My mom always says it’s better to give than to receive, and I suppose she’s right. (I think she is just setting up her excuse in advance, for the day she forgets my birthday!)
In an effort to live by the virtues my parents tried to instill in me, I thought I’d test the proverb. And to that end, I’m giving away a brand spanking new embroidery kit and some other delectables, in celebration of turning yet another year older today.
It’s not so bad to turn over another year, in the scheme of things. After all, there’s only one alternative…
There are several reasons I decided to give this particular kit away on my birthday. One, I really like it. Two, I think you will like it, too. Three, it’s time for you to try needlepainting. Four, I have two of them. And five, it’s spring, and in spring, our fancies lightly turn to flowers, despite what Tennyson may have said about love and all that stuff.
You’ll remember that I did a little raving about Tanja Berlin’s hand embroidery kits the other day, right? Well, this is one of ‘em, and it’s a good one. It comes with the full book of step-by-step instructions, the design drawn on the fabric, all the necessary threads, and … a needle.
And just to show you how much I like you, I’m also going to include two brand spanking new pairs of 9″ x 9″ Evertite stretcher bars (which will help you tremendously with the project and are the size called for in the instructions – though you could also use a hoop if you wanted) and the T-tool to tighten the stretcher bars.
And I think I’ll just have to throw in a brand spanking new pair of DOVO embroidery scissors, too. The style may vary from those pictured above, but I assure you, they are excellent scissors, no matter what they look like!
All of these fall into the Top-Notch-Embroidery-Stuff category. I’m pretty sure you’ll like them!
However, you have to work for them! Pay attention, because these are The Rules.
1. Leave a comment below, on this blog post (not via e-mail, but on the website on this post).
2. In the comment, you must include your name in a recognizable form. For example, if you’re name is Sue, there are lots of Sues in the world. Sue-from-somewhere or Sue-last-initial will make distinguishing Sues much more feasible.
3. Answer this question in the comment:
If you could have anything for your birthday, what would it be? (Um. I probably don’t have to say this, but please keep it publishable… heh heh.)
4. Comments must be in by Tuesday, April 12th, at 5:00 am CST. I’ll draw Tuesday morning, early, and let you know the winner!
The give-away is open to all, no matter where you are in the wide world, but I must mention the fine print: Needle ‘n Thread – and all subsidiaries thereof (I’ve always wanted to say that; there are no subsidiaries) – is not responsible for customs fees or delivery failure due to postal difficulties. International mail will be shipped the most economic way possible.
So Happy My Birthday to You!
I think Mom was right. It is better!
Tuesday, April 12: This Give-Away is now closed, but don’t worry – I suspect there will be others in the near future!
As my birthday has just passed, and today is my wedding anniversary – I can honestly say I’ve love time to relax and enjoy my crafting, no pressures, no deadlines, and DH content in my company doing his own thing – if it’s a material gift – some yummy modern fabrics to inspire me for a personal quilt
What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday! If I could have anything for my birthday, I would like a new Porsche
Happy Birthday Mary
Wishing you many, many more.
I’m pretty easy to please, but you said if I could have ANYTHING! But I’ll still keep it moderate ~lol~ I would love another bathroom in my home. My two grandsons live with me and play sports and someone is ALWAYS in the shower!!
Carol (Birds and Bees)
If you could have anything for your birthday, what would it be?
My mother asked me this question the other day. My answer to her was a rain check for tuition to another online needlework class. This rose is beautiful and I have wanted to learn thread painting, so I would be thrilled if I won.
My birthday wish would be to have a family gathering with all those I love….kids laughing …running…playing and adults sitting around sharing old times…and plenty of good food….someone capturing photos for the family scrapbooks…
hello mary
yes we can buy a lot of stuff/things we see around us…….or have family/friends give us things as gifts…..
but what i want most is harmony of thought-words -deeds….within my heart and mind……so that whatever i think-say-do…makes me and others around me happy….my family-friends-neighbors-community…..with respect/honor……if all this makes sense……
thank you
kiran seth
Good morning.
I’ll try to participate in this game even my english is so bad.
Happy birthday and thanks to be with us.
The first gift I want it will be health to my daughter and my husband, but when then ask me, I always say : a book, speacially an embroidery one.
So, I wish long life to your blog, so I can have a look to wonderful works.
My hearty wishe to your Birthday dear.
Many many more happy returns of this day.
It was my birthday lastweek.
I want my son and daughter couldbe near me on my birthday. But it is practically impossible because my son is at USA and my daughter is in India.
This time I am happy being with my son at Kansas and not my daughter.
O.K. I am happy.
viji
First, I was surprised to hear it was your birthday today, as mine is also today, and then to have surface embroidery in common what a bonus! The best present I could have at this point is for someone to come clean and get rid of all the acummulation that comes with age! I only want my
sewing and embroidery!
Avis
Wow, you picked a toughie for a contest entry question!
For my birthday, I would love to have a small creative art studio built for me in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington, stocked with materials for needlework, quilting, photography and painting.
Judy T. in NH
Happy Birthday, Mary! Wow, yet another wonderfully generous give-away! If I could have anything I want for my birthday…hmmm, that’s not so easy to decide on! I think it would have to be more time…more time to travel to see my family, more time for the hobbies I love, more time to do everything I don’t have time for now! Again, Happy Birthday, and best wishes for a very special day!
Judy in OKC
At 65 my biggest wish is just to be very healthy and to have a very nice “go to a restaurant” with all my children and grandchildren and everyone have what they wanted without looking at prices! It’s not much but it means a lot when they all get together.
I would be thrilled to win this kit! I did visit Tanja Berlin’s site the other day, and I was very tempted to buy a beginner kit with all the trimmings. Then I decided I should be smart and pay bills first! ; )
If I could have anything for my birthday, I like my sewing room to be neatly organized so that I could find everything when I want it. I’d like this done in the blink of an eye, please! Oh, and it could use a little dusting!
I am Karol Rose from NW Indiana. I would like to be entered in your birthday drawing. Happy Birthday! If I could have anything for my birthday it would be to be able to retire so that I could spend my time with my real passion. Stitching!!
Happy Birthday, Mary! For my birthday, I’d love an all expenses paid month long tip to Africa so I can go on safari. Since that’s not too realistic, this year I’d like my husband to give me a gift certificate to my LNS so that I can take my bag of stitched canvases to be finished. I hope you have a wonderful day!
If I could have ANYTHING for my birthday I guess it would be a long arm quilting machine, unless peace on earth and good will to men was possible.
Happy Birthday Mary. Every day is a birthday gift from you with all the knowledge that you so willing share. I will be glad when you decide to write a book.
I would love an opportunity to win your ” better to give than receive ” give away. I always feel good when I do the same, or share.
Linda in Canada
If I could have anything for my birthday I think it would have to be a Trish Burr embroidery book, I love her work. I find doing needle work very relaxing. I would really love to win this prize as I have been wanting to try thread painting for long time but I am not sure how I would go at it. If I win it will give me the opportunity to try.
Pennelope of Whittlesea Australia
I have decided to try again because I would love to try someone else’s needle painting besides my own and of course I would dearly love to have a pair of those stretchers. I have looked at them and envied all those in America that can own them. We can’t even import them here – too costly – so here’s hoping. But what I would like most in the world for my birthday is a trip to New Zealand to visit my youngest son. I will never see him again but do dream of just getting on a plane and flying there, being cramped up in a seat on an international flight means nothing compared to the joy of seeing him again. So that is my birthday wish.
