Wednesday, October 13, 2010

My first Give Away

Dear Friends,

Here it is a little over two years since I started blogging, there are 120 followers, and over 3300 comments. I am a rather shy person, so did not know what to expect when I started blogging. I was timid to say the least, but just started sharing pictures and bits of our daily life.

You all have encouraged me in more ways than I can count. Your blogs have inspired me in so many ways from cooking, crafts, gardening and plain old 'living life'.

As a THANK YOU, this little give away is an embroidered piece that I just finished. The inspiration was from the book 'Embroidery for all Seasons' by Diana Lampe. I have two of her books on my wishlist and look forward to owning them. The book I have at the moment is a library book, which will be returned shortly.

I love working with thread and my first experience with it was when I was 10 years old when the lady next door to us taught me to knit. My stitches were too tight, and I also dropped a lot of them, but that is where this love started. My step grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 15. I also started embroidering around this time.

Over the years my love of working with threads has continued, even though sporadic at times. Recently I've gotten into embroidering once again and love it.

In this little piece there will be a little bit of DH too, as he is the one who showed me how to do a bouillon stitch. I was having a hard time and just couldn't get it. He has never embroidered but he does like to figure things out and asked me for a threaded needle and I gave him a piece of fabric in a hoop, and we read the directions and looked at pictures. It was while reading the directions out loud that I saw where I had made my mistake. I was taking the thread to the left instead of the right. He made a little bouillon stitch and I am happy to give him credit for teaching me this stitch. He has encouraged me many times in our life of over 40 years together for which I am eternally thankful, he is my love, my soulmate.

So, here is the deal, all you have to do is comment in this post, to be entered into the give away. I will number each comment from the first to the last, then I will use random.org as the number generator.

I will make and post a list of every commenter and attach a number. When the deadline is over I will post the list, so that you all can see it and the number you've been given, and hopefully I will get it right. DH and I will go over the list several times to make sure it is correct, but will give you all a chance to see that it is right. Then I will post the number of comments to the number generator, and someone will be the winner. Let me know how I can contact you.

For a closer view click on the picture. The overall size of this piece is 3 3/4 inches by 5 inches. The size of the embroidery is 1 3/4 inches by 3 inches.
DH made the frame from molding left over from our picture framing days.
The fabric is ecru/cream colored with flecks of darker threads here and there.



The bouillon stitch is the outer stitch of the sunflower petals. You wrap the thread around the needle so many times then pull the thread through and go into the back of the fabric. I am happy to have learned a new stitch with this project.




The deadline for entering is a week from today,
20 October 2010,
midnight Eastern Standard time.
I will post my list of numbered commenters the next day,
and on the 22, will put the number into ramdom.orgs generator.

Thank you all for visiting my blog and for your comments.
I do appreciate your time and thoughts.


Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

23 comments:

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

Congratulations, FlowerLady! The time flies when you are having fun! You are having fun, aren't you? Just kidding! Beautiful embroidery and beautiful spirit! And always remember you are the one that gets the heat and humidity. Although we had a dose of it this summer! Keep on blogging! Nancy

Morning's Minion said...

What a lovely sunflower piece.
I haven't embroidered in many years--I was taught as a girl, did a few crewel pieces and had a spell of embroidering on denim clothes. I appreciate the daintiness of your stiches.

Mama Mess said...

Such beautiful work! I embroider a bit, but haven't done it for quite some time. I loved reading about your love for your husband! God bless you and he and your life together. :)

Nina Suria said...

WOW. You really did a great job dear. Your stitching was so neat. The combination colour was harmony.

I like when you add a forget-me-not flowers down there, and the pink flower made them more sweeter. Love 'em

xoxo
Nina Suria

Jim Groble said...

I'm in. jim

Becky said...

What a lovely give-a-way; I'd be honored to be entered for a chance to win this little beauty.

Kit said...

Hello dear friend! It is gorgeous and I would love to be concidered for your give-away. Hope your week is going well! Love, Kit

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Your blog was one of the very first blogs I started to read when I started blogging. I've always enjoyed my nice relaxing visits here. I have to tell you that you inspired me to want to try embroidery again. I have planned to start it as my indoor hobby this winter, I learned when I was probably about 10 too and then just sort of forgot about it.
I would love to be entered in the giveaway for your pretty piece.

Junk Loving Girl said...

Oh my how beautiful. I am only just learning different stitches right now, I only hope to create something this amazing one day. Thank you for the chance!

thepricklypinecone(at)gmail.com

Gayle said...

I cannot believe how intricate your work is. Just beautiful. I have a quilt my grandmother made in the early 20's. I'm going to get it out and check her stitches!

Tom - 7th Street Cottage said...

You've taught me things. I love the piece. Planning to enjoy a nice day listening to the rain, cleaning the house.

Sandy said...

The sunflower piece is just
beautiful. It is so kind of
you to offer it to one of
your readers. I'd be honored
to own it.
Blessings,
Sandy

Karen said...

I always look forward to reading your blog, and it's no wonder you have such a strong following, it's incredible! What a beautiful piece of embroidery, and how lucky the winner will be. Your relationship with your DH is wonderful and touching; a joy to read about. Thank you for your blog, visiting is a bright spot in my day!

gld said...

Count me as one who is very happy you began blogging two years ago.
I love visiting with you and always am inspired and uplifted by your posts.

This is another beautiful piece. Don't you love learning something new? That is what keeps us young!

Becca's Dirt said...

I have enjoyed following you on your blog and getting to know you. You are an inspiring blogger in your gardens and encouraging to others. Thank you Ms Flowerlady. Your needle work is beautiful. I wish I could see good enough (and I wear glasses) to get back to cross stitching. I use to love doing that. That is a beautiful piece and would love to hang in my home.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Congratulations on your success at blogging. I think it is wonderful that we have become connected with so many different people across the world through blogging that are not so different after all.

I love your beautiful embroidery. It looks like summer. Embroidery is something I have loved doing at different times during my life. The bouillon stitch is beautiful, and one I was not familiar with. It reminds me a little of a French Knot by the way you describe it. I had trouble mastering that-LOL-the bouillon stitch looks much more complicated.

Autumn Belle said...

I live too far away to be included in this giveaway but I would like to drop you a message anyway.

I think your embroidery work is very beautiful and skillful. I have always wanted to learn embroidery since I was a kid but somehow didn't get to. I love to do crochet and can carry on doing it for days until the whole job is finished.

Congratulations on your 2nd blog anniversary! I have enjoyed your blog and warmth. May you have many many more ;-)

Rebecca said...

Wish I could remember how I first "met" you..

What a sweet surprise it would be if I were to win! A piece of your fine workmanship would be a treasure in our home!

Congratulations on your milestone.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful handmade piece! How nice of you to have this as a giveaway! Keep up the good work.

Kay Guest

BernieH said...

Congratulations on your two years, Flowerlady! Isn't blogging a wonderful way to share your thoughts and your great garden? I hope you continue to blog for ages yet.

I don't want to be included in your giveaway as I'm too far away ... it is such a gorgeous piece of embroidery though! I just wanted to add my congrats along with the others.

sweetbay said...

Congratulations on more than two years of blogging! That's a beautiful embroidery piece. It's been a pleasure to come here and read about your life and gardens.

Darla said...

How sweet of your DH to help you. This is so beautiful and would be honored if you put my name in the hat.

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Two years? Congratulations! You have a very nice blog, Flower Lady! I love it as much as your kind comments on other blogs. Sunflowers are pretty, and what a good helper your DH is!