Melly & me

Off I go!!

Thank you so much for all of your lovely birthday wishes, I had such a lovely day and was spoilt rotten! I would love to reply to all of your comments but am madly in pack mode now before we fly out tomorrow.

Thanks also for all of the congrats on the book draft.  A few of you have asked for the release date, but I am note quite sure on a definite date as yet.  It is still all fairly dependent on how many proof reads/alterations are needed and how long it will take at the printers.  I am fairly confident that it will be in June and I am hopeful for the first half of June but will certainly keep you posted.

Just thought I would leave you a quick post with another book project before I leave the country....

I hope you like my "Fairyland Toadstool" Backpack!  Modeled by the lovely Baby Floss, of course!

Have a lovely next 10 days - I know I will!!!!

I will return on the 12th and look forward to sharing some of Korea's beauty with you all.

May the floss be with you,

Melly

Inspired Stitches & Kaleidoscope

I hope you are all ready for a mammoth post, because I think this just might prove to be one!

We had such a fabulous weekend at the "Inspired Stitches" retreat that was held by Sarah at Quilt Fabric Delights on the weekend!  It was such an amazing weekend and I think that it was thoroughly enjoyed by one and all.  It is at times like this that I think it should be illegal to have so much fun while you are supposedly "working"!!!

All of the ladies were spoilt for choice, given a starting kit for a project from each designer. As there were many who spent the two days at the retreat they were able to work on one, two or all of the projects while they were there

This particularly gorgeous hand model (you know who you are!!) was stitching for the first time ever and was doing the most amazing job!!  It is particularly exciting when you get to help someone start on their stitching addiction journey. 

Each table was decorated with the most delicious centre piece and I think the amazing Marie (It was just so fabulous to finally meet you Marie!!) was responsible for a great deal of the beautiful creations.

One of the highlights of each day was the "show and share" time which Rosie had too much fun hosting (she wants her very own microphone for her birthday!).  Here are a couple of the fabulous Melly & me creations that were shared

Above is a gorgeous version of the "Black Forest" bag and below, not really needing an introduction, is Magoo.

Of course there was the most beautiful array of fabrics and patterns for sale from Sarah's amazing range.  I will admit that I had to have a little "retail therapy" break at one stage!

Another highlight was being able to finally show off some of my projects from "Kaleidoscope"!!  It was so nice to hear everyone's feedback and to finally let go of some of that secrecy!

I think I may have promised to let some of the secrecy go on here too, so I suppose I better show you some more!!

The book has a mixture of 12 projects for baby, girls, boys, ladies and men!  I thought today I would share a couple of the more "women" geared projects which are based on my current obsession with Kokeshi dolls.  I thought I would show you these first as there seem to be a few Kokeshi dolls appearing in blog land and I used the stitchery as one of my projects at the Inspired Stitches retreat.

These are my sweet Kokeshi dollies and there is a pattern for two different dolly designs which are ever so cute.  Below is my "Kokeshi Friends" stitchery which now sits happily on my shelf with my collection of bright wooden Kokeshi dolls.

So that is a small taste to start with while I think about what to show you next!!

Half way through writing this post I was contacted to come and collect the first draft of the book - I am literally on cloud nine and am busting to show it to you all.  Oh, how hard waiting is!!!

Only 3 more sleeps until our trip to Korea and one more sleep until I am basically a third of a century.  I will try to do a new post before I head on my trip but for now I must go and look at my book draft for the millionth time.

May the floss be with you,

Melly

Freedom and a new pattern.

Did you all hear my loud sign of relief yesterday??!!

I handed the book manuscript to my Graphic Designer and after spending a few hours worrying whether everything was good enough, I finally felt a huge weight lifted!!  Today has felt so freeing as I managed to catch up on a number of little jobs and chores that I have been sadly neglecting for a few weeks.  I even have an empty email inbox now, which would have to be the first time in months!! Feels so good.

Now it is time to prepare for my trip to Adelaide on Friday for the "Inspired Stitches" retreat this weekend.  I will be doing the first reveal of a lot of my book projects there which will be really fun and I cant wait to get some feedback after all this secrecy.  After this I promise to start revealing a few designs on here too!!!  Enough of the sneak peeks!

Speaking of the retreat, I will also be doing a couple of demos of the shrinking sheet as Quilt Fabric Delights has now got it in stock.  So in preparation for this I also decided to release a "shrinking sheet" pattern.  

I have called this pattern "Mummy & me" and it is the same bag made in two different styles with different piecing and shrink strengths.  Both bags can be made with either the 15% or 30% shrink sheet and there are instructions for both strengths.

I showed a close up of the girly one in the last post which was made with the 30% shrink.  Here is a close up of the "Mummy" bag which I made up in the 15% shrink.

