Mollie Magazine June 2022

What does being creative mean to you? Perhaps it’s innovating a recipe, rearranging the furniture in your living room, planting a bed of fresh flowers, or traditional crafts like sewing or painting. The new-look Mollie is here to inspire you to live and breathe all things creative; to encourage you to put down your phone, walk away from your screens and experience that feeling you get when you do something just for you. From simple craft projects to tasty recipes, and inspiring home tours to styling tips, we will show you how to find the joy in creating. With all of us looking for new ways to live sustainably, crafting with a conscience is right at the heart of Mollie’s ethos. We’re dedicated to showing you how to repair and rewear…

Amy Tangerine Author Amy started off scrapbooking as a creative outlet after experiencing burnout. She got immersed in the community and found her stress reducing and creativity levels getting a huge boost. Now, she helps others find that creative joy with workshops, craft kits and her book for kids and adults to practise mindfulness and get inspired. Read Amy’s advice on starting a new hobby on page 74 @amytangerine Ella French Jesmonite artist Ella’s first love is shoes – after her family, of course! When she isn’t covering herself and her workspace with Jesmonite while making her latest homeware creations, or out doing the school run, she can be found browsing the internet to discover her next pair, or three. Her designs are inspired by the nature around her home in Kent, England. Follow Ella’s Masterclass on…

BRAND FOCUS AAKS Fashion and home décor designer, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi displays the vibrant spirit of Africa by blending modern handbag silhouettes with traditional Ghanaian weaving techniques. The highly praised AAKS handbag is skilfully crafted by women of Ghana using locally sourced raffia. Since a single handbag can take up to 10 days to complete, it’s clear why Akosua, who works closely with the artisans, is committed to conserving the provenance of weaving as an art form. Bags from £57, www.aaksonline.com LE A R N S O M E TH IN G N E W INTRODUCTION TO FLORISTRY Discover the joys of floristry on a summertime course by The Allotment Florist. The six-week course offers budding florists a practical guide to flower arranging, covering basics such as hand-tied bouquets, wreaths, and low vase arrangements. You can order…

Your new book encourages readers to awaken their creativity and brighten their mood. Why do you think crafting is so important for our mental health? Speaking from my own experience and how it affects me; getting creative immediately brings me into the present, which in turn helps lessen my anxiety and improves my mood. I find it helps me to decompress. How do you prioritise ‘me time’ amongst the chaos of being a busy mum and author? Well, it’s very hard, but I really notice if I haven’t done enough for myself – it affects my mood and my patience. I am, without a doubt, a better mum when I have made time to see friends or get into nature by myself or with my husband. What encompasses joy for you? For me, joy is…

Bivenne Staiger is a watercolour instructor with a dual ability to paint with distinction and to teach with clarity. Recipient of American Watercolor Society’s Silver Medal and many other distinguished awards for her work in watercolour, she has been sharing her painting techniques and inspiring others through classes, workshops, and art demonstrations for almost 20 years. Most passionate about birds, flowers, and art, Bivenne also enjoys needlework, collage, and other creative pursuits. Bivenne teaches painting classes at Yale Peabody Museum’s Natural Sciences Illustration Program and writes a painting blog. www.bivennefineart.com…

This richly illustrated and comprehensive resource helps watercolourists plan and create exceptional paintings by focusing on colour, value, and other elements in both subjects and settings. Too often, melding the subject with the background is an afterthought for artists. White! Light! Bright! is the mantra for this book’s unique and effective method for planning your subject in concert with its background, and then creating a powerful piece in three major stages: from white, light, and bright colour to midvalues and finally to darks. Easy-to-follow text from a skilled teacher alongside visuals and demonstrations, helps you catch the energizing spark of light and contrast. Get comfortable with the how-to of building value, colour, shape, and background through various edges, textures, and other compositional elements. You’ll bolster the creative thinking and planning…