Me and My Book in Prima Makes Magazine (Yay!)

The latest issue of Prima Makes magazine is jam-packed with excellent crafty stuff...

... including (can you spot it on the contents page?)...

... the pear needlebook tutorial from my book, Super-Cute Felt!

It might sound weird given that all the projects from my book have (obviously) already been published in the book itself but it is always deeply thrilling seeing my projects "in print" in magazines like this. 

It's especially awesome because (in my slightly biased opinion) the team at CICO Books did such a great job on the photo styling for Super-Cute Felt, all the pics from it look soooo good (okay, yeah, so I'm extremely biased, but shhhh) they make me extra proud to see my designs in print.

The lovely people at Prima Makes have also included the snazzy new edition of Super-Cute Felt in this issue's craft book round-up...

... and there's a little interview with me, too!

The July 2017 issue of Prima Makes (issue 18) is out now - click here to buy a copy online. The new edition of Super-Cute Felt is available from Amazon or via your favourite local bookshop! You can read more about the book here.

P.S. Click here for the free tutorial for making that cat pincushion, and click here for the free Never Stop Learning embroidery pattern, both featured in my Prima Makes interview.

Please note: the Amazon links in this post are affiliate links.

In Print: Fluffy Pompoms and My Childhood Collections

Two of my projects have ended up in very different places recently...

First, my sky pompom gift-wrapping packs made an appearance in this month's issue of Glamour magazine (December 2016).

There are my pompoms, sitting atop some gorgeous Liberty gift wrap which happens to be my very favourite Liberty print (what a lovely coincidence, huh?).

If you want to add some pompom goodness to your own parcels, I've still got a couple of packs in stock in my Etsy shop - remember to use the discount code HURRAH50 to get 50% off any/all items purchased from my shop until the end of November.

And second - for something completely different - two of my photos have been included in What Can You Collect?, a fab little book from the Superkids Reading Program.

Look! There's my shell collection...

... and there's my eraser collection!

I cannot tell you how delighted I am that photos of my childhood collections are featured in a book for kids about the joys of collecting stuff. My heart, it bursts with happiness.

Pretty Papers + Famous Swans

Did you do anything crafty this weekend?

I spent lots of time sorting through my craft supplies as part of my ongoing effort to tidy, declutter and generally organise my studio (I'm making progress, but slowly!)

I also did some nice relaxing paper crafting...

All these decorative papers were cover gifts with issues of docrafts Creativity magazine. I've designed several projects for the magazine over the past couple of years and have always been very impressed with their cover gifts.

The docrafts team have featured my free felt swan brooch tutorial in this month's issue (#67) and they kindly sent me a copy of the magazine - thanks guys!

 

There were three cover gifts included: a roll of craft tape, some little paper notes for making cards and tags, and a paper pack from their new Geometric Neon range.

I loved the neon designs so much (those little metallic details! omg!) I knew I had to schedule some time to craft with them asap.

(The other paper packs are from the Owl Folk and Simply Floral ranges.)

I spent several happy hours cutting and sticking these pretty papers, while while catching up with episodes of shows like Gotham, Supernatural and the X-Files. A highly enjoyable way to spend some time!

Essentials Magazine Crafter of the Month

I'm delighted to have been picked as the "Crafter of the Month" in this month's issue of Essentials magazine.

Inside the November issue of Essentials there's a 32-page crafty mag with lots of tutorials and recipes to try...

... plus a little interview with me and one of my tutorials.

Many thanks to the folks at Essentials for the feature!

Made in Felt... issue 2!

Remember Made in Felt magazine?

Well, it wasn't exactly a magazine, more like one of those thick, occasionally-published "bookazines" you see popping up all over the place these days.

It was jam packed with felt-themed crafty goodness... and now a second issue has been published! Yay!

I was delighted to discover that this issue includes two projects from my book, Super-Cute Felt Animals. I know it sounds a bit weird when I say things like that but honestly I rarely know about these features until someone spots them and mentions them to me!

