Wednesday 8 February 2012

Day 365

This is my 351st post in 365 days. Part of me thinks I should apologise for never shutting up, but the other part of me thinks 'Nah! They're all used to it now!'

I am celebrating the final day of the first year of blogging for me with a giveaway. I just might be celebrating my blogiversary tomorrow so best come back and check that out too!

Today's giveaway is sponsored by one of the best bloggy friends I have made in the past year. The one and only Kat from Diary of a FlutterKat. It matters not that she lives on the other side of the world. Nor that she is slightly a lot centuries younger than me. We hit it off right away and I can't wait to meet her face to face (she's a short arse too) in June in London.

Someone in the Mouthy Stitches Swap asked me recently where I learnt to do such tidy zipper ends, like on these pouches.



I managed to learn to make pouches confidently entirely through a tutorial Kat wrote. Kat is a business woman as well and recently restructured her shop and is concentrating on what she loves best and does best as well. Patterns are part of that restructuring. She now sells the pattern to make a pouch like this -

Big Cartel header


And do you remember this pouch?

Beautiful scrappy front...
... with a magnetic clasp and one of Kat's fab labels...
... and more great scraps with that lovely butterfly.
Well, I will rudely say that this pouch is mine, all mine. And I am not giving it away. I won it from Kat last year and I am keeping it. But you could make one like it. Because I have two pdf patterns of Kat's to give away. One will give you fool proof instructions (I know because I - the ultimate zipper phobic person - tested it and got my pouch confidence from it.) to make a zipper pouch, with zip ends and all. The second pattern will be how to make a gorgeous scrappy pouch just like mine above. Look, she even uses mine for her sales photo (think I should get her for copyright?) -

Scrappy pouch pattern button

Anyway, if you are interested in winning these two patterns from Kat then please do let me know. All I ask is you go and have a look at Kat's shop here and come back and tell me what she sells there that you like the best - she is in the early stages of the restructure but there is a variety of things to choose from including fabric. If you've never read Kat's blog then you should stop by and have a look because she writes brilliantly and personally, letting you have a fabulous glimpse into her life (warts and all - she's a bit like me, no glossing things over).

That's it. One visit to Kat's shop and one comment for one chance to win. Non-reply bloggers must leave an email address or I will have to redraw. Mr Random Number Generator (or something equally as random like one of my children) will do the draw on Tuesday, February 14th about 6pm UK time. Thanks for taking the time!

Susan

49 comments:

  1. Does #1 ever win? Hmmm...we will see...I love everything our Kat makes but I do love those pillows she just added. I would love the dresses more if Miss Callee could wear them but she is still too small. Ok ...now please pick #1!!!!

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  2. oh fab giveaway as I was planning on buying the pattern this week!! I love the little skirts and dresses in Kats shop, if only I had a girl!!!
    Thanks for the chance to win and congrats on the 361 posts.

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  3. If I had a little girl, I would love the girly dress but as I don`t the Frog Prince patchwork pouch is adorable. Congrats on almost blogging every day - that`s amazing!

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  4. I love those little girl dresses. Unfortunately I only have nephews to buy for. Wish I had a little niece! The purse pattern looks great and if I don't win, I may buy it anyway.

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  5. oohhh love those patterns!!
    I also like the DS fabric and her cushion covers are really cute :)

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  6. I love everything, and that she put Spotlight fabric up for sale - the patterns look awesome xxx

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  7. Kat is so awesome! As are you for achieving 351 posts in 365 days! More rabbit than sainsbury's, as my mom would say. I've got half a year on you and less than half the amount of posts....!

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  9. I didn't realise you were so mouthy - your obviously have interesting stuff to say....or I would have deleted you! I love Kat's blog too.
    As I have serious scrap envy I would have to pick the Designer Rainbow Charm Pack - yummy.

    Sorry tried to edit the previous post as it had too many spellin mistaks init - I don't want you all to think I'm a numpty!

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  10. Never done a zip, never done a pouch, come out in hives at the thought of zips, maybe if I won this I would be able to do one! I like the patchwork Pouch (Frog Prince).

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  11. Thanks for all your ever so kind words Miss Suzie Q!!
    Obviously if I'm the winner (pfft like that's likely with my luck) then you will have to pick another winner, but just wanted to stop by and say hi & well done for your first year. And wow, so mouthy!!
    (but we knew that already right heheh).

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  12. oh and PS - wow you must REALLY be old if you are centuries older than me haha... decades maybe. Centuries - would you know how to work a computer? haha

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  13. I just love the red and black cushions that just appeared there.

    Happy 365 from the oversized twin in the north

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  14. I love her patterns the best, but she has many other lovely things and I do follow her blog and maybe I can meet her too. Nice give away and congratulations on all those posts!!

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  15. You can definitely call yourself a Mouthy Stitcher! I love to catch up with people every day and always enjoy popping into your place :) Congrats on completing your first year of blogging! I'd better save some gushing praise for your actual blogiversary post seeing as you're spinning it out ;)

    Thanks for the lovely giveaway! I've recently become a follower of Kat's blog and she has some great things in her shop that aren't even fabric, lol. The Abigail dress is adorable! Love the red and black cushions too.

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  16. Yay! Congratulations Susan! I already love Kat and her blog and her shop too. My favourite things are the girly dresses and skirts - so very pretty!
    I can't believe you blog nearly every day. I think I'm doing really well if I manage 2 posts in a week! x

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  17. just love kats pouches .congrats susan for having so much to say !!!

