Melly & me

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.

Imagine.... Vietnam.

We are so unbelievably excited to finally release the details of our first "Imagine..." retreat which is being launched in Vietnam from 22nd - 29th October this year!!

In the right side bar you will see the "Imagine... Vietnam" button.  Please click on this to download the complete itinerary and registration information.  

This is a really exciting opportunity for any of you (from any corner of the globe) to join Rosalie Quinlan, Leanne Beasley and Myself in a week of complete indulgence! Imagine 7 night in an amazing 5 star resort stitching, touring, dining and spending time with other like minded women, while soaking up some of the amazing Vietnamese culture.  We hope you will join us!!

We are also very excited to have an amazing Travel Agent Escort, Annette Dal Sasso, coming along with us. All bookings and queries can be directed to her as per the details on the registration form. 

Imagine....

While I am hear (finally) I also better announce the winners of the "Little Ninjas" giveaway!  Sorry it has been so unbelievable long in coming!  The three lucky winners are Liz, skippingdaisies and Mimi. Please email me with your postal addresses and I will get them posted out to you ASAP.

So excited!!

Melly

Where am I????

Hi there everybody. This is just a quick post to let you know that I have not disappeared!!! It may feel like it, but I really promise I haven't. 2 weeks ago I moved house and unfortunately I have been having trouble after trouble attempting to get my Internet connected. I have been without proper Internet and email for some time and therefore if I have not responded to you, please understand the delay. It is also possible that your emails may have fallen into a black hole somewhere as I have been forced to change my email address. It is not active as yet, but my new email address will be mellyandme@bigpond.com I HOPE that it will not be too much longer!!! Once I have my connection to the net back, I promise to draw the winners of the giveaway and will hopefully be ready to share details about Imagine... Vietnam (so exciting!!!) I still have access to Facebook through other technology, so please contact me through there if there is anything urgent. Thanks! Until then, may the floss be with you! Melly.

Watch out - they're coming!

If, like me, you have an 8 year old boy (or there abouts) in your life then you may have been swept up by the latest Lego obsession - Ninjago.  I know that our house is full of fighting ninja lego men and the computer seems to be constantly on the lego site to see the latest updates.

So as I was sitting at home on Sunday, pencil and paper in hand, trying to think up a new design I found that my 8 year old kept interrupting me to watch an online video on Ninjago. And yet I still sat there trying to think up a new design, even though it was staring me in the face.  It wasn't until Mr 8 year old went off to play that my brain clicked!  The opportunity to make a new design and delight the socks off my boy - what could be better than that?!  So within hours a new design was born.

I have soon found out that there may be some much older boys and girls in the family that want their own little ninja too!

This pattern is a great one for beginners and would suit any sewing level.  These little ninjas are quick and simple to put together so you could make a pair in no time.  And the best thing is that the patterns will be all finished and ready to go tomorrow.

I hope you like these little guys and if you do please leave a comment to be in the running to win a copy of the pattern!

May the floss be with you!

Melly.

Imagine...

2 weeks already?

Has it really been over 2 weeks since I last posted on here??  It feels like just a brief moment in time, but the date stamps don't lie.  

It has been a bit of a crazy two weeks with so much activity for both the business and home life, my sewing machine dying on me being one of the most disastrous.  But there have been birthdays, working bees, returns to school, a truck load of cleaning, a move impending and also a lot of stitching!  I have been madly stitching up my projects for the "Country Hart" retreat which is only a matter of weeks away.
And now if only my machine would come home to help me finish the job.

I am so pleased with these projects and cant wait to share them with all the girls in Port Pirie.  

I suppose I had better get back off the blog again and get back to writing the patterns! Only 5 weeks to go.

Melly.

A new year!

Well, it kind of feels like a new year to me today anyway. I know it was a month ago that the calender said it happened, but for me today felt like the start of the new year.  There were so many new starts today. The kids started the new school year, I started to work with a vengeance again, the deadlines began to seem real - I suppose all in all, routine began again!

Life has also begun to feel more normal and hopeful after my "Lemony" end to 2010.  I know you have all sent your best wishes and concern and for that I am truly thankful. It has definitely been a rough patch in my life, but after a time of mourning what was taken away, I have finally started to feel optimistic, to see the silver lining and begin looking forward again.  I feel excited about all that 2011 holds and where my life might head in the future.

Another exciting new thing is that I finally get to reveal my two new "Sew Little" patterns!! These have been a real first for me, and after a number of wonderful chickies agreed to be guinea pigs and test sew for me, I have finally made some tweaks and the patterns are ready for release!  I am so excited!

The first new pattern is my baby girl pattern that I gave you a peek of a couple of posts ago!  This one is called "Bella Butterfly" and is a gorgeous little dress and pantaloons set. The stitchery butterfly is on the dress and on the bot-bot and can easily be replaced with a fussy cut oval or omitted all together for those that don't stitch!

Of course the iron-on transfer is included in the patterns too for those that do stitch (I couldn't live without transfers!!!).

The second pattern is my baby boy pattern called "Mini Moover".  This is a great pair of comfy, fully lined overalls that have a snap crotch for easy nappy changes as well as snaps at the shoulders.  Again the stitchery on the pockets is easily substituted with a cute co-ordinate print.

Both patters are in sizes Newborn, 3-6 months, 6-12 month, 12-18 months and 2 Years.

These patterns will be printed tomorrow and ready for order by your local patchwork store. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Some more pressing news is that bookings have begun for the "Daylesford Craft Experience" on the 4th and 5th July, 2011.  I can strongly recommend this retreat - it was such a hoot last year and is set to be equally, if not more, fabulous this year with Jodie, Kristen and myself.  Click on the image below or go to this link for more info and to secure your place!

Well, I think that is enough from me for today!  If you are finding my blog a little quite these days then please come and visit me on facebook where there is much more conversation about the day to day goings on in Mellyville!  

Have a great week and happy new year (well, sort of!)

Melly.

Yay!!!

What a fantastic response to the flooding appeal! It has been so awe inspiring to see all of the crafting community (as well as so many other groups!) getting together to raise so many much needed dollars for those who have been effected. Thank you to all of you who bid on my auction and a special thank you to the winning bidder, Vanessa who bid $650.00!!!!! I am so blown away by your generosity. As I am off at the beach on a little break this is just a quick post to say thank you! Vanessa, please email me your receipt of donation as well as your postal address and I promise there will be a little package heading your way very shortly with your first installment! I will be back next week to reveal my next 2 "Sew Little" patterns.

QLD Flood Appeal Auction

Now I know I am a little late in getting involved, but I hope it is a case of better late than never.  Each day this week I have intended to get on here with an Auction, but there has been so much going on that I am only getting myself together today!! Thank you Toni for organising such a wonderful appeal!

I am sure you are probably all very aware of the devastation, loss of lives and loss of property that has continued throughout this week for the people of QLD.  If you are only hearing about this now, then please go here to read more!!

So as my part of supporting the very worthy cause of raising money I want to announce my auction!!

My auction will be for "A Years Supply of......

AND

The highest bidder on this auction will receive 1 of everything that I release in 2011 as soon as it is released! That includes every "Melly & me" and "Sew Little" pattern that I release, a copy of the "Melly & me" book that will be released mid 2011 and a pre-release selection of my 2011 fabric collection.

To bid on this auction please simply leave a comment with the sum that you would like to bid in Australian dollars!  The highest bidder at midnight on Monday the 24th January (my time!) will win!!  At the end of the auction, I will contact the winner (please ensure your email address is on the comment!) who will need to pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email.  

Good luck!!

Melly