Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Needlework Give-Away series! I’m very excited about this series of give-aways, each of which is sponsored by the designers, manufacturers, retailers, or artists featured in each give-away post.
For this series of give-aways, entering is very easy. Just read each article completely and follow the instructions at the end of the article.
For the First Day of Christmas give-away, we have three beautiful needle painting embroidery kits from Trish Burr, along with a set of her needle painting instructional DVDs. The winner will receive all three kits and the DVD set.
Trish Burr’s needle painting kits are gorgeous, and her instructional DVD on needle painting is a great way to become familiar with the nuances of this embroidery technique. I thought they were a perfect way to kick off this series! Well – that – and the birds are the closest I could come to a partridge in a pear tree.
The winner will receive Trish’s 2-DVD set, The Long & Short of It, which is an instructional workshop on long & short stitch needle painting.
In addition to the DVD set, you’ll receive three kits: this vibrant butterfly…
… this portrait of a Somali Bee Eater…
… and the Kotari Kingfisher.
The kits include pre-printed fabric, full instructions, and a DMC – Anchor thread list, so that you can use your own preferred stranded cotton to complete the embroidery.
Trish Burr is a master of needle painting. This year, she has published two books that are of particular interest to embroiderers interested in needle painting. The first is Needle Painting Embroidery: Fresh Ideas for Beginners, which teaches the basics of needle painting embroidery and takes the stitcher through many beautiful projects that are arranged in order of difficulty. It is the perfect learning book for needle painting!
The second book that Trish has had published this year – and which is not yet available in the US, but can be bought through overseas booksellers – is Colour Confidence in Embroidery. While particularly pertinent to embroiderers interested in long and short stitch shading, the book is really addressed to anyone who loves surface embroidery and other needlework that involves color. Whether you’re a cross-stitcher, needlepointer, surface embroiderer, needle painter – this book teaches the ins and outs of color selection in embroidery. It’s a fantastic book! It also includes plenty of projects for the beginning to advanced stitcher.
If you’re not familiar with Trish and her work, I suggest visiting her website, Trish Burr Embroidery. There, you’ll see some incredible masterpieces of needle painting!
Instructions for Entering the Give-Away
To enter today’s give-away, please read and follow these simple instructions!
1. Leave a comment at the end of today’s article. If you click on that link, it will take you directly to the comment area, so that there are no mishaps! Comments delivered via e-mail or on other articles will not be included in the give-away.
2. In your comment, answer the following question:
Of the three kits featured above, which grabs you? (i.e. Which is your favorite?)
3. Make sure you leave a recognizable name either in the body of your comment, or on the “name” line above the comment box. If your name happens to be Joy, you might include a last initial or a location, to differentiate yourself from the other Joys out there (example: Joy in Madagascar).
4. Leave your comment before January 9th, 2012, at 5:00 am Central Time (Kansas, USA!). All winners for this series will be selected on January 9th, and announced that day here on Needle ‘n Thread. You’ll have to check back on January 9th to see if you’ve won, because the winners will need to contact me within 3 days to claim their prizes. The Give-Away is Now Closed. Thanks for your interest!
Merry First Day of Christmas!
Please do not panic if your comment does not show up immediately. All comments are moderated in the order in which they come in, and they will eventually be posted. If you are looking for your comment, please use the “older comments” and “newer comments” links at the top of the comments section. These will take you through all the comments pages, from newest to oldest.
I...
I love the Kotari Kingfisher. Just beautiful!
Laurie in Calhoun, Georgia.
I love the Kotari Kingfisher.
Joyeux Noel Mary,
Many, many thanks for all you have done for
us during this year. The Trish Burr kit I
like the most is the Kotari Kingfisher.
Colors, colors, they are most beautiful and
it would be quite a challenge to embroider
this gorgeous bird. Thank you Mary for
everything.
France from Canada.
Oh, I love Trish Burr and these kits are beautiful! Thank you for sharing your bounty with us.
Oh, it has to be the kingfisher
Thank you for such a great opportunity, great way to go into the new year
I only learned of Trish Burr after your recent review of her new book, which is now on my wish list. I love the Kotari Kingfisher best of the three, and whoever wins this gift is going to be a very lucky stitcher!
Theresa/OctoberLace
Oh Mary! I really would like to receive these books and DVDs. I try and try to get my needlepainting presentable – but I have to do much “reverse” stitching to get back to square one so that I can start again, and maybe do better next time. I would love to have help from Trish Burr.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thankyou. Catherine
I really find it hard to pick. The butterfly caught my eye but then the kingfisher is so colorful. Maybe the Somali beecatcher because he reminds me of the chickadee in my yard. I would be more than beside myself to win thank you Onita of Michigan.
What a fun way to continue the celebration of Christmas! I love that grumpy looking little kingfisher the most, but all three kits are lovely.
Merry Christmas!
MGM
The Kotari Kingfisher is just absolutely stunning!
My favorite kit is the Kotari Kingfisher. He’s beautiful and I love his colors.
My mum (rip) loves butterflies and loves the color red. Therefore I am drawn towards the beautiful butterfly and would stitch this and put it on the front cover of the memorial book I am doing. She would of been thrilled to have seen Trisha’s needlework butterfly.
Hi Mary!
