absent

Dear bloggers,

Please excuse Jodie from blog attendance this weekend,

She is, once again, off to Sewjourn with an optimistically long list of projects.

(and one small bilingual donkey who is hoping for some friends.)

One remaining brain cell

A weekend that involved feeling par-boiled and rushed in Sydney has left me with one functional remaining Brain cell. (Her name is Beryl). Beryl has been set the task of telling you about Abby.

I realised tonight when I went trawling Abby's blog for photos that I have been reading Abby's blog for longer than I have had a blog myself. I have no idea how I first stumbled upon Abby's blog but I do remember that sharp intake of breathe. I could not believe someone could create such life-like creatures from fabric.

Abby has just recently released her first book, and it brings me to a terrible secret. I very very rarely buy craft books, and even less often buy crafty magazines. (I know I should be kicked out of blogland,) but there was never ever a chance in the world I wouldn't be buying this one. This book is just beautiful - hundreds of photographs of each step. A huge amount of tips and tricks, those beautiful feet and teeny tiny beaks.....

and apart from all her talent, Abby is a really great person , go and check out her blog , see the costumes and the crafts she makes with her kids. She generously shares her knowledge and skills - Right now Abby is working through a whole series on the Elements of Soft Toy design...and it is fantastic. She is sharing so much- covering gussets and joints and stuffing and openings and everything you need to know about soft toy design....I am learning so much from Abby and also from all the people who leave informative comments. This series is sooo worth bookmarking ( it should be Abby's next book). If you are interested in sewing soft toys or designing you own, you can't afford to miss this series, at the very least you need to get over and check out her portfolio.

I'd love to know which bird takes your fancy. I love the Lark Bunting and snow bird - and the owls just kill me.

(Edited to add, Poor old Beryl,perhaps the task was too much for her...she forgot to send the "hit publish" instruction last night.)

Cranium bouquet

In amongst the head bouquet, there is a new friend

We haven't been formally introduced yet

But I think I am going to like him.

With apologies

I've been smiling like an idiot all afternoon.

As of today, you can pop over to Creative Abundance and peruse my bio, and check out my patterns !

Yep its all really truly bonafide actually happening....

Can you believe it ?
So if you are a shop, online or in real life and you are interested in stocking my patterns - you can contact the team at Creative Abundance and they will organise things toot-sweet. If you are not a shop, You could always ask you local shop to stock my patterns (nudge nudge wink wink) or drop me an email and I'll steer you in the right direction.

( and I have to apologise to Nel and Jacques, for the sudden crazy spike in their website stats - its just me popping back every ten minutes to see if I am still there...... sad but true.)

So I had this big post planned, right....

all about the massive changes to my life. The immediate things like a change of abode and smart new car would soon become obvious I decided, so it would be best to come clean right from the start. I had planned to share with you my final missive to the day job, which generally mentioned me sending someone in to clean out my desk...

In my mind I had already outsourced every banal job known to man, I no longer had a wish list on Amazon, Book depository, Etsy or any fabric shop in the universe.

But apparently for some strange reason I did not win 20 million dollars in the lottery last night.

I guess I may just have to sell the blog to Paul - he emailed me and told me he would like to buy my URL and all my content and to name my price.....so I've been working on my reply.

"Dearest Paul, It was with some surprise that I received your recent email_____________"

Feel free to fill in the blanks.

Reuben

Its no secret that I loathe actual garment sewing,

But tiny jackets and satchels for small bilingual donkeys....

Love it !!!

Totally hamstered

Oh I wish I was softie

with a head all full of fluff,

I wouldn't have to waste my time,

thinking grown-up stuff !