Mollie Makes #59

look!

105

CHRISTMAS GIFTS, DECORATIONS & MORE...

FESTIVE IDEAS!

MAKE IT!

SEW SIMPLE

WINTER MITTENS

GINGERBREAD

KNIT IT! PAGE 82

WELCOME CHRISTMAS PAGE 20

PLAY HOUSE

RETRO TABLE DECOR

SLIPPERS 3 KNITTED TREATS

WAYS WITH

FOR PETS PRETZEL PLUSHIE

FREE!

2016 CALENDAR 12 PROJECTS PLUS 136 STICKERS

Peace & Joy ISSUE 59

PRINTED IN THE UK • £4.99

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FESTIVE WREATH Talk to us! facebook.com/MollieMakes

@MollieMakes

MollieMakes

ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: PHILIP SOWELS, STYLING: HELENA TRACEY AND JEN GARDNER, MODEL: NATASHA WHITE

CONTENTS

issue number fifty nine

59

86 Sew a playhouse INTRODUCING... LIVING

The latest news from the world of handmade

Fill your life and home with crafted goodness

9 INTRODUCING…

49 LIVING

Handpicked crafty happenings

Our top picks of the most lovely buys for a hand-crafted, creative home

14 TRENDS Three ways with jewel tones, plus our top shopping picks

20 FELT WREATH

52 HOME TOUR Artist Rachel Oome’s family home is filled with fun, especially during festive times

Welcome the festive countdown with our sparkly partridge and pear wreath

59 DOILY PRINTING

30 TEA AND A CHAT

63 FELT BAUBLES

With the iconic Annie Sloan

A unicorn and goose for your tree or shelf

36 SLIPPERS SPECIAL

66 TABLE DECORATIONS

Three different designs to gift – one crocheted, one sewn, and one upcycled

60s-style decs to liven up Christmas dinner

44 HOW TO COLLABORATE

Treat your spare room to new bed linen

72 CROCHET CUSHION One to make in an afternoon

Creative advice from our award winners pinterest.com/MollieMakes

youtube.com/user/MollieMakes

46 GIANT PRETZEL Use as a cushion or hang as a wreath

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100 TEMPLATES Everything you need to make all the issue’s projects

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE 70 Subscribe UK

Subscribe and choose from one of two fabulous free gifts

76 Subscribe overseas International subscribers save up to 40%

63

Felty baubles

LOOKING FORWARD

82 Classic scarf

We’ve got that coming-up-for-air vibe at MMHQ having just gotten back from a very busy Handmade Fair at Hampton Court – it was lovely for us to see so many of you there. We’re now straight back into planning the next event – the Handmade Christmas Fair at Manchester Central from 20-22 November. See page 74 for more details about how you can join us for workshops, shopping and Q&As on the main stage.

We’re also looking forward to 2016 with our brand new calendar! Emily Quinton did a wonderful job designing 12 gorgeous seasonal projects to see you through the year, and we’re thrilled with Chiara Perano’s hand-lettered stickers. Plus, check out our new subscription offer on page 70, and bag yourself a gift to look forward to, too.

18

Jewel tone necklace

LOVING

Treats and treasures to fall in love with 77 LOVING Beautiful things to adore and make

78 COLLECTOR The kitsch world of vintage dolls

46

Lara Watson Editor

Giant pretzel

79 CROCHET HEART A gingerbread-inspired sweet treat

82 KNITTED SCARF An elegant suits-everyone design

86 FABRIC PLAYHOUSE Giant gingerbread playden for kids

72

Chunky cushion

90 DOGGIE GIFTS A mini jumper and a crochet bone.

95 UPCYCLED MITTENS Just cut up an old woolly jumper

106 BACK PAGE PROJECT Rosehill Design’s Christmas prep tips Subscribe at molliemakes.com

e it’s our calendar! Shares your diary sticker mak using #molliemakers

INTRODUCING trends

THIS MONTH WE’RE OBSESSING ABOUT...

JEWEL TONES

Shine bright like a diamond – or ruby, or emerald, or sapphire...

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A colourful circle dress suits both the office and evening cocktails. www.boden.co.uk

INTRODUCING trends 02

01

01

03

We’re filling our

kitchens with deep berry hues. www. anthropologie.eu 02

A jewel-coloured

statement necklace enlivens winter wear. www.oliverbonas.com 03

Scarf, polo neck and

overalls = this season’s wardrobe, sorted. www. hilarygrant.com 04

You can crochet

this clash pot yourself, or buy it ready-made if you’re short on festive prep time. www. woolandthegang.com 05

07

Our favourite cosy

homewares designer also makes fab clothes and accessories. www. donnawilson.com 06

Not only is this jute

bag a catch-all, it’s ethically made too. www.decoratorsnote book.co.uk 07

Warm plum and gold

sparkles for cosy nights 06

on the sofa. www. cerisesurlegateau.fr

04

05

MAKE IT! TURN THE PAGE FOR THREE WAYS WITH JEWEL TONES Subscribe at molliemakes.com

59 MOLLIEMAKES.COM 14

PHOTOGRAPHY: PHILIP SOWELS, STYLING: HELENA TRACEY AND JEN GARDNER, CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS: ROSSITERS OF BATH WWW.ROSSITERSOFBATH.COM

… and a partridge in a pear tree On the first day of Christmas, we grabbed our felt and started stitching Laura Howard’s sparkling, embellished wreath

20 MOLLIEMAKES.COM 59

Describe your style in a few words?

