It feels so good to come back with something brand spanking new to show you all. And not only do I have new designs but they are also in a new format which is so awfully exciting!

Let me introduce you to my new "Creative Cards".

Creative Cards are a new product for my distributors, "Creative Abundance" and these are the first few to hit the press for Melly & me and Sew Little.  These cards are essentially mini-patterns in a new cute and compact format; in effect they are the look and size of a greeting card but with all of the step by step instructions and templates inside.

So if you are after a small, quick and simple pattern that you can grab with your small change, Creative Cards are the product for you.... why not even pop a personal note inside and send it as a greeting card to a crafty friend?  

There will be plenty more "Creative Cards" to come over time, but here are the first few that are all printed and ready to head to your local patchwork store. Itty Bitty Bunny Bag is exactly that.  A cute little girls bag that would be the prefect gift for any little sweetie in your life. How great would it be as an easter egg collecting bag at this time of the year?!

Sew Batty is the 2nd Creative card from Melly & me.  A cute cheeky little bat that would bring a smile to any face. These are so quick and easy to whip up and would be perfect for halloween gifts or decorating!

And then a "Sew Little" Creative Card, Sophie Seahorse.  This is a cute little baby toy that can be attached (with a link ring) to anything as you travel around with your little one.  I used a rattle insert in mine which makes it the perfect baby gift - you could also use a jingle bell or squeaker.  For anyone who is wondering I get my rattle inserts and jingle balls from here.

I hope you like my new little friends and make sure you keep your eyes out for Creative Cards at your favorite patchwork store!  If you would like to go in the running to win a set of all 3 cards then please leave a comment on this post and I will draw 3 lucky winners soon!

Good Luck and Happy Valentine's Day!!

Melly xxx

Last year saw us hold our first "Urban Stitches" hand-stitching retreat at The Novotel, Glen Waverley and what an outstanding success it was!  I cannot tell you how great a retreat it was.  The venue was simply amazing and so fantastic that we cannot think of doing our 2012 retreat anywhere else! It was a weekend of friendship forming and laughter... 

A weekend of spetacular goody bags including the choice of three fully kitted designs by Leanne, Rosie and myself to start stitching on...

A weekend of the most indulgent and tantalising supply of decadent food that just kept on coming!.. 

And the opportunity to shop for all sorts of goodies at the wonderful "Under the Mulberry Tree" shop... 

And now we are ready to finally announce "Urban Stitches" 2012!!!  Yay!

Urban stitches will be held on the 21st and 22nd of July this year and you can find all of the information by either clicking on the "Urban Stitches 2012" button in the right side bar or you can register online here to secure your place.

We really hope you might be able to join us!

Melly.

I must admit I am starting to feel a little bit nervous about what is shaping up to be a HUGE year ahead. Thankfully most of it is excited nerves, but I think it is only just starting to hit me now as I get the kids ready to return to School on Monday. I know that the sleep ins, pyjama mornings and schedule-less days are about to come to an end and with that also means facing reality and getting into serious productive mode.

Today saw me taking a big step booking my booth for Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City this May, which feels like a very big deal as I will likely be heading there solo this year, we have the exciting "Imagine... Mauritius" retreat in August to organise (make sure you secure your spot for this girls, Its gonna be sensational!!!!!), Urban Stitches in the process of being arranged (watch this space for details very very soon), perhaps there is a new Melly & me fabric collection in the pipeline???, new local classes that I will be teaching (dates and details to be announced very soon), a million and one new design ideas floating around in my head waiting to be brought to life, making sure there are much more regular blog updates (I promise!) and If that wasn't enough to get my mind around I now, as of last week, have a wedding to organise!!!!  

I am absolutely over-the-moon thrilled to be getting married later in 2012 to my most wonderful man! Oh how much fun I am having already dreaming up color schemes, dresses, flowers and cakes....  It is almost too exciting to bear. Google Images and Pinterest certainly make wedding planning a whole lot more fun (OK, I do have to admit, also much more of a time black hole, which is not so good)

So keep coming back in 2012 for lots of updates, information, eye candy and maybe even some wedding inspiration.  

And may the floss be with you....

Melly

After the amazing success of "Imagine... Vietnam" in 2011, we are extremely excited to be able to finally release the details of our second "Imagine..." retreat which is to be held in stunning Mauritius from the 15th to the 22nd August 2012

This is an exciting opportunity for any of you (from any corner of the globe) to join Rosalie Quinlan, Leanne Beasley and Myself in a week of complete indulgence!  Mauritius is an opportunity to escape to a beautiful tropical paradise. Enjoy the extravagant luxury of the Paradis resort, set on the picturesque Le Morne Peninsula. Spend your time as you desire, with a group of like minded women. Come with us to the craft bazaars, sit and stitch, walk amongst the most amazing nature, and experience a wonderful cultural diversity, amidst some of the most welcoming people in the world. 

