Friday, November 8, 2013

Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop: Day 5 and A Turkey Bunny Cover-Up

Good Morning everyone.

Today is the last day of the Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop, someone pass me the tissues. It's been so much fun seeing all the projects others have made and their stories; the why or who they have made it  for, and the memories it sparked.

Later today I will take a much needed nap, and make chicken noodle soup in the hopes of curing this cold that is just now running through our house. I will probably go back through the week of posts and enjoy reading them again and all the comments - and you should to. Why? Because some of them are giving away some of the goodies. Until then, let's read the bloggers posts for today:


I was working last night on the final bonus project but it wasn't shaping up as I hoped it would. I'm going to rework it today and post it when it's ready. In the meantime, you can enjoy those blog posts up above, and come up with a funny caption for my trial and error photo shoot from last night, before I decided that going to bed would be my best defense against this nasty cold. Isn't she so funny?! She was having a giggle fest in her little get up and couldn't help herself and finally fell over laughing!

Ok - off to reworked this outfit, and then get some thumbcovers shipped, then a nap while soup simmers on the stove.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I hope you have entered for your chance to win a copy of my book and a goodie box the size of Texas to go with it on my giveaway post!

If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters. Have a great day.


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop: Day 4 and All the Little Extras

It's the second to last day of the Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop and I don't know about you, but I am having a blast! I really hope you are too, esp with all the free bonus projects. Have you made one yet? If you have, I'd love to see it. You can tag me on social media (I'm @kidgiddy everything), and you can use the hashtag #SewingTalesBookBonus too. Then I can see what you made.

In the meantime, please go have a looksy at what these 4 bloggers made from my book:


"All the Little Extras" are here. Many years ago when I first created the mouse pattern that is in my book, I also made it into a Kitty, Puppy and Bunny. Check out today's free bonus project sheet, so you can convert the mouse pattern - into a Kitty, Puppy or Bunny instead.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6St72bEbLYhMGN3LTJQUXRMWWs/edit?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6St72bEbLYhMGN3LTJQUXRMWWs/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks so much for coming by and for supporting the blog hop and my book. Make sure you stop in tomorrow for final 4 bloggers and the final Sewing Tales Book Bonus project, I'll try not to cry if you won't! It's been so much fun, I hate to see the hoppin' party end. If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters, to find out when other fun things are happening. Have a great Thursday.

Enter for your chance to win a copy of my book and a goodie box the size of Texas to go with it on my giveaway post! Giveaway ends November 14th. 





Thank you again to the Sewing Tales Blog hop sponsors. You can click on this image below and find out more information about each sponsor. Thank you Fairfield, Dritz, Fiskars, Bosal & FreeSpirit.
http://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/2013/11/sewing-tales-book-blog-hop-sponors.html


A Gift For YOU: Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love Book Blog Hop Giveaway #1

Good morning giddy folks.

So by now you know all about the Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop, the "20 Bloggers in 5 days talking about 1 book" - right?

And you know all the awesome Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop Sponsors then too, right?...how they provided all the necessary tools and fabric for the bloggers participating in the hop - you know - that "goodie box", right?.

Well - guess what?! They gave me more, and it's time to party. I've had a couple of giveaways on other social media sites, before and during Quilt Market, but now I'm hosting one here. This is a big one - this is the same goodie box the bloggers got but with 2 extra Fat Quarters of Heather Bailey's new Lottie Da fabric!
http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Tales-Stitch-Love-Storytelling/dp/1440235198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371677509&sr=8-1&keywords=kerry+goulder

So in the box - you will get: A copy of my book Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love (of course)

  1. Fiskars: RazorEdge Fabric Shears (9”) because no one should cut tons of fabric without a really great pair of fabric shears, and my all time favorite Easy Action MicroTip Scissors so you don't have arthritic painful hands after clipping and notching all of your edges.
  2. Dritz Tools: The Quick Turn Tool set that I can't make fun stuff without, a Bodkin (I call these fabric tweezers), an ever loving Seam Ripper we wish we never needed, a package of 5 various sized Doll Needles, a little package of 25 Assorted Craft Needles, a (reusable) box of Straight Ball Pins, a blue water soluble Fabric Marking Pen, and a Bamboo Point Turner (I also use this for pressing seams or creasing center marks instead of a little iron).
  3. Fairfield World: 1 Bag of Supreme Polyester Poly-Fil
  4. Bosal Foam: 1 Yard of their Create-A-Pattern paper to trace a lot of your pattern pieces on.
  5. Free Spirit Fabrics: 6 gorgeous Fat Quarters of Heather Bailey's new Lottie Da fabric
So how does that sound? Great - right?! Now the question is - what do you have to do to win it. Enter your name into the rafflecopter giveaway link below, tap your shoes together and say ten times "I think I can win, add more giddy to my life". Ok - not really, but it was funny anyway..
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much for all the book love, sponsor love, blog hop love and I now wish you good luck.
If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters. Have a great day.




Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop: Day 3 and a Tiny Canoe

Hi everyone, It's Day 3 of the Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop and the fun is still going strong! Here are today's bloggers:

Whew, the canoe is done. This pattern can be printed at the regular size and fit two little mice inside. You can also shrink the pattern and make it a cute personalized, tiny ornament for your holiday tree.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6St72bEbLYhWEw2S2ExZjRidzA/edit?usp=sharing

Today I will also be posting an awesome giveaway you won't want to miss so keep your blog eyes open...and think winning thoughts.

Thanks so much for coming by and for supporting the blog hop and my book. Make sure you stop in tomorrow for 4 of the final 8 bloggers and another fun Sewing Tales Book Bonus project! If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters. Have a great Wednesday.

Enter for your chance to win a copy of my book and a goodie box the size of Texas to go with it on my giveaway post! Giveaway ends November 14th. 





Thank you again to the Sewing Tales Blog hop sponsors. You can click on this image below and find out more information about each sponsor. Thank you Fairfield, Dritz, Fiskars, Bosal & FreeSpirit. Thank you also to National Nonwovens for providing the wool felt for this project.


http://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/2013/11/sewing-tales-book-blog-hop-sponors.html


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop: Day 2 and Gnome Cape with Satchel

It's Day 2 of the Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop and despite the mornings getting colder and colder up here in Maine, things are heating up in here in the kid giddy studio. It's not snowing yet outside, but my daughters are asking for it already. So on this chilly morning, I have 4 new bloggers to book hop along with, and another Sewing Tales Book Bonus Project to keep you warm.


We've even been listening to Christmas songs already *gasp* and I can't help myself and want to call this bonus project the "baby it's cold outside cape and satchel". As soon as the weather turns cold - we get the Christmas fever. I think it's hereditary?! You should play some holiday music while making this project. It will make it all the more fun. Click on the Bonus project image below to take you to the PDF Google Doc to print out.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6St72bEbLYhaWNHclVLUjdwRGc/edit?usp=sharing


Underneath the base of this triangle is where you want to place your elastic. I bought this Clear Dritz Elastic myself a long time ago thinking it would be useful someday. I was right. I love the fact that you can use it and won't see the elastic as you would if it were white, on this tan sherpa material. It works perfectly and I love sharing good things!
Any elastic will work really well if you stretch it as far as you can while you are sewing it down. You can add frog closures or ribbons on the two ends of the elastic for the cape if play will be involved, but I preferred not to on this one.  It was nice and snug and stayed on the gnome without falling off. I wasn't playing with it though - so use anything you have laying around.
Thanks so much for coming by and for supporting the blog hop and my book. I can't wait to see your Gnomes all dressed up for the winter weather. You can shrink/enlarge and re-size the measurements to make capes for the mice too or any other doll or animal (This is the same way I made the teeny tiny cape for the Queens in the Snow People Chess Set)! Make sure you stop in tomorrow for 4 new bloggers and another fun Sewing Tales Book Bonus project! If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters. Have a great Tuesday.

Enter for your chance to win a copy of my book and a goodie box the size of Texas to go with it on my giveaway post! Giveaway ends November 14th.  







Thank you again to the Sewing Tales Blog hop sponsors. You can click on this image below and find out more information about each sponsor. Thank you Fairfield, Dritz, Fiskars, Bosal & FreeSpirit.
http://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/2013/11/sewing-tales-book-blog-hop-sponors.html

Monday, November 4, 2013

Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop: Day 1 and A Baby Gnome

Good morning everyone.

I'm so excited to start off this Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop that will be going on all week long. Each day this week, I will post a link of the 4 bloggers participating in that days hop, so you can see what they made. I will also be giving my readers a bonus project each day to make, that didn't fit in the book because it was already jam packed with goodness (today's "baby" project is below).