Jean Cape Town
Hi Mary … HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
I know what you mean about giving is more pleasurable than receiving … however … lol … It’s my birthday next week …& I think I’ve already told you what I’d do if I were to receive any $$’s for my birthday! I’d buy a kit from Berlin or Nordic Needle! Funny that I hadn’t even seen this post until after I left you my comment on FB. See what you’ve done to me since I joined your site?
I’ve never tried needle-painting but have been taking particular note of it of late (esp Helen Stevens)… & think it’s something I might be ok at doing … which is why I decided to buy myself a kit for my birthday.
I’d also be thrilled with the stretcher bars as I haven’t even seen them in the craft shops over here … but then again, I am in a smallish town on the coast of Qld. It’s a stunning place to live, but we do miss out on a lot that city people take for granted. It’s why I usually buy any kits, etc from Country Bumpkin, but have been thinking that it’s just as easy … & even more fun … to buy new & exciting kits .. & especially those little ‘special’ things that we don’t get here … from the US!
I hope you have some wonderful celebrations for your birthday … & also that this isn’t the year that your Mum forgets to give you a gift! However, me thinks it would be more a case of ‘what’ to give, as opposed to ‘forgetting’ to give! LOL Maybe you need to keep a ‘bridal’ registry at the various craft stores you love the best … lol
Cheers for now,
Wendy …
If I could have anything for my birthday, what would it be? Well, a needle paining kit of course! I have never needle painted before and would like to try it out.
Kind regards from Ingela T-B in London, UK
p.s. Happy Birthday to you!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
I would love to try my hand at this, my grandma and all her sisters did this kind of embroidery and I thought I would never want to try it, well age does change a lot of things. My birthday wish, an extensive tour of the UK and all the National Trust properties, I just love history, architecture and lovely gardens.
Elga from South Africa
For my ideal (imaginary) birthday I’d like an around-the-world cruise with the specific agenda of needlework. Shore visits inmany different countries to museums, art galleries, fabric and crafts centers, fiber-artist’s workshops, etc. And on the ship, there would be lectures, classes, movies, exhibits all related to needlework, costume, history, etc. Obviously, money and time are very flexable in this fantasy. But wouldn’t it be wonderful!
What a fantastically generous giveaway Mary.
Thank you for offering it ….. and Very Happy Birthday to you. Hope you get whatever you most want for YOUR Birthday
What would I most want for my Birthday? Do you know, I’m really not sure! When someone I know asked his Mum what she wanted for Mother’s Day, she said ‘World Peace’. Now wouldn’t that make a nice Birthday present?
However, I think I would like someone to buy me a course at the Royal School of Needlework.
First, may I wish you a very Happy Birthday, may you have many, many more. Your good Mum did a good job bringing you up!
My wish would be for an instant cure for arthritis, so I could know that if and when I reach 80yrs I would still be able to do my embroidery unhindered and without pain.
Wow, what a fantastic giveaway. I think if I could have anything, I think it would be to go on one of Trish Burrs’ courses, the joy from that would last for years
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Pray that you have a most enjoyable day. I really don’t know what I would like for my birthday, other than just for my husband and son to remember me. Normally I buy gifts for others on my birthday, so they can be happy. Its fun to see others get excited when they are handed a gift for no reason.
Wow! Happy Birthday. What a wonderful gift and I would certainly like to be in the drawing for this.
If I could have anything for my birthday, I would wish for a new chair for stitching. I know it sounds silly, but after many years of stitching in my current chair, there’s a certain “butt print” and it’s not as comfortable as it used to be.
Hope you have a wonderful birthday
Hi! I’m writing from southeast Virginia. What would I want for my birthday if I could have anything I want? Well, non-material things, I’d like to see everyone be a little more friendlier to others, not just people they know. Material? I’d love a new house! Not so big… but, large rooms and closets with a handy room just for me and my myriad projects!
Mary,
First of all – Happy Birthday!
I hope you have a great day.
It took me all of .02 seconds to know exactly what I would ask for if I could have anything for my birthday. I would love to take a stumpwork class from Jane Nicholas. One of her books was my introduction to and the start of my love affair with stumpwork.
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your stitching and your blog. It truly inspires me.
Happy stitching,
Cheryl P. in Halifax, NS
Hobbits give gifts on their birthdays. On my birthday, the best gift to me is time. Time to sit and learn needle painting.
this is an amazing offer from an amazing website!
I learn something new with every newsletter and like to follow all the links.I would love to try needlepainting and will cross fingers to win this offer.
Rosemary,
Adelaide,
South Australia.
I would love for someone to give me something in one of the needle arts I do–be it fabric, thread, gift card or even a class I could take. That would tell me they know what I love to do and want me to enjoy it more!
Happy Birthday Mary!
Hi Mary and Happy Birthday!! You are a most generous birthday girl and I have no right to win because I said I don’t like doing kits in your last post about Tania B! I could make an exception for something as pretty as this though!
If I could have anything for my birthday I’d have someone invent a complete, easy, cheap, one tablet, gauranteed cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis … ’cause that way I’d get more stitching done!
As you ask for it, I think I’ll like some “soie d’Alger” threads for my birthday, but I never ask anything for my birthday.
Anne Nicolas-Whitney
This message is for my one and only “Embroidery Fairy” (you dear Mary, you are my source of inspiration. I have almost all your messages since I joint your mailing list for future reference).
So for my birthday, I wish I could get . . .
- A Tanja Berlin’s hand embroidery kit,
- A Evertite stretcher bars and to top it off,
- A Doco embroidery scissor.
All of that would be a dream come true . . .
Birthday is in July so if my dream can come true . . . me and my kit will have the best summer vacation.
Love from Francoise (Mafyb)
Bois-des-Filion, Quebec, Canada
Happy Birthday, Mary!
And thank you so much for all you do here online for the Embroidery Universe….
If I could have anything for my birthday it would be another year of what God has so deeply blessed me with: a great marriage, healthy (adult) children, a free country, eyes and hands that still work, fertile soil in the garden, and the time to be creative…
Hmmm…ANYthing I want? Well, after world peace and winning the lottery, there is that Omnigrid template for making a wedding ring quilt which I want to make for my son and his fiancee and I have never been able to give over wanting that Flowers for Elizabeth book you wrote about a while ago. I’d much rather make that than a double wedding ring quilt anyway. ;o) But I would even settle for a live release mousetrap: they are wreaking havoc among my kitchen linens…:o) This lovely kit would be an excellent substitute for all those since I have a much better chance of winning it than I do of getting world peace or a better mousetrap…and my birthday is not too far off and the rose IS my birth flower. Please choose your humble and devoted reader, barbobbi.
Happy Birthday, dear Mary, and never forget you give all your friends here a lovely gift every day when your post your writings about embroidery for us to share!
First of all how generous of you to offer such wonderful gifts. Happy Birthday to you! Cudos to your mom for instilling the gift of giving to you. So you ask, “What would I want for my birthday” (which is next month, btw), well wouldn’t it be wonderful to wish that the whole world would embrace that unselfish gift of giving. Life would be so wonderful!
Happy Birthday Mary!!! Hope all your wishes come true today!! If I could have anything for my birthday it would be to continue to have a healthy, happy & peaceful life for me and all of my family:)
Enjoy your day!!
Natasha W
East Hartford, CT
Oh Mary ! You always surprise me with your generousity and your Mom is quite right saying that is better to give, I try to do this each day in many forms.
About my birthday wish, I would have more time for me and a better health, those last years have been not the best.
If I should choose someting material….the complete range of Soie d’Alger !It’s abitious I know, but fantastic.
Thank you for giving us the possibilty to run for this lovely stuff, a big hug,
Francesca V. – Rome
P.S.
