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: Think Pink Handbag Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop Sponsored by Westcott

I am so grateful for awesome companies that support great causes. Westcott Brand® is proud to be the official sponsor the October Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop, and being that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the theme of the project challenge was… PINK!

I wanted to design a number of things when I received the box of all things pink. I immediately thought of a huge ball gown type of skirt, but realized that would take too long. At the same time I was thinking about the skirt, I was thinking about a matching bag. It was exactly what I had in mind, and I'm so excited I got the results I was hoping for! This is by far the most Duck Tape I've used at once, and the most intricate. My daughter's and I crafted some little sandals this summer, but that's about it for my handling of DuckTape!

In the end, my hands were the stickiest thing in front of me. Not the scissors, blades, or cutters! I was very impressed and had to share that! Westcott Brand® Titanium Bonded Non Stick Scissors are the BEST Non Stick Scissors on the market that never get stuck and can easily cut through Sticky Back VELCRO®, Duck Tape and multiple layers of fabric and other materials!

My favorite product was the Westcott Brand® Cutting blade which was padded and ergonomic, a far cry different than my old solid steel shank with painful metal grip dots. This blade was awesome! It made crafting this bag, so much easier!

For your chance to win some awesome Westcott Brand® products, please visit the Westcott Blog and the Westcott Brand® facebook page!

Did I mention....you can click the Charity Wings image for your chance to win THIS 1 and ONLY (Think PINK Kid Giddy bag)

& other PINK goodies in the Charity Wings auction to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness.

Feel free to say hi here and leave me a little love in the comments below! (this does not increase your chance of winning the bid or the Westcott package, nor does it count as an entry - but leaving me a comment would be much appreciated!)

After you leave me a comment, you can click forwards or backwards on the blog hop link to see the other PINK projects! Have an awesome week!

Disclosure: I received Westcott, Duct Tape & Velcro Brand products, to complete this project for Breast Cancer Awareness month. By having received these products, I have in no way altered my opinion of said products. This is not a review of the product but merely supporting products and companies that also support great causes. Opinions are my own.

Throw-Back Thursday: Vintage Sewing Books, Stitch By Stitch

Today my thoughts are revolving around these vintage sewing books my Granny gave me, many years ago, as her and my Grandpop began downsizing to move to Florida. There are 20 total books in the series. Unfortunately I have books 2 through 20 and am missing the first one. I even have the index booklet. I'm sure the first one gave all the basic of sewing, knitting, crocheting all all the other crafts featured, and therefore must have been used so often it was displaced from the rest! But of course - I can't be too sure of that. All I know is, it's gone.

Commadore keyboard Image from wikipedia

These books remind me of the days when I sat on a Commodore 64 playing "pong" before my brother took the keyboard apart thinking he could put it back together. Or of the salesmen that would walk door to door and town to town selling sets of Encyclopedias because we didn't have the internet for research homework. And reminds me of the Craft kit projects, you could pay for through the mail, one project a week or month that came with a binder to put it all in (and divider tabs). Those were the days. And those days are gone, but at least I still have the books. Something to remember "those days" by!

I wonder if my girls will remember going to book store and libraries when they are older. I wonder if their children will ever walk through the doors of a book store or library?! Wouldn't that be so sad.

These books are treasures to me. Sure they are so severely outdated...but everything old becomes new again right? Like wearing a belt on top of a plaid shirt and Farrah Fawcett hair! I can't say I look through them often, nor do I gain much inspiration from them for current projects, but they are just so cool to have. A long time ago, my Granny used these books to make things for herself, her children, her grandchildren, and friends too! Somethings are worth holding onto! What are you holding onto? Do you have special treasures from the past that tell a story? Please share it!

Have a great day, minute by minute and stitch by stitch!

These Stitch by Stitch books were printed by Torstar Books, in Belgium 1984, 1985

Modular Star - AccuQuilt GO! Winner!

GGPS6ZSAWEZ8 WOW - I am so grateful for the awesome response to not only my Modular Star Tutorial, but also to the AccuQuilt GO! giveaway! I really love creating new designs and sewing, but it's so much more fun when I am able to help give back as well, because of companies like AccuQuilt!

I'm so excited to finally let you know who won the AccuQuilt GO! Baby giveaway. Thank you all for waiting 2 more days, but I needed to make sure that if an international fan was chosen, that they would be able to get the package. I'll be sure to ask that question next time before I post!

ok - so without further wait...Here is the winner:

Audrey's Attic!

Audrey's Attic won an AccuQuilt GO! Baby cutter, with a cutting mat and 3 dies of her choice! How cool is that?!!! Now - if she doesn't get back to me soon - I will have to pick another winner...but I'm pretty sure she will unless she gave me the wrong email address?!

I'd like to personally thank each of you for entering the giveaway and spreading the kidgiddy love! Please come back and visit my blog often - click the follow button if you haven't already! I promise there are more good times to come! Thanks again and congrats to Audrey's Attic!