Thank you so much for the wonderful give-aways.
My favorite is the Kotari Kingfisher.
Anita-MM
I love the color graduation in the kingfisher, so I guess that would be my favorite. Needlepainting looks so intimidating and oh so beautiful.
The Kotari Kingfisher is a standout with the beautiful blue and its tender pose; as if giving you a side way glance. Love it.
Mary, please include me in the drawing for the 1st Day of Christmas. I really like the Kotari Kingfisher kit best of the three kits shown. Thanks.
LisaB
Mary – These kits are just gorgeous. I love needle painting but have not done much of it. I would love to learn how to do this well! My favorite kit is the kingfisher. He/she has beautiful colors. He/she also has such an attitude! Definitely making a statement.
Thanks for the giveaway. I’d love to win these.
Merry Christmas to you.
Judy
The Somali Bee Eater kit is the more striking subject to me of the three kits highlighted. The color play in the feathers around the neck are amazing when you consider they’re just long and short stitches of embroidery thread.
I’m excited that this contest is running and I’ll have the Needle ‘n Thread website/blog on my mind a lot while I wait to see who is the winner!
Thanks!
Although I love all three of Trish Burr’s designs, there is something about the bee eater that really appeals to me. That red eye. That subtle coloring of the feathers. Yummy. Warm winter wishes to you Mary!
Hello,
my choice : the red (for passion) butterfly (to free my wings) and the flowers so I can take the time to smell them and learn how to paint with thread with Thish Burr.
Thank you for all the informations you send me (I save every newsletter).
All the best for the new year 2012.
Wow, these are really nice! Hard to decide which one I like the most. The Kingfisher is really cute but I think the butterfly is the one I am most attracted too.
All three kits are beautiful, but my favorite is Kotari Kingfisher. He is just adorable!
The Kotari Kingfisher!!! I like challenges and this kingfisher sure does make me want to needlepaint! Thanks for the giveaways!!!
Avis
The one the first grabs me is the KOTARI KINGFISHER with the BUTTERFLY a very close second
I love them all, but the butterfly just pips the others for me. I adore butterflies, even this one that I can’t relate to (i.e. it isn’t a north European species!!)
Which one do YOU like best??
Wow, these really knocked my socks off, but the detail in the little kingfisher is amazing.
Becky in upstate SC
Nekem pillangós tetszik a legjobban,a második helyezett a Kotari Kingfisher. Szeretnék részt venni játékban.
I am fairly new to needle painting, but find it a gorgeous technique. My husband loves birds and I have quite a variety of them. My favorite is a surface embroidery bell pull that I made many years ago. My favorite in this collection is the Somali Bee Eater. The detail in its face and neck appeal to me. It would be a treasure to add to my collection of birds.
Kathy Miller
My favorite is the Kotari Kingfisher. It looks so soft and real! I would like to learn this type of embroidery.
What wonderful detail in Trish Burr’s embroidery. I like to incorporate detail into my projects. Help on color is always appreciated and this will be great reference material. It is exciting to learn and add new techniques to my work.
The kingfisher is my number 1 choice then the beautiful rose. Thank you for offering these wonderful patterns.
I like the Somali Bee Eater as I would love to learn the shading techniques and it looks so realistic. I have Trish’s Needle Painting Embroidery-Fresh Ideas for Beginners and have ordered the Colour Confidence in Embroidery from overseas. I think the DVD’s would be so helpful in learning her techniques.
All the kits look beautiful. I really like the Kotari Kingfisher
Mary, First, thank you for the 12 Days of Christmas giveaways. You are too good to us.
Second, needlepainting is something at which I have never been very good. I am hoping Trish Burr’s instructions can enlighten me on the proper techniques.
Thanks again,
Joan S
I would love to learn needle painting. I love embroidery, sewing, and smocking, and look forward to learning a new skill. I have several months of chemo ahead of me, and this would be a perfect time to focus on learning this technique. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thanks for sharing during the Holidays! My favorite is the butterfly. I bought the book and it is wonderful.
All of Trish Burr’s needlepaintings are so real looking and any one of them would be a joy to stitch. Of the three offered in this drawing the one that really “grabs” me is the butterfly. The butterfly represents new life in Christ. Thank you for the opportunity to win not only beautiful stitchery kits, but DVDs to help with the stitching.
Happy New Year!
Norma
The Katori Kingfisher………Oh Lord I think I might actually die without it!!! It is absolutely divine. He’s actually fluffy and the moss on the branch is incredibly realistic.
The Kotari Kingfisher is my favourite. I love the colours, though it would be difficult for me to stitch him.
Resmi from India.
The Kotari Kingfisher really grabbed me! I love the color and the texture. It feels as if it were sitting right there in front of me.Trish Burr is truly talented. Her work is beautiful!
What a lovely and generous prize! Hard to choose a favorite but the butterfly won and the Kingfisher came in as a close second. I am drawn to the vibrant colors of both.
So, first, thank you to Trish Burr for this very generous first day of Christmas give-away and thank you for doing the give-away.
It is very difficult to pick a favourite from the three stunning designs. Perhaps because it is Christmas, the red butterfly really caught my eye, so I will pick that one
Merry First Day of Christmas and good luck to everyone.