In the right side bar you will see the "Imagine... Mauritius" button.  Please click on this to download the itinerary and registration information.  We are very excited to have our amazing Travel Agent Escort, Annette Dal Sasso, coming along with us again. All bookings and queries can be directed to her as per the details on the registration form.  If you are traveling from a destination other than Australia, please still contact Annette as she can organise your trip from wherever you are based.

This really is going to be a trip to remember and we hope you can join us!

So excited and tempted to pack our bags already...

Melly

Tonight is the night that we all say a celebratory farewell to 2011 and welcome the exciting clean slate of 2012. I always love this time of the year when we take the time to reflect on the year that has been and dream of what the new year might hold. 

It has been a mammoth year for me... so much has changed this year that I almost don't recognise myself as the same person that I entered it as.

You may have noticed that this blog has been a lot quieter this year, in fact all of Melly & me has been a little quieter than usual, but during that time there has been so much happening in my personal life.  After a hard 2010, my 2011 quickly became the year of new beginnings, new developments and self discovery. Some of this has been really hard work, there have been some definite hurdles sent my way, but at the same time some of it has been the most truly enjoyable journey. 

Another exciting thing that has taken my concentration in 2011 is the all-consuming distraction of new-found love with the most amazing man who makes me smile innumerous times every single day. I truly am so unbelievably lucky to have him by my side!

On the "Melly & me" side of life my favourite moment of 2011 was undoubtedly taking the stunning journey to Vietnam for our first international retreat/holiday.  It was such an amazing time and the memories are so unbelievably fond.  I am really looking forward to the next "Imagine..." overseas retreat which will be announced to you all next week!

In reflection, looking back through the year, despite some very hard moments, I have had a very very good year! :)  I suppose you could say that I turned those rotten lemons from 2010 (for any of my long term followers) into the sweetest tasting lemonade on earth.  And I have enjoyed the journey so much. Rather than making any resolutions for the new year, I simply intend to enjoy that lemonade.  There are so many plans already in place for 2012 that fill me with excitement and joy, I am just looking forward to enjoying every moment.  I also look forward to new found energy and excitement finding its way into Melly & me, and hopefully being around here a lot more often.

I hope that your reflections on 2011 are sweet and that you can fondly say goodbye to this year as you embrace the new one with both hands!  Happy New Year!!!  And dont forget....

Melly xxx

 

"New Beginnings" is a cute new Noah's ark stitchery design that I have had so much fun putting together over the past week. It features some of your favorite Melly & me softies along for the journey, as well as a couple of new friends as well.  

I have stretched my stitchery over a 12" square canvas and it just looks so adorable hanging on the wall!

This canvas would be the perfect gift to cheer up any child's bedroom or the stitchery could be used in any number of other projects such as a simple library bag, centre block in a baby quilt or made into a cute little cushion.

This new pattern will be ready to head to shops mid next week and will come kitted with the pre-printed hanky linen and full skeins of the 7 Cosmo thread colours that are used.  Gotta love a kit, especially one that means to tracing or even transferring, but just opening and being ready to stitch, Yay!!

Now to continue on another new undertaking which I am having so much fun with... oh, and getting ready for Christmas... only 16 sleeps :)

Melly

This week is always the week of the year that brings a little grin to my face...

The 2011 work year is coming to an end, there are no more business events or commitments until 2012, so I start to get that free feeling that means I can begin to dream up new ideas and designs again that have no purpose other than coming to life!!  I love that blank slate feeling and knowing there is time to just be inspired and work to that inspiration, if or when it comes.

This weekends we all got together to make up the Creative Abundance booth at the AQM trade show which is always so much fun!  I just adore getting together with old and new friends and just seeing what is new and "happening" in this fantastic industry.

Also at AQM I released a couple of new patterns that I want to share with you.  The first one you are possibly all familiar with, as she has been about for a little while now as a part of my book, "Kaleidoscope". There are continued requests for her to become an individual pattern, so I can given her a new coat (Rosie's yummy "Folk Heart" fabric!) and she is now starring in her own individual pattern.  Here is....

The second pattern is a new "Sew Little" design made using Natalie from Cinderberry Stitches' new fabric collection, "Woodland".  I hope that you love....

I hope you like them both and I hope that you are also finding some time to dream!!

