New studio snaps

'Mollie Makes' calendar with the clean, fresh sheet of January beckoning.

One of Jack kangaroos, before he was boxed off and sent to America.

Some of our peeled hallway wall seen beyond the door.

 Much nicer - treasure.

Toy making books and badger skull.

 Lovely  1920's cocktail cabinet, perfect for displaying the 'Puddletown Tales' toys.

Everything piled up because there is never, ever, enough storage space.

Favourite cards and ephemera.

I am having a work overdrive, so watch this space for more shop updates, new designs and news of my March workshop in the forest of Dean (or click here for more details).

Wool in Winchcombe

Here is lovely Katie Morgan -  painter of gypsy wagons and fairground rides, restorer of antique clock faces and so many more things -  with her knitted hanging basket, which has been hanging joyously from the Winds of Change Gallery throughout the Winchcombe Wool Festival.

Everything in the gallery was wool oriented, one way or another, including painting and prints of British sheep by artist Alexandra Churchill - this one in the window is the local 'Cotswold Lion'. (And there's one of my books nearby).

The gallery was swarming with people all day - many local and all interesting. So interesting that I forgot to demonstrate and did a fair amount of chatting. This sheep hand puppet came visiting, if I remember rightly, he is a Sunday school prop and is still used now. His 'helping hand' is the wonderful artist  Belinda Durrant.

We exchanged cards - this is one of her exquisite artworks, 'Left Foot Trap' the shoe upper is a paper cut with the mouse drawn. And the trap inside - for feet or mice? Her work is breathtakingly delicate  with a delicious biting twist on the relationship between women and fashion. 

Another local artist I briefly met was Julie de Gruchy East - she was exhibiting wonderful textile portraits of Winchcombe butchers, 'drawn' on an old sewing machine onto vintage Witney blankets, a fine old Cotswold company still in business today. They are *only* thread, but blimey, they are masterful portraits. If I had the money to invest, I'd be commissioning her right now, while she's still affordable, because I  have a hunch she's going far with these. More photos of her work and the actual butchers can be found here on her blog.

Here's Jane, the gallery owner learning to finger knit, and more of Julie's work  (the cushions are hers too).

Katie's knitted daisy chain which later mysteriously appeared draped in Winchcombe in a 'yarn storming' event - as reported on her blog here. 

 Katie is one of the most interesting people I know; always working on something unusual,  recently making a reproduction of Katherine Parr's velvet toilet, for nearby Sudeley Castle. Katherine Parr being the surviving wife of Henry the Eighth and this being her Quincentenary (That's 500 years). Belinda Durrant has recently made some tiny, heart breaking baby garments, also on display at Sudely, for the little orphaned daughter (Lady Mary Seymour) of Katherine, who died in mysterious circumstances just before her second birthday. Belinda's response to this sad story of a royal child who seemed unloved by anyone, was to create a trio of clothes, but with her own particular angle. 'Where is Mary' can be seen and read about on this blog here, with Belinda's own words about why she felt so moved to make  them.

Cushions, ceramics, upholstery and artworks, all celebrating the stuff that the Cotswolds were built on.

My own little people don't strictly qualify, being made of Australian merino, but here they are anyway.

 

One of my doglet's dwarved by ceramics and giant felt shoes. I'm back at the gallery this Friday for a workshop. There's an outside view of the day at the gallery and the festival over on the Texture Knit blog (including rare footage of me working).

It's been a crammed month with various things going on 'behind the scenes'- this is when we hope to really get on track with our plans to move, job transfers and expanding my little business. It's all a bit nail biting.  I wish things were settled, I really do.

Little Hare

Several weeks ago one of my collectors asked if I would consider a hare commision. Oh dear. I have been trying to design a hare ever since I took up needle felting over three years ago and have failed.

As shy and hard to catch as the real creature itself, I have been unable to visualise a satisfactory toy version, despite it being one of my favourite animals.

But I've broken the hare curse at last! Maybe it was because someone actually requested one, but I finally saw how it would be done. He has glass eyes, a waxed cotton nose and thread jointed arms -

Even underneath, where it won't be seen, attention to detail is paramount.

At my client's request, he was named Harris. Of course, now I've cracked the hare code, I have all manner of similar characters in mind, but they will have to wait until my present orders are fulfilled.

I get many enquiries about when I am going to update my Etsy shop with more needle felt things; I seem to work mostly to order now, but I have two little toadstools looking for homes and who knows when I'll have time to make more...

I am having another 'Puddletown Tales' book signing, this time in central Oxford, at Waterstones bookstore on the corner of Broad Street - very soon! In fact, this Saturday the 27th of August, 1.30 - 4.30. If it's possible for you to make it (and help me break the last record of one book sale) I'd love to see you there and put names to faces.

A Couple of Swells

This is a much loved character, Mr Lavender, as he was back in 2008. He travelled a long way to a gallery for an exhibition and failed to sell for the princely sum of £65. (He has since doubled in price). He later became a part-time actor in the second 'Puddletown Tales' book, 'Peggy's Lost Pennies' as a toyshop owner.

By then he had aquired a smart new waistcoat.

I was asked by one of my regular customers if the original was for sale. As none of my Puddletown people are going to be sold - unless things get really bad - I offered to make a copy. So, Mr Lavender the First -

- and Mr Lavender the Second.

He is a little smaller, but has the same kindly, humorous look. Now he's about to bring pleasure to his new owner, who is delighted with him - which is always nice.

"We're a couple of swells

We stop at the best hotels

But we prefer the country far away from the city smells

We're a couple of sports

The pride of the tennis courts

In June, July and August we look cute when we're dressed in shorts

The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea

We don't know how to get there, no siree

No, siree.

We would swim up the Avenue but we haven't any lake

So we'll walk up the Avenue

Yes, we'll walk up the Avenue

Yes, a walk up the Avenue's what we'll take."

(From 'Easter Parade' by Irving Berlin)

A mostly uneventful day

Well, that's another one to chalk up to experience. Saturday was my book signing day - the lovely people at Teddy Bears of Witney had given over a whole one of their windows for a display of my books.

And in the long back room where the child-safe bears live, I had the top of a glass display cabinet for the Puddletown toys, where they sat very happily. I also had a digi-frame set up, showing previous work.

One crucial thing I did learn as the day went on was that I should have put them on the two lowest shelves because of course, they are not at child height and the little mites had to crane their necks to see.

I set my table up at the back, with everything I needed, including work, as I didn't expect to be overwhelmed with crowds of adoring fans.

I was not disappointed. I was not overwhelmed by crowds of adoring fans.

Several people came in to see me over the six hours; stayed to chat about various things, admired the toys and books. I very much enjoyed meeting them all and one lady who has read my blog (*waves if she is reading this*). One person came in specifically because she had heard my radio interview and felt a connection, having had a difficult childhood herself - we exchanged details and if the day had been meant for anything, it was for that, so I'm glad.

The shop sold three books in total, which works out at half a book every hour and I sold enough pin badge/postcard combos to cover my bus fare and have a much needed pint. I felt more sorry for the shop, as they had gone to so much trouble on my behalf.

I'm tough enough to take it - the next signing is being planned in Oxford. Hopefully we may sell more than three books this time.

Cupcakes for charity

108 eggs, 3 hours of vinyl & shellac transmogrified to MP3 & learning to bake cupcakes...

What a May it has been! Back in the dark winter, about three months ago, a dear friend offered me up her lovely big house for a 'Puddletown Tales' book launch. At first I was literally terrified - the very thought of all that fuss and 'me-me-me' palaver sent shudders through my spine. Not that I was ungrateful; simply clueless as to how to organise such an event. But as I thought about it, I realised that it was a great opportunity to get involved in a charity which helps children who have lost their parents as I did when I was 12 in 1979.

