I'm Not Nuts - Really...

Handsome had a fabulous band concert last night. We had planned an after-concert party at our house for a number of the musicians and their spouses, so I got a late start on my post for today. We had a ball, and as soon as I process the concert videos I'll be adding a few numbers to the list on my sidebar.

I want to show you three new residents at Brynwood today, though, so let me begin the introductions.

When I got ready to leave Wisconsin early this month, Deb surprised me.  I walked out of Grace's house to find these three critters on the hood of my Explorer to take home with me!

This one is my favorite. He's heavy, and I like that he's so lifelike. He is keeping me company in the studio for now. Perhaps he'll eventually end up on the covered lanai, but for now I like having him close.

This one is ceramic, so he's more fragile. I haven't decided where I'll put him, but I know he'll be in a safe place where certain corgis can't knock him over and break him. (We won't mention any names.)

The third one is more "cute-sy", but Grace liked him so that's good enough for me. He's not breakable, but I'll have to keep him out of direct sun and weather. Perhaps the table in the entry would be a good place for him?

I think they should have names. Don't you? Let me know if you have any ideas.

Tag has a vet appointment today. We're going to meet and go through a number of precautionary bloodwork and exams before we schedule his "nootering" appointment next week. I'm not telling him about it at all. What he doesn't know...

Tomorrow night is the drawing for my Blog Birthday giveaway! Be sure to get your name in the drawing if you haven't done so yet! (I'm just might add a few surprises!)

See you tomorrow.

Celebrating My Third Blog Anniversary...

Yahoo!

"There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate and party with you."

Have I got you hummin' and dancin' yet?

Who would have thought when I started writing this daily journal

to myself on March 15, 2009, that I would still be writing -

and have all of you, my blog friends, sharing my days with me?

I've had so much fun doing this, mostly because I've had all the

kind words and friendship to lift me up, so to thank you,

I think this celebration calls for another giveaway!

 One lucky person will have 
their choice of the following gifts.

 

Photo courtesy of Pier One

 A $30 Gift Card from Pier One Imports

or

Photo Courtesy of McCall's Quilting Magazine

  Perhaps you'd rather choose a dvd of

one year's worth of McCall's Quilting Magazine?

or

Photo courtesy of PieceWork Magazine

 You might be a needleworker or knitter

who would swoon over a 1 year collection on cd

from 

Piecework Magazine?

My Third Blog Anniversary Giveaway 

will end at 10 pm • March 31st.

All you need to do to enter is 
leave a comment on this post

and

be a follower of my blog.

Remember, I think that if you're willing to follow my musings on a regular basis, you deserve a little compensation! I only wish that I could reward each and every one of you for putting up with me for three whole years! I appreciate your friendship beyond words.

"It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure?
Everyone around the world
Come on!
Yahoo! It's a celebration
Yahoo!"

I just know you're dancing now! So, just leave a little note for me and you'll be entered in the drawing. That simple! Good luck everyone!

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED 11:30 PM, MARCH 31ST

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED. 

UPDATE: TERRI SUE (#29) won.

She chose the Pier One gift card.

Congratulations, Terri Sue!

PS. In case you didn't recognize it, those are part of the lyrics from Cool and The Gang's "Celebrate"!

Beads on the Beach...

My "secret" commission project is finished!
It's a beaded clutch.
Yesterday, I went to A Good Yarn in Sarasota to show

the finished piece to my client, Susan, who owns the shop.

The clutch features a Lorna's Laces sport weight yarn,
dyed especially for Susan's shop. The color is called "A Good Beach",
hence the name for my piece - "Beads on the Beach Clutch"!
It also incorporates beads from Deanna's Vintage Styles.

My project was to create a pattern for a new class
that I'll be teaching for the shop using this yarn.

I have a few small changes for the finished piece,
including creating a unique button for it.
I've placed a seashell where it will become a button.

I'll do a little tutorial for you next week to show
you how I transform it to "buttonhood", but I had
to show it to you now as you've been so very patient.

I finished the inside of the clutch with linen fabric,
making sure it has the requisite pockets, too!
Just the right size for a cell phone, credit card,
cash, vintage hankie and lip gloss!

Wouldn't you just love this as a memento of
warm, sunny days spent lounging on a Florida beach
(or dreaming of a romantic beach getaway)?

So, what do you think? Do you love it or hate it? Be honest now...
I'd really appreciate your feedback.

If you're interested in taking my class, or
purchasing the kit to make at home,
it will be available in April or early May from Susan
(once I finish proofing the pattern,
and the next shipment of the yarn arrives in the shop).
She'd be happy to send you your own kit!
I'll let you know as soon as they're available.

If you're not a knitter, I'll be making finished clutches available
for purchase in the Boutique. I plan to list them up in April.

Next in the studio, though, is The Wedding Gown Project...
(I hope you'll be back to visit as I progress
from fabric to finished gown over the next couple of weeks!)
Oh, and I'm not crowing, but you have to go to see my friend,
Anne at Fiona and Twig
to read the incredibly wonderful post she wrote about me Saturday.
Made me a little weepy, it did.
Thanks again, Anne.

