Saturday 23 July 2011

Fork Handles?


Or is that Four Candles? (sorry... couldn't resist). Today is my blog's fourth birthday... four years of writing! I certainly didn't imagine it would ever last this long, but here I am still going. So much has happened in the past four years... the start and demise of a degree, several significant birthdays, some lovely holidays, the aquisition of a flock of hens and the digging of a vegetable garden, the onset of type 1 diabetes for one son and and earthquake for another, and loads of cakes but mostly it has been pretty insignificant day to day ramblings. And as a little thank you for sticking with me I thought a gift was in order. After all, presents and birthdays go together! (and cake of course... raspberry and white chocolate muffins today!)


So in keeping with my recent sketchbook posts, I have made a little sketchbook to give away. It is quite small, just about 4" square and is covered with some marbled paper brought back from Florence two years ago.


Inside, the pages are made from watercolour paper so fine for filling with wet media.


And as well as the book, I'll include a new set of Koh-i-nor inks and some other art bits and bobs.


So if you would like to win this mini art kit all you have to do is leave a comment on my birthday blog today.
If you want more than one chance of winning then you can increase your chances by becoming a follower of my blog (although followers seem to either appear or not depending on which browser is being used) - this will apply if you are already a follower. To to increase your chances even further you can become a fan of my facebook page by clicking "Like" on the sidebar link. See... I'm shameless... I'll do anything to get more people to follow me.

So leave a comment and be sure to let me know if you are a follower or fan or both and I'll pick a winner on Wednesday next week (27th July).

84 comments:

  1. ROFL @ fork 'andles - a fave in our house. What a lovely blog birthday pressie Gina. I'm in! I'm only a noob as far as following your blog is concerned but I do look forward to your creative/informative/culinary/humorous posts.

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  2. Happy Blog Birthday! Looking forward to many more celebrations. Hugs

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  3. Happy bloggy birthday!! Four years, blimey, that means I have been following since the early days!? Loveley give away, please add my name to the hat! xxx

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  4. Happy Fourth Birthday Gina - I loved Fork 'andles too. That's a lovely giveaway and I'd like my name put in the hat please. I don't know if I'm an official follower but you come up on my sidebar each time you post, so I don't miss you. The little sketch book is beautiful - someone is going to be very happy.

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  5. Happy Blog Birthday! I've only been following your blog for a while, but enjoy reading it :)

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  6. Happy blog birthday! (There's a hardware shop in Earls Colne in Essex called Fork Andles, bet it makes lots of people smile as they pass!).

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  7. PS - forgot to say I was a follower. Please count me in! Su

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  8. I have been reading your blog for a long time Gina and I am not sure if I have commented before or not but this little book has pushed me into making a comment this time.
    Happy 4th blog birthday as well.

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  9. Happy Blog Birthday Gina. Sketchbook looks goregous (I have your blog under Subscriptions in Google Reader, so I don't miss a posting!)

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  10. Happy blog birthday from a new follower. Loved your Sketchbook suggestions and would love a sketchbook to try them out.XX

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  11. Although your blog is set as my home page so I don't miss a post, I have never (until today) posted a comment, so Happy 4th Blog Birthday. Looking forward to the next year's worth of posts and who knows, I might just have a go at the Sketch Book challenge this summer to try and get over my blank page phobia...

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  12. Congratulations on your Blogiversary! Your celebration sketchbook is beautiful. If I won, I'd use it as my travel sketchbook for my visit to London in September.

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  13. Happy blog birthday - lovely book there Gina!

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  14. wishing you 4 more wonderful blogging years. i have been a follower for a long while and just hit the LIKE button to follow you on Facebook. Congratulations.

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  15. Hi Gina, always look forward to reading your 'ramblings'. Happy Blog Birthday! I'm a fan and a follower.

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  16. Goodness me is it really that long? I think I've been reading you for almost all that time. Congratulations!
    I'd love to be in with a chance to win the book and paints.

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  17. And a happy Blog birthday from me too. May all your posts be happy one's. Just love your little cakes and candles.

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  18. happy birthday to you
    happy birthday to you
    happy birthday dear blo-og
    happy birthday to you ....xxxx

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  19. Happy birthday ... Gotta love the 2Rs :)

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  20. Four birthdays for you, my favourite blog,
    Bringing Everything Gina, her sons and her dog;
    Here's hoping the next four bring more of the same,
    Four-ever fun postings, the fab Fan my Flame!

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  21. Happy Birthday to your blog.
    And please enter me in your giveaway. what a lovely prize.

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  22. Happy blogday, think I'm a follower on blog and Facebook! I'd love the book, just the right size to slip on my bag and take with me to France!!!!!!