All manner of signage

An online search brought me to the 'Child Bereavement Charity' which deals with many aspects of loss including counselling for young, bereaved people. I was never offered any kind of counselling when I was orphaned - I was simply expected to get on with my life, which, being an independently minded child, I did, possibly too well. I am sure that some people considered me hard hearted, not crying and wailing for my parents. Of course, they could not see the terrible damage inside, because no-one bothered to look.

Puddletown Tales colouring sheets

It was only a few years later, after the initial shock had gone, that the suffering really showed it's ugly face and by that time there was barely a soul to hear me cry, least of all the Social Services, supposedly 'caring' for me. Eventually a wonderful college counsellor and my darling Andy saved me. And it was only when I got the counselling I so badly needed, that I realised how hard I (and other people who should have known better) had been on myself and how emotionally neglected by so-called family and the authorities.

- and yet more Puddletown Tales colouring sheets

Now that I am in a far better place and strong enough to think about helping others, I want to do as much as I can to help prevent other young people going through what I did. And that brings me back to my party. I could do this, if I made it a charity raising event. But how to start?

My kind neighbour's baking and decorating

I was never allowed to have a party when I was a child. My elderly, invalid father had rather eccentric ideas about how a little girl should be brought up and this included not being allowed to mix with certain other children or to have any friends in the house. Ever. (This was really entirely for his benefit of course, as he hated noise and disturbance). So apart from a small birthday picnic I had once in a park with my mum and two friends, and my 30th - an informal, well-lubricated bash - I have no experience of hosting a party, planning the food or choosing a party dress. It has been a huge learning curve.

Smaller & consolation prizes so that no-one went home empty handed

I started at the beginning by simply inviting people and explaining what it was for. It was to be a book-launch/cricket teaparty/charity fundraiser kind of thing. We had about 80-100 guests in mind. I seem to have collected a lot of friends and contacts over the years and was surprised at how many there were. Again to my surprise, most people were pleased to come.

Various prize & price tags

Here is what I wanted. A cupcake sale to raise money for the charity, alongside a raffle of at least one of my needle felt animals. Competitions for the children and simple activities. A big cricket tea, which hopefully some people would be prepared to bake for (They did! In numbers!) My favourite kind of music playing, oh yes and for a while, some book signing - I kept forgetting that in the frenzy of it all. Gentle carnage with cake.

Last minute cupcake baking in my neighbours' kitchen the night before.

So for the last three months I have been slowly gathering together the elements of the first 'Mrs Mouse's Bring and Buy Cupcake Party', working with my publishers Templar, the local book sales rep and the Woodstock Bookshop as well as a few hand-picked friends who I could lean on for much needed support. So many things to organise; I had no idea. E-mailing became my second occupation. Trying to juggle it all has been - challenging - alongside my work, and the first two weeks of May were totally dedicated to it.

Various prize & price tags

I had three right hand women supporting me like strong flying buttresses - my old college friend and cupcake queen Natasha, AKA Neviepiecakes, who became my chief cake lady and party decorator. Debs, the house-loaner, who ferried me about from pillar to post in her car and who gave me constant reassurance over the months and Jo, a dear friend I met years ago through blogging. She completely relieved me of the games and activities organising after a brain storming session (which did involve tea and cake) and made industrial quantities of play-dough for the Mrs Mouse sculpting contest.

My new-best-friend Daisy and Mouse generously donated decorations, dinky polka dot aprons and the two beautiful main prizes for the 'Mrs Mouse Sculpting Contest', which suited the 'Mrs Mouse' theme of her red and white spotty toadstool house.

Gorgeous Prizes from Daisy and Mouse

Jo also constructed a super book quiz and my publishers Templar donated the prizes -

Book prizes donated by Templar Publishing

So many things to buy from an ever-shrinking budget - prizes, food, basic decorations, party favours for about 30 children, printing invitations; the list grew ever larger. So many things to get hold of - trestle tables, a hot water urn, then a last minute panic as the tea service we'd hoped to use had moved out of the county! But, my rural networks came in handy and I was able to borrow a big set of 1950's Beryl Woods Ware from our own village hall, the big WI teapot and the Mother's Union teapot. Which fitted the theme of 'Vintage Tea Party' perfectly.

