celebrating 1000 posts and a giveaway

I feel as though I just got behind the wheel of a car for the first time. Directions in hand, heading down a twisty country road, my knuckles aren't white anymore from gripping the steering wheel. I'm looking out the window and thinking about turning the radio on. It's pretty in craftland and I'm watching for a sunny cottage on a lake where linens are flapping on the clothesline, pals are rocking on the porch and lunch is just about ready.

~ from my first post November 2006

It's hard to believe that I've had that many things to say and share with you. Remembering that first post I know I felt as though I was stepping into a wilderness. I couldn't have imagined how wonderful, dear and life-changing that moment would be. 

Blogging here has woven my creative life together in the best ways. Certainly, it's given me an outlet to connect professionally, but most of all, it's the community of you that I love. The faithful readers who drop by to say something kind or encouraging, to keep me on the path, or actually let me step off and feel good about that too.

Maybe you are here for the first time or perhaps you are one who found me on that first day. Thank you so much for every visit, every kind word, every Etsy purchase, every class taken, every bit of advice or comfort. I am so grateful. 

To celebrate and to say thank you, I am giving away signed copies of my two beautiful books, Mothers and Daughters at Home and Between Friends along with a bundle of fat quarters from my Walnut Hill Farm collection with Blend Fabrics. All to one lucky person!

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner Sunday. If you feel like it, you might tell me if there was a favorite post or what you enjoy here the most. 

Thank you for asking me up onto the porch and letting me visit for awhile. Time for lunch!

love, Charlotte

Comments

[Kathy Aho in MInnesota]

Congratulations and wishing you continued success! I don't have a favorite post but I like them all! The best part of all this was getting to take classes from you. Just keep doing what you love. It shows.
Kathy

[Jberger]

Wishing I still had the old porch because not seeing as much of my pals! Love all of your work and posts ---still grateful you walked by my porch with special Jake those years ago.

[Mary]

I love your blog so much because it is always like a calm refuge. The words, the photos, the colors -- I always let out a sigh of contentment when I see a new post from you.

The posts I loved the most were when your daughters got married. They were so filled with love and joy. And showed the amazing bond your family has. Such a blessing.

[Rebecca]

There are tons of things I love about your beautiful blog! I love your name, Charlotte. And I love when you talk about and show wonderful pictures of your mother and daughters, they're very loved I can tell. And the close-up pictures of your needle work gives me so many ideas and spurs me on to create beautiful things too. THANK YOU!!

[Laurie]

Oh Charlotte,
I caught up with you somewhere in the middle of your journey. I look at your blog everyday because it is such a great way to start the day. I appreciate the honesty in which you share your talents and life with us. The fact that you enjoy the same things that I do is an added bonus. One of my favorite posts was where you took your mom to tea in New York. Just so elegant and fun. May you continue to keep us inspired.

[Jeanette in Illinois]

Charlotte, Congrats on your 1,000th post!!! I couldn't possibly pick one post in particular, they're all wonderful! I must say I'm a bit partial to those you post about your Mom. They really touch my heart, as I recently lost my Mom rather unexpectedly and I get to share in the spirit of your time with her, which is priceless. Wishing you much continued success, creativity and happiness, always!
xoox, Jeanette

[Wylie]

Congratulations! 1000 posts! Amazing! You are an amazing writer, and I love reading your blog. I love seeing all the beautiful embroidered projects, but I also love reading about your beautiful family, your gorgeous girls, and your sweet (also gorgeous!) mother!

[Suzy McQ]

Congratulations, Charlotte. There is much I enjoy about your blog, but those posts about your mom are my favorite. For me she represents a time-past where things were slower and good manners and being a classy broad meant something! The love that you feel for her, and, she in turn, always makes me teary, and, I like being moved and reminded of the special bond between moms and their daughters.

Best wishes for continued good health and happiness to you and yours.

[Mary Beth]

I met you at Silver Bella here in Omaha and have one of your mice. She sits on the kitchen window ledge at my lake house.....and tells the other mice to go live somewhere else!

[Julie Loeschke]

Thank you,dear Charlotte for sharing yourself with us. :)

[Georgeann]

It has always been a pleasure to see your creativity at work. First within the pages of Home Companion and now through your blog. Best wishes for your creativity to continue as you dream up new and wonderful eye candy for all of us to enjoy!
Georgeann, Carrollton, Texas

[Deborah Woodrow]

Charlotte, I have been a long time fan of your amazing talent. Everything you make is just wonderful !
May God Bless you & Prosper, you always. :)

[Peggy]

I enjoy hearing about your family and seeing your talents and sewing skills displayed.

[{beth}]

Wow! That's a big number. Love your posts about you mom and daughters...makes me think of my mom and sisters. Cheers!