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  23. Happy 4th! I haven't been with you that long but I've been a happy follower since I 'met' you through Postman's Knock. I'm also been liking you on FB!

    Please put me into your lovely prize draw!

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  24. Time for a little creeping !!!four years on and still my favourite blog,already done the FB tick,see I said I was going to creep.

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  25. What an exquisite little treasure! Of course I'll throw my name in the pot.

    Oh yes, happy blogiversary!

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  26. Glad you are still blogging, love all the inspirational cakes, textile projects and sketchbook challenges.

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  27. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Bloggy Birthday dear Gina, happy birthday to you!

    Please pop me in your giveaway for your cute little pad, I am a follower and a liker as you know :-) x

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  28. Happy Bloggy Birthday, Gina!! Well done on four years of fabulous inspiring blogging!

    I'm having lots of fun with my sketchbook - once I've charged the camera I'll be putting some photos up on my blog :o)

    xxx

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  29. Happy Anniversary Day Gina and long may your blogging continue. I am a follower and a fan x

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  30. Happy Blogaversary! I hope there will be many more!

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  31. realised that I am not a follower and corrected that just now

    happy birthday to the blog

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  32. Does following you on an RSS feed count? I never miss a post, that's for sure. I do also follow you on facebook. Congratulations on reaching your fourth blog birthday. I am only just about 6 months behind you and I can hardly believe it has been that long.

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  33. Hi Gina - I have just come to your blog via Heather's having seen her efforts at following your instructions. Like her, I am very scared of showing my efforts - I do embroider, and write, and various other pursuits but my drawing ability is nil and i would so like to improve, so I am now going to go back through your blog to find the appropriate one. Nice to meet you.
    Shall put you on my side bar.

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  34. Has anyone else, anywhere, ever baked their blog a birthday cake?! That's just one reason why I love this blog!

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  35. Cake and conversation. What could be better for a blog anniversary celebration? Please add me to the giveaway and keep on blogging.

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  36. Happy blog birthday. Your cakes are always lovely but that liitle book is sooo cute.
    You are very talented and it's lovely that you share with us thank you.

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  37. Happy birthday to one of my favourite blogs, looking forward to many more years.

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  38. Happy fourth blogaversary! Found a twelve year old blog yesterday, and am left stunned thinking Were there blogs 12 years ago??

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  39. Hi Gina
    I found your website last year when I was looking around the internet for blogs related to City and Guilds students. I am studying City and Guilds Stained Glass (for the second time) and I find your textile work really inspirational and thought provoking. Keep up the great work, I drop by nearly every day to see what you have added and I would love to own and cherish the little book you have made.

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  40. Happy blog Birthday! i was just leaving a comment to say I was going to tag your blog on a post in my new blog and make sure you were aware and happy with that! :)

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  41. Four years! Congratulations! Keep 'em coming!

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  42. Happy 4th Bloggiversary Gina!
    It's always a pleasure to drop in here and see what you're up too.
    I'm a fan and a follower.
    Vivienne x
    P.S. I did love the two Ronnies. :)

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  43. Happy Bloggiversary! Thanks for all your wonderful and inspiring posts. I am a follower and a Fan
    Sarah x

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  44. Happy 4th blog birthday Gina. You haven't rambled at all, it's been fascinating following your journeys and the cakes have been even more impressive! I've been following in my own sidebar but I've signed up as a follower here too.

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  45. Happy fourth Birthday! I am a follower! Love all you do, Lovely give away as well.
    Thanks for the enjoyment your blog gives me.

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  46. Gina, it is so amazing how quickly years accumulate on our blogging logs.

    Your posts have all been interesting to read, and I also compliment you on how open you have been about sharing your artistic adventures, experiments, and beautiful creations.

    Best wishes as you go on on to the next blogging anniversary. xo

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  47. Happy 4th blogging birthday! I am from Australia and love reading blogs from the UK, particularly about plants and gardens that grow all the things I love but that I can't grow here! I am a quilter, knitter, gardener and have very recently retired (2 weeks ago to be exact). I have purchased a small motorhome and intend to hit the road to see lots of this wonderful country. I hope to sell some of my wares along the way and keep a journal of my travels. Who knows - I might even get brave enough to create my own blog.

    Once again, congratulations! Kindest regards, Louise.

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  48. happy birthday, love your cakes, you always need lots of cake at a birthday party. I'm a follower and a fan too.

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  49. Congratulations on your 4th birthday blog! Well done. Your books are beautiful as ever, the winner will be a very lucky person indeed x

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  50. Thank you for keeping us entertained, informed and a bit dribbly at the sight of all your wonderful cakes - happy 4th birthday!