What a great First Day of Christmas! I love these kits, but my favourite kit is the Kotari Kingfisher! That one is so cute! Thanks for the chance to win such a great prize!
Love, love, love Trish Burr’s work and have her Colour Confidence book on pre-order. Although a newbie novice on needle painting…Trish’s DVDs and projects seem the perfect way to jump in. Mary I so enjoy your blog and look forward to it each morning. Thank you for all the wonderful inspiration!
I have been following this website for a few years now and have decided I so want to start a project using the silk painting needlework. I don’t think I have ever seen such beautiful work and would like to add myself to one of the people would can and will achieve this tecnique. So very excited to get a kit and begin….
Sincerely…. Kate Revell
Kotari Kingfisher sits on his branch showing the world his vibrant in depth colors giving the appearance of soft, fluffy down-like feathers.
He is just gorgeous!
Claudia from La Grange, IL
I especially liked the Kotari Kingfisher as I could see and feel the individual feathers. Just amazing work! I thank you for making us aware of Trish Burr.
Ever since you introduced us to Trish, I’ve admired her work. Of the kits pictured the Kotari Kingfisher is definitely my favorite! Thanks, Mary, and happy holidays.
I love the close up detail of the Somali Bee Eater. It looks like he is looking right at you.
Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway, and sharing your stash. I’m looking forward to seeing what is presented each and every day.
My absolute favorite is the Kotari Kingfisher, what an artist she is, all the kits are beautiful.
I am particularly fond of the Kotari Kingfisher because of the beautiful colors. The shading is exquisite.
I love the kingfisher, it reminds me of a hurt kookaburra my dad found when we were kids living in Australia.
Butterflies are my favourite things but the Kotari Kingfisher has to be the kit that really speaks to me. He just looks so cheeky. I would love to win this giveaway because my needlepainting skills definitely need improvement.
Hi Mary,
What a wonderful give away. For Christmas, my sweet hubby bought me the book “Needle Painting Embroidery – Fresh Ideas for Beginners” by Trish Burr. How wonderful it would be to have one of her kits to put my new found information to the test.
Have a continuing happy holiday season.
Vicki W.
Ironwood, Michigan
P S….Kingfisher Is my favorite.
Awesome 1st day gifts! I love them all, but it I have to choose, then it would be the Butterfly!
Please enter me in your drawing.
Wonderful opportunity. The portrait of a Somali Bee Eater most strikes my fancy. The subtle shading, the fierce eye.
Wow! What a superb give-a-away! I am going to find out more about Trish Burr – her needlework is wonderful. I particularly love the Kotari Kingfisher – it looks so lifelike and the blue is so vibrant. Would really love to stitch this gorgeous trio.
First of all, Merry Christmas to you, too, and thank you for these wonderful give-aways. I think Trish Burr’s work is just awesome! I would love to learn this technique, although I am not sure that I am up to it. Between the three presented projects the one that grabs me the most has to be the Butterfly, because of the beautiful warm colours; but also the Kingfisher is very pretty with it’s beautiful plumage, and the Bee Eater is so realistic – it really seems to look at you! They’re all gorgeous! Wouldn’t it be great, if I would win one of them?
Happy Holidays, Tina
The Kotari Kingfisher speaks to me! The colors are so vibrant, the detail so life like. Everything in Minnesota is brown and dirty looking right now and nothing can grow outside. Oh, how I love MN winters. Not!
Mary,
Merry Christmas, and thank you for a series of giveaways. Loved reading about Trish Burr’s offerings. I’ve branched out from cross stitch into needlepoint and other counted embroidery. Now I’m starting the SNS Kimono class and picking my colors. Would love to have Trish’s information to help me develop this skill.
I love strawberries, so the red butterfly caught my attention. However, the attitude of the Somali Bee Eater intrigues me. That’s one that I could look at over and over, and come up with a different answer each time.
They are all spectacular, but the one that really “grabs” me is the Kotari Kingfisher. I love the look of fierce intent in the eye and the beautiful rich color blending.
Hi Mary,
What a wonderful prize for those of us with a love of long and short stitch and thread painting.
My favourite kit is the Kotari Kingfisher as it most closely resembles a Kookaburra, a native bird of Australia. And with that glint in his eye, I am sure this bird will laugh long and hard at my long and short stitch efforts if I don’t get some more practice in.
Having learnt long and short stitch in 2011 what better way to get better in 2012 than with Trish’s kits.
Thanks for the opportunity
Chris from Australia
I love the cute little bee eater and as I am starting a new chapter in my lie – my kids are all out of the nest – I will be devoting time to embroidery again and learning new skills and needle painting is one I would love to learn.
Definitely the bee eater. I love the closeup of his face and the subtle color shading. Thanks for the link to the books too.
Carol in Northern Indiana
Hi Mary, and merry Christmas to you. Thank you for your hard work this year and for making this competition possible.
I love the butterfly kit – the colours of the butterfly and the strawberry were just beautiful.
This is a really exciting time – thanks again.
Jenny
Gorgeous! Taking my embroidery to the next level! That will be my 2012 challenge. Thank you for sharing.
Oh my! I would be out of my mind happy to win!
It was my hope to purchase Trish’s latest book for beginners.
