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Eighteen months and thirteen years


'Eighteen months and thirteen years of what?', you may be asking.  Well, I'll tell you!  It's exactly eighteen months since I started this blog and Archie celebrated his thirteenth (ish) birthday a couple of weeks ago.  ('Ish' because he's a rescue dog so his exact date of birth is a mystery.)  I realise that most people celebrate their bloggy birthdays at yearly intervals but I like being a little different.  Or contrary.

I had planned this for last August but I was too tired to be able to promise to make the prize so I delayed it.  And delayed it.  And delayed it.  I've been counting down the days until my eighteen month bloggy birthday and decided to let Archie in on the fun (he's going to choose the winner!) to mark his birthday!  I'm so glad I started my blog (after a bit of a push from Nicky!) - I was already reading and commenting on lots of blogs (but not as many as I do now!) but there's nothing like a blog to help make you an integral part of this wonderful community.  I had a fabulous welcome to the bloggy world and the friendship, fun and support has continued!  This post is a little thank you to you all but I'm afraid there's only going to be one winner...

Right, that's enough of that, let's get down to business.  I'm sure that you want to know what you could win, don't you?  Well, don't get too excited...

You could win:

An EPP pin cushion (similar in style and size to this, this and this) made from a selection of Japanese import fabrics:

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Shout if there are any fabrics you definitely want including...or excluding!


Or a Liberty thread catcher (like these but not necessarily with the same buttons/ribbons!) made with your choice of three fabrics:

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The one on the left is my favourite print, I'd like a dress in it!


Or your choice of either a Union flag thread catcher or pin cushion, made with this flag:

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Or the culled hexies, to do with what you will:

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Anyone for darts?

Or the leftovers from my 'Leftovers/Turkey Sandwiches' quilt:

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There's just under 9oz of fabric here.


Or the biscornu pin cushion I made last year:

Biscornu




All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which option you'd prefer.  If you'd like a second chance to win then I'm afraid I'm going to ask you to work for it...please give me ideas about what I should do with this (3.5" x 3.5") piece of embellished felt:


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Ideas needed!

I made it last year and I only have a limited supply of the same type of felt, as you can see in this photo:

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Any ideas are welcome, they don't even have to be sensible but it would be nice if I could turn it into something rather than having it sit in a paper bag in my sewing room.  Just one piece of information, though:  I don't wear brooches (on me or my bags) so I'm afraid a fairly obvious solution won't work!  (And yes, I want to keep it for myself so I'm not going to turn it into a brooch and give it to someone who would wear it!)


I'll be back with a catch-up post next week, probably for Fresh Sewing Day!  I've been busy joining hexies, embroidering Summersville and making a bag, but more of that next week!

I've also had a little trip to Ikea and bought one thing.  Well, two things but they go together to make a new bed for Archie!

b--archies-new-bed_8493497996_o
Mine.

I think he likes it!

b--archie-on-his-new-bedand-his-old-one_8493499808_o
I like it - one bed for my head and one for my behind.


It's destined for the conservatory as his bed in there is a little, well, lacking in style, but it's too cold for him to be in the conservatory at the moment (although he has managed a few hours in there in the last week as it's been sunny and mild) so it's going to stay in the front room (or under my sewing table) for the next few weeks until it can be transferred.


Don't forget:

Leave a comment telling me which prize you'd like if Archie picks your number.

For an extra chance leave me a second comment suggesting a use for the felt thing.


If you think you may be a no-reply blogger then please put your email address in your comment - if I can't contact the winner then I'll get Archie to pick again.  I'm also allowing anonymous comments for this post, for the duration of the giveaway, to give people without any sort of blog account to enter - if you're leaving an anonymous comment then you definitely need to leave me your email address!  Spammers, this does not apply to you!

