PS!!

PS. Happy All Hallows Eve! :0) And watch out for those faeries ... its a faerie moving day, you know! :0)
FAERIE BEAR HUGS!!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Worn Out!!

PHEW!!!! What a busy weekend I had ... I'll come back tomorrow to tell you about it and show you some photos! :0) But I thought I would pop in quickly today to show you what my postie has been leaving for me in the last little while. The kind of parcels that we stitchers all love ... FABRIC! :0)
First to arrive was ...

... some Ruby yumminess!! I was going to be good ... I was going to be strong ... I said to myself, "Self, you do not NEED any more fabric!!" Then Sarah had a great special that 'Self' just couldn't pass up and 'Self' decided that really ... these lovely fabrics were just right for a secret squirrel project that I will soon begin working on so ... why not! :0) Now ... when I said that this was FIRST to arrive ... I should really have said first AND last to arrive! You see ... Sarah posted two parcels to me on the same day ... one with the layer cake (the red in the photo) and the other parcel with the half metre of the yummy aqua fabric. Now two parcels, posted at the same post office at the same time should arrive at their destination at the same time, right??? WRONG! Somehow, Australia Post in all its wisdom, sent the aqua fabric on a round-Australia tour and it arrived almost a week later! Sarah and I are still trying to work THAT one out!!! :0) Then, today on my way home from work, I popped into my Home-Away-From-Home and picked up the pretty Cosmo threads to match. Can't tell you what I'm going to do with it all ... you'll just have to wait! :0)

The other yummy mail to arrive today was ...

... Some more Rural Jardin charm squares! :0) Yep ... I have an addiction to this lovely range! :0) BUT ... I also have a special project in mind for this pack of delicious French General fabrics, so I feel justified there ... not that it worries me too much! :0)

And after all this delicious new fabric arrived, I was inspired to use up some of my existing stash to make another "just in case" giftie to add to my stash ...

... a strip-pieced notebook cover, beautifully modelled (as are the fabrics above!) by the famous covergirl, Miss Annie-Rose Bear who featured on the Mothers' Day cover of "Handmade". She waived her usual sitting fee since I promised her online exposure! Tee! Hee! Hee! So ... another finish to add to my OPAM list ...YAY! It's been a bumper month for finishes for me ... how did YOU go this month??? OPAM gals, make sure you update your sidebar lists and send off your emails to Peg and I so we can update our spreadsheet results. I've got a lovely surprise in store for prize winners this month ... but you'll have to wait and see! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Right now, however, I'm off to start dinner ... choir rehearsal tonight, so I need to shake my tail feathers and get moving. Hope you had a great weekend and I'll be back tomorrow to tell you about mine ... promise! :0) Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Whip Stitching!

No, not stitching in whip stitch ... getting stitching cos SOMEONE has had the WHIP out! Tee! Hee! Hee! I'm somewhat behind on the Gardeners Journal Stitch Along, though I DID tell Chookyblue when I signed up that designing and stitching pattern samples would have to be my priority. But ... with the carrot on a stick being dangled before me that I can't start the latest Stitch Along ... My Favourite Things Quilt from Anni's "Some Kind Of Wonderful" book ... until I've finished GJ, I had to get stitching.

While I'm still not finished, the weekend DID see me make some good progress. I had FINALLY finished stitching the Garden Show block a couple of weeks ago ... not sure why this block seemed to take so long, lots of interruptions, I guess ... so decided to head into the sewing room yesterday to work on piecing the last two blocks ... Block B and Block I. The result ...

Block B finished. And ...

... Block I finished ... WOO! HOO! which left me with this ...

Now I just have to join the blocks together ... oh ... and choose and attach borders ... oh ... and quilt and bind it ... SIGH! Guess it will still be a little while until this is finished!!! :0) Actually ... Chooky made a deal with me ... I told her I want to get this professionally quilted, since I don't quilt anything bigger than a handbag!!! ... and that it will be a while before I save up enough play money to pay for that, so she said that I can start working on Favourite Things once I have the top to this one finished. Isn't she a sweetie! :0) I'm hoping to join these blocks up this week, then have to decide on borders, so may be back to ask your opinion ... or I might put all options into a hat and draw two out! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Not much other stitching done this weekend, though I DID put some of what I'd read in Kerryanne's e-book into practice and spent some time making plans for my design business for next year.In fact, I got so excited about some of the possibilities that I had trouble sleeping Saturday night, cos my brain was spinning out of this galaxy with ideas! That's MY excuse for the bags under my eyes today, anyways! :0)

Whatever you got up to over the weekend, I hope your schedule included some time for you to kick back, relax and create and hope you all have a fabulous week too. I'm off to sew a few blocks together before dinner to see if I can stay a few steps ahead of Chookyblue's whip! Tee! Hee! Hee! Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS

A Friend's New "Baby"!!!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get almost as excited about good things happening to my friends as I would if good things were happening to me! And today ...

