susie johns at the circus

For sale

Most of the things I make are destined to appear in the pages of books and magazines. Rarely, these days, do I make anything for myself and I certainly do not have a stock of ready-made items. But I have a few things left over from the jewellery book I have just written (Street Chic Jewllery, available from 25th October 2008), like this fabric brooch, and I've been making a few extra things and putting together 'stocking filler' packs of beads and paper scraps. Some of these are available to buy: see the 'Items for Sale' section at the top left-hand side of the main page.

Fuzzy felt

I am having great fun at the moment creating felted items. Over the weekend I made three and a half bags, two mobile phone covers and two napkin rings. I was supposed to be working out some designs to submit to a knitting magazine but I got completely carried away, staying up late watching old films on TV while I crocheted stripes of delicious colours. Here is one of the bags. What's particularly pleasing is how the colours become more subtle after the felting process and the surface has a delightful soft, fuzzy texture.

new book

I have finished writing my latest book, Street Chic Jewellery, and made all the projects. Ten days ago, we had a photo shoot near my home in Greenwich, with five models wearing the various pieces of jewellery. It was a sunny October day and the girls – my two daughters and three of their friends – looked really beautiful. I did the styling and photographer Paul Bricknell took the pictures – and I have high hopes that this book, which will be published early next year by New Holland, will be a great success.
These pictures show one of the papier maché brooches that I am particularly pleased with, and the girls in one of their model poses.