Mollie Makes & me!

Doglets ahoy! Issue 13 of Mollie Makes hits UK shop shelves today - I've had a fantastic response from subscribers so far (who got their copies last Saturday). I feel a bit greedy, as the lovely Mollie Makes team gave me a lot of pages - as soon as you open the cover the sweet story begins - and how beautifully they have presented my little dogs - I felt as if I was looking at someone else's work.

...and in the contents...

...and six sumptuous double page spreads after that, with my step-by-step guide to making your own doglet - people, I sweated over that pattern, so it had better work! And yes, those are my fair hands demonstrating the steps.

The basic doglet design is an old favourite - I made my first in the third week of my discovering needle felting, over four years ago. He was called 'Petite Jaune' and he went over to live in Europe.

Soon after, I tweaked the design and made 'Custard', who went to live with the lovely Donna Flower.

Three years ago, I did a limited edition of 'Buttercups' for my only stockists, Teddy Bears of Witney. Sat with his back to us with his friends.

Finally he appeared as Custard again, in 'Peggy's Lost Pennies'.

And now here are his baby cousins in my favourite magazine. I've loved Mollie Makes since issue one - I had an inkling it would be an instant hit (it sold out within a couple of weeks of launch). They have successfully created a gorgeous, approachable magazine which taps into the whole crafting/blogging/lifestyle world in a way that really works, and I admire them for that. Confession - from issue one, I had a burning desire to do an article for them, but I never imagined I'd be asked to do the cover.

I'm not only selfishly pleased for myself, but also that it helps bring needle felting into the mainstream; a few weeks ago I had a needle felt book proposal rejected from a large UK craft publisher on the grounds that needle felting was 'too niche'. I have only one word to say to that - WOOF!

So, here's what you need to know if you want a copy - it sells really quickly, so hurry! It's available in most WHSmiths, some Asdas, Sainsburys and many independent craft shops. The stockists page can be found here, also with international outlets listed. It's also available as a digital download here, if that's your preferred method of reading.

Mollie Makes have five copies of 'Peggy's Lost Pennies' (in which dear old Custard appears) to give away, and you can enter the contest here.

Oh yes, nearly forgot - I'm at the Winds of Change Gallery in Wincombe tomorrow, Saturday April 14th, 11am till 4.30, demonstrating needle felting, if you're in or around the Cheltenham area. My Puddletown toys will be on display, so come and say hello!

Three Little Maids

It's that time of year when I deliver my contribution to the yearly Teddy Bears of Witney catalogue.

Only one edition this year, and a bit different to my usual style. I thought it would be nice to have a basic kitten design and call them after sweets, depending on what colours they were.

So this is 'Sherbert Lemon', always my favourite sweet. The design seemed faintly familiar and at first I was worried that I'd inadvertently plagarised the ubiquitous 'Hello Kitty'. (Which of course, I would never do, having quite strict morals about that kind of thing).

Then I traced it back to a toy painting I did back in 2006, 'Koko With Checks' thinking at the time what fun it would be to actually make this in real life.

A little later I used the basic shape again for a Christmas card, 'Angel Cat'.

And then I dug deeper, linking all this to some little Japanese dolls which I picked up for pennies when I was about 16-17. I'm so used to them that I'd almost forgotten about them, but they've obviously lurked in my creative subconscious.

I didn't know until a few days ago that they are Kokeshi dolls and are MASSIVE! Not in size, but in popularity and collectiblility. One is quite old and has a single baby doll inside her. She is my favourite. Or maybe he?

The other two also vintage, but more recent and have two nesting dolls inside. None of them are signed and I'm certain that they are simply mass market items, not the really valuable artist kokeshi.

My own 'Kokeshi Kittens' also have heavy, wobbling, heads and are a devil to stand upright. But they do, with a little care. Just.

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.

Radio waves

Just in case you've been on another planet - or not linked to me on Facebook or Twitter - I was interviewed on Radio Oxford last Friday, as part of the promotions for the Witney Book Festival (17th-19th June). I was in a state of complete trembliness and discovered what it meant to be dry mouthed with fear.

Not that I need have worried - Jo Thoenes, the afternoon presenter, was simply marvellous and soon had me at my ease - or at least, as much as I was ever going to be. The interview flew by as she asked me about my early life, my books and how I got to be where I am. To my relief I didn't fluff, stall or swear and more importantly I got all the plugs in for the Witney Book Festival and of course, my signing and exhibition at Teddy Bears of Witney, next Saturday, 10am-4pm.

My lovely friend Debs heroically ferried me about that afternoon and took photos. I had intended to take in some 'Puddletown Tales' characters to show Jo, but silly me, I left them in my studio at home. Thankfully Debs had her pig, Apricot, who came to be the star and I also brought in a work in progress - afterwards giving a flying demonstration to the nice programme producer who looked after us.

I have even been asked back, should I have another book to promote (*crosses fingers and prays to the Gods of publishing*). The interview - half an hour long in three parts - is available to listen to for four more days on the BBCiPlayer (so if you are coming to this after the 17th of June, I'm afraid you're too late!). To find me, fast forward to about 1.08 in the programme, after the wonderful Percy Sledge.

Interview clip here

After the interview we were all thrilled to find a message on the Radio Oxford Facebook page from Janet in America - which was lovely, and like having a little bit of her there with us.

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'
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'Chloe'
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'Terre Chanson'
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'Old Man Sunshine'
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'12th Street Rag'

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'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.

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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*