I'll close the giveaway a week today (Thursday 28th February) on Saturday 2nd March at 7pm (GMT) and I'm going to make you wait to find out whether you've won until after I've made the prize.  In fact, if I already have your address I'll probably post it before I announce the winner.   Hmmm...'Announce' sounds grander than I'd intended but I think 'proclaim', 'declare' and 'promulgate' are equally as grand, if not more so, and 'reveal' sounds a little, well, odd.  As though I'm going to pull back a curtain and find you standing in the nuddy.  Or maybe that's just me...

Good luck, I'm off to continue negotiations with Archie about how he's going to choose the winner - he wants a piece of paper for each number and the matching number of biscuits in front of it.  I've tried to explain that 1) that's not fair to the people who comment first, and 2) there's no way he's eating that many biscuits, but he's not having any of it!  I may be some time...


P.S.  I may not be able to reply to all your comments, it depends how many people enter!  Although I usually reply to all my comments, I'm not going to be replying to any of the comments on this post as there are too many and, quite frankly, I'm shattered!  I'm going to save my energy for the number choosing saga and for making the prize - I'm sure you all understand!


Comments are now closed - Archie will be picking a winner tomorrow and I'll start making the prize.  Thanks for entering and good luck!

Comments

  1. Yay to eighteen months. Bigger Yay to Archie being thirteen! Love having you as my friend, Helen. So pleased you started blogging, not just commenting. You are an integral part of our quilting world.

    If I was so lucky as to win I would love to have one of your gorgeous and delightful epp pin cushions with the lovely fussy cuts you put in them. Thanks for the chance.

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  2. Happy Blogiversary (ish) and Birthday (ish) Option 1 please, the fabulous Japanese prints in an EPP Pincushion, LOVE! : )

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  3. Have you thought about doing a reverse appliqué with the felt enbellishment? It would look gorgeous on a pouch or bag made of denim or linen for a lovely contrast. If that is too much of a hassle then it would make a great Christmas ornament as well.

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  4. Typical that Susan just beat me to the first comment, as usual! : ). And your felted lovely could be used on the outside of a little pouch for all of your EPP bits and bobs, or maybe for a needlebook case?? : )

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  5. Congratulations Helen, and Happy Birthday Archie. I for one am glad you started blogging.... Hugs xx

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  6. I think it would look lovely as a needlecase.... and I forgot to say which item I would like if Archie picked me... duh..... I like either of the first two :-) Hugs xx

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  7. Congratulations to blogging and doggy anniversaries. Helen I am so glad that we are bloggy friends and I like reading your blog. If I were to be a winner I would choose the UJ as a pin cushion as I too am a Brit Stingy! Thanks Helen for such a big giveaway. Di x

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  8. I love the culled hexies I could see using them in something.
    I would use the fancy wool embellished block as someone else mention - reverse applique as part of a bag.
    love the blog and congrats on an anniversary.

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  9. Oh, my. Such lovely choices. I'd want to win the Union flag as you are my first quilty friend from the UK. I agree- needle case or pincushion with the felt piece.

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  10. Happy 18 months to you and happy birthday Archie xxx
    I would love one of those EPP pincushions - who wouldn't!!?

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  11. I am not thinking it through properly, but you could used the lovely embroidery on one side of a fabric storage cube for little bits and bobs - I am sure you could work it out!! xxxx

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  12. Congratulations first to gorgeous, lovely Archie! I love 13ish! What a wonderful age :)
    and second congrats to writing a blog for more than 18 month. You chose brilliant things. I would chose the flag (and it is going to be me as the 28th is my sons birthday!)

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  13. I'm rather keen on pincushions - the finished one is lovely but I'm open to anything you might like to make with the fabrics.

    As for the felt, it appears that you have enough to make some type of box or catch-all container with the applique on the bottom and some of those squares cut in half to make the edges of the box. The scraps could embellish the "outsides" of the container. It would be just the right size for me to keep my embroidery scissors, thimble, and spool of thread for hand quilting...the extra needles slipped oh so nicely into the felt.