May the floss be with you,

Melly

 

Despite my promises to come back to you last week, I have been painfully battling with a computer that decided to go to greener pastures.  It has taken me a little while to get all of my files and photos backed up and onto another desktop to be ready to blog.

But here I am, and I think I am finally ready to do a post making you all completely jealous of the lucky 32 of us who travelled to Vietnam last month.  And jealous you should be, because it was simply amazing!

This may be a little photo heavy, but I hope that you enjoy having a little taste of our first overseas retreat. 

The trip began on Saturday the 22nd of October when we all commenced our journeys to Nha Trang, Vietnam. On our arrival at the amazing "Evason Ana Mandara" it didnt take any of us long to fall completely in love with with the stunning resort...

The rooms were perfection, the service out of this planet, and the whole vibe at Ana Mandara was the perfect base for our week of indulgence.  The first day we had a fantastic full day tour of rural Nha Trang to get an idea of our surroundings. This truly was an amazing day with so many exciting sights, and experiencess...

On the second day we started our first class time which was just so exciting!!  Leanne, Rosie and I had spent so long preparing the amazing kits and it was overwhelming to see the result of our work.  There were tears, laughter and overwhelmed excitement as the girls all opened their case of treasures....

Over the course of the week there were four morning class sessions, and when we weren't in class we were living it up and having a ball!! There were new favorite drinks to leisurely sip...

A trip to the amazing early morning produce markets by cyclo trasportation...

Followed by a "Master Chef" style cooking class and competition...

There were just so many amazing sights to see and I think we all fell completely in love with the Vietnamese culture and hospitality....

One of the most memorable days for me was our final full day in Nha Trang when we visited the breathtaking XQ Emboidery House.  As if just looking at the amazing embroidery wasnt enough, we were lucky enough to arrange some tutoring from the Vietnamese emboiderers which included a small kit for us all to try our hands at their amazing artform.  We were completely blown away when we arrived to a ceremony in our honor with all of the local media involved!!  We were without words (and unfortunately I have no photos of the ceremony either since Leanne and I were robed in ceremonial dress and made a part of the proceedings)...

Part of the ceremony involved us all signing a piece of fabric which was quickly being embroidered to be framed and put on display in the emboidery house to commemorate our visit. Such an experience and honor!

After this day of excitement we all headed back to the resort to prepare for our final farewell dinner. We had such a special night planned and it was just like a fairytale.  We first went for a 1 hour boat ride to the amazing hideaway Island for pre-dinner drinks looking over the most amazing ocean views and then a dinner in a stunningly decorated room that had to be seen to be believed.  The perfect way to end the perfect week....

All in all I am still completely lost for words to exlain how amazing this trip was.  Every second was indulgent, exciting, eye opening and a feast for the senses. I think there was a smile on everyone's face for the entire journey and the trip surpassed everyone's expectations.  I know that I for one am holding my breath waiting for our next overseas retreat which will be announced very soon.  

A big thank you to all of you who joined us on this journey, it would not have been the same without you; It could not have been any more perfect!

Melly xxx

P.S.  The winners of the new pattern giveaway are Maria C, Gay Chilman and Erin. Please email me with your postal address and choice of the three new patterns!

I am completely bursting to tell you all about "Imagine Vietnam"!!!  We returned home to Melbourne yesterday and it is all so unbelieveably fresh in my mind.  It was a complete and utter success and was perfect in every way. To say that it exceeded all of our expectations is a definite understatement.

But as much as I want to share with you all about Vietnam, all I have managed to do since we returned is rest!! So once I manage to unpack, download my photos and get more photos emailed to me of the key moments, I will be back to do a massive Vietnam post!  I cant wait to share that with you later this week...

Instead I am coming here today to share with you the promised new designs that are being released this week as well as a new pattern giveaway!

The first two are designs that were a part of the girl's packs in Vietnam!  The first one, "Little Garden", is a sweet little bag that has a cute needle turn applique and stitchery design on the front.  The perfect bag for the little girls in your life..

The second new pattern is my favorite new design for a VERY long time!  I just adore this little girl, she really has taken my heart, and I hope you will love her too!!  This is the cute as a button "Dawn" the deer/fawn...

And the final new design may be farmiliar to a few.  These cuties were featured in Homespun magazine two months ago, and the pattern is now ready for general release.  These very cute "Love Birds" are also in my top few favorites for 2011!...

I hope you enjoyed seeing my three new pattern releases and please leave a comment on this post if you would like a chance to win a copy of one of them!!  

I will be back sometime this week to announce the winners and to share about the "Imagine Vietnam" experience.

Until then, I hope you week is full of crafty goodness!

Melly