I'M SO EXCITED!

You see ... for some time now one of my bestest blogging buddies, the gorgeous and clever-clogs Kerryanne from Shabby Art Boutique has been scratching away with quill and feather by the light of a flickering candle ... well ... maybe NOT ... but that sounds a bit more romantic, right! Tee! Hee! Hee! She has instead been tapping away on her computer keyboard to write her very own E-BOOK!! WOO! HOO! How exciting is that!!! I've just about been bursting at the seams to stop myself telling people how excited I am for Kerryanne ... not to mention being kept in suspenders, waiting for Kerryanne to finally 'give birth' to her creative 'baby'.

WELL ... I need wait no more ... and neither do YOU! Cos today is THE day ... In conjunction with her dual birthday celebrations she is holding this week, Kerryanne is launching her e-book ...

"The Creative Mumpreneur: How To Take Your Craft Addiction From The Kitchen Table To Creative Business."

Now ... I was one of the first in line to read this baby hot off the presses ... you know how they show photos of people in sleeping bags outside shopping centres in the lead up to the huge Boxing Day sales??? I was a sleeping bag person when it came to Kerryanne's book! Tee! Hee! Hee! I've already read it from start to finish and I just KNOW that I will be referring back to it again and again ... and again ...! :0)

So ... what's it all about, I hear you ask??? Well .... it tackles one of the most recent trends ... Mumpreneurs, or WAHM's (Work At Home Mums). Many stay-at-home Mums are wanting to ... well ... STAY at home as their children grow up and are starting their own businesses to bring in a bit of play money, as well as give them a creative outlet. Since this is exactly what Kerryanne did 20 years ago (and continues to do very successfully today!!), her gorgeous book celebrates her business milestone by sharing some tips, tricks, hints and secrets that she has found have helped her in her business roller coaster ride. Isn't she a clever-clogs to have started her business when she was just about 5 years of age?!?! She must have, cos I'm sure she isn't any older than 25!! Tee! Hee! Hee!

I am not usually one to read "How To ..." books ... I tend to muddle along on my own, but since Kerryanne has been a wonderful source or information, encouragement and inspiration to me with MY little WAH business (I have to leave the M off the end ... unless you count that I'm 'Mum' to two badly behaved doggies and a hug of 'bearbies'! Tee! Hee! Hee!) since we first started 'chatting' about five years ago, I was keen to read her e-book. And I have to say, reading "The Creative Mumpeneur" was just like chatting to Kerryanne ... relaxed, fun, informative and VERY easy to understand ... even when she discusses subjects that are completely foreign to me ... like ORGANISATION! Tee! Hee! Hee! Add some of Kerryanne's GORGEOUS original artwork, some very practical hints, checklists and web links and throw in a FABULOUS craft project as well and you've got a winner!! :0) I can HIGHLY recommend this e-book to anyone who is thinking (dreaming!!) of starting their own work-at-home business and I think it would also be a great reference for gals like me who are already running a little business ... but could use a few tips on how to get better organised and grow their business.

Big CONGRATULATIONS!! to you Kerryanne on 'giving birth' to your 'baby' at last ... you've now put us both out of our suspense! Tee! Hee! Hee! And a HUGE ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

... to you ... one for Kerryanne and one for Woodberry Designs. I DID offer to sing Happy Birthday to Kerryanne twice ... one for each of her birthdays ... but she didn't take me up on that offer! Tee! Hee! Hee!

"The Creative Mumpreneur: How to take your craft addiction from the kitchen table to creative business" is now available from Kerryanne's website for just $29 ... a bargain for this type of "How To" book that I just KNOW you'll get your money's worth from cos you'll be referring back to it time and time again!! PLUS Kerryanne is giving people a chance to win their very own copy in a birthday giveaway on her blog, so hop across and visit her. And wish her a Happy Birthday while you're there! :0)

And since I can't actually be on hand in-person to help Kerryanne to celebrate, I think I shall go and celebrate by myself with a cup of Daintree lavender and camomile tea (my new hot tea drink of choice!!) and start reading my new e-book from the very beginning again ... I might have missed something! :0) Hope you're all having a great week and managing to fit in some stitching ... I'll show  you what I've been working on next time ... promise! :0) Til next time ...

CREATIVE BEAR HUGS!!

CHEERS!
KRIS

Depression!!

OK ... so maybe I'M not depressed ... but the GLASS is and I was pretty bummed! :0(  Are you confused? Me too most days! :0) Some of you who pop in to visit regularly will no doubt have seen my growing collection of green Depression Glass as I share exciting (to mw anyway!!) new additions. Well ... earlier in the year, you might have seen this photo ...

