Thursday, September 30, 2010

Giveaway and Guestpost by Ellie from Bustle & Sew

Today I have a very special treat for you guys.  
Ellie from Bustle & Sew - who lives in England, the tea-drinking country - will do a guestpost today. 
So I do not actually have to write alot. :-) 
But I do want to show you all her tea-related goodness!

Photo from Bustle and Sew
Is this cat teacozy cute or what? I so love this one! 
And you can download a free pdf with a tutorial on how to make it.

Photo from Bustle and Sew
 And if you are into embroidery you can get this free pattern on her blog.



 I am also totally in love with this dormouse teacozy that she knitted. 
She told me that this is from an old Alan Dart knitting pattern. 
Wish I could get my hands on it ... for this I would even learn how to be better at knitting. 
This is TOO CUTE!

Photo from Bustle and Sew

And another adorable tea cozy. 
You can download the free pattern on her blog (just scroll all the way down).

There is loads of more cute stuff on her blog. And let me tell you something else - she also has a newsletter you can sign up for. 
I tend to sign up for quite many newsletters - and usually cancel them again after a while. 
This one is different. It does not feel like a newsletter but rather like a letter from a friend. I am always excited when it reaches me. I love reading it! And of course I also love all the free goodies in there. Yes, as a subscriber you get extra goodies! So if you are into sewing, appliquing, embroidering, crocheting ... then you you will love it!

So have fun with the guestpost and giveaway ... and hop on over to her blog and check it out. You will not regret it!

****

Hi everyone … my name’s Ellie from Bustle & Sew.

I’m really excited to be rounding off the Tea Lover’s month here on MuffinsnMore especially as today is Ms Muffin’s birthday! Yes, today she will be enjoying her very own birthday tea, complete with cake, candles, little sandwiches and wobbly jellies. 
 


Then, at any proper birthday celebration, after the tea come the party games. I particularly used to enjoy “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” – maybe a taste of future things to come as now I spend a lot of time pinning tails, and other bits of fabric onto things I’m making.

If anyone here does read my blog (www.bustleandsew.blogspot.com) you’ll know that I live in Devon, England way out in the countryside near the sea in an old farmhouse with my Newfoundland dog Ben. Here in England we’re great tea drinkers of course and Ben and I both agree that there’s nothing better than coming home to a nice cup of tea after a long, and sometimes chilly, walk in the countryside. He enjoys his cuppa weak and milky, whilst I prefer a good strong brew from my favourite tea pot (the one with little rabbits on!)

I know that Ms Muffin has featured some of my tea-related patterns and tutorials. On Bustle & Sew you can find the free downloads and other nice things too.

Now for the party games. This one’s called “Leave a Birthday Comment” and it goes as follows: As it’s Ms Muffin’s birthday please leave a comment below wishing her a happy birthday and telling us all what was the best birthday present you ever received.


Everyone who does this will be entered into a free draw to win a mini Sleepy Cat tea cosy – just the right size to fit over a 2 cup pot – perfect bliss!!

Last day to enter is October, the 9th. The winner will be selected randomly. The giveaway is open worldwide.


Good Luck!


***

Enoyed this? Please spread the word!



37 comments:

Cat Carlisle said...

Happy Birthday Ms Muffin! Hope you have a wonderful tea party. :)

Hmm, my best birthday present ever... for some reason every year we end up going on vacation on my birthday - not on purpose, it just works out that way. One year we went to San Diego, another to York and most recently to London. Even though the vacations weren't officially my birthday gift, the pictures and memories we bring back are far more meaningful than any store-bought gift I have received!

This got me thinking about the birthday gift I enjoyed giving the most - it was to my mother. I was living hundreds of miles away from my family at the time, but for her birthday I secretly flew home to surprise her. My brother picked me up at the airport then dropped me off down the street and went home as though everything was normal. I waited a few minutes until he and my dad went into the backyard, so mom would be forced to answer the door herself. When she opened the door I was expecting her to be surprised but I wasn't prepared when she began to scream and cry in joy! Normally she is very calm and reserved, and always seems to know when one of us is hiding something from her. It meant a lot to me to see a different side of her and to know that we had truly surprised her!

