Emma Mitchell

Author, designer-maker, naturalist, illustrator, mum

By 73 Comments

In print

At 5.15 last night I rang up Heffers the bookshop. Yes, they had just taken early delivery of that particular book, would keep a copy aside for me and they were open until 6pm. ‘Go, go!’ said Mr P, so I went. I got there with 5 minutes to spare, panting and huffing, and bagged an early copy of Kirstie Allsopp’s ‘Craft’. 

I legged it out of the house like that because I contributed a tutorial to the book.

I am resisting the urge to type a lot of ‘e’s in a row, ending in a ‘p’ at this point. It is tricky. I am excited.

My tutorial explains how to make little silver button medallions out of silver clay using vintage buttons to imprint patterns on their surface. Silver clay has shot up in price in recent months so I tried hard to keep the cost low and to replace expensive tools with everyday household items wherever possible. The clay can be fired on a camping stove or ordinary gas hob so no fancy kilns or fiery furnaces are required.

There are 49 other craft tutorials in the book from willow weaving (I WILL be making the nest box below) to needle felting; soap-making to applique. It’s a very lovely book and perfect for Christmas present ideas (or as a present itself). I am thrilled that my little project was included.

The book accompanies Kirstie Allsopp’s new series ‘Kirstie’s Handmade Britain’ in which she is taught to make a variety of lovely craft projects and submits them anonymously into Agricultural and Country shows to be judged by the likes of the WI and NAFAS. Apparently she won at least one first prize with a cake decorated with beautiful frosted flowers. The first episode will be screened on Wednesday 19th October at 8pm on Channel 4. I expect I will be glued to it.*

The styling is beautiful and I love the sheer range of crafts in this book. I think it will help to raise the profile of our wonderful Agricultural and County shows too. They are creative, quirky and fabulous events that celebrate our countryside heritage and I always make a beeline for the craft and display marquees. What’s not to like about a pampered pig or a perfectly baked Victoria Sponge?

I have two copies. You’ve guessed it – I’ll be giving one away. Stay tuned….

*A small selection of the tutorials made it into the programme and my button project was not chosen but I am truly and thoroughly excited that it was included in the book. My grammar has flown out of the window. I’m not going to worry about split infinitives today.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yay, Emma!

    I like to repeat myself when things are good (see Twitter) but I am absolutely thrilled for you. The photos in the book are totally lush and delicate.

    Clash of cymbals and trumpet blasts to be heard crossing the Channel for you.

    I too am waiting for something to go to publication so I totally understand your excitement.

    Reply

  2. FAME! GLORY! Feeling chuffed to the back teeth for 'knowing' you! Seriously, excellent lady, it looks a fabulous, buttony tute. I shall be keeping my eyeballs open for a copy in this neck of the woods…

    PS. Did anyone tell you, you have fabulous hands?

    Reply

  3. eeeeeeeeeeep! There, I did it for you. You should be excited. That is fantastic! It looks like a great book and sounds like a really interesting TV show.

    Reply

  10. Oh how exciting….Emma, I do declare you're getting quite famous!

    Can't wait to see the book…I shall restrain myself from diving to Amazon, and wait patiently, with fingers and toes crossed, for your giveaway!

    Reply

  15. How wonderful for you, you must be so happy today 🙂 I love buttons…. I shall definitely be keeping an eye open for that new series, I bought my OH some silver clay a few years back, it remains unopened, I think I may pince it back……shhhhh
    Sue Xxx

    Reply

  19. Gosh, what wonderful news! Immediately showed it to Mr. P with a look and tone that said "THIS. Buy me this.". If he doesnt, then to he'll with the book diet I've just started… Well done you. C.x

    Reply

  24. Fantastic! How exciting and certainly occasion worthy of a whole string of e's and a bushel of split infinitives. I love the little buttony necklaces too!

    Pomona x

    Reply

  25. Oooh! I'm so happy you've snagged an early copy. I was dying to point out to everyone in the book store that I knew you! And did you see your bio in the section at the back?

    The button charms are so fabulous. Can't wait to make my very own at the end of the month 🙂

    G sends his congratulations too!

    K x

    Reply

  26. So lovely! I've been resisting the urge to buy the book because I am actually trying to prune my library at the moment but don't know if I can hold out. Love those little buttons!
    Congratulations xxx

    Reply

  27. Wowee! You must be almost bursting with pride. Beautiful project. Well done you!
    I think I would keep about 5 copies in various places in case anything happens to them because you know you'll be blowing the dust off it when you are Grandma Pebbles to show it to the grandkids.

    Reply

  30. Many many congratulations to you Emma. How wonderful! And the idea is simply genius and beautiful…I am a button freak and have a huge vintage collection that I've amassed. I've looked at your Etsy shop but I would be really be interested in buying one if you had any for sale!

    Lina x0x0x

    Reply

  31. Wow!!!!!! How very exciting, that's amazing! Can't wait for the programme, but will be putting the book on my xmas list, so will look out for your lovely project, it's beautiful xx

    Reply

  34. So pleased for you, well done. The book will be added to my never ending amazon wishlist! No wonder you are excited – and so you should be too! JUliex

    Reply

  37. Hi Emma,

    Congratulations! Such an honour to have contributed to this book and to have your name mentioned. I hope it will bring you lots of positive reactions and new customers!

    Lieve groet, Madelief x

    Reply

  42. *C*O*N*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S*!* Emma for being "published"!! Good for you and I love your button project! I am definitely going to enter your giveaway!!
    ((hugs)), Teresa 🙂

    Reply

  47. Hooray! Hooray! I am so very happy for you Emma – now lots more people get to discover that you are as fab as we already know you are. Congratulations!!!

    Reply

  48. I think I may have just canceled my own comment – it was the excitement on your behalf. Hooray! Wahoo! Congratulations – now everone will know that you are as fab as we already know you are.

    Reply

  53. Congratulations Emma,your tutorial looks brilliant. Ever since I found your blog I have wanted to have a play with silver clay, but I haven't. I really must try to get around to doing so.

    Reply

  59. How exciting! A definite on my Christmas list – not sure I can wait that long though! The silver buttons look beautiful, so much detail on them.

    Reply

  64. Hi Emma.
    Congratualtions! I have been visiting your blog for some time and I love your designs and the close up pictures shows just how good your final pieces are. So well deserved and i think I have found the first item for my birthday/Christmas List.
    xx

    Reply

  66. love love pampered pigs … but seriously I don't know how you restrained yourself enough to type – you must be SO excited 😉 I'm so pleased for you … you more than deserve it.

    Reply

  70. Fantastic, Emma! Well done and congratulations. It looks like a wonderful tutorial, I love the silver buttons, just love them. I've been bedridden this last week, straight after returning from a week at my sisters, so I'm very sorry for not being able to thank you for the hankies that arrived with the lovely necklace I bought from you for my sister's Christmas present. Thank you so much Emma, they have gone into my small, but slowly increasing curtain pile. They're really lovely hankies aren't they, thank you very much. Congratulations on your ever increasing success, well earned and well deserved. Love Vanessa xxx

    Reply

  73. Wow! Actually I took one look and thought – blow the rest of the book, I'm buying it so i can make a button necklace and I have (bought the book I mean – making the necklace will have to wait until next year when life is less manic).

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *