Team GB Trunki Winner

Hello, I hope you all had a fab weekend in the sun.  We had lots of fun, which included water fights and ice lollies a plenty!  A couple of weeks ago I started a giveaway for you to win a Team GB Trunki and today I am thrilled to reveal the winner. 

Drum roll please......................

The winner is Cheryll (@pipersky1)

Congratulations!

I will now contact Cheryll to confirm her address so that her Team GB Trunki can be sent. 

Thank you to everyone who entered.  The suggestions for events in a Trunki olympics have caused much amusement and I am sending them all to the fantastic team at Trunki. 

Have a great start to the week,

Zoe

x

PS Don't foget to enter the Carddies giveaway (ends at 11.59 tonight) and the Kit Heath giveaway.

Carddies - Review & Giveaway

Morning!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend in the sunshine and those celebrating Mother's Day yesterday had a fabulous day.  When it comes to toys I am a huge fan of nostalgia, so wooden toys, board games and colouring books are found all over our house.  Back in January I discovered a fantastic new toy that I shared with you all after my trip to Top Drawer.  I know it seems like ages ago, but can you remember what it was? That's right it was Carddies.  These fun sets of card people that children can colour and play with wherever they are make the perfect present or treat.  So of course I was delighted to learn that Carddies have added two new sets, London and Sport, to celebrate the Jubilee and the Olympics this Summer. 

Lucy, Amber & Kitty were delighted to see the new sets and have been very lucky to receive some to review.  Kitty has very eagerly finished colouring her set whilst Amber and Lucy still have their backgrounds to finish, but here are their coloured Carddies sets so far -

Lucy's set

I love how Lucy has added a Union Jack design to the little boys shorts!

Ambers set.

Kitty's set.

The girls have had great fun coluring the new sets and naming each of the characters.  They have also mixed them up with their other sets for some great games. 

Have you tried Carddies yet?  Well you could be given the chance very soon as the very lovely people at Carddies have provided one of each of the new sets (London & Sports) for me to giveaway to one lucky reader. 

In order for your entry to count you must leave a comment below. Please leave a seperate comment for EACH action you take.

• Visit Carddies website and tell me which of their sets would be your childs favourite.
• Tweet "I've entered the @Carddies giveaway on @ZoeandDrew blog".

This giveaway will be open until 11.59pm on Monday 28th May 2012. A winner will be chosen using a random number generator and will be announced on this blog on  Wednesday 30 May 2012. This giveaway is open to UK nad EU residents only.

Good luck everyone and have a great Monday.

Zoe

x

Review & Giveaway - Sewing Class with Two Peas In A Pod

Morning! I hope this post finds you warm and well.  It's turned very chilly here, time to find my slippers to keep my toes warm whilst sat at my desk!  I am delighted today to review a new online sewing class with you, courtesy of Trish at Two Peas In A Pod.  Trish contacted me recently to ask if I would like to review her new tie front tote sewing class and of course I said yes.

I love the concept of an online sewing class but was concerned how it would work regarding the pattern.  However my concerns were soon eased by clear instructions from Trish on measurements for each piece required.  She even shares her own personal tips which makes it more personal and like you are attending an actual sewing class.  The sewing class for the tie front tote is split into three seperate lessons, which is perfect if you are short on time and like to work on a project in stages. 

Two Peas In Pod Patterns are available in their Etsy shop very soon.

The instructions are clear and concise and each class is accompanied with a video, again making it feel like a proper sewing class and not just you trying to work through creating a bag from a pattern.  Trish explains at the start of the class that yes there is actually rain in the first video and her cat even makes an appearance!  I love the fact that you can stop and start making your bag, watch the video over and over to check you are doigng it right. How many times have you longed for somebody to actually show you how to do something when following a pattern? I know I have often wished for some actual help on several occassions!  I really do think this might be the way forward in craft and sewing lessons and think the course is worth every penny. 

Available very soon in Two Peas in a Pod Etsy Shop

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Trish has very kindly offered two class registrations to give you the chance to enjoy her sewing class aswell.    Each winner will be provided with their own personal password to view the class.  Trish allows everyone using her tutorials from her sewing class to use the pattern to make bags to sell.  However the class content is copyrighted and you are not allowed to share your password with 50 of your closest friends!