The most important !!! WISH YOU A FANTASTIC BIRTHDAY !!!
one more conversation and cup of coffee with my mama……..
Ah, birthdaysm they are a good way to celebrae the uniqueness of you. They aren’t very important for counting except for things like 16 (driver’s license), 18 (voting)and or eligiblity for retirement. Since the best things in life aren’t things I like joy, health, peace, and more stitching time.
Enjoy your special day.
Happy Birthday Mary!!!
If I could have anything….. I would choose A Long arm quilting machine and frame setup!
I can easily answer the question about what I would like for my birthday because I turn 40 next week and have given this a lot of thought! I would like (am getting, are you listening husband?) a fancy pod coffee maker.
And a happy birthday to you Mary!
Happy Birthday!!! I hope it’s your best ever so far. May your birthday be wonder-filled and blessed in some unexpected way! Thank you for being so generous to us on your birthday.
As for a what I would wish for my birthday, a safe,secure job for my husband. He works for a really mean man to put it nicely and doesn’t know from day to day if he will have a job at all. So, a safe and secure job for Mike.
But what about you, what if YOU could have anything for your birthday, what would it be?
Hello, Mary
Vivian M from Florida here!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! May you have many more springs filled with prosperity and happiness (you are a spring baby).
I hope you have a very nice day today. Hopefully your family will spoil you and take you out to a nice dinner, and you get to eat some really yummy cake.
Now, to answer the question, if I could have anything for my birthday… hmm.. that’s a toughie. I guess I would want to have my Economics degree finished (I am an Economics major) and just to be whimsical, let’s throw in the role of Juliet in Romeo et Juliette from Gounod (I am an operatic soprano).
Have a wonderful day and enjoy your birthday!
A big happy birthday to you Mary.I would so Love to win the stitchery as I am teaching myself all forms of embroidery. Some are easy some are not so easy but my long and short is definitly improving heaps.
Cheers Lyn!
Oh my gosh!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MARY CORBET!!!!
Every post you show your generosity!
I must say that the Evertit stretcher bars is on my wish dream list… I have another wish list more real if you know what I mean and it has two things: a seat frame hoop and the book “Guida a Ricamo Sfilatto” or any other about Ricamo Sfilatto… I’m saving for those two things but every ady is more difficult…specially because the shippings which are too high
Have a great birthday Mary! Whising you good health and happiness for years, days, hours to come. From my deep heart!
xx
Meri
Mary,
Many happy returns of the day!
Again you are generously sharing with us, with a high-quality gift. I’m about to start an online blackwork class with Tanya Berlin. And I “invested” in some Evertites for a canvas course last year – very nice.
Your question made me think: the most memorable gifts have been the unexpected, “just perfect” choices that show that someone knows me. An autographed chart from a favorite designer, a stuffed peacock (a hand puppet), a cape in “my” colors, a decorative egg for my collection, the time my husband guided me to see the Tiffany mural “The Dream Garden”.
And yes, it has also been wonderful to give. We should all be so lucky as to receive an extravagant gift, and to enjoy the pleasure of giving extravagantly as well. It’s a way to hear and say “You are very special to me”.
I have stitched lots of gifts. A dream gift would be something stitched or crafted for me, especially something I can use – not just hang on a wall.
Here’s hoping your birthday includes some special celebrating.
–JoanneP
Hola mi nombre es Marisol Sanchez, soy de España.
Algo para mi cumpleaños: una caja de musica con una bailarina.
Muchos besos.
I am in love of the Elizabeth de Lisle cross stitch kits. Initially there were 9 of them, and I have stitched only one. I own the pattern of another, but in love all the kits. It would be nice to stitch them all, but it is too much money and time. Maybe I haven’t got enough free wall surface too…
First I would like to wish you a very Happy Birthday. That is an awesome giveaway, I would love to learn this.
As far as if I could have any thing for my birthday, I really can’t say what that would be.I can’t think of anything that I really do want. I have a wonderful husband, two children and grandchildren.
Thanks
P.S. I for got to tell you what I would get you if I could get you anything. I would buy you Biltmore,(or some place like that, we can have it moved to KS if you like) With several rooms filled with beautifully displayed historic embroidered pieces and several other rooms filled with all the embroidery supplies your heart could desire. All neatly organized with servants to do all the work and lots of IRL friends and family to share that happy life!
Hi,
My name is Ediana, so if I win – and I have no luck with these things – it will be easy to identify me
On my birthday I want to win is the largest collection of embroidery threads, all kinds, in all possible colors, and impossible colors too
Well .. it’s your birthday and I do not know what you’d like to win.
What I can give you is to say….. thank you!
I read your blog every day. I’m always amazed with his didactic, clearly explain your generosity. Of course, the perfection of your work.
So happy birthday! Health, peace, many friends, a wonderful day for you.
Ediana
Happy Birthday Mary! I look forward to reading your posts. I enjoy your expertise and your humor, those alone are a wonderful gift, birthday or not. I have learned so much from you. What I would like for my birthday (which is actually this month as well 4/27)is more time to put in to practice all this new knowledge. I think a yummy kit from Tanya Berlin would make me put aside some less important things, and sit down and SEW! What a treat that would be!
Happy Birthday! You share a birthday with my grandson. It’s a wonderful day for a birthday. I’d love to be entered in the drawing. I’m always up to earning a new trchnique
Happy Birthday! Twenty-nine is a wonderful age!!
The only thing better than a Tanya Berlin kit is taking a class with Tanya. Have you ever had that good fortune? I have learned so much from just watching her stitch! She is a wonderful teacher and an amazing artist. But maybe even better is winning your birthday present; I have done many of Tanya’s designs but have shied away from needlepainting but if I win, well no more miss-scardey-pants- I am in! And, the frames and scissors are just like frosting on the cake. Thanks a lot and have a wonderful birthday!
I would love for my birthday, someone to come in and strip out my sewing room and then create a new one. With lots of cupboards, work areas and all in White.
Happy Birthday.
Sally M from Milton Keynes
… and for my birthday I would like a DQ Ice Cream cake!
Happy birthday! You give to us with every post, your comments, your recommendations, your thoughts, and your experiences and it is very appreciated. If I could have anything for my birthday, I think at this point it would be a week long retreat somewhere quiet, where I could concentrate on things for myself; learning, reading, meditating, relaxing, and definitely doing some stitching!
Pour mon anniversaire dans quelques jours( j`aurai 60ans le 17 avril) Oh! que j`aimerais avoir du TEMPS….Du temps pour faire tous les projets de broderie, de quilting, de couture ect..qui trottent dans ma tête. J`aimerais avoir encore 60ans pour entreprendre et maîtriser toutes ces merveilleuses techniques.
Ooops . . . Silly I-pad . . . I meant to say new technique.
I would love to receive a studio makeover as a birthday present. My studio is in needs of some reorganizing and new furniture.
Happy Birthday Mary!
What an awesome giveaway! I would just love this. I think for my birthday the only I would want is time to work on my passion – fiber arts. No housework, no chores, nothing, but working away and making good progress. Oh and if that could last at least a month that would be good too.
Happy Birthday, Mary. I signed up for your blog because I hope to get back into needlework one of these days. This giveaway looks like everything needed to do that. I’d love to win it. Thank you for all your wonderful posts. I’ve downloaded and saved all your free designs. Sigh, maybe someday.
Happy returns of the Day,
I have so much fun on your website. I use the videos all the time and enjoy reading your writing. I would, of course, love to win the prizes you offer. There is no place to buy such things where I live. I have often wondered about working with the stretcher bars. If I could have anything I want for my birthday, I suppose it would be more time to stitch. I make quite a bit of time for it now.
