Mollie Makes Me Happy

My Mum was here last weekend and brought me, along with a major stash of teabags, the latest copy of Mollie Makes magazine. I have been hooked on this magazine since I first saw the first edition at the newsagents in the UK, and what's more is that it's produced in Bath which is near to my hometown. We're now at issue 6 and it just gets better and better. I immediately settled down with a big cup of tea to read this visual feast.

Mollie Makes concentrates on making, thrifting, collecting and crafting. Every issue comes with a really cute craft kit. This month's is a gorgeous little coin purse and the double bonus is that I have recently been wondering how to make these (I love how they open and close).

As I flicked through I fell in love immediately with Jeanette Lunde's work. Scandi style at its very best - minimalist but cosy, white but colourful, homely but modern. Jeanette's blog is beautiful - she seems very sweet, her photos are stunning and her style is inspiring. Not surprisingly she's been featured in many magazines and books so I fear I am rather late in discovering her. It is instant blog love. Jeanette has also been poring lots of time (how does she do it??) into putting together a digital magazine ByFryd.

Back to Mollie Makes, and there are lots of interesting articles covering various crafts - even if you can't actually knit or crochet (I can't) the photography is so gorgeous it still draws you in. As I live in France we've looked into an overseas subscription. You can also get it as a digital version but then you don't get the little craft kits. Hmmm. For the time being I will rely on "Mum post"!

If you're not already hooked, check out the little promo film for Mollie Makes here.

Making the cut

I'm on week two of the Blogging Your Way course and wowsers I have already learned so much about this blogging lark. Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring who are giving the course frankly rock. They are inspiring and motivating and very generous with their tips. You really feel they want to make the blogosphere a beautiful, interesting place. I'm learning skills which I can also transfer to my budding bag business such as style, colours and photography. It is an amazing course.

The news hot of the press this week is that following our last Rosebud meeting (I'll tell you more about the Rosebuds another time) we've decided to sign up for our first Christmas fair! This is so exciting, and so scary and so panic inducing - for a start where am I going to find the time to make 20 bags with the school holidays just starting?? But I am a girl who loves a deadline and I'm sure 20 bags will be made. I spent time yesterday sourcing and ordering behind the scenes items such as magnetic snaps, zips and interlining and am very much looking forward to seeing Mr Postman over the next couple of weeks (I'm sure he is not looking forward to seeing me - truth be told he is rather a grumpy man who doesn't like to deal with packages).

Back to bag making and I've realised I'm reluctant to cut into these beautiful fabrics. I'm fine when it comes to calico and muslin to test my pieces but cutting into the real stuff is somewhat fear inducing. I'll keep you posted.

Late to the party

I feel like I am very late to this blog party. I've never tweeted. I hardly facebook. I've certainly never created a blog. Until now. 


Goodness I'm amazed at how exciting it feels. How creative it all feels. I am one happy bunny. Who knows, I may have arrived late but maybe I'll never leave!