HAPPY HALLOWEEN (Today!)

I'm doing a quick post today because I just HAD to explain how Wanda's Pumpkin Vine Bookmark is now in MY possession on this Halloween Day 2010 !!! :) :) :)

This is Wanda's actual bookmark designed and tatted by Wanda herself! (Wanda of “Wanda’s Knotty Thoughts Blog”), and it is now in my house, where I just took the above photo!

It is Wanda’s prototype, first edition, one-of-a-kind bookmark, based on Heidi Sunday's innovative and clever 'pumpkin vine' pattern found at

http://www.georgiaseitz.com/classes2/pumpkin.html

Here's where you saw Wanda's bookmark first - On October 26:

http://wandasknottythoughts.blogspot.com/2010/10/givin-and-gettin-tatting-tea-tuesday.html

Wanda had been fascinated by Heidi's vine pattern and designed a full bookmark from it with lots of twists and turns and lots of ‘pumpkins’!

This bookmark is nothing short of brilliant and I can't believe I now 'own' the actual bookmark that she posted on her blog!

However, GET THIS !!

The bookmark was handed to me IN PERSON

TODAY - by Wanda herself!!

How did this happen, you might ask, considering I live in Pittsburgh, PA and Wanda lives in Kansas !

Well, here's the 'short' story! :)

Wanda recently held a giveaway to celebrate her 2nd blogaversary, and - I WON!

The giveaway was announced in her post dated Oct. 12, where she described making her amazing "Doily with Antique Motif.” (Please check that out, too!)

All you had to do was leave a comment in that post, and you would enter a drawing for a prize. The drawing would be held Oct. 26. Of course, I commented on the doily, which is gorgeous! (And to tell you the truth, I completely forgot about the giveaway!)

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, she notified me that I won the drawing ; and, of course, I was delighted, even though I had no idea what the prize was! She was keeping it a secret!

I sent my address to Wanda so that she could send the prize to me.

When she received my address (I live in the Pittsburgh PA area), she realized that she would be in my 'neck of the woods' on Sunday (today - Halloween Day), as she would be driving from Washington D.C. back 'home' to Kansas, and was taking I-70, which passes very near Pittsburgh! (This gal really gets around, which you already know if you follow her blog!)

She asked if we could possibly get together, and - long story short - that's what we did this afternoon!

We met at a restaurant off I-70 and had a GREAT time and an enjoyable tat-chat while having lunch at the restaurant! What's more, I got to meet one of Wanda's daughters and her adorable 2-year-old son (one of Wanda’s grandsons) who were also on the LONG ride back to Kansas!!!

To my amazement, Wanda's giveaway has several parts to it, which I will post about soon, but when I opened a card with this fabulous bookmark in it, I was totally in shock, as I recognized it right away!!

I asked if she tatted a second one so soon after the first, and she said "No, this is my first and only one". I protested that I couldn't possibly accept it! How could she bear to part with it!??? But she insisted it was now mine!

I am truly honored and delighted to have this bookmark!!! It is amazing to see it in person!

And, as mentioned there were other amazing surprises! It was like Christmas on Halloween!

Stay tuned for Part 2 - and more photos! Just wanted to get this posted ASAP!!!

In our neighborhood, 'Trick or Treat' night was on Thursday, so I was able to do this post without interruption from 'Ghosts and Goblins!' Hope you get to enjoy some leftover candy, especially CHOCOLATE!