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Hello!

We've been in "lockdown" for almost a month now and I'm starting to settle into a regular routine. It still doesn't feel normal but my days have a bit more structure to them and my emotions are (mostly) no longer on a wild rollercoaster. Maybe just one of those mini rollercoasters they have for kids? With animal-shaped carriages and twinkly music and the odd bump and lurch but nothing too scary? This is a terrible analogy, isn't it? Haha.

ANYWAY, at the moment I'm keeping myself calm and busy by throwing myself into work but not setting myself deadlines or putting pressure on myself to do specific tasks on specific days. I've had days when I've been super productive and others where I've mostly just stared into space and done jigsaw puzzles. I've had days when I'd planned to do lots of work at my laptop and spent the whole day sewing. And I've had days when sewing has felt like the perfect thing but I just couldn't focus on it and ended up doing mindless admin instead.

I'm rolling with my feelings and my energy levels and trying to remember that everything I do that nudges a project forwards is good progress, and that taking time off when I need it is just as important.

One thing I haven't managed to do yet is get on top of my inbox - thank you so much to those of you who emailed me in response to my last newsletter a few weeks ago, I will get back to you eventually, I promise! Please know that your messages made my heart very full and very glad.

Exciting News:
I've put together some paper packs!

Okay so this may be stretching the definition of "exciting" somewhat but it's still all excellent news...

1) I missed posting things since I stopped going to the Post Office, so I came up with a product that can fit through the letter slot in my local postbox: paper crafting packs made up of vintage book pages and other lovely things. You can read all about them over on my blog. Do get in touch if you're interested in snapping up one of the remaining packs, but be quick - astonishingly there are only four packs left in stock as I type this!

2) Thinking about how narrow the postbox slots are made me remember that Royal Mail launched new parcel postboxes last year... and I found one that I can walk to! Hurrah! I've ordered a whole bunch of postage stamps online and a friend is kindly sending me some customs labels so I should be able to start posting parcels again like normal (well, normal-ish) very soon. 

3) I've started a new project over on Instagram: 100 Days of Studio Scenes, sharing work in progress photos and other behind the scenes bits and bobs. I'm trying to be relaxed about how "perfect" and "Instagrammable" the photos have to be and being honest about the ups and downs of running a business in these weird times and I hope you'll enjoy following along. If you're not a fan of Instagram don't worry, I'll be reposting the pics and captions in blocks of 10 over on my blog as I work through the 100 days.

New On My Blog:
Stay Home Embroidery Pattern

I've shared lots of free projects on my blog over the past few weeks!

You can sew a "Stay Home" embroidery pattern, or stitch a whole village of little houses.

Make some textile art with this easy spring trees project, or celebrate spring with some simple embroidery.

Then have a rummage through your felt stash and sew a cute felt sun or a colourful rainbow. The rainbows look a bit complicated but I came up with a method to make cutting out those narrow pieces nice and easy. They'd be the perfect thing to send to a friend at the moment, I think!

Next week I'll be posting a tutorial for making a felt raincloud, then instructions for how to use all three weather patterns to make a charming mobile.

Oh, and I've also made a start on catching up with the freebies for my pattern newsletter subscribers. Yay! You might have received the teacup and teapot brooch tutorial already but if you're not signed up to that part of my newsletter just send me a message and as long as you're in my subscriber database somewhere I'll be happy to send you the download link directly. (Remember you can update your preferences for future mailings by following the link right at the very bottom of this email).

Behind the Scenes:

As you can see, I've been busy working on lots of things!

I'm sure I have many interesting things I could say about these projects but, alas, the time is ticking on and I need to get this email sent so I can go post some parcels and cook my dinner so that will have to suffice for this newsletter's peek behind the scenes. You can do some of the things but not all of the things and today this is one of the things that just isn't gonna get done. More waffle next time, I promise :)
 
Lovely Links:

Knit a giant rainbow with this free pattern from Sincerely Louise (spotted via the queen of colour, The Craft Cafe).

My pal Kirsty is filling her new shop, Pom Plus Pom, with so many colourful craft supplies at the moment! Kirsty and I both used to sell felt and other crafty stuff on Etsy back in the day, in the same biz but encouraging each other instead of being rivals, she's got such a great eye for fun, colourful crafty things.

The Offcut Project is such a great idea - artists are submitting designs, they're getting printed onto paper offcuts in very limited editions, and at least £10 from each sale is being donated to the Trussell Trust. Such a great way to support artists and a good cause, as well as snap up some art at great prices! (I heard about this via Hazel Nicholls whose lovely lighthouse print will be available soon).

Here are 18 owl-themed crafts to keep you entertained!

Download some fab NHS colouring pages from Carters Steam Fair. Carters are running awesome-looking online signwriting courses at the moment, too, and they have some lovely (and highly bargainous) merchandise available if you're a fan of theirs or just of the whole funfair vibe. (I heard about the signwriting course via Hello Hinny).

My friend Fiona also has a couple of very cute coffee and tea themed free colouring pages available on her website.

I love the quarantine nature mandala project started by Whimsy Antiques. All the mandalas are lovely and this looks like a really relaxing thing to try! (Discovered via Smith Dry Goods)

Finally, Kate Slater's new wrapping paper is so beautiful I could almost weep. Those birds, man! So wonderful.
 
See you soon,
Laura x

P.S. Got any comments, something awesome to share, or just want to say hi? Click reply to send me an email!
Visit my shop for printable sewing patterns.

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Copyright © 2020 Laura "Lupin" Howard, All rights reserved.


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