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  14. Congratulations to you both!!
    I'd love an EPP pincushion!

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  15. It's already been suggested but how about using your felted piece as the cover for a needlebook? or a patch on your worn out jeans rather than a denim patch like me!!

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  16. Happy 18 month blogiversary!! And Happy Birthday to Archie!!
    If I was so lucky as to win, I would love one of your EPP pincushions!!

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  17. I love the felt block, and like the idea of using it on a pouch too or you could mount it in some card and have it on display as it's so pretty.

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  18. Hi Archie, I'm happy for you having a new beautiful bed! Congratulations to your anniversary and Birthday! I can't believe that you are 13! Nero started his blog also in August. I would love to have some of those (as many as possible - vof!) adorable japanese fabrics - so I would choose absolutely pin cushion! Thank you so much for sharing! Hugs from Nero!
    nerospost(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. You have made so beautiful needle book cover with those felts - my first thought was needle book. With the other pieces you could make a matching pin cushion. x Teje
    nerospost(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. Oh sweetie it is so lovely to have you in my bloggy mates, and I love your blog (just not enough to flash you...but then again that'd be a punishment more than a reward I'm sure...) Big cuddles to wee archiballs. Oh and no question, I'd take the culled Hexies!!!

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  21. Your lovely felt deco will look fabulous as an embellishment on the back of one of these hoodies
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Misses-Teens-Unisex-Pants-Hoodie-Pullover-PATTERN-NEW-Size-XS-S-M-Dog-Coat-/150929443328?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2324188a00
    Seriously, one for you and one for archiballs.

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  22. I would go for a Liberty or Union Jack Thread catcher. I've always admired the one's you've made.

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  23. Congratulations to the pair of you!
    I enjoy your blog and the photos of Archie :-)
    Being an exiled Brit I'd like a threadcatcher with the Union Jack if I am lucky!
    Keep up the good blogwork!

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  24. What immediately sprung to mine regarding your felt piece is to pop it in a little frame. Maybe use a greetings card blank as a mount to make it slightly bigger?

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  25. You could use your felt decoration on the flap of a bag ... using the rest of the felt squares and mixing them with corduroy or denim or velvet ... or ....

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  26. I'd really like a liberty thread catcher..... I don't have a thread catcher, and usually use the bottom of my mug where the thread gets all stuck together in the dregs of the tea (is that disgusting?)

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  27. Could you make some kind of lidded pot with the felt flower on the top of the lid?? I'd need to give this idea some more specific thought before it would be a useful suggestion for you! x

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  28. You didn't need much persuading - you were ready to jump in and I'm so glad you did! Happy Versaries to you and Archie!

    You know I'd pick another EPP Pincushion - Alice or Dorothy! I think they would love to be friends with LRRH!

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  29. I was thinking a beautiful box with you felt flower on the lid - the rest of it could be made out of other fabrics though you could add some felt embellishment around the sides! You could keep all sorts of treasure there!

    If not an EPP pincushion then I'd love to save your hexies from the dartboard! Thank you Lovely Helen! Psst Archie if you pick me I'll send a packet of biscuits!

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  30. I'd like the first option please, it would be perfect for my little wagon.

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  31. I would make a pincushion out of the felt thingy.

    Happy blogaversary and birthday!

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  32. Happy bloggiversary to you, and happy birthday Archie, could you be a dear and choose option #2 for me in the blue with yellow flowers please?

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  33. For the felt thingy, does it count saying keep it far away from me as I feel itchy just looking at it? ;o) No? Okay, well how about on the front of a notebook cover?

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  34. Well having just been on flicker and told you how much I liked the UJ, you know what I would choose. I like it even more now that I know how tiny it is!

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  35. I would love those culled hexies! Congrats on 18th months and well done Nicky ;)
    Happy belated birthday to Archie too!

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  36. For the felt make it into a large magnet, that way you can look at it sitting prettily on the fridge!

