Mollie Makes, one fox and two new Deer!

It feels great to be back here writing a post, it's been a while!
I've been playing catch up on so many things, and feeling a bit like a swan...calm on the top half but the legs furiously paddling underneath!
However, the fact that I am here writing this does suggest I'm getting up to speed now :)

It's been a bit of a whirlwind I have to say, and there are a couple of celebratory worthy things I'd love to share.

The first thing is the commissioned front cover project I created for the latest edition of Mollie Makes Magazine. 

photo credit Mollie Makes

If I sound like I'm saying this in a blase way....I can assure you I'm not :) I subscribe to the magazine (because I LOVE it!) and it gets delivered monthly to my front door, so it was quite a magical moment to unwrap the packaging and see my fox peaking back.

It arrived on the first day back to school after the summer hols, so I had no one to witness the heel clicking 'yippee's' that followed (probably for the best), but I did manage a cheesy selfie! You can tell I don't underplay my successes. Haha!

It was a great project to collaborate on and I smile when I see the rough mock up fox compared to the finished one....got to share this with you too :) 

Quite a transformation, but I still think the first one is my fave...though I am known to always plump for an underdog...(or fox in this case)

It's always a gooooood thing to be challenged and step outside what you would naturally create, I reckon. So I welcome with open arms the next collaboration/ commissioned project!

I had the best of intentions to have my Felt Deer kits all ready to launch for the release date of the magazine, however the summer holidays put paid to that idea.... which is no bad thing as the sunshine does need to be enjoyed when it makes an (all be it brief!) appearance.

It catches me out every time just how time consuming it is to design and create a new kit, summer holidays or not....sourcing materials, designing & printing packaging, writing instructions and tweaking templates....can feel a little like Groundhog day at times. 

However I'm delighted to say they are finally GOOD to GO!! Woohoo!

Heel clicking 'yippeeee' time again :)

I'm so happy with how they have come together. The kits come with great quality (and lovely to work with) 100% wool felt. 

Illustrated instructions are included in the kit but I've also created a video tutorial which walks you through the steps for those a little nervous or unfamiliar with stitching little deer. You get the access details with your kit.

This means everyone can get in on the deer stitching act!

Spirit Deer is available here, and Leafy Deer is available here.

Unicorn kits are a-coming sooooooon.........just needing to come up for a little air first.

Last but not least......if you are going back to school/uni soon and need a little pocket notebook then pop over to Sewmamsew for a fun tutorial to make your own birdie inspired one, designed by yours truly xx

A little touch of magic .....

I just wanted to pop in and tell you about something funny and wonderful that happened just the other day. It's a little self indulgent, but I'm hoping you'll excuse it for the story of sweet synchronicity that lies behind it! :)

Many months ago a lady sent me an email enquiring about my embroidery kits, mentioning she "had seen them in Mollie Makes....or another magazine". The lady couldn't remember.

Since that email the thought has briefly crossed my mind once or twice, wondering if my kits really had been featured in Mollie Makes, and thinking that if they had I would probably never know.
I must add at this point, the idea of having anything of mine featured in Mollie Makes would tickle me pink. I LOVE this magazine (and finally got a subscription for my crimbo!). I submitted some images of my kits to the deputy editor a while back,  hoping they may make an appearance but never heard anything to indicate they had.

So fast forward to 2 days ago, when I am sitting watching a short video from a Mini Series created by Rachel Taylor, about creating your signature style. In the second video, Rachel was talking about where to find inspiration, and started to show some items beginning with  a pantone book, paint chips, jar of buttons then a magazine....Mollie Makes Magazine. She then proceeded to stop "to find a relevant page"  and held up the open magazine....
Cue immediate double take, jaw hit floor, scramble to pause the video and then laugh like a hyena!
2 of my embroidery kits were there on the very page Rachel had stopped to show ...making their debut appearance in Mollie makes!!
Heeheeee!

 Rachel Taylor in Video 2 from Mini Series over on Make it in Design

Of all the pages, in all the magazines on all the videos......or something like that!

It's an older edition, (Edition 42 whereas the current one is Issue 48)......but I'm so jumping with joy.....and bought a digital copy of it so I could see it with my own eyes (as shown below!).

Mollie Makes Magazine Ed 42

Just to make sure you can see too!;) 

I'm delighting at the sweetness of life and it's lovely little surprises, at the twists and turns and VERY unexpected treasures. Thankyou Rachel, Thankyou Mollie Makes, and thankyou lovely lady for emailing!

xx