Busy Monday: Bits 'n Pieces Series - Teeko the Polar Bear Softie

Hello everyone,

It is late Monday night and I had to get this little Teeko the Polar Bear post up on my blog, before flying off to neverland! I still cannot believe the year I have had. This adorable little Teeko marks the end of the "bits 'n pieces" series! This latest holiday issue (Nov/Dec 2011) of Crafts 'n things Magazine is officially out on stands...and is as cute as can be! You won't want to miss it.

A year and a half ago, my life was totally different. I blogged feverishly, I struggled to sell anything on my Etsy shop, I took my girls to school, went to karate, ran, biked...did all the normal things I would - well - normally do! Then one day a friend told me to submit something to Crafts 'n things Magazine! I thought - there's no way I could do that. But I resisted the urge to run and hide, and contacted them immediately. To my surprise - they loved my work.

I found out what they were looking for and shot an email back only 10 minutes later. Then I got an immediate response - they loved my Owl. Now I was ready to run and hide again! I had never written a pattern up - at all! I thought it had to look, sound like, and be as confusing as the store bought patterns! lol! And I certainly didn't follow those - let alone know how to write one up for others to understand it! I worked really hard on it. I wrote some of it - and struggled to write the rest. I just didn't have the confidence. I still wanted to run and hide. Finally, the day before the due date - I convinced myself it's now or never, and did it! I did the same thing when I accepted the challenge to do an entire series for the magazine! I wanted to run and hide - but told myself - "it's now or never!" So I did it. And I couldn't be happier!

I don't know how many Crafts 'n things Magazine readers are reading my blog. I don't know how many people like or love my designs. All I do know, is that I stretched myself. I didn't run and hide - when Heavenly Father knows I could've! I dug deep and I climbed my mountain. I have learned so much from this series, this experience, and I sincerely hope you have all enjoyed the new plush friends we've made together: Heddy the Hedgehog, the Tufty Bird Family, Sammy the Seahorse, Carter the Crab, the Reversible PumpKat and now Teeko the Polar Bear! Eventually, when I get my act together and have less work to do - all of these patterns will be available as kits in my Etsy shop, or my own web store. But we have time!

Thank you for taking this journey with me! I now know a few of you, from the Kid Giddy Facebook page and the Kid Giddy Flickr group, from the pictures you have posted, and I am grateful! There will be more fun stuff on the horizon - but my lips are sealed! Thank you to Abby & Annie for this journey! I hope you all have a wonderful night! See you soon!

Busy Monday: Reversible PumpKat Softies

Boo,

Hope this little PumpKat didn't scare you! Get your copy before it's gone!  The latest issue (Sept/Oct 2011) of Crafts 'n things Magazine is out on stands...or sold out - so run don't walk to get your copy now!

This year for halloween I couldn't decide if I wanted the pattern to be a Jack-o-Lantern or a Black Scaredy Cat! So it became a little of each! Just like some years...most years, my girls can't decided what they want to be for Halloween...until the last minute! Yikes!

By following the simple, sew as you go, concept in the instructions, you can to make this reversible PumpKat for your fall festive table decorations this year! Give them faces or let the fabric do all the talking. Make just one, or make as many as you please. You can even enlarge it to make a really bold...huge statement! No matter what you do...have fun and enjoy the fall season that is quickly approaching!

When you are done making your PumpKat, please head on over to my Kid Giddy Flickr group and post your pictures for all to share. I'm going to start highlighting some of you crafty folks that are posting in there! Please let me know if you have any questions putting yours together! Have an awesome week!

Busy Monday: My First Publication - Scrappy Owl

Hi everyone,

I'm so excited to mention this great news of my first publication on my blog, but have been holding out just in case it got pulled at the last minute (I try to be an optimist - I really do!).

My scrappy owl pattern is going to be featured in the Sept/Oct issue of Crafts 'n' Things Magazine!  You can see my picture (the one above) on the last page of the Crafts 'n' Things July/Aug issue (the issue with the bear!) down at the bottom of the page in the "teaser" section. I took this shot of my two cute owls hanging out in the branches of my Maine woods as they love to do around here! This owl pattern uses up tons of those scraps you have lying around your crafty area and can lay in the palm of your hand.

You can also make the larger version for a wonderful pillow size decoration! Please be sure to get your Crafts 'n' Things Magazine subscription now! You won't want to miss out on this pattern, it makes a great baby, wedding, birthday, shower, holiday, etc gift in and of itself, but also makes a great sachet to tie on the top of any gift. If you don't sew - you can buy one of my owls from me through my KidGiddy Etsy shop! Please stop in for a look as more will be added weekly.

Thanks for celebrating with me! This is the first publication, with many more to come! More great publication news will be posted soon! Have a wonderful day/week/month/year! Can you tell how excited I am?!!!