Welcome to Fran’s Friends! It is so lovely to have you here as I share the next chapter of my crafting journey.

April was an absolute whirlwind of creativity. I managed to reach a milestone of 127 videos, which feels like such an achievement! Between making sausage dog bookends out of old crisp containers and stitching together French knot bunnies for Easter, I have been keeping very busy. But as the sun starts to shine and May arrives, I have a whole new set of projects that I simply cannot wait to start.

The Soft Sculpture Camel Challenge

One of my biggest goals for May is to master 3D pattern making using AI. I found a picture of a darling felt camel on Pinterest, but there was no pattern to be found. Instead of giving up, I used AI to help me create a 3D pattern from the image.

I have already printed out the pattern pieces, which include the legs, gussets, and even little foot pads. They were a bit small originally, so I have enlarged them to a better size. My plan for this month is to cut these out and see if I can successfully assemble our humped friend. If it works out well, I am going to make the pattern available for free on my website so you can all make one too!

Preparing for the Vancouver Island Exhibition

I have some wonderful news to share: I have been offered a table at the Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEX) for next year! It is a fantastic opportunity to promote the website, and I want to start preparing early.

I decided I need some “Fran’s Friends” gear to wear. I am planning to make a custom apron using a light canvas. To get my logo and my AI lookalike image onto the fabric, I have bought some special printable linen sheets from Staples. I will be printing my image directly onto the linen and then sewing it onto the apron. It is a bit of an experiment, but I think it will look much more personal than a standard shop-bought print.

Keeping Christmas Alive in May

If you know me, you know I love to keep the Christmas spirit going all year round. This month’s festive project involves recycling. I never throw anything away, especially the sturdy cardboard cones from my sewing thread.

I am going to use those cones as a base to create miniature Christmas trees. By covering them with leftover Christmas tablecloth fabric, I can create beautiful, sustainable decor for my festive table this year. It is a simple, inexpensive way to turn “rubbish” into something magical.

New Resources and Inspirations

I am always looking for new techniques to try, and I have found some incredible creators lately that I wanted to share with you:

• Intricate Beading: I have been looking at First Nations beadwork, which is just stunning, particularly the traditional moccasins and earrings. I also found “Vancouver Island Beaders”—they did a polar bear recently where they beaded the entire inside of an outline!
• Next-Level Gnomes: I have made gnomes before, but I found two channels—”Gnome Tutorials” and “My Gnommy DIY Patterns”—that are doing things differently. They use wood and screws for the legs to give them more structure, which is a challenge I’d like to take on.
• Knitting and Felting: “Daily Knitting Ideas” has moved beyond just bunnies and is now doing the sweetest mice and penguins. I am also quite taken with Alex McUade’s unusual felting work; the shoes she makes for her soft sculptures are just exquisite.

May is looking like a busy month! Between the camel, the apron, and the Christmas trees, I have my work cut out for me. I also really need to get out into the garden—it is a bit of a mess, and the weather is far too nice to stay indoors all day.

Thank you so much for following along. I hope this gives you some ideas for your own craft room this month.

Always craft and win!