Mother's Union Teapot to the right, Women's Institute teapot to the far left - chatting or ignoring each other?

I eventually tracked down the right party dress for my not-average body from Pepperberry and Andy treated me to a stunning cardigan from Forever Amano, hand knitted and fairtrade. My hair was cut and dyed (by Andy), last minute cupcakes were made the day before the party in my neighbours large kitchen. My neighbour also printed out the colouring sheets, to save me the expense of photocopying. In short, lots of people rallied round to make my day a success and I am forever indebted to them. Not least to my friends Debs and Neil for allowing me take over their home for the day and fill it with my friends, many of whom were strangers to them.

My little contribution to the cupcake stall - not pretty but apparently tasted nice.

I was still making the needle felt raffle prizes at 5.30 am on the morning of the party, but miraculously, by 9, I was ready. Debs picked me up, a truckload of party gear was loaded, tea service collected, and the great day began with preparing the house. I put my happy music on, (Midlake and Fleet Foxes), overlooked by Mrs Knit-Chick a good luck gift from my friends at the Queen's Head pub.

The calm before the storm

Hoovering commenced, followed by an orgy of balloon blowing while I (half asleep, half high on stress) tried to organise myself and the display room. I don't think I've ever blogged about my 'Mermaid Castle' pop-up book, which I worked on a few years ago, but here is is, opened up for playing with.




Prizes were laid out -

The Puddletown toys, the real stars of the show, were put out for their first public display -

Raffle prizes - special edition 'Custard', Apricot Pig and a Cupcake

Soon my right-hand-women arrived, armed with games, acitivities and several boxes of cakes. These heroines had spent the last few days getting things ready for my party and the results were awesome. I knew I could trust them just to get on with things, while well trained husbands calmly helped out with necessary chores. My hosts, Debs and Neil, were my co-ordinators in arms, so that I was left in peace to get my act together.

Natasha began transforming the room and setting up the cupcake sale with her own pretty cake stands.



I was reduced to tears when I saw her cupcakes - can you see why? How perfect are they?




(There are far better photos of the cakes on her blog here.)




Outside, equally vital work was being done by Jo, setting up the children's activities - hula hoops and bean bags to play with, giant jenga, the 'Mrs Mouse Sculpting contest', face painter's table and indoors, toys for the little ones and a colouring table. Not only had she organised all this, but had baked quanitites of cupcakes and tea cakes as well.

Jo setting up the 'Mrs Mouse Sculpting Contest'

The mammoth cricket tea was prepared - I had actually worried that we would not have enough...

The sandwiches and savouries table

Cakes and scones

My hostess and the Beryl Woodsware tea service

Time flew by - all too soon I had to flee upstairs to shower and change. Andy (who had been at work all morning) came up to make sure I was looking 'proper'. I could hear guests arriving, laughter and very faintly, 'The Ugly Bug Ball' floating up, part of the 3 hours of teaparty music I had patched together from old 78's and 45" singles. I descended into the melee to meet everyone and begin signing - as well as 'Mrs Mouse's Cupcakes' which a lot of people know about now, the second Puddletown title 'Peggy's Lost Pennies' was also on sale. The Woodstock bookshop kindly donated 20% of their day's sales to the Child Bereavement Charity as well.

Sharpies are my preferred choice of signing instrument

It was utter, sublime madness. People from all aspects of my life poured into that house; Andy's parents, all the way from the North - my first boyfriend from way back when we were teenagers, his lovely partner and their two dear little boys - the lady who commissioned me for Disney to do 'Pooh' artworks, who has remained a friend - from my publishers, the rest of the Puddletown team, Janie the designer and Hannah the editor. Erica-Jane Waters, an illustrator I've know for a decade online but never met in person (she was lovely in real life too).

Best friends, our village friends, art-client friends - when worlds collide!

