More strawberries are appearing on the Mollie Makes Strawberries Flickr group pool.
Homespun charm from Simply by Emma
Becky Button's symphony in red and green satin
Becky Button's super little satin offering
They are really wonderful in their endless variety and I take my hat off to you all.
Don’t forget, you can come along and make your own strawberries with me at one of my Vintage Strawberry Workshops next month. Just click the ‘Classes’ tab or Ooh.com button over on the right there.
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After the longest quest to find a copy of my holy grail – aka Mollie Makes - I finally tracked her down. Good to discover that the magazine is produced to a convenient bag-friendly size (like) with stroke-hungry matt paper (like) and with a really wonderful informing eye (like, like). But my eyes popped out on stalks when I spotted this near the back of the mag.
Mollie Makes... vintage strawberries
Good golly! Those are my vintage strawberries! OK, this wasn’t altogether a surprise as I had been commissioned in the conventional way. But seeing the final product – well, almost the final product – is a new and intoxicating experience for me. I’m awash with conflicting emotions; like a parent watching their child hash dialogue in their first school production, I simultaneously glow with pride and squirm at the less-than-perfect qualities of the execution. That embroidery…! I know, I know. I only threw it in as an afterthought. Still, they are my babies alright, and I’m happy to see them out in the big wide world.
So, Mollie Makes issue 2 carries a how-to (also by yours truly) on making your own vintage strawberry emeries. Historically, when needles were expensive, emeries were necessary to condition, sharpen and de-rust them. Now emeries are mainly for fun, though you can use them for their originally intended purpose if you like. They are quite straightforward to make, once you know how. Create them fatter, thinner, bigger, smaller, quirkily topped or not. I guarantee that they are addictive, though: make one and you’ll soon be tinkering with another.
True to my philosophy, most of those fabrics are genuinely vintage and/or scrap. For example, the red one with ditsy white flowers over there on the right was a leftover from a dress I made when I was 16 (that’s almost 30 years ago, folks – and no, I don’t ever throw anything away, obviously).
To celebrate this happy event, I’m arranging a series of Vintage Strawberry Workshops to coincide with the publication of issue 2 (from 9th June onwards). If you happen to run a craft boutique or making establishment, do get in touch for booking details. Have Stitchmobile, will travel!
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Welcome to the world, Mollie Makes! If you haven’t already subscribed to this new craft title, you can find it today in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, WH Smith’s and all good craft emporiums* (such as this one), price £4.99. There’s a chance to take a peek at a proof sampler of the first edition online too. Looks tempting, I must say. If you manage to get your hands on a copy, do let me know what you think, and I’ll do likewise.
And here I must declare an interest. I’ve made something for the cover of issue 2. I’m beyond excited about this, as you can imagine. More will be revealed soon.
*Should that be emporia? Unfortunately, my in-house Latin expert isn’t available – he’s currently at school revising for his GCSEs. My sympathies to any other parents going through vicarious pre-exam stress. Just think this soothing thought – by time issue 3 of Mollie Makes comes out, it’ll all be over.
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A little bird tells me that Mollie Makes is a new magazine launching May 12th. The tagline is ‘Living and loving handmade’ and it aims to curate the best of today’s craft. Art Director Jane Toft tells more about it below.
I gather that the amazing and wonderfully eccentric Dottie Angel is featured in Issue 1. What’s not to like? The website isn’t quite active yet, but in the fullness of time you can find it here.
Early subscribers can find a particularly enticing trial offer over here. Otherwise, you’ll find Mollie Makes in W H Smith’s, Waitrose etc.
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