Buzzy Bee Buttons

My New Buzzy Bee Bears

Well these are my new bears  ~  I would love names for them so I thought I would put it out there for suggestions from any of you!  There is a $100 gift voucher to spend on the site ~ let me know what you think!!

I've been away, but I am back!

Well it's been a while!  This year has been a toughie and I must admit it is still having it's challenges!  I took a step back from the business this year as I have had so much going on with family, they just had to come first!  I have four children and two grandchildren (another one due in February 1st) so it's always going to be a challenge to keep up with all of them as I am sure most mothers out there would agree!!  This has not been a good year for me healthwise either and I have been knocked off my feet a couple of times and just for once had to put myself first!  We have been back into our renovations also this year, and as anyone who has renovated an old house will tell you, nothing goes to plan!!  Everything costs more than your first quote, and everything takes longer than planned!  We all know that tradies only turn up when you least expect them, they never turn up when they are supposed to....unless it's payday!  We decided a couple of months ago to finally renovate our driveway as it was all broken and patchy.  Got a great quote and a great tradie, but when they started digging up the old concrete and taking it to the local tip, asbestos was found in it!  To cut a very long story short it was going to cost us approx $16000 to dispose of it ~ yes $16,000!!  To cut a very long story short we mananged to find someone who knew someone else (you know how it goes!) who knew someone else and we managed to get it for a lot less, although it was still more than our budget (approx $5000 more!)  If only that was the end of it!  We had pulled out the washing line in preparation but it took 2 weeks to finally get rid of the concrete, then it rained....we finally got the ground levelled and prepared....then it rained....we pulled all the path of pavers up by hand, my husband and myself, and wheelbarrowed it to a neighbour who wanted them..in 26 degrees, as we wanted to save money after deciding to do a new path also.....then it rained and it hasn't stopped!!!  5 weeks and counting... no washing line, our car in the garage unable to get out (we are driving around in our son's old little car!) and it's still raining!!  Our daughter, son-in-law and two little grandaughters come back to live in NSW in 3 weeks and are staying with us for a couple of nights, so hopefully it will be done by then!  The forecast next week ~ cloudy with rain!!!  Anyway before I start crying LOL!!  I will tell you about my new Buzzy Bee Bears...I have made these bears from calico and are safe to be played with by children as the face is painted on.  I need names for them!!  I have announced a competiiton on Facebook to win a $100 voucher to spend on my site, so if anyone has any suggestions please feel free!...I also have new items on the site such as rusty cloth doll accessories, such as buckets, birdhouses, garden tools etc.  Also I have some ready made cloth dolls, Raggedy Andy and Annie as well as others.  Dont forget to check out my selection of Disa designs patterns, they are some fantastic patterns to make for Christmas ~ it's not too late!!  I will be back over the weekend to write some more, thanks for reading!!!  Best wishes to you all, Carole xxx

New patterns ~ hope you like them!

 
  
  
  


 
 




 
  
Hi Everyone, I hope this post finds you all safe and well....especially for all you living in Queensland and Victoria!  I have watched with horror all the flooding and destruction and feel so sad, and my hope and best wishes go to you all that have been affected.  I will be donating 75% of all proceeds from Buzzy Bee Patterns sold this next month, as well as my personal donation.  I have my daughter Jayne, son-in-law Dave & my two little grandaughters Mahni & Emma living in Ipswich so it's been a worrying time!  Thank goodness all that they lost was their car, they have been some of the lucky ones! My son-in-law is in the Navy up there and I know that he is helping with the clean up.....he has seen some very sad scenes.....    

 On a lighter note I have completed a few of my new cloth doll patterns and they will be put on the website this evening.  I have put a photo up of my new favourite...'Puppy Love'  I hope you like him!  He is made from linen & has bloomers, a petticoat and dress. I would love your feedback!  I am also launching a vintage type doll 'Nightie Night' who is made of linen & calico which has been aged.   A great doll for your bedroom to sit on your bed....another item for your husband to remove, along with all the cushions before he can get in....ha ha!!  I am still in the process of trying to get the Birdcage quilt finished, I will keep you posted!  I have also added a large range of buttons to the website, so please check them out!!

  Well there is only another month to go before we welcome our son Daniel home from the Gulf and we are all very excited!  My youngest son Andrew who will soon be 14 has missed him so much!  Well   We are all off to Brisbane on March 4th for 10 days all together so we are very excited about that!  Well I am going to finish off now and get busy sewing, I am in the middle of creating a new cat doll, I will put up a sneak peek for you!  My best wishes to you all, talk to you soon....Carole  Please excuse the page for being a bit messy with the photos ~ I am sure I will learn more as I go along!!   :)
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
  
   
  
 

Hi Everyone, my name is Carole Atkins and I took over Buzzy Bee Buttons last June. Things have been pretty hectic trying to get the business sorted out, so this is the first time I have posted on Typepad... please be patient with me, this is my first time writing a blog, so I will try to make it as interesting as I can! Firstly I should tell you a bit about myself! I am married to Barry and we have 4 gorgeous children...Jayne who is 26, Christopher 24, Daniel 20 and Andrew almost 14. Jayne is married to Dave and they have 2 beautiful daughters, Mahni & Emma. I will tell you more about my family as time goes on.
I have been working on some new designs which hopefully I will get written very soon! I have struggled a little bit with getting used to all the aspects of the business but am at last getting on top of it! I have changed the way the Buzzy Bee patterns are presented. They will all have a colour photo on the front now instead of a printed photo. I love to get patterns with real photos as it makes it much easier to refer to! I have also extended the range of patterns with fantastic doll patterns from the US and a wonderful stitchery range from Lakadaisies. I myself love stitcheries and making cloth dolls.....my husband says they are taking over the house! Well with Christmas and the New Year over (exhaustion was beginning to settle in!) I am going to throw myself into this business and will hopefully get the Birdcage BOM made very soon! I have almost finished all the stitching of the blocks so hopefully it won't be too long!
Family has been very much in the focus for me the past year with my daughter & family moving to Brisbane and my second son, Daniel, leaving for the Gulf on HMAS Melbourne. We were very proud to hear on the news that their ship was involved in rescuing another ship from pirates and I know that Daniel will have loved the excitement!! He comes home on Feb 16th and I can't wait! We are all going to head up to Brisbane for a wonderful family reunion, and it can't come quick enough for us!
Well I hope I haven't done too bad for my first post. I am sure I will get the hang of it as I do it weekly! I am going to post some peek sneak photos of some of the patterns so please watch this space!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this, please have a look at the website when you get the chance and let me know what you think!! Bye for now....Carole

