300th Post Giveaway...

Here we go again, my friends. Yesterday was my 300th post, and today I'm launching another giveaway. I am humbled and grateful for all of you who read my written thoughts. My giveaways are just my small way of letting you know that you matter to me. So, here we go with another celebration, and I'm going to do more than just one main giveaway. I have a few other mini gifts I'll be sharing, too!

This is the main giveaway package which one lucky follower will win.

In this package is a metal tray in a silver-tone finish. (It is magnetic, for those of you who transform your trays into chalkboard message boards.) There is also a linen pincushion I made, four wooden decor seashells and in back, you'll see a chippy wooden plaque, which you can leave as is, or transform as you wish.
I'm also including a sweet pincushion/needlework box which looks like a vintage hatbox, and a complete pattern for a Renaissance gown. I know many of you use patterns for making flowers or wrapping gifts and this pattern is a duplicate in my collection. You might even want to make the dress! (That could be a novel use! lol) I'll be adding little goodies to the box, and those will be a surprise when the winner's package arrives! (Don't you just love surprises?)

I've also written (more than once) about my favorite egg timer,
so I'm going to choose THREE extra names
to win one of these egg timers each.

I'll choose another name to win
a bottle of my favorite Egyptian Cotton Linen Spray.

Oh, Look!
I've added another giveaway package!
This package will go to the last name I draw
through the Random Generator on February 28th!
It includes a framed J for "Joy" watercolor; a soft blue coffee mug
with an embossed sea turtle and coral on it;
a festive little pincushion I made;
a pretty white plate; a beautiful seashell and an angel pin I made.

Here's a closeup of the angel pin.
See the little silver charm in the same pose as one of the sweet angels?

Here's how you get your name into the drawing:

• Leave a message telling me that you follow my blog and you'll get one entry.
  
• Leave a separate message if you put my button on your blog or write about my giveaway for another entry.
  
• If you don't follow my writing yet, you can join during the giveaway and earn an entry.
• Only messages left on this post will count.
  

See? It's easy! I'll close the drawing at 6 pm on February 28th and I'll announce the winners on March 1st. All in all, there will be SIX winners.
(One for Giveaway Gift Package One, three egg timers, one linen spray, and one for Giveaway Gift Package Two = six.) Cool, huh?

Feel free to use any image in this post if you want to blog about my giveaway.

I'll be back tomorrow with sort of a potpourri post - including pictures of my completely finished shawl (whew!), and the cowl I knitted last night with the scrumptious yarn I showed you a couple of days ago. See you then!

2/28/10-DRAWING IS CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. xoxo
Remember, you can click on my photos to make 'em bigger.

EOM Silver Sunday...

Today is the last Silver Sunday for January. We still have another chance to wow you with our collections after today, but I want to thank Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal for inviting all of us to share our love of silver with you.

My first "bring and brag" contributions are a beautiful pair of egg coddlers that I've owned since 1981. I purchased them in Grand Cayman as a souvenir of my first trip to the island. They're Royal Worcester (pronounced "Wooster") with silver screw-on lids. They're embellished with exquisite and accurate renditions of blackberries around the outside of the bases. Perhaps you already know what an egg coddler is, but just in case it's something new to you, I'll explain how you use one. While you boil a saucepan-full of water, put some warm water into the coddler and then pour it out. (You don't want it to crack when you place it in the saucepan.) Next, place a pat of butter (I don't use margarine) in the bottom of the coddler, and then crack a raw egg into it. Secure the lid and place the closed coddler into the boiling water (which has been taken off the heat).

I use an egg timer that goes right into the water with my eggs (called the Eggsact Egg Timer. I wrote about it in a previous post. Click on its name to learn more about how to get your own.), and once that shows me that the eggs are cooked to my desired doneness, I remove the coddler from the water, open the lid and run a butter knife around the interior of the container. The egg will easily lift out and it's ready to enjoy. You can place your cooked eggs on toast or an English muffin, and even add Hollandaise sauce if you'd like. I always clean my coddlers by hand and not in a dishwasher. I'm hungry now. I might have to go and give the pair a whirl!
I also want to show you this label that I've had for years. I purchased it at a trade show from my friend Lydia Reed at Wyndham Needleworks. I haven't seen my old friend in years, but she's still in business and has an online shop with many unique items.

I wish I could tell you loads about this label, but alas, I'm light on information about it. It measures approximately 4 1/2-5" wide and is about 3 1/2" tall. It's silver metallic paper and has adhesive on the back.Upon close inspection, you'll see that it has a small plate on the bottom center with the letters "No" (as in "number") and "Yds", so it leads me to believe that it was a label for a thread, ribbon or other fiber. If anyone has more information to share with me about this, I'd really appreciate it! (Perhaps I'd better send photos and an email to Lydia to see what she can tell me!)

I hope you enjoy today's treasures. Be sure to head over to Gypsy Fish Journal to see the other silver treasures our participants have to share with you. Thanks again, Beth! See you there...