At last I can let out my breath; I have finally received my advance copies of the most exciting job I have ever worked on. And work it certainly was. Blog followers who've had the patience to stick around this quiet place might remember that I spent the first half of last year working on *stuff* which rendered me an exhausted hermit. And here is the first fruit.
Yes. My needle felt toys now have their own little world, 'Puddletown Tales', published by Templar UK. It has been over two years in the making; one year of waiting to hear if the books were going ahead, six months of creating them and then a long, slow wait for the first copies to arrive this week. Regular readers may recognise the mouse on the front, a bit altered from the original.
Dear Andy has looked after me for nearly twenty years. We aren't married, but we have stuck to each other like glue and he has been there for me all the time, solid as a tall oak tree. It hasn't always been easy, especially during the ten years when it seemed as if I would nev
86 Comments on A secret revealed, last added: 2/22/2011
Display Comments
Add a Comment
My warmest congratulations. You so deserve it. A truely heart-rending post.
Oh Gretel. I am crying as I write this. What a wonderful book you have created you clever, clever girl!!!!! I am just so proud of you. I know that you hinted to me some 18 months ago about a secret which may or may not be happening when you sat in my kitchen and so I delighted to see that here it is.
You are fabulous honey and I for one will be putting my order in. This book is a must have and next time I see you I will be asking you to sign it. Woo hoo and well done you xxx
p.s Well done to your lovely man too, for being there and supporting you through this x
Beautiful. You are amazing! Looking forward to seeing you, and your gorgeous books, very soon. xxx
Gretel,
I am so excited for you and for all of the children who will get so much pleasure out of this book. Looking at the pictures makes me want to turn the pages. I can't wait until it is available in America because for sure my home will have one to share with the grandchildren.
Congratulations on you persistance, and ability to hold on to your dream and work until it has come true. I am so proud of you and Andy for as you have said this was not done alone.
God Bless You
Carol
Huge congratulations. It's simply beautiful.
A x
What a beautiful creation! Many congratulations Gretel on your long-awaited and well-deserved break. You truly are an inspiration to artists and writers everywhere. I hope you'll be celebrating with cupcakes all round!
This is such fantastic news. Congratulations! The quality and detail is fantastic. I love the layered cover. It makes me want to flip it open. To think of all those days, busy felting, and here it is in another form. You are an inspiration.
Big, big congratulations Gretel - thoroughly well-deserved.
congratulations, how exciting, I'm sure it's all the sweeter from having to wait so long. It's wonderful to see all your hard work has paid off.
Well I'm glad to know I'm not the only one moved to tears (mind you I cry at the drop of a hat!), congratulations Gretel - you deserve this so much and the book is stunningly beautiful. I can't wait to see it in person.
Hot Damn! Well done,Gretel.
I feel very proud to know you and have seen how hard and long you have worked towards this. Wonderful...I know some girls who will probably be getting them ordered on Amazon soon!
Oh and don't forget that I have an original by your lovely man!
Wow! Congratulations, your book looks perfectly lovely Gretel. Really something to be proud of. And such a moving story about your journey, it brought a tear to my eyes too.
I've just signed up on amazon to be notified when it's available. My daughter will love it!
What a wonderful achievement Gretel. Congratulations. Your feltwork is adorable. My brother's partner Lesley has just written a book about a rag rug maker friend and it is being published by Schiffer this year. She has had to make so many alterations and at times has felt like tearing her hair out. Writing and getting a book published is no easy matter. I hope yours is mega successful. Very sad to hear of your hardships in early life but it has obviously made you the person you are today.
