Hola from the Crafting Table! 🇲🇽✨

Welcome back, Fran’s Friends! I am still buzzing with creative energy after spending two wonderful weeks soaking up the sun in Cancun, Mexico. It’s hard to believe it’s already March, but the buds are starting to peek out here, and the weather is becoming just lovely. 🌸

I was a bit worried about leaving my crafting world behind for a holiday, so I decided to take Fran’s Friends on location! It was such an incredible experience that gave me a real spark of creative vitality. Let’s dive into everything that’s been happening in my world!

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🎨 Crafting Inspiration from the Riviera Maya

Mexico is a feast for the eyes! While I was away, I produced six videos exploring how deeply crafts are woven into the culture there. From the resort’s fancy towel folding (think swans and birds! 🦢) to intricate napkin art, there was inspiration everywhere.

I even visited a local ceramic shop where they bring in pieces from Tulum and Cancun. Watching the vibrant colors come to life on kiln-dried pottery was a highlight. I also spent some time researching the Day of the Dead tradition. Did you know it’s primarily celebrated on November 1st and 2nd to honor lost loved ones? I brought home a skull to paint myself! 💀🎨

Another fascinating discovery was the “God’s Eye” (Ojo de Dios). It’s a beautiful woolen weaving, often in a triangle or diamond shape, representing the ability to see the unforeseeable. It’s such a meaningful piece of history to incorporate into a crafting journey! 👁️🧶

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🧸 Memory Bears & Sombreros

You know I can’t go anywhere without thinking of my bears! I found some stunningly vibrant Mexican fabrics that I just had to bring home. 🛍️

I’ve already put them to use by creating two Mexican Memory Bears. To give them that authentic flair, I even made them tiny sombreros! I’ve posted a short tutorial on how to DIY these little hats—they are so simple to make and look absolutely adorable. One of these bears is already packed and ready to be sent to a lovely friend I met during my travels. ✈️🐻

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📖 How I Keep My Holiday Memories

People often ask how I remember all the details of my trips. Well, I’m a dedicated daily journaler! ✍️ I document everything—what I ate, what I drank, the mishaps, and the adventures.

When I get home, I move all that info to the computer, pair it with my photos, and save it all onto a special USB “Memory Travel” box. It’s a wonderful way to keep those special holidays organized without taking up too much physical space! 💻📸

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🌍 Spreading the Love in London

While I was in Mexico, my son was busy representing Fran’s Friends at the Huglets Teddy Bear Festival in London! 🇬🇧 He gave out over 25 business cards, and I even received a beautiful email from someone who felt my passion for crafting.

It’s made me dream… maybe next year I’ll head to London myself to enter the festival! The UK is the heart of Mohair bears, and I’d love to see all that precious work in person. 🧸✨

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🐣 March Plans: Christmas, Birds, and Tech!

Since I was busy enjoying the beach in February, I missed my “Christmas Table Decor” project. So, March is going to be a double-duty month! 🎄

• Christmas in March: I’m making dessert plate covers using tablecloth fabric and some clever finds from the dollar store.
• The Mystery Bird: I saw a gorgeous hanging bird in a restaurant in Mexico and I’m determined to recreate it! I’m planning to use a plastic Easter egg as a base and cover it with paper-mâché or canvas. 🐦
• Tech Upgrades: My son and I have been chatting about incorporating AI and Stop Motion into my videos to show you my projects in a whole new way! 🎞️🤖

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💖 A Note on Creativity & Integrity

Before I go, I wanted to share a quick heart-to-heart. I was sad to hear that Lisa Pay is discontinuing her masterclass projects, as I’ve always enjoyed her work. I want to reassure you all that while I buy and learn from many patterns, I believe in originality and integrity.

I use patterns for my own personal recreation and never for sale or plagiarism. Crafting is about taking a spark of an idea and making it your own! 🌟

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Thank you all for being part of this journey. The sun has given me a boost, and I can’t wait to get into more “creative trouble” with you all this month! ✂️✨

Happy Crafting! — Fran 💖

Check out the full video here: https://youtu.be/4lf4hFrNUO8