Her work and designs are glorious and definitely piques my desire to attempt her style.
My fingers are crossed.
I’d LOVE to win Trish Burrs DVD, “The Long and Short if It”. I have been wanting to try this beautiful type of needlework. These are gorgeous!! Hard to choose, but I think I like the kingfisher best, we have these pretty little birds near our home and I have been wanting to stitch them.
Thanks so much for this opportunity to win!!
Jan M from Howell
It’s hard to choose one favorite but I think the Somali Bee Eater grabs me most, love the shaded feathers. Happy Holidays, Mary!
Judy
Trish Burr does beautiful work, but I in particular like the Kotari Kingfisher because he is puffy and soft looking! I have one book, but have not had the chance to work through it. Would love having a dvd set!!!!!
I love the Butterfly kit because of the vibrant colors, but the bird kits are amazing because of the texture created by the embroidery technique! The color wins for me! Merry Christmas!!
I like the Kotari Kingfisher best. Not only is the color choice and stitch method excellent, he seems to be totally focused on finding food, just like th kingfishers I’ve seen in the wild.
The Kotari Kingfisher with it’s vibrant colors and details is my favorite. The vibrant red Butterfly with Strawberry flowers is second! Linda
Hi Mary,
This is going to be a lovely 12 Days of Christmas.
I love all three of the kits, but I have a thing for butterflies, so I think that I like that one the best.
Thank you for the opportunity to win these; and have a very nice rest of the holiday.
Kathy Pennington
Diggins, MO
These birds are gorgeous but the red butterfly is somewhat intriguing. It will certainly help me to appreciate further the talent of Trish Burr. I am currently experimenting this new embroidery technique (new to me!) and find it quite rewarding. Have a nice day!
I’m usually attracted to color, but the Somali bee eater just makes me want to hold out my hand so he’ll land on my finger.
My favorite Kit is the Kotari Kingfisher. I love to sit on the front porch and watch the birds and butterflies in my flower garden and trees. Learning to needle paint them to look life like with my thread, would make this beginner very pleased.
Caroline Weber
I like the Kingfisher best. I’ve never done long- and- short an it seems to be the most detailed. I would however love to do them all!
Definitely the Kingfisher! Such stately elegance and concentration. Beautiful!
The portrait of the Somali bee eater because the colours are so soft. His profile with the beak up is also unusual. Beautiful!
Thanks Mary!
Hello Mary,
kotsri kingfisher is my favourite..
Thank you Mary
I love the little blue Kingfisher. It looks so real and reminds me of embroidery of the Nineteenth Century. “Proper Ladies” were accomplished at “all” they did within the realm of home. Needlework was certainly among the many things they needed to do and to do it well. The Kingfisher looks so real I might need to look for birdseed or a worm!
All three of Trish’s designs are attention-getting, but the Somali Bee Eater really attracted my attention. It looks so very real. It must be the eye…as if it’s watching for a bee! I have always been envious of those who can do this thread painting. I love painting with water colors, and I love embroidering linens, but I have never tried the thread painting. The idea of it is charming. Even if I don’t win, I am going to give thread painting a try in 2012.
Happy Holidays to you Mary! Thanks for such a great celebration! Anything that Trish Burr does is phenomenal! I love all of her florals the best, so have to go with the butterfly as my favorite of the trio. I can see it fluttering among the blooms!
Kathy
The Kotari Kingfisher! Just love the vibrant blues stitched in such a subtle way.
Love the Kotari Kingfisher. All three are so beautiful and realistic looking. Trish Burr showed
great artistry.
I love the butterfly with the dogwood in the background.
The Somali Bee Eater is a delight, I loove his fluffy feathers and the subtle colours – not sure I could do him justice, but would like to try with help from Trish. Peg
Dear Mary,
The one I prefer is the butterfly : looks kind, bright and beautiful. It makes me think of all what you are doing for us and more especially of all what you are embroidering with the perfection that caracterizes you.
My goal is to TRY to do as good as you : a long way for me…
Thank you so much Mary and looking forward to reading you further …
Catherine
I think the portrait of the Somali Bee Eater captures me the most. I really like the delicate shading in his feathers, and the artful arch to his beak!
The kingfisher is the most striking to me. The other two are beautiful as well, but the kingfisher is the one that really grabs me. Thanks for the great give-away! Happy New Year!
The Kotari Kingfisher is my favorite. He’s just so little, and cute and fuzzy looking – I expect him to fly off the page any minute!Trish Burr has to be my favorite needlepainting/embroiderer – it’s just amazing what she does! Thank you for the giveaway!
Karen Gass in Missouir
Hi Mary,
Such a lovely give away. I would consider myself as the luckiest,if I get this.
My favourite is the butterfly sucking the nectar from the flower.
Rabsril
The Kingfisher is my favorite…it shows not only a mastery of the technique but also of color including the realization of the bird. Trish has me enamored of her work and I want to learn this technique. I have lots of time bur almost no money to spend on Trish’s stuff. So being the winner would make me dance in the snow in my bare feet.
I am totally crazy about birds, so the Kingfisher is my favourite. Who wouldn’t like to embroider these beautiful pictures?