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  51. Congratulations on 4 years blogging! I have been a follower for about a year, being interested in all things textile. I am also the mother of four sons ,and used to have a labrador, so I imagine your house to be much like ours, with lots of coming and going, and having to find quiet space to work in. THe sketchbook ideas are inspiring and I can't wait to have ago

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  52. congrats on your blogging birthday! your posts are always good to read, whether its day to day stuff or some inspiring creativity!

    xx

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  53. That Two Ronnies sketch is a classic, I love it.

    Happy Blog Birthday!

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  54. happy birthday Gina!! I think I would quite like to win a muffin!!!

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  55. Happy Fourth Birthday to Fan My Flame!

    Keep fanning the creative flames Gina :-)

    Celia
    xx

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  56. crikey - 60 comments :0) I only popped over to say I was doing your sketchbook inspiration...........

    thanks Gina

    Sara x

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  57. Yours was the first blog I ever looked at! Or was it Celia's? Either way you have been a huge inspiration - thankyou thankyou!

    Massive congratulations on four years Gina. Much love, Emma x

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  58. Four years of writing a regular blog? It's you that needs the prize Gina, not one of us! Lesley x
    PS It still had to have cake in it didn't it .....

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  59. Happy 4th Birthday! I will confess to silently lurking for a while before becoming a follower last year - yours is now the first blog I click on each day.

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  60. Congratulations for your tenacity! I am a follower, but sadly too antediluvian for Facebook, so I will have to pass on that one. I have really enjoyed reading your blog and seeing your creations, so here's to the next four years!

    Pomona x

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  61. Hi Gina, any excuse for a cake or 4! Happy blogging. Vera

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  62. Happy fourth birthday, Gina, and long may you reign! - I love your blog, you always have something interesting/funny/clever to say/show, and you don't let anything get you down - you're a ray of sunshine! I have just clicked to 'like' you on Facebook and also am now a follower of your blog... don't often do these things but the lure of your art goodies is just too much to resist! I am desperately trying to get into sketchbooking and your little kit is just the push I need so my fingers are tightly crossed!

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  63. Happy fourth birthday Gina, hope you keep going for another four years, I love reading your blog, even if I am a 'lurker' not often leaving comments. Cheers

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  64. Congratulations Gina! You claim that your blog is just day to day ramblings but it is always filled with inspiration for me.

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  65. Happy 4th blog birthday. I love that 2 Ronnies sketch! Wishing you another creative year!

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  66. Happy 4th Blog birthday ... looking forward to the next four.

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  67. Wow, so many of us came to your party :-) Happy birthday. Who wouldn't want that gorgeous little book?

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  68. Happy Blogday toooo yooooooou! x

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  69. happy blog birthday - love the new sketchbook ideas

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  70. Hello Gina lovely

    I would love to be in with a chance of winning your book and art goodies but doubt I will as you already have a huge response to your giveaway

    Happy 4th birthday you lovely blog you!!

    I have been following your blog for a long time and I've also been following your facebook page since you started it :o) I am a fan!

    Lots of love
    Carolyn xo

    ps. do we get cake as well as the art book and art goodies? I'm been tormented by them for years!

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  71. Happy Bloggy-Birthday Gina! I've lost track of how "old" I am!!! But I am always inspired by what you are doing and just wish I had a droplet of your talent! Dot is very inspired by this year's sketchbook project so I may have to overcome my drawing fears and give it another go. Lucy xx

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  72. I would love to enter you birthday blog draw.

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  73. Happy blog birthday, Gina. I follow your blogs every week and find them very inspirational. So much so that I am in the process of creating my own blog. Mind you, you will be a hard act to follow. Looking forward to see you soon and keep on blogging. Love to win your little sketchbook, Catherina

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  74. Can I have the koh-i-noor paints instead of the book?

    You could bring them with you on Saturday.

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  75. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear blog, happy birthday to you!!!

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  76. Just found you - via dogdaisychains. But now I'm a follower.

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  77. A belated Happy Birthday - I was away on holiday or I'd have congratulated you earlier. And of course, I'm a follower - what more would you expect of a teacher's pet??

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  78. Coming in very late to wish you a happy bloggy birthday and to tell you that I actually started my sketchbook. Woohoo!

    (I'm not a follower so no extra entries for me; but don't take it personally - I don't follow anyone!)

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  79. I am a follower and have been for a while now.
    I would love to win your wonderfully creative giveaway. Thank you for the chance to win and Congratulations on having reached 4 years of blogging.

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