Those of you who who've been peeking in through my Attic window for a while may remember these dinky little crochet blankets I made for the "Red Nose Day Dollies" as part of a fund-raising initiative for UK charity Comic Relief. Do you remember them? I crocheted one using little squares, and one using mini ripples. I loved making them and the dolls proved to be a ginormous success when they were auctioned on eBay, with all monies going to help those in need. Comic Relief is a tremendously popular charity here in the UK (rightly so), raising millions of ££'s each year which is used to "tackle the root causes of poverty and social injustice in the UK and across the world".
Fast forward two years and 2015 sees the launch of The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon. It's an exciting concept dreamed up by Emma of Silverpebble, and put into action by the team at Mollie Makes. So what exactly is The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon? Weeeelllll.....it's two things actually.
Number one - it is a super-duper 132-page magazine featuring fifty handmade projects by talented crafters and designers from around the globe.
And number two - it is an invite to you (yes, you!). We would like you to gather together your friends for a fun and creative "Crafternoon" where you all get to make some lovely little handmade items, with the aim of then organising yourself a craft fair to be held on March 13th (Red Nose Day) so that you can sell your wondrous creative makes raising even more money for Comic Relief (and breeeeeeathe). That was a very long-winded sentence, but I hope you get the gist of it. In a nutshell - Make something funny/pretty/cute and sell it, then donate the proceeds to Comic Relief. Genius idea eh?
The magazine is chocka-block full of wonderful things to make, aimed at anyone who might have just an inkling of a creative itch. The two adorable felt guinea pigs above (named Ron and Audrey) are so utterly cute that they very quickly became stars of the social media scene in recent weeks. I can tell that you might already be considering the possibility of creating your very own Ron and Audrey and yes, the pattern and full instructions (created by the super-talented Jodie Carelton) will be in the magazine.
My contribution was not comical or cute really, but rather something pretty and hooky.
I designed this little Spring Posy brooch to cheer up a dull old woolly cardy or a boring old coat lapel. I don't often wear brooches but I love seeing them adorning other people and so was inspired to create my own pretty little pin-on something. I've actually worn this Spring Posy a lot since I made it, I genuinely enjoy looking down and seeing it sat on me! The projects in the magazine come with step by step photo-tutorials (my favourite kind of pattern writing) so I do hope you will be inspired to grab a copy and have a go at making yourself something lovely.
So here is the lowdown of the Big Comic Relief Crafternoon Magazine.....
- It goes on sale in Sainsbury's and online via iTunes/Google Play on 29th January (that's this coming Thursday).
- It costs £7.99 with a generous £5 going straight to Comic Relief to support their wonderful projects in the UK and Africa.
- Inside the pages there are OODLES of gorgeous tutorials from lovely crafters such as Dottie Angel, Flossie Teacakes, Jodie Carleton, Lynda Lewis from the Great British Sewing Bee, Oh No Rachio. And me.
- There is also a guide to running your own craft fair so you can make an entire troupe of felt guinea pigs/nursery full of Spring Posy brooches and sell them to make more crafty cash for Comic Relief.
As with all fund-raising efforts for Very Good Causes, it helps enormously if lots and lots and lots of people join in. It goes without saying that I would LOVE it if you could help spread the word, there is much crafty jollity going on over on Facebook and Twitter if you'd like to have a peek and share with your creative buddies.
Happy crafting my lovelies!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps, Emma Mitchell who is the creative force behind the whole Crafternoon idea wrote a great blog post about it here.
pps, if you a hold crafty event or run workshops/creative crafternoons to raise money for Comic Relief, there is an easy donations page set up for you to transfer your Crafty Cash, find it here. The target is set at £1000, lets see if we can make it happen!
Your little squares blanket is darling! I'm going to make a few for the Amanda project here in Norway - a volunteer group that makes baby blankets that fit inside incubators for premature babies. They also need mini hats with top-openings (for all the tubes and wires to fit through). Thanks for the great ideas and lovely blog, you inspire me!
Posted by: Diane Daviknes | January 28, 2015 at 11:20 AM
I hope that you have a great craftathon. It sounds like lots of fun! xx
Posted by: Amy at love made my home | January 27, 2015 at 11:27 PM
I too love Red Nose Day and always good fun at work as our bosses were always very supportive of us all taking part somehow. I will be looking out for the magazine as that's an excellent way to contribute and shall look forward to seeing your corsage.