They are quite cute and I just love the structure that the shrinking sheet gives.

On the home front, school starts back up again tomorrow so the sleep-ins are officially over (shame) and would you believe that my little Baby Floss turned 4 years old today??!!  Where do the years go?  I am thinking I can't call her Baby Floss for too much longer.  Maybe I need to start using one of her other nicknames (she only has about 20!!).

May the floss be with you,

Melly

Just a quick hello

Today I am just saying a quick "hello!"   I am officially attached to my computed for the next few days getting all of my files, photos and information together for the book.  I may not even get to bed too often!!!  But I decided to do a quick post as it felt like a little change of pace, a distraction if you will!

I hope to come back with a fun post after Monday when all the work is done.

Last week I had a bit of a play.....

...and I will let you all know about this new pattern in my next post!!

Until then you may want to have a look at this great "Stitchery of the Month Club" that is set to start in June.  I will be designing one of the monthly projects along with many of your other favorites designers!!

So for now I best get back to work..... watch out for my square eyes in the next post!!

Take care,

Melly

Happy Easter!!

Mmmmmm, we have just eaten a beautiful breakfast of hot cross buns and tea and it feels so lovely to have this relaxing and celebratory four days ahead of us.

There will be family snuggle time watching the original Star Wars movie this afternoon (the first time for Little Floss and he is oh so excited!!) as well as lots of other celebrations and a family gathering.  

Hubby and I are off to see "Dralion" by Cirque du Soleil on Sunday night which I can't wait for!! It is so funny actually as we both surprised each other at Christmas with 2 tickets to this show!! - Yes, we bought each other the same present and now have two lots of tickets to the same show!  Great minds think alike and at least we can be sure that we both really want to go.

We had the last day of photography yesterday so I have lots of yummy photos to look through over the long weekend!!  Speaking of the photos, so sorry to give another sneak peek but these ones are just so appropriate!!

I promise that I will soon start to reveal a little more!

Some other exciting news that I haven't shared with you yet is that in 3 weeks (and counting) we are heading off to Korea for a family holiday!! You could not believe how exciting this is for all of us and we can't wait to show the Flossies their beautiful culture again at an age where they will really get to embrace it.  Some of you may remember this post from a year ago where I said I wished to spend a Children's Day in Korea one day - well guess what we are there for Children's Day - it couldn't be more perfect!

Enjoy your Easter weekend and those that you love!

Melly.

Day 1.....

Last Thursday it was up early to run around and grab a few last minute props before setting off to Glenharrow Gardens for our first day of photography.  I felt a little out of my depth but with the help of my artistic director, Rosie and my amazing photographers, Leanne and Mamella (my mum!) we had a very successful day with so many fabulous snaps.  Here is my mum, Rosie and I stopping for a spur of the moment shot.

The weather was perfect for the occasion and I couldn't have asked for a better day or location.  Baby floss was along for the day and had lots of fun playing with some of the props...

And nature was out in all of its glory.  It is always beautiful at Glenharrow with all of the fabulous flora and fauna - these fellas did not want to miss out on any of the fun...

It wasn't all fun and games though, some of us had to get our fingers a little dirty!!  What on earth is Rosie up to??

We stopped for a quick bite half way through the day, but I can't tell you just yet what it was that we ate. I can tell you though that they were too yummy!!

All on all it was a fabulous day and it was even better when later that night and the next day I got to look through all of the amazing photos!!  It made it all feel so real and I cannot wait to see some of these beautiful pictures inside the book. 

We still have a little more photography to do later this week once the rain decides to leave.  Until then I am enjoying sleep in's in my warm bed and having my beautiful kiddies home with me on holidays, as well as a bit of sewing of course!!

May the floss be with you,  Melly.

Photography, Pins and Needles

I don't know if I will sleep tonight!  It has been a very busy day with lots of running around and tomorrow is the first day of book photography!!  I am so excited but at the same time oh so very nervous and I feel very unprepared!  I have such amazing people around me to help me and for me to lean on, so I am sure with all of our heads together it will be a successful day.  I hope to share some photos of the day with you in the next little while.

Another bit of news is that my pattern "Handbag Addiction" that was a part of the "Pincushion of the month" club with Quilt Fabric Delights has now been released.  This was such a great club run by Sarah and we cant wait to spend a lovely weekend with her at the Inspired Stitches retreat in Adelaide in 3 weeks time.  Here is a picture of the pattern which is for this cute little handbag pincushion and needle-case.

The pattern is already available here at Quilt Fabric Delights and is sure to hit your local "Melly & me" stockist soon.

Still a bit more to do tonight before I can hit the hay, but wish me luck for tomorrow!  I will keep you all posted on how it is going.

May the floss be with you,

Melly