Melly & me

Little "Miss Melly"

Thank you for all of the studio love!!!  I really am finding it so completely delightful to have such a creative haven to work in. I find myself wandering down there constantly just to soak it all in and realise it's real! haha.

Well I thought I would come back super quickly to share with you the first creation from my new studio.  My new dolly "Miss Melly"

When I created this dolly I just knew she had to be my namesake!  Not that she resembles me in any way whatsoever, but she just makes me feel so happy. Fully made with my own fabric collection, “Snug as a Bug” (due August), I think that Miss Melly truly reflects my design style from start to finish!  This dolly has everything sewn in to seams so that she is safe and durable for even the smallest of hands!  I just love her and I hope you do too - The pattern is all written and ready to be ordered!

xx Melly

Spoilt Rotten!

Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness!!!!  My studio is DONE!  

I cannot believe that the day has finally come that I can move in and start being creative in my absolutely AMAZING new space. 

It is a little hard to take good photos down there with my limited knowledge of indoor photography, but regardless I just have to share it with you all. I love nothing more than a good "before and after", and I hope you will enjoy it too!

Firsty to refresh your memory here are a couple of "before" shots of my studio - Blah! 

When we were searching for a new home I felt so incredibly blessed that my amazing hubby (then fiance) was so supportive and equally excited that we found this place with such a great area that was just begging to be transformed.  I was hoping for a spare bedroom or any space at all really, but we both got so excited at the prospect of transforming this area into a studio extraordinaire!  I have felt entirely too spoilt along the whole journey to be given free reign to do whatever I like with such a big space - oh the fun!!

So here is a bit of a look at what it looks like now - eeeek!!

I decided that I didn't need quite as much room as I had available to me, so we are using one corner as a bit of a guests area.  We love having people come and stay so I hope there will be plenty of people who make the most of this!  There is my couch for getting comfy while stuffing and hand stitching, oh and the stairs!!! I hope you love my stairs as much as I do - I am actually quite obsessed by them!

My fabric and cutting corner - Oh my, how excited I am to have a full dining table to use as my cutting table - all that area to arrange my working mess over.  Maybe I will actually have enough room to keep my mess off the cutting matt - heavenly!

And last but not least, my sewing corner.  Notice the two new windows giving me lots of lovely natural light!  There are also 2 floor to ceiling windows on the wall to the left of this but I just cannot get a good photo in that direction so you just have to imagine!  And the draws are another definite love of mine. 

I have enjoyed using some of the bunting and pinwheels from my wedding in my decorating and have just had so much fun making this a seriously "Melly & me" space.  I am soooooo in love!  I hope you love what I have done too!!

Oh and while I am showing you some new things I should also show you a new design that I have just released!  This one was part of "Urban Stitches" 2013 and is a gorgeous stitchery and rattle set that would be great for any new little bubs in your life (iron-on transfer enclosed).

This design was inspired by my new fabric collection, "Snug as a Bug" with Riley Blake that will be released in August.  If you want to have a look at the new range have a look here - another one of my complete loves for this year, this fabric collection makes me so so happy!

I probably have a million and one more things to be telling you but I can't put too much excitement in one post, so will just have to make sure I come back real soon.

Now to finally go and make wonderful use of that studio - I wonder what my first creation will be.....

Spilling beans!

Oh my goodness, OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!  Eeeek, eeeek, eeeeek!  I can finally spill the beans on one of my most exciting secrets that has been begging to come spilling out!

Well you all know that I have been working on some new fabric designs for 2013 and I have been going on about how they just make me soooooooo incredibly happy!!  Well let me tell you that they don't just make me incredibly happy, they make me insanely happy - it is by far the favourite of my fabric designs to date and I hope you will equally fall in love with "Snug as a Bug"

It is still about 6 months away from hitting shops but I have just been given the most glorious permission to start telling you all about it!  

So I think I will start to reveal little bit by little bit over time....  

And one of the most exciting things about my new fabric collection is that I am so completely honored to be working with a fabric company that I have idolised for so long now..... the best of the best in my humble opinion - YES I am working with....

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!! 

x Melly

Happy New Year in February??

I am ashamed and appaled that I am here to say Happy New Year to blogland on the 5th February!! But..... "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"  Goodness, how the time rushes by when there is so much going on... especially when you have a new play mate to keep your threads safe from...

... when you have a new studio that needs some serious renovations...

... and lots of fun paint to make it into a room I will love...

Renovations are in full swing and I am completely aching to have a studio again to work in!  I have lots of new plans and fun ideas brewing for 2013 and just need the space to get cracking!

