A New Year, and Lots of Lovely New (Old) Stuff!

Hello friends! Happy New Year!

I have loads of crafty things planned for 2021, including lots of free projects for my blog and newsletter, I am positively itching to get started. I gained so much joy and solace from my creative projects in 2020 and am hoping for more of the same this year. 

Before I launch into my mega crafty To Do list, I'm easing myself into January with some simple "put my feet up on the sofa and listen to an audiobook while I do this" tasks... including getting lots of lovely vintage bits and bobs added to my shops.

Click here to browse everything on my website or over in my Etsy shop.

P.S. My shops are all set up with UK postage only at the moment but I'm always happy to quote for international shipping. UK postage is charged at a flat rate - currently £4 per parcel (no matter how much you buy!), but this will be going up soon as unfortunatrly Royal Mail have just put their prices up.

P.P.S. In case you've ever wondered, buying directly from my shop or via my Instagram sale page is the way that earns me the most money because Etsy don't take their cut of the sale fee, but I know Etsy is very convenient! It's definitely the easiest way to buy my printable PDF patterns as they offer instant downloads).

Sew Easy Felt Poinsettia Brooches for Christmas

Want to sew some pretty felt poinsettia brooches?

My newly updated Fabulous Flowers PDF sewing pattern is the one for you! 

The PDF includes step by step guides to sewing large felt flower brooches...

 

... plus some matching flower embroidery patterns. When I launched the pattern last year a comment on my Instagram page made me realise that this pattern would be perfect for making poinsettia brooches and I'm so pleased with how they turned out!

These are big and bold brooches which make a real statement. They'd look fabulous pinned to a winter coat, or you could glue several flowers to a homemade Christmas wreath.

  

Already bought my Fabulous Flowers pattern and want a copy of the updated version? Send me a message with your order number and I'll get in touch as soon as possible.

 

You can make these to look like real poinsettia plants, with yellow seed beads in the centre to represent the flowers...

... or use gold beads instead for a more glam festive look.

 

These brooches would make lovely Christmas gifts (I've given some as gifts myself!). I'm also happy for you to use patterns you buy from my shops to make items for sale at craft fairs or online.

Click here to buy my newly updated Flexible Flowers pattern from my Etsy shop (the file will be available to download immediately after purchase). 

If you're based in the UK you can also buy it from my shop (I'll email you the file within 24 hours)..

P.S. Never want to miss a new pattern? Subscribe to my newsletter for updates!

Buy My Printable PDF Sewing Patterns on Folksy.com!

This weekend I re-opened my Folksy shop!

If you've never heard of Folksy, it's basically a smaller, British version of Etsy. Only British makers can join to sell their wares, but you can shop from anywhere in the world (as long as people ship to your country!).

I had a busy shop on Folksy for years, selling my handmade designs and colourful craft supplies. I was actually one of the very first sellers to sign up, joining on the first day they opened! I shut up shop there when I changed the focus of my business... but now I'm back, and have filled up my shop with my current range of PDF patterns.

 
If you buy a digital sewing pattern on Etsy, the PDF file is available for you to download automatically after your purchase. Very convenient for you, and for me! Unfortunately with the EU's current regulations on the sale of digital items this means that if you're in the EU you have to pay VAT on your pattern purchase.

Over on Folksy, they don't offer instant downloads so if you buy a pattern from my new shop you'll have to wait for me to email it to you. But there is a silver lining to this cloud: because the file delivery isn't automated, VAT doesn't apply, so your pattern will be cheaper! Woohoo!

It's been so long since I've had an active shop on Folksy, I'm excited to see how it goes.

Click here to visit my shiny new shop.

P.S. Do you sell or shop on Folksy? What do you think of it?

3 Easy Felt Flower Patterns - Make Sunflowers, Dahlias & Layered Flowers

I've just added a new PDF pattern to my shop... well, three new patterns, actually!

