A Pinteresting {Linky} Party - Week Eight

If you do not know what Pinterest is or don't have an account, here is a little about it:
Pinterest is kind of like an online, public bookmarking site. You find something online you like, or want to try and "pin" it. It gets stored to a board {or category, i.e. tutorials, recipes...} for your followers & other Pinterest users to see. These "pins" {or bookmarks} can be repined by others, spreading YOUR blog post all over the Pinterest world! How cool is that?!

Because of Pinterest I have gained more comments and followers...and who wouldn't want that?! 

You can find me on Pinterest by clicking on this picture.

If you need an invitation to Pinterest.com or have any questions about it please comment here or convo me. I'd be happy to help if I can.

Now that you know more about Pinterest and how it helps promote your blog for free, look below & link up you blog posts!

Featured Link Ups from last week:

Zucchini Summer shares brand new "Terrain" fabrics by Kate Spain.

Oh how I wish my hand me down sewing machines {yup, I have two} weren't missing pieces!

 The Domesticated Mama shares her newest Bulldog Pirate Shirt

 Super cute, huh?! {not to mention the cutie wearing it!}

Stop on over to these links and show them some love and if you pinned them, you can let them know. :)

Here are the "rules":
{by the way, I will pin all who link up} 

• Add a direct link to a blog post along with it's title {not the title of your blog}.
• You can link up to two posts from one blog. {no shops or giveaways please}
• Visit some links and pin some others blog posts.
• Not required, but I'd love for you to spread the word and post my Pinteresting Party Button on your blog. {& be sure to follow my blog to see when the next party is & if you were featured the following week} :)
• By linking up you give me full permission to use one photo from your post if you are featured the following link.

Want to know how to check if you were pinned? 
Copy this link into your browser and add your blog URL {does not work for Etsy shops}:
http://pinterest.com/source/YOURURLHERE
for example, mine would be http://pinterest.com/source/tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com

How to link up:

Click the button below that says "add your link" and type in the following info-

Name:: use the name of your post here

URL:: use your post URL, not your blog URL

Email:: this info will not be published 
 

Please visit my sponsors. 

They are the reason I can have this lovely thumbnail link party!

{Freebie Friday} Win a $20.00 Shop Credit to AuntieRobin

Giveaway Closed.

Happy Freebie Friday y'all! Hope everyone's week went well. I am so excited for this weekend since we are going apple picking! Oh how I love fall! 

Anyhoo, today we have Robin, the shop owner of AuntieRobin. Her shop is so lovely and full of adorable shirts, skirts, and quilts {I'm jealous}. Today she is giving one lucky reader a chance to win a $20.00 shop credit! Read what she's all about and enter below to win.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Sewing has always been a part of my life. I have four sisters and my mother sewed countless dresses for us and taught each of us to sew. Starting with doll clothes and moving on to sewing our own clothes, the sewing machine was always humming. As an adult, I also began making quilts. The clothing I make now is influenced by quilting in that several coordinating fabrics may be used in one garment. This makes each piece fun and creative.

What made you want to become an artist?

I just love fabric and sewing! I think I’m addicted to fabric!

What is your favorite item to create?

It’s a tie between skirts for little girls based on storybook characters and baby quilts. I love choosing the different fabrics and creating the item as I sew. The children I know love to dress up and pretend to be different characters, and every baby needs a handmade quilt!

What advice would you give to new artists on Etsy?

Something I didn’t know about at first – join a few teams and get involved where you can. It’s good to get your name out there and it so much fun!

How do you promote your work?

That’s something that I’m learning to do. I love doing giveaways.

What is the inspiration for your work?

The little children I know. I have lots of nieces and nephews.

Do any of your items go toward a special cause?

5% of all sales go to charities that benefit kids.

Do you have a job outside of Etsy? How do you handle both?

Yes, I work full-time in an office. It is hard to find time for everything. Luckily, I work close to home so have a very short commute. I try to use my lunch hours to take care of paperwork and computer work.

Where do you create?

I have turned a spare bedroom into my sewing room. It’s usually an “organized mess.” Although I have plastic bins full of fabric and notions, I like to have stacks of fabric out where I can see them, especially what I plan to use for my next few projects.

What are your goals for your shop?

Make more and sell more! I really want to have more items available to choose from. And I love when someone requests a custom item and we correspond back and forth regarding the theme and size so they can get just what they want. I’d also like to give more of my products to a charity as well as a percentage of sales.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Thank you for this opportunity!

 Today you have a chance to win a $20.00 shop credit to AuntieRobin!

Mandatory Entry:

{please do this first before any other entries}

Visit  AuntieRobin and comment 

your favorite item in her shop.

Extra Entries:

1} Tell me something you love about AuntieRobin or her shop.

2} Heart AuntieRobin on Etsy.

3} Add AuntieRobin to your Etsy Circle.

4} Pin one of AuntieRobins items on Pinterest {leave the link where we can see it}

5} Become a follower of this blog {or let me know if you already are}

6} Enter in another giveaway on this blog and let me know which you entered.

7} Blog (with a link to this giveaway), tweet (please tag using @tutusandteaparties), or post on Facebook (please tag using @Tutus & Tea Parties) and leave a link where we can see it if you blogged or did not use the tags. 

Be sure to leave your email address with each entry.

Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2011. Sunday, October 23, 2011 a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. If no email is listed I will choose another winner. Winner has one week to respond to my email to claim his/her prize after initial contact.  I am not responsible for the shipping of this prize.

Contest open Worldwide.

{Product Review} Notebook Set from Stitchin'netka

I was so excited when we got this Notebook Set from Anteta of Stitchin'netka in the mail! Bug wanted to use it right away, which was perfect because it kept her entertained while I cooked dinner. {score!}

These notebooks are Aneta's original design and can be customized with your child's initial. 

It included a composition notebook and 6 colorful, triangular pencils! There was a place to hold the pencils and a pocket as well.

We took our new notebook in the car & Bug loved doodling as we drove around to run errands  {normally she whines and cries for her binky...but none of that happened}. It was perfect since the pencils had a holder! She was able to take them out and put them back in when she wanted a different color.

We also went out to eat one night and brought the notebook along with us. She didn't even bother with the kids coloring menu at the restaurant. She just wanted to "write" in her notebook.I think it made her feel like a big girl since she sees mommy writing on paper like that. It kept her entertained almost as long as it took our food to come{our food took a little long if you ask me...but I'm not reviewing the restaurant here}. 

When we got home I discovered she had stashed a couple sugar packets in the little pocket! I was cracking up when I saw them. I also added some stickers to put in the pocket for her to use on the paper.

 

This cover will fit a 7 1/2" x10" notebook so when the pages are all colored/written on, you can just grab another notebook and replace it! Total awesomeness if you ask me!

As for the construction of the notebook set is concerned, everything was wonderfully stitched and seems to be pretty durable! Bug has been using it quite often {as I keep it in the car for traveling and when we go on outings} and being that she is a toddler she can be a little rough with taking out the pencils and folding the book closed...and open...and closed...and open again. You can't even tell it was used...besides the writing in the notebook. 

Need I say it...Christmas is coming soon and this would make a wonderful gift for any girl or boy at any age. Even I would love to have something like this! Check out Stitchin'netka's other designs for this set & make sure you have a look around her shop at all the other great items.

::Keep up with Stitchin'netka::

Shop- http://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchinnetka

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/stitchin.netka

{It would be cool if you said hello to her.}

{Toddler Tuesdays} Yoga Baby

Did you know yoga is a great way to introduce a healthy lifestyle to your baby & toddler? There are some great resources {which can most likely be found at your local library} on doing yoga & other exercises with your little ones. What a healthy way to spend time together! Here are a couple books we have seen and read from the library:

Sleepy Little Yoga

Little Yoga

I'm sure there are other books and DVDs that can help you and your little one learn the basics of yoga. Just remember when doing yoga with your tot...there is no need to make them do the poses exactly how it is shown. Let them do it their own way based on their capabilities and development. Just be sure you are modeling the correct way and they will catch on when they are ready. :)

Downward Facing Dog

"Owl" Pose from the book.

"Fox" Pose from the book.

Tree Pose

Easy Pose

Child'sPose

Legs up the Wall

Knee's Hug

Corpse Pose

I haven't really done much yoga {besides playing my Wii Fit} and it was a fun activity to do together. Now we include it in our night time routine and Bug really enjoys it. 

{Mmm,Mmm, Mondays} Pumpkin Recipes to Try

Can you believe I never tasted pumpkin until I baked Pumpkin Cookies with Bug last year for Halloween?! They were so delicious I wanted to bake pumpkin everything! I only tried a few last year but here's my Pumpkin Recipe To-Make list for us this Fall:

Pumpkin Seed Butter

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Pumpkin Seed Cookies

Spiced Pumpkin Scones

Pumpkin Pancakes

Is your mouth watering yet? I can't wait to try these new recipes I came across for the Fall. 

Please share if you have any favorite Fall recipes that are family friendly. :)

{Buy Handmade} Fall/Halloween - Why do you love handmade?

Have you noticed the "{Buy Handmade} Fall/Halloween" tab on the top of my page? It's full of handmade items for the Fall and Halloween! I'd love for you to stop on by and check out all the wonderful items. 

{source}

I don't know about you, but I love buying handmade...especially for Bug. 90% of the time we are wearing something handmade we get tons of compliments. Know why? Probably because no one has ever seen it in stores! That is my favorite reason to buy handmade. I know what I am purchasing is unique! 

If you have never heard of Etsy you should take a look around. It is a site full of handmade items. It's the one I use to sell my crochet work and I love it!  

Why do you love to buy handmade?

Inspiring Sundays & Custom Made Bib Winner

This would have been a nice reminder to have around when I was in High School, but even now I have to remind myself of this at times. I'll have to keep this around for when Bug gets older and has one of those days.

{source}

Giveaway Winner:

Thank you all for entering in the Brooks Boutique Custom Made Bib Giveaway! I have chosen a winner using random.org and the winning comment is #31, Jenna!

Jenna said... 

I follow on GFC

Congrats! 

Look out for an email from me {totshop728@yahoo.com}. Please check your spam folder too.