Happy Birthday to you.
Mary:
Happy Birthday! Spring babies are the best (mine were). I have to say, your blog brightens my day. I read it every morning when I get to school, before the day starts (I get there pretty early, when the building is quiet and I can work!) so I’d have to say I’d want more time….to stitch, to garden, to go visit aforementioned children, scattered from Kansas to India…. Yup, more time for life would be my wish! Thanks so much for your wonderful blog (and those great give-aways!)
Hello Mary,
One again, you are more than generous. What a lovely gift. As I am a little older than most,(mid 60`s) I do not ask for much for my birthday which irks my hubby to no end, but this giveaway is up my alley. I like to receive threads etc and accessories for quilting. I sure hope I win this one.Thank You.
France
I would love to have this kit of course, but if I could have anything in the world for my birthday, it would be enough money to buy a wonderful house and live my retirement in ease after a long life of work and enough money, of course, to ease my children’s lives as well. We are not in terrible shape, but it would be nice just not to have to worry so that I could do what I wanted, whether it be creative work, volunteer work or just enjoying my family
Linda Jimenez
Happy Birthday! Wishing you many many more. Thank you for the lovely giveaway. If I could have anything – I would want my kids all home for the same week from college/grad school ! That would be fun!
Happy Birthday Mary. I couldn’t find where you listed your age – did I miss it??? I don’t really need anything for my birthday – I have happy, healthy, grown children and loving family – what more could I want. Well maybe some warmer weather here in Northern Ontario, Canada; spring seems to have taken her own vacation somewhere else. It would be so wonderful to win this and give it to my son for his birthday which is April 12th and if he doesn’t want it I will offer to keep if for him lol!! Love your site. Thank you for helping me learn to be more creative.
Irene in the frozen north!!!
I hope your birthday is wonderful. thank you for the beautiful stitching giveaway. I would love for my birthday a new cello!
G’day Mary, And a really special day to you. May you always feel so generous on your birthday and have lots and lots more too! And may your warm and fuzzy birthday giveaway feeling last all year.
I went all through Tanja Berlin’s site from your link recently. Delightful.
My answer to the competition question is –
My Brother. 13 yrs today. It’s okay. Lots of blessings to count and things to chuckle over, mostly.
Laughing and crying are akin to each other. They both bring tears and relief and block up your nose!
Pass the tissues please, I think I’m going to…to…I’m sorry, to…SNEEZE!
Thanks for this amazing oportunity Mary,
Cheers, Kath from Oz
My ultimate birthday present would be to travel in a submarine to the bottom of the ocean, accompanied by Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough. I think the deep ocean is the most fascinating place on earth, it’s like an alien world right here on Earth.
This ties in with my favorite passtime: watching nature documentaries while knitting or embroidering
Happy Birthday Mary. Don’t think of it as getting another year older – just another year better! I was actually talking to my kids the other day and telling them how much I would like a couple of sets of evertite frames this year for my birthday (which is not until August, but I like to start dropping hints eartly). This wonderful giveaway would certainly fulfill that wish, with work to practice on as well. Needlepainting is one of my favourite tecniques and I’m taking a correspondence course with Trish Burr right now. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity.
Carol A
I’d love to have a chance to go back in time and get a “do-over” for certain parts of my life. Since that is not possible, I’d settle for winning this wonderful give away. Have a happy birthday, Mary. Your letters brighten my day and expand my skills.
My ultimate birthday present would be to travel to the bottom of the ocean with Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough. The deep ocean fascinates me, it’s like an alien world right here on earth!
It ties in with my favorite after-work activity: watching nature documentaries while embroidering or knitting
If I could have anything for my birthday, I would have to say I want a full pottery studio (dream big I always say!), or at the very least, an actual studio space. In the meantime, this kit would be lovely to have! Thanks for offering the chance to win.
Happy Birthday, Mary! It’s your birthday, and we get presents?! You are awesome!! And what a present!! I think for my birthday, I would love a really good reference book on crewel work and a small kit to start with! I have always been facinated with it. And a maid to clean my house so i could have more time to stitch!!
By the way, your video tutorials are fantastic!! They helped me learn bullion knots! (I just could not figure those babies out!) Diagrams are all well and good, but I tried at various times over the course of a month to get it right! So I sat down with my iPad and UTube, and followed along with you! You have been my saviour many times! My own stitching fairy! LOL!
Thanks again for the birthday giveaway chance! And I hope your birthday is wonderful!
Melissa J. in SW Ontario, Canada
Happy Birthday Mary!! You are always such a generous person, and I also believe, it is wonderful to be able to give and share what we have. As for a birthday- I would love to have dear family and friends from near and far gather together for a wonderful sunny day- topped off, of course, with a gooey birthday cake!
I would love to have a reorganized, clean house! I have been working on this for awhile, not making much progress, but if it were done, I know I would be sooo much more creative and productive!
As a matter of fact, today IS my birthday – so this is an easy question. I have taken the day off from work and given myself the gift of time. I will stitch today and enjoy every minute of it guilt free! I will spend time with my grown sons and time with my girlfriends. I will dream about the new crewel kit that I’m just sure I’m going to win
But mostly I will be thankful for the many gifts I have been given in this life. Your blog is one of them.
My birthday is coming up and my family will be in Europe. Besides having them with me, I would love to have a full day to embroider and watch movies. I am a big fan of the Normanday kits…maybe they will bring me one home. Thanks for giving us a chance to win such a wonderful package.
Tammi Holman
PS Happy Birthday, Mary! I hope your day brings many Blessings!
I would love a day with Tania Berlin. I have been to her website many times and love her work. I live to far away to travel to her and have often dreamed of doing one of her kits.maybe next time she is in Australia I will get to her.
Happy Birthday, Mary! I hope you have a wonderful year filled with happiness! Thank you so much for all you have taught us with this website, you are very much appreciated.
If I could have anything for my birthday, it would be a trip to the northeast to see my parents, sister and nephew. I haven’t seen them in years and would love to. That means I probably should make that happen soon.
For my birthday, I would love to take a ballet cless. And if that doesn’t work out, a goofy hat.
Thank you,
Olivia H.
Happy Birthday to you!
Such a generous soul to give these amazing gifts!
I want to go to Ireland! I have Irish roots and want to see the Emerald Isle while I still have the health to do it!
Jane
A very happy birthday to you. Mine is in 3 weeks and what I would love is the time to complete all my UFOS! On a more practical note, I’d love phone calls from my children. In as much as I’m known as the Card Lady, my habit didn’t rub off on my children and they seldom acknowledge birthdays. Gee, a card from my hubby would be nice too.
Materialistically, a pair of miniature duckbill scissors would be great for heirloom sewing.
Happy Birthday Mary!! Wishing you many more!
My perfect birthday present this year would be funds enough to allow me to take the granddaughter on a little Spring Break next week when she is out of school. But, we’ll still be having fun here at home! Sending hugs and best wishes!
Kathy Shaw
http://www.shawkl.com
If I could have anything I wanted for my birthday, it would be the ablility to retire, so that I could stitch my ever-increasing stash!
Happy Birthday!
For my birthday I’d love a holiday at home with my husband. Some free time to sew!
Many,many happy returns of the day,Mary .Hope you get lots of wishes and gifts and let the smile remain on your face throughout today and for the coming days.
