Hello From The Hug!

(October 2007)

G’day all! Finally the October newsletter can go out! Sorry to all who’ve been checking their email boxes and wondering why their ‘Hello From The Hug’ was late. The Tag Along Teddies technical centre crashed last weekend and it’s taken some time for Geek Boy (my wonderful, technological super hero husband!) to come to the rescue. I think my computer has had the electronic equivalent of a heart/lung transplant and is once more operational, but there are still a few software issues to deal with and programs that need to be re-loaded. It’s been a very slow process and somewhat frustrating. You know how it is when you just want to do something quick and simple on the computer and something happens to complicate matters so that it actually takes hours?!? Someone once told me that computers are a quick way to do things – as long as you’re not in a hurry! And that’s about it!!

So… apart from technical hiccups, what has been happening at the home of Tag Along Teddies? I’ve actually been slaving over a hot machine to make up some samples for display at Warwick Patchwork and Quilting. This wonderful patchwork shop is owned by a friend of my Mum’s (and a friend of mine, of course!) Sue Playsted, and she will now be stocking some of the Tag Along Teddies range of patterns! I made the 1 hour drive to deliver her furry babies this week and took my mate Mary of Fresh Hope Patterns with me. What began as a quick delivery trip turned into a full day, girly excursion! Tee! Hee! Hee! After delivering the furry bearbies to Sue, and depleting her fabric stock just a little, (“Oooooh! I looooove that colour!!”) Mary and I had lunch at a little café, had a peek inside the town’s historic convent that now houses a B&B, took a drive to admire some of Warwick’s gorgeous old houses, had a cuppa, visited Glenrose Patchwork (Oops! More damage to the budget! Why do they make such beautiful fabrics!!), another cuppa, then home. We returned a little weary, but relaxed. Isn’t it great when you can take a day to just make up your schedule as you go along and do some of those ‘girly’ things you keep saying ‘I must do that some day’ and rarely get around to? I think one of the secrets to lower stress levels in today’s society would be if everyone took a little more time out to do those things they promise themselves they’ll do ‘one day’. Oh, and the other secret to less stress, of course, is to hug your teddy bear! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Another way to lower the stress levels is to curl up with a book and the new pattern on the Tag Along Teddies site this month is a drawstring book bag featuring a stitchery of the ‘beary’ cute Book Worm Bear, with a ‘hunny’ hive on the back. This project featured in the July issue of “Homespun” magazine and is now available to Tag Along Teddies customers as a stand-alone pattern. The bag is a handy size to pop in a book, a water bottle and your sunnies to head for a park or the beach to relax in the sun. (Though you must remember to Slip, Slop Slap!) As a gift idea, you could pop in an issue of a friend’s favourite magazine, a book by their favourite author and a chocolate treat, or maybe even the makings for a new stitchery project that can be easily carried in the cute and practical drawstring bag. Be sure to have a look at the ‘what’s new’ page.

Also on the idea of gifts for Christmas, or late in the year birthdays, I’ve been working on a new pattern called, “A Month Of Sundays”. This pattern will include four projects that can each be completed in a day, with the thought that lots of crafters work during the week, take Saturday to do the household chores, sport or kids activities, so only have Sunday left as their craft day. With four such projects, you have enough projects in one pattern to keep you busy for, well … A Month Of Sundays! I’m part way through stitching the prototypes and hope to have them ready to hit the web site next month, so stay tuned!

Another great place to look for gift idea projects is the newly launched Fresh Hope Patterns site. Not only are there some patterns for gorgeous craft projects to buy and make, you also know that by purchasing a Fresh Hope Pattern, you’re helping mothers keep their children with them as they go through a drug/alcohol rehab program – what a great Christmas gift to give someone! Check out the range from the link on the Tag Along Teddies front page, or visit the site direct at: www.freshhopepatterns.com.au

And if that isn’t enough options for Christmas gift ideas, here’s another option – enter this month’s Tag Along Teddies competition! All you have to do is take a photo of your favourite craft project (that you have completed) and email it to me, along with a short explanation of when you made it and why it’s your favourite project. The winner of the competition will receive a Tag Along Teddies pattern of their choice, ready to treat themselves or a friend to a craft treat! The winner will be contacted by email and announced in next month’s ‘Hello From The Hug’, so get thinking, photographing and typing!!

I think that’s brought you up-to-date with the happenings at the Tag Along Teddies hug for the last little while, so I shall sign off for this newsletter. Remember, I’m always keen to hear your feedback about the patterns or site, so feel free to email me with comments or suggestions for future patterns you’d like to see! And of course, don’t forget to get your entries into the “My Favourite Craft Project” competition to win a Tag Along Teddies pattern. Til next “Hello From The Hug”,

CHEERS!
KRIS

TIP

Do you read advertisements in your craft magazines about patchwork/craft outlets that look interesting and aren’t too far from where you live, thinking you’d like to visit them ‘one day’? Write a list of the ones you’d like to visit, find a few that are in the same general area, or that are ‘along the way’ to each other, gather up a couple of crafty friends and organize a ‘Craft Crawl’ – set aside a day (or a weekend!) and visit the shops on the list. By doing this, you can share fuel costs (and accommodation if you make it an over-nighter!) you have friends to help you match colours/choose new patterns and projects and you have a fun outing. You might even like to make it a bigger event by hiring a mini bus to accommodate more crafters and planning a few months ahead to save up lots of play money. It’s a great way to meet new people and indulge your craft cravings!