Luggage Tag Challenge...

Cant believe how time flys!!  Winter is starting to kick in here in Adelaide...makes me want to sleep not sew!! BUT..this week we are having a Luggage Tag Challenge with our Facebook Fans...and wanted to invite anyone else who isnt a Facebook Fan to be involved!!!

LUGGAGE TAG CHALLENGE...Win a $50 Gift Voucher from BB! Download free Luggage Tag E-Pattern by clicking on our logo on the right on our BLOG...take a week to create a Luggage tag, email us a pic/s, and we will draw winner on the 20th April! Most of all enjoy the FREE pattern and HAVE FUN!! :)

You can DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN by CLICKING ON THE PICTURE BELOW.

PLEASE NOTE: I AM AWARE THAT THE PICTURE SAY 17TH APRIL...we have extended it due to a number of requests from customers! :))

If you are not a Facebook fan and you are on Facebook...make sure you come and find us...the link is on one of the posts below.  Otherwise...simply create your luggage tag, and email us a pic by the 20th April.  We will post all the pics on here for you all to see and will have someone special do the judging!!

Then we will announce the winner.

Take care

Nic Jones

Creative Framing E-Class...

Wow not sure where this year is going, but its March already!!  Ive been busy getting some stuff prepared for the launch of a new business.. more on this later in the month...and ive been busy inviting crafters to join our page on Facebook!.  If you havent joined us yet make sure you do as we will be having a little fun with our fans over the coming weeks.  We also have a page for Inspire Online Mag so come join us!! Links below...

Buzzy Bee Buttons FB Fan Page

Inspire Online FB Fan Page

The most exciting news of the week is we are re-launching our 'Creative Frames E-Class'.  We had so many people take the class when we ran it last, and we thought it a good time to run it again.  Doesnt matter what craft you are involved in, creative frames are a great way to display finished projects!!

We will let you know when its all ready to go!!

Until then keep stitching!!!

Nic Jones

Easter Edition of Inspire Magazine...

Cant believe its been so long since I last posted...not really sure where time goes these days!  The latest Edition of Inspire Online Magazine is available for download.  It is our Easter Edition for the year and there are 5 great projects to complete...including two from Buzzy Bee Buttons!!

The projects for the edition include an Easter Invitation, Easter Gift Tags, Easter Table Runner, Angel Swag & Painted Wooden Eggs...to be taken to the magazine's website simply click on the photo!!

Inspire is holding a number of giveaways on their Fan page on Facebook so if you havent joined the page yet, make sure you come on over and join.  Inspire Online Fan Page

Well some exciting news on the launch of 'Project Patches' shortly.  We'd love it if you'd stay in touch!

Till next time

Nic Jones

NEW PATTERN Dreamy Garden...

Well its such a nice day outside...I kind of wish I had a nice garden to 'dream in'...I at least have a small garden with all those modern type plants and bark...guess it will have to do!!!

As mentioned in my last post we have re-patterned some of our original designs due to popular demand.  I thought it was time to show you another one of our 'new' patterns.

Dreamy Garden...

It includes 2 of our original designs...Garden Dreams & Garden Bags...

 

If you like the designs in this pattern, you may also like our 'Garden of Dreams' Quilt, Cushion & Runner Pattern...

 

Well thats enough for now!!  We'll be back in a few more days to show off another very exciting pattern edition.

Till then

Nic Jones

 

 

Chicken Fun...

Well the new year has kind of started without me, I think Ill be ready in a week or so!!!  The good thing is the year has started busy, with new shops beginning to stock our patterns, new designs in the making, and way too many ideas floating around my head!!

We had a number of shops approach us last year about making some of our designs available in pattern form.  While many of our newer designs are in pattern form, the majority of the range wasnt.  So Ive been working hard over the christmas break to pattern up some of the designs in the range!!  Our patterns have also undergone a change...and they look fantastic and bright.

Over the next week or two I will be giving you previews of the new patterns, some patterns including more than one of our designs. 

So, let me introduce to you 'Chicken Fun'...a pattern combining our two Chicken designs 'Fresh Eggs' & 'Chook Chook'..both measuring 13x13cm framed.

 

So if you're in the mood for some chicken...chicken thats 'not' edible...come on in and grab a pattern. The pattern does not normally include buttons, but for the next 5 patterns sold, we will throw in the buttons for free....saving you approx $6.00.  

Till next time...

Nic Jones

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year...

Its one of my favorite times of the year...Christmas and New Year.  We are currently enjoying some holidays in sunny Queensland (ok not that sunny!)...but its never really a holiday with babies....especially two!! 

We had a lovely christmas...didnt dress up like these two did though...

 

We are currently enjoying a few weeks off but will be home soon to kick the new year off!!  Its gonna be a good one, and Id like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe Christmas & New Year Period, and a very very happy new year!!  Thank you to everyone for your support and friendship throughout 2009...here's to great things in 2010.

Much love

Nic Jones xxx