My B’day wish?? If you ask me I wouldn’t be able to answer immediately…coz there are lots of things I want – embroidery books,kits,threads etc etc…but I am not desperate for those,if I get them I’ll be happy.But I’ll never ask for them specifically.I’ll probably say “give me whatever you feel like” .If God were to give me a wish,then I would ask for a healthy long life to my husband and little girl and if possible me too
If the jeannie popped out of the bottle to grant me a birthday wish, I think it would have to be time and money to just sit and create.
Thank you for such a fun and informative AND educational web site
First, Happy Birthday! Second, thank you for everything, you are a great teacher and obviously daughter and friend!
Third, almost three years ago, while on dialysis, was told could not get a kidney transplant because of antibodies. The next day (!) I was called by the hospital that a donor was available and was transplanted the next day!Happy Birthday to me!! so thankful, happy, yes scared! and relieved! the best Birthday Present ever!
Hugs
Hi Mary, Happy Birthday.
If I could have anything at all for my birthday, I would like my son-in-law to be cancer free. He has kidney cancer. And I think his 11 year old son needs to have his father around for a great many more years.
I have wish lists, mostly on needlework sites and book sites for needlework books! Retirement is coming and I will not spend as freely – so bday is perfect! But, my kids never get it! Honestly? My true wish is to spend a relaxing day at home with my entire family. You know, everyone just relaxing, dinner maybe a movie and lay around and I can stitch and talk with them! That’s my favorite time – stitching, talking with my kids and husband, and stitching! Always have to have something in my arthritic hands! There it is!
I would like an organizer to come in and help me organize my craft supplies once and for all. I would love to find that second ball of yarn so I can finish that scarf I’ve been knitting for several months. Additional room and baskets and bins would also be nice.
Happy Birthday, and thank you so much for all you do and put into Needle ‘n Thread, it’s really one of my most favorite sites to visit.
My birthday….gosh, I’d really like to win the lottery but I’d take that on any day of the year! While I still love gifts and always will, my favorite birthdays over the past few years have been the ones where I get to be Queen For A Day. I love to look forward to: no alarm clocks, personal pampering, favorite movies, favorite foods, the house stays clean, no errands to run, and my hair and outfit stay terrific looking all day long (in my mind at least).
Happy Birthday Mary
My fantasy wish would be a trip to Europe. My realistic wish is the thread color card of Au ver a Soie. Thank you for having this give away! I hope you have a very blessed and happy day!
Renetta from Taos NM
Wow, how generous! Happy birthday Mary. May you grow old gracefully, and happy too! Well, a spanking new car would be a good alternative. But would love to win one of the embroidery kits on offer! Love your blog.
Happy Birthday Month to US, as I too have a birthday in April the 22nd!
If I could choose anything for my Birthday it would be a full day of CREATIVITY with the chatter of loved ones around me or perhaps spending the day teaching someone else my love of CREATING!!!
Hope you plan the day celebrating you!!!!
Thank You for sharing all that you do!
Happy Birthday, Mary.
A long time dream of mine is to go an a trip to Rome, Italy. Especially, I want to see liturgical embroidery, in museums, in churches, in shops, anywhere there are embroidered vestments and linens. Then, I would find some extraordinary patterns that I could bring home and spend the rest of my life making exquisite embroideries. I guess that’s a little bit more than a one-time birthday present.
My ideal birthday gift would be a long weekend somewhere. Ideally it would be camping, however my birthday is in January and there isn’t much camping you can do in New York in January! If I can’t go camping, I would like to go to a nice secluded cabin or B&B somewhere.
The wild rose kit reminds me of my Dessert Rose dishes….love it! Would go together wonderfully.
For my birthday–my wish would be to go to England and take a class on Durham quilting.
Happy Birthday, I love birthdays. So wishing all the best. If Ihave a chance at winning, maybe it could be something that would be finished by my birthday in the Fall. That would be so cool.Thanks for doing these giveaways, Tanya wersinger, south carolina
My son just asked me if I had three wishes what would they be…I answered immediately and this goes for what I would wish for if it was my birthday, that my son have a happy & long life. My other wishes were that I have a healthy and long life (it is pretty happy as it is) and lastly, to retire to a wee cottage on the coast of Ireland to look out to the sea, time to write and embroider to my heart’s content.
I wish everyone who has posted, happy and long lives and may their wishes all come true.
All Best,
Robin O.
Woodstock, NY
Good Health and eyesight to keep stitching
Happy Birthday, good health and eyesight to you on this lovely spring day. Pat in SNJ
Happy Birthday!!
To answer your question will be kind of hard. The only thing I can think of would be to have my Mother back. She passed away April 13 of last year after a 2 year battle with colon cancer. She was my best and only friend as I take being a loner to the extreme (I wouldn’t leave my house if it wasn’t necessary sometimes). She was my cheerleader when I decided to get into cross stitch designing. I have two brothers and, unfortunately, we are not close, so my “internet stitchy friends” have become my extended family. Some, I am very close to, but have never met.
Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Happy Birthday! Mary, your site is an addiction to me! I’m a member of a medieval reenactment group and tell everyone of my friends about it – thanks for such a wonderful resource! Now about your question: If you could have anything for your birthday, what would it be? Well, that’s easy – I’ve always wanted my own bookstore/craftshop where I could foster both a love of reading and have classes on many different crafts! Maybe someday I’ll win the lottery and do it, until then I’ll keep learning and practicing. Thanks and have a great birthday!
Happy Birthday! June is my 10 year anniversary of having breast cancer. Because of that, I am just happy to be alive. Every Birthday, every spring, every day is a gift. For my Birthday I would want to come up with a plan of how I could put together a class on embroidery for other survivors so that they, too could enjoy needlework as much as I do. For my anniversary year all my finished projects will be donated for auctions for cancer research!
Hello Mary,
“Wish you Many More Happy Returns of the Day”
My wish is to have embroidery stuff or flowers for my birthday. since my family do not know much about embroidery materials they always gift me flowers along with some more gifts.
My birthday is in this month. If i could win this gift i will be happiest..:)
Thank you Mary for such a noble thought
Happy Birthday Mary of Kansas!
For my birthday I would like a day all by myself on an island in the sun. I would like to be joined for dinner by my DH and children and then spend the rest of the week together on the island. No bickering allowed.
Hi,
I think you are showing a great example by giving a gift on your birthday. I presume it is a way a thanking God for the life He gave.
Regards,
Anju George
a Very Happy Birthday to you ( first things first!)
My own birthday is in November, what would be really nice would be to travel to a nice, sunny location for some relaxing holidays with my boyfriend – oh, wouldn’t that be just great…
But somewhat nearer in the future, I would just love to receive this beautiful gift you are giving away! Thank you for your generosity and your great website.
Have a wonderful day
WOW! What a nice giveaway..! I love it! Happy Birthday and many more. If I could pick anything for my birthday it would be a shopping spree at my local fabric shop with lots of money to spend of coarse.LOL Thank you for this chance to win a beautiful kit.
Hello Mary,
“Wish you Many More Happy Returns of the Day”
My wish is to have embroidery stuff or flowers for my birthday. since my family do not know much about embroidery materials they always gift me flowers along with some more gifts.
My birthday is in this month. If i could win this gift i will be happiest..:)
Thank you Mary for such a noble thought..
Lakshmi Sadala
Congratulations and many happy returns of the day…lovely sunny day in Aberdeen, hoping it is with you also.
For my birthday, I would like a house elf…so that I could escape noticing all the dust bunnies and friends and enjoy doing what I want to do. Since the house elf would be doing such a great job, I would even have time to change my sewing room from a depository for all kinds of junk into the wonderful workroom it should be. It would be an oasis of calm and rational organisation, a library for my books, shelves for all my vintage fabrics, laces, linens…a place for all my canvas, background fabrics and boxes of interesting threads, beads and findings… and a workbench for my latest passion…silversmithing!!And not to forget…my computer and printer to keep in touch with the world.