LiEr said...

Happy Birthday, Miss Muffin! I just sent out a package to you today at the P.O.! It's for our er.... secret girls' group thing, if you remember. But I had no idea it was also your birthday today! Whoo hoo! I hope you have lots of tea and cake and muffins.

Hello Ellie! Your tea cozies are to DIE for! They are so, so lovely! Best birthday present I ever had.... it's hard to think of one, especially going back so many years. As a little kid, one of my favorite presents was a pair of raccoon softies which I named Mork and Mindy (after an old sci fi show starring Robin Williams). Now that I am older and have kids, my favorite birthday present is just the day off to go shopping or sew or do anything while someone else watches the kids!

Papgena Made It said...

Congratulations Mrs. Muffin! Hope you're having a magical day! And thak you for these month related to tea, it's been so fun! Thank you Mrs Ellie for your genorosity, I do follow your blog also and I subscribe your newsletter. I agree with Mrs. Muffin, it's a joy when it arrives! My favorite birthday present? That's a tuff one, maybe what I received this year from my husband: a day in a spa...it was amazing! :)

Tanya said...

Well happy birthday Ms Muffins! I'm also celebrating today! Yay for Libras! I have to say my favourite gift was one I received from my three-year-old son just today: he 'made' me a 'chair' on the floor out of the sofa cushions, along with one for himself, and asked if we could sit down together and read a story. So we sat on our side-by-side chairs, held hands and he told me random stories while flipping pages of a book.

Mama Spark said...

Very Happy Birthday to you Ms Muffin! I love the tea cozy, too cute. As the owner of 5 cats I just love them! One of the best birthday gifts was 2 years ago when I turned 50 and my husband sent me to Florida for a week to spend at the beach with a friend! Loved that. I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

Dolores said...

A big Happy Birthday, Miss Muffin! I happen to drink tea all day long and I have two kitties so I would absolutely love that tea cosy. Oh, and did I mention that my birthday is 9 days after the draw? Well, I have to say that the very best b-day present I received was just last year from my eldest daughter. It was a set of two 11" X 14" tiles that hang on the wall (I collect tiles) and the subject matter? One is a treadle sewing machine and the other is a cupboard with quilts folded on the shelves. I would have to say that my daughter knows me well and knows what I will like.

Gill said...

Happy Birthday!
My best birthday present was from my husband a few tears ago - Two cows!!!!
Gill

free indeed said...

Happy Bday to you Miss Muffin!
My best pressie was a new sewing machine from hubby several years ago. THis, from a guy who would buy me a candy bar and that's it...I know he loves me, but he is not the type to go out of his way...until that year! Boy, was I suprised and pleased as punch!
If I win said tea cozy, I'm gifting it to my 21 yr old daughter who just loves anything to do with tea.

QuilterMary said...

Happy happy birthday! Best birthday ... many years ago, first date with the guy I've been married to for 33 years. Best present - every year going out to dinner with that same guy.

quilary said...

A very Happy Birthday to you! I will brew a pot and raise a tea cup to you as soon as I comment here.
The best birthday present was a Horn Sewing Cabinet that allowed me to set up a dedicated sewing space in the house.

pippirose said...

Happy Birthday Ms Muffin!
My favourite birthday present was a Kodak Instamatic camera that I got on my 10th birthday.
Loved that thing!
:o)
pippirose59 at gmail dot com

Annemarie's Haakblog said...

