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Oh where did February go? It ended with my first workshop of the year, a return to Folly Fabrics in Bampton, to hold a 'Little Houses' workshop. I was lodged for the night with the lovely shop owners and I took a jar of Joe's delicious blackcurrant jam as a little thank-you gift. So breakfast on the day was homemade bread and jam. And enough coffee to shake the cobwebs from my brain.
Then off to the shop, to set up. This is the calm before the storm.
It's always a full house at Folly Fabrics and I had a lovely mix of returners, some ladies who had seen my latest 'Mollie Makes' cover last year (and traveled a long way from 'down south' to attend) and a blog friend, from 'Tales from the Weekday Home' - it was really fabulous to meet her in person at last.
While I was staying with Joe, I knocked up this little prototype, so that people had the option of making that or creating their own. Everyone got to work.
And that was it for four hours. Towards the end, the customary cake came out. Don't be deceived by it's innocent simplicity; this view hides the one inch thick filling of chocolate buttercream.
I can't remember a workshop where there wasn't a cosy mix of wool, cake and mugs of hot drinks.
Meanwhile, my friend the shop owner, had been quietly making her own delightful little Scottish croft in the background. It's finished off beautifully. I have bit of a 'proud teacher' feeling about this, but it's mostly down to her own patience and persistence.
So, that was it for February. My next workshop is in Manchester, on the 30th April, with limited spaces, which are filling up; we have just four places left and bunnies to make. If you'd like to come, the booking form is here on the 'Make It website.
Nothing going on, except a lot of planning, designing and unfinished work - here's a little something I have actually completed, with amber chips on a bronze wire. Yes, it's yet another hare. Well, it is nearly Spring!
By:
Paintgranny,
on 12/25/2015
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Middle of Nowhere
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Joe and I are enjoying our second Christmas together. Yet again it's simply a quiet time; a time of being thankful that we have a roof over our heads, food, logs for the fire and most importantly, each other. Whatever you do at this time of year - and especially if you are alone - we both send you the warmest of best wishes and hope for the future. Because there is always a better place, despite the long haul to get there.
By:
Paintgranny,
on 12/16/2015
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I've made just under 50 patterns in the last four years, but this one has to be one of my favourites, a Scandinavian style village in a terrarium.
It's also my third cover for Mollie Makes, which is a bit of a proud moment. As usual, it's been beautifully styled and photographed at the other end.
Like all of my patterns, it started off with sketches which progressed from initial brain storming ideas -
- to experimenting with various shapes and arrangements.
Before settling on what would be more or less the final design.
For my American friends, I believe it becomes available early next year from Barnes and Noble, Books A Million and outlets of Jo-Ann. A full list of countries and overseas outlets can be found here on the Mollie Makes site.
I'd love to see any examples of villages made from my pattern. I'm also holding a 'little houses' needle felt workshop at my old haunt, Folly Fabrics, Wiltshire, on February 27th next year. For more details and to book a place from their site, click here.
I've been pleasantly surprised at how many people have signed up for my needle felt newsletter, and am planning the first edition for mid-January. If you'd like to sign up for it too, the form is here on my own website.
So many thanks for all the kind and lovely comments on my last post. Joe and I were incredibly touched that people were happy for us. Now that I have a real purpose, I've thrown myself back into work with a vengeance, starting the New Year with two little hare brooches in a newish style.
It's good to be making again.
2014 ended with a gorgeous feature in 'Filtz Fun', a popular German felting magazine - they made it all look beautiful, I think the prettiest magazine article of mine I've seen. I do need to update my publicity picture though. 2015 is starting to fill up with workshops - at the moment I have five definite dates, starting in March with a bang at the p-Lush alpaca show in Coventry, where I will be using alpaca wool for the first time ever. The next day I am in Oxfordshire at my regular venue of Folly Fabrics, Smith's Restaurant in Manchester in April and back to the Buckingham Summer School for two full days in August. (Summer, hooray!) More info and contact details can be found on my website. More to be added, with luck.
My first workshop of the year, held at Cinderhill Farm at the beginning of March. Fully booked and raring to go. We started off by making chickens.
Outside, the farm chickens clucked indignantly. No punk hairstyles on these ladies.
The morning session was sustained with copious tea, homemade shortbread and flapjacks.
After lunch (home farmed pork casserole with herby rice) people worked on their own designs - or in this case, followed my 'bunny brooch' pattern from issue 24 of 'Mollie Makes'.