Oh what unutterable JOY!! Wishing you a happy, happy day.
The perfect birthday gift would be an extended trip to Europe, though not in December (my birth month). I have to say, though, that this give-away would be a most welcome treat. Thanks for this opportunity!
Happy Birthday to you dear Mary, Happy Birthday to you. (sung to music)
What would be my wish? I wanted an IPad for my birthday and for Christmas. Can’t afford one so I’m still wishing. But I love anything needlework. I don’t have stretcher bars or sharper scissors, so that would be a blessing!
Happy Birthday Mary!
My answer would be… I wish for in the whole world….
To continue to be happy, healthy, have a roof over my head, food on the table and a little money in my pocket.
OR
Win the lottery… I’m not greedy…. LOL….
Either would be OK with me.
My husband died suddenly one week into his retirement. My birthday wish is to have him back with me, our children, and grandchildren!
Just wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday! Hope it’s a splendid one.
Happy Birthday Mary
I hope you have a lovely day and remember, there are no calories in birthday cake 
When my husband asks what I want for my birthday, I usually tell him I’d like a gift card from this fabric store, or that embroidery site – you get the idea. He says, a gift card is not a present! I reply with ‘It certainly is, in fact it’s a double present. Not only do I get to buy things I love, I get to shop!!!’
But truthfully, if I could have anything at all for my birthday – i’d want my kids and grandkids living near me. It’s been 6 yrs since we all lived in the same town, and I miss them so much. Visits are nice, but not the same.
Thank you for giving on your birthday
Happy Birthday Mary. May you have many more.
Don’t you know you give to us everyday? The writing and inspiration you provide is a gift to us. But if you want to give away the kit and extras, I’d love to be the recipient.
If I could have absolutely anything for my birthday – no boundaries? I’d probably want a beach house – one with plenty of bedrooms where our boys would always come with their families for fun, relaxation, and good times with family – creating special memories.
If I could have anything I wanted for my birthday I think I would want enough money for my family and I to move. We have been wanting to for a while now. We live in a two bedroom rental and don’t have enough room for both kids, much less everything we own. We have had to pay for a storage unit for the last six years. I figured it up and for the price we pay and the amount of time we have paid, we could have bought a couple of yard barns to store our stuff in already.
We can’t afford one though LOL. Anyway, that is my choice for what I would want, the money to move to a bigger house so my daughter would have her own room instead of having to sleep on a roll away bed in the living room.
Thanks for giving us a chance to win such wonderful things!
Happy Birthday!
I really appreciate your blog and read it regularly. I have never needlepainted and this kit looks like an ideal way to try it out. Not too intimidating! ~Mark
What a great birthday gift you are giving. What a beautiful gesture. My name is Mary J/ Jersey to most.
This is an absolutely beautiful thing to do and I know anyone that wins will be so pleased.
For my birthday I would love to be able to embroidery like you and most here in this group. I am new to embroidery and am loving it.
I don’t post much (only to ask questions) but I read and try new things as they come up.
Mary Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you. May it be the best one ever.
God Bless
Jersey
For my birthday I would like to be able to travel to Europe and see some of the history, see what fabric and needlework they do there and just explore.
After a new kitchen,I would love a new sewing machine. My dad taught me to embroider more than 50 years ago. I still have it.
A very happy birthday Mary. May you have a wonderful day and may the year ahead be the best one yet. I have found that the more I give, (either by physically helping or otherwise) I seem to get so much more in return. I am an avid hand crafter. I do alot of hand embroidery and always looking for something new to learn and make.
Beautiful kit and what a neat way to celebrate your birthday! If I could have anything I wanted for my birthday it would be a trip to Australia and New Zealand to meet all of the wonderful stitchers that I have read about, and visit all of the great shops that I have seen in magazines such as Inspirations. And just to explore the countries!
Happy birthday! My birthday’s not for several months but I’d love a new leather purse. Have a lovely day!
Julie F (from Chicago)
Happiest Birthday Wishes Mary! I hope you have a wonderful day!
If I could have anything on my birthday, I would want my whole family to come together for a nice meal and just spending time together. Of course, STASH is always great too.
Mary – What a wonderful and generous idea! My ultimate birthday gift would be a complete course of study at the Royal School of Needlework. I believe in dreaming big. I could tuck my hubby away in my room and we could explore Great Britain during off-times when my eyes had crossed from stitching!
I have been blessed in this life with a good husband; a son who is successfully making his way in the world and a daughter who now seems to have found her path as well. I hope everyone else who enters is equally blessed.
If I could get anything for my birthday it would be 3 things, besides world peace, I would be selfish and ask for a 1)kindle or an ipad 5; 2)elan lap frame for stitching; 3)a sewing machine.
Happy Birthday Mary! I too am an April baby born on Good Friday many years ago on April 11. My wish is for a new light for needlework.
Happy Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
If I could have anything for my birthday, it would be that all my family was gathered around me with love! Hope you get everything you desire on your birthday too!
Happy Birthday.
What a nice set, the only thing missing is the stitcher
For my birthday I would love to get a whole stash of silk embroidery threads and ribbon. And I love your birthday giveaway – Alberta’s provincial flower is the wild rose and they are one of my favourite flowers – they bloom early, smell wonderful, and you can make yummy jelly from the hips
Happy Birthday, Mary! I hope you have the best of days.
For my birthday (the Ides of March), the perfect gift would be my son home safe and sound from deployment, continued health for my family, and a visit from my mom who lives too far away. I just hope I can find that pair of ruby slippers before my next birthday….
What a nice way to celebrate your birthday and honor you mom too. If I could do anything for my birthday…(silly, I know)…I would like to be to live the day as Scarlet O’Hara (before the way). Be the belle of the ball in a fine southern plantation. Yeah, I know it is corny. But short of that, my wish would be to stay home in my pajamas and stitch all day. Ahhh, to dare to dream. Thanks for the chance at the give-a-way. Have a very blessed birthday! Sharon M from West, Texas (yes, the town is West…not the direction).
Happy Birthday Mary!!
Thank you for this opportunity to win the kit and stretcher bars!
I think my ideal birthday gift would be a two week course at the Royal School of Needle work!
and all the supplies to go with it and my Husband going with me!! Taht would be a dream come true!!
Happy Birthday Mary, have a wonderful day and tell your mom I said thanks too!
A very Happy Birthday, Mary!
If I could have anything for my birthday, it would be a six week vacation to the mountains.
What a lovely giveaway, gorgeous pattern.
Happy anniversary!
Your site inspired me to start to embroider again after 35 years from high school. I searched all informations and found too many to learn… So just started to traditional embroidery. Girls teased me of ordering treads, hoops, needles, books, fabrics. Needlepainting is one of my high interest which I never learned in highschool (in early 70′). I’d like to have a chance to see needlepainting before my girls tease me of ordering needlepainting things even I don’t know well.
Manny manny happiness to you!
Once upon a time………..
If I could have anything (this would mean I have shaken the money tree that I obviously found ) for my birthday it would be the most organized space for all my things that would include a wall of nails for each spool of thread to display itself and show its color to make me happy every day. Of course it would have to be set in a way that fading would never occur……nor dust! And all of my machines would be Brand New! Up to Date! And my projects would be never behind and on this day I would just be finishing my very favorite of all UFO……..and we lived happily ever after. ahhhhh. Now that would indeed be such a birthday now wouldnd’t it? Chris Beresford, the tale spinner, the dreamer and wanna be winner. Happy, happy birthday to YOU!