Bohemian, art school, indie, contemporary.

Staying true to yourself with…

ANNIE SLOAN Chalk paint inventor Annie was a pioneer of the upcycling trend – and behind the business savvy, she’s still an art student at heart Words: OLIVIA GORDON Photographs: RACHAEL SMITH

The godmother of upcycling, Annie Sloan was into painting reclaimed goodies long before it became fashionable. Her brilliant idea, 25 years ago, was to create an easy-peasy furniture paint that takes away the need for sanding and priming, and works as well on leather armchairs and curtains as it does on wood, metal and plastic.

Having built her cult chalk paint range and published many books on decorating, Annie is today recognised as one of Britain’s most influential designers, and has launched ranges 30 MOLLIEMAKES.COM 59

of wall paints and fabrics, as well as stencils and brushes.

Born in Australia – her mother was Fijian and her father Scottish – Annie moved to England aged ten. She juggled her start-up with raising three children, and her Oxford shop launched in 2000.

Today, as much of a friendly dreamer as ever, Annie works at her fun studiocum-warehouse, where every surface is beautifully painted and staff enjoy lifedrawing and yoga lessons together. We sat down with Annie to hear about her creative path to success.

Why did you start making paints?

After graduating from art school, I wanted to learn more about paint and thought: ‘I’m going to go back to first principles.’

I was interested in why ordinary people – farmers, not painters – have always painted their walls and furniture. I looked at where they got paint from – the pigments around us; earth that was red, earth that was yellow. They couldn’t paint that well, but they wanted to do it. All of that led me to making my own decorative paint. I knew what I wanted the colours to be, but I’m not a chemist, so, 25 years ago, I went to a factory in Belgium and had paints made up. I started my range with 12 colours – now we’re up to 33. Mixing the colours is important – when you go to art school you don’t buy 100 colours, you buy eight, and you mix them. That’s what my paints are all about.

What colours inspire you most?

I don’t have a set favourite colour; they change in the same way as what clothes I want to wear. I do have favourite colour combinations. Right now I’m loving bright green with bright yellow, which is weird because these are two colours I’ve previously always felt uncomfortable with.

INTRODUCING tea & a chat

‘Running a business is definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done.’

02

01

Describe your style in a few words?

Bohemian, art school, indie, contemporary.

Why did you start making paints?

After graduating from art school, I wanted to learn more about paint and thought: ‘I’m going to go back to first principles.’

I was interested in why ordinary people – farmers, not painters – have always painted their walls and furniture. I looked at where they got paint from – the pigments around us; earth that was red, earth that was yellow. They couldn’t paint that well, but

they wanted to do it. All of that led me to making my own decorative paint. I knew what I wanted the colours to be, but I’m not a chemist, so, 25 years ago, I went to a factory in Belgium and had paints made up. I started my range with 12 colours – now we’re up to 33. Mixing the colours is important – when you go to art school you don’t buy 100 colours, you buy eight, and you mix them. That’s what my paints are all about.

03

01

Annie’s studio

03

Annie’s playful

is crammed with

personality means

salvaged furniture

there’s unlimited

which she upcycles.

blackboard

02

doodling and

Well-loved

paints waiting to be

decoration inside

experimented with.

her HQ.

What colours inspire you most?

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One for the super smart

36 MOLLIEMAKES.COM 59

One for the girlie girl

Gift it!

Pottering around You can never own too many slippers – here’s a trio of quilted, upcycled and crocheted versions to treat your tootsies (or someone else’s)

One for the tomboy

Subscribe at molliemakes.com

59 MOLLIEMAKES.COM 36

LIVING home tour

Rachel Oome’s home is filled with creativity, festivities and family fun Words: CAROLINE ROWLAND Photography: HENNY VAN BELKOM

Artist and maker Rachel Oome shares her home with husband Jeroen, six-year-old Moos, one dog, two cats, three sheep and various chickens and birds. They live in the Dutch village of Raamsdonksveer, which they were drawn to because of the old buildings and the diversity of residents and amenities. Shops, cafés plus the local baker and carpenter are on their doorstep.

They live in an old mansion, built in 1910 and now split into two homes. There’s ample

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LIVING home tour

Left: Moos in the garden room. The sofa is actually Jereon’s old childhood bed.

This page: At Christmas, Moos has her own tree which she decorates herself.

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Eat, drink and be merry Say no to dull parties with Danielle Thompson's eye-popping 60s-inspired table decs

59 MOLLIEMAKES.COM 66

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Gift it!

There’s a good boy Make your canine chum the best-dressed doggie on the block with this suave jumper and crochet bone accessory

59

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