11.5.16

blog tour :: pipsqueaks

FTC Compliant Disclosure:  I was given a free digital copy of this book by C&T Publishing to facilitate participation in the blog tour.


Today I am participating in a blog tour for Sally Dixon's book Pipsqueaks: itsy-bitsy felt creations to stitch & love.  The full blog-tour schedule is posted at the end of this post, and there is also a *give-away* (details of which also appear at the end of this post). In fact, there is a *give-away* at every stop of the blog tour, so if you are interested in winning a free copy of this darling book, I urge you to follow along and visit each blog on the tour over the next 5 days!


When I was a child, my favorite toys were all tiny: I stitched tiny dresses for tiny dolls and had a small collection of ceramic figures made by Hagen-Renaker. I would have enjoyed creating items from Pipsqueaks: itsy-bitsy felt creations to stitch & love as a child, and clearly some things never change. As you can see, just last week I had a great time creating tiny elephants from this book.


And if you are an enthusiast of the book If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, it will make perfect sense to you that, "If you sew a tiny elephant, he's going to ask for a tiny clown. And when you make him a tiny clown, he will probably ask for a silly hat.  And when the hat is finished, he will certainly ask for a tiny tassel to go on the very top of the silly hat."


No sooner did I blink, then I realized that I had the start of a tiny circus parade marching across the kitchen table.  As you can see, Sally's pipsqueaks and my peg dolls get along very well together, indeed.


Besides, tiny elephants, there are clear and detailed instructions for creating winsome mice, a budgerigar puppet, tiny dogs, bunnies & kittens, plus designs for two different koalas and a platypus in a peekaboo bed.  Yes, Sally Dixon (the author of Pipsqueaks) is Australian, and several of the designs in this book reflect her country of origin.  I especially love the embroidery and applique instructions for creating eucalyptus blossoms (there are two perfectly detailed eucalyptus designs; one on page 30 and the other on page 56).  To me, the inclusion of koalas, a platypus and eucalyptus adds an exotic variation from the usual flora and fauna (exotic for an American reader, anyhow).

In addition to clear patterns and instructions, I found some excellent crafting advice in this book.  For example, Sally suggests using small, sharp embroidery scissors for cutting out tiny, detailed pattern pieces; when I read this, I smacked my hand to my forehead and thought to myself, "Why didn't I think of this years ago?"  Sally also advises enlarging the patterns on a copier machine for readers who find tiny patterns too fussy; this advice is likewise given for children who are first being introduced to needle-skills.


Now for the *give-away*: please leave a comment on this post (and make sure I can contact you via email) for an opportunity to win a copy of Pipsqueaks: itsy-bitsy felt creations to stitch & love by Sally Dixon.  A winner will be randomly chosen from the list of comments below on Monday, May 23rd, 9:00 p.m. PST.  If the winner is in the USA, they will receive a hard copy of the book, and if the winner is outside the USA, they will receive a digital copy.   You can find the full blog tour schedule below, and don't forget: there will be a give-away at every stop on the blog tour. Thank you to C&T Publishing for generously sponsoring the give-aways!

Comments for this give-away are now closed.  Thank you to everyone for participating, and congratulations to #34 -- Lisa Marie.  I hope you enjoy making lovely, tiny things from Pipsqueaks!

11th May 2016

11th May 2016
Margaret Bloom

12th May 2016
Karen Wasson

13th May 2016
Joanna Riley

14th May 2016
Anna Day

15th May 2016
Louise

16th May 2016
Sally Dixon

49 comments:

  1. We love itty bitty toys here!
    o2bqltng @ hotmail . com

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  2. These elephants are adorable! My granddaughter loves your little people (we started making them at Thanksgiving) and I know she would love to have her own circus.