I love all three kits but the one that really grabs me is the butterfly and dogwoods. thank you so much for the giveaway-this gift would be perfect for me, as I am a beginner and want to learn more
Good Morning! All three are beautiful … the butterfly is my favorite because of the vibrant colors. Thank you.
All the kits are lovely. My favorite is the Kotari Kingfisher. He just shows so much attitude.
Mary, your work inspires me. I have returned to embroidery after several years absence. I look forward to your daily e-mails and try out all the hints and tips your provide.
Thank you so much
Winnifred Masson
Dear Mary,
Thank You for providing this wonderful and quality blog. I look forward to each email and I’m absolutely in awe of all that you do. The information is so educational, the photo’s, so clear, and your writing style is superb. Honestly, my favorite!
Thank you,
Kaye in Austin TX
Mary:
I really like all three but my favorite is the Kotari Kingfisher. The colors and stitching is wonderful. Trish Burr’s work is just beautiful and I’ve looked at her kits but was not sure if I could do them. Would love to try needle painting. Thank you for all your give aways and all the information you give all of us.
Louise
What a wonderful idea. I’ve only recently joined this group and thoroughly enjoy it. Much appreciated are you comments on satin stitch.
I prefer the Somali Bee Eater as the feathers stand out so perfectly and the eye just seems to look right at you. The beak is istriguing.I’ve done some needle painting and am eager to improve my skills.
Joan D.
I think the composition and shading in the Somali Bee Eater would be perfect for expanding my abilities in stitchery. The color palate is pleasing to my eye and seems to combine so many colors that I couldn’t get bored.
Your give-aways are always wonderful.
Thank you,
Lee F.
I love everything by Trish Burr and a DVD instructional video would really get me into shape with enhancing my technique. I have the Colour Confidence in Embroidery on order.
All of her kits are gorgeous but there is something special about the Somali Bee Eater portrait. He looks so ‘hopeful’. I guess he’s my favorite.
Thanks so much!
Merry Christmas, Mary!
The Kotari Kingfisher is my favorite with its intense expression and its beautiful, subtle shading.
Wow! What a wonderful way this giveaway would be to start the new year. I fell for the Somali Bee Eater, although I sure love the colors in the Kotari Kingfisher. Thanks for everything. You have rekindled my interest in embroidery and I am excited about continuing to broaden and improve my skills.
Marilyn P. in Las Cruces, New Mexico
What a decision! The expression in the Kingfisher’s eye called to me. The branch puts him in context – sitting and waiting for his next meal. I love to see our local kingfishers in the exact same position.
Terry in PA
Happy Christmas, Mary!! I don’t know if I was more excited about the arrival of Santa on Christmas Eve, or Mary on the first of 12-Days … ! Thank you so much for another of your wonderful give-aways.
Trish Burr is such an unbelievable needle artist. I’ve gotten a couple of her books from our local library and am so inspired by her work. It would be wonderful to receive her kits and instructional DVDs. Of the three kits, my immediate attraction was to the Somali Bee Eater. The eye just grabbed me.
Thanks for the fun and excitement of your give-away, Mary. And thank you most especially for your daily visit to my wonderful world of stitching.
Mary, I’m happy to take part in your give-away!
I like Kotari Kingfisher most of all
Thank you!
Masha
The Kotari Kingfisher is my favorite among the Trish Burr kits. I love the contrast between the blue tail feathers and the cream tummy and neck band. However, they are all lovely, aren’t they? Birds are wonderful creatures to study and admire, especially needle painted ones.
I would like the first book as I am a beginner in this type of stitching and wouuld want to start such a project with good instructions.
How fun. Love the butterfly. The details are incredible in all of them! Just in time for spring.
I love the butterfly — the “scarlet swooper of the season” perhaps. The kingfisher is a close second, though — the glorious colors bring cheer to a drab New Jersey day. Trisha Burr’s work is amazing, and I’d love to watch her in action on a DVD. Thanks Mary not only for this contest but for the daily” win” you provide through your posts. In a world where work pressures make it difficult if not impossible for me to catch up with fellow stitchers in person, you serve as a stitching support group and help me remember that one of the reasons I do work such long hours is to get to the point in time when I will one day be able to stich to my heart’s content. Happy Boxing Day!
I adore the kingfisher. He has such a look of stubborn determination that reminds me of my son as a child. I am also determined to learn needle painting this year and have ordered 2 of Trish Burr’s books. I am on a limited budget and like that I will be able to achieve great results using ordinary DMC floss, not expensive silks. I would love to win these kits and especially the dvd’s.
Dear Mary,
I love Trish’s work. I bought one of her books at an ANG seminar and will be taking my first class in needlepainting in June 2012. I love the Somali Bee Eater. Although they are all so realistic, he stands out with his vibrant eye and subtle shading throughout. Love your blog and look forward to it each and every day. Ruth
Good afternoon Mary
Love them all, but if I had to choose one it would be the butterfly and strawberry plant.
I hope you had as good a Christmas as I did. Sooo relaxing and a tablet thingy to have fun making my own designs from my darling. I now need my son to show me how to work it he he.
Take care
Karen Lowrie, Kettering UK
I like the Kotari Kingfisher; he’s so pretty! Thank you Mary and Trish!
The Kotari Kingfisher is my favorite.
It looks lovely and i have never stitched a kingfisher.