 

 

My latest listing is a bundle of 3 easy-to-sew felt flower designs: sunflowers, dahlias and layered flowers.

 

 

 
You can use the tutorials to make brooches or headbands, and there's also a template for making poinsettia brooches for the Christmas holidays.

 

 

When you buy any patterns from my shop you can of course make lots of things for yourself and to give as gifts, but you can also sell the finished items at craft fairs or in your Etsy shop, etc, as long as you credit me as the designer.

You can buy this bargain bundle of printable PDF patterns from my shop - it'll be available to download immediately after your payment goes through! Shop before May 29th to snap up the flowers at the bargain launch price. 

 

P.S. I've got lots more patterns in progress at the moment - subscribe to my newsletter for all the latest updates from me and my shop.

Shop News: Price Rises Coming Soon

I've got some non-fun news to share today, which is that I'll be putting up the prices of my PDF sewing patterns slightly at the start of April (2019).

Currently, all the PDF patterns in my Etsy and Big Cartel shops are £2.50 (+VAT if purchased via my Etsy shop), but from April they will be £3 each (+VAT if purchased via Etsy). So, if you've had your eye on any of my current designs now's the time to grab them before the price goes up!

Good news, though: I've got lots of new patterns in progress and I've decided to have a special launch price for all of them (£2.50), rising to the standard price after a week... so you'll still be able to snap up the new patterns at the old price. Don't want to miss when I add a new pattern to my shop? Sign up to my newsletter!

Currently in my shops, you'll find...

Felt Poppies (including a poppy embroidery pattern).

 

Felt Primroses and Auriculas.

 

Felt Robins (including a robin embroidery pattern).

And a wren embroidery pattern, inspired by an old proverb.

 

Visit my Etsy shop for instant pattern downloads, or head to Big Cartel to buy direct from me (if you make a purchase from my Big Cartel shop your pattern(s) will be emailed asap and always within 48 hours).

Sign up to my newsletter for crafty updates, or follow me on Instagram or Facebook. For lots of free crafty tutorials, check out the project archive here on my blog.

A Summer Flashback: Visiting Osterley Park

Right at the end of summer (in the middle of that heatwave we had at the start of September, which I am totally counting as summer because it was craaaaazy hot) I headed to West London for a Nice Day Out at Osterley Park.

Osterley Park itself is free to visit, but within the grounds you'll find Osterley House and its gardens which are run by the National Trust and have an entrance fee.

I got to the Park nice and early, walking up the long drive towards the house...

... past the Garden Lake...

 

... to the house itself. Pretty fancy, huh?

 

 

The ceiling of the portico is a teaser for the intricately decorated interior of the house.

There are some really fabulous spaces to explore here (several of which you might recognise from the movie The Dark Knight Rises, in which Osterley House starred as Wayne Manor) - just look at the entrance hall!

I happened to be reading this pattern-filled issue of UPPERCASE magazine on the train that day, which turned out to be the perfect reading material for a Nice Day Out spent oohing over patterns and repeated motifs and design details.

I spent ages looking round the house and its pretty gardens, and wandering round the park eating an icecream or two (on a hot day like that one was you definitely have to have icecream breaks instead of tea and cake breaks!). 

I have to admit that I'd never even heard of Osterley before buying my Art Pass but I'm so glad to have discovered it, it's a gorgeous place and well worth a visit. I highly recommend the introductory talk (available on the hour) - this was very entertaining and a great introduction to the house and its colourful history.

Even if you just visit the park and don't venture inside the house, you can take a peek inside the stable block...

... where there's also a nice cafe and a little shop selling second hand books and plants from the gardens.

On the drive out of the park you'll also find a farm shop. I bought a selection of veggies for dinner, including this rather fabulous Romanesco broccoli (featuring yet more patterns!).

I'd never tried one of these before and couldn't resist treating myself to this one simply because of how gorgeous it was. I'm pleased to report that they're very tasty!