Needlework Galleria + A Giveaway

On Thursday I’ll be heading to the Needlework Galleria being held in St. Charles, MO.  It is more of a “working” trip than a “shopping for stitch stash” trip.  My friend, Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery, is an Exhibitor at Galleria so I will be helping her.  I may be able to work in a little bit of shopping. 😋  It has been several years since I last attended Needlework Galleria so I’m looking forward to the trip.

Guess what I finally found???  The “lost” Little House Needleworks pattern that I had planned to give away last week.  I knew that it would eventually show up if I kept looking for it; and it did!

I won this pattern in a giveaway that Vickie at A Stitcher’s Story had earlier this year.  I got it stitched quick so I could display it for the 4th of July.  Here is my finish.

If you would like to win this pattern, you need to be a blog follower and leave a comment telling me if you have ever attended Needlework Galleria.  I will do a random draw next Sunday, Sept 22 to pick a winner.  

If you are going to Needlework Galleria this week, be sure to drop by the Heartstring Samplery room to tell me “hi” and to see all the pretties that Beth will be selling.

Winter chart winner

I had 4 comments to my last post but 2 of the 4 did not wish to add to their stash.  😮😮😮😮😮 What?😮😮😮😮😮 I need their willpower.

So, I let random.org tell me if Meg (#1) or Southpaw Stitcher (#2) was the winner.  Here is the results.....

Congrats to Southpaw Stitcher.  I will be emailing you shortly.

Keep an eye out for another giveaway later this week.  I have a Little House Needleworks chart to give away.  I was the winning recipient of it from a blog giveaway earlier this year.  It was a fairly quick stitch so I am ready to pass the chart on to someone else.  More details in a few days.

Lovely Snail Mail And A Giveaway!

It has been so long since my last post.  (Can we say 9 months!!!) Is it me or does it seem like the blogosphere is not as active as it used to be?  Oh well.  I guess blog posting on a regular basis is just not gonna happen with me.  Good thing Blogger doesn't deactivate blogs for inactivity.

I have been meaning to do this post for quite a while.  I received some lovely snail mail in January that I would like to share with you.

First of all, take a look at the beautiful envie that I found in my mailbox........

And just in case you're wondering - that lacey "doodle" on the left side of the envie was hand drawn by  my totally artistic friend, Amy.  Should I even mention that it was her first attemp at drawing lace?!?!  And look at how beautiful the address lettering is.  Doesn't it make you smile?  I think I skipped back to the house from the mailbox.  She could have left out the envelope contents and I still would have been thrilled with this piece of art!  But, there were goodies inside!  First there was a nice handwritten note celebrating National Handwriting Day.......

Also enclosed was a little gift which was wrapped in this "upcycled" paper.....

How cool is that?  I plan on upcycling it again as an envelope.  But more about that later because I know you are anxious to see what was inside the package.  Take a look at these beauties....

Beautiful handmade marbled paper from a bookbinding shop in Florence, Italy.  And my photo does not do justice to the vivid colors!  As a side note, Amy and her hubby spent some time in Europe last year.  If you would like to follow along on her trip, she has blogged about it here.  Tom and I were in Florence in 2012.  I totally missed that bookbinding shop.....but, thanks to Amy, I now have a souvenir.  Aren't these papers gorgeous?  I have decided to frame at least one of the papers....and possibly two.  But, alas, what should I do with the third sheet?  Maybe share with someone else?  Yes, that is a great idea.  So, wha' cha think??  Should I mail a note to someone on a sheet of the marbled paper and use the wrapping paper as an envelope?  Do YOU want to be the recipient???  If so, leave a comment on this blog post and tell me your favorite thing about receiving snail mail.  

I'll let Bozo pick a winner on Monday, April 25.  

 How does he do that with his legs?