Etsy Favourites

Mooshy belly bunny  - Holly at chezbeeperbebe, lots of cute ideas and patterns.

White rabbit embroidery pattern set - Mollie at Wild olive, she taught me how to embroider.

Cute crochet baby booties - Tara at Easymakesmehappy, lovely patterns great to learn to crochet with.

Burlap basket pattern - Maya at Mayamade, great for repurposing inspiration. Has a new book out!

Mallory cowl knitting pattern - Shannon at luvinthemommyhood, bet you know her already, fab blog!

I like to check in on lots of different blogs.  I first started searching through blogs a couple of years ago for tutorials and inspiration to help me get started at making things.  Then you kind of get hooked and start to feel like you get to know the people behind them a little more, and then it's not just about crafting but about other peoples lives.  There are a lot of really nice people out there that give so much on their blog. Ideas, tutorials, advice, and inspiration.  Many have shops or use their blog as a way to make a living.  Either way, what I have got from them, personally, in terms of learning new skills, and them giving me confidence in my creativity,  I couldn't put a price on it.  So I often like to purchase a little something that they make or provide.  whether it a pattern or an item.  I suppose it is just a way that I can show my gratitude for all the lovely things that they have given to me over the years for free.  So there is my Etsy Favourites from the shops of some of my favourite bloggers!

And, no I have not been endorsed by any one of them to promote their site or shop.  In fact I am pretty sure that none of them know who the heck I am! being just a small fry -  shame I would love to be friends with them all! :(

I also have many more favourite blogs that don't have Etsy shops and I am planning on posting about why I love them so much.  I would love to do one of those interview things with some of them...how do you get to do that?  Anyone know?  Let me know? 

Celebrate Color entry - nearly there!

Ok, lets just say that I am really excited!  I have been following lots of craft blogs for just over a year now and been totally inspired by them.  Not just by the tutorials and ideas, but by the women behind them.  I was on maternity leave when I first started (what is the correct word for following others blogs almost daily? stalking sounds too strong!) Anyway, my husband bought me an iPad and it was so easy to sit with baby and read about what others were doing.  I then got a sewing machine and it went from there.  Sewing, knitting, crocheting.  I got hooked and still am.  I have always thought of myself as being scientifically minded  (as a Science teacher, this is a plus point) so it was easy to learn new techniques.  What I didn't expect was that I would start to become more creative, more at ease with my own ideas, more confident to give new things a try and go with the flow.

                                                                      Source: tomiannie.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

So why am I really excited? Well, 2 of my most favourite blogs and inspirational women, Mollie from Wild Olive and Shannon from luvinthemommyhood are promoting Celebrate color with Rachel from Stitched in Color.   Rachel's blog is full of wonderful projects, photos and ideas.  Another blog to add to the favourites list!  Celebrate colour is not only a chance to enter a project and win some gorgeous prizes, but the chance for a community to get together and share their inspiration for Autumn/Fall projects.

So tomorrow, hopefully, I will be entering my first link up ever!  It sounds strange, but I'm actually nervous about linking up to what I would say are well known blogs.  However, it seems like fate. I started this blog at the end of August with the intention of putting myself 'out there' into the community (if you'll have me!) and this event came along.  One thing that I have learnt from my experiences this year is that I am not alone in juggling with kids, and jobs, and life.  I also know that it's ok if I make mistakes, along as I don't drop one!