Under the tree…

I think His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales could declare the Campaign for Wool a resounding success based solely on the contents of my Christmas stocking this year. My friends and family know me well. I’m aware that “What I got for Christmas” is hardly original blogging ground, but since the givers weren’t able to see us receiving their gifts, I thought you might indulge me. Here are some of the lovely woolly things that were under our tree this year:

Some beautiful hand painted sock yarn by Etsy seller Sqwish.

A gorgeous woolly beret by the inimitable TOAST

A Harris Tweed plunger cosy by fieldytweed on Etsy

A tea cosy made from recycled felted sweaters by the clever Ecozee on Etsy

Handknitted socks bought from a local knitter in Leipzig

Two beautiful pairs of felted wool slippers by the talented Etsy seller ing00te.

Not pictured:
Merino wool singlets (thanks Grandma!)
Felted wool slippers for Rose
Merino wool top by Merino Kids

I’m sure you’d agree we were rather spoiled, in a woolly way. Thankyou for all the wonderful Christmas presents we received in the mail and in the bank this year. We’re so grateful for all of them.

#4 Christmas creations

The photos in my previous two posts have come to you courtesy of a friend’s camera (thanks Chris). We’re still waiting on my new one to arrive. I was hoping today to show you some of the decorations to be seen in the windows and streets of Leipzig, but alas they’ll have to wait. Instead, I’m sharing with you some work by the talented Etsy seller andreabeth. One of her incredible nativity scenes is high on my list for next year. Santa, are you reading?

 

Wild and woolly

This week happens to be Britain’s very first National Wool Week as part of HRH’s Campaign for Wool. Being somewhat of a wool purist (to the point of near fanaticism) I’m sharing with you some of my favourite woolly items on Etsy. Wool is an amazing fibre; it can keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, it can repel moisture and insulate, it’s durable, beautiful and versatile. Best of all, unlike synthetic fibers, it breaks down at the end of its life.

Cloche hat in vintage khaki tweed with vintage button by bonniesknitting

 

Zigzac arm warmers in marine by deleriumkredens

 

Hand knitted heather grey and vintage French lace clutch by monamivie

 

Marilyn… the eternal romantic by EmmaLamb

 

Felted Slippers by Onstail

 

Big Felted Rose by AVAoriginal

 

Egg cup and cozy set by NorahSmith

 

Knee High Socks – red lace with ties by pinkcandystudio

 

Handmade iphone/ipodtouch wallet by qtpiworkshop

 

Soleil Cowl by TickledPinkKnits

 

Cafetiere cozy moss green/burnt orange by fieldytweed

 

Oatmeal and winter white felted nesting bowls by blackbirddesignhouse

 

Rose wool satchel by Woolybison

 

Owl pillow by birdenvy



Green apple by woollyduck

 

 

No Christmas in July

Peaches, cherries, cool mornings and hot evenings, living in singlets and sipping cool drinks. It’s definitely summer, but where is Christmas? As Germany continues its merry course around the sun, the tastes, smells and sights of summer are taunting my senses with a mirage of the festive season. Since this year’s will be my very first Christmas without summer’s delights, I figure there’s no harm in my getting excited now?

Doves and silver circles paper garland by paperacorn

Christmas lights PDF knitting pattern by kooklacreations

Vintage British wool blanket stocking by XmasMuse

Vintage Christmas card by starmango

Snowflake ornament by smallpackagess

Stained glass Christmas tree by GustineStreetGlass

Mod Christmas reindeer hand carved stamp by paperfruithair

Note cards with matching swing tags by Ruby Victoria

Felted wool angels byandreabeth

Skirts for summer

At long last, my newly designed Liberty print skirts are now up in the MavisandFrank shop! The idea is to show off the beautiful fabric with as simple a design as possible. With a wide elastic waistband and girlish ruffle, they can be worn high on the waist or lower on the hips, wherever your heart desires. A big thank you must go to my model – the gorgeous Keren Moran.

Happy birthday MavisandFrank

I can hardly believe it. Today my little Etsy store MavisandFrank turns one. It started with a borrowed sewing machine, some pretty fabric, a little boredom; a way to rescue my brain from becoming something resembling the texture of cooked eggplant. Though it’s been tough and tiring at times, my little enterprise has been a lifeline in these first few months in Germany. Simple things have become harder (buying beads, filling out customs forms), but I still get a little thrill each time I send a package off on a long journey to somewhere I will probably never go.

In other news, we’re now home safe from a glorious week in beautiful Burgundy (more tomorrow, I promise). Oh, and Australia has a new Prime Minister…

Oh la la Liberty Bunting by Ravenhill

A perfect pincushion

My husband puts up with a good deal for the sake of my craft. Pins lying around the house do not fall into that category. His relationship with sewing really deteriorated one day when he stepped on a pin cushion. The plucking of pins and needles from the foot of one’s husband is a regretful task. I wonder, would he have stepped on one of these?