I sought out 20 awesome bloggers from the world wide web to get a peek into my book, create a project and maybe even write a story (as was done in the book), or just simply have fun with it. We have 18 folks from the United States, 2 from the UK and 2 from Australia. Some of the bloggers have chosen to offer a giveaway as part of their post, be sure to check them all out. Today's bloggers include:


I also sought out some amazing product to send these folks, because I had no way of knowing what tools they would have and what they wouldn't have. I wanted to make sure that each person would have the tools they needed to make their project most successful. If you come into my studio or catch me off at Quilt Market - you'll find many of these tools on my tables or with me in my little pouch. I rarely leave home without them (unless they are too big, in which case they have to stay home alone). Please see the sponsors and their links by clicking the graphic below which will take you to my post from Saturday - these really are just a few of my favorite things.

http://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-fun-begins-next-week.html
Speaking of Quilt Market {again}...if you were there, you just might have seen me toting around a little Baby Gnome (in pic above) on my quilt market ID lanyard. In true baby fashion - this little one got lots of "oohs and aahs". Make your own baby gnome, or twin gnomes, maybe even triplets with today's Sewing Tales Book Bonus project.

It is very small and can be tricky with it's tiny seam allowance, but it's oh so cute for that young gnome that can't wait to be a mommy or daddy some day. You could even tie a loop to the top and hang it on the tree for baby's first Christmas?! This pattern is for home and personal use only. Please do not copy, alter or otherwise distribute. Click on the image below to get to the PDF on google docs.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6St72bEbLYhZ3FpSHdxQWNOSFU/edit?usp=sharing




Thank you to the bloggers and sponsors for all of your love and support.

Thank you for coming by today, and for your love and support as well. Make sure you stop in tomorrow for 4 new bloggers and another fun Sewing Tales Book Bonus project! If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters. Have a great Monday.

Enter for your chance to win a copy of my book and a goodie box the size of Texas to go with it on my giveaway post! Giveaway ends November 14th.  




http://kidgiddy.us2.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=9ea4c419178a2e61b529af8aa&id=975aef860e

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop Sponsors

The fun begins next week in just 2 more days. Are you ready? I am. Before all the fun starts...I'd like to post a shout out to my 5 amazing Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop sponsors and thank them for their generous support:  Fairfield, Dritz, Fiskars, Bosal Foam, and Free Spirit Fabrics.


The 20 bloggers in next weeks hop received the items listed below, from the following Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop sponsors. These products are my go to products for all things sewing and pattern making and you'll find them with me whereever I go.

I sought out these amazing products to send to the blog hop participants, because I had no way of knowing what tools they would have and what they wouldn't have. I wanted to make sure that each person would have the tools they needed to make their project most successful. If you come into my studio or catch me off at Quilt Market - you'll find many of these tools on my tables or with me in my little pouch. I rarely leave home without them (unless they are too big, in which case they have to stay home alone - oh sad). These really are just a few of my favorite things.

I have linked back to the sponsors websites and will add the Amazon links if you have a hard time finding them in a store near you. Although I was given product for free to give to the bloggers (for free), the opinions are my own...and I won't get paid any affiliate funds through the companies themselves or Amazon (because I live in Maine and the folks here made a law against affiliate pay outs from Amazon). Some of these items can be purchased through the manufacturer's online store or other online retailers. Please let me know if you have a hard time finding anything and I will get you in touch with a place to purchase or the company if necessary.


1. Quick Turn Tools, 2. Bodkin, 3. Seam Ripper, 4. Doll Needles, 5. Craft Needles, 6. Straight Ball Pins, 7. Fabric Marking Pen, 8. Bamboo Point Turner

1. RazorEdge Fabric Shears (9”) & 2. Easy Action MicroTip Scissors

Create-A-Pattern paper
4 Fat Quarters of Heather Bailey's new Lottie Da fabric




If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters. Have a great weekend and see you Monday the 4th for the start of the Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop.





Friday, November 1, 2013

Sewing Tales at Fall 2013 Quilt Market: Recap and Recovery

Hello hello hello. I've been home from the rush and thrill of Quilt Market, for two days now and am finally feeling my energy level increase ever so slightly. Oh wait, maybe that's just all the halloween candy and the massive sugar rush? At this point who knows for sure. I'm certainly not going to fight it anymore, bring it on.