... some new green Depression Glass treasures for me and some pink for my Bestest-Buddy-Since-We-Were-Nine Lynette. So here is today's photo ...

Can you guess what's wrong with this picture? Besides the fact that those two mini teddy bears look like they're cozying up in a spa! :0) Let me give you a hint ...

Yes, one of the little sherbet/sorbet glasses is broken. SIGH!! No one's fault, just one of those annoying hiccups in the day. I put my water bottle on the hutch to get something out of the fridge, went to pick it back up, my fingers slipped on the plastic surface, it overbalanced and toppled, there was a crash, a tinkle, a little bear flying through the air (the little girl bear had been residing in the now-broken glass!) and it was all over before I could take a breath to swear! Though I confess to managing that AFTERWARDS!!!!!  So ... while not  'depressed' I sure was bummed to lose one of my treasures, especially cos I've been told these little glasses are a bit unusual. SIGH! The only up side here is that I shall now HAVE to spend more time cruising antique stores to try to find a replacement! :0) Funny how my Beloved Geek Boy looked slightly depressed when I pointed that out! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Hopefully ... your week is going a little more smoothly, with less crashes, tinkles and flying bears than mine!! In the meantime, I think I'll go drown my sorrows in a cup of tea. Enjoy the end of your week! Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS

Productive Weekend!!

G'day all! Just thought I'd pop in quickly to let you know that I'm still alive and kicking. :0) In fact, I've been VERY active this weekend!! As well as two visits to the gym (No, I don't enjoy it, but yes, I do feel better for it ... once my feet stop aching!!! Tee! Hee! Hee!) I've been whizzing around in my sewing room and feel pretty chuffed that I actually have some finishes to add to my OPAM list so early in the month. I'm setting a good example for October! :0)

Now ... I don't know about you, but sometimes, when I've spent a LOT of time working on long-term projects, I like to treat myself to some smaller quick-to-finish projects, so that's what I decided to do this weekend. It also occurred to me (after several people very unkindly pointed it out to me!!!) that we're down to measuring the time til Christmas in WEEKS now ... EEK!!!! So these little projects will be going into my giftie basket ready to be popped in with bigger gifties, or sent off as 'just because' gifties or used for those 'didn't-see-that-one-coming' giftie exchanges! You know what I mean ... someone gives you a giftie when you weren't planning on giving them one. PHEW! Christmas can be fraught with stresses, can't it?! :0)

OK ... I can hear Chookyblue telling me to stop going on ... and on ... and on!! :0) ... and to just get on with showing you what I made ...

... Two mobile phone pouches up the back there and four tea bag wallets at the front. Six finishes to add to my OPAM list ... YAY! :0) Well ... once I finish sewing all those buttons on, anyways. :0) I know it's completely illogical (why is that not a surprise when we're talking about me! ) but I just HATE sewing on buttons. I know, I know ... I do so much hand sewing and since sewing on buttons is technically hand sewing it doesn't make sense that I hate it ... but there you go! I shall be a good girl, though, and stitch on those nasty buttons while I watch a bit of TV tonight with my Beloved Geek Boy. But right now ... I think I've earned a cup of tea, so I'm off to pop the kettle on. Hope your weekend has been productive ... or at least relaxing!! ... and that the coming week is full of stitching for you! :0) Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS

(There you go Chooky ... not TOO long today! Tee! Hee! Hee!)

What's In A Name?!?

That's the question that Dawn over at As Sweet As Cinnamon is asking. What is your blog name and why did you choose it ... to be exact! :0)

So ... Why did I call my blog Tag Along Teddies ... well ... that's my pattern design business name ... pretty obvious, hey?! :0) Why did I choose it in the first place? Well ... that involves a bit of a story ... you knew it would, right?! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Once upon a time ... (all the best stories start that way!!) there was a girl who seemed to attract ... BEARS!!

Old Bears ...

... Girly Bears ...

... Boy Buccaneer Bears ...

... Scruffy Raggedy Bears ...

... Old Fashioned Bears ...

... Bikey Bears In Ports ...

 

... Rosey Bears ...

You get the picture! :0) So ... when the girl decided she would start a craft design business and was deciding what to call it ... well ... what better name to choose than ...

TAG ALONG TEDDIES

... cos the bears just want to TAG ALONG home with you! :0)

So there you go ... a round-about, pretty-picture way of telling you how I chose my business and blog name. Now it's YOUR turn! What's your blog name and why did you choose it?? Let me know and pop across to tell Sweet Cinnamonny Dawn too ... you might even find yourself in the draw for a pretty prize for playing along! :0)

I'm off to make myself a cup of lavender tea so I can sit back in comfort to visit some of the other blogs who are playing along ... and maybe I'll give a few bears a hug on the way past! :0) Hope your week is off to a great start ... Til next time ...

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!

KRIS