Introducing...SECRET SQUIRREL!!!!

June 25, 2013

You may have seen this little mammal popping up here and there...Well it’s time he was formally introduced!

For the past six weeks, An from Straightgrain and I have been scheming and conspiring to bring you….

Secret Squirrel!!!

Secret Squirrel is one top secret agent whose mission is to deliver acorns of sewing inspiration to bloggers around the world…

Curious???

Let us to tell you more…Secret Squirrel is gearing up for an epic journey, where he will travel to bloggers far and wide, once per month for a year. We know where his journey will start and where his journey will end, but what happens in between is up to those up to take on his sewing challenge. He will deliver emails to willing bloggers to create an outfit for their child based on acorns of inspiration passed on to them by previous bloggers who have met and conquered his missions.

So let us divulge the nitty gritty of the sewing series that is Secret Squirrel…

So what are acorns of inspiration?

Anything you like: a colour, an adjective, a song, a picture or photo, a sewing term, a verb, a food, a pastime, a proverb… let your imagination guide Secret Squirrel on his most important mission. From little things, big things grow. From five acorns of inspiration, comes one giant oak of a creative outcome (in the form of something your child can wear)!

Where will Secret Squirrel go?

Secret Squirrel is currently traveling from Antwerp, Belgium, to Melbourne, Australia. There, he will start the first leg of his mission:

1 July, 2013: Start: Suz from sewpony
1 August, 2013: ?

1 September, 2013: ?

1 October, 2013: ?

1 November, 2013: ?

1 December, 2013: ?

1 January, 2014: ?

1 February, 2014: ?

1 March, 2014: ?

1 April, 2014: ?

1 May, 2014: ?

1 June, 2014: ?

1 July, 2014: An from StraightGrain

He will complete his mission in Antwerp, Belgium. The entire year, An and I will keep track of his mission on this special Secret Squirrel page on our blogs, continuously updating the map below and linking to those he visits.

Secret Squirrel’s journey is up to you!

What we love about Secret Squirrel is that he is his own ~~rodent~~ mammal… We can’t tell him where to go… he will be lead by those he visits and that is what makes this all so very exciting! From Belgium, to Australia, to…Iceland? He will travel many miles and make many new friends. This is his most important mission to date!!

So we hope you will welcome Secret Squirrel into your hearts (and your inboxes) and embrace his mission of spreading his inspiration to create fabulous clothing for our little ones. If you would like sew along and help spread the word on Secret Squirrel, feel free to put the button below on your blog and also to add your creation to the Secret Squirrel flickr group. But please, do not blog or add your creation to the group until the second of the month so as not to detract from the blogger who receives the official secret squirrel mission.

At the end of the series, Suz and An will make a selection of their favorite projects, and popular vote will decide who wins two fantastic prizes (scroll down to find out!)

He is super excited to unveil his first five acorns which were given to Suz two weeks ago...

A mandarin duck; "not done"; a painting by Japanese artist Ando Hiroshige; "pleat"; Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

PRIZE PACKAGES

Meet Secret Squirrel's fabric sponsors...

SewFineFabrics is a fabric store on Etsy which has a great selection of organic cottons (Birch, Monaluna) but also of other prominent brands like Windham (Lotta Jansdotter!), Michael Miller, Riley Blake, Moda, and the like. Owner Jodi selects only the prettiest prints and best quality cottons, and ships them all over the world at stunning rates! SewFineFabrics is donating a $50 gift voucher to the Secret Squirrel host who sews up the best outfit. Thank you, Jodi!

SewFreshFabrics is started as an Etsy shop, but quickly grew into an independent fabric store with an amazing range of fabrics. Designer cottons (Lotta! Amy! Anna Maria!), organic fabrics (Birch! Cloud 9!), Japanese import (Kokka!), solids (Essex linen, Kona cotton!) and more. If you cannot find it in Peg's store, it probably does not exist. The winner of the sew-along competition will be able to go on a $25 shopping spree at SewFreshFabrics. Thank you, Peg!

LimaSews is owned by Linh and Mark, and sells some of the top brands and designers in organic and regular quilting fabric. Lotta Jansdotter, Cloud 9, Birch, Art Gallery, Free Spirit, Rowan, ... they're all there! And their prices shipping rates are simply amazing (check out those for shipping outside the US!). The creator of the best sew-along outfit wins $25 worth of delicious fabrics at LimaSews. Thanks, Linh and Mark!

Meet Secret Squirrel's pattern sponsors...

Elegance & Elephants probably needs no introduction: designer Heidi's Bubble Shorts pattern was one of the sewing hits of the past few months! But the winner can also select one of her two other patterns (the gorgeous Ruffle Top/Dress, and the super cute Bubble Pocket Top & Spin Skirt), or pick one of her upcoming fall patterns, perhaps? Thanks for giving away two patterns, Heidi!

Scientific Seamstress is the alter ego of Carla, a molecular biologist who went from laboratory experiments to sewing experiments. She sells loads of great physical and digital patterns, for children's, women's, men's, and doll's outfits. And a few bags too! Over the past years, Carla has sold thousands of copies of her wonderful designs. Thank you for sponsoring our little squirrel, Carla!

Sewpony Vintage is run by Suz (co-organiser of Secret Squirrel) who has just released her first vintage style pattern - Debbie's birthday dress (with blog tour starting next week!). She has another vintage dress pattern in the works and will be adding to her etsy shop over the coming months with more vintage inspired patterns.

StraightGrain sells patterns designed by Secret Squirrel co-organizer An, who has a soft spot for simple, clean designs with many different options. After the Bubble dress and Tinny dress patterns, a third pattern (Hanami top and dress) is currently being tested, and a fourth one is in the works.

We hope these wonderful prizes will spark your inspiration and enthusiasm for Secret Squirrel... Will you be sewing along? Be sure to add your creations to our Secret Squirrel flickr group!!!

Thank you SO much to Carla, Heidi, Jodi, Linh and Marc, and Peg! And good luck to everyone who is participating!