What a great opportunity!
My favourite is the portrait of a Somali Bee Eater.
All the best.
what a wonderful way to start the new year…you are always so generous with your give away’s and Trish’s kits are gorgeous..the Little Kotari Kingfisher is one of my absolute favorites and always captures my heart..thank you and Happy New Year…Rebecca Keith.
This is easy! That little Kotari Kingfisher has been talking to me for a while; that focused look is so-o-o “kingfisher”.
It’s the Bee Eater that captures my imagination, thought the coloration on the Kingfisher is exquisite. I’m excited for the 12 Days–I always learn about such wonderful artists and resources in your giveaways.
I haven’t done much handwork lately but I would love to give it a try again. I love all of the kits, but if I have to pick one, I think the butterfly would be my choice. I love the colors.
Debi from MS
Mary:
I love the butterfly. Thank you for this opportunity to win information and a kit from Trish Burr. I have already done her sampler Pansy and am totally hooked on this embroidery.
I am looking forward to the days of Christmas and will be following you in 2012. Thanks for ALL that you contribute to the world of embroidery.
Jane
Georgia Gal
I love the bright red butterfly. It makes me smile.
You have asked a question worthy of Solomon! In the end, the red butterfly kit wins. The strawberries in the background are the perfect spot motif for a CQ patch & a great way to brush up on long & short. Thanks for offering such a terrific stitchy gift!
I really like the Kotari Kingfisher, it’s so lifelike (esp. the eye)and the colors really spoke to me.
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I like the three studies, love flowers so the butterfly with the flower is beautiful but I have to say that sulking little kingfisher is so good, you could take him home…………Mary your site is my favourite part of the day,……..I do look forward to it and aspire to your excellence in embroidery.
I have never done needle painting but have always been interested in it. It is amazing how many projects can come alive with this technique. I am all about learning new techniques to add to my needle work. The butterfly attraches me the most. It is so vibrant and so alive.
I love the butterfly. I have been embroidering butterflies this year and the colors of this one are wonderful.
Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing with us.
My favorite is the Kotari Kingfisher — he is gorgeous. There are already 89 comments and it’s only 8:00 a.m. — boy you are popular Mary — you do such a great job and you’re fun too. Thank you so much for all your help, hard work and friendship,
Shelia in Oklahoma
Wow such a hard decision!! Like having to pick my favorite child…but I’d have to say that the Kotari Kingfisher is my favorite. Although the other two are most beautiful! Thank you for a chance to win anything that Trish does…she’s a very talented woman. I’d be proud to own anything that she’s designed.
My favorite of the three is the Kotari Kingfisher. I am fascinated at the realistic look that can be achieved with a needle and thread. My New Years resolution is to learn to do needle painting and this would be the perfect start. How wonderful it would be to have Trish Burr on DVD to guide me along the path.
Thank you for your daily e-mails and this wonderful celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas
If I had to pick one – the butterfly. Good way to explore shading and nuances.
I like the Kotari Kingfisher the best. It reminds of the Sacred Kingfisher in the book Colour Confidence which I ordered after you reviewed it the other day. Thanks.
It’s a hard choice but I especially like the Kingfisher–he’s quite exotic looking. Thanks for the chance to win this prize.
Char B
Trisha’s new book is on my Amazon wish list. What a nice gift that would be.
Dear Mary,
I hope you had a joyous Christmas.
Although we’ve corresponded through e-mail, this is my first time writing to you on the comment board. I’ve always loved birds, but that bright red butterfly just grabs my eye.
Both my grandmothers were seamstresses, and the one who lived nearer started me sewing, embroidering and crocheting when I was four years old. That was many years ago now, and crochet is too hard on my hands, but I continue to sew and during the past year have been getting back into embroidery.
Phyllis
What a GLORIOUS way to start–and to combat post-Christmas blahs.
Hard call between the bee eater and the kingfisher, but I think the expression on the kingfisher takes it.
Not to mention his incredible coloration–what can I say? I love blues!
Can’t wait to see what’s next, but man, I’d be thrilled if I won any of ‘em!
Good Morning Mary,
A lovely Boxing Day, especially with the opportunity to possibly win a beautiful gift too! I absolutley found that Kingfisher touch me the most, his little fluffy body and attitude is so wonderfully portrayed in Trish’s needlework. If I could only halfway complete the piece so well I would be thrilled. Thanks for everything you do to inspire us.
Dottie J.
Trish Burr is truely a master at her craft. What a wonderful opportunity to learn more about what I truely love to do. Hope your Christmas was a wonderful one.
Well, the Kotari Kingfisher has my vote!! I have a little kingfisher that comes to my dock everyday to fish for his food. He is such a joy to watch!! Though I know it is not the same kind of kingfisher (probably a belted), he is similiar in color and shape. I love all the little birds that frequent my piece of heaven; and are such a blessing to me.
I hope your new projects for the New Year are very successful – I so enjoy your blog..
Judy
All the kits look beautiful but the butterfly caught my attention first. I think the colors of the butterfly look so life like or real.
Sherri of Florida
The Somali Bee Eater is the one that grabs my attention. Beautiful work on all of them.
I absolutely love all three, but my favorite would have to be the Somali Bee Eater.