To win this sewing class registration there are a number of things you can do to enter.

In order for your entry to count you must leave a comment below. Please leave a seperate comment for EACH action you take. 

• Visit Two Peas In A Pod and leave a comment below and tell me which of the Sprouts patterns you like most.
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.
• Tweet "I've entered the @trishpreston giveaway on @ZoeandDrew blog"

This giveaway is open to everyone, wherever you are in the world as it is an online class and will be open until midnight on Tuesday 29 November 2011.  The winners will be announced on Wednesday 29 November on this blog.

Good luck everyone!

Zoe
x

Book Review - Sew by Cath Kidston

Having designed many fabulous collections of fabric it seemed like a natural progression for Cath Kidston to write a book all about sewing.  For several years we have used her fabrics to make cushions, pegbags and much more besides, but it is the recent trend to learn to sew that possibly led Cath Kidston to provide her fans with projects they can recreate themselves.

Sew by Cath Kidston is jam packed with projects for even a novice sewer, however I recommend that you trace the patterns from the sheet for each project.  Following on from the introduction where Cath Kidston explains that she wanted to create a book of projects for even a novice sewer that didn't resemble a sewing manual, the 'Sew Basics' section helps you plan for the projects and understand the different sewing terms.  This section is clear and concise helping you to choose a sewing machine, create a pattern, explaining the difference between a circular seam and a T-junction seam, to name a few. The Sew Basics section also teaches the finer points of applique and quilting.  Armed with these informative basics the book moves onto the projects.

When writing 'Sew', Cath Kidston explains that she set herself a challenge to design projects that were both practical and pretty and she certainly has accomplished this.  There are several cushion designs to make aswell as five bag patterns.  Other projects include aprons, oven gloves and a quilted hot water bottle cover.  there are also projects for the little ones in our lives, with a pattern for a cot quilt and a bird mobile.

Whether you are a die hard Cath Kidston fan or just looking for some well written sewing projects for your home, you will not be disappointed with 'Sew'.  With Mothers Day only a few weeks away I am sure you could gain some extra brownie points by making one of the projects in Sew for a gift, or even buy Sew as a gift this Mothers Day!

***GIVEAWAY***

I am thrilled to have a copy (the little book version) of Sew by Cath Kidston to giveaway to one of my lovely readers.  To enter please just leave me a comment on this post to let me know which is your favourite Cath Kidston design.  I will randomly select a winner on Monday 21st Febraury at 12 noon.  Good Luck xx

Advertising Giveaway Winners!

I am thrilled to announce the giveaway winners for this months advertising spots.

#40  Birgitta Designs

#64 NOfkants Curios

#179 Spotty n Stripy

All three have Folksy shops and have all been contacted, so hopefully I will be adding their advertising badges to the sidebar very soon.

I also want to appologise to all my lovely readers as I know I have neglected my blog due to my house move.  I had hoped to be posting five times a week again by now but I have moved into a house that is going to need  lots of tlc over the coming months, but I am going to try really hard this week to post every day.  Thank you for bearing with me and I would love you all to be involved in Buttons and Bows, so if you would like to be part of 'A Day in the Life' please email me.

Advertising Giveaway

It is almost the end of the month so time to have my advertising giveaway. Remember all you have to do is follow this blog to be in with a chance to win.

The Prize

One months free advertising in the right hand column

An editorial all about your business, including links to shops, websites, blogs and twitter & facebook too.

N.B. Just a reminder that the winners of last months giveaway will have their advert space for an extra two weeks as an appology for the two weeks I was away. Thanks.

Advertising Giveaway

Grey Wolf Graphics

Wow it's the end of August, the end of the school summer holidays. Already the nights are getting darker earlier and it has been chilly here for the last few days, with thoughts of Autumn and walks through crisp crunchy leaves, wrapped up warm in scarf and coat.

It is also time to announce my monthly advertising giveaway.  This giveaway is open to all my blog followers and the three lucky winners will receive one months free advertising in the right sidebar of my Buttons & Bows blog.  I will also write an editorial about the winner, to be posted on a Monday throught their months advertising spot.