Happy Birthday Ms Muffin! I hope you´ll get loads of nice birthday presents! My best birthday present? I guess the best birthday present I ever had was my boyfriend making me pancakes on my birthday a few years ago. It was the year we THOUGHT it was better to split up. To live seperate lives and so on. The day he was supposed to leave I looked at him and thought: this is so NOT right. But, I thought this was the best for both of us (or at least for him) and I tried living without him. I felt horrible and when he called me after a few days, telling me this was not the right decision and that he wanted to be with me again, I was SO glad he did. Not very long after it was my birthday and he asked me what I wanted to have. I didn't want anything because he was the best gift there was. But when I came home, he was baking birthday-pancakes for me and I knew this was the best birthday I had EVER had! Oh and guess what? On the 10th of October it's our aniversary. We are together for seven years by then, and I'll never leave him again!

quiltmom anna said...

A tea party sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday. My best birthday present was a sewing machine-it was the nicest present my husband ever bought me- and he has bought me some very nice things over the last 30 years.

I hope that you had a fabulous birthday Miss Muffin - may you enjoy many more.
Regards from a Western Canadian quilter,
Anna

Sarah Vanderburgh said...

Happy Birthday! My favourite birthday was the first one I was together with my husband. We spent the day going out to places I like to visit, and then to a concert that night. He spoiled me all day. Thanks for the chance!

Quiltin' Sandy said...

Happy Birthday Miss Muffin. :-) My special Birthday gift was to spend some time with my Motherinlaw as we shared the same birthday in April. She has passed on now, but I have fond memories of us sharing cake and laughter.
Thanks for the chance to win that lovely tea cosy.
sandangels1945@hotmail.com

Renee G said...

Happy Birthday Ms. Muffin!

One of the best birthday presents I ever received was an enormous box of books that my family had picked up at a yard sale. I love to read --- and the box was filled with lots of wonderful adventures.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com

Charlene S said...

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Ms. Muffin! Happy Birthday to you!

The best birthday present I received was my granddaughter. I was present at the birth and got to hold her first. That was indeed a special b-day.

Janet said...

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Your dormouse tea cozy is to die for! All of them are so cute. The birthday present I remember the most is a plastic cup for keeping in the bathroom to use when brushing my teeth. I got this when I was 7 or 8. In the package were six plastic cups in different colours, one for each member of my family. Because it was my birthday I got to open the package and pick the colour I wanted first. I picked the blue one. It had gold sparkles worked into the plastic. My parents were very inventive present givers. Thanks for a chance at the cute kitty tea cozy!

va said...

Happy Birthday Ms. Muffin !
Hope you had a memorable birthday with lots of fun , pics , and memories to cherish .

One of the best gifts I've gotten was a labradorite pendant and I got to pick it out as well . I have many best present I have received but that was one of them .

thanks
tumblemumbo/at/gmail/dot/com

jhitomi said...

Happy Birthday ms Muffin. My best bday gift was on my 18th when my family threw me a surprise party with all my friends, it was fun and meant a lot to me.
jhbalvin at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I just told Ms. Muffin in another comment on her Fall into Fall giveaway that this is blogging at its best -- discovering new blogs to follow and making new friends! Hippo Birdie to Ewe Ms. Muffin! Best birthday gift? Hmmmm...so many good ones, but I think the Ben Folds concert tickets two years ago were very special! Thanks Ellie, I love your tea cozy (also love kitties) and I'm your newest Follower!

jo for OttLite said...

The best ever gift was really free. I was turning 10. About a month before my birthday my 2 younger brothers had just got fancy fishing poles, so I asked for one too...had to be in on the fish catching action. Well, in the mean time.. in that month time-frame, I changed my mind and asked for a doll that had sparkly silver hair like my moms. (she grayed pre-maturley and it sparkled..really pretty..) When it came time for gifts, I did get that doll but got a bonus gift of a "fishing pole"...basically a piece of bamboo found in a trash bin with some fishing thread tied onto it. We all went fishing, and my brothers and their fancy fishing poles caught nothing. Me with the bamboo pole caught 4 fish and a minnow. Just hooked them really. So it became my best memory and gift.

Vejitayreun said...

Happy birthday babe!