Oh, and I cant forget I have also been working on my yummy project for "Urban Stitches 2013"!!!!  Here is a little sneak peek at what you can expect to get fully kitted from me if you are coming along!...

Ooooh,I can hardly believe Urban is next month now - eeek So exciting!!! If you would like to book in for "Urban Stitches" in Melb on March 16th or 17th or in Sydney on March 23rd or 24th, and spend a fabulous day or two with Rosalie Quinlan, Jodie Carleton, Simone Gooding and me then there just may be a few spots left!! Visit www.underthemulberrytree.com or call Erica on 0437 918 186 for more information and to book your place! (flyer available here)

I hope to be back here in a few weeks with some before and after photos of my studio - it really is coming together now and I simply CANNOT wait to share!!  Oh and a couple of other exciting bits of news are coming very very soon - 2013 Melly & me land is exciting me greatly!

Hope you are having a gorgeous week xx Melly

Something new from AQM

Well AQM was a complete hoot as always!!  It is always completely lovely to catch up with everyone again and also I love that feeling of it being the last event for the year!  Now I head into full on moving house mode with our big move only a number of days away...  

I will make sure I come back after the move with some before photos of what will become my fabulous new studio over the next couple of months.  I so can't wait!

But in the mean time I thought I had better share with you my two new designs that were revealed at AQM.

First there is a great new handbag called "Springtime Bloom" which has the cutest big flower on the front. I really love this bag and as always have trouble parting with it to be used as a sample...

And then the cutest new quilt made with my yummy "Toy Tales" fabric.  This pattern is a creative card which makes it great on the budget and is the perfect quilt top to whip up in a day.  Cuteness!

Hope you love them and I will be back soon...

Melly.

A Magical Wedding...

I know I have been promising you a BIG post on the wedding... I didn't forget, I promise!  I was just waiting on all of the wonderful photos to come through so I could share a whole lot of my favourite bits!!

Now I have probably already said on here that it was the most amazing day in existence...  Well that is a complete and utter understatement, there are simply not enough wonderful words that could ever adequately explain that day.  Looking through all of the photos has just brought all of the magic right back to me along with lots and lots of warm fuzzies!  

There were so many little things that made the day so magical and here are just a few of them.

There was the amazing venue that we fell in love with the second we laid eyes on it...

The fun and festive bunting everywhere (thanks to my flossy sister for helping with the meters and meters of bunting and mini bunting we made!)...

Pinwheels everywhere!!! Lapel pins and bouquets - I love these to bits and adored making every single one!... 

Walking down the aisle arm in arm with the most amazing daddy this world has ever seen...

My hand made hair piece (another pinwheel of course!)...

Sharing heart felt and cherished vows with my new husband in front of so many loved ones. I chose this photo as the laughter and joy sooooo captures the mood and vibe of such a completely festive day... 

The stunning flowers that my talented mum carefully arranged (can you spot the pinwheels?)...

More pinwheels decorating the stunning venue with their fun brightness...

Too much fun with our amazing Best Man and Maid of Honor...

The most special and amazingly transformed kids a Mum and new Step Dad could hope for. They were so amazing and even shared a beautiful reading during the service... bless!!! 

To the cake that I dreamed up and was then created by a super talented young cake decorater, Amanda from Cake Flair. Oh how I squealed when I saw it come to life!...

The candy bar to be enjoyed by young and old...

And all of the amazing loved ones who celebrated by our sides... 

I love each and every single one of those snippets of joy that made our wedding day so insanely wonderful!!  But the most significant and overriding delight was in joining my life with the man that I adore more than words could ever express.

He is the most amazing gift in my life, more that I could ever have hoped or dreamed for and I am an extremely blessed woman.  Love you my Scotty Dog xx

On my lap today..

Today the kiddies went back to school for term four and I spent the day in full fledged "Melly & me" mode.

Most of the day was filled with the sun steaming into my lounge room while I sat with my laptop perched on my lap working away on my new fabric collection for 2013.  I almost cant even express how much I am falling in love with these new designs, do I really have to wait so long to show you all?! I think I am nearly finished the collection and that always gives such an exciting buzz, I cannot wait to send it off to see what the "powers that be" think of it :)

And now this afternoon I have something a little more exciting for you on my lap!  I have just drawn the winners for the "Toy Tales" fat quarter bundles - YAY!!!  Thank you all so incredibly much for all of your beautiful comments and sweet words of congratulations, I adored reading every one!

The lucky blog comment to be drawn as a winner is....