Then another break for a special farmhouse high tea - all freshly baked in the farmhouse kitchen by Debs, our hostess. Two types of cake, jam tarts, rich scones with butter, cream and jam.
It is always so rewarding to see finished designs as the day draws to a close.
The traditional Grand Parade - the lovely results of a very creative day - didn't they do well?
I believe the next workshop (scheduled for early summer) is already fully booked, but if you would like to be informed of spare places or book in advance for a late summer workshop, please contact Debs via the Cinderhill Farm website or message her through the official Facebook page.
We aren't decorating this year, so I will inundate my blog with images of the toy circus decorations I designed for the
Gisela Graham company a couple of years ago. I've not been to any shops, so would love to know if anyone in the UK has seen them - or even has bought some.
A peaceful Christmas to everyone from Bodge Cottage.
It seems like a long time ago when I made these little chaps - in our old cottage, back in the Spring before we moved. Cottages and houses really are the dominant theme this year.
And now at last, they are in the gorgeous new 'Mollie Makes' project series, published by Anova Books. I opened my latest mag to see this - and a lovely in-house photo of my little cottages.
The nice people at
Anova have offered a giveaway of a free copy to a lucky winner - just leave a comment on my blog here, and I'll draw all the names out of a hat on Wednesday morning October the 10th - so get your name down before then, and I'll send the winner's email address to the publishers. Open to the Whole World.
I've already got my copies - so many lovely things in there, I feel happy just looking at it.
Oh, and if you'd like a bonus entry, subscribe to Lovecraft/Anova
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I've got a few things going on at the moment, life-wise - and an ongoing order list for full sized toys. But it's nice to go AWOL sometimes and sneak a bit of playtime in.
So when I can, I've been making little things. Such as tiny houses - as we seem to be having a house oriented year.
Which *only* take 3-4 hours to make.
These 'Wee Housies' were going to be popped into my Etsy shop for £30 each.
But the entire village was snapped up before I could list them. Sorry!
It's been a long time since I had any artworks for sale at roughly £25 ($39) - these are small sweeties, 4 inches squared, in 6 inch square bevel cut mounts.
TOPIARY 1 (SOLD)
This topiary one is my personal favourite. Anything with a house in!
Wheelie Goose 1 (SOLD)
Although geese run a close second. The next week is going to be spent working on one of those 'proper jobs' which I'm not able to talk about yet. But which is very exciting!
Kitten 1 (SOLD)
One of this month's completed orders.
Isobel and Phoebe - best friends forever.
Pheebs and Izzy to their friends.
Doglets ahoy! Issue 13 of Mollie Makes hits UK shop shelves today - I've had a fantastic response from subscribers so far (who got their copies last Saturday). I feel a bit greedy, as the lovely Mollie Makes team gave me a lot of pages - as soon as you open the cover the sweet story begins - and how beautifully they have presented my little dogs - I felt as if I was looking at someone else's work. 
...and in the contents...
...and six sumptuous double page spreads after that, with my step-by-step guide to making your own doglet - people, I sweated over that pattern, so it had better work! And yes, those are my fair hands demonstrating the steps.
The basic doglet design is an old favourite - I made my first in the third week of my discovering needle felting, over four years ago. He was called 'Petite Jaune' and he went over to live in Europe.
Soon after, I tweaked the design and made 'Custard', who went to live with the lovely
28 Comments on Mollie Makes & me!, last added: 4/15/2012
It's a pleasant day here in the city. Today we found an injured baby bird in the warehouse and it's been in our office this morning, recuperating, so that's been really exciting!
Though it's still July, school is just around the corner. Sadly, August will be upon us and behind us in almost no time, and then it will be autumn. What better time to brush up your young one's reading skills? Reintroduce them to the wonderful world of reading with Ellen Tarlow's Pinwheel Days, a whimsical and fun early reader for young children. Featuring the lovable donkey Pinwheel, each of these four stories will draw children in with their fun and adventure. Children will love meeting Pinwheel's new friends, laugh at his mishaps, and immerse themselves in his playful world. Wrote School Library Journal of Pinwheel Days, "this early chapter book has charm and broad child appeal." Early Childhood News said that "this is a delightful collection of four easy-to-read short stories." Children's Literature praised the artwork of illustrator Gretel Parker, saying that her "breezy illustrations offer the perfect mix of color." Children and their grown-ups alike will enjoy spending time with Pinwheel and his friends Squirrel, Rabbit, and Owl. Don't miss out. Pick up a copy of Pinwheel Days today!