I will pick three winners on Saturday 4 September and their advert will run from Monday 6 September.  All winners are picked using a random number generator and will be advised on Saturday.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

{Don't forget you can still purchase advertising for the reduced price of £10 for 3 months}

{Click here for details}

Advertising Winners

I have tapped the numbers into the random number generator and here are this months advrtising giveaway winners -
                   
                                     #18  Wellydog Designs

                                     #113 Booties by Dannie

                                     #146 SP Jewellery

Congratulations!!

Advertising Giveaway

I cannot believe that we are nearing the end of July already but this also means we are almost at the first Monday of August, so time for a giveaway!  As promised I will be offering 3 advertising spots for my followers, for one month starting from the first Monday in August.  Included in this giveaway is an editorial, which are published on a Monday, with links to your shops, website and blog. 

So good luck everyone and fingers crossed! The winners will be announced on Saturday.

This months winners editorials -

{Gooseberrymoon}  {Peculiar Forest}

How to make an Ad Badge

Giveaway - Promoting Small Creative Businesses

Follow my blog with bloglovin

A couple of weeks ago I held a giveaway to celebrate having 100 followers on this blog and 300 followers on Twitter.  I realised today I had not updated my lovely blog followers of the winner, my sincere appologies.  The winner was randomly selected and was Nina, one of my Twitter followers.  Nina is a self taught crafter who has created some gorgeous items, as I discovered from looking at her Flickr page.

As you can see Nina is a very talented lady.

I now have another GIVEAWAY to share!  This time there will be no ribbons or buttons involved, but something that will hopefully help the three lucky winners.  I have been planning some posts about Promotion and how to help small creative businesses get the most out of the options available and to give details of possible marketing options.  So my new GIVEAWAY is offering three of my followers one months free advertising on this blog.  This will always start on the first Monday of the month and initially will be for my blog followers only.  My blog now receives over 500 visitors a month and over 1100 page hits a month, from the UK, USA and Australia, so you will be receiving good exposure.  Ideally the winners will have a badge to use in the right hand sidebar on the main page of this blog and I will then link it to their shop, website or blog.

I will announce the winners on Sunday! GOOD LUCK!



P.S. Other advertising options will be available, details to be announced in July!

Buttons & Bows Giveaway

Last week was exciting, well for me, as I reached 100 followers on this blog and 300 followers on Twitter . So to say thank you to all my lovely followers I thought I would have a giveaway!

You can win one yard of each of the ribbons in the mixes and 10 of each of the buttons, simply by following me here or on Twitter. I will randomly pick a winner on Monday 21 June.

These are all available in my Folksy shop!

GOOD LUCK!

Sew Sunny Homestyle and Giveaway Winner

Drum Roll please......the winner is ......Mollimoo. You can find out more about the winner on her blog or visit her Folksy shop for some gorgeous fabric buttons, which were featured in May's isue of Sew Hip magazine.

Another exciting delivery today, my copy of Sew Pretty Homestyle by Tone Finnanger arrived with the mornings post.  So I am now off to dream of living in the house in the pictures making lots of gorgeous things!

Have a great day everyone.

Ice Cream Sundaes and a Giveaway

As Summer approaches I find I like to play with colour adding accessories to my wardrobe.  After months of choosing warm colours for the colder months I can now look at brightening up a white t-shirt and denim shorts with funky Birkenstocks and jewellery in bold colours.  I have a gorgeous turquoise beaded necklace that I love to wear in the warmer months, even though I was caught out once and had a lovely beaded tan mark! 

Whilst we wait for the weather to get a bit warmer here in the UK and with thoughts of ice cream sundaes and colourful bunting it's time to think of adding some more colour to my necklace stand.

JCU Designs

The Dancing Pearl

The Little Black Cat

Beads & More by Lois

Kianda

Sweet Cherry Pie

***GIVEAWAY***

I will be giving away this gorgeous beaded cocktail ring from my Folksy shop Zoe & Drew

I will randomly select a winner from my blog & Twitter followers on Sunday (9/5).

GOOD LUCK!