This was my second Quilt Market and first in Houston, Texas (my first was in May 2011). It was so exciting to be back in my home state, yet bittersweet to not have my family here with me to celebrate all the happenings. I toted a copy of my book around QM like the baby that it is, and took pics of it with as many of the fabric designers I could find (whose fabrics I used in the book). Of course I had to get a pic with Heather, since she also wrote the foreword for my book. Sorry to be covering up the amazing paper pieced butterfly in her booth, but you can see it on her blog soon, I'm sure. She even won the best booth award.
Some of you may have seen these pics on my Instagram feed, so I'm only reposting a few of them. If you didn't see them yet, and want to see more, head on over to my kidgiddy IG feed for all the others.
These two guys are from Andover Fabrics. My mom emails me (urgently) that I need to get her one of the bags they were handing out on the first day of schoolhouse, and I got the email too late. Then she says further down the email, that sample spree is tonight - and I HAVE to get her some of the Downton Abbey fabric because she LOVES LOVES LOVES that show. She's one lucky lady - with an amazing daughter that hooked her up. I paid just like everyone else - but walked out of there a proud daughter....thinking, man, my mom is going to love me! And she does. Now I have to ship it to her!
I spent much of the show demo'ing in the Sizzix booth, showing everyone how you can make some really cool things with your triangle, strips, and other basic geometric dies! (Like the Buoys & Hot-Air Balloon basket from my Sewing Tales book)
I met Amanda Herring from the Quilted Fish. She's such a sweetheart and when I met her earlier in the Sizzix booth, I didn't put her first name and her face together with the awesome fabric I used on the Row Boat project in my book!
Say Hi to Meaghan Finnerty - the best Digital Marketing Manager at F+W Media! I feel like I've known her forever. She's been so great to work with and wish she stayed in Texas longer! Next time I'm in NY - guess who's getting a visit?!
These little gnome girls, their mice friends, and the mushrooms got lots of attention in the Sizzix booth while I was there!
This was the scene of my Dritz demo and book signing. Look at all those excited folks - waiting so patiently for the fun to begin. Thank you for all the love everyone!
Had a little chat time with Amy before the show and during. She's so sweet. They all are. I love the community that exists in the 'fabric' community. It's just so down to earth and refreshing.
Tula Pink is in the house (and so was her brother, who is to thank for taking the awesome up high angled pic). I was trying really hard to keep my blinders on in everyones' booths, so I wouldn't get all giddy about their new fabric lines, but that didn't work so well. I love them all, and my Christmas wish list just got longer.
I could not go to Quilt Market or CHA and not get a pic of me with Anna Griffin. While in her booth I saw the dog bone pillow I designed for her in some adorable new doggy fabric. I love that my patterns live on.
I got to go out to dinner with this lovely lady and her sweet baby. I can't imagine going to quilt market way back when my girls were tiny babies and bringing one with me. It's exhausting as it is, but she pulled it off and looked beautiful doing it. Love her kindred spirit, and Heather's for that matter. I also had fun with Heather and her husband at the Goode Co. for a BBQ dinner and had a blast. 
Even after the weekend was over, the Sizzix folks still liked me! LOL! No matter where we were and what we were doing, it was all fun and laughter. They are seriously such a great group of people to work with.
Promptly at 4pm, the announcer came on and said "All good things must come to an end". Seconds later, the echos of paper, boxes and crates filled the air. The shoes came off and everyone else but me changed into "comfy clothes". If you look closely,  you can play ispy and find Heather Bailey and her husband Isaac. I had just said goodbye to them, but couldn't see them in the pic until I saw it on my large computer screen.
As sad as I was to leave Quilt Market, coming home to my awesome husband and amazing daughters was a much happier moment for me. Now I sit at home and contemplate a booth for Spring 2014. Should I do it? I'd have to have some new patterns to release. I'd have to get a UPC code account. Register and all that other stuff. It scares the daylights out of me, but we are meant to learn and grow when we leap in faith, right?!

Until then, I will go day by day, and week by week. I'm so excited for next week and hope you will join me and all of the 20 bloggers for the Sewing Tales Book Blog Hop (Nov 4th - 8th). I will be sharing some fun little extra projects on my blog each day of the hop, and hosting an awesome giveaway for the week. The response to my book at quilt market was amazing! If you haven't gotten your copy yet...get it now on Amazon: Sewing Tales to Stitch and Love (no they don't give me an extra cut of profits), and get your sewing done early for the holidays.

Thanks for stopping by. If you haven't already, please click that link below and sign up to receive my newsletters, which I hope to start in Jan next year, maybe sooner?! Have a great, happy weekend.