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
Ramblin’ rose, ramblin’ rose
Why you ramble, no one knows,
Wild and wind-blown, that’s how you’ve grown,
Who can cling to a ramblin’ rose?
I am back to work and not before time - my piggy bank is decidedly convex after so many weeks of not earning. Rose was commissioned almost a year ago and what with one thing and another, she has taken some time to finish. She is not just a pink elephant, she is half a load of wood for the wood burner and a big grocery shop for my depleted store cupboards; appearances can be deceptive.
Now she is on her way to America, to join her new owner and I am almost finished with another back-order. I have a list of people who want to know when I will have new stock for sale, but I must get the last couple of things made before starting new designs. I'm thinking moles and hedgehogs, maybe a squirrel. Red of course.
26 Comments on Rambling Rose, last added: 12/7/2010
26 Comments on Rambling Rose, last added: 12/7/2010
Oh wow Gretel what fab results from the workshop.....well done to all concerned but especially you :-)
Hugs,
Annie x
Good to see you in the saddle again. And you just have to love the idea of punk chickens.
Such wonderful work! I hope to make it up to one of your workshops one day! Bit of a trek from little ol cornwall but you never know! X
oh how fantastic is that chicken with the punk hairstyle.
Great workshop and if i lived closer id be there for sure
Gill x
Such a charming menagerie. Yes, they did well under your tutelage.
On a sidenote.... you ladies eat really well at these classes, no?
xoxo
holy moly - the food - what can I say!!!
A credit to the tutor..... x
Oh Gretel, that workshop looks like great fun. The variety of creations is rather impressive...guess those ladies had a wonderful teacher...that would be You!
I do love the chicken with the wild and crazy top knot the very best, but there are surely some close contenders in that group picture.
And the food. Wow and wow again. Debs surely does know her way around a kitchen.
I can see why your workshops fill up fast. Lucky folks to have you show them a new skill.
xo
You sure it wasn't a 'Foodie' workshop with some needle felting in between eating?
Looks like a great day was had by all. Loving the variety of creations.......can't go past a chicken but the cute little hedgehog caught my eye and then there's a fox and a toadstool too.....sigh!!
Gretel if you ever want to visit Oz and do some workshops I'm sure there'd be plenty of starters.....
CLaire x
I wish I lived closer, I could sure do with some instruction when it comes to needlefelting! And the food....wow!
They all did very well - it's not the easiest of crafts to get started on.
Wow! Those all look amazing! I'm pretty crafty, but I've never done that. Too bad Chicago is sooo far away! The farm looks cool too. I'd be torn between crafting & playing with the animals! Are you going to reopen your ETSY shop??? I really love your work.
Maybe someday I'll make it back over 'the pond'. I've been there several times & even studied a semester there in college. It's so beautiful.
Glad to see you back in action. Hugs to you!
I only wish I could attend! Lovely of you to share though and what a grand spread! Mouth watering for sure!
Blessings,
Welcome back.
Jean x
What a workshop! Great tutor, great students and great food!!
what beautiful creations everyone made!
What a brilliant workshop - such lovely "makes" too. Will be in touch - I got a bit bogged down with M's wedding bits and bobs this week. x Jo
Looks like a wonderful workshop - what a beautiful Grand Parade.
I suppose it was a huge delight to attend your workshop! The results are lovely (the rabbit, the hedgehog, the coq...) and you all seem to have spent that creative day in a cosy and friendly atmosphere! I believe noone was on a special diet that day, for everything looks soooooo delicious!:D
Go ahead with your workshops, dear Gretel - there're so many ladies eager to learn from you!xx
Oh - I wish I lived close enough to come to one of your workshops ....
Enchanting wee critters...love the hedgehog!
Luv
Darly
Ok...you had me at the mention of SCONES!!!! I love scones! Well done to all the ladies...lovely results all around..but then they had an excellent teacher.
Janet xox
The Empty Nest
such a fantastic workshop for kids..
newborn baby toys shopping
Oh, what fun! and what fooooood!!! Why do I always live so far away from all the fun stuff...... pout............
Wow what a talented bunch you all are! It looks like a fantastic day with all those treats to eat too!xx
Love the chicken!
Will you be running the classes in Shrewsbury we talked about?
Wow what a productive day! great little makes :)
I never thought of felting as a fattening activity, but that looks like it must be! What a fun and delicious day that must have been. Wish I was there!
Hi, hope you are okay. And, that you can enjoy some of the sporadic sunshine we are having.
What a wonderfully creative day!
Wonderful creations and splendid food.
Gosh, I wish I lived nearer!