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  3. Hello Margaret,
    you have sewed such a lovely elephant and also this sweet mouse. The book pipsqueaks really seems to be in Bavarian "putzig"(cute)! A really nice giveaway.
    Hugs Susi

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  4. Oh, I just know these guys would get along with my Teeny Tiny MochiMochi knitted toys! :)
    Caroline Spinali

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  5. Oh these are all so cute! I would love to make some from the book!

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  6. Judging from the elephants, the platypus will be a must do project! What a clever idea :)

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  7. Tiny is the cutest! My daughter has a small collection of tiny 2"-3" animals I made 6-7 years ago. Now she can sew her own and she still gravitates towards tiny :)

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  8. Making little felt creations was a favourite thing of mine to do while I was growing up. I'd love a copy of the book.

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  9. HELLO,I love the little mouse! A neat Book!Love to win it! Thanks for sharing! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  10. Margaret love the little elephants you made from this book and their clown friends. Too cute.

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  11. This book looks like a marvelous addition to a crafting library! I love how perfectly the critters go with peg people.

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  12. I got a thing for mice and I love the one in this book!!

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  13. These toys are too cute. I'd love to add this book to my collection!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  14. I love the elephants - way too cute!! churcae(at)auburn(dot)edu

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  15. Aww adorable lil buddies :)
    Sheetalwalke@gmail.com

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  16. Is she an Aussie? Is she? Is she? Is she an Aussie? Is she? Hey? Must be. Well done Sally. Definitely added to my wish list, if only they would listen. Thank you Margaret for the opportunity to fill part of my wish list. And a well written account too.

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  17. So cute! I wish I had found this book earlier so I could have made some elephants for my daughter's upcoming circus birthday party!

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  18. Hooray for tiny handmade cute things! My little students in our homeschool sewing circle will get a thrill out of this book!

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  19. I LOVE the cute projects in this book! Thanks for sharing.

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  20. This is such a wonderful book! Finally some tiny projects to make! Would love to make the elephants!

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  21. I would love this! I too have a fascination with all things tiny!

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  22. So adorable, love little tiny creatures. grecomara at gmail dot com

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  23. This looks so cute! Would love to try making some tiny animals :)

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  24. Your peg dolls and Sally's sweet elephants (love their patterned ears!) are the perfect circus pairing. Thanks for the introduction to this cute book!

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  25. I love little bitty. Sew dang cute!

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  26. I love those little elephants and your peg dolls make such good friends.

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  27. How adorable these little creations are

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  28. Love the elephants and mice. Cute book

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  29. I've just installed a new shelf in my sewing room that cries out for a couple of these cute creatures!

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  30. I have never made tiny things like this, but I this book makes me want to try. So, so cute!

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  31. I'm really looking forward to making a tiny koala & kitten.

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  32. Your peg dolls are so cute and perfect with the elephants. I would love to win the book - the drawing is on my birthday, is that auspicious? - and make some elephants for my sister.

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  33. Too cute! Can't decide, the elephants or the mouse. Mmmmm

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  34. Charming & elephants would be so perfect with a matching quilt.

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  35. Thanks for the chance to win and I just found you neighbor (I live in Benicia) well Bay Area neighbors nor sure which city you call home
    colleen1990@yahoo.com

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  36. Pipsqueak is our pet name for our spaniel Pip! The elephants are gorgeous and I've found your site for the first time and like your tutorials. Thank you.

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  37. Thanks so much for being a part of this. I enjoyed reading about the Pipsqueaks but also about your peg dolls!

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  38. Oh my goodness, these are adorable! Anika will love making these!

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  39. Thank you very much for this give away.
    La souris est mignonne comme tout.

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  40. How adorable. Id love to make these. Hope I get picked!

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  41. This book will definitely end up with me sooner or later!!

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  42. I love the little pipsqueaks,so cute.
    Than you for the opportunity
    I hope that the message is going well and i have not overload with messages. It did not work a few times ☺️🇳🇱

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  43. I just can't resist such cute tinyness- love, love.

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  44. such nice things from felt corporatet so sweet with your peg dolls .Love it!!!

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