[Stacy]

Charlotte, I always love reading about your stitching projects. They make me want to go pick up a needle and sew something. :)
But mostly, I enjoy how your love for your daughters and your mother is woven throughout your blog. It reminds me that even though my family life is not always perfectly smooth or easy, that I want to cherish every minute I have with the ones I love.

[Monica Fullerton]

I have been reading your blog since forever... I think I found it from Rebecca Sowers' blog, and I have been a visitor ever since! I love everything about your blog, and you know I am a huge fan of your stitching samplers and all the stitching posts! But my favorite posts of all are about your mom... miss my own so much... and your sweet daughters. Your pride in them and love for them shows through every word of every post. Congratulations on 1000 posts... hope you continue to grace these pages with your sweet personality and many more blog entries! And thanks for the giveaway!

[Penny Birch-Williams]

I'm new to reading your blog, and I'm enjoying it! I really felt for you when I read your story about the baby Robins. We too have many birds visit our yard and enjoy watching the young ones just starting out at this time of year. I would have tried to help those baby birds too though I should know better. (My daughter gave me a new backyard birds book for Mother's Day too!)

[Heather]

I am not sure how long I have been reading your blog. Certainly for some time. I always come back because I find comfort here, in your words and pictures. I have to admit that besides the stitchery posts I love posts about your lovely Mother. There is something about her that reminds me of my beloved Grandmother who was taken from me much too early.
I look forward to many more posts Charlotte. Congratulations on your milestone :)

[Lori Kay]

I love visiting your blog and seeing the steady progress you make on your stitcheries. I forget how I found your blog, but do enjoy checking in once a week.

[Laurie Fowler :-)]

Thank you for making the world a more beautiful place, Charlotte! Your gracious spirit is conveyed through your written word, pictures, and imaginative creations. I enjoy your workshops immensely!

[Leslie W]

Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing your heart, your skills, and your family. I have been visiting for several years and always get insired and feel a sense of comfort during my stay. Recently I loved the post about the mother robin -- interesting how we can feel a mother's anxiety over her young even when we're humans and she's a bird. God is great in His creation. Congrats on 1000 -- blessings for many more.

[Christine B.]

Hello Charlotte! I have only just discovered your blog. I think I linked to it from Anne Sutton at Bunny Hill but, I am so happy that I found it. I had a good look round your website and just couldn't resist ordering some patterns from your Etsy Shop. I am so looking forward to using the patterns and to following your blog on a regular basis. Would love to win your giveaway, thank you for the chance! Christine :)

[Susan]

Congratulations on 1,000 posts! One of my favorite posts was the one you wrote about ordering coffee at Starbucks. I had just had the same experience and was feeling, for the first time in my life, that I was getting older and must be the only person in the world who felt ordering coffee had become very complicated! I love that your blog is full of life. The way you care for your mom, the closeness that shines through between you and your girls (and their guys), and your beautiful stitchery.Thanks for sharing yourself with us.

[jeannine]

i really enjoy your blog. i like seeing your beautiful creations & also sharing your personal journey w/ us. i enjoyed seeing the photos from your daughters wedding. thanks.

[Julie Clark]

Had it not been for Lori "introducing" me to Mary and she and I attending MEHC Worshops, I wouldn't have met you! I would have missed so much inspiration. Simple, un-fussy things are so special. Thank you for sharing with others in such a sweet way. See you on June 9. Julie

[CMN]

Why I'm so glad that I stopped by today of all days! Congratulations on 1000... what a charming achievement, given that it represents so much. Thank you for all you share and create! Looking forward to many more lovely lovely posts.

Best wishes!

[stacy]

congratulations, i enjoy your blog so much. thank you for the awesome giveaway. i would so love to have your books!

[Penelope]

Charlotte, I don't remember when I first began to read your blog but I do remember the day that I read your "oh so sad" post about your dog, Jake's death, and how your wrote that everyone thought he was the "gentleman of the street". I was hooked and NEVER missed a post since. After that, I've been taken on a vicarious voyage through engagements, and weddings, town happenings, rummage sales, and spelling bees, parades with proud fire companies, outings with "mom" up steep hills in a wheelchair( just cause you knew she would like to go and "see"), fabric designs!!!!!!, embroidery designs!!!!!!!!!!!,
Your style of living and writing are lovely and inspiring.
Congratulations on 1000 posts !!!!!! XOX

[Angela Walters]

Congratulations! What I love the most about your blog is just the variety of information and ideas you provide. I find you to be a great inspiration.

[Marcyne]

I enjoy your blog so much I keep it on my frequent list. I enjoy reading about the love you have for your family, along with all the wonderful craftiness. In a world with so much hurt it is so refreshing to read of love. Thank you for sharing.