Yay! Congratulations! I am so happy for you - all your hard work has paid off and the book looks so sweet and wonderful :)
Gretel, many congratulations on all your hard work and your talent! I'm so happy for you and I've got to tell you, you made me cry with the last paragraph of this post. A wonderful creation and well deserved success. I hope you celebrate in style! :) xx
Congratulations! That's an amazing achievement, here's to the next 5 books and the movie too! ;) xx
Oh Gretel it is a wonderful book, and so much work no wonder you were tired out. It's marvelous that editorial didn't stop you doing this the way you wanted, they know perfection when they see it. I hope that this means you & Andy are getting nearer and nearer to making some other dreams come true now. Wish I could get to give you a massive hug & share in celebrations ♥
I am so happy for you. It's so nice to see peoples dreams finally come true. Is it going to be available in the US?
Congratulations! What a lovely, lovely thing to have created; the products of your imagination are so spellbinding!
Oh Gretel, finally the BIG reveal........... WONDERFUL, congratulations, it's very exciting and so nice to share it with you.
All that time and effort has finally paid off. The book looks fantastic, I looooove Mrs Mouse and her cupcakes, they both look yummy.
I love all the little details and the 'in jokes'. Those purple toadstools looked wicked.
That little 12 year old girl has fulfilled her wish, made her dream come true, can it get any better?
Hope you and your cake eating man had some cupcakes to celebrate this event.
Claire :}
Just lovely. Lovely, lovely. Congrats!
Wow-what a fantastic book and a wonderful achievement Gretel. I hope you sell millions and write many more. Congratulations.
I've been marking your site, coming back and forth for many months, waiting to find out the surprise. Congratulations on a wonderful and well-deserved project! I'm hoping that it will reach the states so I can spread your name far and wide..into all of the wee little children's homes so they can learn that creativity and wonderful storytelling, is still alive and well.
Warmly,
Christy in Florida
YOU. DID. IT! I am sitting smiling here. Wishing you unlimited success! :O)))))!
Bloody marvelous, Gretel. Absolutely wonderful news. What a cracking touchy feely book. I adore your elegant blue cat-what a lovely necklace she is wearing, she's terribly well dressed. No combats! xx
Dear Gretel,
I am so very happy for you. What an accomplishment. I hope that I can get the book soon here in the states.
I am wiping up some tears here reading all of this post.
Congratulations.
It is amazing! It's -by far- the best artistic work I've seen recently! I think it's because it cames from your heart! Congratulation and hope to see more in the future!
This made me so happy! I am so so pleased that your world is in pages! Wow, good on Templar! I shall be buying it! A thousand bravos and love and cheers for you both! X Rima
PS - I had a "Mrs Mouse" as a little'un too :) She had a floral dress and nightcap to match!
This is such exciting news and I'm so happy for you! Congratulations and here's to many, many more books in your future. I can't wait to see what comes next:)
Hi, your book is absolutly Beautiful .Well done !
l have been visiting you for some time and l am so pleased for you. l certainly will be buying your book.l love the mice and cakes..
with all bestwishes
Uplifting and moving story - well-deserved success to you and,of course, Andy. Heartfelt congratulations!
This is so, so beautiful -- and your own story is so touching.
There are writers, and there are artists, but rarely are both combined (so skillfully!) in one person. Can't wait to order my copy . . .
Most heartfelt congratulations to you. xx
Wow! So totally made-up for you! What an enchanting place Puddletown looks. Many congratulations on a fine achievement.
You are an artist and a writer... and I'll order your book as soon as it becomes available! Congratulations x
I am so very happy for you Gretel, you have created something very very special, from the heart. I think this will be the tip of the iceberg for you.
Your needlefelted creatures have such character and together with your illustration you have created your own special world. Well done you !!!
Congratulations Gretel! What a wonderful book! :) So pleased for you. May this be the first of many more.
xx
Huge congratulations. I shall be ordering for my granddaughter. Enjoy every minute. X
Dear Gretel,
You have no idea how big a smile is on my face right now :->
PERFECT...that is the only word I can think of..the cover, illustrations and stunning figures....just perfect!
Your story of dedication, hard work and strength, brings tears to my eyes. I have so much admiration and respect for you...you will never know.