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  37. Happy blogiversary/Birthday to you both! I would love a Japenese EPP pin cushion please Archie ;-)

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  38. Happy 18months! And I see you are almost at 200 followers too! Woohoo! As I'm already privileged to have a UJ thread catcher, I would love a Japanese fabric pinny! And my suggestion for your beautiful felt flower is to put it into a chunky white photo frame and hang it in your sewing room! Jxo

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  39. ...your humour is gift enough for me...Happy Birthday and Bloggyversary....let me tell you about TEENAGERS, however,....or is Archie Parchie already 105? love his new bed.
    I see the beautiful felt flower as the top widest part of an embroidery scissors holder...you'll need to add a bit of length for the V shape required....and a back of course. I'll email you a picture stolen from Mr Google.
    I'm not going to add a comment on what I want from your divine stash of pressies...however that wee strip of blue with the bunny and the headless giraffe needs a purpose in life!

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  40. oooh! what a choice! Please, a thread catcher, Liberty, central fabric??

    Felt flower, as a feature panel on a bag. You have the other pieces, so a couple more feature panels could happen?

    And an 18 monthiversary is a super thought! Especially if, like me, you forget the precise day for the yearly versaries...

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  41. Celebrations all round, I love your blog Helen, and am so pleased to count you as a friend.
    You have set a difficult choice. After much deliberation I think I would choose your biscornu (wait while I check the spelling)pincushion, it looks so precious.xx

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  42. And your felt thingy - is it big enough to transform into a wee book cover?

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  43. Happy birthday to you both! I'd like everything! However, I think the pincushion you've made is gorgeous, blue is my favourite colour, so I'd love a chance to win that. For a second chance to win, I'm not sure how big your felt project is, but could it be made in to a tiny wall hanging for your sewing room? Failing that, a pincushion wrist band of some sort?
    Thanks for the giveaway,
    Kate
    kate_orchardmerkel@o2.co.uk

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  44. Happy Birthday to Archie and to you!
    It would have to be the japanese pin cushion, how cute is the mini cube!!

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  45. Well I really wouldn't say no to another pin cushion if Archie were kind enough to pick me and I like the look of that pink fabric with the black figures on it - it might be Alice in Wonderland I think.

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  46. Happy blogiversary! My druthers would be for the EPP pin cushion.

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  47. Happy 18 month blogoversary to you and happy 13th birthday to Archie! Who doesn't look a day past 3!
    So many lovely options but I'd love to have one of your EPP pincushions! They are adorable :-) Fingers crossed xx

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  48. I think your wee feltie would make a good needlebook :-)
    Maybe something similar to this http://ninimakes.typepad.com/nini_makes/2008/09/a-little-stitching-present.html

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  49. Happy Blogaversary for 18 months! Thank you for sharing such fab gifts too. I would love the EPP pincushion please as I collect pincushions.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  50. The felt is lovely, it reminds me of the cathedral window design. Personally I would either make it into a pincushion, or put it onto a piece of linen and frame it. Thanks for a great giveaway too.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  51. Happy blogiversary, and happy birthday to Archie! What a lovely post too, you always seem so cheerful :D
    If Archie picks me, I'd love a thread catcher! Thank you!

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  52. And I can really see the felt appliqued onto the front of a fabric basket thing :-))

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  53. Happy birthday to Archie - he is definitely looking more distinguished with every year that passes. I've always liked the older man ;-) Happy blogiversary to you! Very happy you are in our comfy cozy corner of blogland. Thanks for a fab giveaway - I would love an EPP Japanese pinnie thank you :-D

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  54. I think your felty thing which is super pretty could become an integral part of a needlecase perhaps.

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  55. Happy 18 month blogiversary!( and happy unbirthday to Archie) I'd like option 1 if I was lucky enough to win - the oincushions you made are amazing (Well it all is, but they particularly stole my heart)

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  56. Happy 13th birthday Archie, and 18th months to your blogging self! My, you're just a young wippersnapper compared to Mr Archie ... and both of you are eager beavers compared to mr Bix who is a venerable 17 at the end of April, and who is comfortably curled up asleep on the bed next to me, snoring his head off!