There were people from the village we live in now and the village we were in where we used to live - old, much loved friends we have known for yonks. Best friends come up from North Devon bringing eggs and veg plants - people I have met through blogging, such as Beth of 'Bee Drunken' whom I have wanted to meet for about 3 years - a lady who bought some of my first artworks a decade ago - and more. A wonderful human soup of my collection of friends from the past 30 years and through it all the children played.

Our super cupcake saleslady did a sterling job and the stall eventually raised £150 pounds. (Need I say that Natasha's Puddletown cakes sold out within minutes?)

Jennifer H, our lovely cupcake sales lady - top job!

I had spent days putting together a compilation of my favourite 78's - foxtrots, sweet old love songs and early jazz; proper vintage tea time music which floated over the garden as bubbles were blown, little faces were painted and Mrs Mouse's were carefully crafted.

Party playlist selection, some very old 78'' crackling sweeties -

'Rambling Rose'
♥
'Chloe'
♥
'Terre Chanson'
♥

'Old Man Sunshine'
♥
'12th Street Rag'

♥
'Under the Sweetheart Tree'


Local artist Lorna Marrison showing that you are never too young for bubbles

Suzie H, an old friend who kindly volunteered her skills for face painting.

Sue Cook - another local artist who also gave up part of her afternoon to facepaint

Tea was officially at three and everyone tucked in. Some with more enthusiasm than others...

Andy was my chief tea-lady, complete with pinny. He was a star! He flogged raffle tickets, carried tea trays and made sure that everything was flowing smoothly. Tea was eaten, though not by me - I was too busy signing books and socialising.




I signed so many books that in the end I had to make people tell me very, very slowly what to write, or I would have scribbled gibberish. At last it was time for the judging of the Mrs Mouse sculpting contest. It was difficult! We had two age groups; there was a marvellous variety of entries and it was hard to pick winners. I was very glad I had bought little prizes for everyone.

The under 6 sculpting entries

The over 6 sculpting entries

Click on the images for the full glory of the 'Mrs Mouse Sculpting Contest'

Once the Mrs Mouse prizes were handed out (and consolation favours) and the book quiz winners had chosen their books, Andy hussled me on to do the raffle draw, which everyone seemed quite excited about.

Apricot pig, the second prize went to my sweet friend who had started the whole kaboodle off back in February, by lending me the house for the day - which very well deserved and she was thrilled.

It all went more or less smoothly, except for one moment when I read out the wrong number because I had my thumb over the ticket and said a bad word before I could stop myself - to much laughter. I did apologise to the children and told them it wasn't big or clever to swear...but no-one seem to mind. I, on the other hand, was mortified...

photo courtesy of Chris Mullineux

I was even given an super Puddletown artwork by a little girl who has one of my paintings on her wall, bought for her when she was just a little scrap of a thing - and now I have something by her.

Puddletown artwork by A.B

Not one child cried, argued, was sick or had a tantrum. Everyone appears to have had a splendid afternoon. If I have one regret, as always, it was that my mum was not there - she would have been in her element with cakes, tea and children. But I was overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity and love that was heaped upon me that day by all my friends from far and wide - it was one of the very best days of my life and more than made up for a partyless childhood. Best of all, we raised in total £450 for the Child Bereavement Charity. If you are reading this and you were there - you helped to make it a very special day - thank you.

I could have made the party three times the size had I been able to invite my blogger friends from everywhere - but most of you live just too far away...so I hope I've been able to share it adequately here. To see a guest's version of the party, please visit Amelie's House.

The next day, poor Andy fractured his left forearm playing cricket, which shows how unjust life can be, because he didn't deserve that. (He is much better now though and getting back to normal).

So many presents!

Although I was completely shattered for days afterwards, it was such a success in everyway that I am already thinking about holding it again next year.

♥

TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE CHILD BEREAVEMENT CHARITY, CLICK HERE - PLEASE MENTION MRS MOUSE'S CUPCAKE PARTY!

*Many thanks to Chris Mullineux and Lorna Marrison for additional photos*