Heidee Hallam - Congratulations Heidee!!

And the Facebook comment that won the second little bundle of Happiness is....

Yay Emma!!!

Make sure you both contact me with your postal details so I can get your exciting bundles on their way (if I can part with them, he-he!)

I hope to be back next week with that yummy wedding post as I hear the photo may be here by then, super exciting!

And in the meantime I will leave you with a nasty tease of what else has been on my lap today - so cute, but cannot be revealed until a later date.  I am so mean!...

Melly xx

Toy Tales Giveaway...

I'm Baaaaack!!  After the most glorious and amazing wedding and honeymoon a girl could ever possibly dream of!  Every part of it was complete perfection and I promise to be back here with a wedding blog post very soon when I receive all of my photos!  I simply cannot wait to share my wedding fun with you!

But in the mean time I just had to share with you the exciting delivery that arrived while I was living it up in paradise. Yes.... eeeeek, my advance bolts of "Toy Tales" arrived and are in my hot little hands!  I am just so excited and so thrilled with how this collection has come together.  I keep looking at it and dreaming of what to do with them... and yes, there is a little stage fright, as always!

I have so many faves in here, and half of the problem is just in deciding which ones to use first!

So while I ponder such important dilemmas, I have had some fun making up some delicious fat quarter bundles!!  "Little bundles of Happiness" as I was calling them last night to my husband (hehe, had to use the "h" word).  And of course to celebrate I need to offer a fun "Toy Tales" giveaway!  I would love to share 2 advance bundles with you all.  One will be drawn from the blog here and one from my facebook page (feel free to enter both!).  Please just leave a comment to be in the running and maybe even mention what you would like to see me create from these fun fabrics.  So much fun!!!  Good Luck :)

And of course while I am talking about giveaways, I cannot forget to draw the names for the pattern giveaway I left you with. I have decided to draw five names, which are.....

Deborah, Michelle Dickie, Cara Rotter, Bard Conroy and Erin.  Make sure you all email me with your choice of pattern from 2012 and your postal address so I get them out asap, and congrats.

So, until I can come back with my fun wedding post, make sure you comment to be in the running for your own pre-release "little bundle of happiness". I cant wait to see what you will do with it!  Oh an just so you know, "Toy Tales" should be hitting stores in the next month or two (YAY!!) and is produced by "Windham Fabrics".

xx Melly McNeice (cute new name hey??)

Urban Stitches 2013 - Melbourne & Sydney!!

Yes we have finalised all of the details for our new Autumn "Urban Stitches" retreat for 2013!!  

And after so many requests we have added a Sydney Urban stitches as well!!  Yes, you can now choose to attend Urban Stitches in Melbourne on the 16th and/or 17th March at the Novotel Glen Waverley, or at the new location in Sydney on the 23rd and/or 24th March at the Novotel Darling Harbour.  We are so so very excited!

In 2013 you will recieive fully kitted designs and tuition from little old me of "Melly & me", Rosalie Quinlan of "Rosalie Quinlan Designs", Jodie Carleton of "Ric Rac" and Simone Gooding of "May Blossom"... too much fun!

Now make sure you get your bookings in early to avoid disappointment as this year's Urban Stitches sold out in a matter of only a few weeks.  If you click on the "Urban Stitches 2013" link on the right side bar you will be taken to the information flyer and registration form.  Or why not register immediately to secure your spot?! You can do this immediately at the "Under the Mulberry Tree" website here.

Also, if you happen to be making a weekend of the retreat, make sure you keep your ears open to find out about our fun "Pyjama, Pizza and Pina Colada" event on the Saturday night.  We can't wait and will let you know all the details a little closer to the date!

We truly hope you can join us in 2013.

A couple of new friends & a massively overdue Giveaway!!!!

I would love to let you all know about two new friends to join the Melly & me softie pattern family!!

These two patterns are now ready and set to head off to your local patchwork store, yay :)

Here is Pookie the Panda (previously seen in the Vignette magazine)

And just in time for Christmas is sweet little "Merry Mouse"! (previously seen in Homespun magazine)

I am also embarrassingly aware that it has been a HUGE amount of time since I last did a giveaway.... 

As I will be very happily otherwise occupied getting married and heading on a lovely honeymoon in the next few weeks (eeeek!!), I wish to leave this blog post open as a mega giveaway!!  There will be multiple lucky winners who will all get to pick one of the my new patterns from 2012.  I will draw the names when I return to "melly & me" blog land in the beginning of October.

Until then, may the floss be with you and good luck!!! 

Melly