Bask in the glow of accomplishment and success...it is well deserved.
proud to call you a friend,
Janet xox
PS...dear Andy...thanks for being there for our girl...you ROCK!
PS Just got back from seeing 'True Grit', as I read your post I thought about it and you and thought you might like it - a 14 year old girl with attitude avenges the death of her father in a harsh cruel world. Great film although I'm not usually into Westerns... X
oh gretel I am a sentimental soppy old soul but I am in tears reading this - really, the biggest congratulations to you on this huge endeavour - I am so over the moon for you. Your mum and dad would be so incredibly proud of you. The book looks absolutely wonderful and I for one shll be ordering a copy! x
well done you !!...... I'm brimming too.... knowing how tough it must have been after being dealt a hand like that. Shit sure does happen some days....and I'm just so darn happy you were able to hang in there and finally overcome all of it.... and now to manage this! Way to go Gretel! How proud I am to know you.... and how proud your Mum and Dad would be of their little girl.
This is so exciting!
Hurray! CM and I are thrilled for you. I can't help but think your parents would be so pleased with this success (and just as convinced as I am that you will have many more in future).
Many hugs to you and Andy. Off to see about pre-ordering a particular book.
Congratulations Gretel. You have added another realm to the world of children's literature, as distinctive as Mabel Lucie Atwell
or Hugh Lofting.
Oh Gretel, on this night lit by a very bright full moon, I am so delighted to read you post.
Wow. Wow. And ... one more wow!
Bet this book of yours is going to delight many children, and also please the eyes and sensitivities of many adults.
Amazone UK is great...I am gonna have to see about how to get Amazon USA to get me one of these books.
It's late night here for me now, but I know that in the clear light of day I am going to start my book buying research
Bravo, dear Gretel. And best wishes to Andy! xo
Congratulations Gretel! How wonderful to have the beautiful all-PG books at last, the realization of a dream and a promise. And thank you for the virtual tour, I have been clicking on every picture for a closer view to see your illustrator's touches! A book to treasure and keep.
I don't very often have to sniff and blink to clear my vision after a blog post. Biggest of big congratulations: a really wonderful book, I'm sure they'd both be very proud of you.
Looks amazing. Beautiful work!
Congratulations Gretel, it looks terrific. You must be feeling so proud - if only you could travel back in time and tell the 12 year old you that her dream would come true. I think that is one book that will find it's way into my collection!
Bloody he'll GP, you made me cry! So very happy for you, the book looks fantastic, the felting splendid, picturing wonderful, well done, well done and hurrah for the solid trees and rocks of partners that help us through! Xxx
How wonderful and exciting to have published your own book! It must have been a long hard road to get to this point - but how satisfying to have the finished product in your hands and such a long held ambition fulfilled.
Fabulous news, well done all. I've gone to reserve my copy already, it'll be just right for my niece.
how exciting to see your book published! It looks wonderful and your felt figures are so cute!
Wow! I am so pleased for you Gretel and the book is wonderful. It's beautiful and I love the combination of your felted toys and painted illustrations. I always knew you'd get there. Congratulations. Have a big bottle of cyber elderflower wine (seems more fitting than champagne) on me and, of course, a lovely cup cake. Well done! xo
I am choked - well done, well done. What a heart warming achievement; congragulations. Here's to the launch of of Mrs Mouse's Cupcakes and the memory of your Mum and Dad.
Jill x
What a beautiful blog post and many congratulations on your book, it's a wonderful idea.
A wonderful post carrying such fantastic news! Well done you Gretel! You must be so relieved that after such adversity you have succeeded in your aims! The book looks lovely and I hope it will be a top seller - you deserve it! x Jo
Gretel - this is wonderful. The book is gorgeous, and all those needle-felted bits and bobs are dreamy.