Thanks for the try on such a nice treat.
Happy Birthday Mary.
I sure enjoy reading your blog. I have been reading for about a year and half and you always have interesting things to talk about.
I wish most for good health but if it was for a crafty thing, then it would be for a really good light that would help me to see better while stitching.
Happy birthday, Mary!
If I could have anything for my birthday….it might be my own personal Jeeves to cook dinner and prepare bag lunches each day for my family. I really dislike cooking, grocery shopping, and most any kitchen activity more involved than making a pot of coffee. Not cooking would also leave me more time for needlework.
Dear Mary,
Happy Birthday! And I think your mother’s one very smart woman. It is very pleasurable to give. Thank you for listening to her.
As for the what would I want for my birthday – well, this year I already received nearly everything I wanted. The last item on my wish list is one of them fancy DVD players that streams internet to connect to the television in my room. Right now I have to connect my laptop and it’s a pain to moving things around all the time like this.
But other than that, I’ve been given so much this year, that I want for nothing.
Happy Day! For my birthday, I would love to have a reunion of ALL of my friends and family.
Happy birthday dear Aries sister. My birthday was yesterday- 7 April. FOr my birthday I asked for and got TIME.
Time to help me with things I can’t do myself. So dear daughter is coming over tomorrow and work in my yard. I have a wonderful daughter.
PS: I have lusted over Dovo scissors for a very long time. YOur give away is totally awesome. Thank you birthday sister.
Janice MIller
Happy B’day and many more happy ones to come.
My B’day wish is to have enough money to pay off all our bills so I could move back to my hometown to be with my parents, kids and the joy of my life – my granddaughter Kayclynn.
Debbie in MO
Happy Birthday.
For my birthday I would like my health especially my eyesight and to be arthritis free so I can continue stitching. To have more time would be an incredible bonus _ I will have to live to be about 200 to complete all the projects I want to finish!
Susan M. Queensland, Australia
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
I love needle painting
and crocheting too!
What would i like for my birthday? Well, I’m trying to put together the pictures for a needle painted quilt that I plan to make using a Mexican rayon floss. Problem is, I am having trouble finding flower pictures that turn me on. I would just love some transfers that are detailed enough for the project I have in mind. I already have the blocks cut,and am just waiting for the right inspiration!
Happy Birthday Mary! I hope you have many years to come.
My wish for my birthday is to have more time to do all the wonderful things that I want (embroiderying, sewing, dyeing).
Greetings from Argentina!
If I could have anything for my birthday, it would be a day sitting in a comfy chair, surrounded by friends and family, eating cakes, drinking milk and taking naps! My birthday is Monday and that’s what I plan to do!
Dear Mary, Happy Birthday to you! Thank you for your kindness in giving us this wonderful blog and for mentioning how your Mom has guided you in your life. If I could have a wish for my birthday, it would be to be able to be with my mom that day but sadly she passed away several years ago. My mom taught me and my sisters the fine art of needlework. We all still love to pick up a needle and create!
Happy birthday, Mary! Enjoy your day! And thanks for sharing it with the rest of us.
“If you could have anything for your birthday, what would it be?”
You mean besides peace on earth and full bellies for all, with each person on their own small patch of land with a shading tree overhead? Okay, so I dream (along with Isaiah) . . .
A beautiful piece to work on and the time, and peace (pun intended) to actually work on it! A simple thing, but the gift of time and something lovely to fill it with would be so wonderful!
Happy Birthday, Mary!
As for the kit – Pretty! I’d love for this to end up in my house. It seems odd to me that the Iowa state flower is now usually found only along railroad tracks or gravel roads and often sprayed as a weed.
For my birthday? A cleaning service. Or the big lottery win. The Dear Sweet Child to see the value of studying in school. To stay healthy enough to keep on his behind about the inportance of school, even if he dosn’t go on to college (can you tell we had school conferences last night?). You to keep writing this blog for a loooooooong time!
Gail in Iowa
Hi Mary,
That for the great work you do on your site. It is the only one I read faithfully EVERY day.
If I could have anything for my birthday (besides of course loved ones who have passed), it would be a fantastic array of threads to fill a room. I love color, of any sort, it is like food to me. I remember being in Morocco a few years ago. We went into a little shop, and it almost took my breath away. There it was, every wall, top to bottom FILLED with tiny spools of every color of silk thread you could imagine. I could have spent hours in that shop. Hugs!
Hi Mary,
If I could have anything, I would want my own little part of the house, for my crafting. That way I would have to take things out and put them away all the time. It would be heaven.
Many happy returns of the day! I’m always saying “There’s only one alternative to getting older.” I’m glad to see someone else has adopted that aphorism!
Please count me in for the giveaway. If I limit myself to strictly material things that someone might reasonably decide to give me, I suppose what I’d want most for my birthday this year is some round cake cooling racks of various sizes. Exciting, eh?
Hi Mary,
The Rose pattern would definitely be enough for
a birthday gift, plus all the additional items,
“wow”.
One thing I do wish for everyday, is that my
daughter find a decent job; she has been looking for at least two years, this would truly be a great birthday gift.
Thanks again Mary for sharing……….
Teri
Happy Birthday Mary. The one thing I would love most for my birthday wish would be to have my mom and dad back for that day. They’ve both been gone for some time now and I’d just love to give them both another hug and kiss and let them know how much I still miss them.
Happy Birthday, Mary! Thanks for being such a giver….and just the type things all us stitchers love!
As I’m presently endeavoring to add threadpainting to my embroidery experience, your gift would be a real treat for me. I would love to take a trip “downunder” one day….see Australia and New Zealand….and participate in “Beating Around the Bush”.
Thanks for the generous give-away!
Happy Birthday Mary and thanks for offering us a chance to shae in your birthday presents.
Sudukc’s perfect birthday would be a day(more like a week-end)at the lake on a screened in porch (in case of rain and to keep the bugs out) overlooking the water with stitching friends and family close by to clebrate with me. I would not have to do anything but sip iced tea, eat (angel food cake with ooie-gooey white icing for desert), stitch and visit with a nap thrown in for the late night hours I’m going to be keeping.
I would love to be able to eat at my favorite restaurant, which has been closed for a very long time.
And have flourless chocolate cake and take a nap and fly a kite and get a letter from a foreign land and play with kittens and read three chapters of a good book and know that everyone I care about is safe and well.
Happy Birthday Mary!! Wishing you love ‘n laughter, sunshine ‘n smiles for many, many years to come!
If I could have anything, I would choose an all expense paid week in Vegas with $$ to gamble! But in my real life, I always ask for gift cards to Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, JoAnn’s, etc.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Happy Birthday! Since I work full time and take care of my mother with Alzheimer’s, I would love a day without responsibility. A day to meditate, relax, and to do what I want to do – just because I can.
Have a great day!
Happy birthday! God grant you many years in health and happiness!
Thank you for your tremendous generosity! I can’t believe you’re giving away all of that!
Your question is a difficult one. The first thing which popped into my mind was world peace, but I know that wouldn’t sound genuine to anyone who doesn’t know me. If I were to be more selfish, I would wish for good health for my mother. She’s only 68, but she already has a pacemaker, suffers from congenital heart failure (which is currently under control), has horrible arthritis, and severe depression. I can still see the person she was, in there trying so hard to get out, but I can’t save her. Reading through some of the responses, I’m happy to see that there are still so many people who value the truly important things and I’m proud to be part of this online community. Ali in CT
If I could have anything I want for my birthday or any day, it would be to win this fabulous giveaway! What a dream it is. I cannot even imagine opening that package with all of the goodies. Happy birthday.
