go in for surgery next Tuesday. Then, I can just concentrate on healing, and shipping out any ready-made orders that come into my shop during the sale I'm running. (Check THIS post if you don't know about the sale yet.)

 

I'll be staying home for Thanksgiving, so I'll have an extra day to sew. Tag, Bella and I will have a productive, quiet day together watching a Hallmark movie or two while I play in the studio. What do you have planned?

Works In Progress...

Brynwood Needleworks - Exclusive Alice's Teacup Pincushions In Progress

This is what I worked on over the weekend. I'll finish them up today or tomorrow. My own design - Alice's Teacup Pincushions - for a client. The dormouse is always early! I'd better get these completed soon. I don't want to be late!

 

Alice's Teacup Pincushion...

Brynwood Needleworks - Alice's Teacup Pincushion

I'm making six of these teacup pincushions right now. I have a custom order for five of them, and will keep one for myself. After that, I don't have any more of the parts (dormouse, matching rose teaspoons and the little clock buttons) to make more. In fact, I tried to purchase more of the little mice (which I painted brown), and I guess they're collectibles. They were going to cost me $30+ each!!

So, the majority will go to my client, and one will stay in my studio. Usually, I keep the first one of a new design. This time, I'll keep the last one. I'm going to get these finished, and then I'll be shipping them off to my client. They're so much fun to make! I mean, who doesn't enjoy a tea party?

Playing In The Studio...

Brynwood Needleworks - "Alice's Teacup" Pincushions

 

Handsome and I put up our outdoor Christmas lights yesterday, and then I went to the studio to work on a commission. When I'm finished, there will be five of these Alice's Teacup Pincushions for my client. The dormouse is sitting on her teaspoon, and the cushion is filled with organic wool. I made the silk ribbon roses to embellish the area above the handles.

 

Today, we have an appointment in the morning, and after we get back home, I'll be working on three more bag orders. I won't be taking on any new commissions now, so I can get my Christmas gift sewing done, too. I'll be back to business as usual after Christmas. Of course, my shop will remain open, and the ready-mades will go out as ordered.

I'll share more decorating photos later in the week, as we "deck out" the farmhouse. Are you already decorated, or are you behind waiting like I am?

My First Blog Birthday Celebration Winners...

Well, the big day is finally here! I really wish I could have given a little something to everyone who entered, but rest assured, I'll have another cool giveaway soon! So, without further delay, I'd like to announce all the winners of my Alice in Wonderland-themed First Blog Birthday Celebration...

The winner of Alice's Necklace is
Jann from A Vintage Heart
The THREE Winners of Alice's Teacup Pincushions are:
Theresa from Faerie Moon Creations
Cath U from Cathron Country
and
Lisa from Tarnished and Tattered

There are SIX Winners of Alice's Bookmarks.
Here are the winners:
Andi's English Attic
Shirley from Shirleystitches
Dee Dee from Dee Dee's Craftspot*
Brenda from Ladybug Dreams
Snap from Tales From Twisty Lane
and
Marcie from The Rustic Victorian*
Last, but certainly not least,
There are FOUR Winners of Alice's Needle Keeps.
They are:
Rose from Bella Rosa
Missy from Crafting With Cat Hair
Kim from Starshine Chic
and
Nelly from Bella Nella's

Congratulations to all the winners. Now, I need each of you to contact me with your full name and address. Please put "WINNER'S ADDRESS" in the subject line so I don't miss your message. If I put an asterisk (*) after your name, I already have your address and will have your gift on its way to you this week.

If I don't hear back from you by Friday, I'll draw a new name and you'll miss out on your prize.

Please click on each winner's link to visit their beautiful blogs and congratulate them!

I've posted my first entry on Button Floozies! You can read it here.

Mad Hatters and Dormice...

All the Alice in Wonderland gifts are finished and waiting to go to new homes. Teacups with dormice, Mad Hatter's Tea Party needle keeps, bookmarks, and that beautiful necklace, which I can't wait to share with the lucky winners.

You still have until 9 pm on March 31st to enter.
Don't be late! The party will be ending soon!
**You have to go to THIS POST to enter**
I'll announce the celebration winners in my April 1st post.

Ginger at Bearbits is having a giveaway and it also ends on the 31st.
Click on Blossom bear to visit her blog to enter.

If you go to my giveaway page, you can find out who the winners were for all the recent giveaways I linked to for you.

Thanks to everyone for the compliments on my new sweater. I really appreciate all your kind words.

Handsome and I are taking Kes to her vet appointment today. I'll let you know what we find out tomorrow. We're saying our prayers around here...and Kessie is getting lots of loving attention these days.

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!