Hello From The Hug!

(May 2007)

G’day all! Here we are, another month gone by and it seems like last week that I was writing the last “Hello From the Hug”! Well, cooler weather has kept me indoors a little more - I often joke that I’m like the bears I make, in that I hibernate for winter!! I don’t like the cold very much and tend to curl up somewhere with a good movie, some stitching and a hot cup of cinnamon tea! Mmmm! Maybe I should put the kettle on now!! The up side of my cold-induced hibernation is more patterns for you to enjoy!

The “Milky Way Bear” stitchery wall hanging is now available, as is a ‘girly’ wall hanging called “Friendship Bear”. This is another two-in-one design for a wall hanging and a door name hanger, featuring a pretty girl bear in her favourite dress, comparing friends to flowers. When making the prototype, I stitched the name of a friend’s daughter on the door hanger and after the photo shoot, gave it to Amy for her room. She is just 7 years old, but is already a keen stitcher, with her mum Lynda leading by example! Like me, she finds it hard to just sit and watch TV, she usually has some stitching of some kind in hand and Amy is quickly following in her footsteps. I think we have a future designer on our hands!!

The first two country cloth dolls from the promised trio have been completed and patterns will be on the web site soon. The final set will be called “Tea Party Pals”, consisting of “Cupcake Katie”, “Teacup Tilly” and a mystery third friend, yet to be named. I’m taking my own advice and living with her for a while to see what she names herself! I had a lot of fun putting the instructions for Cupcake Katie together, as I wanted to include some photos of cupcakes, so asked a favour of one of my favourite crafters, Kerryanne English of Woodberry Designs. Kerryanne’s wonderful web site is divided into two equally tempting sections, one with country themed folk art and the other with Shabby Chic homewares - including the most GORGEOUS faux cupcakes! She very generously allowed me to use some photos of her works of art and they are included in the instruction sheets for Katie, along with some yummy cupcake recipes!! Check out Kerryanne’s website listed on my link page - but be warned, it’s addictive!!

The other exciting news from the Tagalong hug, came as a bit of a surprise. My mother ‘accidentally’ booked me to have a stand at a Doll and Bear Show in my hometown and only told me about it three weeks before the event! So there’s been frenetic activity around the house in recent weeks, as I type instructions (my least favourite part of the design process!) work out how many patterns need to be printed, folded and popped into plastic sleeves ready for sale. There were also 100 book marks to be laminated and cut out as give-aways all who buy a Tag Along Teddies pattern (including web customers!) Thank goodness for wonderful friends! Lynda (who I mentioned above!) and my other belly dancing buddy Debbie, both made calming cups of cinnamon tea and helped cut bookmarks, fold patterns etc - Aren’t friends great! I’ll let you know next “Hello From The Hug” how the show goes!

Well, that’s about it from me for this newsletter, I really should go and fold some more patterns! Only a couple of weeks until the “Homespun” issue with the debut appearance of a Tag Along Teddies design hits newsagents - Scott says I’m like a kid waiting for Christmas! I haven’t quite been counting sleeps, but not far from it!! Remember if any of you are looking for specific projects or have any questions, feel free to drop an email and I’ll help where I can! Til next “Hello”!

CHEERS!
KRIS

TIP

• Keep a small notebook with you when you’re working on a craft project to make note of any changes you make, in case you want to duplicate them later, to note any supplies you run out of (like a grocery list, use it up, write it down and replace it!), or ideas that you have as a result of allowing your mind to run free whilst stitching!
• Do you have trouble finding the ‘murky’ country colours you love? Why not experiment with some tea dying. Practice on some fabric scraps before trying this on your latest favourite patchwork fabric, but, make up a solution of Parisian essence in hot water and soak pretty fabrics for 10-15 minutes, or until they are ask dark as you want them. This gives your finished craft project an aged or antique look and dulls the brighter colours to country tones.