There's still time to enter my First Blog Birthday Celebration if you haven't done so yet. I'm trying to get around to visit all my new follower friends. If I haven't visited you yet, I promise I'll get there and leave a message for you as soon as I can. I'm really enjoying seeing how creative all of you are. And, if you don't have a blog, no worries! I look forward to getting to know you better, too.

Good luck to all of you in the drawings. I wish I could give a little something to each and every one of you, but if you keep reading and following along, I'll do my best to remedy that in the future.

Thanks to everyone who took my poll about the static or scrolling Etsy widgets. The static widget won, hands down, so I've removed the one that scrolls. I really appreciate your input!

On My Needles...

I'm currently working to complete a commissioned project. It's a special edition yarn, and the design incorporates more beadwork. I'll show you the whole project as soon as it's finished - and the person who commissioned the work sees it. Pretty cryptic, huh?

I've added more giveaway goodness links to my left sidebar, so you'll want to visit all the other blogs who are celebrating their own milestones. Don't forget we're still celebrating right here at Brynwood! (Poor dormouse. He's sleeping in the teacup again!) Just click on my giveaway button to enter...and if you invite your friends, you get extra credit!

Back to my needles. I can't show you until I'm finished!

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!

March Silver Sunday...

Welcome to another Silver Sunday, hosted by Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal. I want to share my sweet silver Nantucket Basket dish, along with my set of silver Nantucket Basket napkin rings.

Reminiscent of October days spent with loved ones on an island rich in history and quaintness. These silver pieces remind me of Candle House, The Wharf, Felicite', a family wedding, a family vacation, beef stew prepared by the Liljegren women for our men returning from a day of fishing on the cold sea. Unlike the women of old Nantucket, we awaited their return from the warmth of the kitchen, rather than the windy, widow's walk at the top of the house.

Make a cup of tea, relax and then click here to go to Gypsy Fish Journal and her list of Silver Sunday participants. We only gather once a month now, and personally, I can't wait to see the other silver goodness on display today!

Alright. I've heard you teasing for another peek at my party preparations. I always try to oblige, so here you go. One more quick peek. (Well, actually, you can click on the image and get a really good gander!)

I'm setting the table for tomorrow's party. (For those of you who don't know yet...March 15th is Brynwood's First Birthday Celebration. It's going to be an Alice In Wonderland theme!) You're all invited to join me tomorrow! Grab your fancy hat and I'll bring the rest! Don't you just love a party? I can hardly wait.

Well, Just A Peek, Then...

I'm busy in the studio these days. I'm preparing for my First Blog Birthday Celebration...and making new items for the Boutique, too. I know you want a peek. Am I right?

Yesterday was spent with duppioni silk fabric, French silk ribbons, photo transfers on silk, glass beads and vintage buttons. Scrumptious, sweet, unique and soft. I can't wait to share it all with you.

There's a tea party being planned for March 15th, and I want to make sure you're all invited! All will be revealed soon, my friends. Very soon.

I've Got Mail...

I was pretty excited to find boxes waiting for me when I returned from Wisconsin! Troy over at Junk Exchange had shown photos of their booth in Canton on his blog one day, and when I saw baby shoes, I contacted Troy to see if he'd ship a pair to me. He was happy to set aside a pair, then I transmitted payment via our favorite online method and they were here when I returned! Aren't they sweet? They arrived with the shred inside them, so I think I'll just enjoy them like this for a while as I decide what I'll do with them.

You know, anytime you see something that a blogger is selling - even if it's for a booth - you can try contacting them and asking to purchase from them. That's how I received some goodies from Debra at Common Ground and a few others, including Troy. (Oooo, perhaps Dawn at The Feathered Nest would be willing to mail from her new booth, too!) If you love it, I'm sure they'll ship. Anyway, it never hurts to try. Right?

I'm also busy working on the items for my upcoming First Blog Birthday Celebration. I'm sure you've noticed my beautiful, big celebration button over in my left sidebar, so you already know the theme. I'll have multiple gifts again, so there will be multiple happy winners for this celebration. The fun starts March 15th, and it will be for Brynwood followers only.

Oh, before I forget...I still haven't heard from Jeanette from Sweet Jeanette. If you're pals with her, please let her know that I still need her address to send the Grand Prize from my last giveaway to her. I've tried contacting her through her blog (again yesterday), and still no reply. I really want to ship out the package of goodness, but am stumped. (Heck, if someone has her address, please send me an email and I can send it off to surprise her!) THURSDAY MORNING EDIT: Sweet Jeanette saw my post today and I now have her address. Her giveaway package will be on its way to her house! Woo hoo, Jeanette!

Almost all the other prizes have been sent, so if you haven't received your package yet, please contact me. I know only one other person still hasn't contacted me with their address (an egg timer winner). Hmmm... maybe they don't want their prizes? Do you think?

Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal is having a giveaway. She'll be drawing a lucky winner on March 24th, so be sure to stop over and say hello. She has such a lovely place to visit! Just click on her photo to check out her blog. I'll be joining her again, along with the other bloggers participating in her Silver Sunday event this weekend. Hope to see you then!