You can sew a friendly hedgehog or a pretty budgie / parakeet, with step by step tutorials for both. I stitched myself a brooch version of the budgie and I wear it a lot, pinned to my jacket or cardigan.

 

Obviously if you're my mum (hello mother!) you might rush out and buy this just because my work is featured in it, but for those of you not related to me there's lots to love about this magazine!

It's 130 pages long and full of felt-themed tutorials, crafty ideas and sewing tips. I especially love this monster...

 

... this cuckoo clock (from Makery, a lovely crafty book which I reviewed earlier this year)...

 

... and this fun teapot.

 

There are also some felt-themed shopping guides and some interviews with some talented designer/makers who work with felt, like Louise Evans (of Felt Mistress fame) (how awesome are those felt beetles???)...

... and the always inspiring Gretel Parker, who creates the most wonderful needlefelted sculptures.  

I picked up a copy of Made in Felt in my local WHSMITH but if you can't find a copy near you, it's available to order online.

Making Magazine & Love Crafting

After a trip to the bank on Tuesday (yawn) I popped into WHSmith on my way home for a quick browse of the craft magazine section and was delighted to find my work featured in a couple of titles!

 

My blog got a mention in Making magazine's "Web Reviews" page (thanks Jennifer!)...

 ... and two of the projects from my recent book, Super-Cute Felt Animals, are included in the Love Crafting Summer Special.

You can learn how to make Lucy the laughing snail and Boris the butterfly, and there's also a reader offer to buy a copy of Super-Cute Felt Animals at a reduced price :)

Lots of Copies of Super-Cute Felt Animals

A lovely parcel arrived yesterday - a box full of copies of my new book:

I am probably a bit biased, but I think the spine is pretty adorable!

Some copies have already been snaffled by my folks, but the rest will be available (signed by me) in my shop after the official UK publication date (12th September). I'll be sure to post here on my blog when they're available to buy :)

 

In the meantime, these copies will be living on my bookshelves where I can gaze at them lovingly.

Another nice thing - my new book got it's first press mention: a little review in the latest issue of fab craft mag Mollie Makes (#31).

Many thanks to the lovely people who let me know they'd spotted my book in here xxx

Kind people letting me know they've spotted my work featured in magazines, etc, is often the only way I find out about it so if you happen to spy my new book mentioned somewhere please do let me know (you can leave a comment here on my blog, or give me a shout via my Facebook page or my Twitter account) and I will love you forever (well, maybe not, but it will be much appreciated!).

Made in Felt Magazine

Attention felt fans! Have you seen Made in Felt?

This felt-themed magazine (sister mag to Made in Paper) came out this week...

... and it includes a project designed by me! Yay!

Long-time followers of my blog might remember that I used to sell large felt flower brooches that looked like this:

Well, know you can learn how to sew your own :)

You can make the corsages with a button in the centre...

... or with lots of sparkly seed beads:

When I made these for sale I used eco felt (made from recycled plastic bottles) and used vintage buttons for the centres, but you can use any felt or buttons you fancy. I also made smaller flowers (with fewer petals) and used them to decorate hair combs:

They're a lot of fun to make!

The magazine includes 33 different felt projects - some of these are specially designed for the magazine, and others are selected from craft books (like Stash Happy Felt, Zombie Felties and So Pretty! Felt) and magazines like Mollie Makes, so you might spot some projects you recognise but over 30 projects for £7.99 is great value, I think, even if you've already got a few of the projects. And it's a great way to sample projects from different craft books.

It also includes tips on sewing with felt, interviews with some felt-loving designers and some felt-themed shopping guides - I was delighted to see my teapot rosette brooches got a mention here:

Made in Felt is available now from WHSmiths and other newsagents in the UK. If you live outside the UK or can't find the magazine in a store near you you can buy it online here.

[P.S. the Amazon links in this post are affiliate links]