Posted by: Rae | January 27, 2015 at 06:02 PM
What a great idea! :) xxx
Posted by: Amanda | January 27, 2015 at 05:45 PM
This is great! I love that you and others are using their love of crafting to raise money and awareness of global poverty. Apparently there is going to be a Red Nose Day in the US...
A spectacular, star-studded show will be aired on NBC as it televises the three-hour inaugural US Red Nose Day Live Special in May 2015. from the Comic Relief website.
Posted by: Kathy | January 27, 2015 at 03:33 PM
Lucy, do you know if we will be able to get a copy of this in the U.S.?
Posted by: Claudia | January 27, 2015 at 03:08 PM
This is a great idea on helping others, thanks for sharing, right now I´m in Mexico, but I will look for a way to help.
Posted by: alejandra | January 27, 2015 at 03:02 PM
Awesome! It's a win-win! Crafting something AND using it for a good cause. Best wishes!
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | January 27, 2015 at 02:23 PM
What a wonderful idea this is, Lucy. And I love your sweet little brooch - so colorful and spring like.
Posted by: Susan | January 27, 2015 at 01:37 PM
Not sure I've got the energy for all that making and then organising a craft fair...so...I shall buy the book and then I've suggested to friends that I run a Lazy Crafternoon with Tea & Cream Scones. They can either bring a project to work on or I can run a craft clinic or workshop!
Think that's more my scene and theirs too!
Love your little corsage :) xx
http://noraathome.blogspot.co.uk/
Posted by: KayEleC | January 27, 2015 at 12:11 PM
Very pretty. X
Posted by: Jules Francis | January 27, 2015 at 11:53 AM
Those really really nice :)
Posted by: David | January 27, 2015 at 10:26 AM
Wonderful! And just an extra comment, I LOVE the buttons on your jumper!
Posted by: Melissa | January 27, 2015 at 09:34 AM
Wonderful idea. I will buy the magazine. I don't think my crafting skills are up to selling, but if will enjoy trying to make some of the projects. X
Posted by: Penny | January 27, 2015 at 07:09 AM
What a great project to help others! Bravo, Lucy, for your part in it. I hope it makes a BUNCH of money! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | January 27, 2015 at 03:13 AM
I will definitely be buying this magazine and trying to find a Comic Relief Crafternoon to attend. I am in the process of helping organise a Dancethon for the Girlguiding district I am a member of for all the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in the district. It is a joint project between Girlguiding and Comic Relief. Such a great cause.
Posted by: Jo | January 27, 2015 at 02:01 AM
Good Charity. :-) I love the corsage. Its gorgeous, but then again all your work is beautiful. Thanks for sharing this. Love the little blankets too.
~Crystal
Crochet A Day In The Life
http://krystlewv.blogspot.com
Posted by: Crystal Wall | January 27, 2015 at 12:57 AM
I am in the USA, can we buy this great book here: I looked on ebay & amazon, maybe too soon.
Posted by: Mary | January 26, 2015 at 11:28 PM
This is wonderful Lucy. I love your little posy and I'll spread to word in my next post.
Jacquie x
Posted by: Jacquie | January 26, 2015 at 10:53 PM
I think I'll sort some girls to do some bits. Can't wait for the book to come out ️Xx lots of love Joy Xx
Posted by: Joy | January 26, 2015 at 10:49 PM
Oh this is great. I will be buying my copy on Thursday while waiting for my son to finish climbing, it's the nearest Sainsbury to me :-)
Posted by: Alison | January 26, 2015 at 10:35 PM
Woohoo - Great Post Mrs Attic, so glad the cat is out of the bag.May a borrow a little Posy pic ?
Posted by: jodie carleton | January 26, 2015 at 10:32 PM
These things never quite work for me as I always end up with 30 per cent sold and 70 per cent going home with me! So I have decided for this event I will be a buyer. Buyers are needed too, right?
Posted by: Sol | January 26, 2015 at 09:59 PM
Lucy I love all you works... best regards from Chile.
Posted by: Mirentxu | January 26, 2015 at 09:56 PM
What a wonderful idea, and well done to everyone who contributed. Your brooch is lovely, and the piggies are so sweet. I'm sure it will all be a huge success, and deservedly so. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | January 26, 2015 at 09:56 PM