Melly & me

Vietnam, Daylesford & Sewn Toy Tales

We are so excited that the bookings are coming in beautifully for "Imagine... Vietnam".  I think there are about 20 of you who are all booked in and preparing to enjoy this special journey with us!  I can't tell you how excited Rosie, Leanne and I are about this amazing trip and I hope that there are still more of you who are thinking about exploring Vietnam and stitching the days away with us.  If you are still considering coming along then you can feel free to contact Annette via email or SMS while she is away, or simply send in your forms and deposits as per the registration form.  Annette will be back early next week so you can call her to talk more in person then.

There are also a few places still available for the Daylesford Craft Experience on the 4th and 5th of June. This is set to be a fantastic weekend and I cant wait to get back together with Jodie Carleton and to spend some time with Kristen Doran.  If you would like to spend some of your weekend with us in beautiful Daylesford then make sure you book quickly before it is all full up!  I have been spending this week working on one of my projects for the weekend...  Which has been cementing my love for needle turn applique!  Just one more project to go.

And last but not least is the growing excitement about "Sewn Toy Tales"!  All of the samples made their way back home after their year in the UK and it just made it feel all the more real.  I am absolutely itching to see a copy of the complete book.  And I promised a few more pictures, didn't I?? So let me introduce you to two more of our Sewn Toy Tales friends.... This is little Mabelle the mouse....

And the cute dolly, Tilly!

There are still 8 more cute critters to share with you over the coming weeks, so watch this space!

Melly

Sewn Toy Tales

Yay, our new book is getting closer!!!

I am so excited to be able to finally tell you a little more about the new "Melly & me" book which is due to hit stores within the next two months or so.

Sewn Toy tales is a fabulous book full of 12 softie projects that are aimed at both boys and girls and also suit a range of sewing skill levels.  These project are just too cute and I am sure you will fall in love with them all.  There is also a great range of sewing techniques and tips enclosed that will help you create the perfect softie!

This book is also really exciting as it saw Rosie and I teaming back up as sisters to work on an exciting new project.  

I hope to start showing you some of the projects enclosed over the coming weeks to give you a little taste of what you can expect.  You can see the cute as a button "Alexander" caterpillar on the cover - and here is a little look at one of the projects enclosed - "Finnegan" the Frog

"Sewn Toy Tales" is published by the wonderful David & Charles who have been so great to work with. I know that there are plenty of stores that are starting to take pre-orders, so please be on the look out. For any shops, please contact your local David & Charles distributor or Creative Abundance to secure your order.

So exciting!

Melly.

Fresh Hope

Lionel the Lizard is back!!!

A number of you have asked if "Lionel" would be getting released in pattern form after his appearance 18 months ago. Well I am really excited to let you know that Lionel will be showing his face as a new pattern for "Fresh Hope".  For those of you who aren't familiar, ‘Fresh Hope' is an Aussie non-profit community based organisation with a family-orientated rehabilitation program designed for mothers and their children who have become dependent on the use of drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism in response to crises in their lives. You can find more details about Fresh Hope here.

Fresh hope does some of its Fund Raising through the sale of patterns donated by designers.  I really want to encourage any of you who love Lionel, to consider purchasing a pattern as 100% of the wholesale profits will go directly to Fresh Hope. Shops, the Fresh Hope range of patterns are available through Creative Abundance and Lionel will be available this week. And designers, why not donate a pattern? - just putting it out there.

Now back to my newest obsession - Needle-turn Applique!  I am designing some fun new project for the "Daylesford Craft Experience" in June and have decided to be adventurous and do my apprenticeship in needle-turn while designing, nothing like jumping in the deep end.  I am just LOVING it and cant wait to share my infectious new obsession with you in Daylesford!  

Have an amazing week,

Melly.