Left to right: Leather bags and accessories, by Wolfram Lohr, vintage inspired clothing and accessories, Monica Boxley, machine embroidery by Linda Miller, cactus pincushion, Andrea Lord of &made.

Highlights of the show include the Great Northern Graduates stand, where select creative graduates from across the country will be showcasing their talent.  And for even more jaw-dropping inspiration, head for the Craft Council’s Hothouse Programme stand. The Craft Council’s Hothouse Programme is a scheme dedicated to supporing new and talented designer-makers who are in the early stages of setting up their businesses. You are in for a treat.

In total there are 150 exhibitors to see at the show, so plenty to see and do for a great crafty day out. You’ll be able to chat with designers about their inspirations and work, and even indulge in a spot of shopping.

Some rather gorgeous jewellery will be also be on display (a girl can look, can’t she?). Left to right: Earrings by Ashi Marwaham, floral necklace by Clare Knox Bentham, ring by Jennie Gill.

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2012 takes place at Spinningfields in Manchester from 4th to 7th October. For further information on ticket purchase, details of talks and happenings at the show, and how to find the venue, take a look at The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair for all the details. 

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Let’s Get Hitched features three beautiful wedding styles: Funky Retro, Rustic and Vintage. And just because we’re deep down romantic at heart, we had to bring you lots of extra inspiration on the blog. Just because it’s beautiful, and just because we love a party! Some of these ideas are so gorgeous, we wouldn’t just keep them for weddings, we’d want them every day. So step this way for vintage inspiration and set the scene for a day to remember…

1. Keep it sweet and simple in a vintage dress, and vintage lace headband. Who wouldn’t look pretty in this? Lace headband from House of Istria.

2. Make a guest message wall, and use doily envelopes to display. So pretty. Use them to send invitations to weddings or even a vintage tea party. Doily envelopes by Anista Designs. 

3. OMG, you can actually eat these! Edible candy buttons would look amazing scattered across a multi-tier wedding cake, or just as pretty decorations. Available in different colours and flavours. Edible buttons by Andie’s Speciality Sweets.

4. Pretty up a wedding, bridesmaid or even a prom dress with a bridal sash. Sash by Krumpet’s Designs.

5. The perfect little evening bag. Great for bridesmaids, for the evening do, or any day you want a touch of vintage style. Doily clutch available from Sew Lola.

6. You can’t go wrong with vintage lace, and these lace cuffs add a nostalgic touch of romance. Available from Queen of Cuffs.

7. Giant paper pom poms add just the right amout of fluff to ceiling decorations! Vintage paper pom poms available from Pom Tree in every colour imaginable.

Pretty enough for you?

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Issue one Mollie Makes launched just over a year ago and was a sell-out. The cover features the now iconic crochet apple jackets and our editor’s highly insured and elegant pair of hands. It’s now only available in digital version, and Apple users can download it for free, as just one of the special things coming your way to celebrate Mollie Makes’ birthday issue, on sale 11th May…

To kick off our celebrations, you can now visit the Apple newsstand for your free Mollie Makes magazine! Offer ends June 8th.

All the Mollie Makes templates are available on our blog, filed under Downloads. And, since you might be needing them, here are the issue one templates.

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Left: Simple and sweet, these egg warmers look good enough to eat. Designed by Imali and available from her etsy shop. Middle: funky chickens! These crochet cosies are available as a free ravelry pattern download. Designed by Corinne Frieden. Right: Just the thing for the outdoorsy type – the campervan egg cosy saves your eggs getting cold on a frosty morning and they look good in the van. Little boys will love them too. Pattern available to buy from Snuginadub.

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1. Decorate an understated quilt with a trio of vintage doilies. This beautiful design comes from Make it Sew Modern by Vanessa Christenson of V & Co. Photograph by Brent Kane and published by Martingale. 

2. Brighten up a plain room scheme in an afternoon with a doilie mobile – it casts amazing shadows. This one was designed by Justine of Urban Scarlet and you can find a tutorial on her blog. Would look wonderful in a little girl’s bedroom too. 

3. Okay, these are only paper doilies, but crochet doilies would do just the same. What a way to wrap a bunch of flowers. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. This doilie flower wrap was designed by Chelsea Fuss for Papermash. 

4. Go easy on the icing and stun them with a doilie – unexpectedly chic, no? Drape a doilie, add a flower and you get the cake with the wow factor! Cake design by Sweet and Saucy.

5. For parties or everyday celebration, use doilies en masse as bunting. For colour, you can dye the doilies or mix with vintage hankies. They’ll look so pretty catching the breeze. Crochet doilie bunting designed by Rebekah of Bekahdu Handmade. 