I knew you had had troubles in your past but didn't realise it was so bad. What an inspiration you are to us all! Your Mum and Dad would be so proud of you :)
Congratulations to you; it is beautiful and wonderful beyond words.
lovely as always Gretel. very nice to see you doing you so well! dx
Be beyond wonderful, actually I've tried to read the post a couple times but just started crying. Simply divine all of it. Long live Puddletown!!!!! (clink)
Your words at the end brought me to tears. Your creations are just stunning and the book looks fabulous, I'm trying to think who I can buy it for! Congratulations xx
You are living proof that dreams do come true! Enjoy the success - and thanks for the inspiration!
Congratulations, I love how you have merged your different talents in the book. The cupcakes are so sweet!
Stunning work, congratulations! I wish you every success with them. It shows dreams and hard work really do pay off. The cupcakes are just amazing! (as is all your work...) :D
Becka
With tears in my eyes, I congratulate you on your life's work coming to fruition. xx
Oh my goodness I just couldn't be happier for you. Your talent is finally being appreciated by all.
This is just a darling book. You bet I will pre-order my copy.
Hugs and kisses to you and a big congratulations.
Congratulations! How exciting it must be to see it in the flesh, your characters are wonderful, full of life and personality. It's sure to sell well!
well, I just want to add my congrats to you. I am honored to have an ornament you've created and the ladybug (-bird) . . . it's all up from here on
congratulation!! I'm soooo pleased for you. and I live just down the road from Puddletown!! I never knew it had such famous creatures living there :)
I am so happy for you! It must feel wonderful to hold that book in your hands. Congratulations!
That is such a beautiful book. I can't tell you how special I think it is.
OMG - this is so wonderful......
*snivel* - congratulations xxxx
§{:O])=
A wonderful looking book! So rewarding when hard work pays off in the end :-)
I love the name of the tales, as it happens I used to live very close to a place called Puddletown and went through it on my way to school.
Isabelle x
Lovely, well done you!
Dawn
Heart "felt" congratulations on a sweet dream come true- no one deserves it more than you! Such happy news!
Gretel! Many many congratulations on the book, it looks sumptous & I am so pleased that all your hard work is now available in book shaped form. Brilliant stuff, well done you!
Vikki x & Witchcat x
Congratulations Gretel
I came to this post via Donna's FB mention and am thrilled to have found it. I'll be ordering as a keeper until my granddaughter's old enough. I'll be able to enjoy it myself in the meantime.
You must be so thrilled to have achieved your lifetime's ambition and my heart goes out to you. I shall be a firm follower of your blog from now on.
Congratulations!
Sue
Many, many congratulations - I started crying when I got to the end. Your parents would be so proud to see how you have turned out. Andy sounds like Malcolm - always there when needed!!
Congratulations!
The book is absolutely beautiful!
The combination of techniques works very well!
gosh, I remember visiting you here sometime back and always admiring your illustrations. Now I feel a lump in my throat as I read your last passage. I too lost my Mum and would one day love to be able to illustrate and write a book to show her. I am sure that your parents are smiling down and very very very proud of their little girl! your book is STUNNING, how fabulous to combine your needle felting - CONGRATULATIONS! Hugs, Catherine x
Oh, congratulations, Gretel. Your story is so touching and the book is just lovely (and I can only begin to imagine all the hard work that went into it). I am thrilled for you and can't wait to see where you will go from here.
Sometimes the right things happen to the right people...sometimes it takes awhile and comes after much hardship...it's wonderful your right thing happened, because you're certainly the right people!
Congratulations, Gretel...hardwork...yes...satisfying...no doubt...and to be able to share it with a special love...simply wonderful!
Gretel, love,
You rock!! What a wonderful, wonderful book...and such beautiful toys and pictures. Well done. And such a lovely memorial to your parents, and especially to Andy.
Bless
Marianne
Wow, and many many congratulations on a beautiful piece of art and for achieving your ambitions! I can't quite find the right words so I'll settle for sending you my heartiest congratulations again! And to your lovely Andy too. He must be so proud of you.