A Birthday Giveaway and a Pinny Launch!

A year ago today, with great trepidation, I opened my Tickle & Hide Etsy shop! For someone who's always liked to flitter between creative interests, never committing to one, opening a shop was a bit like getting married! I felt like I had a big fat sign on my head saying, "Hello? Will you like me?" And I was so incredibly thankful for dear friends who brought around balloons and flowers and champaigne that day. Their gifts spoke right to me, "You are not silly! And you can do this!"

One year later, I'm still here. Still dreaming about quilts and pinnies in my sleep, still getting those exciting notifications that I've sold another favourite dress and thinking, "Oh, you love it too!" I've been encouraged in the true sense of the word - filled with courage, by new friends from across the sea, my best friend in my own home and Tully begging me to let him wear his rocket shorts to bed. :)

So I wanted to do something to celebrate, actually, a few things. Can I share them with you?

Firstly, I'm having a giveaway! These photos are of a little activity bag put together by me and old and new friends. It includes one of my signature drawstring quilts, these cuter than cute foam "paper" dolls (I've been having so much fun with these, can you tell?!)...

a Surprise Puzzle, sponsored by my good friends over at Schloss, makers of amazing wooden toys...

And this funky Russian couple from Monkeys in the Kitchen (the two on the right), Igor and Sasha! (Tully snatched Capt'n Jack the second he emerged from the bag and I didn't have the heart to tell him it was for a giveaway! ;))

This activity bag is perfect for taking to restaurants, church, old Aunt Maud's...all the places you wish you had something to engage them so that you could have long conversations, or child 'unfriendly' places where they need to sit still way too long.

To enter:

• Leave a comment under this post! Maybe tell me what you would add to it? 

• Followers of my blog or Facebook page get an extra entry. Leave a second comment to say so.

• For another entry, share this giveaway with your friends! Then come back and leave another comment to let me know.

• And for 2 extra entries, go say thank you to Schloss and Monkeys in the Kitchen by liking them on Facebook, then come back and tell me, one for each. 

Wow! 5 chances! International entries welcome.
Make sure I have a way of contacting you! Either through your google account or leaving your email address in your entry. Thanks! I'll draw the winner Tuesday 8:30pm, Sydney time.

Then, pop over to my Facebook Page for the launch of my new line of pinafores, "Paper Dolls". My friend Anneliese and I have been working tirelessly to create a collection of pinnies that are both art and functional. I'm sure you'll love Anneliese's Paper Doll illustrations! They evoke for me, memories of playing with paper dolls as a child, a fun feeling I still get, now having a little girl!
As an extra thank you, I'm offering 20% off everything in the shop for 24 hours till 8pm Sunday night Sydney time, with the code 'birthday20'. (There are things for boys there too!)

Ok! Thank you again dear friends! Enter away!
Jodi. xxx