It's not my book publication day

Press hold on the launch post!

Soooo…today was meant to be the launch day for my second book, The Modern Embroidery Handbook. But friends, let me tell you that today is now not my book launch day 😭

I had a big book launch post planned with content scheduled to promote it, but unfortunately that’s now on hold. I found out very late on Thursday afternoon that I wouldn’t receive the books this month because unfortunately there has been a delay with the printers.

At this point I thought that they might potentially still arrive next week, but last night (on Good Friday) I spotted that the publication date on my publisher’s website now says the 30th April. I honestly don’t know if this means that I’ll have the books to send out to you by then or not. I’m so sorry for the delay, it’s completely out of my control and I’m frustrated that I can’t give you any more information about it now. I’m waiting to hear more info from my publisher and I’ll pass that on to you as soon as I know more.

A huge thank you to everyone who has preordered already - I will extend the preorder offer for anyone who orders from my website, and you can order kits for some of the projects if you like too. It’s also available to preorder via my publisher, on Amazon and Bookshop.org.

WIP

This month has been a really busy one moving into my new studio, completing a Christmas commission (I kid you not! 😂), and also finishing the second project for my Embroidery Membership too! This next project is a wonderful celebration of crafters and their spaces, and it’s a pattern you can customise too. There are so many fun details in this design and I can’t wait to stitch it with you!

If you’d like to join my membership then I’d love for you to join us. It’s £10 per month or £96 for the year - or sign up to be a Founding Member and get my complete back catalogue of patterns too! There’s more info about it here, and you’ll find this month’s project here.

Project inspo

I’m thrilled to have another project in this month’s Love Embroidery magazine! This project is inspired by traditional quilting blocks, and I’ve stitched them in a bright and fresh colour palette for spring. I absolutely love quilts but patchwork and quilting aren’t skills I’ve mastered (because I can’t measure and I do everything be eye 😂), so these hoops are the perfect alternative!

Find the patterns and templates in issue 51, along with an interview with me too!

Stitch of the month

One of my favourite stitches on my Craft Room hoop is cast on stitch, which I used to create the little succulent plant. It looks just like casting on for knitting (although I’m not a knitter!) and it gives a really fun texture. Give yourself a few attempts to play around with the tension and let me know how you get on!

Watch the video tutorial here.

Currently reading

There hasn’t been a lot of time for reading this month, and I realised this week that I’ve missed it a lot! So I’ve got started on my new fiction book which is The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka (affiliate link). This novel won the Booker Prize in 2022, and I’m enjoying it so far!

I’m really looking forward to joining in with The Selfish Book Club with my lovely friend Sarah Raad from

Gather & Grow

, which starts next week! The first slow read is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (affiliate link) which I read a few years ago and I’m excited to come back to it. If you sign up to Sarah’s free newsletter before 31st March, she’ll send you a code for a 14-day free trial which is really generous and gives you the opportunity to see if you want to keep joining in. Sarah is wonderful and I know you’ll love her writing and community - see you there?

Home ed

Our kids recently attended a puppet making workshop with Moving Parts Arts (who are based at John Marley Centre where my new studio is based). There’s a big festival taking part in Newcastle city centre this weekend, and they are excited to join the big parade with their bird puppets! So I thought I’d find some puppet-themed activities and inspiration for you this month:

Use old clothing to make puppets with this post from Project Kid

I’m a bit obsessed with this dancing skeleton puppet from Handmade Charlotte

Try this cat marionette puppet by Easy Peasy and Fun

Create your own family puppets with Jen Loves Kev

Take a look at these incredible puppets by Jamie Bressler!

From the archives

As it’s Easter weekend, I had to share some Easter-themed treats with you from my blog archives! This blonde mini egg rocky road is so easy to make and it’s a really easy way to use up any spare mini eggs (is that even a thing?! 😂). There’s also a dark chocolate version here if you prefer.

If chocolate isn’t your thing, then you can still get creative with this mini egg-themed colour palette too!

Wishing you a creative month ahead

Thanks so much for reading this month’s roundup! Wishing you a restful long weekend (if you’re here in the UK) and I hope you can make some time for your creative projects this weekend too.

Clare 😊