[Shirley windham]

Yay, Charlotte! 1000 posts is a milestone for sure and I have enjoyed following your sewing, embroidery, cooking and family adventures. Choosing a favorite post is a challenge, but since I must I believe it would be when your fabric collection made its debut. I can only guess, but I would imagine you enjoyed such a sense of satisfaction and excitement all rolled into one. Completing a daunting yet well loved project must feel pretty good and certainly makes all of us smile to see your successes.
Shirley

[noodle and lou]

oh charlotte! you are one of the dearest people I know in our online art world:) thank you for sharing so much with us. for inspiring us. for being wonderful you!!! here's to another 1000 posts full of your sweet world! xox...jenn

[Kim]

My favorite posts have all been of your daughters weddings! So much fun! And love!

[Karla Laura Smith]

What a fun number to reach my friend! Hugs to your creative heart and thanks for the inspiration you spread.

Warm regards,
Karla

[Miss Holly]

I don't know how I found your site ...probably through another person that followed you but when I opened up to your site ...I just stopped breathing for a minute....I thought..oh...is this ever a person I am going to love to follow.....and so you have been....I skip every time I see you have posted...you totally inspire me in every way!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!

[Diana]

Your project with the paper tray is a favorite of mine. I've made several and given them away as gifts. Everyone appreciates a handmade gift, especially this one.

[marie]

Congratulations on 100 posts...I have enjoyed them so much.
My favorites are the ones about your family...what a lovely one you have...and all your posts about things you've made. Your creations always make me smile.

I also love your name...My four year old granddaughter has the same one...it's a beautiful name!

[Lisa M. Pace]

Congratulations on your 1,000 post. I could never pick just one post as my favorite. Your photography and subject material are amazing on each and every post. I'm always so inspired.

[Peggy Dlugos]

I came across your blog on Pam Garrison's blog probably two years ago. I bought one of your embroidery samplers soon after. I've always enjoyed the blog because of your love for embroidery. It's a love of mine too. It was my first endeavor into creativity when I was a bout 10 years old. I've found lots of other ways to express my creativity over the years, but it is embroidery that soothes my soul the most.

[Teah B.]

Congratulations on your 1000th posting! How exciting! Thank you so much for inspiring us to see the simple beauty that surrounds us each day. I don't really have a favorite posting, but do favor the stitching updates. I loved watching the eaglet in it's nest last spring also, my whole family got into watching it. Thank you for your give away! It looks amazing. Whoever wins will love it. Thank you for your faithfulness in sharing your life and inspiration with all of us. May God bless you and your family!

[Sonia Tatum]

I just found your blog a few months ago. I can't tell how much I love to get lost in your blog...the words, the pictures it all takes me away from my troubles if only for a little while. My husband has MS and my daughter has cancer plus I have two more children in school. Thank you for the escape and congratulations on your 1000th post.

[Emily]

Charlotte,

Congratulations! What an accomplishment! My mom and I met you at Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion Workshop 2 years ago in St. Louis. We took one of your classes and just loved it! We have been following your blog every since. We have started our own: elizajaneink.blogspot.com and have done 109 posts! Someday hopefully we will reach 1,000!

Thanks so much!

[LindaSonia]

Congratulations!! It's been and hopefully will continue to be an absolute joy to visit your blog. I feel like part of the family (smile)

[Katy]

I'm pretty new to your blog, so I don't have a favorite post, but I LOVE your embroidery work! Congratulations on this milestone!

[Peggy]

what a wonderful giveaway! and congratulations on your blog milestone! No particular favorite post -- just love reading about your creative adventures

[Dawn]

I felt the same way when beginning my blog. Recently celebrated 2000 posts and am amazed that I still have bloggie friends who visit after all this time..
Congratulations on this milestone. Always a pleasure to visit, Charlotte.

[Linda]

I found you in the middle (so far) of your blogging life. I love the tone of your posts and your beautiful needlework. I've also enjoyed your Between Friends book.
Finally, my daughter's name is Charlotte!

[Lucy Tracy]

Heartfelt Congratulations on your 1000th post! Only 11 days until the ME workshop! Looking forward to enjoying your creative spirit again! :)

[Judy]

Congratulations! I enjoy your needlework & am working on my (your) second sampler.
Best wishes.

[Linda Jo]

Congratulations! Someone said ...above... it's a calm refuge. And that it is! You are always doing the best stuff, Charlotte. I love that I got to meet you and take classes from you at Silver Bella... you are so kind and so giving to all. I have your Mothers & Daughters book... I should've brought one year for you to sign! Congrats again... I'm glad you are here. I have no true favorite post...but I love your stitching and I loved seeing your daughters get married...