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  18. It is hard to pick what i like best-- all the little girl dresses are darling, and the black & red pillows are really fun. I am currently trying different ways to do the zip pouches; i know the pattern would be really helpful since yours look so great. Also visited her blog and found the tutorial for the tutu onesie which i will use for my expected first grand daughter.

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  19. Woohoo! A whole year of ranting - good going! So glad you did! I love Kat's stuff too, but don't enter me for the giveaway - I'd prefer someone else to have a go at this, as I could probably work it out (eventually!). Looking forward to the big birthday tomorrow! Jxo

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  20. No contest - the black & red cushions, altho maybe in the fullness of time I might have a use for wee girl dresses??

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  21. I like the ruffle shorts but I don't have an appropriately sized daughter!! For myself I would choose Kat's pouch pattern!
    I've been reading Kat's blog for a while now and I love it!

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  22. The girlie dresses ar elovely, but not something I would need to buy! So I would go for the scrappy pouch.

    351/365 - wow, that some talking! But don't stop.

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  23. I like a spot of black in a quilt., so I will say the quilters text on black.

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  24. Thanks for hosting this giveaway, what I like in Kat's shop is hard to decide upon but since I have to I will say that i like her selection of fabrics! And thanks for introducing her!

    Fi

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  25. Love you so much I'm missing the other 14...
    Love Kats stuff, aside from wanting her DS stock, I do love those new red & black cushions. And the wee Heather Bailey dress... but I'm not quite at the "putting dresses on the cat" stage yet.

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  26. Happy Bloggy Birthday Susan. You have been unbelievably productive, don't know where you find the time for all your writing, photos, sewing / quilting projects, and domestic life to boot. What a STAR.

    Big Bro Up North (Och Aye the Noo)

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  27. Yeah - a whole year of blogging, here's to many more wonderful posts from you! I love Kat's patterns...and skirts and tops, my niece would look gorgeous in one. She loves to twirl round and make her skirt spin out - too cute!

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  28. 351 post?That`s great.

    I love the scrappy pouch.Thanks

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  29. love those zip ends - I remember your fear of zips!!
    happy blog anniversary

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  30. I've got to say that my favorite is the scrappy quilt pouch pattern. I've been eyeing that one for weeks!

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  31. Those girlie skirts...... would be adorable for the girlie's in my house. Thanks for the chance to win, and congrats on a year x

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  32. My seeing machine mechanic tells me Rasant thread is the best all purpose thread you can buy so I have bought this from Kat before! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  33. love that you do this nearly every day! I look forward to my evening read :) Kat is such a a trooper, such pretty little girl dresses (sigh - takes me back! lol) just love, love, love the DS dots :) Congrats, and I'll be back tomorrow to help you celebrate in style :) x

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  34. I would really love a rainbow charm pack. I missed all the swaps...

    Happy Blogiversary!

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  35. Congratulations on a year of blogging. I always enjoy reading your posts. Kat's shop is well designed and displays her stock clearly. I have a real yearning for that scrappy purse pattern. Di xo

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  36. It probably sounds crazy as I've two sons and no daughters... but I love, love, love the tutus that Kat makes.

    Bravo on your first year of blogging, Susan. You're brilliant. Hard to imagine blogland without you. Happy blogiversary!

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  37. Happy 365th Day! Thanks for the giveaway, i love the i spy charm squares, and the pouch patterns of course! :o)

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  38. It's a very sweet shop! I think I like the bags and pouches. Scrappy objects always call my name.
    Anna
    lassothemoonshop (at) gmail.com

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  39. Blimey lady, that is good going on the posting front! Lovely things in Kat's shop of course but I'm particularly taken with the little girls dresses and the shorts and top set, I know someone who'd look uber cute in that :) x

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  40. Congrats on all those blogs!
    My little girl is 17 so I'll give all those gorgeous girly patterns a miss...however if I could get a zipper to look THAT good I'd be amazed.
    LOVE the pouchie patterns of Kat's.

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  41. Wow - 361 posts, 365 days of blogging. That's amazing!

    Kat's store is so cute. I love the little girl dresses and skirts (and the tutus...oh my goodness). Alas, I have noone in my house small enough to wear those clothes. I can still admire them, though.

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  42. blogger ate my comment ... that is noooot fair ... anyway I was saying that you don't need to worry as long as you don't do three posts a dayeverything is fine. And that I was following Kat and thanks to you I had to re-check her store and those lovely dresses and I really need little one to put into those dresses. Todays favourite is the Abigail dress made from the dotty rose garden fabric - it wasn't in her store last time I was there.
    So now I need to copy that post in case blogger hasn't had enough breakfast yet.
    Sadly I'm not in England anymore when the retreat in June starts elese I would have loved to come.

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  43. Ooooh bloggy people are so lovely and generous. I think I likey the froggy prince fabric best and I certainly wouldn't say no to the patterns!

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  44. oooh, I want to learn to do tidy zip ends like that! So to that end, i'd have to say the zipper pouch pattern is my favourite thing in her shop! (Though I wouldn't say no to that I-spy charm pack if stabbed with a scabby stick either)

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  45. Thanks for the giveaway, I like her patterns best!

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  46. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh zips (running out of this post !)

    Happy Almost blogiversary.

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  47. well, I really like those pouches... but I LOVE those tutu's! Especially now that I have a little girl, they would be so much fun! :) Thank you!

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  48. Happy 351 post! :)
    I love the scrappy pouch pattern from the shop.

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  49. I love the frog prince pouch in Kat's shop.

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