It's Giveaway Time!

Happy April to you all! Hope your month is off to a wonderful start... In honor of Spring and my 700+ (gulp!) followers I am having a giveaway. First of all, I just want to say how truly astonished I am that so many of you have decided to read my blog. I really mean that--I'm not just saying it to be humble or modest--I am honestly shocked. I am, in real life, a fairly quiet librarian, not a professional stitcher or finisher by any means. So your compliments on my little finishes mean more than you can imagine!

When I began blogging just over three years ago, it was purely with the intent of creating a permanent record of my cross stitched finishes. I didn't know a single one of you! Then the comments slowly began to trickle in until now I often receive dozens of comments on each new post... Amazing, truly amazing! And now, just look...in the short span of 39 months, I've met some of you in real life, email many of you like we were (and hopefully always will be) old and dear friends, and have been surrounded by a group of the most caring, creative, supportive people I can imagine. Thank you all--I feel truly blessed...

So, what did I come up with for my giveaway? Well, the Grand Prize is a group of cheery spring items that is sure to put a smile on just about anyone's face. Included are the darling "Peter and Peep" chart by With Thy Needle and Thread, three 9-inch square ornament cuts (32 African daisy jobelan, 28 ct. wood violet jobelan, and 28 ct. ice blue lugana), two fun spring fabrics in lime green gingham and purple and white polka-dot, a set of pink glass beads, a mauve colored Kelmscott "Hearts Afire" needle minder, some DMC pink variegated thread and ten pink bobbins, a sampler themed note pad, my new favorite candy (chocolate covered Raspberry Cremes) and a darling new Vera Bradley wristlet wallet in Very Berry Paisley (website description: "Measurements are approximately 4 x 6 inches with a 6 inch removable strap and a pretty silver accent ring. This bi-fold style with a magnetic closure opens up to feature 2 clear ID windows, 2 L-zip compartments, 3 card slots and a slip-in pocket." This giveaway is open to any of my followers.

Grand Prize Giveaway

The 2nd giveaway prize is to promote my love of Prairie Schooler designs. I found that I had two of each of these very old charts so I would love for them to go to someone who appreciates these classic patterns. This prize includes Book No. 10: A Prairie Christmas with all ten skeins of DMC floss needed to stitch the adorable ornaments, the 1996 PS Santa, a pack of blank greeting cards to fill with your own stitching, and, again, a package of those luscious Raspberry Cremes.

Giveaway #2: Prairie Schooler items

Finally, I have three spring charts that I hope will find new homes with three of my regular commenters only. You know who you are... If you would be interested in winning one of these charts, please let me know which ones (in order) you are interested in. This is just a way to thank three of the special readers who take the time to regularly say "hello." They're the people that I start to worry about when I don't see their names among my comments!! Thank you my most loyal commenters--you're the best!!

Giveaway #3: "Delivering Spring" by Homespun Elegance

Giveaway #4: "Garden" by Imaginating

Giveaway #5: "Bunny Gingham" by Twisted Threads

So, how can you enter? Simply leave a comment stating specifically which giveaways you would like to be entered for. Oh, and one other thing--to make it more interesting and fun for all of us... tell me either what you most enjoy about blogging or the name of your favorite chart--whether already stitched or waiting in the wings and why it is so meaningful to you. I will leave the giveaway open until Saturday April 14th at midnight EST.

As for my answer about what I enjoy about blogging... Well, I love the fact that we are all cheerleaders for each other. Whether it's praising a new finish, sending encouragement after a visit from the "frog" or losing our stitching "mojo," or lending a willing ear or a shoulder to lean on during times of stress, it is just wonderful how we all support each other. I love seeing different finishes--things that I would never stitch like HAEDs or fairies or dragons. Just because I don't stitch them doesn't mean I don't appreciate their beauty.

I'm sure some of you think: "Doesn't Carol ever stitch anything substantial?" Well, sometimes I do... but for me, what brings the most pleasure, are those little ornament sized creations that you typically see in my posts. I so appreciate your comments whether you are an all-sampler stitcher or someone who works on only one project all year long. We appreciate each others different tastes, creativity, patience, and skill, and in this world of so many negative stories--I'm so happy to be a part of a positive group like we have in the cross stitch blogging community. I also love seeing those of you who have been inspired to stitch something that I've shown here on my blog--I really feel honored that I've sparked your interest in a design that you may have overlooked just because of the way I've finished it into one of my little pillows.

Your blogs have made me laugh and made me cry. They've made me smile on days that started off a bit gloomy and they've made me pause to really think about different ideas from around the world. They've made me so impressed by the international bloggers who take the time and have the talent to blog in two languages. They've made me gasp in astonishment at an awe-inspiring finish and even made me a bit envious at piles of new stash or finishes that seem to stitch themselves. It's all part of blogging and I can't thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of this special cross stitch blogging neighborhood!

HAPPY EASTER!

Enjoy your week everyone--Happy Easter to all who celebrate! May you find some lovely chocolate bunnies in your baskets on Sunday! Bye for now...