The Kotari Kingfisher! At first I saw the wonderful colors in the feathers and beak. The composition drew my eye to his eye, which makes the needlepainting look so realistic.
Thank you for your daily updates. I look forward to them each day.
I love Trish burr’s work! Of these three kits, the butterfly is my favorite.
Being a lover of birds, the kingfisher is marvelous and my favorite!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! and I wish you all brightest blessings for the New Year!
Somali Bee Easter is my choice! He is sooooooooooo adorable! Again, I am not sure if I could do him justice but I would love to try.
The Kotari Kingfisher is gorgeous! The coloration is beautiful.
Mary,
What a GREAT idea! It’s hard to decide which of the three grabs me, but I would have to say it’s the full size bird – because of the contrast of textures – the fluffy downiness of the feathers in contrast to the hard smoothness of the beak. I’d love to be able to paint – in any medium – thread, frosting, oils! Thanks.
lizzie
I like the kingfisher the best.
I like the rose, but my favorite must be the kingfisher. The colors are lovely, and reminds me of a real one I saw once.
Thank you Mary, for organizing this giveaway.
Bye, Winnie
Trish Burr does beautiful work,and would love any of her books… I am a lover of birds so it would be the Kingfisher..
Linda in NM
I just love the Kotari Kingfisher. I was hoping to ask for the new book for my birthday next month but it isn’t out till later this year in the UK. Winning the kit would make my year, as that’s how long it would take me. I have very little me time and get such a thrill from handling beautiful threads and a big sense of achievement making something appear from a blank background. I would love to see this happy little bird every time I walk past. I always display my work in progress, as it can be weeks before I get another chance but just seeing and then thinking about my work makes me happy in a calm yoga bliss sort of way. Thank you Mary, for introducing new worlds of stitching to me. I did not even know needlepainting existed before you introduced Trish Burr’s last book. Needlepainting a bird has been top of my wish list ever since. Fish would be fab too. I Love This!!!
I was captivated by the butterfly, it seems about to fly away! So excited about your 12 days of Christmas, thank you for the chance to win and for your blot…I’ve been so inspired by you! Merry Christmas!
I love the color in the Kotari Kinfisher which is absolutely gorgeous, but as a bird lover I like them all, they would be a challenge for me to do but I would love to try!
Love the kingfisher…..he’s absolutely adorable.
Thank you Mary, Merry Christmas
Ohhhh, that first bird is just amazing. I’d love to know how to create something that floofy!
Hi Mary–How could I not love the Somali Bee Eater. My late father-in-law spent more than three years helping the Somalis develop their agricultural practices and introducing drought-tolerant methods for livestock and plants. His frequent letters home talked about the fabulous birds that he would see and marvel at their ability to survive when life for so many was so difficult. Trish’s earlier books are inspirational and educational….I’m anxious for her new book to reach the US. Donna
The Kingfisher for sure; the texture in the stitching is amazing!
The Kingfisher has always been my favorite, from the first time I saw Trish’s work and still now. So very excited about your 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!! Thank you for the opportunity. Merry Christmas and I hope you have a wonder New Year!
Hello Mary
Happy Holidays. The adorable kingfisher is my favourite.
thank you ansu chennai
The Kotari Kingfisher is fabulous – I’ve always wanted to do one of Trish’s kits and these are lovely. I adore how the feathers look so “petable”! So much to learn from Trish Burr!
Oh my gosh! It’s hard to choose, but the Kingfisher is sooo adorable! I just love Trish’s designs & have wanted to try one. Maybe a resolution for 2012 would be to do it. Thank you for offering these!
They are all beautiful but I love the colors of the Kotari Kingfisher. The kits are exquisite!!
WOW; all are beautiful, but I am so partial to flowers. The butterfly is a beautful shade also.
Merry Christmas, Mary!! So fun that you are doing this Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway! I’m usually disappointed by the fact that Christmas activities cease as soon as the holiday actually arrives. Finally, some fun things to do *during* Christmas!
I’m having trouble deciding which bird is more appealing. The bee-eater is so wistful, and the kingfisher so saucy. I really like them both. I guess I’ll plump down for the plump and compact kingfisher.
Thank you so much Mary, and hope you’re having a wonderful vacation!
My favorite is the Somali Bee Eater. My goodness! Those intricate stitches make him look so real. What a talent Trish Burr is! I am definately going to learn this technique and pass it to my grandchildren who are just now learning to embroider. Thanks for opening my eyes to yet another use of thread.
Chris
This is such a wonderful embroidery gift. I love, love, love the Kingfisher! I can not think of a better way to spend the dark cold days and evenings of January/February then to sit by a fire and work on these. This is my kind of “nesting”. I am already working on them in my mind – and planning how I would do a workshop to teach needle painting. I teach embroidery workshops for beginners (usually a simple floral design) but I think a needle painting workshop will be my Spring offering this year! Thanks for the inspiration.
Mary Ann – Needle Arts Guild of Historic Hudson Valley, Beacon NY
Hard to say which one is my favorite. The Butterfly is so bright and vibrant it really catches the eye so will go with this one as the favorite.
the somali bee eater is my favorite of the three because of the look in the eyes that says determination. the bee eater is going to accomplish it’s mission.