With all these ideas, we think we’re always going to be just a little bit in love with doilies.

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We’re pretty excited about Selina Lake’s Book Party and Homespun Market. We’re definitely attending this one – so come and say hi. This one-off event is to celebrate the launch of Selina’s new book Homespun Style, as featured in issue 12 of Mollie Makes. Selina will be on hand signing copies of the book. And you’ll be able to browse and shop at over 20 stalls featuring gorgeous wares. All beautiful things, we know, as Selina has hand-picked all the designers and makers taking part. And if anyone knows a pretty thing or two about loveliness, it’s Selina. 

We can’t wait – Friday 13th April, 2pm – 8pm is in our diaries. Find out more about Selina’s Book Party.

Meanwhile over in Liverpool, Craft Creative are celebrating their first birthday with what looks like an awesome 1950s inspired workshoop. At just £15 per ticket, £20 if you want a Lindy hop dance lesson thrown in, this looks like an evening to remember. The Craft Creative birthday celebration takes part at The Leaf Tea Shop, in Liverpool on 20th March from 6.30pm – 9.30pm. Here you can knit, take high tea with a cupcake fondue, make a silk corsage or even (for the brave and the burlesque) a nipple tassel or two! Tickets must be purchased in advance from The Craft Creative.

Then there’s a weekend to remember – 24th to 25th March. there are two amazing events taking place. In London there are three floors of inspiring shopping and workshops at The Crafty Fox Spring Market. In Bristol there’s The Vintage Weekend at M-Shed. We’re torn between them!

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We will be camped out in style in this colourful yurt from 15th to 18th March. By then, the yurt will be fully furnished with tons of styling ideas for spring and summer!

The Mollie Makes team will be joined in the yurt by some favourite craft authors who will be there to chat and sign books. Carol Meldrum of ‘Knitlympics’ and Danish designer Vibe Sondergaard, author of the gorgeous new pattern book ‘Labour of Love’, will be dropping by. And we’re pleased to have Gillian Harris, fabulous felter of Gillian Gladrag fame, showing off her new book ‘Carnival of Felting’, as well as Jane Brocket of ‘The Gentle Art of Quilt Making’.

While we’re there, we’re hoping to get time to sneak off and see the knitted model village, and take in the exhibition of knitted cats and dogs. 

Come and say hi, stay for a chat, pick up some tips, and meet the authors. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

You can find out more at Twisted Thread. Subscribers get purchase tickets for just £6 each. Discounted advance tickets are available until this Friday 9th March. 

Our wonderful patchwork yurt was created by Linzi Upton of The Quilt Quine. The quilt panels you’ll see at the show were all her own work. Wow.

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Following on from the runaway success of our cover models on issue 11 Mollie Makes, we’re still feeling the mouse love. So we set some (humane) traps and caught these little critters.

This darling little knitted mouse on the left is available as a free mouse knitting pattern from ravelry. He’s really cute, and what a great photo. How about a simple amigurami mouse – this mouse doorstop is a perfect home accessory. This is also out there as a free mouse crochet pattern on the Lion Brand yarn site. And finally, just the sort of mice we’d like cats to drop on our doorsteps – adorable fabric mice in a range of patterns. The fabric mice are designed by Sofia Perina-Miller, who sells from her etsy shop.

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Photo by Hans Guldemond

When did you first start making?

I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember. The little Eline was always making drawings. When I was old enough, my grandma taught me how to crochet, knit and sew dolls clothes and softtoys. I loved it.

What inspires you?

Vintage and ethnic crafts, cross stitches, blogs, old postcards and stamps, collections, the Anthropologie stores in London, combinations of old and modern home decorations, Jeanette Lund’s photos, gardening, the crafty ladies around me. 

Photos by Joost de Wolf

What craft would you say is your first love?

I cannot name just one. It’s the combination I like. Combinations of paper, fabrics, knits, pattern design, cross stitches, buttons, ribbons, photostyling, graphic design, drawing.

Photo by Joost de Wolf

Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Go and start a blog.

Proudest crafting moment?

The launch of my first craft book, Eline’s House in October 2010.

Photo by Joost de Wolf

Where do you get your inspiration from online?

My top 5 blogs are: Gennine’s Art Blog, Dottie Angel, By Fryd, All the Luck in the World and Ishtar Olivera.

And your plans for Christmas?

I will be in my favorite city; London!

Hurray for British-Netherlands mash ups! Read all Eline’s latest on her blog.

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Great makes from Amanda Beauchamp, Project Goddess and Susannah Goodwill.

All inspired by issue 8 of Mollie Makes, still in shops and available here.

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