    If the random number generator generated me, I'd love a pin cushion .... Maggie cat would love it even more since she enjoys knocking them all around the house, pins included! (assuming she flies back at somepoint soon!), but since I haven't lifted a needle for about a year now, and with the prospect of 6 months recovering from kidney pancreas transplant looming in the next few weeks, I may or may not being do much sewing soon!

    is the extra suggestion youre seeking relating to fabric? I would suggest you use it to tie up the legs of any spammers trying to enter your celebrations, and then drop them in the Tyne ... that'll learn 'em!

    I hope Archie gets plenty of birthday biscuits and you get a tasty 18-month anniversary cake, because you both deserve a little indulgence! :)

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  57. WOW! Congratulations to you on your 18th month blogaversary and Happy Birthday to Archie :) What a choice you have for your giveaway! Hard to choose but your beautiful hexes just by a thread ahead :)
    As for your beautiful little felt block. Why not frame it :) It is gorgeous :)) hugs Elly

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  58. Celebrations all round...happy birthday Archie.....and a hip, hop, happy Blogiversary to you. I would really love a thread catcher made from the Union Flag.

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  59. Maybe make a felted moo card holder?

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  60. The Union Jack pin cushion has my name all over it and the pretty felt should be the cover of a needle book no question!

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  61. Poo that was supposed to be 2 comments but I got carried away lol x

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  62. Happy blogoversary to you and happy birthday to Archie. His bed is beautiful. If Achie chose me I would love the biscornu pin cushion because I think it's exquisite :)

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  63. I think your felty thing would be lovely if you mounted it on a larger piece of fabric and framed it - probably without glass so you can see the texture better - and hung it on the wall :)

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  64. Congratulations to both you and Archie!! I love anything Union Jack, and I would turn that lovely little bit of embellished felt into a pincushion.

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  65. Congratulations on both milestones - I love the pin cushions especially with Japanese fabrics!

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  66. I found your blog when looking for handmade dog bed ideas! (Sentences you never thought you'd write!)I love the japanese fabrics so anything with them would be lovely to win. If you have time check out my poor dogs sorry bed attempt ( http://plainstitch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/fortitude.html) - i will be trying for something more archie-ish in version two i think!

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  67. Helen! Choices, choices!

    EPP pincushion OR UJ thread catcher...suprise me! Love your hexies and want to rescue them by my own skills aren't at a place where I feel I could do anything with them and they are too good to waste on me!

    Your felt deffo needs to be displayed for all to see....it is gorgeous! How about another trip to Ikea to get a box frame to mount it in, or something like this.......

    http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=box+frame+lid&view=detail&id=DD757224FD9E46F7235F1AFA7A08E387765BBC30&FORM=IDFRIR

    that you could mount it into the top of, but have something useful to hide things away in!

    Love to Archie...he's the man for me!

    Take care, sending energy vibes your way xxx

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  68. Well good morning. I just squeezed in I think. I would love a pincushion made from the wee prints. So cute! Also the felted piece would be a darling pincushion for you don't you think?

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  69. Hurray for both the blog and Archie.
    I hope I'm not too late for you giveaway. If Archie should pick me,I desperately would like to have a pin cushion. Preferably the one with the flag on it, but the one with the cute little figures also is übercool.

    Anyone interested in a giveaway of colourful birds? Check:
    http://homeiswherethedachshundis.blogspot.be/2013/02/ready-to-fly-out-rose-white-and-forrest.html

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  70. Congratulations to you and Archie! If I should be lucky enough to be picked I'd love an EPP pin cushion maybe with the big bad wolf?! Thank you so much for the chance of winning such a wonderful prize :-)

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  71. As for your felt flower, I think it would look great as embellishment on an iPad or Kindle cover.

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