My best gift was a hand knitted cardigan from my mum :) It's sooo comfy, even though its so old!

teapotofkarmaATgooglemail.com

Emillie Rose said...

That is soo cute! Would love to win it! I am new to your blog and really enjoying it so far!

emilliepeters(at)yahoo(dot)com

Dana said...

Happy Birthday Miss Muffin! Hope you are having a wonderful day, and that you enjoyed your tea party :)
The best gift I ever received was this really cozy pair of pajamas that my mother gave me 3 years ago, they are still my favorite pair :)
Love, Dana

lil_grrl_13@hotmail.com

Needled Mom said...

Best birthday present even was a trip aboard the QM2 from NY to Southampton. Fabulous!!!

Those cozies are adorable. We lived in Epsom for awhile and really got into drinking a lot of tea. The cozies were so necessary!

Jessica said...

Happy birthday Ms Muffin!!

Thank you for the giveaway, the tea cozy is adorable. I love my three kitties and would love a tea cozy!

The best gift I've ever gotten was lunch out with a friend, my choice of restaurant. I've never gotten to do that before so it was super special to me!

Paula said...

Happy Birthday!! I love tea parties andit was a pleasure to be invited to join in.
The best birthday gift i ever got was my engagement to my husband.
Enjoy your day.
stuplich@gmail.com
Paula

sukigirl said...

Those are beautiful cosies Ellie!!
I love your knitted doormouse teacosy, I see them turn up on Ravelry but didn't realize that they were out of print...so sad.

Hope you had a great birthday Ms. Muffin!!
HUGE coincidence...my birthday is the same day as yours..no kidding.
I'm amazed at how many wonderful tea projects that you have posted!

The best birthday present I ever had was last year when we were in Europe for my birthday. But being in Europe wasn't the best part. The best part was finding a hand drawn, funny card stuck in my travel book from my 22 year old son.
It was a total surprise and the best present ever!!
Cheers

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Happy Birthday to EWE
Happy Birthday to EWE
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to EWE

or so say my sheep -grin-. I like my tea strong, milky and sweet - true liquid comfort.

Taronger said...

Happy Birthday Ms Muffin!!
My favorite birthday present was a little wooden kitchen, I was 7 years old!!

Lee said...

Happy Birthday! Im an Oct b-day girl too. I love Bustle and Sew and thanks for the giveaway.
My fav b-day gift.... I have three college students and last yr they all signed me up for anything free - a free tea at a shop, a free ice cr., a free pizza, - my email was flooded w/ birthday wishes and a free coupon for something! It was fun and I appreciated them taking the time to do it for me.

Melanie said...

Happy Birthday Ms. Muffin! Hope it was fabulous!
My best present birthday present ever was a puppy from my uncle when I was four. That sure impressed my parents. He didn't even ask first, hahaha. You can't take a puppy away from a four year old.

Nancy Sue said...

Happy birthday Ms. Muffin and many happy returns! My great gram was from England and loved her cuppa. For my 9th birthday, she gave me a Deer teaset with everything having a deer head on it (sounds weird written down, but actually very cute). It was one of the last things she gave me. Unfortunately I have only the creamer and sugar bowl left. But I was thrilled as a child to received something from Gram that was soooo grown up!
nsue21702 at gmail dot com

BROOKE said...

Happy birthday! I actually thought of two favorite birthday gifts. The first from my parents when I was 5. I got a BIG WHEEL. I loved that thing and it's future flat tire that I tried to fix by stuffing rocks and gravel into it. The next was from my husband last year: He invited my friends to a tea party at a local tea house and then took us to a make your own ceramics shop followed up by seeing our favorite music group at our favorite underground pub.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Happy B Day! and thanks for a chance to win

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Ms. Muffin! Hope it was wonderful.

I think every birthday is wonderful because the birthday person gets to be the special person for the day! My best present was my second and favorite sewing machine. I got it when I turned 50! It has been well used.

I love all of the tea cozies and plan to sign up for the newsletter. My daughter and I are big Tea Time girls!

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