Happy Birthday Mary!
Well my ideal gift would be some peonies for our new garden. I just love them. Hope you have fun celebrating your birthday. Kind regards Clare
Happy Birthday! First I want to say how much I enjoy your website and look forward to the newsletter I receive each day! Thank you so much for this important work that you do! For my birthday I would like to be able to afford to have the time and the money to work on what I love the most ~ needlework and sewing! Have a great day! God bless.
That rose is so beautiful! Hm… I know what I want this year for my birthday. We’re moving to Moldova in September, and I want my stuff! It usually takes two to six weeks to get your stuff once you move, and in the meantime you’re living on borrowed, minimal things from the embassy. I’d love to just get my things so I can get settled in my new home come October first.
well Happy Birthday! 29 is always fun again! Love your post, your blog, and how that brain of yours works…quite fun! I think for my next birthday I would absolutely HANDS DOWN want a little vacation with my hubby. The last 5 years have been sorta tight here with 2 kids in college ( both graduating in may!YEAH!!!!) and our awful economy here in MI. So…here’s to a better 2012 …and fingers crossed I get my wish lol..have a great day!
I would love to have an antique tea cart for my dining room.
Gail R. from MI
This is my birthday month, too! Last week I became an octogenarian, and I still have so much stitching to do that I intend to last quite a few more years! Indeed, my fervent birthday wish has three parts: (1) finish all the things in my stash; (2) add new things to my stash; and (3) finish all the newly-added things as well. Stitching is something I took up seriously after I retired from an academic career 13 years ago, and it is my passion!
I love your posts, Mary, and I wish you the very best.
Lee in Gaithersburg
PARTY TIME!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY!!! Hoping that you had a good time.. I thank GOD for blessing you with yet another year filled with laughter and fun and of course stitching..
The only thing that i wish for is to have my family close.. My mom, my dad and my sis… they are so far away.. I MISS THEM..
SOKU
MN
Hello Mary and Happy Birthday to the birthday girl!
If I could have anything for my birthday, what would it be? World Peace. (no, I’m not Gracie Lou Freebush from the movie Miss Congeniality, starring Sandra Bullock ) But world peace sure would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?
Thanks for thinking of others on your day Mary. May the good Lord bless you with many more.
BrendaD from Wilmington, Ohio
Dear Mary,
Happy birthday! I hope you the kind of day that makes you wish the next birthday comes really fast!
Answering your question – because, of course I want all those gifts! – what I really want for my birthday is jewelry. Which I might get for myself! But since that is quite expensive, I think I will be pretty happy with the new coming Trish Burr book, with supplies to try one of the projects… so we could say that if it’s not a shiny rock, at least it has some shiny threads involved!
Happy Your Birthday Mary! Giving is a wonderful feeling…agreed. My name is Linda, in blog land I go by SewLindaAnn and I live in Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve been starting to learn embroidery with a blog doing a Retro Nine Patch and I love it. For my b’day, if I could have “anything” it would be a fully loaded sewing machine. One of those work horses that cost the same as a car.
Dear Mary,
May God bless you on your birthday and on this new year that begins for you.
Yes, when one gives, one receives doubly–the joy of gratitude for being able to do so, and the joy of seeing the other person’s happiness.
For my birthday (October), I wish good overall health, especially that my arthritic hands stop getting worse so that I can continue to do all the things I love with them, including embroidery. (Actually, I still need them to make a living as I work at a computer all day!)
If I won the gift, I would embroider it for my mother-in-law who used to sew and embroider beautiful things by hand and no longer can. She also loves roses. (My own Mom died in 2004.)
Thank you for your generosity of spirit–you give us something beautiful every day!
Doris Hernandez Huston – Florida
Happy B’day!! I got a wonderful compost bin for Christmas and now realize I need another one; one to collect in and one that’s cooking. So, that’s what I want. I hope you get everything you want. LI Lawyer Jane
Happy Birthday! All I ever want for my birthday is one entire guilt-free day of doing nothing. I never manage to give it to myself, despite the cooperation of my family. May you be more sucessful than me!
I think for my birthday I would most like to have one perfect moment! You see, I am a cancer patient, and just having a birthday is really gift enough for me. But to have that one perfect moment in time sounds like heaven! I don’t know what I will do with that one perfect moment, maybe some stitching or reading; maybe a walk on a lovely Spring day; maybe a romp with the dogs. I don’t know, but because it is that one perfect moment in time, whatever I choose to do will be – perfect.
Happy, Happy Birthday.
If I could have anything as a present it would be the gift of time-more time to do what I wanted to do-STTITCH!
Happy Birthday Mary,
I think you Mom was on to something. When my children were little, I used to have them pick out a toy that they really wanted for Christmas and then we would give it away to charity. At first, they were upset but as the years went by they really enjoyed and now they all have a generous spirit. Enjoy your birthday.
Kristy
Happy Birthday!!
For my birthday, I’d love a vacation with my husband. I would be great for just the two of us to get away.
For my birthday I would like to have a reunion of all my good friends, some wine and lots of laughter.
Hello Mary and Happy Birthday!
My fantasy birthday gift would be a cabin in the mountains where it would be cool and quiet and I could go there to stitch, knit and paint.
Have a wonderful birthday!
Jan B.
May your special day be filled with love and chocolate, Mary! I do so enjoy receiving your frequent email updates with all the beautiful embroidery photos. I actually learn a lot just reading them!
Now, if it were MY birthday, I think I would wish for a week off work to just be creative. I like both quilting and embroidering, but never seem to have enough hours in the day to enjoy them.
To win the lottery and buy homes for Habitat for Humanity. Ot better yet to stitch and eat chocolate.
Happy Birthday! I have a big milestone birthday this year and I have several other friends turning the same age as me. We are having little celebrations all year long together. My birthday wish would be for me and my husband to take a year off work, have all the bills paid and the house taken care of for us and to do nothing but travel for an entire year. We love seeing new places and meeting fabulous people. It’s so much fun to learn about other cultures. I would have to take at least “some” of my stitchy stuff, of course.
Happy Birthday! I hope you are spoiled rotten by your family and loved ones ^_^
That looks like an awesome giveaway. Thank you so much for the opportunity! Coincidentally I’ve just started trying to do needlepainting. It’s a slow process, but I love the way that embroidery is an instant-feedback learning, and even the mess-ups look pretty
If I could get anything at all for my birthday it would be to spend more time with my man who is 1600km away. It’s temporary, but I miss him.
Thank you for your amazing website and all the time and effort you put into it.
Tessa from Stellenbosch, RSA
Happy birthday Mary,wishing you Health and Happiness and may your needle keep showing us the beautiful things that we could do.I wish for everybody to treasure what they have and to help others obtain it.
Happy Birthday, and many more! Thanks for the chance to win this kit. I was on her website and loved this, and the pansy as they are perfect for a beginner like me!
Hope you have a great one….and mother was right, it really is better to give than receive.;
Desi
For my birthday I’d like a shiny new 85mm 1.4 lens. Or an iPad. Gadgets are my love-language.
Or an embroidery kit. ; )
If I could have ANYTHING….it would have to be a cabin in the mountains with a big porch where I would sit for hours enjoying the view and mountain air and stitch!!! My birthday is April 18th…maybe I will at least have some new stitching projects!!
Hi! Happy birthday!! For my birthday, hmmm… it’s a toss-up. Either a new Nikon camera.. like the D3000 or something amazing like that to replace my D60, orrrrr, on the emotional side, a trip back to Brazil to see friends I haven’t seen in more than six years!
And.. my name is Erica from Visalia