So it turns out the fox soft toy sewing pattern I'm working on also makes a little wolf stuffed toy. My fox and wolf PDF sewing pattern will be ready for you to download via my online store early November 2016, along with a pattern for my fabric hanging ornaments.

Some mushroom hanging ornaments on my work table this week. I'm trying to get some sets of these ready for Christmas.

​I love it when the perfect material for what I need happens to be rubbish... like the plastic from old milk bottles.

My blue whale sewing pattern is finally finished and available in my online shop as a PDF download. I'm so excited about this as it is one of my favourite toys to make...and they make the perfect gift for a small person. Enjoy!

Matt and I had the beautiful task of making the arbour for my friend's wedding over the weekend. I made the flowers and he and the kids collected the branches and vines. It looked beautiful and was the most perfect day.

The flowers were really easy to make so I thought I'd share how I made them with you...

You will need:
Polyester or rayon lining fabric in cream and leaf green,
Candle and matches,
Scissors,
Needle and thread.

Instructions (for one flower)

Step 1:
From the cream fabric, cut out three circles about 10cm in diameter, and two smaller circles about 7cm in diameter. Cut one circle from the green fabric about 7cm in diameter. 

Step 2:
With your scissors, make five cuts (evenly spaced) into each circle from the edge of the circle towards the centre but don't cut all the way into the middle. These will be the petals (or leaves in the green fabric).

Step 3:
Hold each circle of fabric over a candle flame without letting the fabric actually touch the flame. The heat will make the edges of your fabric curl up like a flower petal and seal the edge to prevent fraying.  Turn your fabric slowly to curl all the edges. Repeat for all circles.

Step 4:
Arrange the layers of petals - green layer at the bottom, then the larger layers and finally the smaller ones. Make a couple of stitches in the centre of the circles, through all the layers and secure. You could leave your flowers flat and open or make a few stitches in the bottom to bring the petals up and together slightly like I've done. 

I threaded a large needle with thick cotton and sewed all of my flowers onto a garland. You could sew or glue yours onto a hair clip or brooch, or use it to finish off your gift wrapping, a corsage or make them into a bouquet. Whatever you like. Enjoy!
  

Well it took me months and months to get this finished but finally the sewing pattern for my bunny doll (and bear) is ready for you to download. It's full of easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos and is the perfect project for the advanced beginner sewer wanting to tackle a slightly more complicated soft toy project that includes darts and gussets.

Some hand and machine sewing experience is recommended but really, I think anyone could give this one a go...and you get a cute little friend at the end of it.

I can't wait to see how you go...please just ask if you have any questions and I'd love to see photos of your finished bunnies or bears.

At last... my moth sewing pattern is finally ready for the world...

It's super detailed with step by step instructions and photos and is a lovely project to use those beautiful scraps of fabric you’ve been saving for something special.

It's available to download now in my online shop here. I can't wait to see all of your handmade moths (or butterflies)!

This strange-looking blue whale prototype is also my little boy's birthday present (no time to make another). When I appologised for it being too long and skinny and not having even flippers, he said "mummy, he's perfect...I'll call him Tiny".

Finishing a couple of these large grey foxes today. He's being very brave don't you think?

I'm working on some more foxes...so I guess my holiday is officially over. I've been itching to get back into my work room, with a head full of ideas...I've been thinking a lot about the wallabies and echidnas I've been seeing on my walks lately, and of course some owls, wolves etc...these foxes are for a photo shoot later in the month but I'll be putting some new creatures in my Etsy shop in Feb. Happy New Year!

One finished killer whale...

So far so good...

I've been making little creatures out of bits of fabric found in thrift shops for a while now. Mostly moths, bears and foxes. It started off as procrastination while I was 'supposed' to be making bags and purses for my business - Red tree designs. But I found I was making more and more little animals and giving them to my children and friends' children and really loving the processes and thinking up designs and feeling so creatively inspired...then people started wanting to buy them.

So I've called them 'Willowynn' and set up a shop...and a website...and now a blog...so I can make my little fabric sculptures (as well as my bags) without feeling like I should be doing something else.

Here I will try to document some of my creative processes, things that inspire me and little snippets into the world of Willowynn...a record for myself as much as anyone else I guess...