I find the Somali Bee Eater absolutely stunning. The blending of colors in the feathers is so subtle, so realistic! I bless the friend who recommended your website to me.
I keep trying to perfect my thread painting, but it takes a lot of practice to make it look good. I love the vibrant butterfly and it is probably easier than the birds, but all three are lovely. I also keep trying to win a giveaway–maybe someday I will make it. Thank you for all you do for us.
The kingfisher!
The colors are amazing and the look of his face is priceless!
Thank you for this fantastic giveaway!
Merry Christmas, Mary! I love these birds and love the thought that this could be my first thread painting project since my first embroidery project almost 40 years ago was cross stitched birds and flowers kit which became a quilted bed spread. I tend to quilt everything! As I say this, I was really taken by the colors in the butterfly and plan to look for more of these projects in the new year to expand my hand embroidery work as well as my quilting. Thanks for offering these kits to us to start the New Year.
Debbie Thompson
O’Fallon, IL
They are all very lovely, but the Somali Bee Eater particularly caught my eye.
Merry Christmas Mary,
The Kotari Kingfisher caught my eye with the beautiful blues!
I have to say that my fav is the little Kingfisher. He looks cold so I want to hold him!
The Bee Eater is just striking, although it is hard to choose. I am sure they are all her favorites too. I love your newsletter. Thanks!
I think the bee eater is just amazing because the stitches make it look fuzzy and I would love to learn how to do that affect.
Mary, This is a fabulous offer on your part…you are just so generous. The kit which grabs me the most is the butterfly…it is a beautiful rendition. And, mostly because my recently late sister loved them & everytime I see one, I think of her! Thank you.
Sheila K in CA
I am in love with the butterfly, but I have a thing for butterflies.
First, let me say ‘Thank You’ for your generous Twelve Day of Christmas! While all three pieces are exquisite, the Kotari Kingfisher is particularly keen. I enjoy watching birds at the feeder, and I don’t expect that I’ll ever see one like it!
I love the Kotaki Kingfisher! I became a bird watcher when I married and was living in the middle of an Oklahoma pasture. Bluebirds were my favorite. The sun on their little bodies just made them glow. The first kingfisher I saw was in Colorado. Wow! What a great looking bird. We don’t see them in Oklahoma.
I have Trish’s book “Colour Confidence…” on order – can’t wait to get it. I love color!
I have tried several forms of needlework but not needlepainting. I would love to try this and from looking at several of Trish’s pictures and with your recomendations I would pick her instructions to try this form of embroidery. Both of the birds particularly appeal to me. I love birds. I used to paint and birds were a favorite subject.
I can’t determine a favorite but the one that grabs me most is the kingfisher. His feathers look so real and the look in his eye is as though he is watching me watch him. Incredible, realistic detail!
I showed these to my husband, who never saw needle painting before. He was floored. We both like the King Fisher the best. I like it best because I LOVE the leaves and branch. They are amazing even without the over-the-top beautiful bird!
Kotari Kingfisher. I would love to be able to do something that realistic and beautiful! The reds in the butterfly though are a close second……
Love the butterfly best, but the birds are lovely too. They’re all so real.
HI,
Thank you for all your wonderful emails. How does one choose one of the three? They are all
beautiful. However, I love the colors in the Kotari Kingfisher.
All three are beautiful, but the Somali bee eater is my favorite. Something about it just speaks to me.
wow!!! what a fabulous giveaway.
I could use those DVD’s for some proper instructions. Thanks for a chance.
The kingfisher grabs me!
I am a huge fan of Trish Burr’s work and am proud to own almost all her books, certainly all the ones on thread painting which are just amaziing and which have to be the best books to learn from with great projects for all abilities. I am a bird lover so the kingfishers have my vote.
Many thanks Mary and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Eleanor
I have Trish Burr’s two needle painting books – both are gorgeous. I just finished the red poppy kit, and it turned out beautifully. Apparently, the new book on color will be available on Amazon in february. I will snap it up then.
As far as the kits: Of the 3 offered I would most love to do the kingfisher. I love the electric blue color, and want to master the difficulty of the fluffed feathers.
The Kotari Kingfisher is my favorite. The detail of the colors is stunning!
OH MY!!! What beautiful needlework, the colors are amazingly vivid especially in the butterfly. The detail work in the birds is so unbelievably life like. You could almost imagine the real birds to be right inside of your house. I have been doing counted needlework for 30+ years and could only dream of doing such an amazingly detailed piece of work.I have never tried needle painting before but I am very inspired by these kits. I love the butterfly the best because of the vivid colors and the delicate flower blossoms. Learning to do needle painting
with the videos from such a master would be an honor and challenge to someday be able to do work as beautiful as she does.
Pat Mc. Upstate NY
Happy Holidays Mary, As always, your give-aways are fabulous. I follow Trish’s blog and am always amazed with her work. Of the three kits the Kotari Kingfisher is catches my eye the most. I love all of her bird kits.
Thank you
Jean B. in Greensboro NC
The kingfisher looks as if he could fly off the branch at any second – stunning! One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get back to more challenging embroidery (Santa gave me a book on Elizabethan embroidery) and thread painting has always intimidated me. I’m intrigued with this woman’s work – thanks for putting this together!
Jo from Gloucester