Linen pincushion – crochet motif by Namolio

Pin Cushion by moniamano

Pincushion by olivebrown

Strawberry Cupcake Pincushion by jacksbeanstalk

Hedgehog Pincushion by strawberriesandcream

Vintage Scottish Wool Tartan and Recycled Denim Pincushion by ecozee

Pincushions for the Sewing Enthusiast by karmologyclinic

Heart Pincushion by ThePitbullBarNGrill

Blue Velvet Teacup Pincushion – pincushioncrazy346

Pincushion Ring – Red Velvet by madeinlowell

Little Linen Pincushion by PrarieSeed

Set of Two Tomatoes by seventytwostitches

Emery Pincushion – Felt Cup of Hot Tea by dottyral

New Fabrics

With Spring upon us, I’m preparing to launch some new designs at MavisandFrank. If there is ever a time to celebrate florals, its now! With this in mind I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of some new fabric from Liberty of London. Today the lovely Deustche Post lady delivered my long-awaited parcel. Here’s a sneak preview of the contents…

Fairy Clock in silver/grey

Ceasar

Edenham, dark blue

Poppy and Daisy

Now, what to do with each… Suggestions anyone?

A parcel in the post

Today Rose and I received a satisfyingly enormous package in the mail. How enthralling it was to slice open the seal, and how comforting to unwrap lovingly packaged tokens of home. Thanks Mum! Our loot included a jar of vegemite (for Rose’s sandwiches), two packets of Tim Tams, a copy of Peppermint magazine and the March Country Living, some Cadbury’s Easter eggs, a picture book and bunny, some Twinings tea and some beeswax crayons. Inspired by this, I’m sharing with you some Etsy finds designed to send you into a frenzy of letter writing and parcel sending. After all, there is something dignified about letter writing that emails can not touch. Wouldn’t you agree?

I have now attained the true art of letter-writing, which we are always told is to express on paper exactly what one would say to the same person by word of mouth.
Jane Austen to Cassandra

Sweet Yellow Bird Stationary by pinkbathtub

Share Some Tea With Me Letterpress Stationary by maydaystudio

Hot Air Balloon Hello Cards by paperinstyle

French Bee Letterpress Stationary by missive

Hand-Stamped Greeting Card by FostenGreetings

New Home Letterpress Card by luckystarpress

Vintage Bicycle Folded Stationary by ChicDesignOnline

To Liberty, at last

Two exciting things happened for MavisandFrank this week. Firstly, the lovely Emily from Timeless Paper featured me on her beautiful blog. And secondly, a bracelet was featured here in an Etsy treasury. Bring on Spring, I say! Florals are back in at last. I’ve often wondered why I am so attracted to Liberty fabrics. The answer, I feel, is their connection with childhood. My mother was part of an industrious patchwork quilting group (the hand quilting kind). Squares and scraps of Liberty’s classic florals were highly prized treasures. My sister and I grew up wearing handmade party dresses with smocking and peter pan collars, made with Tana Lawn. In fact, for a while in the late 80s it was fashionable in my mother’s set to wear drop-waisted dresses in Liberty florals. How I wish she’d kept them. I think its for this reason that I find so much nostalgia in the fabrics I use for my jewellery. It would be hard to pull off the drop-waisted floral look in these days of clean lines, muted colours and high waists. But maybe, just maybe, a necklace or a bracelet in the brilliant green of ‘Betsy’ or the cranberry-pink of ‘Wiltshire’ is enough to add a splash of colour, even nostalgia, to the most demure ensemble.

At this point I can go no longer without telling you of my recent visit to the Liberty store in London.  As a seller of items inspired by and made from the timeless fabrics, it felt like a pilgrimage I must make for my own creative integrity. After all, it was educational! A research trip, a staff development day, for the self-employed crafter. I was not disappointed. We  met Keren at the Great Marlborough Street entrance. While the rain began to fall and Tony pushed Rose back and fourth, I made my way through shelves of teapots, cushions and notebooks. I needed a treasure, a souvenir. But what? The answer was of course, a scarf! A Liberty scarf is the ultimate accessory. At a cost of around a hundred a twenty-five pounds, however, a scarf was not an option. Enter, my clever and stylish friend Keren. There, in a small corner of the third floor, she found a box of Liberty handkerchiefs. At seven pounds, these were (almost) affordable. Shaped into an elegant strip and tried around the neck, a handkerchief was indistinguishable from a scarf. Buoyed by our thriftiness and nonconformity, we headed for the mock-Tudor staircase and the rain outside,  just as Rose gave one last exasperated outburst.

Tony enjoying the cream tea with rose petal jam

Please don’t be worried if you don’t hear from us for a few days. We’re hitting the autobahn in our new VW and heading south to Lake Como, Italy. In appreciation for her travelling half way round the world to be with us, we asked Lesley if there was a part of Europe she’d especially like to see. Italy was her choice, and thither we must go. The things you do for you Mother-in-law. Viva Italia!